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

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2012

Engine

KNOCKING NOISE WHEN STARTING AND RUNNING. I THOUGHT IT WAS FROM THE WRONG FUEL ADDED TO IT, OR LOW OIL WHEN I PURCHASED IT. I CORRECTED THOSE TWO ISSUES, BUT IT STILL MAKES THE KNOCKING NOISE. I AM VERY AFRAID IT WILL SEIZE. I BELIEVE THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10471741

38,000 miles · Aug 14, 2012

Engine

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I WAS TOLD MY WARRANTY EXPIRED END OF JUNE. I BOUGHT MINI-S 08 USED IN FEBRUARY FROM A MINI DEALERSHIP IN WESTCHESTER, ELMSFORD, NY. I NOTICED A KNOCKING NOISE THAT TO ME DIDN'T SOUND NORMAL NOT TOO LONG AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE PEOPLE AT MINI TOLD ME IT WAS FROM SOMETHING ELSE, A LOOSE PIECE AND THAT THEY "FIXED THE PROBLEM." THIS NOISE ONLY BECAME WORSE, AND NOW THE CAR IS AT 45,000 MILES AND NOT EVEN 6 MONTHS FROM PURCHASE. THE NOISE BECAME EVEN LOUDER, WHICH THEN IT SOUNDED LIKE A TRACTOR TRAILER. I CHANGED THE OIL, THE NOISE WASN'T AS LOUD BUT STILL THERE. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE TIMING BELT IS GOING TO SNAP SOON, AND IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, AND ONCE IT BREAKS, THE WHOLE ENGINE WILL BE DESTROYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10470682

70,138 miles · Jul 29, 2012

Power Train

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LOUD SUDDEN DIESEL LIKE RATTLE (COMMONLY KNOWN AS "THE DEATH RATTLE" BY IMPACTED MINI OWNERS) FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON A METICULOUSLY WELL MAINTAINED 2008 MINI COOPER S TURBO. DIAGNOSED BY MECHANIC AS DEFECTIVE TIMING BELT TENSIONER AND IF LEFT UNATTENDED WOULD RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND POSSIBLE SERIOUS INJURY. COST OF REPAIR IS $1,800. BMW/MINI IS WELL AWARE OF THIS COMMON AND SYSTEMIC TENSIONER DEFECT (DEFECTIVE ORIGINAL PART). THEY SHOULD "DO THE RIGHT THING" AND RECALL AND/OR REIMBURSE GOOD FAITH PURCHASERS FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10468138

53,500 miles · Jun 29, 2012

Engine

MY CAR STARTED MAKING A WEIRD NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR NEAR THE ENGINE WHEN I TURNED IT ON. THEN IT CONTINUED TO MAKE THE LOUD NOISE AS I DROVE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE TIMING CHAIN STRETCHED AND CAUSED THE GUIDE RAIL TO BREAK, WHICH FELL INTO THE OIL PAN. THE DEALER SAID I WAS LUCKY MY ENGINE DIDN…

