Engine. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
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NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports4 fire reports1 injury reports

Engine complaints

65 reports

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46,230 miles · Dec 8, 2013

Engine

WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER HAD BEEN REPLACED WHILE IN FOR SERVICE IN PAST BUT NOW IT NEEDS REPLACED ANOTHER EMPLOYEE 2 DAYS LATER SAYS NO RECORD OF IT. I NEED TO PAY FULL AMOUNT. TOO EARLY FOR TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT TO BE REQUIRED IN A DECENT CAR. DEFECT. NEEDS RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10555248

30,000 miles · Nov 26, 2013

Engine

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I STARTED THE CAR AND A LOUD RATTLING NOISE CAME FROM THE ENGINE. I DROVE ABOUT 5 MILES AND THE OIL CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO A JIFFY LUBE THAT WAS WITHIN 2 MILES AND THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BY THE TIME I GOT TO JIFFY LUBE THE CAR DIDN'T HAVE ANY OIL LEFT. THE CAR WAS SERVICED BY THE MINI DEALER ONLY 4 MONTHS PRIOR. HAD THE CAR TOWED 1 1/2 HOURS TO THE NEAREST MINI DEALER. MOST OF THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY THE TIMING TENSIONER CHAIN. THE DEALER SAID MINI WOULD COVER THOSE REPAIRS BUT THE TURBO OIL FEED LINE WAS LEAKING TOO AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT. IT COST ME $900.00. I ASKED IF THE CAR HAD A HEAT ON IT AND HE SAID NO BUT THAT I DON'T REALLY NEED ONE. I THOUGHT THERE HAD BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN PUT OUT SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THE HEAT FROM THE TURBO CAUSING THIS ISSUE BUT HE SAID IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10553949

47,000 miles · Nov 15, 2013

Engine

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FUEL LEAK A/P MINI SERVICE; NOT COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY; AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ADVISED SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPORTED DESIGN FLAW IN CRIMP DEVICE HOLDING OIL LINE CONNECTING TO TURBO. ADVISED BY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TURBO UNIT DEFECTIVE, NEEDS REPLACEMENT. MINI OF FAIRFIELD RETURNED VEHICLE IN AN UNSAFE MANNER WITH STRIPPED BOLTS AND IMPROPER PLACEMENT OF OIL PAN. AFTER CALLING BMW OF NORTH AMERICA MINI OF FAIRFIELD DECIDED TO CHANGE OIL LINES WITHOUT CHANGING TURBO UNIT. ON DRIVING VEHICLE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD; VEHICLE REVVING IN PARK, AND A METALLIC SOUND COMING FROM UNDER VEHICLE; RETURNED TO MINI SERVICE AND AFTER FURTHER EVALUATION (DIAGNOSTIC FEE $100)I WAS ADVISED THAT CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE; I TRIED 2 DIFFERENT MINI SERVICE DEPARTMENTS NEITHER WOULD REPLACE TURBO UNIT CONSIDERING THE FIRE HAZARD AS REPORTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10552320

31,059 miles · Nov 11, 2013

Engine

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON....EXCESSIVE CARBON BUILD UP. HAPPENED AGAIN AT 68K MILES .... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10551799

28,000 miles · Nov 10, 2013

Engine

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I PURCHASED THIS CAR WITH 24K MILES ON IT. IT NOW HAS A LITTLE OVER 28K MILES. IT HAS BEEN STARTING AND RUNNING JUST FINE, UNTIL THE WEATHER TURNED COLDER. NOW IF THE CAR SITS OUTSIDE FOR A FEW HOURS WITH THE TEMP BELOW ABOUT 45 DEGREES, THE ENGINE RATTLES AND SOUNDS HORRIBLE WHEN I FIRST START IT. THIS IS A VERY LOUD RATTLE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE NOISE IS SO BAD THAT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT WARMS UP AND THE SOUND GOES AWAY. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH ONLINE, I AM SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AND GUIDE SYSTEM. I WISH I HAD RESEARCHED THESE CARS BEFORE MAKING A PURCHASE BECAUSE NOW I OWN AN EXPENSIVE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10551696

63,931 miles · Nov 4, 2013

Engine

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TIMING CHAIN BROKE..I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD ON MY WAY HOME COMING TO A STOP SIGN SLOWING MY SPEED LUCKILY TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN I HEARD AN AWFUL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I TRIED MAKING MY LEFT TURN WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND IT STARTED SPUTTERING VERY SLOWLY MOVING. I MADE IT HOME SPUTTERING..LUCKILY WAS CLOSE TO HOME OTHERWISE I WOULD HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. AFTER SOME LONG AND FRUSTRATING TROUBLESHOOTING FROM A NICE NEIGHBOR, HE FOUND OUT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN CAUSING SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS. HE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT IT HAD VERY LITTLE OR NO OIL. WHICH I HAD NO INDICATION FROM THE CAR COMPUTER THAT IT WAS EVEN LOW. THIS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM BUT AGAIN I HAD NO CAR INDICATION. IT WILL COST ME AT LEAST $7000.00 FOR COST AND LABOR TO FIX SINCE IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY OR NOT EVEN SURE IF IT'S COVERED...THIS IS MY 3RD MINI..FIRST ONE WAS A LEASED ONE AND I UPGRADED TO A MINI S WHEN THE LEASE WAS OVER AND LEASED ANOTHER ONE. I BOUGHT THIS ONE WHEN THE SECOND LEASE WAS OVER..EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS ONE..I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. EVERYTHING IS DOCUMENTED ON HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE TAKEN IT IN...SO VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS ONE!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10550801

