MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10263201March 26, 2009
STEERING
IRONICALLY, I FIRST LOOKED AT THIS COMPLAINT SITE TWO DAYS AGO AS I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT ITS EXISTENCE FROM THE APRIL 2009 ISSUE OF CONSUMER REPORTS. I FELT GOOD THAT THE TWO MOST FREQUENTLY NAMED COMPLAINTS FOR MY MODEL AND YEAR HAD NOT OCCURRED. SO, TODAY THAT GOOD FEELING ENDED, AS ONE OF THE COMMON OCCURRENCES HAPPENED TO ME - A COINCIDENCE? OR THE MINI GODS REVENGE? TO CONTINUE: I NOTICED THAT AFTER I SHUT OFF THE CAR, SOMETHING WAS STILL RUNNING FOR A LONG TIME AFTERWARDS. OPENING THE HOOD, I REALIZED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE POWER STEERING PUMP THAT WAS NOT TURNING OFF, AND KNEW FROM READING THIS SITE, THAT IT WOULD LEAD TO BATTERY FAILURE AT A MINIMUM, AND A FIRE AT WORST CASE. SO, I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO THE DEALER - HERB CHAMBERS MINI OF BOSTON - AND LEFT IT FOR REPAIR. THE CALL I RECEIVED THIS AFTERNOON THAT IT WAS IN FACT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND THAT IT WOULD COST $1100 TO REPLACE WAS DEVASTATING. THE MINI HAS ABOUT 46,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS IS THE FIRST REAL REPAIR NECESSARY FOLLOWING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. GIVEN THAT THERE ALREADY ARE 8 OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE JUST ON THIS COMPLAINT FORUM, I WOULD EXPECT THAT MINI WOULD DO MORE ABOUT WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262922March 24, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 MINI COOPER TRANSMISSION FAILURE. REPLACEMENT COST APPROX 7500.00 THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AND THERE IS A MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS. I BOUGHT MINE USED. NO DISCLOSURE OF IT DURING THE SALE. IT SHOULD BE AT LEAST BE FLAGGED FOR THE CONSUMERS PROTECTION. DEALERS, MANUFACTURES WILL NOT EVEN DISCUSS IT. IT IS A HORRIBLE SITUATION TO BE IN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262729March 23, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION BEARINGS FAILURE AFTER 82,000 MILES. NO BEARINGS KIT REPLACEMENT OFFERED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262415March 19, 2009
STEERING
2002 MINI COOPER C POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE WITH ONLY 50K MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262232March 18, 2009
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC WINDOW DOES NOT WORK; WILL BE REPLACING WINDOW MOTOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262055March 16, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND MADE RATTLING AND POPPING SOUNDS. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE CONTACT PUSHED IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WOULD COST $7,000 TO REPAIR. THE CONTACT WILL CALL THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262057March 16, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED A 2007 MINI-COOPER S AND AT 10K MILES (1 YEAR OLD) THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A NEW CAR WITH 10K MILES NEEDS A NEW CLUTCH. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER BOTH SAID IT WAS MY FAULT AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY QUOTED ME OVER $3K TO REPAIR. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MANUAL CARS FOR 15 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH A CLUTCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261911March 15, 2009
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILED ON A 2003 MINI COOPER S WITH 51,586 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261106March 8, 2009
AIR BAGS
I HAVE NOW HAD A SECOND FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR (SENSOR MAT IN PASSENGER SEAT). THE FIRST MAT FAILED AT 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE AND THE REPLACEMENT LASTED JUST OVER 2 YEARS (WARRANTY ON PART IS 2 YEARS). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260018February 26, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VERY NOISY CLATTER WHEN STARTING ENGINE WHEN COLD. ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL WHEN COLD. GOES AWAY AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES. DEALER SAYS ITS NORMAL ??? PROBLEM OCCURS EVERY MORNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259978February 25, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE EXHIBITS HARSH NOISE DURING STARTUP 50% OF THE TIME AFTER MINIMUM OF 8 HR SHUTDOWN OR IF PARKED NOSE LOW. THE ISSUE IS A DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WHICH THE DEALER WON'T REPLACE BECAUSE 1) THEY HAVEN'T RECEIVED AN EFFECTIVE REPAIR KIT FROM BMW OR 2) TRY TO EXPLAIN IT AWAY WITH THE EXCUSE THAT THIS TIMING CHAIN METAL-ON-METAL RATTLE IS "NORMAL." AN INCREASING WORLD-WIDE NUMBER OF VEHICLES OF THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND ENGINE HAVE EXPERIENCED CATASTROPHIC LOW MILEAGE ENGINE FAILURES BECAUSE OF DEALER INACTION AND SUBSEQUENT TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259724February 23, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE EXHIBITS HASH NOISE DURING STARTUP 50% OF THE TIME AFTER MINIMUM OF 8 HR SHUTDOWN AT BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES. THE ISSUE IS A DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WHICH THE DEALER WON'T REPLACE BECAUSE 1) THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE THE STARTUP NOISE OR 2) THIS IS "NORMAL." OTHER VEHICLES OF THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND ENGINE HAVE EXPERIENCED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURES BECAUSE OF DEALER INACTION AND SUBSEQUENT TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259432February 20, 2009
