MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10469024August 2, 2012
STEERING
OUR 2004 MINI COOPER HAS BEGUN TO EXHIBIT INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURES USUALLY AFTER BEING AT REST OR AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING STARTS UP AGAIN BUT THE PROBLEM HAS BEGUN OCCURRING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469033August 2, 2012
ENGINE
I OWN A 08 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN WITH 48,000 MILES AND THE WARRANTY JUST RAN OUT ON JUNE 2812: I TOOK IT IN FOR A REPAIR IN MAY AND NO ONE AT THIS DEALER MENTIONED THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER! I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY ROAD AND THANK GOD THE SPEED LIMIT WAS ONLY 35 WHEN SUDDENLY THE BELT JUMPED AND MY CAR LOST ITS ENGINE: TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL STATION AND THEY LOOKED INSIDE AND SAID SOMETHING CAME LOOSE FROM THE INSIDE OF ENGINE AND TORE IT UP AND I NEED A NEW ENGINE: SO I CALLED DEALER AND CORP AND THEY SAY I NEED TO SPEND MONEY TO GET THEIR TECHS TO LOOK AT IT AND NOT MY MECHANIC:SO I GOT ON LINE AND INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FROM MINI WITH A DEFECTIVE TENSIONER WHICH OUT OF NO WHERE WITHOUT WARNING FLIES OFF: MINI REFUSES TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS AND EVERY MECHANIC SAYS IT IS NOT THE OWNERS PROBLEM AND A BELT SHOULD NEVER FLY OFF: FURTHER THE BELT ON LT BREAKS WHEN IT FLIES IN THE PISTONS AND BREAKS OTHER PARTS OF THE ENGINE: MINI WILL WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED! A COMPLAINT IS SIGNED WITH OVER 850 SIGNING IT AND HOPE MANY MORE BUT I STILL THINK IT IS A SERIOUS ISSUE ENOUGH WHERE YOU SHOULD GET INVOLVED: MINI IS SCREWING THE PEOPLE AND REFUSE TO ADMIT THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART AND IN MOST CASES WONT PAY FOR THE NEW ENGINE WHILE WE STILL OWE THOUSANDS ON THE CAR: PLEASE GET INVOLVED AND MAKE MINI CORP PAY FOR THE DAMAGES THAT THEY CAUSE BY REFUSING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL: NO TIMING BELT SHOULD HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED AND SURELY A TIMING BELT SHOULD LAST 80,000 MILES: THIS COMPANY IS CHEAP AND IS WAITING FOR A DISASTER!! PLEASE PLEASE HELP THE PEOPLE AND MAKE MINI TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAULTY PARTS!!![XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468763August 1, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, AIR BAGS
MY MINI WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT BEHIND A TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM THE BACK BY A CARELESS DRIVER IN A MIDSIZE SEDAN WHO HAD FAILED TO SEE THE CARS IN FRONT OF HER STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE DAMAGE DONE TO BOTH THE CAR THAT STRUCK MINE FROM BEHIND AS WELL AS THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE 4 RUNNER WERE MINIMAL BY COMPARISON. THE MINI INCURRED IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND THE DRIVER OF THE 4 RUNNER PULLED ME OUT OF THE CAR DUE TO FIRE HE SAW COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE OF THE MINI, BEFORE LONG THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. SHOULD THE VEHICLE HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE? SHOULDN'T THE AIRBAGS HAVE DEPLOYED WITH THE GRAVITY OF THE DAMAGE? *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468804August 1, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH WHEN GRAY SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AS THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE HARMONIC DAMPER HAD DETACHED FROM THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468813August 1, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED BURNS TO THEIR LEGS FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE WHILE PLACING AN ITEM IN THE TRUNK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,732.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10468838August 1, 2012
ENGINE
