MINI Cooper S Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 114 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the MINI Cooper S across 15 model years. The 2007 model year has the most (26). The words owners use most often: “timing chain” (18% of reports).
- 114power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $11,400typical 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 21 of 114 complaints (18%)
- First gear: mentioned in 10 of 114 complaints (9%)
- Automatic transmission: mentioned in 9 of 114 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the MINI Cooper S at $11,400, and half of them between $3,100 and $12,200.
Based on 17 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2008–2018), 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 power train problems happen?
Based on 102 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 114 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 3 an injury.
MINI Cooper S power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Cooper S | 1 | 20% | 175 |
| 2016 Cooper S | 1 | 11% | 18,000 |
| 2015 Cooper S | 1 | 6% | 25,000 |
| 2014 Cooper S | 6 | 46% | 20,500 |
| 2013 Cooper S | 2 | 8% | 93,320 |
| 2012 Cooper S | 1 | 4% | — |
| 2010 Cooper S | 5 | 8% | 52,000 |
| 2009 Cooper S | 16 | 13% | 54,560 |
| 2008 Cooper S | 9 | 5% | 49,200 |
| 2007 Cooper S | 26 | 10% | 35,464 |
| 2006 Cooper S | 22 | 12% | 63,741 |
| 2005 Cooper S | 13 | 4% | 76,525 |
| 2004 Cooper S | 2 | 1% | 54,475 |
| 2003 Cooper S | 8 | 4% | 41,900 |
| 2002 Cooper S | 1 | 1% | 34,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Model years: 2014, 2015
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door, and Cooper S Hardtop 2 Door vehicles manufactured January 6, 2014, to October 17, 2014. During service appointments, dealers may have inadvertently reprogrammed the transmission control unit with software that may allow drivers to exit the vehicle when the transmission is not in Park. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk: If the driver exits the vehicle without the transmission being in Park, the vehicle could roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Fix: MINI will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control module with the correct software, free of charge. The recall February 4, 2015. Owners can contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
First gear pops out randomly, when it's beginning to move or after it started moving. It can go days without happening then it will happen multiple times in one day.
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 mini cooper s. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked on a hill of a driveway, fifteen minutes later the vehicle shifted out of park and rolled away. As a result, the vehicle crashed through the contact's garage door. There was no police report filed and no…
Vehicle was in motion at 55-60 mph. Vehicle cut off and would not start or turnover. 15 minutes of rest and car was started and rpms were fluttering. Mini cooper of grand rapids stated the timing chain was "most likely" "out". They also stated no goodwill assistance could be provided while…
The cars transmission jumps out of 1st gear when turning onto a city street or accelerating from a stoplight on a city street. I was almost rear ended 3 times this week and it's very dangerous. This has happened numerous times this past week and is a documented problem with the 2015 mini cooper s…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED CLASSIC MINI COOPER…
Frequently asked questions
Do all MINI Cooper Ss have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 114 owner complaints about power train 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 power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the MINI Cooper S?
Owners report a typical cost of $11,400 (half paid between $3,100 and $12,200), from 17 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the MINI Cooper S?
The most frequent phrase is “timing chain”, in 21 of 114 complaints, followed by “first gear” (10).
Other MINI Cooper S problems
- Steering problems (669)
- Engine problems (339)
- Air Bags problems (260)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (186)
- Electrical System problems (172)
See all MINI Cooper S problems.