Engine. Review the 78 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports10 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

168 reports

52,000 miles · Feb 23, 2013

Engine

THE OIL INPUT LINE TO THE TURBO HAS STARTED TO LEAK. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY SIDELINED BECAUSE OF CHANCE OF FIRE OR FAILURE OF THE TURBO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10499788

40,000 miles · Feb 5, 2013

Engine

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MY CAR HAD BEEN MAKING A RATTLING SOUND OFF AND ON FOR A SHORT TIME (MOSTLY IN THE COLD MORNINGS) I DROVE FROM HOUSTON TO DALLAS. WHEN PARKED ON THE SIDE ROAD, MY CAR WOULD NOT START UP. I HAD NO SERVICE LIGHT OR ANY OTHER LIGHTS COME ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD MY TIMING BELT WAS BROKEN. I HAVE NO MEANS TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. WHILE SEARCHING THE INTERNET IT APPEARS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND MINI COOPER/BMW ARE AWARE OF THIS AND HAVE DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496437

54,667 miles · Jan 31, 2013

EngineEngine And Engine Cooling

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THE CAR STARTED LEAKING SMALL AMOUNTS OF OIL IN THE GARAGE, APPROXIMATELY THE SIZE OF A DIME. WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED YOU COULD SMELL A SLIGHT OIL BURNING ODOR. THE CAR SAT FOR 3 DAYS, WAS DRIVEN AND SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WAS NO FIRE. THE RESULT IS THAT THE "TURBO OIL FEED LINE" AND "CRANKCASE TO VALVE COVER HOSE" WERE REPLACED BECAUSE BOTH WERE LEAKING OIL. AT 50700 MI, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE VALVE COVER AND CCV ASSEMBLY. THIS CAR WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL PE11036 FOR A COOLING FAN ISSUE. CONSIDERING THE LOW MILEAGE ON THIS VEHICLE, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE HAVE BEEN TOO MANY ISSUES WITH IT RELATED TO THE TURBO CHARGER AND OIL SYSTEM. FROM READING OTHER ISSUES ONLINE IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE DESIGN FLAWS WITH THE SHIELDING OF THESE COMPONENTS FROM HIGH HEAT SOURCES ON THE ENGINE. THESE REPAIRS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND ARE NOT RELATED TO POOR OR ABUSIVE DRIVING HABITS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10495345

80,000 miles · Jan 21, 2013

Engine

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THE OIL FEED LINE FOR THE TURBOCHARGER LEAKED ENOUGH OIL TO ALLOW ENOUGH SMOKE INTO THE CABIN TO GREATLY DECREASE VISIBILITY. THE FITTING IS COMPRISED OF A BANGO FITTING THAT IS CRIMPED TO THE FEED LINE WITH AN O-RING IN THE FEED LINE. THE O-RING IS THE COMPONENT THAT FAILED AND MY ENGINEERING BACK ROUND HAS LED ME TO THE ROOT CAUSE BEING THAT THE O-RING HAS SEEN ENOUGH THERMAL CYCLED TO DETERIORATE LEADING TO THE LEAK. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FROM A RELIABILITY STANDPOINT AND I KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY MINI OWNER THAT HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN TO THEM. MINI NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THIS DESIGN FLAW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10493647

80,000 miles · Jan 21, 2013

Engine

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THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER BACKED OUT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK ALLOWING ENGINE OIL TO BE PUMPED OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE TENSIONER WORKS ON ENGINE OIL PRESSURE AND IT BACKED OUT FAR ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE ENGINE OIL THAT NORMALLY PRESSURIZED THE PISTON TO BE PUMPED OUT OF THE ENGINE. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEE THE STREAK OF OIL AS I BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, BUT IF I HAD NOT I AM SURE THAT MORE DAMAGE AND POTENTIAL FIRE WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. THIS IS SURPRISING AS THIS SAME PART WAS REPLACED UNDER A RECALL FOR BEING FAULTY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS STILL A DESIGN FLAW AND SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY MINI. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10493643

7,400 miles · Dec 28, 2012

EngineFire

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO COOL DOWN SO THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN A FEW MILES WITHOUT IT OVERHEATING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,400. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,234. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10490337

