MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10059006February 25, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
2004 MINI COOPER S WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM 1/32 INCH "PIT"...ONLY 3,100 MILES ON CAR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059004February 25, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD, CRACKED , FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058407February 18, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
A 1" LONG VERTICAL FISSURE (CRACK) JUST APPEARED OVERNIGHT ON MY 2003 MINI COOPER S WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN A SINGLE CAR GARAGE (AND I DON'T HAVE KIDS OR PETS), AND WAS VISIBLE ON WINDSHIELD THE MORNING OF FEB 11, 2004. ON THE EVENING OF FEB 10, 2004, THIS CRACK WAS NOT THERE. THE CRACK ORIGINATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD FROM BELOW THE AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD THAT IS EXPOSED TO ROAD HAZARDS LIKE STONES AND ROCKS, AND NO SUCH HAZARDS HAVE HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK IS GROWING EACH DAY LIKE MY VOCABULARY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT IS NOW 8" LONG NOW AFTER 1 WEEK AND HAS HUNG A LEFT. I'VE READ ON NUMEROUS MINI OWNERS FORUMS ONLINE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2003 MINIS AND THAT 2004 MINIS HAVE ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058261February 16, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN LOWER CENTER. DEALER CLAIMED THE CRACK WAS CAUSED BY A SMALL CHIP IN THE GLASS. I COULD NOT SEE ANY CHIP IN THE GALSS.*AK DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY USING GUIDLINES SET BY THE MANUFACTURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056319February 2, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
1. INTERIOR DOOR LATCH MECHANISM INOPERABLE IN FREEZING CONDITIONS - WILL NOT RELEASE (UNABLE TO EXIT CAR) - WAS ABLE TO ENTER CAR - CLOSED DOOR - COULD NOT EXIT. BAD SITUATION AS POWER WINDOWS WERE ALSO FROZEN SHUT. 2. WINDSHIELD CRACKS (2ND WINDSHIELD - SEE OTHER THREADS ON THIS KNOWN FAILURE) - OCCURRED WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVE ON PUBLIC STREET - STARTED AT BASE OF WINDSHIELD DRIVERS SIDE-UP 6"-THEN SHARPLY RIGHT-ACROSS WINDSHIELD TO PASSENGER A PILLAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055996January 28, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED FUEL TANK EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, ENGINE FAILED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055864January 27, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE CONSUMER ACCIDENTALLY LOCKED THE VEHICLE WITH THE REMOTE KEY WHILE OCCUPANTS WERE STILL IN THE VEHICLE. THE OCCUPANTS COULD NOT MANUALLY UNLOCK ANY OF THE DOORS TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOT A REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054709January 22, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CRACKED WINDSHIELD THAT QUICKLY GREW TO SPAN ACROSS THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054554January 20, 2004
AIR BAGS, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, STRUCTURE, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
THIS CAR IS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD. SO FAR THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED, THE RADIO WAS REPLACED, THE PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR WAS REPLACED, THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM DISPLAY IS ABOUT TO BE REPLACED, AND TWO RED MARKS ON THE TAKOMETER NO LONGER LIGHT UP.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054402January 18, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
