MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10316912March 4, 2010
STEERING
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). I HAVE A 2004 MINI COOPER S (BMW) THAT I HAVE OWNED FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF BUT RECENTLY, PAST 3 MONTHS., I HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING QUIT SUDDENLY ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THANKFULLY I WAS NOT ON A HIGH SPEED ROAD AT ANY OF THOSE TIMES BECAUSE WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT IT I COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL AND I'M A 36 YR. OLD MALE WITH QUITE A BIT MORE STRENGTH THAN MY FIANCE WHO ALSO DRIVES THE CAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS FLAW WITH THE CAR AS I HAVE CHECKED WITH OTHER MINI COOPER OWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO EACH AND EVERYONE OF THEM HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING FAILING SUDDENLY. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THIS OCCURS AT HIGH SPEEDS OR DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED BY BMW SINCE I AM NOT THE ONLY MINI COOPER OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM. [XXX] *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315571March 2, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
I OWN A 2007 MINI COOPER. THE TAIL PIPE IS LARGE EXTENDS BEYOND THE EDGE OF THE BUMPER. I HAD DRIVEN MY CAR APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES AND PARKED IT, THEN OPENED THE BACK TO RETRIEVE SOME ITEMS FROM THE CARGO AREA. MY LEG CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE TAIL PIPE AND I RECEIVED A SEVERE BURN WHICH WAS EXTREMELY PAINFUL AND BECAME BLISTERED. THE BURN WAS LARGE AND IN THE SHAPE OF A HALF MOON. THERE IS STILL A SCAR ON MY LEG FROM THIS. I CONTACTED BMW MINI NORTH AMERICA, TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED, AND SENT THEM A PICTURE OF MY LEG WITH THE BURN ON IT. THEY ARRANGED FOR ME TO BRING MY CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE AN ENGINEER EVALUATE THE CAR FOR ANY DEFECTS IN THE TAILPIPE. LATER I WAS TOLD THAT THE TAILPIPE WAS MANUFACTURED PROPERLY AND I SHOULD JUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO TOUCH IT. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THERE IS A WARNING IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR THE CAR REGARDING THE TAIL PIPE. I LOOKED IT UP AND IT SAYS "DO NOT TOUCH HOT EXHAUST TAIL PIPES. OTHERWISE THERE IS A RISK OF BURNS". UNFORTUNATELY, THE TAIL PIPE IS IN A POSITION WHERE A PERSON'S LEG WOULD NORMALLY BE WHEN RETRIEVING ITEMS FROM THE CARGO AREA OF THE CAR. AND SINCE IT PROTRUDES PAST THE BUMPER, IT IS DIFFICULT NOT TO TOUCH IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10314771February 27, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, THE CENTER CONSOLE CONTROLS (HEAT, REAR DEFOGGER), THE HEADLIGHTS, FRONT/REAR WIPERS WILL NOT FUNCTION. WHEN CAR STARTS TO WARM UP, THOSE ITEMS WILL START WORKING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO EITHER SIDE. WHEN CAR IS FULLY WARMED UP, WILL WORK MOST OF THE TIME UNLESS YOU HIT A BUMP. MINI SHOP SAID IT WAS A BAD COMPUTER - $800 TO FIX. ENGINE HAD AN OIL PLAN LEAK 2 YEARS AGO RESULTING IN MAJOR LOSS OF OIL. FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN GETTING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM FIXED, MINI SHOP FOUND 3 OIL LEAKS. TOTAL COST TO FIX WAS $3200. NOT NECESSARY TO GET THE FIX BUT NEED TO WATCH THE OIL LEVELS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314796February 27, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2008 MINI COOPER S CAUSES FIRE WHILST PARKED IN THE GARAGE AT 2AM, BURNS DOWN ANOTHER CAR AND PROPERTY. THE SUGAR LAND, TEXAS FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE CAUSE OF ORIGIN OF THE FIRE IS SUSPECTED FROM MINI COOPER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313775February 24, 2010
STEERING
OWNER PARKED MINI COOPER AT STORE WENT INSIDE. WHILE IN STORE, HEARD OVER INTERCOM THAT HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. SHE WENT OUTSIDE AND SAW FLAMES UNDERNEATH FRONT OF VEHICLE. FIRE WENT OUT BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM WIRING HAD OVERHEATED AND BURNED ONLY - NOTHING ELSE IGNITED. THE DAMAGE WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE PREVIOUS EA ANALYSIS EA07-011 PERTAINING TO 2002-2003 MINI COOPERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312953February 23, 2010
VISIBILITY
MY COMPLAINT IS NOT ABOUT AN ACCIDENT BUT RATHER AN UNSAFE CONDITION IN MY RELATIVELY NEW MINI COOPER. THE SIZE AND POSITION OF MY INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR SIGNIFICANTLY OBSCURES THE VIEW OF THE ROAD ON RIGHT HAND TURNS (ESPECIALLY ON EXIT RAMPS). I THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE CORRECTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312680February 22, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2003 MINI COOPER'S CVT TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO. THE MINI HAS 75K MILES (ALL HIGHWAY MILES). TOWED THE CAR TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP. HAD THE MODULAR UNIT REPLACED; HOWEVER THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE COST TO REPLACE IT IS TOO MUCH. IT COST THE TRUE VALUE OF THE CAR...OVER $8,000 TO REPLACE IT. BMW/MINI COOPER WILL NOT TAKE ANY PART OF RESPONSIBILITY TO THEIR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS ON THESE TYPES OF CARS. DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF REPAIRS THE BROKEN DOWN MINI IS BEING STORED IN A GARAGE BASICALLY ROTTING AWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311956February 19, 2010
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 MINI COPPER S FOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. I REFUSE TO PAY MORE THAN 1,000EUROS (SINCE I SERVE OVERSEAS) TO FIX A "KNOWN" PROBLEM THAT BMW MINI CHOOSES TO IGNORE DESPITE THE VALID COMPLAINTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD....*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312042February 19, 2010
