MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10574902March 26, 2014
ENGINE
THE 2008 MINI COOPER S STARTED MAKING THE INFAMOUS "DEATH RATTLE" NOISE. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO SPECIALIZES IN IMPORTS. HE CHANGED THE OIL, WHICH WASN'T DUE FOR ANOTHER 2,000 MILES, AND HE CHANGED THE OIL FILTER. THE NOISE CONTINUED SO HE ADDED OIL STABILIZER TO ENSURE THAT OIL WAS BEING FILTERED. THE NOISE STILL PERSISTS AT START-UP, AND GOES AWAY AFTER THE CAR WARMS UP FOR A COUPLE MINUTES. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME I'D HAVE TO GET THE TIME CHANGING BELT REPLACED TO FIX THE "DEATH RATTLE," WHICH IS A COMMON THING IN MINI CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574919March 26, 2014
ENGINE
IN NOVEMBER THE DEALER INFORMED ME MY OIL FEED LINES TO THE TURBO WERE LEAKING AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED SOON. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THE COUPLINGS THAT ATTACHES THESE LINES TO THE TURBO ARE DEFECTIVE. ON THE INTERNET THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOT A RECALL AND WILL COST APPROX: $1200.00. THE DEALER ALSO SAID THE NEW COUPLINGS ARE MANUFACTURED BY A NEW COMPANY AND THE DEFECT HAS BEEN FIXED. WITH SO MANY EFFECTIVE SHOULDN'T MINI BE FIXING THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574970March 26, 2014
POWER TRAIN
MY FATHER PURCHASED A 2010 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN S IN LATE 2009. HE HAS MAINTAINED PROPER MAINTENANCE ON THE CAR SINCE DAY ONE. IN FEBRUARY 2014 HE GAVE THE CAR TO ME. THE CAR ONLY HAS 57,000 MILES ON IT AND WE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND WE TOOK IT TO MINI OF LOUISVILLE. THEY HAD THE CAR FOR OVER 1 MONTH TO REPLACE THE VALVE BODY BECAUSE THE PART WAS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. WE WERE ADVISED THAT IF WE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IT COULD CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL EVEN WHILE DRIVING. IF IT IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER, AND FOR OVER 30 DAYS, I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER MINI'S ARE HAVING THE SAME REPAIRS. THE TOTAL COST FOR THE REPAIRS WERE JUST UNDER $2800. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 60K MILES ON IT AND WAS JUST SLIGHTLY OVER THE WARRANTY, WHERE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED AT NO CHARGE. BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL SLIPPING AND IS WORSE THAN IT WAS BEFORE THE REPAIRS AND WE HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR BACK FOR 3 DAYS. I HAVE READ MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE 2010 MINI. I ALSO SAW THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST BMW FOR THE 2002-2008 MINI COOPER FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574656March 25, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWN A 2008 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE STARTED THE ENGINE AND BEFORE SHE COULD SHIFT INTO GEAR, THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD TAPPING NOISE BEFORE IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. UPDATED 10/18/16*LJ UPDATED 10/27/16.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574290March 23, 2014
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE IS KNOWN TO BE DEFECTIVE BY MINI USA. THE CAR IS UNDRIVABLE AND UNSAFE AS THE TRANSMISSION COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME, STRANDING THE DRIVER OR CAUSING A FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574151March 22, 2014
STEERING
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY 2003 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING ITS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUIDS ALL OVER THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE AND SOMETIME I SMELL BURNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574213March 22, 2014
