CAR STARTED MAKING RATTLING NOISE ON START UP, DROVE IT TO MINI, THEY SAY MY TIMING CHAIN IS STRETCHED AND HOUSING BROKEN, AROUND $2500, TO REPAIR. READING ONLINE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, EVEN THE BASIS OF A LAWSUIT AND I FEEL IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. *TR
2009 Mini Cooper Clubman
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cooper Clubman years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
29 reports with mileage · 10 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
3 reportsDESPITE PERFORMING REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND COMPLAINING ABOUT OUR TIMING CHAIN MAKING A NOISE FROM THE FIRST MONTH, MINI NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM ALWAYS INSISTING THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL OR THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. EVENTUALLY OUR TIMING CHAIN JUMPED THE RAILS AND DESTROYED OUR ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE AND MINI USA DECLI…
Read full complaint
DESPITE PERFORMING REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND COMPLAINING ABOUT OUR TIMING CHAIN MAKING A NOISE FROM THE FIRST MONTH, MINI NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM ALWAYS INSISTING THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL OR THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. EVENTUALLY OUR TIMING CHAIN JUMPED THE RAILS AND DESTROYED OUR ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE AND MINI USA DECLINED TO FIX THE ISSUE. ONLY ONCE DID THEY TRY TO FIX IT BY REPLACING THE TENSIONER. THE PART THEY USED WAS AN OLDER DISCONTINUED PART. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE AND SO THE TIMING CHAIN CONTINUED TO RATTLE AND THEN DESTROYED THE ENGINE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2009 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE CLOSING THE REAR HATCH DOOR THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BURNS ON HER LEGS CAUSED BY THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE EXHAUST PIPE EXTENDS OUT FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH HE BELIEVED WAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACT…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2009 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE CLOSING THE REAR HATCH DOOR THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BURNS ON HER LEGS CAUSED BY THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE EXHAUST PIPE EXTENDS OUT FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH HE BELIEVED WAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,130. BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE EXHAUST PIPE EXTENDS OUT BEYOND THE REAR BUMPER AND IT IS SHING THERE IS CONSIDERABLE RISK THAT A CHILD LEFT UNATTENDED NEAR THE VEHICLE COULD EXPERIENCE THE SAME TYPE OF BURNS. UPDATED 10/03/2011 *LN *TR
Official recalls
123V337000 · Electrical System
May 11, 2023
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2014 MINI Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Clubman John Cooper Works, and 2007-2013 MINI Hardtop 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, and John Cooper Works vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. The electronic control module in the driver's side footwell area may short-circuit, due to corrosion from water and road salt.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the sunroof drains, interior footwell area, and FRM and, depending upon the results of the inspection, certain components will be replaced. Owner notification letters were mailed May 13, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
Illustration