MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10039211September 20, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
"2003 MINI COOPER S AUTOMOBILE 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." I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD ONLY LIKE TO ADD THAT A CAR HAD TO MOVE INTO THE MEDIAN BECAUSE MY MINI LOST POWER WHILE ENTERING THE FREEWAY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038678September 11, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY MINI COOPER JULY 2003 BUILD HAS WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS EITHER A "STUMBLE" OR A "HICCUP". BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE ENGINE MOMENTARILY CUTS OUT WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, CAUSING A PAUSE AND THAN RESUMIING WITH A JOLT. THIS PROBLEM IS BEING COMPLAINED ABOUT BY NUMEROUS MINI OWNERS FOR OVER 1 YEAR (SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS SUBJECT AT HTTP://WWW.MINICOOPERONLINE.COM/MOD...OPIC&TOPIC=9951 AND ALSO AT MINI2.COM YET THE MINI DEALERS CLAIM IGNORANCE ABOUT THE PROBLEM, OR SAY THEY HAVE HEARD OF A FEW COMPLAINTS ON THE S BUT NOT ON THE COOPER. SOME MINI USA REPS (1-866-ASK-MINI) ADMIT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON BOTH THE COOPER AND THE COOPER S. OTHES CLAIM IGNORANCE. THEY GIVE PEOPLE DIFFERENT RESPONSES, BUT GENERALLY WHEN THEY DO ADMIT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE THEY ALSO SAY THAT "ENGINEERING IS COLLECTING COMPLAINTS" OR "THEY ARE WORKING ON A FIX" BUT THEY OFFER NO PROJECTED FIX DATE AT ALL. THEY DO TAKE SOME PEOPLE'S VIN NUMBER WHEN FILING THE COMPLAINT, BUT SAY THEY HAVE NO SYSTEM OF LETTING YOU KNOW IF OR WHEN A FIX IS TO BE EXPECTED. WE MINI OWNERS ARE FRUSTRATED OVER THIS ONGOING, ANNOYING, AND POTENTIALLY LETHAL DEFECT. MINI SHOULD BE PUT TO THE TASK OF REPAIRING THIS ISSUE OR TO STOP SELLING THE CAR PERIOD. THEY ARE FULLY AWARE THAT THEY ARE SELLING CARS WHICH HAS THIS DEFECT WTIH NO FIX. THEY ARE STEALING (MISREPRESENTATION) AND ENDANGERING THE PUBLIC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037594September 10, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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
#10037596September 10, 2003
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2003 MINI COOPER S. THERE IS A "STUMBLE" WHEN STARTING OFF IN FIRST GEAR. THE CAR SEEMS TO LOSE POWER AND LURCH MOMENTARILY. NO COMBINATION OF CLUTCH AND GAS PEDAL MOTION SEEMS TO FIX THIS. ISSUE HAS BEEN HEAVILY DOCUMENTED AND DISCUSSED ON MINI ENTHUSIAST FORUMS, SO IT IS NOT A DRIVER CLUTCH-USER ERROR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038669September 10, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
PURCHASED NEW VEHICLE (DELIVERY DATE BELOW). VEHICLE HAS SERIOUS LURCH AND POWER LOSS IN 1ST GEAR, PARTICULARY W/ AC RUNNING. THIS POSES SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK AS NORMAL ACCELERATION IS NOT AVAILABLE. MAUFACTURER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED PROBEM STATING IT IS IN THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE--CLAIMS NO FIX TO DATE DESPITE REPEATED COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS FOR FIX.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10036916August 30, 2003
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD BULLSEYE PRODUCED BY VERY INSIGNIFICANT STONE FROM ROADWAY. WAS SHOCKED TO SEE DAMAGE RESULT FROM SUCH A MINOR IMPACT. APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033392August 24, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EQUIPMENT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2003 MINI COOPER S STUMBLES AND BOGS DOWN WHEN STARTING IN FIRST GEAR. WHEN STARTING FROM A DEAD START AND LETTING CLUTCH OUT, THE CARS POWER CUTS OFF FOR A MOMENT AND THEN CUTS BACK IN. THIS WAS NOT A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR PRIOR TO MY DEALER UPGRADING THE SOFTWARE FOR THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. I'VE CONTACTED MINI USA (AKA BMW) AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE NO FIX FOR IT. I CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC AND THE CAR HESITATES BADLY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033342August 23, 2003