MY CAR HAS BEEN MAKING A RATTLING SOUND FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. ALTHOUGH THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED TWICE DURING THAT TIME, NO TECHNICIAN OR MINI SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THE RATTLE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I NOTICED MY CAR BEGINNING TO RUN... FUNNY. NOT LONG AFTER, THE ENGINE POWER LIGHT CAME ON. APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MILES LATER, MY CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART, IT WAS TOWED TO A MINI SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS THE TIMING CHAIN, AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE ARE COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF THESE REPORTS ON THE INTERNET. INSPITE OF THE NUMBERS OF COMPLAINTS AND REPAIRS, MINI/BMW HAS REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PART. IT WAS VERY FORTUNATE THERE WAS NO CRASH OR FATALITY, AGAIN MY CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH VERY LITTLE WARNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468857August 1, 2012
STEERING, STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING, MAKING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468449July 31, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 20 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468484July 31, 2012
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2003 MINI COOPER DIED AT 59,000 MILES. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, SAME AS NUMEROUS OTHER MINI COOPER OWNERS HAVE, AT A COST OF ABOUT $7,000. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION IN THE 2003 MINI COOPERS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO REPAIR IT. MINI COOPER HAS NOT RESPONDED TO THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BY ITS CONSUMERS AND HAS NOT OFFERED TO HELP PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION COST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468487July 31, 2012
STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP STARTED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, THEN FAILED. CONTACTED LOCAL MINI DEALER (MIDWESTERN AUTO GROUP), WHO ADVISED THAT I BRING IT IN TO "CONFIRM" AT THE DIAGNOSTIC COST OF $140. WHEN I INQUIRED AS TO WHY I SHOULD PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE WHEN I HAD I IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM, MAG SERVICE MANAGER STATED AT THAT TIME THAT A FULL/PARTIAL REPAIR BY MINI USA WAS "HIGHLY LIKELY" IF I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR DEALER SERVICE AND PAID THE FEE. AFTER NEARLY A MONTH OF BACK-AND-FORTH BETWEEN MINI USA, MAG, AND MYSELF NEITHER MINI USA NOR MAG WOULD OFFER ANY REPAIR ASSISTANCE. NEITHER MINI USA NOR MAG WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION, THE RECALL IN CANADA, OR THE NUMEROUS ONLINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS WELL-DOCUMENTED ISSUE. BOTTOM LINE: I EXPERIENCED A "SHAKE DOWN" FROM MAG AND MINI USA IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE. DEPLORABLE PRACTICE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468219July 30, 2012
STEERING
WAS STOPPED IN PARKING LOT, FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE BAY. POWER STEERING HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT FOR AWHILE. SHOP INDICATED THAT THE FAN FAILED AND CAUSED THE PUMP/WIRING TO COMPLETELY MELT. THIS ISSUE IS WIDELY KNOWN AND FOUND ON MINI COOPER FORUMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468335July 30, 2012
AIR BAGS
OUR 2006 MINI COOPER HATCHBACK'S PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR STAYS ON WITH OR WITHOUT A PASSENGER. SOMETIMES WITH A PASSENGER, IT WILL GO ON AND OFF SPORADICALLY. IF THE LIGHT IS ON WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IT WOULD BE LOGICAL TO ASSUME THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WIDE-SPREAD AND DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468331July 30, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COPPER. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468138July 29, 2012
POWER TRAIN
LOUD SUDDEN DIESEL LIKE RATTLE (COMMONLY KNOWN AS "THE DEATH RATTLE" BY IMPACTED MINI OWNERS) FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON A METICULOUSLY WELL MAINTAINED 2008 MINI COOPER S TURBO. DIAGNOSED BY MECHANIC AS DEFECTIVE TIMING BELT TENSIONER AND IF LEFT UNATTENDED WOULD RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND POSSIBLE SERIOUS INJURY. COST OF REPAIR IS $1,800. BMW/MINI IS WELL AWARE OF THIS COMMON AND SYSTEMIC TENSIONER DEFECT (DEFECTIVE ORIGINAL PART). THEY SHOULD "DO THE RIGHT THING" AND RECALL AND/OR REIMBURSE GOOD FAITH PURCHASERS FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468161July 29, 2012
