- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
- The fix
- 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.
Vehicle safety record
2007 Mini Cooper Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 384 complaints about the 2007 Mini Cooper with NHTSA, most often about the engine & cooling (224) and the airbags (75). Those complaints describe 5 crashes, 24 fires and 19 injuries. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in May 2023 for the electrical system. For comparison, the 2006 has 413 and the 2008 has 284.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Cooper year, for its age
#43 most complained-about 2007 vehicle
- Complaints
- 384
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 5
- Fires
- 24
- Injuries
- 19
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2007 Mini Cooper problems
Share of all 384 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2007 Mini Cooper recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
Be the first Cooper owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
384 complaints about the 2007 Mini Cooper
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 16.
An authorized manufacturer dealership performed an official safety recall remedy regarding the Footwell Module (FRM) under Campaign 610523 (Repair Order #922462) on a 2007 Mini Cooper. The vehicle was subsequently returned to the consumer in a completely non-compliant, unroadworthy, and highly hazardous condition with primary vehicle electronics and safety lighting disabled. Specifically, the low-beam headlights, passenger-side high-beam headlight, all rear tail lights, and the vehicle's electrical sunroof system...
Read the full complaint
are entirely non-functional, leaving only a single driver-side high-beam operational. The technician's service invoices explicitly document a control module programming failure that was bypassed without verifying physical lighting or electronic circuit operations. Due to an administrative records error by the service center, the facility contacted local law enforcement to execute an unannounced welfare check at the consumer's secure residence, actively disrupting a highly sensitive personal safety perimeter involving a domestic violence restraining order. Following the forced immediate pickup of the vehicle, the consumer was subjected to a highly dangerous, 130-mile interstate drive entirely after dark with zero operational front or rear outline safety illumination, creating an extreme and life-threatening physical hazard to the vehicle occupants and surrounding traffic. The service facility has failed to provide a functional or compliant recall remedy and closed out the safety recall electronically despite the critical safety components remaining disabled.
I recently purchased a used MINI Cooper with incomplete NHTSA Safety Recall 23V-337 involving the Footwell Control Module (FRM). The previous owner did not complete the recall remedy. The vehicle's turn signals and brake lights are currently inoperative. The FRM controls various vehicle lighting functions and is the component involved in Recall 23V-337. Because I purchased the vehicle with these conditions already present, I do not know what warning lamps, messages, or symptoms occurred before the failures. The...
Read the full complaint
loss of both turn signals and brake lights creates a significant safety risk because other motorists cannot be properly notified when the vehicle is turning, changing lanes, slowing, or stopping. Additionally, Recall 23V-337 states that corrosion of the FRM can potentially result in a short circuit and, in rare cases, a thermal event that could increase the risk of injury. The vehicle has not yet been inspected to determine whether the current lighting failures are directly caused by the recalled FRM, but the recall remains incomplete and the vehicle is available for inspection. I contacted BMW/MINI seeking completion of the recall. I was informed that it must be performed by an authorized MINI dealer. There is no authorized MINI dealer in Montana, and the nearest facility is approximately 500 miles away. BMW/MINI declined transportation assistance, mobile repair, or authorization for a closer BMW dealer or qualified repair facility. Although the vehicle can move under its own power, driving approximately 500 miles without brake lights or turn signals, while it also has an outstanding recall involving a potential electrical short circuit and thermal event, presents a serious safety concern. I am actively attempting to complete the recall and am requesting NHTSA review the safety issue and BMW/MINI's lack of a practical means for safely accessing the recall remedy.
What happened: Vehicle has experienced failure of the Footwell Control Module (FRM) and associated wiring harness in the driver footwell area, consistent with NHTSA Recall 23V-337. Symptoms: • Exterior lights (headlights / taillights) remain illuminated far longer than normal after vehicle shutoff, sometimes not turning off at all. • Inspection revealed melted wiring, melted connector plugs and receptacles for headlight/taillight circuits. • Water was found in driver side footwell in the past / under carpet...