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NHTSA ODI #10463544

59,952 miles · May 24, 2012

Engine

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THE TURBO CHARGER HAS TOTALLY FAILED (CAR IS UNDER HALF POWER) AND THE TOP GUIDE ON THE TIMING CHAIR (TENSIONER SYSTEM) IS BROKEN. I HAVE DONE THE PROPER MAINTENANCE WITH EXCEPTIONAL CARE. THE TURBO IS COOLED BY THE KNOWN FAILED AUXILIARY WATER PUMP WITH INTEGRATED CIRCUIT BOARD AND IS CURRENTLY UNDER RECALL. MINI/BMW IS REFUSING TO COVER THESE FAILURES CLEARLY CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE PARTS AND DESIGN (OIL LINE LEADING TO TURBO GETS GUMMED UP BECAUSE IT IS TOO SMALL). THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO CHARGE ME OVER $5200 TO REPAIR THE CAR (20% OF THE VEHICLE COST IN 2008) FOR WHAT IS ABSOLUTELY A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. MY CAR IS NOT OPERATIONAL AND HAS NOT BEEN OPERATIONAL FOR OVER 2 WEEKS WHILE I CONTINUE TO 'FIGHT' BMW'S DETERMINATION NOT TO COVER THESE PROBLEMS. READING COUNTLESS BLOGS WITH OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM(S) I BELIEVE BMW IS INTENTIONALLY SELLING A PRODUCT IT KNOWS IS DEFECTIVE AND COLLECTING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON REPAIRS. NO CAR SHOULD EXPERIENCE A TOTAL FAILURE OF A TURBO AND BROKEN TIMING CHAIN IN 60K MILES. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND NHTSA SHOULD PROTECT US CONSUMERS FROM THIS FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY BY ISSUING A RECALL - SOONER THAN LATER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10459509

55,000 miles · May 7, 2012

Engine And Engine Cooling

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MY MINI COOPER S HAS LESS THAN 60000 MILES ON IT WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE AND HAS HAD FAILURE OF THE FRICTION WHEEL (AKA TIMING CHAIN OR TENSIONER SYSTEM). THE FIRST SIGNS OF THE ISSUE ARE A VERY LOUD, RATTLING NOISE DURING ACCELERATION AND AS THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE, IT CONTINUES TO RATTLE DURING IDLING. THE MINI CORPORATION IS VERY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND WHILE THE DEALERSHIP ITSELF WORKED WITH ME TO LOWER THE COST BECAUSE THEY SAY IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY EVEN WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE ON THE CAR AND WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THE CORPORATION WOULDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE OR HELP WITH THE COST TO FIX IT. ALSO, IF THE PROBLEM ISN'T FIXED IMMEDIATELY, IT WILL LEAD TO A BLOWN ENGINE. FURTHERMORE, I HAVE READ THAT SEVERAL MINI OWNERS HAVE REPLACED THE FRICTION WHEEL ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM REAPPEAR NOT LONG AFTERWARDS. THIS IS AN ISSUE OF FAULTY MANUFACTURING AND MINI NEEDS TO STAND UP AND ABSORB THE COST TO FIX IT AND/OR RECALL THE MINIS AFFECTED TO ENSURE IT NO LONGER HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10457638

36,000 miles · Apr 16, 2012

Unknown Or Other

THERE IS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE (MOST LIKELY THE TIMING BELT) AND THE CAR KEEPS JUMPING. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10455413

50,000 miles · Apr 11, 2012

Engine And Engine Cooling

TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, HAS BROKEN GUIDES AND CAUSES VERY LOUD "DIESEL" SOUNDS. ONLY 50,000 MILES ON THE CAR. OIL LEAK IN OIL LINE GOING TO TURBO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10454799

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2012

Engine And Engine Cooling

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I HAVE A 2008 MINI COOPER S THAT HAS A TIMING CHAIN ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL ,AS I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE FOUND THAT LOOKS LIKE A PRODUCTION ISSUE WHICH I BELIEVE SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY MINI/BMW. NOT EVERYONE HAS $2000.00 TO HAVE THIS FIXED,I HAVE 28K MILES WHICH I CONSIDER A FARELY NEW CAR STILL NOT FARE FOR US CONSUMER WHO SHELL OUT ALOT OF MONEY FOR A CAR WE BELIEVE TO BE RELIABLE AND IS NOT , PLEASE REVIEW THIS PROBLEM AND HELP US CONSUMERS BE TREATED FAIR WE NEED YOUR HELP TO STOP THESE COMPANY'S FROM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF US UNTIL SOMETHING HORRIBLE HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10454457

59,302 miles · Mar 22, 2012

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT COLD START, DEALER INFORMED ME IT'S THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER, TOTAL COST ABOUT $1950.00. DEALER INFORMED ME IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM BUT THERE IS NO RECALL FROM MINI USA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10452671

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.