STEERING
INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING. OCCURS WHETHER VEHICLE IS HOT OR COLD. CAN OCCUR AFTER VEHICLE HAS SAT OVERNIGHT. WILL START WORKING AGAIN AFTER SHUTTING DOWN AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468162July 29, 2012
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. SHUTTING OFF AND RESTARTING CAR, THE LIGHT WILL GO OUT BUT COMES BACK ON WITHIN SECONDS. THIS OCCURRED AFTER ADJUSTING PASSENGER SEAT. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468166July 29, 2012
ENGINE
THE TIME CHAIN JUMPED WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN WITH SUCH LOW MILES ON THE CAR. MINI REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN.. THE CAR BEGAN TO MAKE KNOCKING NOISE AND RUN ROUGH. COULDN'T DRIVE THE CAR AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO MINI COOPER SERVICE DEPT. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468112July 28, 2012
POWER TRAIN
WHILE PROCEEDING DOWN A NORMAL DRY ROAD I MANUALLY SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION (USING MANUAL MODE ON THE CVT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) FROM 3RD GEAR TO 4TH GEAR. THE SHIFT NORMALLY WOULD BE SMOOTH HOWEVER ON THIS OCCURRENCE THE ENGINE IDLED EXTREMELY HIGH AND THE GEAR KICKED IN AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS WITH A LOUD BANGING SOUND WHEN THE GEAR FINALLY TOOK HOLD. THE CAR BEHAVED ITSELF FOR A WHILE BUT THIS EVENT STARTED HAPPENING MORE AND MORE UNTIL IT BECAME A REGULAR OCCURRENCE. MOST OF THE TIME THERE WAS NO LOUD NOISE BUT THE 4TH GEAR WOULD NOT CATCH AND I ADJUSTED MY DRIVING SO THAT I WOULD SHIFT FROM 3RD GEAR TO 5TH GEAR AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID THE OVER REVVING. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP. THEY LOOKED IT OVER AND ADVISED ME THAT THERE WAS NO WAY OF REPAIRING THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT ENTIRELY. I AM CURRENTLY WORKING TO LOCATE A NEW TRANSMISSION AS DURING THE LAST OCCURRENCE (JULY 21, 2012) THE CAR DID NOT GO INTO 4TH GEAR AND I WAS STUCK ON A HIGHWAY WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO MOVE, I.E. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR. AFTER PULLING OVER TO SAFETY I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR UP TO 3RD GEAR AND RETURN HOME. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY UNUSABLE. I AM NOT WORKING WITH THE MANUFACTURER / DEALER AS PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN ME THAT THEY ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND FINANCIAL GAIN IS THERE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE. IN ADDITION ALL THE INTERNET BLOGS THAT I HAVE REVIEWED, AND JOINED / COMMENTED ON HAS SHOWN ME THAT BMW / MINI DOES NOT WORK WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS TO RECTIFY THIS BAD, UNSAFE PRODUCT. I AM HOPING THAT BMW / MINI WILL WORK WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS WHO ARE STUCK WITH HIS BAD PRODUCT AND I AM ON A LIST TO SUPPORT A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468053July 27, 2012
STEERING
MY 2004 MINI COOPER INTERMITTENTLY LOSES IT'S POWER STEERING AND IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN THE ENGINE IS NOT YET WARMED BUT SOMETIMES HAPPENS RANDOMLY. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL WHEN TURNING AND TODAY I JUST MISSED A PEDESTRIAN TURNING A CORNER IN A CROWDED DOWNTOWN AREA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467501July 26, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
2007 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH FUEL LINE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE NOTICED A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE NEXT DAY, THE SMELL WA WORSE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HER LOCAL MECHANIC TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, THE FUEL LINE HAD BEEN WORN THROUGH FROM IMPROPERLY INSTALLED HEATER HOSE CLAMPS, WHICH WAS AN ORIGINAL INSTALLATION FROM THE FACTORY. OVER TIME, THE CLAMPS RUBBED THROUGH THE FUEL LINE, WHICH LED TO GAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL LINE, AND SPRAYING ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL LINE HAS SINCE BEEN MODIFIED ON LATER MODELS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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