MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10382568February 14, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING BEGAN INTERMITTENTLY FAILING ON OUR 2005 MINI COOPER AT APPROX. 88,000 MILES. STEERING WOULD BECOME VERY STIFF MAKING MANEUVERING THE CAR QUITE DIFFICULT. USUALLY WOULD GO OUT AFTER TRAVELING SOME DISTANCE ON THE HIGHWAY. VERY NOTICEABLE ONCE STOPPED AT INTERSECTION AND TRYING TO TURN TO NEW DIRECTION. DOES NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE. HAS OCCURRED ABOUT 10 TIMES NOW IN THE PAST 3 WEEKS. FAILED ON WAY TO MINI DEALER TODAY. MINI DEALER HAS INDICATED THE FAILURE OF THE MODULE IN THE POWERSTEERING PUMP. WILL REPLACE PUMP FOR $1,100.00 PLUS. HAVING THIS REPAIR DONE AS I WRITE. NO OFFER TO DISCOUNT EVEN THOUGH NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING THE FAILURE OF THIS PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382613February 14, 2011
STEERING
2002 MINI COOPER S. POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE WITH 55K MILES ON THE HIGHWAY. CAUSED LOSS OF POWERSTEERING MAKING THE CAR DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. UPON STOPPING THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULDN'T GO OFF AND DRAINED THE CARS BATTERY. THIS IS A WELL PUBLICIZED PROBLEM ON THE WEB, YET MINI DENIES ANY FAULT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383537February 14, 2011
POWER TRAIN
2003 MINI COOPER AUTOMATIC CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED ABRUPTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382633February 14, 2011
PARKING BRAKE
I PARKED MY 2009 MINI CLUBMAN S ON A MODERATE HILL. AFTER 10 TO 15 MINUTES, WITH THE PARKING BRAKE FULLY ENGAGED AND THE CAR IN FIRST GEAR (STANDARD TRANSMISSION), THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARD DOWN THE HILL, STRUCK A CAR PARKED BEHIND IT, THEN PROCEEDED TO ROLL INTO A BUSY 3-LANE HIGHWAY. IF I HAD NOT BEEN STANDING 100 YARDS AWAY WITH A GROUP OF RUNNING MATES (WAITING ON A LATE ARRIVER), THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AS IT WAS, WE HEARD THE INITIAL COLLISION, SAW THE VEHICLE ROLLING INTO TRAFFIC, AND WERE ABLE TO STOP TRAFFIC AND THEN PHYSICALLY STOP THE LOCKED CAR IN THE INTERSECTION BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO RETRIEVE THE KEY AND OPEN THE DOOR AND APPLY THE BRAKES. ON THE ADVICE OF MY INSURER, I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MY MINI DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. MY DEALER WAS INCREDULOUS DESPITE MY FINDING OTHER REPORTS ONLINE OF VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL OCCURRENCES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382631February 14, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MINI COOPER DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED USING EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES UNDER CERTAIN FREEZING CONDITIONS. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES DURING FREEZING WEATHER, USUALLY WHEN SNOW OR ICE IS PRESENT. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE DOORS. AT TIMES, IT OCCURS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR MANY HOURS WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW FREEZING. HOWEVER, IT CAN ALSO OCCUR AFTER THE DOOR HAS BEEN OPENED AND THE VEHICLE DRIVEN FOR 30 MINUTES OR MORE. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS, NEITHER THE INSIDE NOR OUTSIDE HANDLES WILL OPEN THE DOOR. THE ONLY RECOURSE IS TO EXIT (OR ENTER) THE VEHICLE USING THE OTHER DOOR (SO FAR THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN INSTANCE WHEN BOTH DOORS FROZE) AND WAIT FOR THE CONDITION TO RECTIFY ITSELF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382650February 14, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE, IT WOULD SUDDENLY LUNGE BACKWARD OR FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE 2009. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY ORLANDO MINI IN WHO ADVISED HER THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 13,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD AND BACKWARD. UPDATED 04/04/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383517February 13, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING APPEARS TO NOT BE WORKING. POWER IN THE VEHICLE IS INTERRUPTED AT LOW SPEEDS AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. SYMPTOMS OF THIS BEGAN OCCURRING OVER THREE MONTHS AGO WITH THE BATTERY OF THE CAR BEING DRAINED AFTER SITTING FOR A PERIOD OF 4 DAYS OR MORE. ALL RELAYS AND FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED. THE POWER STEERING PUMP COOLING FAN WAS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN INOPERATIVE AND WAS REMOVED, CLEANED AND REINSTALLED APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS AGO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381678February 12, 2011
STEERING
