2009 Mini COOPER S CONVERTIBLE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
47,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 9 complaints (77.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 1 | 11.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 11.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 11.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 7 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Seats | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Engine: 7; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 2; Air Bags: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Power Train: 1; Seats: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 3; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10473711 · 2012-09-04 (September 4, 2012)
CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING AS I WAS DRIVING (TWICE THIS HAS HAPPENED - IN A BEND IN THE ROAD--VERY SCARY). ALSO, AROUND THIS TIME, COULD NOT START UP THE CAR--CAR ENGINE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN OVER BUT WOULDN'T UNTIL ABOUT MY 6TH ATTEMPT. I NEVER HAD PROBLEMS STARTING MY CAR BEFORE. I MIGHT ADD THAT RECENTLY, BEFORE I HAD THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE THE FAST PICK UP THAT IT USE TO. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10473711 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10660239 · 2014-11-22 (November 22, 2014)
FLUID LEAK UNDER CAR. WATER PUMP FAILURE. DEALER SAID THIS CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL ALTHOUGH OTHER CARS OF THE EXACT MODEL AND YEAR WERE? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 41,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10660239 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10672011 · 2015-01-12 (January 12, 2015)
I BOUGHT MY USED 2009 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE ON DECEMBER 13, 2012. APPROXIMATELY 10 MONTHS LATER ON OCTOBER 16, 2013, I NOTICED AN OIL LEAK AND A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BROUGHT IT TO FLETCHER'S TIRE & AUTO OFF 27TH DRIVE AND CAREFREE HWY AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT HOUSING UNIT AS THE REASON FOR THE LEAK AND ENGINE LIGHT. I PAID FOR THE REPAIRS TO MADE. ADDITIONALLY, HAD THE FRONT TIRES REPLACED AS THEY WERE COMPLETELY WORN. TWO MONTHS LATER ON DECEMBER 7TH, 2013, THE CAR BROKE DOWN ON C…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10672011 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10732793 · 2015-07-08 (July 8, 2015)
MOTOR WAS FINE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL THE OIL DRAINED OUT AND THE MOTOR DIED ALL AT ONCE NO LIGHT NO ALERTS JUST WORKING FINE ONE MIN COMPLETE DESTROYED THE NEXT THEY WANT 10K TO REPLACE IT AND THE WARRANTY COMPANY DEMANDS I PAY 3400 TO HAVE THE OLD MOTOR TESTED TO PROVE IT FAILED DESPITE THE MECHANIC SAYING IT HAS AND HEARING A KNOCKING OF THE RODS ON THE LOWER HALF OF THE MOTOR MINI COOPER VEHICLES: 2007 THROUGH 2010 HARDTOP (R56), 2008 THROUGH 2010 CLUBMAN (R55), AND 2009 THROUGH 2010 CONVERTIBLE (R57) (COLLECTIVELY, THE DEFECTIVE …
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10732793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10816908 · 2015-12-29 (December 29, 2015)
I OWN A 2009 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. I BOUGHT IT 4 MONTHS AGO. I WAS DRIVING ON I35 GOING TO AUSTIN THE 26TH OF DECEMBER 2015. THE VEHICLE DIED WITHOUT A WARNING WHILE IN MOTION. I TURNED THE HAZARDS ON IMMEDIATELY DUE TO THE DANGEROUS SITUATION I WAS IN. THERE WAS NO SHOULDER TO THE RIGHT; I LET THE CAR COAST UNTIL I SAW THAT I COULD SAFELY STOP. A SAN MARCOS COP CAME TO HELP PUSH THE CAR FURTHER IN TO SAFETY BEFORE THE ELECTRICITY OF THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND MY KEY FOB WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. I HAD IT TOWED TO A BMW REPA…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,486 miles reported. Look up ODI 10816908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10818808 · 2016-01-07 (January 7, 2016)
THIS IS THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT THAT I HAD ABOUT THE 2009 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE 2 WEEKS AGO WHICH HAS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TODAY FROM THE CERTIFIED BMW MECHANIC HERE IN AUSTIN. MANUFACTURER: BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NO. (VIN): WMWMS33589T... SUMMARY: " I OWN A 2009 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. I BOUGHT IT 4 MONTHS AGO. I WAS DRIVING ON I35 GOING TO AUSTIN THE 26TH OF DECEMBER 2015. THE VEHICLE DIED WITHOUT A WARNING WHILE IN MOTION. I TURNED THE HAZARDS ON IMMEDIATELY...SAW THAT I COULD SAFELY STOP. A SAN MARCOS…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,486 miles reported. Look up ODI 10818808 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10895179 · 2016-08-11 (August 11, 2016)
I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. IT CURRENTLY HAS THE AIR BAG PASSENGER SEAT ON AND IT STATES THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THIS WAS A MAYOR RECALL TO OVER 100,000 MINI COOPERS BUT MINE WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE SEAT SENSOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND THIS THEREFORE DOES NOT ACTIVATE THE AIRBAG. IF THERE WERE AN ACCIDENT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD NOT EJECT. THIS IS A PROBLEM ON 100,000 AND MY VEHICLE HAS THE PROBLEM BUT IT IS NOT UNDER THE RECALL. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? WH…
Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10895179 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10937324 · 2016-12-24 (December 24, 2016)
ENGINE KNOCKING WHEN STAR TIMING BELT PART BROKEN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10937324 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
12V008000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