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELDS ARE FAILING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ON MINI COOPER AUTOMOBILES. I AM CURRENTLY ON MY 3RD WINDSHIELD IN AS MANY MONTHS - STRESS CRACKS APPEARED FROM THE ROOF PILLARS IN BOTH CASES. WE NEED A RESOLUTION TO THIS - EITHER BETTER GLASS OR STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033112August 19, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
INTERMITTENT COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER FOR 2-3 SECONDS WHEN STARTING FROM STANDSTILL.OCCURS UNDER VARIOUS CLIMATIC CONDITIONS AND EITHER WITH COLD OR WARM ENGINE.EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC FROM A SIDE STREET OR INTERSECTION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033004August 18, 2003
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, EQUIPMENT
I HAVE A MINI COPPER S AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKS VERY EASY. I HAVE TALKED TO MINI USA, AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. BUT THIS HAS HAPPEN TO SO MANY MINI OWNER, I THINK THAT IT IS A MINI USA PROBLEM. CAUSE WHY WOULD SO MANY MINI WINDSHIELDS CRACK ALL THE TIME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033028August 18, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 2002 MINI COOPER S HAS SOME ENGINE MANAGEMENT ISSUES THAT HAVE RESULTED IN SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS IN TRAFFIC SITUATIONS THAT I FEEL ARE UNSAFE, AND HAVE YET TO BE RESOLVED OR DEFINITELY ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE MOST SEVERE ISSUE IS A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AFTER ACCELERATION ON CLEAN DRY PAVEMENT. LOSS OF POWER IS USUALLY IN 1ST GEAR AN CAN LAST SEVERAL SECONDS. I BELEIVE THIS TO BE A PROBLEM NOT UNIQUE TO MY VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032883August 15, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY APRIL BUILD 2003 MINI COOPER S EXPERIENCES SUDDEN MOMENTARY ENGINE POWER LOSSES, CAUSING THE CAR TO VIOLENTY JERK DURING INITIAL ACCELERATION. FURTHERMORE, THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, LOSE ALL FORWARD MOMENTUM JUST WHEN I NEED IT MOST, AS IN PULLING OUT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. NO MATTER HOW MUCH THROTTLE IS ENGAGED, THE CAR BARELY CRAWLS FOWARD FOR UP TO 3 SECONDS, THEN FINALLY ROARS TO LIFE AND TAKES OFF. IT FEELS VERY MUCH LIKE TRYING TO ACCELERATE A CAR FROM A DEAD STOP IN 3RD GEAR, THOUGH THE CAR IS IN 1ST GEAR. THIS SITUATION IS DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO HAVE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY WITHIN BMWNA/MINIUSA. I, AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS, HAVE REPEATEDLY BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MINIUSA/BMWNA AND WE ARE ALWAYS TOLD THE SAME THING, THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON IT. IT HAS BEEN OVER 6 MONTHS SINCE THESE PROBLEMS FIRST BEGAN TO SURFACE. THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION FROM BMWNA/MINIUSA REGARDING THE ISSUE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033898August 14, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL. CONSUMER HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032831August 14, 2003
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, EQUIPMENT
WINDSHIELDS ON MINI COOPERS CRACKING,CHIPPING EASY AND FREQUENTLY. I HAVE HAD FOUR WINDSHIELDS REPLACES IN THE LAST 8 MONTHS. 2 COVERED UNDER WARRANTEE FOR STRESS RELATED CRACKS AND TWO DUE TO SMALL ROCK STRIKES. I HAVE NEVE BEEN THRU WINDSHIELDS LIKE THIS BEFORE AND FEEL THAT THE CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN OF THE MINI WINDSHIELD MAKES IT SUBSTANDARD IN PROTECTION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032587August 11, 2003