Read the full complaint
padding. Carpet pad is saturated. This is the same failure mode described in Recall 23V-337: "Due to a number of contributing factors, over time, the FRM could become susceptible to corrosion. Eventually, the corrosion could potentially result in a short circuit, resulting in a potential thermal event which could increase the risk of a fire or injury." Safety risk: Melted wiring and connectors create short circuit and thermal event risk, including fire risk while vehicle is parked and unattended. Lights failing to shut off creates dead battery / loss of exterior lighting control. I am concerned about vehicle fire. My vehicle shows evidence of having caught fire at the headlight and receptacle point. Recall history: Vehicle is included in NHTSA Campaign 23V-337000 (MINI Recall 23V-337 - Footwell Module Moisture/Water Intrusion). I was told remedy is still being developed / parts unavailable, or that additional wiring harness damage beyond the FRM itself is not fully covered. Dealer has inspected the vehicle and has completely disregarded the recall, which was the reason why I brought it in and have quoted me customer pay estimates for repairs covered under the recall. I am filing this to document that Recall 23V-337 failure has resulted in melted wiring harness components beyond just the FRM module, and to request NHTSA evaluate whether the current recall remedy fully addresses wiring harness damage caused by prolonged FRM corrosion / lights staying on.
The authorized dealer performed a non-compliant remedy for Safety Recall 23V-337. The initial repair resulted in melted wires and a charred connector due to high resistance. The dealer's subsequent re-repair utilized an un-staggered cluster of approximately 8 inline crimp connectors in a single tight bundle.This directly violates BMW Factory Repair Standard ISTA/AIR 61 13, which explicitly mandates: 'Arrange individual interfaces in an offset manner when repairing multiple cables. The wiring harness thus does not...
Read the full complaint
become too thick at the repaired point.' By failing to offset the splices, the dealership created a thick, bunched thermal mass that traps heat and strains the circuits, leaving an active passenger cabin fire hazard intact. Delivery has been officially refused
The contact owns a 2007 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact, who was an independent mechanic, researched and diagnosed the failure with water damage to the junction box electronics. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact referenced an unknown recall that had a similar failure description; however, the VIN was not under recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.
The contact owns a 2007 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that water was entering the vehicle through the sunroof. The contact stated that the water was collecting inside the headliner and would overflow and leak down the driver's and passenger's side sun visors and into the electronics of the footwell. Additionally, the front driver's and passenger's seats, floorboards, and dashboard would become soaked from moisture. Due to the failure, the vehicle would fail to start or operate as needed. Upon investigation, the...
Read the full complaint
contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. An independent mechanic was notified about the failure and the contact was advised to park the vehicle outside as the failure could cause the vehicle to catch on fire. The manufacturer was then notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
The airbag warning light randomly remains on. From what I understand this is a known issue as there has been previous recalls by Mini. This could potentially mean the airbag system is faulty and non-operational. Based on online searches, it seems like a lot of there problem are wiring problems though, bad connections. The previous recalls should be extended further, as there are other cars with the same problem, like mine.
The contact owns a 2007 Mini Cooper S. 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 while the vehicle was parked, the sunroof was inoperative. The contact waited for several minutes for the sunroof to return to normal operation. The "Passenger Air Bag Disabled" message was displayed on the instrument panel; however, the passenger's seat was occupied. The infotainment system was...
Read the full complaint
unintentionally turned on while the vehicle was turned off. The check engine and low tire pressure warning light were intermittently illuminated. The failures occurred on several different occasions. The contact stated that there was no local dealer; a dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. 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. Parts distribution disconnect.
