2009 Mini COOPER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
151 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 118 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 61 of 151 complaints (40.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 17 | 11.3% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 4.6% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 3.3% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 3.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 61 |
| Engine | 46 |
| Electrical System | 25 |
| Seat Belts | 8 |
| Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Power Train | 5 |
Air Bags: 61; Engine: 46; Electrical System: 25; Seat Belts: 8; Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Power Train: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 23 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 44 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 19 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 23; 50,000 to 74,999: 44; 75,000 to 99,999: 19; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 5
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (44). 33 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 13 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2016 | 29 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2010: 5; 2011: 4; 2012: 7; 2013: 13; 2014: 12; 2015: 23; 2016: 29; 2017: 12; 2018: 7; 2019: 7; 2020: 4; 2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 9; 2024: 9; 2025: 6; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 17 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 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 10311504 · 2010-02-17 (February 17, 2010)
2009 MINI COOPER. DRIVING ON HWY.101 WITH FLOW OF TRAFFIC (65-70 MPH) WITH WINDOWS UP. THE ROAD IS CLEAR AND FLAT (I.E., NO CONSTRUCTION). THE BACK SUNROOF JUST EXPLODED, SENDING FRAGMENT SHARDS OF GLASS BLOWING INTO MY CAR. DROVE TO NEAREST GAS STATION AND COVERED THE GAPING HOLE IN THE SUNROOF. WHEN I GOT HOME, I NOTICED THAT ALL EDGES OF THE BROKEN GLASS POINT OUTWARD. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING FOR THIS TO HAVE HAPPENED. THE EXPLOSION WAS INSTANTANEOUS AND FRIGHTENING. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY GLASS HIT OTHER CARS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10311504 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10328155 · 2010-04-29 (April 29, 2010)
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER MINI COOPER HARDTOP WITH GLASS SUN ROOF ON THE HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY THE GLASS SUN ROOF SHATTERED AND FELL OVER HER. THERE WAS NO CAR NEARBY OR ANY EXTERNAL OBJECT TO CAUSE THE DAMAGE. THE GLASS SUN ROOF JUST SHATTERED WITH A LOUD BAND. MY WIFE WAS INJURED DUE TO THE GLASS FALLING OVER HER AND SOME OF THE PIECES WENT INTO HER AND BRUISED HER FOREARM. THE GLASS SUNROOF WAS NOT TEMPERED AND THE PIECES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY LARGE WITH SHARP EDGES. IT FELL OVER HER BODY AND HIT HER HEAD FIRST. SHE SUFFERED HEAD INJURY ALSO…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328155 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10349086 · 2010-08-12 (August 12, 2010)
A 2009 MINI COOPER CLUTCH WAS DEFECTIVE WAS REPLACED IN MAY OF 2010 AND IN AUGUST OF 2010 THE CLUTCH WENT AGAIN AND THIS TIME BURNT THE FLY WHEEL. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED SAFETY OF PASSENGER WAS COMPROMISED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10349086 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10353116 · 2010-08-31 (August 31, 2010)
I HAVE A MINI COOPER 2009 WHICH TODAY MARKS A YEAR OF PURCHASE, FOR ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS HAS BEEN LEADING THE WARRANTY SERVICE DUE TO FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAG PASSENGER AND THE CAR TURNS OFF WHILE USING. UNFORTUNATELY TO GET THE CAR TO SERVICE NEVER CAN DIAGNOSE THE FAULT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 21,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10353116 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10360436 · 2010-10-14 (October 14, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 62 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER WAS DISPLAYING A READING OF 70 MPH. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE SPEEDOMETERS ALL OF THE VEHICLES WERE 10% OFF AND THERE WAS NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10360436 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10380019 · 2011-02-02 (February 2, 2011)
I FILLED OUT YOUR SAFETY COMPLAINT PORTABLE FROM BUT COULD NOT SUBMIT IT. WHEN I USED THE LINK ON THE PDF FORM, IT TOLD ME THERE WAS NO SUCH ADDRESS, AND WHEN I USED THE LINK IN THE COVERING E-MAIL, I REPEATEDLY RECEIVED THE MESSAGE "FILE SELECTED IS NOT A PORTABLE FORM!." IS THERE ANOTHER WAY TO SUBMIT IT? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10380019 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10380205 · 2011-02-04 (February 4, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ILLUMINATION RANGE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THEY ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO ILLUMINATE THAT WAY SO OTHER DRIVERS ARE NOT BLINDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE BUT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ILLUMINATION RANGE . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY DO NOT ILLUMINATE FAR ENOUGH TO SEE IN FRONT OF HIM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,900.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10380205 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10380661 · 2011-02-04 (February 4, 2011)
2009 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER STATES THAT CLUTCH WAS COMPROMISED AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TOWED. SHE WOULD LIKE THIS ISSUE TO BE LOOKED INTO. SHE PAID TO HAVE THE FLYWHEEL REPLACED. *KB THE FLYWHEEL WAS REPLACED TWICE WITHIN THREE MONTHS. THE SECOND TIME THE FLYWHEEL WAS REPLACED, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS BURNT AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10380661 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.
23V337000 · Electrical System
Reported: 2023-05-11 (May 11, 2023)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2014 MINI Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Clubman John Cooper Works, and 2007-2013 MINI Hardtop 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, and John Cooper Works vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. The electronic control module in the driver's side footwell area may short-circuit, due to corrosion from water and road salt.
Consequence: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the sunroof drains, interior footwell area, and FRM and, depending upon the results of the inspection, certain components will be replaced. Owner notification letters were mailed May 13, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
NHTSA campaign record ↗