MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10454564April 9, 2012
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
THE SRS LIGHT IS ON AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALSO ON EVEN WITH A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE SEAT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE DUE TO BAD WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE SEATS BUT BMW, MINI IS REFUSING TO RECTIFY THE FAULTY PROBLEMS FOR 2005 AND 2006 MODELS OF THE 1ST GENERATION MINI COOPER. 2004 AND 2003 MINI COOPERS WERE HONORED WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE SRS SYSTEM FOR 150K MILES OR 10 YEARS. WITH THE SRS LIGHT ON, THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND THE SEAT BELT ACTIVATION SYSTEM MAY FAIL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE EVEN WITH A PASSENGER IN THE CAR. THE PROBLEM HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED WITH A SERVICE BULLETIN. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON WITH A FAULT STORED. THE WIRING UNDER THE SEAT MAY BE PINCHED OR DAMAGED. SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER:SIM-65-06-11 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER:10039593. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454592April 9, 2012
STEERING
LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER S. ALL OF A SUDDEN, HAVE NO POWER STEERING. VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE. THANK GOD I WAS NOT IN A PLACE THAT THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I NOTE THAT I CAN TURN OFF THE MOTOR, THEN TURN IT BACK ON AND THE STEERING IS OK FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN GOES OUT AGAIN. I LOVE MY MINI COOPER, BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT NOW, IF I CAN'T COUNT ON THE STEERING TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454457April 8, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2008 MINI COOPER S THAT HAS A TIMING CHAIN ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL ,AS I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE FOUND THAT LOOKS LIKE A PRODUCTION ISSUE WHICH I BELIEVE SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY MINI/BMW. NOT EVERYONE HAS $2000.00 TO HAVE THIS FIXED,I HAVE 28K MILES WHICH I CONSIDER A FARELY NEW CAR STILL NOT FARE FOR US CONSUMER WHO SHELL OUT ALOT OF MONEY FOR A CAR WE BELIEVE TO BE RELIABLE AND IS NOT , PLEASE REVIEW THIS PROBLEM AND HELP US CONSUMERS BE TREATED FAIR WE NEED YOUR HELP TO STOP THESE COMPANY'S FROM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF US UNTIL SOMETHING HORRIBLE HAPPENS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454469April 8, 2012
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG "OFF" LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454215April 5, 2012
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS UNABLE TO GET MY VEHICLE SMOGGED. THE OBD WAS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH SMOG MACHINE. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND FOUND THE POWER STEERING ELECTRICAL WAS CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454144April 4, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TIMING CHAIN BROKE AT 80000K AFTER REPLACING TENSIONER AT 60000K FROM OIL LEAK. ALSO REPLACED WATER PUMP & THERMOSTAT DUE TO CAR OVERHEATING. NOW AT 82000K HAVE A BURNT OUT VALVE. BIG PROBLEMS ON MY MINI COOPER S '07. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454184April 4, 2012
AIR BAGS
SRS WARNING LIGHT REQUIRING OC3 MAT REPLACEMENT AT ONLY 60K MILES. PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF COLLISION. COST OF REPLACEMENT IS QUOTED AS $1374.83. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454185April 4, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE CRITICAL TIMING CHAIN FAILURE CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE FAILING TIMING CHAIN CAN ALSO CAUSE THE MOTOR TO FAIL. THIS IN TURN LEADS TO A LACK OF POWER/ACCELERATION/MOVEMENT ENDANGERING THE DRIVER AND OTHER DRIVERS. CURRENTLY BMW/MINI HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS ISSUE HOWEVER HAS FAILED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE DEFECTED ITEM OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS ISSUE ALSO DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AN ISSUE FROM CERTAIN DATE OR ASSEMBLY LINE. IT HAS BEEN AFFECTING A WIDE RANGE OF MINI COOPER S AND JOHN COOPER WORKS MODELS WITH A DATE RANGE BETWEEN 2007-CURRENT. MINI COOPER DRIVERS AROUND THE U.S. AND WORLD HAVE BEEN REPORTING A STRANGE KNOCKING/RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR 2007+ MINI COOPER. FROM THE MISC DEALER REPAIR DETAILS IT APPEARS TO BE A ISSUE WITH THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER SYSTEM. IT ALSO APPEARS THE WITHOUT BEING FIXED THE CAR WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AND POSSIBLE MOTOR DESTRUCTION. ON A GOOD NOTE BMW/MINI KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS HOWEVER IS FAILING TO COME UP WITH OR ACKNOWLEDGE A PERMANENT SOLUTION. HOW MANY CUSTOMERS ISSUES WILL IT TAKE BEFORE BMW/MINI WILL ISSUE A FULL RECALL? WE ALL HOPE NOT MANY MORE. I AM IN THE SECOND GENERATION MINI GROUP MYSELF. EVERY MORNING I CROSS MY FINGERS IN HOPE THAT WHEN I PUSH THE START BUTTON THE SOUND OF ENGINEERING FAILURE DOESN'T SING FROM UNDER MY HOOD! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453926April 3, 2012
