MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10166011August 19, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE FAILURE - WHILE COASTING IN "BRAKE AND RELEASE TRAFFIC", THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT CATCH. LOOKING DOWN AT MY FOOT, I WATCHED MY FOOT FLOOR THE BRAKE PEDAL AND FELT NO BRAKE PEDAL CATCH. LOOKING UP, MY CAR CONTINUED ROLLING FORWARD AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR SUSTAINED OVER $2000 DAMAGE. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT AND THE OTHER CAR WAS NOT DAMAGED. A MONTH PRIOR, THE MINI DEALERSHIP HAD DONE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE BRAKE WORK ON MY MINI. BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT, I ASKED MINI IF IT COULD HAVE BEEN AN AIR BUBBLE OR SOMETHING ELSE RELATED TO THE BRAKE JOB. MINI SAID NO; ANY PROBLEM WOULD HAVE OCCURRED A COUPLE DAYS AFTER THE JOB; NOT A MONTH LATER. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY CHECKED THE BRAKES. MINI SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. WHAT COULD CAUSE THIS? I'M CONCERNED THAT MY BRAKES COULD FAIL AGAIN , THIS TIME WITH MORE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES, EVEN DEATH! PLEASE HELP! *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162449July 15, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OUR 2005 MINI COOPER S HAS BEEN PLAGUED WITH AN ENGINE PROBLEMS SINCE WE FIRST PURCHASED IT IN JULY OF 2005. WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOSES POWER CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP SUDDENLY. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 65 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. WE'VE CONTACTED THE DEALER A NUMBER OF TIMES AND REQUESTED SERVICE APPOINTMENTS. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD EACH TIME THAT IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO BRING THE CAR IN AND THAT THE PROBLEM IS BEING CAUSED BY A LOOSE GAS CAP. LIVING IN THE STATE OF NJ WHERE YOU CANNOT PUMP YOUR OWN GAS, WE CONSISTENTLY REMIND THE GAS ATTENDANT TO PROPERLY ATTACH THE GAS CAP AND WE CHECK THE CAP AFTER GETTING GAS. THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. HOWEVER, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE PROBLEM IS BEING CAUSED BY THE GAS CAP, THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD. MY WIFE WAS 8 MONTHS PREGNANT AND DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES THIS OCCURRED. SHE WAS STUCK IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC FOR 10 MINUTES WHILE TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ADDRESSED VERY SOON, SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162334July 13, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I STARTED LEASING MY MINI COOPER IN 11/2005. I HAD LEASED CARS WITH MITSUBUSHI PRIOR TO THIS FOR 8 YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS. RECENTLY, I WAS COMING HOME FROM THE AIRPORT IN MY MINI COOPER. IT STARTED TO "CLUNK", SEIZED, I PULLED OVER - THEN BLACK AND GREEN FLUID STARTED POURING OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE ROADSIDE SERVICE SENT A TOW TRUCK TO PICK ME UP. I SAT IN 95 DEGREE HEAT ON I-95 FOR 1 HOUR AND 45 MINUTES WAITING FOR THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK CAME AND WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE CLOSEST BMW DEALER - THE DEALER I LEASED FROM - PRINCETON BMW. THEY LOOKED AT THE CAR AND TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY - EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS ONLY 8 1/2 MONTHS OLD AND HAD 6,300 MILES ON IT. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE REASON WAS THAT THE CAR HAD GONE THROUGH WATER AND THIS WAS NOT COVERED. 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS EVENT, I WENT THROUGH WATER ON A REGULAR STREET IN MY AREA, THE CAR STOPPED, I STARTED IT UP AND WENT ON MY WAY. I THEN PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE CAR DOWN THE SHORE, TO WORK, ETC WITH NO PROBLEMS, NO ENGINE LIGHT OR WARNING SIGNS. ON JULY 9, I DROVE TO THE AIRPORT, PARKED THE CAR, AND WENT ON A BUSINESS TRIP. ON JULY 11TH THE INCIDENT ON 95 OCCURRED. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT WAS NOT ABLE TO GO THROUGH WATER ON A STREET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162357July 13, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT TODAY BUT WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT CONTACTED WITH MY INFORMATION. THANK YOU. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162102July 11, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
MINI COOPER, MINI COOPER S AND CONVERTIBLES, DATING 2002-2006. GLASS PITS AND CRACKS EASILY. EACH TIME THIS HAPPENS, MINI IS NOT CLAIMING THE GLASS HAS A PROBLEM AND YOU MUST REPLACE AT YOUR OWN COST OR THROUGH YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY. HAVE HAD 2 CARS, AND NUMEROUS FRIENDS WITH THESE CARS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161133June 30, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, EQUIPMENT
