MINI Cooper S Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 186 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the MINI Cooper S across 11 model years. The 2007 model year has the most (79). The words owners use most often: “timing chain” (29% of reports).
- 186engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 14mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- $3,700typical repair cost reported by owners
- 29%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Timing chain: mentioned in 54 of 186 complaints (29%)
- Cold start: mentioned in 23 of 186 complaints (12%)
- Water pump: mentioned in 14 of 186 complaints (8%)
- Fire department: mentioned in 10 of 186 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the MINI Cooper S at $3,700, and half of them between $2,900 and $8,900.
Based on 11 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2010–2013), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 165 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 186 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 17 a fire, 14 an injury.
MINI Cooper S engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Cooper S | 1 | 100% | 12,625 |
| 2011 Cooper S | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2010 Cooper S | 6 | 10% | 32,000 |
| 2009 Cooper S | 15 | 13% | 31,621 |
| 2008 Cooper S | 43 | 26% | 36,068 |
| 2007 Cooper S | 79 | 32% | 43,250 |
| 2006 Cooper S | 15 | 8% | 33,063 |
| 2005 Cooper S | 8 | 3% | 62,965 |
| 2004 Cooper S | 3 | 1% | 60,950 |
| 2003 Cooper S | 10 | 5% | 28,639 |
| 2002 Cooper S | 5 | 6% | 43,072 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Model years: 2019
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 540d xDrive vehicles. The crankshaft sensor may be equipped with incorrect firmware, preventing the sensor from properly processing input from the crankshaft reluctor ring, possibly resulting in a vehicle stall. On September 12, 2018, BMW expanded the recall to a total of 5,309 vehicles including certain 2018-2019 BMW 540d xDrive, 230i M240i, M240i xDrive, X2 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 330i, 330i xDrive, 340i, 340i xDrive, 330i xDrive Gran Turismo, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 530e, 530e xDrive, 640i xDrive Gran Turismo, 330e, 2019 430i Gran Coupe, 430i xDrive Gran Coupe, 440i Gran Coupe, 440i xDrive Gran Coupe, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, 740i, 740i xDrive, MINI Cooper, Cooper S, JCW, MINI Countryman (Cooper, Cooper All4, Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW All4), and MINI Clubman (Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, JCW All4) vehicles.
Risk: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft sensor, free of charge. The recall began September 6, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Engine and engine cooling:engine; engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger
Model years: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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:gasoline:turbo/supercharger
Model years: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Problem: 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.
Risk: The circuit board may smolder which could result in a vehicle fire.
Fix: 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.
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
Model years: 2007, 2008
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the tailpipe extension is hot during inadvertent contact, a burn could occur.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2024 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that a brake pad failure message was illuminated on the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed the brake fluid service issue. The brake fluid flush was completed, and a complimentary oil change was provided. Two days…
The contact owns a 2011 Mini Cooper S. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V248000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for…
Oil feed line going into turbo is leaking oil directly onto turbo. Mini uses a rubber o ring that is connected to a very hot turbo and o ring will fail on all mini coopers with a turbo. When this rubber o ring fails it will leak oil directly onto hot turbo and cause a fire. I think it's in the…
The timing chain failed, found to be sheared through. *tr
A "pop" was heard when i was driving my vehicle on i95. I was able to pull over to the side considering when the "pop" occurred, my mini lost power. As i was pulled over, the vehicle burst into flames. *tr
Frequently asked questions
Do all MINI Cooper Ss have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 186 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the MINI Cooper S. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the MINI Cooper S engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the MINI Cooper S?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,700 (half paid between $2,900 and $8,900), from 11 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the MINI Cooper S?
The most frequent phrase is “timing chain”, in 54 of 186 complaints, followed by “cold start” (23).
Other MINI Cooper S problems
- Steering problems (669)
- Engine problems (339)
- Air Bags problems (260)
- Electrical System problems (172)
- Power Train problems (114)
See all MINI Cooper S problems.