MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10456439April 25, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS IN THE POWER STEERING WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING WITH CAUTION AT A REDUCED SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WAS CURRENTLY THERE AN OPEN INVESTIGATION ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA11005 (STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: PUMP). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456305April 24, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE XENON IGNITER COMPONENT IN THE LEFT HEADLAMP HAS INTERMITTENT FUNCTION, FREQUENTLY CAUSING THE BULB NOT TO LIGHT. THE QUOTED REPAIR COST BY THE DEALER IS IN EXCESS OF $800 BECAUSE THE IGNITER PART IS NOT A REPLACEABLE COMPONENT (THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSY IS REPLACED). THE ORIGINAL OEM BULB IN THE AFFECTED LEFT HEADLAMP WAS REPLACED BY MINI DURING ITS WARRANTY PERIOD AND THIS WAS NOT REPORTED TO ME (THE LEFT AND RIGHT BULBS DID NOT MATCH UPON MY EXAMINATION OF THEM WHEN FIRST OBSERVING THIS PROBLEM). $800 TO FIX A LIGHT BULB IS RIDICULOUS, AND I'VE BEEN LIVING WITH THIS SAFETY HAZARD SINCE I OBSERVED IT IN SEPTEMBER 2010. BMW USA SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE COMPONENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456341April 24, 2012
STEERING
MY POWER STEERING FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING DURING RUSH HOUR ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY INTO WASHINGTON, DC. THE WHEEL WAS NOT LOCKED, BUT IT BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL IN ANY DIRECTION, WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS TRAFFIC WAS GOING 70MPH. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OFF AT AN EXIT, AND STOP IT ON THE SHOULDER. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RE-STARTED THE CAR, AT WHICH TIME THE POWER STEERING APPEARED TO WORK NORMALLY AGAIN. THIS WAS THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT OF THIS TYPE, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST TEN. IN OTHER INSTANCES, THE POWER STEERING FAILS DURING PARALLEL PARKING IN THE TIGHT SPACES ON CITY STREETS. THIS IS UNPREDICTABLE, HOWEVER -- MONTHS CAN PASS WITH NO PROBLEM, AND THEN IT STARTS AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456066April 23, 2012
STEERING
MY MINI WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS. WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE IN IT, I COULD NOT STEER IT. THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME (ABOUT 5 MILES) BUT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456082April 23, 2012
STEERING
POWER ASSIST FOR STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY. SUBSEQUENT BRIEF (< 1 MINUTE) FUNCTION AFTER RESTARTING ENGINE ALSO ENDS UP IN FAILURE. BEHAVIOR IS CONSISTENT WITH FAILURE THAT CAUSED CANADA TO ISSUE RECALL FOR SAME MODEL VEHICLE FOR SAME ISSUE (TRANSPORT CANADA RECALL # 2003055). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456095April 23, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE AS A LOUD RATTLING NOISE EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MALFUNCTION CONTINUED TO OCCUR. MOST RECENTLY THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP AND THEY STATED THE ENGINE TIMING TENSIONER AND THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456160April 23, 2012
STEERING
LOST POWER STEERING WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. FEELS LIKE THE STEERING LOCKS UP BUT CAN STILL STEER WHEN USING A LOT OF STRENGTH. SINCE FIRST INCIDENT, THIS HAS HAPPENED AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES. USUALLY AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456169April 23, 2012
STEERING
VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. I HAD THE POWER STEERING ASSIST COOLING FAN REPLACED TWICE AND THE RELAY SWITCH FOR THE COOLING FAN. IT WORKED FINE FOR A TIME. NOW (10,000 MILES LATER) IS INTERMITTENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455952April 21, 2012
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER ON TUESDAY, THE STEERING FELT ODD. WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE THE CAR THE FOLLOWING DAY THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. I FELT I DIDN'T HAVE CONTROL. WHEN MAKING A TURN I HAD TO PHYSICALLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE CAR TO STRAIGHTEN OUT. IT WAS FRIGHTENING. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO HIM BY OTHER MINI OWNERS. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND ALOT OF INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET FROM OTHER 2005 MINI COOPER OWNERS. I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE SITUATION CHECKED OUT AT MY MINI DEALER IN FREEPORT,NY. ON MONDAY. WHEN INFORMING THEM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WHAT MY MECHANIC AND THE INTERNET HAVE STATED, I WAS TOLD THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF SUCH PROBLEMS AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME $130 JUST TO GET A DIAGNOSIS FROM THEM. I THEN CALLED MINI USA TO REPORT IT TO THEM AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF SUCH PROBLEMS AND THAT I SHOULD CALL THEM FROM THE MINI DEALER AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS IS PERFORMED AND THEY WILL LET ME KNOW IF THEY CAN HELP ME. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455973April 21, 2012
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS
PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT, ILLUMINATES 3-4 SECONDS AFTER ENGINE START, ALONG WITH THE RED AIR BAG FAILURE LIGHT, ON THE MAIN SPEEDOMETER. THIS OCCURS, WHETHER THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT, OR NOT, DUE TO THIS SAFETY DEFECT. MINI COOPER DEALERS, DENY THIS IS A PROBLEM, HOWEVER, I HAVE FOUND OVER 40 OTHER COMPLAINTS REGISTERED ON THIS EXACT DEFECT !!! MAJOR REPAIR COST FROM THE DEALER, TO CHANGE THE WHOLE BOTTOM SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY, WHICH INCLUDES THE DEFECTIVE AIR BAG SENSOR, THAT SEPARATES FROM THE SEAT CUSHION, AFTER A SHORT TIME! *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455988April 21, 2012
AIR BAGS
BOTH AIRBAG WARNIG LIGHTS COME ON WHEN SOMEONE SITS IN FRONT PASS SEAT. WHEN THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG STATUS LAMP" IS ON THAT MEANS NO ONE IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT WHILE IT'S ON AND THERE IS AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY B/C THE CAR THINKS SOMEONE ISN'T IN THE SEAT. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455896April 20, 2012
AIR BAGS
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG STARTED HAVING INTERMITTENT FAILURES STARTING ABOUT 55,000 MILES AND LITTLE OVER THREE YEARS, SEVEN MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. FULL FAILURE OCCURRED AT 80,000. THE SEAT WAS NOT COMMONLY USED. THE CAR IS USED PRIMARILY TO COMMUTE TO AND FROM WORK BY ONE PERSON. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455634April 18, 2012
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHTS REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN IGNITION IS POWERED. SEAT CAN BE EITHER OCCUPIED OR UNOCCUPIED. INITIAL PROBLEM INTERMITTENT, WITHIN 1 MONTH PROBLEM CONSTANT, BOTH AIRBAG LIGHTS REMAIN ON. THERE ARE (2) AIRBAG LIGHTS IN THIS VEHICLE, ONE RED LAMP THAT IS IN THE DASH, THE SECOND A YELLOW LAMP LOCATED NEAR THE INSIDE CENTER REAR VIEW MIRROR. FEEDBACK APPEARS THAT THE ISSUE IS THE AIRBAG SENSOR LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM AFTER STUDYING SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS COMMENTED ON A MINI OWNERS WEBSITE. THIS IS ALSO A KNOWN PROBLEM OCCURRING ON BMW VEHICLES THAT IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456239April 18, 2012
STEERING
AT RANDOM TIMES, THE POWER STEERING FAILS, MOSTLY AT START-UP, BUT SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. I ALWAYS NEED TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION, AND RESTART THE CAR, WHICH SEEMS TO TEMPORARILY RE-ENGAGE THE POWER ASSIST STEERING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455559April 17, 2012
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY UPON WARM ENGINE RE-START. THE SMELL OF OVERHEATING COMPONENTS IS IN THE PASSENGER CABIN. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455583April 17, 2012
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. IT COMES FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE AND ALSO MADE THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY GO BAD. IT BECAMES VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455455April 17, 2012
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING WASN'T WORKING. IT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF, BACK ON AGAIN, AND MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM SIDE TO SIDE SLIGHTLY, THE POWER STEERING RE-ENGAGED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. EVERYTHING ELSE WITH THE CAR SEEMED TO BE RUNNING NORMAL. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455462April 17, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN
TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILED RESULTING IN SLACK IN THE TIMING BELT. FINAL RESULT WAS THE TIMING BELT SLACK CONTACTED PLASTIC CHAIN GUARDS WHICH BROKE OFF AND LODGED INSIDE THE ENGINE. AFTER BEING TOWED TO MINI SERVICE, THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE ENTIRE ENGINE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CRITICAL TIMING CHAIN FAILURE LED TO PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF SMOKE AND I HAD INITIAL CONCERN THAT THE CAR WAS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE INCIDENT DID NOT OCCUR WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AS I WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK ON THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY POWER ENDANGERING MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS. MINI IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE WITH THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER, BUT HAS FAILED TO PROACTIVELY ADDRESS THE ISSUE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MINI EVEN HAS A BAG FULL OF BENT RODS AT HIS DESK THAT HE SHOWED ME AND TOLD ME HE HAS HAD MULTIPLE CARS COME IN WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455465April 17, 2012
POWER TRAIN
CAR MISFIRED AND HAD BACKFIRED; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK CAR RIGHT TO DEALER , THEY TOLD US IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND DOING NOTHING BUT CHARGING CUSTOMERS FOR THE REPAIR. THE TIMING CHAIN AND TIMING TENSIONER HAS A DESIGN FLAW THAT IS RECOGNIZED BUT NOTHING DONE. IF FULL FAILURE ON ROADWAY CAN CAUSE CATASTROPHIC ISSUES TO ME AND OTHERS . *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455413April 16, 2012
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THERE IS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE (MOST LIKELY THE TIMING BELT) AND THE CAR KEEPS JUMPING. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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