2003 MINI COOPER WINDSHIELD FAILURE. SPONTANEOUS CRACK ALTHOUGH DEALER INSISTS IT WAS A PIN HOLE SIZED HOLE THAT CAUSED IT. REFUSED TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY. 2ND TIME IT'S HAPPENED AND WAS COVERED FIRST TIME UNDER WARRANTY. APPARENTLY HAPPENS VERY REGULARLY TO MINI AND AT $1078. COMPLETE...THIS JUST ISN'T RIGHT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160436June 22, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
DEAR OFFICER, I WOULD LIKE TO COMPLIANT ABOUT A DEFECTIVE 2006 MINI COOPER WINDSHIELD PROBLEM. I HAVE A BRAND NEW 2006 MINI COOPER FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS, BUT THERE WAS A COUPLE OF LINE CRACKS ON THE WINDSHIELD ALREADY. THE PROBLEM IS NOT EVEN CAUSED BY A ROCK CHIP AND I THINK IT IS A "STRESS" CRACK THAT MANY MANY MINI COOPER BUYERS HAS EXPERIENCED. I TOOK THAT TO THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM IF IT IS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY DENIED IT WAS CAUSED BY STRESS CRACKS AND REFUSED TO FIX IT. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE UNDER INVESTIGATION. PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THE PROBLEM AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL GET BMW/MINI COOPER ATTENTION TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR AT LEAST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159639June 12, 2006
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2002 MINI COOPER CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 68,000 MILES. NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158792June 1, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY
RUST IS DEVELOPING ON THE SHEET METAL ON BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE BODY FRAME COVERED BY THE RUBBER DOOR SEAL. THIS RUST IS IN AN AREA THAT IS UNPAINTED (BARE SHEET METAL). THE RUBBER DOOR SEAL TRAPS MOISTURE AGAINST THE STEEL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158252May 25, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN 1 YEAR OF PURCHASE . ON MAY 24, 2006, WHILE DRIVING A SMALL OBJECT STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING A CRACK WHICH CAUSED THE FOURTH WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE TO MAKE THE WINDSHIELD CRACK SO EASILY. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED AND DETERMINED THE CRACKS WERE DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE OBJECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157152May 10, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
MY 2004 MINI COOPER S, DELIVERED IN JUNE OF '04, HAVING @ 20,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, IS NOW ON ITS THIRD WINDSHIELD ALL DUE TO STRESS CRACKS. THE CRACKS SEEM TO BE RELATED TO THERMAL INSTABILITY. I.E. COLD OUTSIDE/HOT INSIDE ETC. I PERSONALLY KNOW OF ONE 2003 MINI OWNER IN MA WHO HAS NOW HAD 6 WINDSHIELDS REPLACED SINCE PURCHASE. THE MINI COMMUNITY HAS DETERMINED THAT AFTERMARKET US MADE GLASS BY PPG DOES NOT HAVE THE PROPENSITY FOR SUCH FAILURES. I AM RELUCTANT TO CONTINUE GOING TO MY DEALER AS THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE FOREIGN MANUFACTURED OEM GLASS. ON THE OTHER HAND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WITH A NON OEM PRODUCT, OUT OF POCKET TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. FOR MUCH MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN REFER TO THE MINI COOPER OWNERS INTERNET WEB FORUM "NORTHAMERICANMOTORING .COM" THE DEFECT IS WIDE SPREAD FROM THE MINI'S INTRODUCTION IN '02 CONTINUING THROUGH TO '05 PRODUCTION MODELS. TO FIND THIS INFORMATION, GO TO "BENEATH THE BONNET" AND USE THE SEARCH FUNCTION IN THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER FOR "CRACKED GLASS". YOUR ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. FEEL FREE TO CALL ME IF I CAN BE OF HELP. SINCERELY, MARK WILLIAMS CFP *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156463April 30, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CRACK APPEARED OVER NIGHT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154367April 2, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED. CRACK STARTED AT TOP CENTER EXTENDED DOWN ABOUT 4 INCHES, THEN HORIZONTALL FOR ABOUT 4 INCHES AND IS NOW MOVING DOWN AGAIN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154251March 30, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CRACKED WINDSHIELD 2005 MINI COOPER S. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153123March 19, 2006
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