PURCHASED A USED 2004 MINI COOPER FROM A DEALERSHIP. 7 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE THE STEERING BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT AT TIMES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS. TAKING IT ON MONDAY BUT THE "STEERING" ISN'T COVERED UNDER THEIR 9 MONTH, 9000 MILE WARRANTY. TAKING IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY FOR THEIR SERVICE DEPT TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. HOPING IT'S COVERED BUT I DOUBT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381595February 11, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ENTERING A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE STEERING PUMP. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000. UPDATED 03/08/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND IF IT FAILED IN A TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD INEVITABLY STEER VERY WIDE FROM THE INTENDED COURSE. UPDATED 03/09/11. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381468February 10, 2011
STEERING
SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AND HAD SUBSTANTIAL DIFFICULTY TURNING TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. IT HAPPENED A FEW TIMES, THEN TOOK IT FOR REPAIRS. WAS TOLD THAT THE PUMP AND FAN WERE BAD AND THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2004 MINIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381229February 9, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE RATTLE AT START UP, ENGINE WILL NOT MAINTAIN IDLE WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE TOO COLD (AS HIGH AS 20 DEG F BUT MORE COMMON AS TEMPERATURE DROPS) AND CAN EVEN DIE. ENGINE HESITATION AND STUMBLE WHILE ACCELERATING AND WHILE MAINTAINING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, REGARDLESS OF ENGINE AND AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. LACK OF ENGINE POWER. CAR MAY SEEM TO BE RUNNING FINE BUT WHEN ACCELERATING THE ENGINE WILL STUMBLE AND HESITATE, MUCH LIKE A MISSING CYLINDER, THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO ACCELERATE SLOWER THAN EXPECTED REGARDLESS OF THROTTLE POSITION. THIS CAN CREATE AN UNSAFE CONDITION. SEEMS TO BE MOST PRONOUNCED AT PART THROTTLE BETWEEN 2000 AND 3000 RPM BUT IS STILL PRESENT AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND MORE THROTTLE OPENING. CAN ALSO MAKE THE CAR STUMBLE VERY BADLY WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP, CAUSING THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD A FEW FEET VERY SLOWLY BEFORE ACCELERATING AT A SOMEWHAT NORMAL PACE. THIS EFFECT IS SIMILAR TO LETTING OUT THE CLUTCH TOO SOON BUT HAPPENS EVEN IF RPMS ARE BROUGHT UP TO 2000+RPM AND THE CLUTCH IS SLOWLY LET OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381349February 9, 2011
STEERING
2005 MINI COOPER 'S' CONVERTIBLE. THE POWER STEERING WILL OCCASIONALLY STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. IF YOU SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART THE CAR IT RESETS AND WORKS AGAIN. IT NORMALLY HAPPENS WHEN SLOWING FOR A STOP OR MAKING A TURN, WHICH YOU DON'T NOTICE UNTIL YOU START MOVING AND FIND YOU ARE UNABLE TO TURN THE CAR. LUCKILY I HAVEN'T PULLED OUT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE PUMP AND THEY WOULD REPLACE IT FOR APPROXIMATELY $680. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381360February 9, 2011
STEERING
THERE WAS A STRANGE NOISE (LIKE A FAN RUNNING) COMING FROM MY 2005 MINI COOPER WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. IT CONTINUED TO MAKE THE NOISE UNTIL EVENTUALLY THE CAR BATTERY DIED. I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR IN FEAR OF LOSING THE POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO EVALUATE THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I AM NOT SURE WHY A 6 YEAR OLD CAR WITH 36,600 MILES WOULD NEED THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED OR WHY IT IS BROKEN IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WITH PARTS AND LABOR WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $1400. I HAD CONCERNS REGARDING THE REPAIR AND DECIDED TO RETURN HOME WITH MY CAR. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILING ON MINI COOPERS. I HAVE REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND ULTIMATELY MINI USA FOR THE REPAIR AS I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381953February 7, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS IN OUR GARAGE. WHEN I PULLED IT OUT ON THE 2ND I NOTICED A LARGE POOL OF OIL ON THE FLOOR. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER SYSTEM HAD FAILED AND THAT IF NOT IMMEDIATELY REMEDIED THIS WOULD CAUSE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. OVER MY COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE DEALER, MINI OF STERLING IN STERLING, VA, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE, AT LEAST ONE A WEEK, AND IS A RECOGNIZED PROBLEM WITH A KNOWN WORK-AROUND. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD SEEN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND THAT WITH MY COMMUTE OF 45 MILES ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS THAT SUCH A FAILURE AT SPEED WOULD RESULT IN A MAJOR CRASH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380898February 6, 2011
