FaultScore

Mini Cooper Clubman engine problems

36 of the 172 complaints filed about the Mini Cooper Clubman are about the engine — 21% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2009.

36

Complaints

21%

Share of all complaints

0

Crashes

3

Fires

Engine & Cooling complaints by model year

Median failure at 80,000 miles

Median failure at 73,500 miles

Median failure at 64,000 miles

Median failure at 18,600 miles

What owners said

2010 Mini Cooper Clubman at 106,059 miles Shorewood, IL

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2010 Mini Cooper Clubman. The contact stated that there were electrical wires exposed. The contact stated that the lights, windows, and brake lights were inoperable. The Service Soon message was displayed. Additionally, the air bag, and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The exclamation and A symbol were displayed. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 106,059.

NHTSA complaint #11647428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Mini Cooper Clubman Eureka, KS

ENGINE

When heading out of town, car wouldn’t accelerate even when I push on the gas so pulled over. Engine light came on for like 2 seconds. There wasn’t any warning lights prior to this incident. It won’t start at all which I know I need a new battery but I can’t figure out what else is wrong. I’ve called mini dealerships near me but they don’t have any remades I’d have to pay out of pocket which I can’t afford the part that recalled. That is my only vehicle I tried to wait until it was but I’m relying on coworkers to take me to work. I had my 2 children with me luckily we weren’t far out of town. I haven’t been able to take it anywhere since.

NHTSA complaint #11565610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Mini Cooper Clubman Santa Ana, CA

ENGINE

Engine quits while driving causing an unsafe condition. The car stopped numerous times while on the freeway. It starts back up but stalls again later. There are no check engine lights and the local repair shop indicates that it may be a problem with the Footwell Computer Mudule and specifically the soldering on the Low Pressure Fuel Pump Relay causing it to intermittently fail.

NHTSA complaint #11456094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Mini Cooper Clubman Beacon, NY Fire

ENGINE

I bought the car used 10 days ago, 3 days ago, the electrical indicator flashed, so I parked the car. I thought it was a glitch. It was very rainy. I woke up the next morning and it had spontaneously combusted on the inside driver's footwell, obvious flames had been on windows and whole car reeks of smoke. I cant even get inside of the car with the physical key. I could have been inside when the car caught fire. I work with children and just got the car... hadn't put a car seat in yet. To think that a physical key literally doesn't work and the car caught fire in teh electrical and is now (to my knowledge) totaled...makes me sick. BMW / MINI has yet to get get back to me, no one has inspected the car, it hasn't been moved....can't move. The dealership refuses to take responsibility. Obviously I'm distraught and thankful I wasn't in the car. I have read several articles about this exact thing happening to other BMW / MINI owners. Please help. I literally haven't even paid the taxes yet.

NHTSA complaint #11438644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Mini Cooper Clubman at 151,000 miles Council Bluffs, IA

ENGINE

I PURCHASED A 2008 CLUBMAN AND IT'S THE NON-TURBO BUT THE ENGINE HAS AN ISSUE WITH MULTIPLE MISFIRE CODES BEING SENT OUT TO THE OBD2 READER AS WELL AS SOME ECU CODES THAT IMPLY WEAK FUEL PRESSURE AND WHEN LOOKING UP AND TRYING TO FIND HOW TO REPLACE THE FUEL PRESSURE PUMP THEN I REALIZED I WAS NOT ALONE IN THIS ISSUE AND WONDER IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THE THOUGHT TO ACTUALLY FILE A COMPLAINT SO THAT WAY SOMETHING CAN BE DONE SINCE IT'S A VERY FAULTY THING AND MOST OF THESE HAVE HAD ISSUES FROM 30000 MILES ABOUT BUT THEN FOR ALL THE OTHERS THAT ALSO HAVE IT AFTER THE WARRANTY DROPS TO INTENTIONALLY PUT IN A FAULTY PART I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S ILLEGAL OR NOT BUT IT SHOULD BE. I DO NO THAT IF THEY PUT IN ENOUGH FAULTY PARTS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL MADE IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT THEY ARE AT FAULT AND NOT THE PEOPLE BUYING THEM OR MISTREATING OR NOT MAINTAINING ETC ETC... I STRONGLY URGE ANYONE ELSE THAT'S HAD THIS ISSUE TO ALSO MAKE YOUR OWN COMPLAINT IF IT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAD TO BUY A NEW CAR BECAUSE OF IT.