ONE MORNING DRIVING ABOUT 100 MPH GOING UP TO CT I PAY A TOLL TAKE OFF THE CAR HESITATES IN FIRST GEAR THEN GOES OK ABOUT A 2 MILES FROM THE TOLL I AM DOING ABOUT 100 MPH AND SWITCH TO THE RIGHT LANE AND THE CAR JUST STOP GIVING ME POWER SO I GO TO CHANGE TO 5TH GEAR NO LUCK SO I LET THE CAR ROLL TO THE SHOULDER CALL MINI ROADSIDE AND THEY TOW TO NEAREST DEALER TO MY HOUSE. THE DEALER HAS MY CAR FOR A TOTAL OF 8 DAYS AND TELL ME THE L/FRONT AXLE WILL NOT STAY IN THE TRANSMISSION. THEN THE DEALER SAY THAT ITS NOT COVERED@ FIRST THEN TELLS ME THAT WILL COVER IT A DAY LATER AFTER THE MINI SPECIALIST TAKE A LOOK @ IT AND SAY WE WILL COVER IT THIS TIME AS A FAVOR. NOW IT IS TEN DAYS LATER AND THE SAME THING HAS HAPPEN AGAIN THIS TIME I HAVE TO PAY FOR TOWING AND I CANT WAIT TO HAVE A TALK WITH THE DEALER. I WILL KEEP U GUYS POSTED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151675March 3, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BRAND NEW MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE (1 WEEK OLD). I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY IN THE LEFT MOST LANE. WHILE I WAS CHECKING THE POSSIBILITY TO CHANGE TO THE RIGHT LANE, THE FREEWAY CURVED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THE CAR ENTERED SLIGHTLY INTO THE SHOULDER LANE ON THE LEFT. THE SPEED WAS 65 MPH. THE MOMENT PART OF THE CAR ENTERED THE SHOULDER LANE, IT LOST CONTROL AND HIT THE SHOULDER. AS A RESULT, THE CAR FLIPPED OVER AND DRAGGED FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. AS A RESULT OF THIS CRASH, I INCURRED SEVERE EYE INJURY AND SIGNIFICANT HEAD INJURY IN ADDITION TO ROAD RASHES ON HEAD, HANDS AND FACE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10150614February 19, 2006
AIR BAGS
THIS IS A FOLLOW-ON TO INVESTIGATION PE05053 ORIGINALLY OPENED ON 09/27/2005. I TOO HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ON MY MY 2002 MINI COOPER. THE INCIDENTS OF INTERMITTENT AIRBAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATION STARTED ON 12 FEB 06 AND HAVE CONTINUED SINCE THAT TIME. THE LAMP ILLUMINATION IS INTERMITTENT AND NOT STEADY. SINCE I LIVE 220+ MILES FROM THE NEAREST BMW/MINI DEALER I HAVE NOT BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE OR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. NO CONSEQUENCES OTHER THAN THE MINOR ANNOYANCE OF THE ILLUMINATED LIGHT ON HAVE OCCURRED, ALTHOUGH I AM CONCERNED THAT ONE OR MORE AIRBAGS MAY NOT INFLATE IN CASE OF IMPACT OR CRASH. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150121February 13, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR
JUST DRIVING ALONG ON A STRAIGHT SMOOTH ROAD AT 40 MPH WHEN THE LOWER REAR CONTROL ARM BROKE CLEAN IN HALF NEARLY CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AS THE WHEEL ROTATED UP INTO THE FENDER WELL. SCOTTSDALE MINI INSISTS THAT THIS ARM SHOULD ONLY BREAK IF THE CAR WAS CRASHED AND THEREFORE THEY WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE NEVER HIT ANY SIGNIFICANT POTHOLES OR OTHER ROAD HAZARDS. THERE ARE MANY SIMILAR CASES OF THIS FAILURE REPORTED ON THE INTERNET BUT MINI IS APPARENTLY RELUCTANT TO CLASSIFY IT AS A DESIGN FLAW. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149907February 9, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE ACCELERATOR BROKE FROM THE STOCK AND FLOPPED ABOUT LOOSELY. ALTHOUGH THE PEDAL DID NOT COMPLETELY SEPARATE, THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BY APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ANCHORED STOCK THAT HOLDS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SUSTAINED EXCESSIVE WEAR DUE TO ABUSE BY THE DRIVER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149331February 2, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR
ON 1/26/06 I TOOK MY CAR INTO TUFFY AUTO TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED, AT THE TIME THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE RIGHT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD A CRACK IN IT. AT THAT TIME I CALLED MINI AND TOLD THEM THAT MY RIGHT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS DAMAGED. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MINI THAT MY DRIVING WAS THE CAUSE OF THIS AND THAT IT WOULDN'T BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I THEN TOOK PICTURES OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WHILE IT WAS STILL ATTACHED TO MY CAR, THESE PICTURES SHOW THAT THERE WAS A SHEARING EFFECT ON THE REAR-MOST PART OF THE ARM AND THERE WAS NO BENDING ON THE ARM. I THEN HAD THE CAR TAKEN BY FLAT-BED TO MY MINI DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY ARE REPLACING THE LOWER AND UPPER CONTROL ARM. MY PICTURES REFUTE WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS BEING A DRIVERS FAULT AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO WARRANTY THE WORK.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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