Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 50% | — |
| 2023 | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2019 | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2018 | 1 | 13% | — |
| 2017 | 6 | 21% | 10,000 miles |
| 2016 | 11 | 27% | — |
| 2015 | 14 | 25% | 37,000 miles |
| 2014 | 10 | 29% | 21,000 miles |
| 2013 | 4 | 8% | 41,000 miles |
| 2012 | 22 | 30% | 53,000 miles |
| 2011 | 17 | 20% | 60,000 miles |
| 2010 | 40 | 43% | 51,000 miles |
| 2009 | 58 | 34% | 65,000 miles |
| 2008 | 57 | 46% | 55,000 miles |
| 2007 | 42 | 34% | 70,000 miles |
| 2006 | 20 | 9% | 72,000 miles |
| 2005 | 17 | 4% | 60,000 miles |
| 2004 | 10 | 4% | 64,000 miles |
| 2003 | 29 | 9% | 50,000 miles |
| 2002 | 12 | 6% | 18,000 miles |
| 2001 | 1 | 17% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
My 2017 mini coupe has 70,000 miles on it. I've had it 11 months... I was in a drive-through and it started making a hard knock sound no engine light or any other lights came on the vehicle. I had it towed to a shop where they informed me my engine was blown and it would cost $16,000 to replace the engine. My oil level was perfect. I reached out to Carvana. I missed my warranty by five days and they will not do anything about it. There is no reason why a car with 70,000 miles on it. The engine should be blown.
1. (Lighting) The front lights of the car kept turning off and on. We would always go to the repair shop every time the lights began to malfunction. (Engine) the oil was sticky which was not normal and the water entered inside. (Brakes) When you turned on the car, noises came from the brakes which were concerning and risky to drive in. 2. This car was risky to drive due to the problems with the oil and brakes. 3. Yes, this problem has already been confirmed by a dealer. 4. No. 5. No.
Oil filter housing failure. MINI issued a recall for this part in 2014 when the third generation MINI Cooper S/JCW first launched. Unfortunately they did not fix the part and now as time goes on, the issue is occurring with high frequency on every BMW/MINI and Toyota Supra with the BMW B46/B48 2.0L turbocharged engine. The plastic oil filter housings crack causing oil and coolant to leak. In my case oil poured down the front of the hot engine which could have caused a fire. BMW/MINI dealers charge nearly $2500 to repair this failure. The ODI should investigate this concern as it has been reported dozens of times on each model with this engine including the BMW X1 28i/M35, BMW X2 28i/M35, BMW X3 30i, BMW X4 30i, BMW 328i/330i, BMW 528i/530i, BMW 330e hybrid, BMW 530e hybrid, BMW Z4, Toyota Supra 2.0T, MINI Cooper S/JCW 3-door and 5-door, MINI Countryman, MINI Cooper S/JCW Convertible, …
The Environmental Air Catalyst (EAC) Sensor on my 2016 MINI failed two years ago when I had only 25,000 miles on the car. (The car now has 30,200 miles on it; I do not drive it very much). NHTSA worked with MINI/BMW several years ago, and MINI extended a limited warranty for this sensor to 15 years/150,000 miles, but only for Cooper "S" models. Mine is not an "S". See Recall "S1 M01 05 20" The S has a BMW "B46M PZEV/SULEV " engine, which is covered by the extended warranty. My car - not the "S" model - has the BMW "B36M" engine. This is not covered by the extended warranty noted above. I have gone online and saw lots of complaints, as this appears to be a very common problem. A MINI dealer in Richmond, VA told me the same thing: the sensor fails, and you have to replace the entire radiator because the sensor is attached to it. I was quoted more than $2,000 to fix this problem. …
The contact owns a 2015 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that after the vehicle was taken to a local dealer for a routine oil change, the mechanic also determined that the valve cover gasket needed to be replaced and an unknown engine software needed to be updated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and the contact was advised to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Mini Copper The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,000. The Vin was not available
The contact owns a 2014 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, there was smoke detected from the vehicle. The vehicle caught fire without warning. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment, or crash. The fire department distinguished the fire. A police report was filed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to a lot. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,700.
The fuse box JBE module has a Quality Assurance problem with a solder connection to the NEC low pressure fuel relay. This is a known issue with BMW/Mini. The car suddenly stalls without warning. If the driver is not keen or if traffic patterns do not allow, the car can be left in very dangerous situations on the highway or in the middle of intersection. The repair for this problem is widely distributed online via blogs and YouTube, but replacement modules are $1500 (part only) and these modules are not available until at least October 2023. There are no warning lights or other warnings prior to the incident. While I am not aware of any serious injuries, it is only a matter of time before someone is t-boned at an intersections. This part MUST be immediately recalled due to the safety risk. …
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 540d xDrive vehicles. The crankshaft sensor may be equipped with incorrect firmware, preventing the sensor from properly processing input from the crankshaft reluctor ring, possibly resulting in a vehicle stall.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft sensor, free of charge. The recall began September 6, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mini Cooper years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2009 (58), 2008 (57), 2007 (42), 2010 (40) and 2003 (29) model years. Engine complaints make up 34% of all complaints for the 2009.
Is there a recall for Mini Cooper engine problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 18V-465 (engine, Jul 11, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mini Cooper engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 56,000 miles; 40% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the engine (19 mentions), followed by the exhaust system › manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe (9).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.