MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10422651August 30, 2011
STEERING
FAILED STEERING PUMP ASSEMBLY ON 2004 COOPER S WITH 60K MILES. FAILURE OF STEERING PUMP ASSEMBLY CREATED LOSS OF STEERING AND INDUCES UNSAFE DRIVING SCENARIO. FROM THE SHOWROOM, THIS VEHICLE (AND OTHERS OF THIS ERA) HAS PROVIDED A UNIQUE WHINE FROM THE POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY. THE DEALER WOULD LATER INFORM ME THAT THIS WAS NORMAL TO THE BMW MINI LINE. YEARS LATER THIS FEATURE HAS BECOME A KNOWN PROBLEM AND IS CONFIRMED AND BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE NHTSA. BMW (THE MANUFACTURER) HAS YET TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR DEVELOPED A REPAIRABLE SOLUTION TOWARDS THIS FLAWED CHARACTERISTIC. ANOTHER TOYOTA IN THE MAKING?.. I HOPE NOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422370August 29, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE POWER STEERING AND THE CONTACT WOULD SEE AND SMELL SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422511August 29, 2011
STEERING
1)WHILE DRIVING MY CAR IN NORMAL WARM DAY TEMPERATURES IN DENVER, CO MY POWER STEERING ABRUPTLY FAILED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL MY CAR. 2)HAS STAYED FAILED 3)WILL HAVE TO GET A REBUILT OR NEW PUMP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422281August 27, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEARING WENT OUT ON 2005 MINI COOPER WHILE DRIVING ON LOTS OF CURVES ALONG COLUMBIA RIVER, SEEMS TO BE A THING WITH THESE CARS AFTER LOOKING ON LINE. JUST GLAD I'M NOT SWIMMING WITH THE FISHES DUE TO HAVING TO MUSCLE THE CAR ON THE ROAD. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421563August 26, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND ATTEMPTING A TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WOULD SEIZE AND BECOME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 114,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421640August 26, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421454August 25, 2011
AIR BAGS
MY MINI COOPER HAS AIR BAG LIGHT ON. NO CAR ACCIDENT BEFORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421530August 25, 2011
STEERING
MY 2005 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE HAD A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT REPORTEDLY CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP. I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND TURNED OFF MY CAR. I HAD NO PROBLEM STEERING THE CAR UP TO THAT POINT. I GOT OUT AND WENT INTO THE HOUSE. MY WIFE CAME INSIDE AND TOLD ME MY CAR SMELLED FUNNY AND WAS SMOKING (LIGHT) UNDER THE HOOD. I RAISED THE HOOD AND SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HEAT SHIELD IN THE REAR OF THE ENGINE, WHICH IS BELOW THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR AND ABOVE THE PS PUMP. I COULD HEAR SIZZLING, WHICH I INTERPRETED AS WATER. I WENT INSIDE TO CALL A MECHANIC FRIEND AND THEN REALIZED IT WASN'T A GOOD IDEA TO LEAVE A SMOKING CAR ALONE. WHEN I CAME OUTSIDE AGAIN, THE SMOKE HAD TURNED DARK AND HEAVIER. WHEN I REACHED THE CAR, I COULD SEE A RAGING FIRE BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD. I RAN INTO MY GARAGE AND RETURNED WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WHICH I USED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER THAT THE PUMP CAUSED THE FIRE AND THEY WOULD ONLY REIMBURSE FOR THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE POWER STEERING PUMP, NOT FOR THE PUMP ITSELF. I WAS TOLD THAT PS FAILURE IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON MINI COOPERS OF MY YEAR (AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS) AND MODEL. AFTER CHECKING THE INTERNET, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A MFGR.'S RECALL AND WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A NHTSA INVESTIGATION. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY CATASTROPHIC! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421372August 24, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER A RAIN STORM, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE HYDRO SEIZED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 42,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421402August 24, 2011
STEERING
2005 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE WITH 65K MILES. ORIGINAL OWNER. YESTERDAY MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT AS I DROVE HOME FROM WORK. NO WARNING SIGN AND IT WAS HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND MANEUVER THE CAR. I WAS GLAD IT WAS ME DRIVING AND NOT MY WIFE. SCARY EXPERIENCE WHEN DRIVING AT 65MPH+ ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10420975August 22, 2011