NHTSA complaint #11329486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Mini Cooper Clubman at 101,463 miles South Haven, MI

ENGINE

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2010 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN ON AN INTERSTATE IN MICHIGAN IN APRIL 2018 GOING 70 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE JUST QUIT, LOSING ALL POWER. I WAS FOLLOWING HER IN A VEHICLE THAT I HAD JUST PURCHASED SO I PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE BEHIND HER. THERE WAS NOT ANY INDICATION OF EXTERNAL LIQUIDS ESCAPING THE ENGINE SO AFTER 15 MINUTES OF EXAMINING THE VEHICLE I STARTED IT BACK UP AND DROVE THE 9 REMAINING MILES TO OUR HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT UNTIL I PARKED THE VEHICLE IN OUR GARAGE, LIFTED THE HOOD AND STEAM WAS COMING OUT OF THE OIL CAP WHEN I OPENED IT. I PROCEEDED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A FOREIGN IMPORT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $8,800 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AS THEY INDICATED THE ENGINE COOLANT HAD BECOME MIXED WITH THE ENGINE OIL. NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THE $8,800 AT THAT TIME I STORED THE MINI IN OUR BARN FOR A YEAR. NOT WANTING JUST TO JUNK THE CAR AFTER HAVING IT FOR ONLY 6 MONTHS BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILED, I DECIDED TO HAVE A FOREIGN IMPORT CAR REPAIR FACILITY REPLACE THE ENGINE AT A COST OF $7,300! AFTER EXPRESSING MY CONCERN ONCE IN AN EMAIL AND THEN IN A LETTER TO THE CEO OF MINI USA, MINI SAID THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING FOR ME. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. A CAR WITH 100,000 MILES ON IT AND HAVING BEEN WELL TAKEN CAR OF WITH A CARFAX TO SHOW THAT, SHOULD NOT HAVE A TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. UNFORTUNATELY I AM NOT THE ONLY CUSTOMER WITH THIS PROBLEM. THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF MINI COOPER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ENGINE FAILURE AS I HAVE. LOOKING AT ANY MINI COOPER FORUM OR EVEN ON MINI USA'S WEB SITE WILL SHOW ENGINE FAILURES AT AN ABNORMAL RATE. THE FACT THAT MINI IS STICKING THEIR HEAD IN THE SAND JUST SAYING THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY IS ABSURD. MINI NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DESIGN FLAWS IN THEIR VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #11258744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Mini Cooper Clubman at 145,000 miles Rochester, NY

ENGINE

REPLACED THERMOSTAT, HEATER STOPPED WORKING, VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHAT SEEMS TO BE A FAULTY WATER PUMP OR THERMOSTAT, CAR SMOKED INTENSELY DROVE SHORT DISTANCE- THERMOSTAT MELTED- MOTOR BLEW. THIS VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED***

NHTSA complaint #11174778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Mini Cooper Clubman Pearlcity, HI

ENGINE

TAMARA RECALL

NHTSA complaint #11161280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Mini Cooper Clubman at 15 miles Berkeley Springs, WV

ENGINE

CAR HAS JUST OVER 100000 MILES BUT HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY OVERHEATING (HAVE TO FILL TANK ALMOST EVERY DAY). CANNOT FIND OUT THE SOURCE, BUT I NOTICED A RECALL ON THE WATER PUMP ON OTHER SIMILAR MODELS, BUT VIN SEARCH SAID MINE WAS OKAY. I FEEL THIS IS AN ERROR. PLEASE INFORM ME OF MY NEXT STEP. GETTING VERY FRUSTRATED. I WOULDN'T CONSIDER THIS HIGH MILEAGE FOR THIS CAR, AND I TAKE CARE OF IT.

NHTSA complaint #11012947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Mini Cooper Clubman at 78,019 miles Delaware, OH

ENGINE

TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER HAS HAD ISSUES WHEN THE CAR HAS LOW MILES. REPLACED TENSIONER IN 2014 AND THEN AGAIN IN 2017 (2017 - ONLY 78,019 MILES). TIMING CHAIN HAD TO BE REPLACED IN 2017(AGAIN ONLY 78,019 MILES).

