MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10175101December 4, 2006
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILURE ON MINI COOPER. 1 - WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT, AT TIMES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. 2 - ONCE HOME WHILE PARKING THE CAR, SMOKE STARTED TO BILLOW OUR FROM UNDER THE HOOD. TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, SMOKE CONTINUED TO BILLOW AND GET THICKER, OPENED THE HOOD, HEARD A SIZZLING SOUND AND NOTICED THAT SOME OF THE WIRES WERE MELTING. IMMEDIATELY DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, THE SMOKE STARTED TO DISSAPATE, THE NOISE STOPPED ETC. 3 - THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. ACCORDING TO THE TOW OPERATOR, BASED UPON THE CONDIDTION OF THE WIRING HARNESS, IF THE BATTERY HAD NOT BE DISCONNECTED QUICKLY, THE CAR WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE DEALER INFORMED US THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP MOTOR HAD FAILED AND THAT MINI WOULD REPLACE THE PARTS AT NO CHARGE, BUT LABOR WOULD BE AT OUR COST. TOTAL PARTS WERE APPROXIMATLEY $1,000.00 WITH LABOR TOTALING ABOUT $400.00. THE CAR IS NOW FIXED AND OPERATING PROPERLY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175121December 4, 2006
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THE STEERING FAILED ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER S WITH 84K MILE. THE POWER STEERING FAN FAILED CAUSING THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO BURN OUT. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NTO DRIVABLE AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE FORTUNATELY THE FAILURE OCCURED AFTER THE VEHICLE REACHED IT DESTINATION AND WAS PARKED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174282November 26, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE PLASTIC GAS TANK OF THE 2006 MINI COOPER WAS PUNCTURED BY DEBRIS ON RT 3 NEAR CHELMSFORD, MASSACHUSETTS. SEVERAL GALLONS OF GASOLINE WERE LOST DUE TO THE PUNCTURE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173779November 17, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 MINI COOPER CVT TRANSMISSION DIED @ 83000 MILES. I PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM NORTHWEST MINI IN TACOMA, WA ON 10-18-05 WITH 49000 MILES AND ONE YEAR LATER THE TRANNY IS TOAST. NW MINI WANTS $7200 TO REPLACE WITH SAME 'QUESTIONABLE CVT TRANSMISSION'. IRONIC THAT MINI HAS ABANDONED THE CVT TRANSMISSION FOR THE 2007 MODELS...THEY KNOW IT'S A DOG. I'M STUCK, WITH MANY OTHERS, HOLDING THE BILL! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173701November 16, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER S AUTO CRACKED SUDDENLY (WITH A POP) WHILE I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE FREEWAY, WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE--NO IMPACT SITE ON THE CRACK. THE CRACK ORIGINATES IN THE LOW/MIDDLE AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD, GOES UP ABOUT 2 INCHES, THEN SNEAKS TO THE PASSENGER SIDE ABOUT 5 INCHES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173562November 15, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT, STRUCTURE
(1) I RECENTLY TRADED MY 2003 MINI COOPER IN FOR A 2005 MINI COOPER S AT A PRIVATE DEALERSHIP. (2) UPON INSPECTING THE 2005 COOPER S, I NOTICED THAT THE STRUT TOWERS WERE DEFORMED, BUT SINCE THIS WAS NOT A MINI DEALERSHIP, NOTHING COULD BE DONE BY THEM. I BOUGHT THE CAR THINKING THIS COULD BE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER CALLING THE CLOSEST MINI DEALERSHIP WHICH IS 200+ MILES AWAY, I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS CONSIDERED ABUSE TO THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE PREVIOUS OWNER MUST HAVE HIT A POTHOLE. THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THIS SITUATION IS THERE IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THE MINI COOPER'S SHOCK TOWERS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN TO A CAR. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS IN MY LIFETIME, AND NEVER HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN. I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER TO EXPERIENCE THIS AND IT IS A PRETTY COMMON OCCURRENCE IN MINI COOPERS. I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS SITUATION CAUSES THE CAR TO WANDER ON THE ROAD. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, I'M GETTING FEEDBACK FROM OTHER OWNERS. SOME SAY THEIR DEALERSHIP IS FIXING THE DEFORMATION, OTHERS, LIKE MYSELF ARE DENIED. I'M A LITTLE FRIGHTENED AT WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO THE CAR OVER TIME FROM THIS. WILL THE SHEET METAL GET EVEN WEAKER AS TIME GOES ON? I BELIEVE BMW SHOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. (3) I HAVE NOT FIXED THIS PROBLEM ON MY CAR YET, BUT THE FIX IS TO EITHER PAY MONEY TO HAVE THE SHOCK TOWERS CUT OUT AND HAVE NEW ONES WELDED IN, OR POUND DOWN THE OLD ONES UNTIL THEY ARE FLAT, THEN BUY REINFORCEMENT PLATES FROM A VENDOR TO KEEP THE ALREADY STRESSED METAL FROM BENDING AGAIN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173024November 9, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
SUDDEN STRESS CRACK APPEARED DIRECTLY BEHIND REAR VIEW MIRROR. NO ROCK CHIP OR OTHER IMPACT EVIDENCE. WE'D JUST GONE FROM COOL (MID 50'S ) TO RECORD HEAT (100) IN 24 HOURS. HAVE LESS THAN 4,500 MILES ON THE CAR. CAME OUT IN THE MORNING TO FIND THE CRACK, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 6" LONG GROWING VERTICALLY. THE CAR IS A 2005 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172494November 2, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CRACKED WINDSHIELD WITH NO IDENTIFIABLE IMPACT MARKS. LOCATED JUST BEHIND AND TO THE LEFT (IF SITTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT) OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. IT WASN'T THERE WHEN I DROVE TO WORK IN THE MORNING BUT WAS THERE WHEN I WENT TO MY CAR AT 5PM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171873October 26, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS WIPER MOTOR FAILURE. I NOTICED THAT THE WIPER MOTOR WAS EXPOSED DIRECTLY TO THE WEATHER AND MOISTURE BECAUSE IT IS LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE COWL INTAKE AND I FELT THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. IT'S EXPOSED TO RAIN, SNOW, AND WINTER ROAD SALT SPRAY - EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT BEING DRIVEN. I OBTAINED THE REPLACEMENT PART AND NOTICED THAT IT HAD A PLASTIC SHIELD INSTALLED TO PROTECT THE MOTOR INDICATING THE MANUFACTURER DOES KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HAS IMPLEMENTED CORRECTIVE ACTION. WHEN I CONTACTED BMW, THEY CLAIMED TO BE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. BMW INSISTS ON CHARGING FOR THE REPAIR ($465.00) AND HAS NOT YET RECOGNIZED THE FACT THAT THERE IS A SAFETY DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE IS ALSO A HIGH LIKELIHOOD THAT THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES THAT COULD EXPERIENCE THE SAME FAILURE RESULTING IN LOSS OF LIFE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171827October 25, 2006
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE LUG BOLTS SHEERED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE BY HAND ON MORE THAN ONE WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HUBS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171036October 17, 2006
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
I HAD ~40,000 MILES ON MY MINI COOPER LAST SUMMER. THE POWER STEERING JUST STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS MOTORING. I WENT TO TURN AND WHOA, NO POWER ASSIST. I'M ESTIMATING THE DATE THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. I CAN LOOK UP THE REPAIR ORDER IF THE CORRECT DATE IS IMPORTANT. I THINK THAT BECAUSE OF THE MANY PROBLEMS SOME OF US HAVE HAD, THERE IS A REASON WHY I HAVE READ THAT THE 2007 MINI IS GOING TO HAVE A DIFFERENT STEERING SYSTEM FROM THE ELECTRICAL-HYDRAULIC ONES WE NOW HAVE. I GUESS I WAS LUCKY BECAUSE WHEN IT FAILED ON MY 2003 MC, THERE WAS NO PROBLEM OTHER THAN THE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST. AND IT WAS REPAIRED WHILE STILL UNDER THE 50,000 MILE WARRANTY. IN THIS DAY AND AGE WHEN IT SEEMS MOST CARS LAST 150,000+ MILES WITH NO WORK BEYOND ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, IT MAKES ME WONDER WHY BMW/MINI CAN??T SEEM TO GET IT RIGHT. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY P/S PROBLEMS WITH MINIS. HERE IS A THREAD AND VOTING POLL ON THE PROBLEM... HTTP://WWW.MINI2.COM/FORUM/FAULTS-FIXES/49527-IMPORTANT-HAVE-YOU-HAD-POWER-STEERING-PUMP-FAILURE-PLEASE-VOTE-YES-NO.HTML HERE ARE SOME REAL HORROR STORIES INVOLVING FIRES. SOME FROM OTHER THINGS, BUT MANY FROM THE P/S PUMP. HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=73527&HIGHLIGHT=POWER+STEERING+FAILURE HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=68356&PAGE=3&HIGHLIGHT=OBITUARY THERE ARE MANY ADDITIONAL WEB PAGES WITH THREADS LIKE THE ABOVE, BUT THEY ARE ON THE MINIUSA.COM OWNERS LOUNGE WEB SITE WHERE YOU NEED AN ACCOUNT TO ACCESS THEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170940October 16, 2006
