2009 Mini COOPER S CLUBMAN: complaints, problems and recalls

I PARKED MY 2009 MINI CLUBMAN AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 10 MILES TO THE GROCERY STORE ROUND TRIP AND UNLOADED GROCERIES, WENT BACK OUT TO THE CAR AND IT WAS SMOKING WHITE SMOKE. FLAMES STARTED SHOOTING UP FROM THE ENGINE OVER THE WINDSHIELD AND IT PROGRESSED FROM THERE. THE SMOKE TURNED BLACK ALL WINDOWS WERE BLOWN OUT, FRONT TIRES MELTED AND BLOWN AND THE CAR WAS DECLARED AN OBVIOUS TOTAL LOSS. IT CAUGHT OUR HOME ON FIRE AND HAS CAUSED MORE THAN $50,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. PLEASE CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10346542 at NHTSA ↗

MY 2009 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN S WILL NOT ACCELERATE WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL IF I AM COASTING. THERE IS AN INITIAL DELAY, THEN THE ENGINE SPEEDS UP BUT THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE. SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN TRYING TO CHANGE LANES OR MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE DEALER SAYS THE CAR OPERATES AS DESIGNED... *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10362426 at NHTSA ↗

LOUD KNOCKING DIESEL SOUND ON COLD START. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10367340 at NHTSA ↗

TENSIONER FAILURE 44,406 MILES. CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE. ALMOST IN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF FAILURE. FROM DEALER LEARNED THAT AND OTHER MINI COOPER S HAD THE SAME FAILURE. MINI KNOWS OF THE TENSIONER PROBLEM AND HAS NOT FIXED IT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 44,406 miles reported. Look up ODI 10371949 at NHTSA ↗

I PARKED MY 2009 MINI CLUBMAN S ON A MODERATE HILL. AFTER 10 TO 15 MINUTES, WITH THE PARKING BRAKE FULLY ENGAGED AND THE CAR IN FIRST GEAR (STANDARD TRANSMISSION), THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARD DOWN THE HILL, STRUCK A CAR PARKED BEHIND IT, THEN PROCEEDED TO ROLL INTO A BUSY 3-LANE HIGHWAY. IF I HAD NOT BEEN STANDING 100 YARDS AWAY WITH A GROUP OF RUNNING MATES (WAITING ON A LATE ARRIVER), THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AS IT WAS, WE HEARD THE INITIAL COLLISION, SAW THE VEHICLE ROLLING INTO TRAFFIC, AND WERE ABLE TO…

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10382633 at NHTSA ↗

AFTER DRIVING TO WORK FOR 30 MINUTES, I PARKED MY CAR. I THOUGHT I SMELLED SOMETHING AS I WALKED AWAY, SO I STOPPED AN LOOKED, BUT I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. FIVE MINUTES AFTER WALKING INTO MY BUILDING, SOMEONE TOLD ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRST WITNESS TO SEE SOMETHING (A CO-WORKER) SAID HE SAW SOMETHING ON FIRE DROP FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. WHEN I RAN OUTSIDE, THE CAR WAS PUTTING OFF A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SMOKE. WE TRIED TO USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, TO NO END, AND WITHIN MINUTES WE WERE SEEING FLAMES. FIVE MINUTES LATER, THE FRONT OF THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 38,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10430619 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER S CLUBMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SOMEONE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE YELLOW AIR BAG LIGHT DOES NOT SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD SINCE THERE WAS NO ERROR CODE THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SAID THAT THE MANUAL STATED IF THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,600. UPDATED 03/14/12*LJ

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10447911 at NHTSA ↗

MULTIPLE TIMES, HOWEVER, NEVER WHEN THE DEALER LOOKS AT IT, MY "AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT COMES ON WHILE A PERSON OF ADEQUATE WEIGHT IS SITTING PROPERLY IN THE SEAT. ONCE IT COMES ON IT DOES NOT COME OFF UNTIL THE SEAT IS EMPTY OR THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. DEALER WON'T DO ANYTHING IF THERE ISN'T A FAULT CODE AND CAN NOT DUPLICATE ERROR. IT'S IN FOR THE FOURTH TIME FOR THIS PROBLEM. SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10448833 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2012-01-11 (January 11, 2012)

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.

Consequence: THE CIRCUIT BOARD MAY SMOLDER WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2018-04-18 (April 18, 2018)

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.

Consequence: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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.