2009 Mini Cooper Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

46Engine complaints

30.7%Of all 150 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS61 · 40.7%

ENGINE46 · 30.7%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM24 · 16%

SEAT BELTS8 · 5.3%

Unspecified / other6 · 4%

Share of the 150 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2009 Mini Cooper overview page.

What owners report

“MY CAR STARTED OFF WITH A ROUGH IDLE AND OCCASIONALLY WOULDN'T START. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR BECAME JERKY WHILE DRIVING. IT…”NHTSA complaint 11223064 — filed 06/27/2019

“LIGHT IS COMING ON AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTS SMOOTHLY BUT WHEN YOU DECELERATE IT BUCKS DOWN. IT HAPPENS ANYWHERE ON THE ROADS WHEN DRIVING AND YOU…”NHTSA complaint 11133209 — filed 10/03/2018

“2009 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AND VEHICLE ENGINE FAILURE. *SMD”NHTSA complaint 10863888 — filed 03/30/2018

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Mini Cooper have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2009 Mini Cooper: 46 of 150 complaints on file (30.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2009 Mini Cooper have in total?

150 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 1 involved a crash, 11 involved a fire, 5 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.