NHTSA complaint #11002621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Mini Cooper Clubman at 80,000 miles Knoxville, TN

ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. I PULLED OFF IN FIRST GEAR AND THE CAR DIED. SEVERAL OTHER DRIVERS HELPED ME PUSH MY CAR TO A SAFE LOT.I THEN HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT TO FIND THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND RUINED THE ENGINE. I BOUGHT THE CAR THROUGH CAR MAX WITH THEIR PRE OWNED, PRE CERTIFIED PROGRAM. MY CAR NOW HAS 80,000 MILES AS IT HAS SINCE MARCH 10TH 2017. I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS AND FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE PAYMENTS ON A CAR I CAN'T DRIVE. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE? ARE AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS NOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE. UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES, I COULD HAVE DIED OR BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED THAT DAY. THIS IS WIDESPREAD. THERE ARE LITERALLY 100S OF THOUSANDS OF MINI OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THE TIMING TENSIONER BREAKS CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN TO GIVE WAY. GOD FORBID THIS HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ENGLAND HAS RECALLED ALL THEIR MINI COOPERS A REPAIRED THEM. WHAT ABOUT AMERICA! SINCERELY,[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10992812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Mini Cooper Clubman at 98,218 miles Lorton, VA

ENGINE

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING LIGHT. THE ENGINE WAS/IS BURNING OIL. THE MINI STAFF TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THIS ENGINE. I NEED TO CHECK MY OIL LEVEL EVERY WEEK OR WHENEVER I FILL UP. KEEP PUTTING IN MORE OIL WHEN THE LEVEL GETS LOW. I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY FOR THEIR DESIGN FLAW. NO OFFER FROM MINI ABOUT REPLACING THE ENGINE. MINI TOLD ME TO WRITE TO HQ, WHICH I HAVE BUT NOTHING HAS COME OF IT. I AM TIRED OF PAYING FOR THEIR DESIGN FLAW AND I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKE.

NHTSA complaint #10969354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Mini Cooper Clubman at 79,226 miles Panama City Beach, FL

ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, AND THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION OF MY CAR, THE VALVES WERE CLATTERING AND HAD NO POWER.

NHTSA complaint #10946175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Mini Cooper Clubman at 40,000 miles Washington, DC

ENGINE

THE MINI COOPER CLUBMAN HAS A DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER THAT CAN CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND CRASHES. BMW HAS AGREED TO REPLACE THE CHAINS IN SOME MODELS, BUT NOT OTHERS, LEAVING OPEN THE POSSIBILITY OF CRASHES RELATED TO THE FAILURE OF THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. BMW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE PART SINCE 2008, WHEN THE COMPANY ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM; HOWEVER, FOLLOWING THE NOTICE, BMW FAILED TO ISSUE ANY RECALL OR PROVIDE COMPENSATION FOR THOSE WHO HAD ALREADY REPLACED THEIR CHAINS OR ENGINES. BMW'S FAILURE TO NOTIFY DRIVERS OF THIS PROBLEM IS A DANGER TO THE DRIVING PUBLIC.

NHTSA complaint #10910564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Mini Cooper Clubman at 34,200 miles LOS Angeles, CA

ENGINE

IVE PERSONALLY DRIVEN MY 2009 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN 11K MILES OF THE 34K IT HAS ON IT WITHOUT ANY ISSUE UNTIL ON JUNE 5TH, 2016 I PARKED IT NEAR MY WORK AND RETURNED TO IT THE NEXT MORNING.IT STARTED UP JUST FINE AND I JUST LET THE FIRST GEAR TAKE ME OUT OF THE PARKING GARAGE. THEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE ONCE ON THE ROAD AND NOTHING... NO POWER. I PUT THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND NOTHING. I PULLED OVER AND IT SOUNDED LIKE A LABORED, CLANKY, ROUGH IDLE. GOT IT TOWED TO A SHOP, DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED MAIN RELAY FAILURE AND SOMETHING ABOUT VALVETRONIC SERVOMOTOR AND LIMITATION AND PLAUSIBLE AIR MASS SENSOR ISSUE. MAIN RELAY PART REPLACED FOR $20.WORKED FINE AFTER THAT. EIGHTEEN DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. WENT HOME AND AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND SCARY POSSIBILITIES COULD HAPPEN WITH MY MINI RELATED TO THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEMS, AIR INTAKE, WATER PUMP AND TIMING CHAIN SENSOR WORST OF ALL. THINGS THAT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE IF FAILED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH OR IN AN INTERSECTION OR IN TRAFFIC! TO DATE, ILL BE RETURNING TO THE SHOP THAT HELPED MEET BAND AID THE PROBLEM, THEN TO MY REAL PROFESSIONAL TO HELP ME DIAGNOSE AND TREAT FURTHER POSSIBLE ISSUES.

