MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10205137October 6, 2007
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP, STEERING
PARKED MY 2003 MINI COOPER ON THE STREET. SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE. POPPED THE HOOD AND SAW THE SMOKING CONTINUOUSLY EMANATING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP IN PRINCETON. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED; THAT IT LEAKED AND MELTED THE ENGINE HARNESS AND POWER SUPPLY CABLE AND POWER STEERING FAN CONNECTORS. ALSO, THE MAIN COOLANT FAN WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY; AND THERE WAS ANOTHER LEAK IN MY VALVE COVER GASKET. I HAVE READ MANY INSTANCES WHERE FIRES HAVE BEEN STARTED FOR THE SAME REASON, AND AM LUCKY THAT DID NOT HAPPEN TO ME. HOWEVER, THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR TOTALED OVER $3400. I HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED; ALONG WITH THE ENGINE HARNESS, POWER SUPPLY CABLE, POWER STEERING FAN AND MAIN COOLING FAN. IF THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH MANY MINI COOPERS ESPECIALLY 03 AND 04 EDITIONS, I THINK THE MANUFACTURERS SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND ENSURE THAT IT DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205083October 5, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SIGNIFICANT AND REPEATED ELECTRICAL FAILURES CAUSED THE CAR TO RANDOMLY SWITCH INTO EML MODE, REDUCING ENGINE OUTPUT CRITICALLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH POWER TO REMOVE THE CAR FROM THE ROAD SAFELY. AFTER SEVERAL INEFFECTUAL REPAIRS, THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED. SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CAR WAS PARKED, EMERGENCY BRAKE SET, MANUAL TRANSMISSION SET IN FIRST GEAR. UNATTENDED, TURNED OFF WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE CAR MOVED ITSELF SEVERAL FEET, HITTING ANOTHER CAR, BURNING OUT THE STARTER AND DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE CAR WAS MOVED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE STARTER WAS REPLACED. OVERNIGHT, WITH THE CAR PARKING INSIDE THE LOCKED SHOP, THE CAR MOVED ITSELF ACROSS THE SHOP. MECHANICS ARE NOW INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204475September 30, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
EXTREME HOOD TEMPERATURE DUE TO TURBO IN EXCESS OF 225 DEGREES F DUE TO EXTREME TEMPERATURES BURNS TO BODY PARTS UP TO 2ND DEGREE CAN OCCUR IF HOOD OF CAR IS TOUCHED. DAMAGE TO PLASTIC HOODSCOOP ON CAR...BASICALLY IT IS MELTING AND DEFORMING I REPLACED THE HOOD SCOOPE AND REFRAIN FROM TOUCHING THE HOOD FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER THE CAR IS SHUT OFF. THIS IS A PROBLEM IF I AM GOING TO HAVE WORK DONE ON THE CAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10204480September 30, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
1. I WAS UNLOADING A FEW THINGS FROM THE BACK OF CAR. 2. THE FAILURE IS THAT THE STOCK MINI COOPER S TAILPIPE EXTEND BEYOND THE REAR BUMPER WHICH IS RIGHT WHERE YOU HAVE TO STAND TO ACCESS THE TRUNK. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT I GOT A BIG CIRCULAR BURN ON MY CALF WHEN I LEANED IN TO GRAB SOMETHING. 3. WHAT CAN I DO TO CORRECT THIS? IT'S A STOCK PART / DESIGN THAT'S NEVER BEEN RECALLED AND IS STILL FOR SALE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10204389September 28, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
HOOD TEMPERATURE IS EXTREMELY HOT, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE HOOD SCOOP. MY FRIENDS HAVE BEEN REPORTING TEMPERATURES WELL ABOVE 200 DEGREES ON THEIR MINIS. THIS IS A CONTINUING, EVERYDAY PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204238September 27, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
TOOK MY CAR IN FOR WINDING SOUND COMING FROM MOTOR. DIAGNOSED AS THE ALTERNATOR...THEY REPLACED IT AND SOUND WAS STILL PRESENT ...MISDIAGNOSED AND WAS ACTUALLY THE SUPERCHARGER, BUT WHILE THEY WERE CHECKING IT OUT INITIALLY THE POWER STEERING PUMP STAYED ON...WHICH DIDN'T HAPPEN TO ME UNTIL THEY HAD IT. AFTER CHANGING THE ALTERNATOR POWER STEERING PUMP NO LONGER STAYED ON PER THE DEALER. HAD IT HOME 3 DAYS TO WAKE UP ONE MORNING HEARING THE PUMP ON AND I GO TO START MY CAR AND IN DRAINED MY BATTERY. HAD TO JUMP THE CAR AND THEN DISCONNECT THE CABLE TO KEEP FROM THE PS PUMP CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING. THE CAR IS AT THE DEALER GETTING A NEW PUMP $975 PLUS TAX, RESEARCHED MINI OWNER WEBSITE AND FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE ALSO THAT SOME CARS ACTUALLY CAUGHT FIRE FROM A FAILURE OF THE PUMP. RESEARCHED MORE ON NORTH AMERICAN MOTORING . THERE WAS A LONG LIST OF PEOPLE WHO HAD THE EXACT EXPERIENCE. SURE WOULD BE AWFUL FOR THE PUMP TO GO OUT WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY AND NOT ABLE TO STEER CORRECTLY. SURPRISED IT HASN'T CAUSED AN ACCIDENT/DEATH YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204178September 26, 2007
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
