YearToAvoid

2009 MINI Cooper Engine Problems

NHTSA has 51 owner complaints about engine problems in the 2009 MINI Cooper, 34% of all 151 complaints for this model year. That is #2 highest engine complaint count among 21 Cooper model years. These complaints report 1 crash and 6 fires. Median mileage at failure: 65,000 miles.

Engine complaints
51
34% of 151
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
6
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
65,000 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2009 MINI Cooper engine complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 4, 2011, latest Feb 5, 2024.

2009 MINI Cooper engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Feb 2011Feb 2013Dec 2013Nov 2014Apr 2015Jul 2016Jun 2017Oct 2019
51 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2011 to Feb 2024; peak Oct 2013 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2009 MINI Cooper

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Cooper model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200517 (5%)
  2. 200620 (10%)
  3. 200741 (35%)
  4. 200858 (50%)
  5. 200951 (34%)
  6. 201040 (43%)
  7. 201119 (23%)
  8. 201218 (27%)
  9. 20136 (13%)
  10. 201410 (29%)
  11. 201515 (27%)
  12. 201610 (36%)
  13. 20176 (21%)
  14. 20181 (13%)
  15. 20191 (8%)
  16. 20200 (0%)
  17. 20210 (0%)
  18. 20220 (0%)
  19. 20231 (14%)
  20. 20240 (0%)
  21. 20251 (100%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 MINI Cooper have engine problems?
NHTSA has 51 owner complaints about the engine in the 2009 MINI Cooper, 34% of all complaints for this model year, including 1 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 65,000 miles.
Which MINI Cooper year has the most engine complaints?
The 2008 MINI Cooper has the most engine complaints (58), compared with 51 for the 2009.
Is there a engine recall for the 2009 MINI Cooper?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2009 MINI Cooper is classified under engine. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.