MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10545381September 25, 2013
ENGINE
UPON STARTUP OF THE ENGINE, THERE IS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. A VERY UNHEALTHY SOUND. SOUND IS UNUSUAL FOR ANY GAS ENGINE, LET ALONE ONE WITH ONLY 57,000 MILES. *JS SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR OTHER MINI COOPERS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. MANY COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET FOR EXACTLY THIS PROBLEM. MANY OWNERS REPORTING EARLY ENGINE FAILURE, AS EARLY AS 12,000 MILES REPORTED BY A MINI DEALER IN MAINE. MOST OWNERS ARE SEEING THE PROBLEM WITH 40-50,000+ MILES. THE LOCAL MINI DEALER SAYS THE REPAIR IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, AND REPAIRS ARE APPROX. $2,000. TIMING CHAINS USUALLY DO NOT NEED REPLACEMENT EVEN AFTER 100,000 OF USE, SOME CARS NEVER REPLACE TIMING CHAINS UNTIL 200,000 MILES. THIS CAR SEEMS TO EAT TIMING CHAINS AROUND 40-50,000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10545414September 25, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
REAR DOOR SPRUNG OPEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. STOPPED BUT DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THERE WAS A NOTED SERVICE BULLETIN ON PROBLEM BUT NOT A RECALL. I HAD TO INCUR FULL REPLACEMENT COST OF DEFECTIVE DOOR LATCH $315. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10545169September 24, 2013
SEATS, AIR BAGS
ON MY 2006 MINI COOPER S COUPE, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF SENSOR LIGHT ON THE ROOF CAME ON AS WELL AS THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT IN THE CENTER CONSOLE INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT COULD NOT DETECT THE WEIGHT OF A PERSON IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT ALERT THE AIRBAG TO TURN ON. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BOTH SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE LIGHT REMAINED ON. WE THEN HAD A GARAGE THAT SPECIALIZES IN IMPORTS LOOK AT THE CODE, WHICH IS STATING THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE SEAT MAT SENSOR AND IT IS NO LONGER RECOGNIZING THE WEIGHT ON THE SEAT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND A COSTLY ONE AT THAT. THE SEAT CUSHION MUST BE REPLACED AND POTENTIALLY THE ENTIRE SEAT. I HAVE NOTICED THIS SAME COMPLAINT ON THIS SITE AS WELL AS OTHER SITES FOR MODELS DATING ANYWHERE FROM 2002-2006. THERE IS ALSO A TREND WITH THIS ISSUE OCCURRING WHEN THE CAR IS 7 YEARS OLD (2013 FOR 2006 MODELS) REGARDLESS OF THE MILEAGE. I HAVE CALLED MINI AND WHILE THEY WERE VERY NICE AND HELPFUL, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP WITH THE COST OF REPAIRING THIS FACTORY ISSUE. WHEN I CALLED OUR LOCAL DEALER THEY HAD MENTIONED A TYPE OF ASSISTANCE OR WARRANTY EXTENDED ON THE 2003-2004 MODELS, BUT NOT 2005 OR LATER. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THIS IS JUST NOW BECOMING AN ISSUE AND SHOULD NOW BE ADDRESSED OR ADDED TO THE EXTENDED WARRANTY? IS THERE GROUNDS FOR A RECALL? THERE SEEMS TO BE A TREND OF HOW AND WHEN THIS MAT MALFUNCTIONS. PLEASE HELP THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND ARE BOUND TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM IN THE NEAR FUTURE GET THIS FIXED! THANK YOU! *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10545228September 24, 2013
STEERING
WHILE I WAS DRIVING, MY POWER STEERING SUDDENLY CUT OFF COMPLETELY. LUCKILY, I WAS CLOSE TO HOME, BUT IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PARALLEL PARK MY CAR. THE NEXT DAY, THE POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10544909September 23, 2013
ENGINE
ENGINE RATTLE ON COLD START INDICATED A LOOSE OR STRETCHED TIMING CHAIN. REQUIRED A PREMATURE REPLACEMENT OF TIMING CHAIN, GUIDES AND TENSIONER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10544957September 23, 2013
ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN MECHANISM (TENSIONER SEEMED TO BE MAIN CULPRIT) FAILING AND SYSTEM NEEDED REPLACEMENT. TOTAL COST $2500. CAR HAD 33,000 EASY MILES ON IT. MECHANIC SAID TIMING SYSTEM WAS ON THE VERGE OF FAILING TRAUMATICALLY AND DESTROYING THE ENGINE. REPORTED IT TO MINI, WHO ADMITTED THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH THOSE BUT THERE HAD BEEN NO RECALL SO THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE DIFFERENT SERIAL NUMBERS THAN THE ORIGINALS INDICATING, PER MY MECHANIC, THEY HAD REDESIGNED THE PARTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10545050September 23, 2013
STEERING