STEERING
STEERING HAS BECOME DIFFICULT. MORE DIFFICULT THAN AN UNASSISTED STEERING SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421044August 22, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, A LOUD SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK PULLEY FAN BELT THAT CONTROLLED THE AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATER WAS LOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,039.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421086August 22, 2011
STEERING
COMPLETE POWER STEERING FAILURE, ON SURFACE ROAD IN CASTRO VALLEY, CA. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAUSED ME TO CONTINUE STRAIGHT, WHILE TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL OF CAR, I CONTINUED INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC, IF ANOTHER CAR WAS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION A SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE THIS WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A REPAIR NEEDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10420848August 21, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2009 MINI COOPER S WITH 27,000 MILES. TWICE THE ENGINE VALVES HAS BEEN CLEANED BECAUSE OF EXCESS CARBON BUILD UP. JUST LOOK AT THE DISCUSSIONS ON THE WEB. SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10420789August 20, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
IMPROPER IDLE. STALLING, DEISELING WHEN COLD STARTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10423385August 19, 2011
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED AS THE VEHICLE APPROACHED AND ENTERED A "ROUNDABOUT" CIRCLE. THE SYSTEM NOT ONLY STOPPED PROVIDING STEERING ASSIST, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL STAYED IN THE RIGHT TURN POSITION (DID NOT RETURN TO CENTER) WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER OFF THE ROAD SURFACE. THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM HAS COMPLETED FAILED IN THE VEHICLE, WHICH MAKES THE CAR VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE (ESPECIALLY MY FOR WIFE WHO WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE INITIAL FAILURE OCCURRED). DO TO THE NON-FUNCTIONAL POWER STEERING SYSTEM, WHEN MAKING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL STAYS IN THE TURNED POSITION WHICH REQUIRES THE DRIVER TO QUICKLY MANEUVER THE CAR TO PREVENT IT FROM CONTINUING TO VEER OFF OF THE ROAD SURFACE ~ THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT AT ALL SPEEDS WITH ALL DEGREES OF STEERING INPUT. IN SIMPLE TERMS: IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS FULLY TURNED "HARD" TO THE LEFT, IT WILL STAY IN THAT POSITION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TURNING AND WILL NOT START ITS RETURN TO THE CENTER "STRAIGHT" POSITION WITHOUT INPUT FROM THE DRIVER. ASIDE FROM THE COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST (WHICH MAKES NORMAL STEERING VERY DIFFICULT AT ALL SPEEDS), THE STEERING WHEEL POSITIONAL ISSUE (AS NOTED ABOVE) INTRODUCES A VERY UNSAFE OPERATING CONDITION FOR THE DRIVER AND VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419705August 16, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD AN INTERNAL DEFECT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,648.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10420348August 16, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
THE NEW MINI COOPER THAT I LEASED STARTED TO HAVE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS AROUND 6500 MILES. WHAT HAPPENS IS A HESITATION IN THE ACCELERATION OF THE MINI FROM A START OR AT LOW RPMS. FOR EXAMPLE WHEN YOU'RE AT A STOP AND YOU ARE TRYING TO CROSS TRAFFIC THE HESITATION OF THE ACCELERATION IS DANGEROUS IN TIMING THE VEHICLE TO CROSS TRAFFIC AND WHEN THE ACCELERATION CATCHES UP THE CAR JUMPS TO HIGH RPMS. THIS IS BEING REPORTED BECAUSE I TOOK THE COOPER INTO THE MINI OF ONTARIO SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419591August 15, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
2008 MINI CLUBMAN. SPEEDOMETER IS NOT ACCURATE OFF BY APPROX. 5-6 MPH AT 60 MPH. DEALER DID NOT CARE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419428August 15, 2011
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER WITH NO NOTICE IN CITY TRAFFIC. I WAS DRIVING ALL OF A SUDDEN LOST POWER STEERING WHICH NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED FOR $1144.11 AND FOUND IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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