WE PURCHASED OUR 2002 MINI ON 10/10/06, W/55,059 MILES ON IT. 9 DAYS LATER THE CLUTCH WENT OUT, NOT COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WE PURCHASED. WE TOWED IT BACK TO MINI SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE DEPT WHO INSISTED THAT WE WORE OUT THE CLUTCH AND IT WAS OUR PROBLEM, WEAR AND TEAR, ETC. ? AFTER 9 DAYS! UNBELIEVABLE! THEY OFFERED TO PAY HALF, BUT WE FELT THIS WAS COMPLETELY UNFAIR. WE THEN HAD TO BATTLE WITH THE SERVICE DEPT AND THEY EVENTUALLY CALLED MINI USA WHO AGREED TO PAY THE OTHER HALF TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH. A FEW MONTHS LATER OUR MINI WAS DUE FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE (INSPECTION 2, $390), WHICH WE HAD DON ON 2/6/07, WITH NO NOTABLE PROBLEMS. THEN ON 9/14/07, AT 67,829 MILES, THE CLUTCH WENT OUT AGAIN! TWICE IN UNDER ONE YEAR! WE HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES FOR OVER 15 YEARS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH, LET ALONE TWICE IN ONE YEAR! OF COURSE IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND THE DEALERSHIP IS INSISTING THAT IT IS OUR FAULT THAT WE BURNT OUT THE CLUTCH, WHICH IS ABSURD. WE WOULD HAVE TO GRIND THE GEARS EVERY TIME WE SHIFT IN ORDER TO BURN OUT A BRAND NEW CLUTCH WITHIN ONE YEAR. MINI USA IS TAKING THE WORD OF THE SERVICE MANAGER AND WILL NOT HELP US. WE ARE NOT SURE IF THIS IS RELATED TO THE RECALL (MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY), HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP/SERVICE DEPT DENIES THAT SUCH A RECALL EXISTS. WHEN SEARCHING GOOGLE WE FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME OR VERY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OF CLUTCHES GOING OUT IN UNUSUALLY SHORT PERIODS OF DRIVING TIME. EACH TIME THE DEALERSHIP BLAMES THE DRIVER AND DENIES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. OUR MINI IS SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT NOW AS WE RESEARCH AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO RESOLVE THIS SITUATION FAIRLY. AT THIS POINT, WE JUST WANT TO GET IT REPAIRED AND SELL IT. ALTHOUGH, I FEEL BAD SELLING THIS CAR TO ANYONE, SINCE IT CLEARLY HAS MECHANICAL DEFECTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204107September 25, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS APPLIED AFTER COMING TO A STOP OR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PASS OTHER VEHICLES. ESPECIALLY FREQUENT AT TURNS FROM A COMPLETE STOP EG TURNING INTO OR ACROSS MOVING TRAFFIC. THE CAR INITIALLY MOVES FORWARD AND THEN ALL FORWARD MOVEMENT STOPS. THE ENGINE DOES NOT APPEAR TO DIE THE RPM'S STAY CONSTANT BUT THE GAS PEDAL HAS NO EFFECT AND THE CAR SIMPLY ROLLS TO A STOP AT LOW SPEEDS OR SLOWS UP CONSIDERABLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THE RESULT IS THAT YOU ARE LEFT EITHER STRADDLED ACROSS A COUPLE OF LANES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC IF YOU TRIED TO TURN LEFT OR YOU ARE STALLING IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC TRAVELING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS YOU OR YOU ARE HUNG OUT TO DRY AT HIGHER SPEEDS IN THE WRONG LANE OF A TWO LANE HIGHWAY. IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY BUT IT DOES NOT HAPPEN CONSTANTLY. YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT ALL THE MINIS ARE THE SAME AND THAT , THAT IS JUST THE WAY THEY HANDLE. WELL IT DIDN'T HANDLE LIKE THAT WHEN I GOT IT AND IT ONLY HANDLES THAT WAY A FEW TIMES A DAY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203000September 14, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
THE EXHAUST PIPE ON THE 2002 MINI COOPER S I HAVE IS CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE BACK OF THE BUMPER. THE CAR IS A HATCH BACK, AND I'VE RUINED A COUPLE PAIRS OF PANTS AND HAD MINOR BURNS FROM IT. I'M NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT ME, BUT I HAVE SMALL KIDS AND I WORRY ABOUT THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10203038September 14, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
MY 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER RECEIVED A SERIOUS BURN ON HER LEG FROM THE EXHAUST OF MY MINI COOPER S. THE DOUBLE EXHAUST IS LOCATED IN THE CENTER BACK OF THE CAR AND EXTENDS PAST THE EDGE OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET ITEMS OUT OF THE TRUNK AREA WITHOUT TOUCHING THE EXHAUST. THE EXHAUST IN LOCATED IN THE EXACT LOCATION WHERE ONE STANDS TO RETRIEVE CARGO. I HAVE BURNED MY LEG TWICE UNLOADING GROCERIES. IT TAKES A CONSTANT EFFORT TO REMEMBER TO AVOID THE EXHAUST. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *JB ADD PICTURE *121108 CW UPDATED 12/11/08
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10202353September 10, 2007
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
DRIVING TO WORK AND POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS FAILURE CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR, BUT IT TOOK A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EFFORT. HAD MY WIFE BEEN DRIVING, IT IS LIKELY THAT SHE WOULD LOST CONTROL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202077September 6, 2007