On almost all r56 model mini coopers the passenger seat occupancy sensor has a major malfunction that causes it to fail and pop up an airbag sensor light even when someone is sitting in the seat, Mini USA did not issue a recall but rather a reimbursement form for owners in 2017 the last year of production for that car and did not publicly disclose this. I feel as though this should be a recall as it is common enough for bypass devices to be normal for this car
[[redacted]]. Mini Cooper 2007-2013: Recalls and TSB. My car is part of a recall under MINI Recall for Timing Chains. I understand now it was settled as part of a class action lawsuit that extended the warranty. I always take my car to a dealer and now after mileage they told me that they want me to pay out of my pocket. My car is a 2007 S. My mileage is 105,000K miles. The recall notice is for the year of my car and they are saying my car is too old and the mileage. This recall is for the year of my car so I...
Read the full complaint
am not understanding. Upon inspection by the dealer, it and needs to be replaced and cost $4,100.00. I don't have that kind of money. . My name is [[redacted]], [[redacted]]., [[redacted]], [[redacted]]. Phone #[[redacted]]. The dealership is Mini Cooper 1660 E.Spring Street, Long Beach Ca 90806. I never received this recall notice and knew of this only because I took my car to the dealer for something else related for the 3rd time.
The contact owns a 2007 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated the key fob failed to lock and unlock the vehicle, causing the contact to manually lock and unlock the vehicle. The contact also stated that the radio would change stations or power off independently. The...
Read the full complaint
vehicle had been taken to an electrician who referred the contact to the dealer. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 153,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The open recall for this vehicle has been open for 15 months now. Meanwhile my wife's car remains broken down with a bad footwell module due to the exact reason the recall is being issued. I contacted mini and they said I'd have to pay for repairs out of pocket and apply for reimbursement after they come up with a remedy. I have issues with this for a few reasons. First, the repair is costly. Second, it's already been over a year since the recall has been issued, and still no remedy so who knows when they'll...
Read the full complaint
actually have one. Third, they said that even if I pay for repairs out of pocket there's no guarantee I'd get reimbursed for them. In my opinion, for something as serious as this recall, the manufacturer should be on the clock to determine the remedy and repair customers cars. It would be nice if BMW/Mini would get some pressure to get this resolved so the my wife and the thousands of other people affected by this can enjoy the vehicles they spent their hard earned money on without worry that it might spontaneously burst into flames.
The contact owns a 2007 Mini Cooper. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the check engine, ABS, and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) warning lights remained illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the foot well control module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign...
Read the full complaint
Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 130,000.
The vehicle has been presenting issues with breaks, electrical issues, turning off while driving, misfires, air bags don't work, ADAS sometimes don't work, the vehicle chokes and has difficulty running at times, among other issues. There has been a recall since last year and I've tried contacting the manufacturer multiple times, but the issue has not been fixed yet. All of these problems are a great safety hazard for me and my family while on the road.
My Mini Cooper was rendered unsafe to drive as most of the exterior lights (i.e., headlights, brake lights, turn signals) stopped working--all at once. A local mechanic verified that the electrical short resulted from a severely corroded Footwell Control Module, which is the subject of the recall (Recall No. 23V-337, July 2023) for which a "Remedy is Unavailable." When contacted, a case management specialist of BMW of North America could tell me only that a remedy is not yet available. Again, the car is unsafe to drive as it lacks exterior lighting. As such, I am forced to purchase another vehicle as the Mini Cooper sits unusable.
The contact owns a 2007 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 local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
[[redacted]] . Airbag sensor recall. My car is part of a recall under MINI Recall 23V-[redacted]: Footwell Module. I took my car to a dealer and they told me that they would not repair it because my car is a 2007. My mileage is 102,000K miles. The notice says Im covered but they say im not. The recall notice is for the year of my car and they are saying my car is too old. This recall is for the year of my car so I am not understanding. A light comes on that shows the passenger airbag. Upon inspection...
Read the full complaint
by the dealer, it is a faulty seat mat sensor and needs to be replaced and cost $2,120.56. I dont have that kind of money. This should be addressed under the recall. My name is [[redacted]] , [[redacted]] . Phone [[redacted]] . The dealership is Mini Cooper Downtown Los Angeles. 6333 S Almeda Los Angeles Ca 90001. I never received this recall notice and knew of this only because the light indicator came on. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2007 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. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
I was notified in July 2023 by NHTSA of the potential failure of the Footwell Control Module and subsequent potential "thermal event which could increase the risk of a fire of injury." Apparently, a fix for this issue has not been developed yet. I am afraid to keep my car in the garage, which is attached to my house. 7 months. Does BMW engineering really not know how to replace this poorly-designed component?