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING PUMP SUDDENLY FAILED. THIS IS AN ELECTRIC-HYDRAULIC STEERING SYSTEM AND THE CAR IS NOT CONTROLLABLE WHEN THE PUMP FAILS. THE CAR HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311638February 18, 2010
STEERING
THE NEW MINIS FROM BMW, RANGING FROM 2002 - 2005, HAVE CHRONIC PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING FAILING WHILE DRIVING, MAKING THE CARS SUDDENLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. I'VE SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS VERY SAME THING. HERE'S A LINK TO A BBC STORY ABOUT IT. HTTP://WWW.BBC.CO.UK/BLOGS/WATCHDOG/2009/02/MINI_STEERING_SYSTEM_FAILURES.HTML. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311864February 18, 2010
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2003 MINI COOPER STOPS WORKING WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. IT HAPPENS WHEN GOING STRAIGHT ,AS WELL AS MID-TURN. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. I WAS TOLD I MUST REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311195February 17, 2010
STEERING
2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE WITH APPROX 78,000 MILES. ABOUT A WEEK AGO THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITH NO WARNING DURING COMMUTE. TOOK CAR TO REGULAR LOCAL FOREIGN CAR MECHANICS. POWER STEERING WAS WORKING WHEN THEY EXAMINED SO COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. DAY CAR WAS RETURNED POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN ON AFTERNOON COMMUTE. CONSISTENTLY HAS FAILED ONCE CAR WARMS UP. TOOK TO MINI YESTERDAY WITH POWER STEERING IN FULL FAILURE MODE. DEALER SAYS IT IS FAN WHICH COOLS POWER STEERING PUMP. WHILE DEALER MAINTAINS THEY HAVE RARELY SEEN THIS PROBLEM ONLINE SEARCH OF MINI RELATED SITES AS WELL AS ARTICLE PRINTED IN UK DAILY MAIL SHOWS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311282February 17, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOOR LOCK MECHANISM FREEZES AND TRAPS DRIVE AND OCCUPANTS INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ANYTIME THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING DOOR LOCKS FREEZE. UPON CONTACTING MINI THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY GET THIS COMPLAINT FREQUENTLY BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE A METHOD TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311291February 17, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE MANUAL 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION CAUSING CAR TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP IN AN INTERSECTION, ENDANGERING THE DRIVER AND BLOCKING TRAFFIC. SOMETHING INTERNAL FAILS IN THE TRANSMISSION, CAR COMES TO T SUDDEN STOP, CANT BE PUSHED AS THE WHEELS LOCK UP AND MUST BE TOWED FROM THE ROAD. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON MESSAGE BOARDS ON THE WEB. TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311504February 17, 2010
STRUCTURE
2009 MINI COOPER. DRIVING ON HWY.101 WITH FLOW OF TRAFFIC (65-70 MPH) WITH WINDOWS UP. THE ROAD IS CLEAR AND FLAT (I.E., NO CONSTRUCTION). THE BACK SUNROOF JUST EXPLODED, SENDING FRAGMENT SHARDS OF GLASS BLOWING INTO MY CAR. DROVE TO NEAREST GAS STATION AND COVERED THE GAPING HOLE IN THE SUNROOF. WHEN I GOT HOME, I NOTICED THAT ALL EDGES OF THE BROKEN GLASS POINT OUTWARD. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING FOR THIS TO HAVE HAPPENED. THE EXPLOSION WAS INSTANTANEOUS AND FRIGHTENING. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY GLASS HIT OTHER CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310677February 15, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2008 MINI CLUBMAN S WAS PARKED AT THE POST OFFICE, WHEN SOMEONE CAME IN TO TELL ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I RAN OUTSIDE TO FIND SMOKE POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I RAN BACK INSIDE TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, AND CAME BACK OUT TO FIND FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD, ALONG WITH THE SMOKE. I EMPTIED THE EXTINGUISHER, BUT THE FLAMES KEPT COMING. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, ONLY FIVE MINUTES LATER, THE FLAMES WERE 12 FEET HIGH, AND THE CAR WAS TOTALED. I HAVE FOUND REPORTS OF AT LEAST 30 OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS OF MINIS SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTING, BUT THE MANUFACTURER HAS, AS FAR AS I KNOW, DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310385February 14, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON 2003 MINI COOPER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308969February 12, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE @ 49,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307465February 8, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING SUDDENLY CUT OUT DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS IN DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP SAFELY, BUT THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT HAD IT OCCURRED ON A CURVING ROAD. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE FAILED, AND WAS REPLACED BY THE CONSUMER, FOR A REPAIR COST OF CLOSE TO $700. THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS NOT SUPPOSED TO FAIL THIS EARLY IN THE LIFETIME OF A VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307195February 7, 2010
STEERING
2003 MINI COOPER. POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. IT WORKS, THEN STOPS. . CUTS OUT MOSTLY DURING TURNS. DANGEROUS! TOLD BY MINI DEALER THAT NO RECALL WAS INVOLVED. PARTS AND LABOR WAS OVER $1200.00 TO REPAIR. NEW POWER STEERING PUMP LASTED 2 YEARS BEFORE SAME EXACT PROBLEM OCCURRED. *TW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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