43,000 miles · Dec 26, 2012

Engine

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

NHTSA ODI #10490125

35,900 miles · Nov 26, 2012

EngineStructure

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AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR STARTED CHUGGING. I PULLED OVER AND KEPT CHUGGING. I STOPPED THE CAR, LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW IF SOMETHING WAS WRONG. DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. STARTED IT UP AGAIN AND ONCE I ACCELERATED IT STOPPED CHUGGING. DROVE IT VERY SCARCELY AND BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD IT WAS A TIMING CHAIN. VERY LUCKY THAT IT HAS NOT SNAPPED OR SKIPPED BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE POSSIBLY LOSE CONTROL. THE CAR ONLY HAS 36000 MILES ON IT AND HAS HAD THE OIL LEVEL TOPPED OFF EVERY FEW FILL UPS. THEY DO NOT LOOK AT THIS AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS HAPPENED ON QUITE A FEW CARS. MY LOCAL MECHANIC SAID HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF A TIMING CHAIN SNAPPING OR STRETCHING TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT 36000 MILES. IT IS DANGEROUS AND ALSO VERY COSTLY TO PAY FOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10486079

66,300 miles · Nov 23, 2012

Engine

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BEGAN TO HEAR LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM ENGINE OF MY 4 YEAR OLD MINI @ 66000 MILES. HAVE HAD MY MINI SERVICED ACCORDING TO THE SCHEDULE AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP FOR 4 YEARS. AFTER HEARING THE NOISE DID RESEARCH ONLINE TO NOTICE THAT MINIS HAVE A TIMING BELT /TENSIONER ISSUE. NOTICED ON THE SAME NIGHT THAT MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT I JUST HAD MY OIL CHANGED IN AUGUST OF 2012 AND THIS WAS NOVEMBER 2012. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THE SERVICER SAID THEY HAD HEARD OF SOME MINI'S TIMING CHAINS FAILING AT 14K MILES. AFTER DIAGNOSIS HE NOTES THAT IT IS THE TIMING CHAIN AND THAT THE OIL FILTER GASKET WAS LEAKING WHICH CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO FAIL. THIS IS NOT CORRECT AS MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER LEAKED OIL, AND I HAD JUST GOTTEN MY OIL CHANGED 3 MONTHS EARLIER AND NO MENTION WAS MADE BY MY SERVICE TECHNICIAN. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE IN MINIS AND THEY ARE NOT PROVIDING ANY KIND OF RELIEF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10485852

70,000 miles · Sep 4, 2012

Engine

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DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS WHEN I BEGAN TO SMELL BURNT OIL. AS SOON AS I WAS ABLE TO I PULLED OVER, IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS A CLOUD OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD AND THOUGH THERE WAS NO FIRE IT APPEARED THAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM OIL LEAKING ONTO THE TURBO FROM THE OIL FEED LINE. AFTER LETTING THE CAR COOL I PROCEEDED HOME. NOW WHENEVER THE CAR IS SITTING IDLE I CAN SMELL BURNT OIL AND AFTER GETTING HOME I CAN SEE OIL POOLING ON THE TOP OF THE TURBO. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE CONNECTION ON THE TURBO OIL FEED LINE DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE LINE AND HEAT FROM THE TURBO AND I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THIS AT MY OWN COST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10473732

Official recalls

23V337000 · 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.

18V248000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger

Apr 18, 2018

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger

Consequence: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Consequence: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.

12V008000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger

Jan 11, 2012

BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2011 MINI COOPER S, 2008-2011 MINI COOPER S CLUBMAN, 2009-2011 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE, 2009-2011 MINI COOPER JCW, 2009-2011 MINI COOPER JCW CLUBMAN, 2009-2011 COOPER JCW CONVERTIBLE, AND 2011 COOPER S COUNTRYMAN PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 14, 2006, THROUGH JANUARY 18, 2011. THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP THAT COOLS THE TURBOCHARGER HAS AN ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT BOARD THAT CAN MALFUNCTION AND OVERHEAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE CIRCUIT BOARD MAY SMOLDER WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WATER PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGANDURING FEBRUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-866-275-6464.

08V657000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe

Dec 12, 2008

BMW IS RECALLING 28,450 MY 2007-2008 MINI COOPER S VEHICLES. THE CENTRALLY LOCATED TAILPIPE EXTENSION PROTRUDES SLIGHTLY BEYOND THE REAR BUMPER. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR INADVERTENT CONTACT TO OCCUR WITH A PERSON'S LEG.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE TAILPIPE EXTENSION IS HOT DURING INADVERTENT CONTACT, A BURN COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TAILPIPE WITH A NEW SHORTER TAILPIPE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-866-275-6464.