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. REPLACEMENT WAS REQUIRED AT 48,000 MILES. VIEWING THE MINI OWNERS WEBSITE REVEALED MANY SIMILAR SITUATIONS WHERE THE PUMP REQUIRED REPLACEMENT ON MANY 2002-2004 MODELS. THIS COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170687October 12, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
I WAS DRIVING MY BRAND NEW MINI COOPER S, HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP ON THE INTERSTATE, I WAS CUT OFF BY A SPEEDING CAR WHEN I WAS TRYING TO CHANGE LANES. I BEGAN TO BRAKE AND TRIED TO GO BACK IN MY LANE (I DID NOT OVER-CORRECT), AND MY CAR BEGAN FISH TAILING WILDLY AND PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I COULD NOT CONTROL MY CAR FROM PULLING TO THE RIGHT, AND MY BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING AT ALL. I FOUGHT THE CAR, BUT I INEVITABLY WAS FORCED ACROSS THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH INTO A TREE, AND SLID UNDER A FENCE. I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED, BUT I WAS BRUISED AND VERY VERY UPSET. I CRIED FOR A WEEK, AND EVEN AFTER THAT I WAS SO DEPRESSED I DID NOTHING FOR A LONG TIME. HAD THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED A FEW MILES UP THE ROAD, I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BY BEING THROWN OFF A CLIFF. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE LOOK AT THE CAR. THE FRONT PASSENGER BRAKE WAS DEEMED FAULTY. MY INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED IT AN "UNEXPECTED SEPARATION OF THE RIGHT FRONT ROTOR". FROM THEIR OWN DOCUMENTS " NON-DESTRUCTIVE HARDNESS TESTS ON BOTH FRONT ROTORS SHOWED AN ABNORMAL VARIANCE ON THE RIGHT FRONT ROTOR MATERIAL." ALLSTATE HAS REPEATEDLY TRIED TO GET BMW TO REIMBURSE THEM, AND US FOR THE AMOUNTS OF MONEY WE ARE OUT. BMW CONSISTENTLY CLAIMS THAT THE DAMAGE IS IMPACT RELATED, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IMPACTED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, WHERE THE FAULTY BRAKE WAS DISCOVERED. THEY HAVE HOWEVER ASKED TO HAVE THE ROTOR SENT TO GERMANY FOR ANALYSIS, WHICH ALLSTATE WILL NOT DO. NO REPAIR HAS BEEN DONE TO THE CAR, IT WAS TOTALED OUT. ALLSTATE IS GOING TO HAVE TO SUE TO GET THE MONEY THEY ARE OUT, AND WE ARE OUT. BMW REFUSES TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY IN ANY WAY, AND HAS ONLY OFFERED US A $1000 REBATE IN RETURN, WHICH IS LESS MONEY THAN WE ARE CURRENTLY OUT. THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW, WE HAD ONLY HAD IT FOR 3 HOURS, AND IT NEVER MADE IT HOME. BMW HAS BEEN NEGLIGENT ON IT'S REFUSAL TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10169784October 2, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MORE OF A COMMENT RATHER THAN A COMPLAINT. YOU HAVE OMITTED MINI COOPER FROM YOUR DROP DOWN MENU SELECTION OF VEHICLE MAKES. THESE VEHICLES ARE MANUFACTURED BY BMW, BUT I COULD NOT FIND MINI COOPER LISTED UNDER BMW AND ITS NOT LISTED BY ITSELF AS A SEPARATE VEHICLE MAKE. THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND ATTENTION TO MY COMMENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169179September 25, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
AFTER A RIDE IN MY 2006 MINI COOPER, I REACHED INTO THE BACK (HATCHBACK) TO GET OUT MY BAG AND BURNED MY LEG ON THE EXHAUST PIPE. BMW/MINI SAID THAT EVERYTHING IS TO SPEC, BUT I THINK IT IS A BAD DESIGN THAT IT STICKS OUT JUST A LITTLE FURTHER THAN THE BUMPER AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED. I WILL HAVE A SCAR ON THE OUTSIDE OF MY LEG DUE TO THIS DESIGN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10168552September 18, 2006