Seat belt warning for passenger seat stays on despite buckling the seat belt. I suspect the air bag deployment is therefore not functioning.
The contact owns a 2007 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. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2007 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. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Restraint System Malfunction Fault in passenger-restraint system effecting airbag, belt tensioner or belt-force limiter. Having to replace passenger seat or sensor to indicate I have a passenger so the airbag will deploy. It looks like there may have been a recall for this in the past according to an article I found, but my VIN does not come up as needing this item replaced. Cost is approximately $800.
The contact owns a 2007 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35-40 MPH, the parking brake engaged, and the vehicle came to a stop. The contact manually pulled the parking brake lever several times until the parking brake released. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.
On 2014 a Class Action Lawsuit was filed against BMW OF NORTH AMERICA for claims regarding MINI COOPER models. Answering your questions as follows: -The failing component was the timing chain tensioner -Yes, engine stalled at any speed -No, dealer did not acknowledge the real problem -No, dealer did not told me about the Class Action Lawsuit, did not advice me of any preventive repair or to install a new timing chain tensioner, when the component failed dealer told me that the problem was a jumping timing chain...
Read the full complaint
; the same excuse as in the lawsuit. -There was only an engine light, not any other warning light There were two repairs, the first for $ 2,629.10 on 6/18/2016 the second for $ 3,354.93 on 1/13/2017 dealer had a two years parts and labor warranty that didn't honor and in 2016 the lawsuit was active and not of my knowledge. My question is: if the production numbers engraved on the timing chain tensioner cylinder face match or are part of the production batch from the factory for which the class action lawsuit took place ? Numbers top line: 7565868 80-02 Lower line: IV/ IS GERMANY 3 1 0 This is looks like half cero All components (parts) and the vehicle are available for inspection. Once engine is out of timing pistons will hit the valves (interference engine), in my engine broke at least one valve seat, pieces fell into combustion chamber getting stuck between pistons and cylinder walls scratching these, result lost of compression, engine die. Engine was beyond any repair, and still was charged for. Lawsuit for vehicles manufactured goes to April 2007 mine was February 2007 Neither the MINI COOPER dealer or BMW North America corporate offices paid any attention to my complaint.
Mini Cooper: every year compared
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 0 | 1 | A |
| 2010 | 102 | 2 | F |
| 2009 | 152 | 1 | F |
| 2008 | 284 | 1 | F |
| 2007 | 384 | 1 | F |
| 2006 | 413 | 1 | F |
| 2005 | 843 | 4 | F |
| 2004 | 529 | 4 | F |
| 2003 | 537 | 4 | F |
2007 Mini Cooper vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 Mini Cooper | 384 | 1 | F | |
| 2007 Nissan Versa | 354 | 9 | F | Compare |
| 2007 Hyundai Accent | 88 | 3 | D | Compare |
| 2007 Kia Rio | 46 | 1 | C | Compare |
| 2007 Toyota Yaris | 0 | 10 | F | Compare |
| 2007 Honda Fit | 0 | 11 | A | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2007 Mini Cooper
Does the 2007 Mini Cooper have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2007 Mini Cooper: electrical system (May 2023). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Mini Cooper?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the engine & cooling (224), airbags (75), electrical system (41).
How many complaints has the 2007 Mini Cooper had?
384 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on August 14, 2007 and the latest on October 28, 2026. Of these, 5 describe a crash and 24 a fire, and together they report 19 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2007 Mini Cooper a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 2 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Mini Cooper year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Mini Cooper years have the most complaints?
2005 (843), 2003 (537), 2004 (529). See every Mini Cooper year compared.
What should I do if my 2007 Mini Cooper has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data