MY WINDSHIELD SUSTAINED AN 8 INCH LONG CRACK ON THE LOWER CORNER DRIVER SIDE JUST ABOVE THE VIN NUMBER. THIS HAPPENED ONE COLD MORNING WHILE WARMING UP THE ENGINE AT THE DRIVEWAY. BMW DENIED WARRANTY COVERAGE BECAUSE OF A STONE PIT A SIZE OF A PEN DOT ALONG THE CRACKED AREA. I FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE SAME GENERAL LOCATION (ABOVE THE BIN NUMBER) AS A RESULT OF STRESS FROM THE FRAME. ATTACHED IS A SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION REGARDING CRACKED WINDSHIELDS ON MINI. HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/MODULES.PHP?. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054414January 18, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD: CRACKING BECAUSE OF FRAME STRESS, MAYBE INDUCED BY PIN SIX ROCK STRIKE. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070471January 15, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WE WERE EVENTUALLY ABLE TO SPEAK TO ANOTHER TECHNICIAN, HOWARD FULLER, AFTER EXTENSIVELY QUESTIONING MIKE WINTER. HOWARD FULLER HAD NOT READ ANY OF THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS (TSBS) ABOUT THE CAR AND IS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE NHTSA COMPLAINTS OR WITH ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FILED WITH MINI. AFTER TALKING TO HOWARD FULLER THE NEXT DAY, HE HAD PERFORMED SOME MINIMAL RESEARCH (READ THE NHTSA COMPLAINTS) AND STATED THAT OUR PROBLEM WAS NOT THE SAME AND HE REPEATED HIS INTERPRETATION OF WHAT HE THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS, WHICH WAS INCORRECT. WE CORRECTED MR. FULLER AND REDIRECTED HIM TO THE TSBS. HE TOLD US A MINI SPECIALIST WAS GOING TO COME IN TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, HE EXPRESSED DOUBT IN THE MINI SPECIALIST BEING ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. IN ANOTHER DISTURBING INCIDENT, MY HUSBAND CONTACTED CHICO MOTLEY, THE OPERATIONS DIRECTOR. MR. MOTLEY WAS ALSO HIGHLY COMBATIVE AND FIRST STATED THAT THE VIRGINIA LEMON LAW DID NOT APPLY TO BMWS! AFTER MY HUSBAND, WHO IS A 26-YEAR VETERAN OF THE FBI, CORRECTED HIM, MR. MOTLEY STATED THAT THE VIRGINIA LEMON LAW STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM AND BE SERVICED FOR IT 6 TIMES. MY HUSBAND AGAIN CORRECTED HIM, QUOTING VIRGINIA LAW THAT IT IS 3 TIMES. MR. MOTLEY STATED THAT HE MADE A MISTAKE BECAUSE HE ALSO MANAGES A DEALERSHIP IN DALLAS, WHERE HE STATED IT IS 6 TIMES (WHICH IS ALSO INCORRECT, IT IS 3 TIMES IN TEXAS AS WELL). HE MADE IT CLEAR TO MY HUSBAND THAT WHATEVER ACTION HIS SERVICE DEPARTMENT WOULD TAKE WOULD BE SATISFACTORY AND THAT NO OTHER OPTION WOULD BE CONSIDERED. IN NO INSTANCE DID HE EVER EXPRESS ANY CONCERN OVER OUR SAFETY OR THE NATURE OF THIS SERIOUS COMPLAINT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053293January 15, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVER'S SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW WOULD NOT OPEN FOR 18 HOURS. THIS OCCURRED AFTER A HEAVY RAIN STORM AND DID NOT CLEAR UNTIL AFTER A 20 MINUTE DRIVE THE FOLLOWING DAY. ATTEMPTS TO OPEN THE WINDOW THE DAY AND EVENING OF THE FAILURE WHILE PARKED AND DRIVING ALL FAILED. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052478January 6, 2004
AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT
MY 2002 MINI COPPER HAS HAD THE AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NOW. REPAIRED WITH NEW WIRING HARNESS IN 11/03; NOW IN 1/04 BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AGAIN. DEALER VIA PHONE CANNOT TELL ME IF THE BAGS WORK PROPERLY UNTIL DIAGNOSED. I HAVE CHECKED WEB FORUMS FOR THIS VEHICLE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. I WOULD THINK NHTSA OR SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS TO DETERMINE IF THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051390December 31, 2003
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CRACKED THREE DAYS AFTER PURCHASE. I DON'T REMEMBER ANY STONE DAMAGE BEING DONE. WHEN I WASHED MY CAR (HOT DAY), A CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE MID-RIGHT BOTTOM BORDER OF MY WINDSHIELD. I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS STONE DAMAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050831December 20, 2003