MY POWER STEERING PUMP HAD BEEN LOSING FLUID, RANDOMLY CONTINUING TO RUN AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF AND FINALLY GAVE OUT TWO OR THREE TIMES WHILE DRIVING. I RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL AND THAT STATED THE PUMP HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE ITEM. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER TO HAVE WORK PERFORMED, I WAS TOLD TO CONTINUE ADDING FLUID SINCE THIS WAS NOT A FORMAL RECALL ITEM. I ADVISED THEM THE PUMP HAD FAILED TWICE (AT THAT TIME) AND THEY STILL INSISTED I REFILL THE FLUID AND I WOULD BE FINE. THIS SEEMS LIKE A CHEAP WAY TO AVOID A RECALL AND THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY FIXING THE ISSUE. THIS NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED AGAIN AND BMW/MINI NEEDS TO FIX THESE ISSUES BEFORE A CATASTROPHIC EVENT HAPPENS THAT COSTS MORE THAN A STRESSFUL SITUATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10545040September 23, 2013
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THESE WARNINGS CAME UP - 2D52 SUPER KNOCKING 2DCD FUEL SHUT OFF DUE TO SUPER KNOCKING CYLINDER 3 2968 INLET CAMSHAFT SENSOR 2B64 INTAKE MANIFOLD, UNMETERED AIR BASED ON ALL OF THESE SOUND LIKE MY MINI COOPER HAS BAD FUEL AND/OR SERIOUS CARBON BUILD, I'VE JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP AND I AM EXPERIENCING DELAYS IN ACCELERATION, LOSS OF FORWARD PROPULSION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10544706September 21, 2013
AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN
PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR INOP RENDERING AIRBAG UNSAFE. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION WITH NEW SENSOR MAT. 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND SHIFTING HARD. OCCASIONALLY, RENDERS CAR POWERLESS AS IN NEUTRAL EVEN IF IN TRAVEL LANES MAKING UNSAFE TO OPERATE. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF VALVE BLOCK. SERVICING OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID IS NOT REQUIRED BY MINI/BMW BUT SAME TRANSMISSION IN OTHER BRANDS DO. VW RECOMMENDS ATF REPLACEMENT AT 40K MILES AND DOESN'T HAVE PROBLEMS WITH VALVE BLOCK FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10544602September 20, 2013
AIR BAGS, SEATS
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE SENSOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS BROKEN. THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MINI'S BEGINNING WITH THE 2002 MODEL, BUT ESPECIALLY WITH THE 2006. BMW WHICH OWNS MINI HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME YEAR CAR AND ISSUED A RECALL, BUT MINI NEVER DID. THE DEALER WANTS $1500 TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT OTHERS WITH THE SAME CAR HAVE HAD THE PART BREAK AS MANY AS THREE TIMES. THE SENSOR IS TO DETECT THAT THERE IS A PASSENGER AND THE WEIGHT OF THE PASSENGER SO THAT THE FORCE OF THE AIRBAG CAN BE REGULATED IF A CHILD OR CHILD CAR SEAT IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. IT IS UNSCIONABLE THAT MINI WOULD JEOPARDIZE SAFETY AFTER THEY HAVE KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS. CUSTOMER RELATIONS AT MINI USA WAS UNWILLING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10544334September 19, 2013
ENGINE
ENGINE EXPERIENCE RAPID OIL LOSS WHICH COATED UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE INCLUDING TIRES. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE BUT I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. WHILE PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. HE REPORTED THAT A FASTENER ON THE CAM CHAIN TENSIONER HAD BECOME LOOSE WHICH CAUSED THE LEAK. THAT PART HAD NEVER BEEN MODIFIED OR SERVICE. THERE WAS NO LEAK WHEN I BEGAN MY COMMUTE. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED IN ONLY A FEW MILES. SEARCHING ONLINE FORUMS INDICATES THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10543243September 12, 2013
STEERING
POWER STEERING LOSE THE POWER SUDDENLY, HARD TO TURN OR CHANGE LANE WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. CHECKED THIS CAR HISTORY, THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS CHANGED AT BMW DEALER IN 3 YEAR AGO. THIS TIME THE STEERING LOST ITS POWER AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10543256September 12, 2013
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR AND AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHTS HAVE BEEN INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT. NOW THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS ALWAYS LIT AND THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR IS STILL INTERMITTENT. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER WE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND THEY WILL NOT TEST THE CONDITION UNDER THE WARRANTY. WE PURCHASED THE CAR ON 12/22/2012. IT WILL COST OVER $100 JUST FOR THEM TO TELL US IF THERE IS A MALFUNCTION. SOUNDS AS THOUGH THE REPAIR WILL COST WELL OVER $1,000. FROM RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND BMW RECALLED THE BMW MODELS FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE, BUT MINI WILL NOT FIX THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WE DO NOT KNOW IF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS WORKING PROPERLY OR NOT. THANK YOU FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10543329September 12, 2013
