repaired · 2026 Q1
Electrical system
Risk. An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
2009 MINI Cooper SProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 119 owner complaints about the 2009 MINI Cooper S, most often about the engine. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-337 the manufacturer reports only 19% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 17, 2024. Updated daily. Photo: Chris Yarzab from , USA, CC BY 2.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2009 MINI Cooper S has problems
119 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
65Engine1 crash/fire/injury
17Air bags2 crash/fire/injury
16Power train
15Engine and engine cooling1 crash/fire/injury
13Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
4Seat belts
4Seats
3Vehicle speed control
3Fuel/propulsion system
64 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 65 | 1 |
| Air bags | 17 | 2 |
| Power train | 16 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 15 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 13 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 4 | 1 |
| Seats | 4 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 0 |
| 4 other systems | 6 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2009 MINI Cooper S recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2019 Q3
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Risk. If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.
no report yet
Gasoline: turbo/supercharger
Risk. THE CIRCUIT BOARD MAY SMOLDER WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with MINI.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
55kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 60 engine complaints. 92% were reported before 100,000 miles.
4under 30k miles55under 100k miles5100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
15 owners mentioned a cost$4,000median
Middle half: $2,250 – $5,097
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2009 vs. every other Cooper S year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Cooper S median. How we score
'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'19'20'21'22'24'25
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2009 MINI Cooper S safety ratings
2009 MINI Cooper S w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: Optional
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2009 MINI Cooper S, and the recalls they led to.
- Engine compartment fireLed to recall 12V-008
In owners' words
What Cooper S owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
THERE IS A COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE IN MY CAR THAT HAS CAUSED CYLINDER HEAD ISSUES AND HEAD GASKET ISSUES. EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS A 2009, IT ONLY HAS ABOUT 53,000 MILES. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN DECEMBER 2019 AND IN JANUARY 2020 THE CAR OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING AND THEN I NOTICED THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING…
THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FAILED AND CAUSED THE CIRCUIT BOARD TO OVERHEAT. IF THE CIRCUIT BOARD WERE TO OVERHEAT, IT CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A FIRE. OTHER OBSERVATION: MISFIRE PRESENT AT SEVERAL CYLINDERS. INTAKE PORTS CARBONIZED.
DAILY ON COLD STARTS, THE CAR MISFIRES AND STALLS 2-20 TIMES BEFORE IT STARTS. THIS HAS JUST STARTED HAPPENING IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS.
Own a 2009 Cooper S?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.