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR HAS TRIGGERED THE RED AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. CURRENTLY I AM DRIVING A VEHICLE WITHOUT OPERATING AIRBAGS AS IT IS $1,000 FOR THE PART. IT WAS ALREADY REPLACED TWICE IN THE PAST UNDER WARRANTY. I READ THAT BMW JUST ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR FOR THEIR CARS BUT NOT THE MINI WHICH IS OWNED BY BMW. HOPEFULLY I AM NOT GOING TO FAST WHEN THE POWER STEERING MOTOR BURNS OUT... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573757March 20, 2014
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. PERSISTED UNTIL CAR WAS TURNED OFF FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. HAPPENED SPORADICALLY AFTERWARD, THEN DISAPPEARED FOR A COUPLE MONTHS. ISSUE RETURNED AND NOW AFFECTS THE CAR MOST OF THE TIME WHILE DRIVING. WILL HAPPEN UPON STARTING THE CAR, OR WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573771March 20, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573796March 20, 2014
AIR BAGS, SEATS
MY 2006 MINI COOPER AIR BAG LIGHTS (PASSENGER SEAT LIGHT AS WELL AS DASH BOARD AIR BAG SYSTEM LIGHTS) ARE INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON AND STAYING ON WHEN I START MY MINI. THE DASHBOARD LIGHT APPARENTLY COMES ON WHEN A FAULT IS DETECTED IN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM, AND AS A RESULT THE SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS SINCE I'M NOW DRIVING IN A MINI COOPER WITH NO AIRBAG PROTECTION. THE SEAT LIGHT INDICATES THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS TURNED OFF DUE TO SOMEONE OF LIGHT WEIGHT SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS LIGHT IS NOW COMING ON WITH ANY AVERAGE ADULT OR NO ONE AT ALL SITTING IN THAT SEAT. I DECIDED TO CHECK THE INTERNET FOR THIS ISSUE AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. EVEN MORE SHOCKING WAS REPAIR COST FOR THIS ISSUE. DEALERS ARE CHARGING CUSTOMERS $1000 TO $2000 TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR WHICH APPEARS TO BE THE MOST COMMON CULPRIT. INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE SENSOR ITSELF, THE ENTIRE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. EVEN SAW SOME CUSTOMERS HAD THE SAME ISSUE REOCCUR 1 TO 2 YEARS AFTER THIS FIX. SPOKE TO MY LOCAL BMW/MINI DEALERSHIP WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT BMW HAD THE SAME ISSUE WHICH IS NOW UNDER RECALL, BUT MINI DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED ... SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED BECAUSE OF IT! I LOVE MINI BUT AM HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED WITH HOW THIS ISSUE IS BEING HANDLED. MY DAUGHTER WANTS TO BUY A MINI ... I WILL STRONGLY RECOMMEND SHE DOES NOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573349March 19, 2014
SEATS
THE DRIVER SIDE HEADED SEAT ONLY HEATS UP IN ONE SPOT AND BURNED MY LEG. I HAVE HAD TO DISCONTINUE USE OF THE HEATED SEAT AS I AM AFRAID OF IT CATCHING ON FIRE OR BURNING THROUGH THE SEAT INTO MY LEG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10573352March 19, 2014
POWER TRAIN
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SEEMS VERY JERKY AND HESITANT. IT HAS DIED ON ME ONCE WHILE DRIVING AS IT STALLED OUT. I AM AFRAID THE TRANSMISSION IS CLOSE TO FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573023March 18, 2014
STEERING
I HEARD A LOUD HUMMING/SQUEALING TYPE SOUND--UNABLE TO TURN THE CAR'S STEERING WITHOUT GREAT EFFORT WHILE DRIVING DOWN A SIDE STREET AND PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT. I HAD WONDERED WHERE THE SOUND WAS COMING FROM AND HAVING TO MAKE IT HOME I STRUGGLED TO KEEP THE CAR IN MY LANE AND MAKE LEFT TURNS AT INTERSECTIONS--MAKING IT HOME I NOTICED A DARK STAIN WHERE MY CAR WAS PARKED AND CHECKED THE STEERING FLUID WHICH WAS BONE-DRY. I HAVE CHILDREN--AFTER READING THESE POSTS I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THEM AND AM AFRAID TO BE ON THE ROAD EVEN AFTER PUTTING MORE FLUID IN THE RECEPTACLE AM FINDING IT ON MY DRIVEWAY. I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR IN NOVEMBER WITH 50,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573042March 18, 2014
ENGINE