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE SENSORS ON THIS CAR WERE NO GOOD. IT DID NOT INFORM ME THAT THERE WASN'T ANY OIL OR COOLANT I'M THE CAR. I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS AFTER WE DISCOVERED THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT INSPECT OR SERVICE THE CAR LIKE THEY PROMISED. ON 9/10, THE CAR TURNED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND WOULDN'T TURN BACK ON. TWO MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THE CAR IS NO GOOD AND I AM NOT AT FAULT FOR THE DEFECTS. THE ENTIRE TIME THE CAR WAS IN MY POSSESSION, THE SENSORS DID NOT WARN ME ABOUT ANY SERVICES THE CAR NEEDED. I HAVE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORWARD WITH THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE DEFECTS. I RETURNED THE CAR, ASKED FOR A FULL REFUND, AND THEY HAVE YET TO DO ANYTHING TO HONOR MY WISHES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542948September 10, 2013
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CHECKED IT AND ITS THE THERMOSTAT. I HAD REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT 1 YEAR AGO AND NOW AGAIN. WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, TX AND THEY TOLD ME THEIR ON BACK ORDER. APPARENTLY 17,000 ON BACKORDER! ITS ALMOST BEEN A MONTH AND A HALF AND MY CAR IS STILL IN MY GARAGE WITH NO DEFINITE ANSWER FROM MINI. THERE HAS TO BE A BIGGER ISSUE THAT IS BEING COVERED UP BY MINI. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542608September 9, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD SPORADICALLY FAIL AS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542656September 9, 2013
AIR BAGS, SEATS
IN ADDITION TO MY PREVIOUS POST, MORE INFORMATION ON THIS SITUATION, THIS NOTE SENT TO MINIUSA.COM, MY 2006 MINI COOPER HAS THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ABOVE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND IS GENERATING AN ERROR 71, PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR FAULT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY SENSOR MAT UNDER THE SEAT. FROM MY RESEARCH I SEE THAT THIS HAS BEEN COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE OC3 SEAT MAT SENSOR WHICH IS USED IN BMW AS WELL AS MINI MODELS. I AM REQUESTING THAT THIS SENSOR BE REPLACED IN MY MINI COOPER AS I FEAR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE DOCUMENTED FAULTY SENSOR. THE RECALL IS STATED AT HTTP://WWW.BMWUSA.COM/STANDARD/CONTENT/CONTACTUS/VOLUNTARYRECALL.ASPX, *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542721September 9, 2013
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SO, I HAVE ONE OF MANY THOUSANDS OF BAD THERMOSTAT HOUSINGS PART #11537534521( COOLING SYSTEM) . NONE OF THE PARTS HOUSES HAVE THEM IN STOCK. MINI SAID THAT THERE ARE 17,000+ OF THEM ON BACKORDER. 17,000! THIS APPEARS TO AFFECT MINIS FROM 2007 THROUGH 2010. SO, MINE SITS IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR AN INDETERMINABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. NOBODY ACTUALLY KNOWS WHEN (IF) THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE. THE PART HAS BEEN ON BACKORDER FOR A LONG TIME.THERE ARE GUESSES FROM SEPTEMBER 12TH TO OCTOBER 10TH. MOSTLY JUST SHOTS IN THE DARK, SO THEY CAN AT LEAST TELL YOU SOMETHING! THESE PARTS HAVE BEEN FAILING PREMATURELY FOR 6 YEARS, AND NOW LOOK AT THE MESS. MINI IS NOT EXACTLY PRO-ACTIVE. CERTAINLY OUR FIRST AND LAST MINI. I HAVE CONTACTED MINI AND BMW TO ASK WHAT THEIR SOLUTION WILL BE FOR ALL THE AFFECTED CUSTOMERS. ALL THEY DO IS TAKE MY NAME AND NUMBER AND TELL ME THAT THEY WILL CALL BACK . THEY NEVER DO . I AM HOPELESS WITH OUT A CAR THAT CAN NOT BE FIXED DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER ( MINI) NO HAVING REPLACING PARTS AVAILABLE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE . PLEASE HOLD MINI AND BMW ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542015September 5, 2013
STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. ONCE IT CAME BACK ON IT DOESN'T SHUT OFF RUNNING THE BATTERY DEAD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542018September 5, 2013
ENGINE
THERMOSTAT HOUSING DEVELOPED A LEAK RESULTING IN LOSS OF COOLANT, ENGINE OVERHEATED AND WARPED THE HEAD AND BENT VALVES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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