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
NUMEROUS WINDSHEILD CHIPS IN LESS THAN 12,000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WITH A WINDSHIELD THAT CHIPS SO EASILY. THE SMALLEST OF DEBRIS WILL RESULT IN A SIGNIFICANT CHIP. THE WINDSHEILD HAS TO BE TOO WEAK. HOW CAN THE WINDSHIELD PROTECT YOU WHEN IT IS SO WEAK. THE FIRST CHIP HAPPENED AT ABOUT 800 MILES ANOTHER AT ABOUT 8000 MILES AND THE LAST AT 11000 MILES. THE FIRST ONE WAS "REPAIRED" THE NEXT MORNING. BUT IT IS NOW SPIDERING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030816August 5, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THERE IS A COMPLETE POWER FAILURE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS INCLUDING 55 MPH. THIS DEFECT OR CONDITION CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. WHEN IT HAPPENED ON RT. 66 IN ARLINGTON VA AT 9:30 PM, IT CAUSED A NEAR-COLLISION WITH SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES TRAVELING ON THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT, NOISE, OR OTHER INDICATION THAT THE ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO TURN OFF.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030780August 4, 2003
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 2003 MINI COPPER S CRACKED RIGHT DOWN THE CENTER WHEN I SPRAYED IT WITH A HOSE WHILE WASHING IT. THIS WAS NOT A HIGH PRESSURE HOSE, JUST A REGULAR GARDEN HOSE. I BELIEVE IT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO A TEMPERATURE CHANGE. HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT A PARTICULARLY HOT DAY, BEING BARELY ABOVE 70 DEGREES. I HAVE WASHED THIS CAR AND ALL OF MY PREVIOUS CARS IN WEATHER HOTTER THAN THAT! ADDITIONALLY, A SEARCH OF THE WEB SHOWS THAT OTHERS HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH "STRESS" CRACKS WITH MINI WINDSHIELDS. ANYWAY, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY DISTURBING AND (IN MY EXPERIENCE) VERY UNUSUAL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10028980July 23, 2003
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CRACKED AT 3 MONTHS USAGE AND 4,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I KNOW THIS TO BE AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THE COOPER AND COOPER S AS I HAVE MONITORED THE MINI COOPER MESSAGE BOARD FOR WELL OVER A YEAR NOW AND HAVE SEEN MANY FAILURES POSTED(MANY OF THEM MULTIPLE FAILURES). DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THE COMPANY TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AS IT MONITORS THE MESSAGE BOARD CONTINUOUSLY BUT HAS YET TO OFFER OWNERS ANY OPTIONS FOR THE POOR QUALITY OF THE VEHICLE GLASS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10028984July 23, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, TIRES
THE COMPUTER SYSTEM DOESN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING PROPERLY. MY CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC (THIS HAPPENED TWICE.) MY KEY-LESS ENTRY DOESN'T WORK. FINALLY, THE TIRE FAILURE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE TIRE PRESSURE CHANGES BUT IT DOESN'T LIGHT UP WHEN I HAD A FLAT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10025885July 11, 2003
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CREAKING, CRACKLING. REPLACED TWICE BY DEALER DUE TO WIND LEAKAGE. WINDSHIELD IS TOO THIN AND PITS WAY TOO EASILY. WIFE IS AFRAID OF SAFETY BECAUSE OF THE NOTORIOUSLY HIGH INCIDENCE OF SPONTANEOUS CRACKING WINDSHIELDS. MINI USA CONTINUES TO DENY ANY PROBLEMS, BUT INFORMAL SURVEYS OF DEALERS INDICATE THOUSANDS OF REPLACEMENTS ALREADY, AND THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN ON SALE FOR 16 MONTHS. GLASS IS TOO THIN AND BRITTLE. GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO INTERCEDE AND FORCE MINI USA TO REPLACE WITH THICKER, SAFE WINDSHIELDS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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