MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10250103November 28, 2008
STEERING
APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO I WAS ON ORTEGA HIGHWAY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WITH MY CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT. AS I WAS MANEUVERING THE MINI ALONG THE CURVY ROAD THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. FORTUNATELY I HAD GOTTEN THROUGH THE WORST OF THE HAIR PINS AND WAS GOING SLOWER THAN THE SPEED LIMIT ETC. SUDDENLY THE STEERING BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN. MY HUSBAND WAS INFORMED BY A MECHANIC THAT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING FAN. WE HAD IT REPLACED AND IT SEEMED OKAY. ON NOVEMBER 26TH I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR GOING TO MY SISTERS I WENT TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN. I WAS FORTUNATE ONCE AGAIN AS THERE WAS NO ON COMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE IF THERE WAS I WOULD HAVE HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISION. THERE ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS FOR THIS ISSUE AND I HAD NEVER BEEN INFORMED OF POWER STEERING ISSUES BEING SO SUDDEN ON THIS VEHICLE. I BELIEVE A MASSIVE RECALL FOR THE 02-04 YEARS WOULD BE AN EXTREMELY GOOD IDEA. I GOGGLED THE ISSUE AND HAVE FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH THESE YEARS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. I HAVE A TRUCK OLDER THAN IT THAT HAS NEVER HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING REPLACED. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE IT NOW DUE TO FINANCIAL ISSUES. THE PUMP ALONE IS BETWEEN 400-500 DOLLARS. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE GET THEM TO RECALL THIS BEFORE SOMEONE DIES! OR IS THAT WHAT EVERYONE IS WAITING FOR?!? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249758November 25, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
WE HAVE HAD A MINI COOPER SINCE JULY 2007 WITH GOOD YEAR EXCELLENCE RUN FLAT TIRES (195/55 R16 87V). WE RECENTLY NOTICED A BULGE IN THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS AND OUR MECHANIC'S RECOMMENDATION, WE REPLACED THE TIRE FOR $250.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249834November 25, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
MY 2004 MINI COOPER S HAS 48,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT I CANNOT CHANGE GEARS WITHOUT GREAT DIFFICULTY. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS REPORTS ONLINE ABOUT POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE, BRAKE FAILURE AND A HOST OF SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE COOPER. I THINK THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE EVALUATED FOR SAFETY ISSUES. THANKS, KAREN *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249602November 23, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS NOW I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY COOLING FAN COMES ON EACH TIME I TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND THEN IT SHUTS OFF AFTER A MINUTE OR SO. SO I THOUGHT THAT THE FAN WAS JUST ACTING UP OR SOMETHING. HOWEVER, YESTERDAY I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS AT THE MAXIMUM (250 DEGREE F) AND THE INDICATOR RED LIGHT HAD COME ON. I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AT ABOUT 50-60 MILES PER HOUR ON SIDE ROADS (SO I HAD BEEN STOPPING AT LIGHTS AT INTERVALS). THE WEATHER IS ACTUALLY UNSEASONABLY COOL (60-70 DEGREE F), AND I HAD BEEN CHANGING GEARS (I HAVE THE AUTOMATIC WITH SPORTS DRIVE). SO NATURALLY, WHEN I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE THE COOLING FAN CAME ON AGAIN AND DIDN'T TURN OFF FOR ANOTHER 3-5 MINUTES. SO ON THE WAY BACK, I DROVE AT ABOUT 30 MILES WITH MY HAZARD LIGHT ON AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREE-WAY AND PUT IT ON CRUISE CONTROL. BUT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STILL WENT UP TO ABOUT 3 QUARTERS OF THE WAY AND THE FAN KICKED ON AFTER I PARKED IT AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES. THE MANUAL SAYS TO IMMEDIATELY STOP THE CAR AND LET THE ENGINE COOL DOWN IF THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES PAST THE HALF-WAY POINT. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER IN 2 DAYS FOR WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A COOLING FAN PROBLEM. BUT THIS SEEMS LIKE AN ENGINE ISSUE. SO I AM PLANNING TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249570November 22, 2008
STEERING
MY 2002 MINI COOPER ELECTROHYDRAULIC POWER STEERING (EHPS) PUMP WILL NOT SHUT OFF CAUSING ASSOCIATED WIRING TO BECOME DANGEROUSLY HOT (SMELLS LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE). THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MINI COOPER AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP MY MINI FROM CATCHING FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248921November 16, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