NHTSA complaint #10881666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Mini Cooper Clubman at 80,352 miles Midlothia, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TIMING CHAIN GUIDE IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC. IT BROKE APART AND FELL IN PIECES INTO THE OIL PAN. IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10859741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Mini Cooper Clubman at 47,263 miles Philadelphia, PA

ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY HIGHWAY WHEN THE SMOKE STARTED POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE CAR STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING, OR SIGNAL LIGHTS APPEARING ON THE CONTROL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. I STOOD BACK, WATER FOR THE SMOKE TO CLEAR, AND TRIED TO RESTART BUT THE ENGINE WAS DEAD. I CALLED MY TOWING SERVICE AND HAD IT DELIVERED TO MY SERVICE GARAGE, MINI OF MAIN LINE, 130 MONTGOMERY AVENUE, BALA CYNWYD, PA. NO WARNING LIGHT EVER APPEARED, AND I WAS COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE CAR. THE GARAGE REPAIR ESTIMATE STATES THAT THE "WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT" FAILED. MY MINI COOPER MODEL IS NOT LISTED UNDER RECALL #12V008000, BUT THE CONSEQUENCE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THAT DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE: THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FAILED CAUSING THE ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT BOARD TO MALFUNCTION AND OVERHEAT.

NHTSA complaint #10851549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Mini Cooper Clubman at 91,000 miles Saint Louis, MO

ENGINE

THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF A STATE HIGHWAY WHILE GOING AT CRUISING SPEED OF 35MPH ON THE RIGHT MOST LATE, AND WITH ENGINE DEAD POWER STEERING BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE CAR TO THE SIDE. THE CAR WAS LITERALLY DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, WE HAD KIDS ON BOARD AND FOR A SMALL CAR, WE WERE REALLY THAT LUCKY PASSING CARS WERE ABLE TO SPOT US AND AVOID HITTING US. WHEN WE TOOK TOWED IT TO THE SHOP, THE ISSUE WAS THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD SNAPPED AND ALSO CRACKED THE ENGINE TOP COVER ON THE LEFT SIDE. ON SEARCHING THE INTERNET IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS THE "TIMING CHAIN, TENSIONER ISSUES" THAT BMW/MINI IS ALREADY AWARE OF HOWEVER THEY HAVE NOT YET DONE A RECALL. THERE WAS ALMOST NO WAY OF TELLING THERE WAS THIS PROBLEM BREWING WITH THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH NOW IN RETROSPECT THERE WERE A FEW TELL-TALE SIGNS, WHEN IT WAS COLD, WE HAD HEARD A RATTLE SOUND, WHICH WENT AWAY IMMEDIATELY. ALSO THE SAME DAY THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED WHEN STANDING AT A SIGNAL, BUT STARTED UP AGAIN. NOW WE REALIZE THAT THESE SIGNS WERE RELATED TO THE PROBLEM THAT OTHER USERS HAD COMPLAINED TOO BEFORE THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE.

NHTSA complaint #10849602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Mini Cooper Clubman at 85,000 miles West Reading PA, PA

ENGINE

LEAKING TURBO OIL FEED LINE. OIL FEED LINE LEAKS OIL CAUSING SMOKE AND STRONG SMELL.

NHTSA complaint #10839583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Mini Cooper Clubman at 64,000 miles Roachester, NY

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT COMPLETELY OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

NHTSA complaint #10809403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Mini Cooper Clubman problems