MINI Cooper S Engine Problems
Owners have filed 339 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the MINI Cooper S across 18 model years. The 2007 model year has the most (94). The words owners use most often: “timing chain” (44% of reports).
- 339engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- $3,600typical repair cost reported by owners
- 46%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 148 of 339 complaints (44%)
- Water pump: mentioned in 25 of 339 complaints (7%)
- Oil feed: mentioned in 20 of 339 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the MINI Cooper S at $3,600, and half of them between $2,500 and $7,150.
Based on 65 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2024), 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 problems happen?
Based on 313 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 339 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 28 a fire, 4 an injury.
MINI Cooper S engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Cooper S | 2 | 40% | 1,400 |
| 2019 Cooper S | 1 | 20% | — |
| 2017 Cooper S | 2 | 33% | 58,000 |
| 2016 Cooper S | 4 | 44% | 42,000 |
| 2015 Cooper S | 3 | 17% | 42,621 |
| 2014 Cooper S | 3 | 23% | 6,000 |
| 2013 Cooper S | 7 | 29% | 62,137 |
| 2012 Cooper S | 4 | 17% | 78,500 |
| 2011 Cooper S | 16 | 52% | 60,000 |
| 2010 Cooper S | 37 | 63% | 65,000 |
| 2009 Cooper S | 65 | 55% | 55,177 |
| 2008 Cooper S | 78 | 46% | 54,834 |
| 2007 Cooper S | 94 | 38% | 65,000 |
| 2006 Cooper S | 7 | 4% | 68,750 |
| 2005 Cooper S | 8 | 3% | 75,763 |
| 2004 Cooper S | 2 | 1% | 140,772 |
| 2003 Cooper S | 5 | 2% | 72,000 |
| 2002 Cooper S | 1 | 1% | 60,000 |
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.
Starter started smoking at start up! And clutch failure at traffic light!!!! No accident occurred because of experienced driver!
The contact owns a 2017 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine was vibrating abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the passengerâs side engine mount needed to be replaced. The…
Front passenger side motor mount failed pretty terribly, the rubber completely slipped off the engine side mount leaving a severe engine vibration. The mount is very under engineered. Ours failed at 27,0000 miles.
I was pulling into a parking spot slowly and all of the sudden the car took off and took off and I couldnât stop and when I tried to sped hard on the break it wouldnât work and I lost control and my car wouldnât stop until it crashed into another vehicle that was sitting in another parking…
The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 40 MPH, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that the fuel pump was defective, and the fuel pump was…
Frequently asked questions
Do all MINI Cooper Ss have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 339 owner complaints about engine 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?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the MINI Cooper S?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,600 (half paid between $2,500 and $7,150), from 65 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the MINI Cooper S?
The most frequent phrase is “timing chain”, in 148 of 339 complaints, followed by “water pump” (25).
Other MINI Cooper S problems
- Steering problems (669)
- Air Bags problems (260)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (186)
- Electrical System problems (172)
- Power Train problems (114)
See all MINI Cooper S problems.