BOTH DOOR HANDLES ARE INOPERATIVE FROM THE INSIDE. DEALER PER PHONE CALL DIAGNOSED "COMMON PROBLEM" AS THE BALLARD CABLE DISCONNECTING FROM THE LATCH. AFTER REMOVING THE DOOR PANEL IT WAS FOUND TO BE INTACT. PROBLEM IS YET TO BE DIAGNOSED. IT IS MY ASSUMPTION THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SECURITY SYSTEM SINCE THE DOORS DO NOT UNLOCK WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF AND THE DOORS DO NOT APPEAR TO TRY AND LOCK WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHES THE SET SPEED OF 15 MPH. THIS IS A DEFECT OF GRAVE CONCERN SINCE THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE CANNOT IMMEDIATELY EXIT THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR FIRE AND WOULD BE TOTALLY UNABLE TO EXIT IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248923November 16, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY AS INOPERATIVE WITH OR WITHOUT A PASSENGER. THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF AIRBAG PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A QUALIFYING CRASH FOR THE PASSENGER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248922November 16, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIRBAG COVER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HAS A DEFECT EDGE ON THE MINI EMBLEM WHICH COULD CAUSE ADDITIONAL INJURY TO THE DRIVER IN THE EVENT OF A DEPLOYMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247715November 5, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VERY NOISY DRIVE TRAIN UPON INITIAL START-UP; MORE SIGNIFICANT WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. NOISE ABATES AS ENGINE WARMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247513November 3, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
AUTO WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AFTER A 30 MILE DRIVE, TURNED OFF AND KEYS REMOVED. AFTER SOME TIME BEING PARKED, CAR STARTED BILLOWING SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DASH LIGHTS CAME ON, PARKING LIGHTS CAME ON SPONTANEOUSLY. NO KEYS PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE. BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY THE APPARENT SHORT CIRCUIT HAD DRAINED THE BATTERY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MINI OF PEABODY MA WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING PUMP HAD SHORTED OUT CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS TO BE DESTROYED AND ALSO DESTROYING THE BATTERY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247485November 2, 2008
STEERING
I BOUGHT A USED 2004 MINI COOPER LAST YEAR. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS ON A CURVY ROAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD GET VERY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL, ESPECIALLY IN A SHARP CURVE. WITH NO DEALERSHIPS WITHIN 150 MILES I PUT UP WITH IT. NOW IT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME AND CANNOT BE DISCONNECTED WITHOUT TAKING THE BATTERY CABLE OFF THE BATTERY. IT RUINED 2 BATTERIES BEFORE I REALIZED IT WAS STAYING ON 24 HOURS A DAY. I BOUGHT THE REPAIR BOOK AND WIRING DIAGRAM CD'S TO FIND IT IS STRAIGHT WIRED FROM BATTERY TO INSIDE THE PUMP WHICH GLOWS BRIGHT RED AFTER RUNNING A FEW HOURS. IF I HAD ANY TYPE OF OIL LEAK, IT WOULD CATCH ON FIRE. I CONTACTED A REPAIR CENTER IN ATLANTA GA AND THEY CAN CHANGE IT OUT FOR ABOUT $1000+ FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE OPEN FACED FAN THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE IN THE PUMP. IT FAILED THE EXACT MONTH MY WARRANTY WAS OVER AND THEY SAID SORRY CHARLIE. CANNOT CURRENTLY PAY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED SO IT HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY YARD FOR ALMOST A YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247322October 31, 2008
VISIBILITY
BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE WINDOWS ARE STUTTERING WHEN I TRY TO ROLL THEM UP OR DOWN. THIS IS WHEN I AM EVEN ABLE TO GET THEM TO WORK. FOUND THAT WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT, THEY WON'T WORK AT ALL!! MEANING I AM HAVING TO WAIT FOR IT TO COOL DOWN TO ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN IF I AM LUCKY AND HAVE ON ONE OCCASION GOT STUCK IN MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CAR DOOR HANDLE ALSO WOULD OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE AND I COULDN'T OPEN THE WINDOW TO OPEN THE DOOR, WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE I HAD A CHILD WITH ME. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY AND JUST GOT MY DOOR REPAIRED AND STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH THE WINDOWS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DO ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES A DRIVE THROUGH, OR AT MY PREVIOUS APT YOU HAD TO ENTER A CODE TO GET INTO THE GATED COMMUNITY AND I HAD TO GET OUT OF MY CAR TO DO THIS, AND I LIVE IN COLORADO, AND IT GETS VERY COLD. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL, DUE TO MANY FORUMS AND OTHER MINI OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES! FROM FORUMS SHOWS THAT EVEN REPLACING THE MOTOR WON'T FIX THE ISSUE, WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY!! THIS NEEDS TO A RECALL ONCE AGAIN, CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP GETTING THIS FIXED AND DISHING OUT MONEY, ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE A KID WITH ME FROM TIME TO TIME. UNACCEPTABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247321October 31, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAG CHECK LIGHT IS ON. NO AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED, NO CRASH WAS INVOLVED. THIS IS ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE MINI COOPER WHICH SHOULD HAVE A RECALL. IF NOT REPAIRED AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247388October 31, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED THREE TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE BRACKETS THAT SUPPORT THE MUFFLER HAVE ROTTED. UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, THE BRACKETS THAT SUPPORT THE HORN HAVE ALSO ROTTED. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN FOR ANOTHER REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 68,600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246582October 24, 2008
STEERING
AS AN OWNER OF A 2004 COOPER S I WAS GREATLY DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THAT I NOW NEED TO REPLACE MY ELECTRIC STEERING PUMP AT ONLY 55K MILES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE PART "GOES REGULARLY" AND THAT "WE KEEP A BUNCH IN STOCK" AND THAT IT WILL COST ME $600 FOR A NEW ONE NOT INCLUDING LABOR. WITH THIS BIT OF INFORMATION, I BEGAN TO SEARCH MINI COOPER FANSITES AND BLOGS TO SEE HOW OFTEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS. I WASN'T SURPRISED TO FIND THAT MANY OF THE MEMBERS AND "FANS" OF THE CAR HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PUMP FAILURES, AND THAT THERE IS A GROWING NUMBER OF THOSE WHO ARE DISCUSSING THE FAILURE ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS IS BOTH A COSTLY FIX AS WELL AS A SAFETY PROBLEM. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF A STEERING PUMP IS QUITE DANGEROUS AND MAY CAUSE SOME DRIVERS TO LOSE CONTROL. I AM FORTUNATE THAT I NOTICED THE PROBLEM AND UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE FAILURE WAS, SO I PERSONALLY DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT, BUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE LESS CAR SAVVY, THEY MAY NOT NOTICE THE NOISE OF THE FAILURE THAT IS ABOUT TO OCCUR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246644October 24, 2008
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DRIVER SIDE AND HEAD AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHEN A "BUMP" (PAVEMENT AT DIFFERENT HEIGHTS DURING REPAVING) IN THE ROAD WAS HIT BY THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10246675October 24, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE CVT FAILED IN MY 2003 MINI COOPER AT 67,000 MILES. THE REPAIR COST OFFERED BY DEALER STARTED AT 7400 THEN WHEN TOLD I HAD READ ABOUT NUMEROUS OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THE COST BECAME 5900. ALSO FOUND OUT THE COMPANY STOPPED USING THIS TRANSMISSION IN 07 MODELS DUE TO PROBLEMS. NEED RE-CALL AND OR REIMBURSEMENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246017October 19, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF 08 MINI COOPER S GETS SO HOT IT HAS MELT THE HOOD SCOOP. MY HOOD SCOOPING IS BOWING DOWN AND THE CAR HAS 2700 MILES ON IT. I SUGGEST A RECALL AND A HEAT SHIELD TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE FORUMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245653October 16, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY
HOOD SCOOP ON VEHICLE HAS DEFORMED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM TURBO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245497October 15, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FAILED CVT TRANSMISSION IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. CAR HAD TO BE PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS ENTIRE SYSTEM WAS LOCKED AND ENGINE DIED; COULD NOT MANUALLY MOVE SHIFT OUT OF DRIVE. MILEAGE WAS AROUND 12,000 ABOVE WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP QUOTED $7200 TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION - NO COVERAGE UNDER WARRANTY. I COULD NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR, SO TURNED THE CAR BACK TO MANUFACTURER AS A VOLUNTARY REPO. THIS WAS DEVASTATING. CAR WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION OTHERWISE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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