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT A BUMP COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DROVE ROUGHLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. AS OF SEPTEMBER 6, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V201000 (POWER TRAIN: MANUAL TRANSMISSION: FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY). THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202093September 6, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT ONLY 58,000 MILES FOR MY 03 MINI COOPER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION, BUT I'M BEING ASKED TO PAY $2,500 FOR LABOR. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF A TRANSMISSION CRASHING AT 60,000 AND I'M SURPRISED THAT BMW AND MINI AREN'T DOING MORE TO KEEP ME AS A LOYAL CUSTOMER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201887September 5, 2007
SUSPENSION
COMPLETE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER STRUT, STRUT TOWER, MOUNT AND LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING CAUSED BY AN IMPERFECTION ON A PUBLIC, WELL TRAVELED ROAD. REPORTS ON ENTHUSIAST FORUMS OF OVER 216 OTHERS SUFFERING THE SAME FAILURE ON THE SAME MODEL CAR AND A REPORT IN THE SEPT-OCT 2007 EDITION OF MC2 MAGAZINE CITING THE NEED TO LOOK FOR THESE COMMON FLAWS ON THIS MODEL CAR WHEN CONSIDERING PURCHASING A USED ONE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201929September 5, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
I PARKED MY CAR AFTER ARRIVING AT MY FRIENDS HOUSE, WHICH WAS APPROX. A TWO HOUR DRIVE. AFTER REACHING INSIDE OF THE HATCHBACK TO GRAB LUGGAGE OUT OF MY 2007 MINI COOPER 'S' I WAS BURNED ON MY LEG BY THE TAILPIPE. AFTER STEPPING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE MY LEG WAS RED IN TWO SPOTS (TWIN-PIPE) AND THEN BUBBLED IN THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS AND SCABBED. I NOTICED THAT THE TAIL PIPE EXTENDS BEYOND THE BODY OF THE CAR WHICH ALLOWS FOR EASY SKIN CONTACT WITH THE HOT PIPE. UPDATED 04-15-08 *BF UPDATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10201306August 31, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I RECENTLY WAS DRIVING HOME FROM SACRAMENTO WHEN MY CAR STOPPED DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY.... LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE AND CALL FOR HELP... THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING AND THE RPM'S WERE GOING UP, BUT WOULD NOT DRIVE OR REVERSE. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAD JUST HAD THE SECOND INSPECTION SERVICE ON THE CAR ON 4/10/2007 AT THE COST OF $850. THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVING FUNNY, NO LIGHTS HAD COME ON, NOTHING WAS ABNORMAL. AAA TOOK MY CAR TO MINI OF SACRAMENTO DEALER WHERE I HAD TO LEAVE IT OVER NIGHT (THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS NO LONGER OPEN) AND CHECK MYSELF INTO A HOTEL. I CALLED THE NEXT MORNING AND THEY SAID BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE AN APPOINTMENT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT AROUND 5:00 PM. I WAS CALLED LATER THAT DAY AND TOLD THE CAR NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND IT WILL COST $7,500... THE CAR HAS ROUGHLY 59,000 MILES ON IT. *TR UPDATED 02-21-08 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10200816August 26, 2007
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
1) NO SIGNIFICANT EVENT LEADING UP TO FAILURE 2) POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE, NO STEERING ABILITY IN VEHICLE 3) NO CORRECTION KNOWN FOR SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING. PARTS TO BE REPAIRED BELIEVED TO BE STEERING PUMP AND POTENTIAL STEERING RACK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199917August 17, 2007
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, AS WELL AS PIECES OF BURNING PLASTIC FALLING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. HE THEN NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND TRIED TO CONTAIN THE FIRE HOWEVER, THE FIRE CONTINUED TO SPREAD INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199506August 14, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WOULD REACH 200 DEGREES AFTER IT WAS PARKED. THE WASHER JETS THAT REST ON THE HOOD LEAKED WATER WHEN THE HOOD WAS HOT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EACH TIME AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE WAS NORMAL. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE HEAT WAS CAUSED BY THE TURBO CHARGER. THE SPEED PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE BEING PARKED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25. THE CONSUMER STATED THE HOOD WIPER JETS WEEP WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND THE TEMPERATURE RISES ABOVE 200 LEAVING SEMI PERMANENT MARKS ON THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 08/31/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199043August 10, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. IN APRIL OF 2007, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED TWICE AND HAS REMAINED LIT EVER SINCE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WHEN THE LIGHT FIRST ILLUMINATED. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE ABS HAS FAILED AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,500. UPDATED 09/10/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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