2009 Mini Cooper: problems, recalls and reliability
2 recalls and 169 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (36% of complaints); the 2010 and 2011 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · 1 new complaint in the last 90 days · latest recall May 2023
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 169 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 2009 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the seat belt warning light illuminated even though there was no passenger seated in the passenger's seat. The contact stated that the warning light remained illuminated with the passenger's seat occupied and the seat belt properly fastened. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for further assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Sep 2025
“The contact owns a 2009 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2024
“I was driving my vehicle and the driver's side airbag in the seat went off unexpectedly during normal driving operation. I was the only person in the vehicle and was able to stop quickly and safely. The problem has not been checked or inspected by anyone. There was no warnings that had indicated a problem.”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2024
Show 7 more owner reports
“This has a major recall and won't pass inspection. Engine light is on . I've called dealership and was told parts are on back order . Last year I was told the same thing before I received a letter in the mail.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Feb 2024
“The car horn was going off randomly. I inspected the interior electrical panel on the passenger side of the car and it was damp. There is water getting into the passenger side of the car and infiltrating the panel causing this one issue and likely others. There is a recall for this problems in some places, but my vehicle is not included, currently.”Owner report · Electrical System · Nov 2023
“The contact owns a 2009 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Electrical System · Aug 2023
“The problem was that the gas pedal began to stick. Suddenly it began to idle at 4000 rpm. I had to reach down and pull up the gas pedal while driving. I had it replaced a few weeks ago. Then I received a letter from Mini about a footwell control module. It sounds like a similar corrosion problem and it needs to be fixed as well. I had it looked at several times before it was fixed properly because a dirty throttle body can cause it to idle too fast”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Jul 2023
“Passenger Seat Occupancy Sensor fails There's a warning light for passenger airbag off , and also the airbag light on the dash panel never goes away ,even when a passenger is sitting on it. Is a common thing on minis , the dealer charges $100 to reset it within obd tool”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2023
“The contact owns a 2009 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that the headlights, taillights, and the turn signal lights were inoperable. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); but the repair failed to fix the vehicle. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights had remained illuminated after the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 150,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jun 2023
“The contact owns a 2009 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the windows failed to roll up or down intermittently. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 102,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Electrical System · May 2023
When filing, owners marked a crash in 1 of these complaints and injuries in 6 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 2 campaigns
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.
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.
BMW IS RECALLING 12 MY 2009 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE DELIVERED WITH 15-INCH WHEELS INSTEAD OF 16-INCH WHEELS AS INTENDED, AND THE TIRE LABEL INDICATES 16 INCH WHEELS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE 15 INCH WHEELS WITH 16-INCH WHEELS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-866-646-4772.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2009 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Cooper by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Mini Cooper reliable?
NHTSA has 169 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on record for the 2009 Mini Cooper. The most complained-about area is air bags (36% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2009 Mini Cooper problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 65,000 miles or less.
Does the 2009 Mini Cooper have open recalls?
2 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning electrical system. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.