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE POWER WINDOWS FAIL TO OPEN. DURING THE EVENT OF A CRASH WHERE THE WINDOW IS THE SOLE SOURCE OF EGRESS, THE ELECTRIC OPERATED WINDOW MAY NOT OPEN UNDER ITS OWN POWER. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. DEALER WILL NOT FIX. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168569September 18, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
MY 2004 MINI COOPER S HAS INCURRED TWO CRACKED WINDSHIELDS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, REQUIRING THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD TO BE REPLACED. EACH CRACK OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AFTER A SMALL PEBBLE NICKED THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER DRIVING FOR NEARLY TWENTY YEARS I FIND THIS RATE OF OCCURRENCE TO BE UNACCEPTABLE. ALTHOUGH THE ANGLE OF THE WINDSHIELD MAY BE AT A STEEPER GRADE THAN MOST VEHICLES, MINI HAS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE SOLUTIONS SUCH AS A STRONGER THICKER WINDSHIELD. A RESOLUTION IS NEEDED TO PREVENT FELLOW MINI OWNERS FROM PURCHASING REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELDS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168206September 13, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT
AFTER READING INTERNET FORUMS REGARDING THE MINI COOPER CARS. I LEARNED OF A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT STRUT TOWERS DEFORMING UNDER REGULAR DRIVING CONDITIONS. UPON INSPECTION OF MY OWN MINI COOPER BY MYSELF I FOUND THAT MY TOWERS WERE DISTORTED IN A MUSHROOMING OF THE TOP SHEET METAL . I FOUND ONLINE THE MANUFACTURER OF A MACHINED ALUMINUM PLATE THAT BOLTS ON TOP OF THE TOWER ADDING ADDITIONAL STRENGTH TO THE TOP OF THE TOWER. MY VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE CRACKS IN THE TOWER BUT OTHER PEOPLE ARE FINDING CRACKS AS WELL AS THE DISTORTION. I BELIEVE THAT IF THE TOWER WHERE TO CRACK COMPLETELY THAT THE FRONT STRUTS WOULD BE FORCED UP AND CAUSING THE CAR TO LOOSE THE ABILITY TO CONTROL STEERING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167739September 9, 2006
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW DOES NOT OPEN WHEN TOGGLE IS DEPRESSED, DUE TO MOTOR FAILURE INSIDE THE DOOR. THIS ELIMINATES A MEANS OF EMERGENCY IN SITUATIONS WHERE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN. IT ALSO REDUCES MEANS OF COMMUNICATION WITH PERSONS OUTSIDE THE CAR UNLESS DOOR IS OPENED --AGAIN A CONCERN IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, PARTICULARLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, OR IN A MOVING VEHICLE AS THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THEIR HANDS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND OPEN THE DOOR. WINDOW POWER FAILURES HAVE HAPPENED ONLY IN SUMMER SO FAR. OTHER SYMPTOMS INCLUDE WINDOW "STUTTERING" AS IT IS OPENED/CLOSED; WINDOW STICKING BRIEFLY BEFORE IT OPENS AND WINDOW TOP EDGE CATCHING EDGE OF CAR AS IT CLOSES SO THAT THE WINDOW DOESN'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY. --ALL ELECTRICAL ISSUES. ACTIONS TAKEN: THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM MANY MINI OWNERS HAVE, AND REPLACEMENT MOTORS APPEAR TO WORK TEMPORARILY THEN DEVELOP THE SAME SYMPTOMS. HOPEFULLY, WE WILL NOT BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE NEED TO USE THE WINDOW AS AN EMERGENCY EXIT BEFORE A DEPENDABLE MOTOR IS PRODUCED! QUESTION: DOES THE POWER WINDOW SYSTEM MEET THE NHTSA STANDARDS IN TITLE 49, PART 571.118? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166739August 28, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE RECOMMENDED SPEED OF 65 MPH WITH MORE THAN SUFFICIENT SPACE BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND A SMALL PEBBLE SMALLER THAN THE ERASER ON A PENCIL HIT THE TOP OF MY WINDSHIELD AND MADE A SMALL STAR CRACK - THIS CRACK IS SMALLER THAN THE HEAD OF A NAIL. THE CRACK CONTINUED TO GROW INTO AN L SHAPE, 5 INCHES LONG RIGHT BEHIND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MINI WINDSHIELD AND THE PROBLEM IS FIXED ONCE YOU REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WITH A THICKER GLASS. THIS COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURIES HAD A BIGGER ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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