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

PE11036 · Engine Compartment Fire

Opened Oct 11, 2011 · Closed Jun 11, 2012

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

In a January 10, 2012 letter to NHTSA, BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) identifying a defect in the electric auxiliary water pump in approximately 88,911 model year (MY) 2007-2011 Mini Cooper vehicles manufactured from November 14, 2006 through January 18, 2011 (Recall 12V-008).According to BMW, the auxiliary water pump on vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder turbocharged engines may overheat.Electro-migration can cause the pump electronic circuit board to overheat resulting in smoldering of the water pump. If smoldering occurs, it may lead to an engine compartment or vehicle fire.The pump supplier, Pierburg Pump Technology GmbH, redesigned the pump to address factors that may contribute to circuit board overheating.The redesigned pumps were completely implemented in production vehicles by January 2011.Recall 12V-008 was the third recall initiated by BMW to address electric auxiliary water pump fires in vehicles equipped with Pierburg pumps.In two October 20, 2011 letters to NHTSA, BMW submitted DIRs for similar auxiliary water pump defect conditions in approximately 32,084 MY 2008-2011 BMW 5-Series, 7-Series, X5 and X6 models equipped with 8- and 12-cylinder engines and manufactured from May 2008 through December 2010 (Recall 11V-521); and for approximately 589 MY 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost vehicles manufactured from September 2009 through September 2010 (Recall 11V-522).In three separate April 5, 2012 letters to NHTSA, BMW submitted amendments to Recalls 11V-521, 11V-522 and 12V-008.The amendments all described a common defect condition related to a manufacturing process deviation in a certain production range of the redesigned Pierburg water pumps that could result in cracks in the pump housing, which may allow coolant to enter and contact the pump?s circuit board.BMW indicated that further analysis identified a specific machine process error at the sub-supplier that manufactures the water pump housing.Pump housing cracks may cause the circuit board to overheat and lead to smoldering of the water pump.Recall 12V-008 was, thus, amended to include approximately 1,457 MY 2011 Mini Cooper vehicles manufactured from March 31, 2011 through April 22, 2011, when pumps manufactured with the suspect manufacturing process may have been used in vehicle assembly.The amendment to Recall 11V-521 was assigned a new recall number, Recall 12V-161, and covered approximately 2,846 MY 2011-2012 BMW 5-Series, 6-Series, 7-Series, X5, and X6 vehicles manufactured from April 1, 2011 through August 1, 2011.The amendment to Recall 11V-522 was assigned a new recall number, Recall 12V-166, and covered approximately 69 MY 2011 Rolls-Royce Ghost vehicles manufactured from April 7, 2011 through June 2, 2011.The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) analyzed complaint data provided by BMW as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers. In total, there were 30 unique Mini Cooper reports indicating engine fire.In addition, BMW provided warranty data showing 493 claims for replacement of the subject component on Mini Cooper vehicles.Owners of the recalled vehicles are notified to take their vehicle to a BMW dealer, who will replace the auxiliary water pump to prevent any incidents related to this issue.This preliminary evaluation is closed.The ODI reports cited above can be viewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers (ODI Nos.):10286597, 10286663, 10289793, 10310677, 10314796, 10342365, 10394808, 10394192, 10403982, 10418325, 10422646, 10429003.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Engine And Engine Cooling

EA08020 · Exhaust Pipe Burns

Opened Aug 29, 2008 · Closed Jan 2, 2009

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System

BMW WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (08V-657) ON 28,450 MINI COOPER S VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 18, 2006 THROUGH JULY 8, 2008.DEALERS WILL INSTALL MODIFIED EXHAUST PIPE TIPS THAT DO NOT EXTEND BEYOND THE REAR BUMPER.THE TWO EXHAUST PIPE TIPS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES EXIT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AT THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE AND EXTEND BEYOND THE REAR BUMPER.THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED BEING BURNED ON THEIR LEGS WHEN THEY INADVERTENTLY TOUCHED THE EXPOSED HOT EXHAUST PIPE TIPS WHILE REMOVING ITEMS OF CARGO FROM THE REAR OF THEIR VEHICLE VIA THE HATCH BACK DOOR.SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORTED BEING BURNED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION OR THAT OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WERE ALSO BURNED.THE 50 INJURIES REPORTED IN THIS INVESTIGATION INCLUDE SIGNIFICANT SECOND DEGREE BURNS CAUSING BLISTERED AND SCARED SKIN AND ONE INCIDENT RESULTED IN A THIRD DEGREE BURN.THIS INVESTIGATION ALSO RESULTED IN AN INITIAL DECISION OF A DEFECT.FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE INITIAL DECISION AND DETAILS OF THE INVESTIGATION SEE DOCUMENTS, INRM-EA08020-31646.PDF (INITIAL DECISION LETTER) AND INIR-EA08020-31648.PDF (INITIAL DECISION REPORT), IN THE INVESTIGATION FILE.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.