2010 Mini Cooper S Engine Problems

Which parts fail

• Engine
  1
• Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
  1

Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  13%
• 25k–50k
  924%
• 50k–75k
  1951%
• 75k–100k
  514%
• 100k–150k
  38%
• 150k+
  00%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Mini Cooper S owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2010 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the engine compartment, after which the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Mini Cooper s. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle overheated and the temperature gauge warning light illuminated. In addition, smoke and a burning oil odor emitted from under the hood. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. After the vehicle was serviced, the turn signals and windows failed to operate. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, but the diagnosis was unavailable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 66,568.

Mi vehculo Mini Cooper s 2010, estando estacionado en el garage por ms de 12 horas y sin prender el motor en ningn momento comenz a incendiarse sin ningn motivo. Por fortuna haba personas que alertaran de lo ocurrido y pude apagar el fuego en el vehculo, aunque ya haba consumido partes elctrica, de motor y cofre, etc. Cabe mencionar que esto sucedi en la ciudad de mxico, no en eua, pero ustedes tienen mejor informacin al respecto. Saludos.

Car driven two miles to market and returned home to high rise condo. Parked in garage of high rise. No problems noted during drive, parking or locking. Within 4-6 minutes, another resident in the garage reported a car on fire, hood/engine area to the management office. A 911 call sent out, took fire department ~ 1 1/2 hours to extinguish the blaze. Car has no history of any problems. Car in for tire rotation, oil change, gas gauge float replacement and xm radio antenna check six weeks earlier. Never any problems mechanically or electrically. Had manual transmission. No indication of any problems ever noted. I was in total disbelief when told my car had burned. Saw all the fire equipment from my unit and had no idea it was my car, had just been in it, and parked it as I always do. …

I was driving my 2010 Mini Cooper s 50-55 MPH when I heard a loud noise come from the engine compartment. From then on, the engine was making a rattling and clacking noise and the oil light eventually came on. Pulled over to the side of the road and got out to look at the car. Oil was all over the frontside and wheelwell of the car. All the oil had came out of the engine. Towed the car to a mechanic who told me the engine was seized and that the timing chain tensioner had broken lose and somehow that allowed all the oil to pour out of the engine. Had to have the engine replaced for a cost of a little over $5,000. A BMW specialist wanted $8,500 to do the same job. Now my new engine they just installed is leaking oil from somewhere and there's a light clicking noise coming from the engine. Im so afraid it's going to happen agian, and I know that Mini USA will be of no help. …

Purchased car April 2014 w 46,000 miles. Warranty history showed valve gasket replaced. At 64000 miles dealer says it needs to be replaced again. Not told at purchase - at Mini dlr - that car consumes a quart of oil every 700 miles which I was just told by local servicing dealer that they consider that normal. Leak at gasket contributes to air infiltration and poor oil consumption I was told. I would not have purchased the car knowing this. It adds considerably to the operating costs. After telling servicing dlr this weekend that I knew the car had already had valve cover gasket replaced, he said he would cover 75% of over $800 cost. He obviously knew that it didn't or shouldn't need that work so soon after being done. The Mini dealers are thieves and withhold vital information. The strut mount apparently is also "domed" which speaks to structural integrity of this car. …

My daughter was driving the Mini Cooper on hwy 101w when the car suddenly and with out warning lost all power. She was fortunate to not have been stranded on the highway. We had the car lifted and taken to a BMW dealer. They determined that there is a hole in the #4 cylinder that is responsible for the loss of power. The car has 55K miles on it and is 5K miles outside of full warranty. We have all service records well documented that exceed BMW \mc recommendations. We have since had the car lifted and taken to the mc dealer in camarillo ca. They with out explanation as to what happened state that the car needs a new engine at our cost of $6,500+. This is crazy given the low miles and the fact that it has been well maintained. There is much more information that we can provide however the site seems to time out and this is my third attempt at writing this notification. …

The car completely quits running while you are driving it. Check engine light comes on but car has already died. Have to coast to a stop with no power steering since the engine has died. Car will not always restart. Sometimes it will crank but not turn over. Sometimes it will restart. Today it died while I was going 65mph on the interstate a d I had to Dodge across 3 lanes of traffic to get to the shoulder. Have had this exact issue before. 3 yrs ago I replaced the high pressure fuel pump for this exact same problem. This was a $1500 repair cost. Mini Cooper said that 2010 Mini coopers were not covered. Only minis up to tne year 2009 were covered in that safety recall so I paid out of pocket. However, Mini Cooper used the same part that had been recalled on my 2010. It failed in 2017 and the replacement part has now failed again. …

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Mini Cooper s. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning and there was a failure with the auxiliary water pump and engine the contact was able to coast the vehicle over to the side of the road and, upon opening the hood, excessive smoke emitted from the engine and auxiliary water pump. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop and the mechanic stated that the engine and the auxiliary water pump needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and indicated that the vehicle was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 12V008000 (engine and engine cooling), although the contact was experiencing the failure related to the recall. The failure mileage was 89,000. Updated 06/01/17

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 12V008000 (engine and engine cooling) and took the vehicle to the dealer for repairs. Two days after the recall repair was performed on the vehicle, the contact noticed smoke coming from under the hood of the vehicle while sitting at a traffic stop. The contact turned the vehicle off but the vehicle proceeded to ignite into flames. The police and fire department were called to assist and a report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and the vehicle was pending investigation. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and the current mileage was 32,000.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Engine complaints in other Cooper S years