FOUND LARGE OILY MARK UNDER PARKED CAR. TURNS OUT TO BE THE THERMOSTAT HOSE LEAKING DUE TO CRACKS BECAUSE OF BEING MADE OF PLASTIC. THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN ISSUE BY MINI/BMW THAT COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE TO OVERHEAT PRODUCING A FILE OR BLOWING THE ENGINE. THIS SHOULD COME UNDER A RECALL. CHECKING ONLINE, YOU CAN SEE THAT IT WAS SUCH AN ISSUE LAST YEAR, THAT DEALERS WERE NOT EVEN ABLE TO GET PARTS FOR WEEKS DUE TO THE NUMBER OF FAILURES. CALLING THE DEALER, THEY READILY ADMIT IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE TO REPLACE LOTS OF THEM. OF COURSE, IT IS $600 A POP FOR THE FIX. DUE TO THE LARGE COST AND ADMITTED DESIGN FLAW, THESE SHOULD ALL BE PLACED UNDER A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS BADLY HURT. ALSO ANYONE THAT HAS HAD TO HAVE THIS FIXED SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THAT EXPENSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10568904March 12, 2014
STRUCTURE
TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR INSTALLATION HEAT SHIELD FOR TURBO FEED LINE. THIS IS A RECALL AND NEWLY INSTALLED PART TO PROTECT THE TURBO FEED LINE DUE TO OVERHEATING. TO MY SURPRISE THEY INSTALL THE HEAT SHIELD ONLY TO TELL ME THAT THE TURBO LINE IS FAILING AND WANT TO CHARGE ME $1000.00. THE FAILURE OF THE LINE IS OBVIOUSLY DUE FOR THE SAME REASON THEY ARE INSTALLING A HEAT SHIELD. THUS ITEM SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10568190March 10, 2014
AIR BAGS, SEATS
THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE, DOES NOT REGISTER THAT ANYBODY IS SITTING IN THE SEAT AND AIRBAG SYSTEM DOES NOT "ARM". AIRBAG DISABLED LIGHTS STAY ILLUMINATED. I'M CONCERNED THAT AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10568041March 9, 2014
ENGINE
I WAS A VICTIM OF THE "DEATH RATTLE" FROM THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE. LUCKILY FOR ME, I RESEARCHED THE NOISE WHEN I FIRST HEARD IT AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT FIXED BEFORE IT DESTROYED MY ENTIRE ENGINE (ALTHOUGH MINI REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS). BUT OWNERS WHO ARE NOT AWARE OF ISSUE MAY KEEP DRIVING THEIR CAR TO THE POINT OF FAILURE WHICH COULD LEAD TO A FATAL CRASH. IT IS A POORLY MANUFACTURED PART THAT IS CREATING THE PROBLEM WHICH CAN BE EASILY FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10568074March 9, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
WAS DRIVING CAR DOWNTOWN AT A SPEED ON AVERAGE OF 15 MPH. TRIP ONLY LASTED 15 MINUTES WHEN I PARKED AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM MY HOOD. SMOKE QUICKLY ESCALATED INTO A FIRE. CALLED 911 TO HAVE FIRE TRUCKS OUT. GRABBED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM A NEARBY BUSINESS TO TRY TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO EVEN WHILE SPRAYING DIRECTLY AT THE FLAMES. FIREMEN HAD TO PRY OPEN THE HOOD TO GET TO THE ENGINE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. CAR ENGINE WAS TOTALED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567739March 7, 2014
ENGINE
WHEN YOU START THE CAR IN THE MORNING WHILE ITS COLD AND START DRIVING, YOU HEAR A RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE WHICH COMING OUT OF THE TIMING-BELT AREA. IT STARTED 5 DAYS AGO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567734March 6, 2014
STEERING
I NOTICED POWER STEERING FLUID ON MY DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MATS. I CHECKED UNDERNEATH AND NOTICED THAT IS WAS DRIPPING FROM MY WIRING HARNESS. I CALLED ALEXANDER MINI COOPER AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC TO CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM AND IF THEY COULDN'T FIX IT TO BRING IT IN AND HAVE IT DIAGNOSED FOR $180.00. THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM BUT I BELIEVE IT IS A FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY CAR. CAN YOU ASSIST ME WITH ANY RECALL INFORMATION SO THAT I CAN GET THIS REPAIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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