MINI Cooper Engine Problems
Owners have filed 255 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the MINI Cooper across 20 model years. The 2009 model year has the most (46). The words owners use most often: “timing chain” (29% of reports).
- 255engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $2,800typical repair cost reported by owners
- 41%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 74 of 255 complaints (29%)
- Water pump: mentioned in 17 of 255 complaints (7%)
- Class action: mentioned in 15 of 255 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 at $2,800, and half of them between $1,950 and $6,900.
Based on 29 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2025), 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 184 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 255 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 29 a fire, 4 an injury.
MINI Cooper engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Cooper | 1 | 100% | — |
| 2023 Cooper | 1 | 14% | — |
| 2019 Cooper | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2018 Cooper | 1 | 13% | — |
| 2017 Cooper | 6 | 21% | 5,095 |
| 2016 Cooper | 10 | 36% | — |
| 2015 Cooper | 14 | 25% | 37,499 |
| 2014 Cooper | 8 | 24% | 15,000 |
| 2013 Cooper | 4 | 9% | 41,000 |
| 2012 Cooper | 17 | 26% | 53,000 |
| 2011 Cooper | 12 | 14% | 65,000 |
| 2010 Cooper | 32 | 35% | 61,000 |
| 2009 Cooper | 46 | 30% | 65,000 |
| 2008 Cooper | 44 | 38% | 63,500 |
| 2007 Cooper | 30 | 26% | 76,000 |
| 2006 Cooper | 10 | 5% | 73,000 |
| 2005 Cooper | 6 | 2% | 71,273 |
| 2004 Cooper | 4 | 1% | 71,000 |
| 2003 Cooper | 7 | 2% | 90,500 |
| 2002 Cooper | 1 | 1% | 118,457 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
About two weeks ago while driving on a major highway the mini cooper suddenly died without warning. The power steering quit making the vehicle extremely difficult to steer. The car would not start. The only thing I could do was push it off the road which I did with the help of a person behind me.i…
2015 and 2016 Hard top Mini Coopers, Standard (F55) are prone to their environmental air catalyst sensor breaking, causing a check engine light and emissions issues. The remedy is replacing the entire radiator. This occurred on my vehicle at only 40,000 miles. MINI is aware of the issue, but only…
My vehicle has active VANOS failure codes (131401 and 130304). These codes are preventing my car from passing the New York State safety and emissions inspection, rendering it legally unable to be used on the road. BMW/MINI Corporate is refusing to honor their national extended component warranty…
The malfunction indicator lamp light is on (MIL) with the following fault code stored in the DME: Fault code Control module Fault code text 1B8302 DME LIN bus, communication (EAC sensor): missing Problem verified. Don't know if car will quit on the highway. Mini recall for exact problem and…
The motor mounts have been replaced twice in the last six years and per the dealer, This is normal which I find very hard to believe on a 2017 Mini Coop of convertible, with 90,000
Frequently asked questions
Do all MINI Coopers have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 255 owner complaints about engine for the MINI Cooper. 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 engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall 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?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,800 (half paid between $1,950 and $6,900), from 29 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the MINI Cooper?
The most frequent phrase is “timing chain”, in 74 of 255 complaints, followed by “water pump” (17).
Other MINI Cooper problems
- Steering problems (817)
- Air Bags problems (417)
- Electrical System problems (313)
- Power Train problems (280)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (102)
See all MINI Cooper problems.