STEERING
LAST NIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY STREET IN ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE U.S., I EXPERIENCED COMPLETE POWER STEERING FAILURE - WHICH BECAME EVIDENT TO ME ONLY WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND FOUND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, NO WARNING LIGHTS BECAME ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH & NOTHING ABOUT THE CAR'S PERFORMANCE SUGGESTED A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE - THERE WAS SIMPLY NO WARNING OF ANY KIND. AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR LESS THAN 15 MINUTES @ APPROX. 35 MPH & I HAD MADE SEVERAL TURNS (RIGHT & LEFT) DURING THE COURSE OF THIS TRIP WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS - THE LAST OF WHICH HAD BEEN ONLY 2 OR 3 MINUTES PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. THOUGH I WAS ULTIMATELY ABLE TO COMPLETE THE TURN WITHOUT LEAVING THE ROAD BY USING ALL OF MY STRENGTH TO SLOWLY TURN THE WHEEL, MY CAR TRAVELED FOR APPROX. 1/2 BLOCK IN THE OPPOSING LANE OF TRAFFIC BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR BACK INTO MY LANE. IF THERE HAD BEEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON THE STREET I TURNED ONTO I WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY UNABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. DESPITE BEING RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THIS EVENT, THE VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING HAS NOT RETURNED OR IMPROVED. AT THIS TIME IT APPEARS THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS EXPERIENCE WAS EXTREMELY TERRIFYING & COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN THE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH OF MYSELF AND/OR OTHERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380920February 6, 2011
STEERING
2006 MINI COOPER S: POWER STEERING FAILURE INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF POWER STEERING--AT FIRST. VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. VERY DANGEROUS. NOW THERE IS NO POWER STEERING. I'VE NEVER HAD SUCH AN EXPERIENCE IN ANY AUTOMOBILE. I INVESTIGATED THIS EXPERIENCE ONLINE AND FIND A NUMBER OF SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. I'M VERY TROUBLED BY SUCH A FLAW IN THE ENGINEERING OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380813February 5, 2011
STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1. 04 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. OCCASIONALLY WHILE DRIVING THE PUMP WILL LOOSE POWER AND STEERING WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT. POWER STEERING FAN STAYS ON AFTER VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF WHICH TENDS TO DRAIN THE BATTERY. 2. EVENTUALLY THE PUMP STARTED LEAKING AND FAN STOP WORKING NEEDING REPLACEMENT. LOSS ALL POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. 3. REPLACED PUMP AND FAN WITH NEW UNITS AND PROBLEM IS TEMPORARILY FIXED BUT PROBLEM HAS COME BACK. NOTICING THE SAME SYMPTOMS FROM #.1 POST HAPPENING AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380661February 4, 2011
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2009 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER STATES THAT CLUTCH WAS COMPROMISED AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TOWED. SHE WOULD LIKE THIS ISSUE TO BE LOOKED INTO. SHE PAID TO HAVE THE FLYWHEEL REPLACED. *KB THE FLYWHEEL WAS REPLACED TWICE WITHIN THREE MONTHS. THE SECOND TIME THE FLYWHEEL WAS REPLACED, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS BURNT AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380205February 4, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ILLUMINATION RANGE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THEY ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO ILLUMINATE THAT WAY SO OTHER DRIVERS ARE NOT BLINDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE BUT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ILLUMINATION RANGE . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY DO NOT ILLUMINATE FAR ENOUGH TO SEE IN FRONT OF HIM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,900.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380797February 4, 2011
STEERING
SUDDEN FAILURE OF POWER STEERING. CONTROL OF CAR WAS NOT LOST. IT WILL REQUIRE A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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