86,000 miles · Oct 23, 2013

EngineVehicle Speed Control

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TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AS I WAS CROSSING A MAJOR HIGHWAY, CAR TOWED TO LOCAL BMW CERTIFIED MECHANIC, SHOWS TIMING CHAIN MISFIRE, NEEDS TOTAL REPLACEMENT WITH MULTIPLE COMPONENTS NEEDING REPLACED DUE TO TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM. 3300$ WORTH OF DAMAGE TO ENGINE. APPARENT PROBLEM WITH TIMING CHAIN ON THOUSANDS OF MINI COOPER AND THEY HAVE NOT CALLED A RECALL ON THE PIECE. THIS WAS ALMOST A MAJOR ACCIDENT FOR ME AND IS CAUSING ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE AND MAJOR INCONVENIENCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10549028

57,010 miles · Sep 25, 2013

Engine

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UPON STARTUP OF THE ENGINE, THERE IS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. A VERY UNHEALTHY SOUND. SOUND IS UNUSUAL FOR ANY GAS ENGINE, LET ALONE ONE WITH ONLY 57,000 MILES. *JS SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR OTHER MINI COOPERS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. MANY COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET FOR EXACTLY THIS PROBLEM. MANY OWNERS REPORTING EARLY ENGINE FAILURE, AS EARLY AS 12,000 MILES REPORTED BY A MINI DEALER IN MAINE. MOST OWNERS ARE SEEING THE PROBLEM WITH 40-50,000+ MILES. THE LOCAL MINI DEALER SAYS THE REPAIR IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, AND REPAIRS ARE APPROX. $2,000. TIMING CHAINS USUALLY DO NOT NEED REPLACEMENT EVEN AFTER 100,000 OF USE, SOME CARS NEVER REPLACE TIMING CHAINS UNTIL 200,000 MILES. THIS CAR SEEMS TO EAT TIMING CHAINS AROUND 40-50,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10545381

35,100 miles · Aug 15, 2013

EngineUnknown Or Other

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STARTED TO HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ISSUE WITH THE TIME CHAIN. SO BENT OUT OF SHAPE THAT THE CHAIN ALMOST BROKE. I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT ON TOP OF CHANGING MY OIL AND GETTING MY CAR SERVICED EVERYTIME IT NEED IT SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS WOULD EVEN HAPPEN. WHEN RESEARCHING MY PROBLEM I SAW THAT ITS EXTREMELY COMMON FOR MODELS SINCE 2007+ TO EXPERIENCE THIS. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THERE'S NO REASON FOR A OWNER TO HAVE TO PAY 200-2000 DOLLARS WHEN THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT WITH SERVICING AND OIL CHANGES ETC. IM JUST GLAD I WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO ME BECAUSE HAVING YOUR ENGINE BELT BREAK IN A BUSY HIGHWAY DOESN'T SOUND SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10535644

55,177 miles · Aug 2, 2013

Engine

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THIRD COMPLAINT AND COUNTING..... I WENT TO START MY MINI, ONLY TO NOTICE IT WAS LEAKING OIL HEAVILY UNDER MY CAR. I BROUGHT IT TO MY REPAIR SHOP WHO TOLD ME IT MIGHT BE THE O RING. THEY REPLACED IT AND TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK A WEEK LATER. I RETURNED FRIDAY JULY 19TH TO HAVE THEM LOOK UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WAS OIL EVERYWHERE. ALL OVER THE ENGINE. THE SEAL WAS FINE! IT TURNS OUT THE VACUUM PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND POSSIBLY THE TIMING CHAIN AT A LATER DATE. THE COST FOR THE PUMP AND LABOR IS $574.00. SO FAR I HAVE SPENT ALMOST $4000.00 ON REPAIRS. I DON'T HAVE AN ESTIMATE FOR THE TIMING CHAIN, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE. I ONLY BOUGHT MY MINI IN FEBRUARY AT 49K MILES AND SHE'S BEEN IN THE SHOP LONGER THAN SHE'S BEEN DRIVEN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANY MORE AND WISH THAT BMW/MINI WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ALL R56 ENGINES ARE DEFECTIVE. IF I KNOWN I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT ANOTHER BETTER RELIABLE CAR THAN A MINI AND THAT IS COMING FROM A PERSON WHO LOVES MY MINI. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533173

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.

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