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT JUST AFTER I PURCHASED IT. I SEE THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR NEARLY EVERY YEAR MODEL THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN PRODUCED FOR THE AMERICAN MARKET. I CALLED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND I STATED THAT MESSAGE BOARDS ONLINE WERE LOADED WITH ANGRY CUSTOMERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING. THEY REFUSED TO ADMIT THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM AND WANT TO CHARGE ME $2500! PLEASE, NHTSA, DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453976April 3, 2012
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AS WELL AS "AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. OCCURS WHEN PASSENGER IS AND IS NOT IN SEAT. AUDIO FOR SEATBELT OCCURS WHEN PASSENGER IS NOT IN SEAT. MINI DEALER REPAIRED INITIALLY AT ABOUT 30K MILES, OCCURRED AGAIN AT 48K MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453973April 3, 2012
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILS WHEN ENGINE IS TURNED ON. ALSO OCCURS WHILE DRIVING. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453981April 3, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COPPER S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V008000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIR WERE ON BACK ORDER UNTIL APRIL 13, 2012. THE CONTACT MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE THAT DATE, BUT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LATER STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND TOWED TO A MINI SPECIALIST WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY PUMP FAILED. THE FAILURE DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453978April 3, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED WITH EXTREME FORCE AS SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE INITIATED IN THE STEERING PUMP COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453802April 2, 2012
STEERING
WENT DOWN A DIRT RODE TO MEET A CLIENT. POWERSTEERING WAS WORKING. MET WITH CLIENT, GOT BACK IN THE CAR, AND THE POWERSTEERING WAS NO LONGER WORKING. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THIS CAR WHEN THERE IS NO POWERSTEERING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453716April 1, 2012
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR/MAT FAILED CAUSING AIRBAG "OFF" WARNING LIGHT AND POSSIBLY (CONFLICTING INFO FROM PUBLICLY-AVAILABLE SOURCES) TURNING OFF PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG TRIGGERING FUNCTION. THE COST OF REPLACING THIS COMPONENT IS SUCH A LARGE PORTION OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM PURCHASE PRICE AND THE FACT THAT IT MAY ALSO BE ESSENTIAL FOR THE SYSTEM'S PROPER FUNCTIONING, MAKE IT SEEM REASONABLE THAT IT SHOULD BE WARRANTIED FOR THE LIFE OF THE (AIRBAG) SYSTEM ITSELF, OR A "FIX" ENGINEERED AND INSTALLED AT NO COST TO A VEHICLE OWNER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453629March 31, 2012
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING FAILED DURING DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO ACCESS HOW MUCH CONTROL I STILL HAD. THE CAR CONTINUED TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER BUT I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453637March 31, 2012
STEERING
MY 2006 R53 ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES AND OUT OF NOWHERE THE STEERING BECAME PERIODICALLY STIFF. AFTER PERSISTING FOR 2 WEEKS, IT HAS BECOME INCREDIBLY HARD TO MOVE THE WHEEL AND THE PUMP SEEMS TO HAVE CUT OUT COMPLETELY. IT IS MUCH STIFFER THEN ANY CAR WITH MANUAL STEERING THAT I HAVE EVER TRIED, RENDERING MY MINI TOTALLY UNDRIVEABLE. SOMEHOW THE COOPER S IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FROM TRANSPORT CANADA? ( HTTP://WWWAPPS.TC.GC.CA/SAF-SEC-SUR/7/VRDB-BDRV/SEARCH/RECALLDETAIL.ASPX?LANG=ENG&RN=2012029 ) *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453666March 31, 2012
STEERING
THE STEERING PUMP FAILED ON THE FREEWAY. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453456March 29, 2012
STEERING
STEERING PUMP FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453479March 29, 2012
AIR BAGS
MY 2006 MINI COOPER S HAS A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR, I WAS QUOTED $1200 TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS THE EXACT SAME PART THAT BMW RECALLED IN 2008. BMW RECALLED AROUND 150,000 VEHICLES IN NORTH AMERICA TO FIX A POSSIBLE DEFECT THAT MAY KEEP THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG FROM OPENING IN A CRASH, THE RECALLED CARS INCLUDE 2006 3-SERIES, 2004-06 5-SERIES AND 2004-06 X3 VEHICLES. MINI USES THIS SAME RECALLED PART BEING MADE BY BMW, YET HAS NOT RECALLED THE PART. I KNOW MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS PART REPLACED AT THERE OWN EXPENSE SEVERAL TIMES. IT IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD. *JS BMW RECALL INFORMATION... MANUFACTURER: BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC, MODEL YEAR: 2004, 2005,2006, MODELS AFFECTED:3 SERIES, 5 SERIES, X3, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000, POTENTIAL UNITS AFFECTED: 200000,
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to MINI Cooper