repaired · 2026 Q1
Electrical system
Risk. An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
2009 MINI CooperProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 151 owner complaints about the 2009 MINI Cooper, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 1 safety recall, and for recall 23V-337 the manufacturer reports only 19% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 5, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2009 MINI Cooper has problems
151 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
62Air bags1 crash/fire/injury
46Engine6 crash/fire/injury
25Electrical system6 crash/fire/injury
8Seat belts
5Power train
5Fuel/propulsion system
4Steering
4Engine and engine cooling
4Seats
179 other systems5 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 62 | 1 |
| Engine | 46 | 6 |
| Electrical system | 25 | 6 |
| Seat belts | 8 | 0 |
| Power train | 5 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 1 |
| Steering | 4 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 0 |
| Seats | 4 | 0 |
| 9 other systems | 17 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1 recall
2009 MINI Cooper 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.
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 air bags problems start?
69kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 50 air bags complaints. 82% were reported before 100,000 miles.
6under 30k miles41under 100k miles9100k 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.
Air bags
10 owners mentioned a cost$1,100median
Middle half: $1,025 – $1,230
Engine
9 owners mentioned a cost$2,000median
Middle half: $1,300 – $4,000
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 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 median. How we score
'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2009 MINI Cooper safety ratings
2009 MINI Cooper Convertible 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
In owners' words
What Cooper owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2009 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the seat belt warning light illuminated even though there was no passenger seated in the passenger’s seat. The contact stated that the warning light remained illuminated with the passenger’s seat…
The passenger occupancy seat sensor is defective (as reported by many other owners of this vehicle model). The sensor is very costly to replace in terms of parts ($1,500) and labor ($1,500) and MINI does not sell the sensor separately as it is embedded in the seat foam. The defective sensor does…
The contact owns a 2009 Mini Cooper. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the passenger occupant sensor light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the mat switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not…
Own a 2009 Cooper?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.