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE AFTER TURNING THE HEATER ON WHILE VEHICLE WAS WARMING UP PARKED ON THE DRIVEWAY. DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050670December 17, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY 2003 MINI COOPER S, UPON ACCELERATION, EXPERIENCES AN EXCESSIVE LOSS OF POWER THAT HAS PUT ME IN THE POSITION OF NEARLY BEING HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC FLOW. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER IN CINCINNATI 5 TIMES, AND THOUGH THEY CLAIM THE VEHICLE IS REPAIRED, AND DRIVES 'NORMALLY' IT STILL NEARLY STALLS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STANDSTILL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049538December 10, 2003
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
2003 MINI COOPER S PURCHASED NEW; AT APPROX 4500 MILES 6-INCH CRACK APPEARED OVERNIGHT IN LOWER RIGHT CORNER OF WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE TIME AND THERE WAS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE ANYWHERE ON WINDSHIELD. SINCE THEN, CRACK HAS PROGRESSED NEARLY TO CENTER OF WINDSHIELD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CRACK WAS THE RESULT OF A STONE HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. SERVICE MANAGER "PROVED" THIS BY TRACING CRACK WITH A BALLPOINT PEN UNTIL IT ENCOUNTERED A MICROSCOPIC, NEARLY INVISIBLE "PIT" ALONG THE CRACK. DEALER DECLINED TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY. PERSONAL OPINION, SUPPORTED BY EXPERIENCE OF OTHER MINI OWNERS: STRESS CRACK PROBABLY CAUSED BY INCORRECT INSTALLATION OR UNDERDESIGNED WINDSHIELD. IN ANY CASE, MINI HAS BEEN INCONSISTENT IN SOLUTION, REPLACING SOME CUSTOMERS' WINDSHIELDS UNDER WARRANTY AND REFUSING TO REPLACE OTHERS, LIKE MINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044393December 2, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE HAD THE TENDENCY TO SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. THE DRIVER MUST WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. EACH TIME, THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED TO HAVE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049010December 1, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BELOW IS A QUOTE OF ANOTHER PERSON,I AM EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS EXCEPT FOR "TOTAL LOSS OF POWER" WHICH HAS NOT HAPPENED TO ME. ALSO, THE STUDDERING PROBLEM IN FIRST GEAR IS GREATLY REDUCED WHEN THE "ACTIVE SKID CONTROL" IS DISABLED.*AK MY MINI COOPER S WAS PURCHASED IN MAY 2003. "NEW MINI COOPER S AUTOMOBILE (PURCHASED IN JUNE OF 2003) EXPERIENCES A NOTICEABLE AND SIGNIFICANT STUMBLE WHEN ENGAGING FIRST GEAR AND ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THE STUMBLE IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO CAUSE A STALL CONDITION AND RESULTS IN UNRELIABLE THROTTLE RESPONSE. THE PROBLEM IS WORSE AT HIGHER RPM ENGAGEMENTS, IN HOTTER WEATHER, AND WITH THE AC ENGAGED. THE STUMBLE FEELS LIKE A MOMENTARY LOSS OF POWER AND THEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER, POWER IS RETURNED TO THE WHEELS. THE PROBLEM OCCURS ON VIRTUALLY EVERY ENGAGEMENT BUT IS CONSIDERABLY WORSE ON THE FIRST ENGAGEMENT AFTER THE CAR HAS SAT FOR SEVERAL HOURS WITH THE ENGINE OFF. THE PROBLEM IS LESS SEVERE WHEN TURNING THE CAR LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE ENGAGING FIRST GEAR. THIS ISSUE RENDERS THE THROTTLE RESPONSE UNRELIABLE AND CAN STALL THE AUTOMOBILE AT UNEXPECTED TIMES. NO CRASHES HAVE OCCURRED AT THIS TIME BUT THE POTENTIAL FOR A REAR-END COLLISION DUE TO A STALL OR A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION DUE TO STALLING WHEN CROSSING AN INTERSECTION IS PRESENT. ADDITIONAL ISSUES RELATED TO ENGINE MANAGEMENT AND THROTTLE RESPONSE OCCUR IN THE SAME AUTOMOBILE HAVE OCCURRED BUT THESE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN INTERMITTENT AND DIFFICULT TO REPRODUCE. IN GENERAL, THE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS SEEM TO OCCUR IN ON TEMPERATURE DAYS WITH AC ENGAGED AND INCLUDE A FULL LOSS OF POWER FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME WHILE ENGAGING FIRST GEAR AND A NOTICEABLE SURGING DURING ACCELERATION AS IS THE DRIVER WAS PRESSING AND RELEASING THE GAS. *JB"
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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