STEERING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED MY '03 MINI COPPER S WITH 49K FROM A HONDA IN MECHANICSBURG, PA DEALER IN AUGUST. IN DECEMBER, I PURCHASED TIRES AND THEN WENT TO A SELF-SERVICE CARWASH AFTERWARD. WHEN I GOT HOME AND BEFORE I PUT IT IN THE GARAGE, I TOOK OUT THE HOSE AND WASHED OFF THE WHEELS AND UNDER THE CAR. DURING THE PROCESS THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS STEAM FROM THE WATER HITTING THE MANIFOLD. I PUT THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND LATER WHEN MY WIFE CAME HOME SHE COMMENTED ON THE SMOKE AND MIST IN THE GARAGE (IT WAS QUITE COLD THAT NIGHT.) THE NEXT DAY WHEN I PULLED THE CAR OUT, THE STEERING WAS VERY STIFF AND I ONLY DROVE IT OUT THE DRIVEWAY AND ON THE ROAD BEFORE I REALIZED THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY OUT. I DROVE IT ABOUT 15 MILES TO THE DEALER AFTER CHECKING FUSES AND DETERMINING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS BEYOND MY MECHANICAL SKILLS. THE POWER STEERING PUMP, FAN AND HARNESS WERE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE BATTERY (SHORTED OUT). INSURANCE ADJUSTERS FROM HONDACARE (EXTENDED WARRANTY), STATE FARM INSURANCE COMPANY (MY COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE) AND THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD CAUGHT FIRE. THEIR CONJECTURE WAS THAT I HAD PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH THE HOSE WHEN I SPRAYED UNDER THE CAR. HONDA CARE PAID $1999 FROM EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP, BATTERY, POWER STEERING HARNESS AND FAN. A TOTAL OF $2700 ADDITIONAL FROM STATE FARM COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE (HONDACARE EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER HARNESS, TOWING AND DIAGNOSTIC WORK FROM THE MINI DEALER IN MARYLAND, ETC BECAUSE THEY WERE THE RESULT OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE POWER STEERING PUMP FIRE); STATE FARM INSURANCE WAS EXCEPTIONAL AND COVERED THE DIFFERENCE WITH COMPREHENSIVE COVERED. THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE REPORTS INCLUDING PICTURES FROM ADJUSTERS AT HONDACARE AND FROM STATE FARM INSURANCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259262February 18, 2009
STEERING
INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258013February 9, 2009
VISIBILITY
WHEN CLOSING THE DRIVER DOOR OF MY VEHICLE THE REAR HATCH WINDOW SHATTERED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257747February 6, 2009
STEERING
MY 2003 MINI COOPER S HAS 41,000 MILES. ON 2/2/09, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND I HAD A TOUGH TIME KEEPING THE CAR IN CONTROL. I WENT HOME, RE-STARTED THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WAS FUNCTIONAL. I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR ON 2/5/09, THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND LINES WERE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257301February 3, 2009
AIR BAGS
I HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT FAILED AFTER 60,000 MILES, JUST AFTER THE CAR WENT OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT MANY MINI AND BMW OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS FAILED CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO BE PERMANENTLY DEACTIVATED, EVEN WHEN A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE DEALER CHARGES $1100 TO FIX THE DEFECT. I FEEL LIKE THE AIRBAG SHOULD WORK FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR, OR AT LEAST UP TO 100,000 MILES. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR HAD ANY OTHER MECHANICAL ISSUES THAT WOULD AFFECT THE AIRBAG. MY CAR IS IN GOOD CONDITION AND HAS APPROXIMATELY 80,00 MILES ON IT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST BMW AND MINI COOPER AND I WOULD LIKE THE MANUFACTURER TO FIX THIS DEFECT AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER OF THE CAR. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256837January 29, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
A YEAR AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR, THE FRONT DRIVER'S WINDOW'S AUTOMATIC MOTOR WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, THEN WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. THE DEALER FIXED IT SINCE IT HAPPENED TO BE UNDER FULL WARRANTY. TWO YEARS LATER, THE PASSENGER'S AUTOMATIC WINDOW MOTOR CEASED WORKING AT ALL. AT THE SAME TIME, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS MAKING A SCRATCHING SOUND AS IT WAS AUTOMATICALLY ROLLED UP /OR DOWN. I ONLY HAD A FEW MONTHS LEFT ON THE WARRANTY, AND THE DEALER WAS REQUIRED AGAIN TO REPLACE THE WINDOW MOTOR. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER MINI OWNERS THAT HAD TO REPLACE AT LEAST ONE WINDOW MOTOR AS WELL, BUT AT THEIR OWN COST SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD RUN OUT. IF THIS IS A INCESSANT AND OBVIOUS DEFECT BY MINI COOPER, IT SHOULD BE RECALLED OR ADDRESSED IN A FAIR CONSUMER MANNER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256014January 22, 2009
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILED SOON AFTER STARTING. THE CAR HAD BEEN OUTSIDE ON A COLD DAY, BUT NOT UNUSUAL (~20 DEGREES F). IT FUNCTIONED AGAIN WHEN RE-STARTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255449January 17, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE NOISE ON COLD STARTS. MY CAR HAS MADE DIESEL LIKE NOISES ON COLD START UP FOR THE PAST YEAR. AT FIRST THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL. UPON INSISTING THEY ADVISED OF A BLEEDING PROCEDURE AND THEN OF A FAULTY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. AFTER 7 MONTHS THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE TENSIONER (THEY HAD TO HEAR IT BEFORE THEY COULD REPAIR IT). THE DEALER HAD IT FOR A WEEK AND SAID IT WAS ALL FIXED. THE NOISE CAME BACK THREE DAYS LATER. I TOOK IT IN A SECOND TIME AND THEY GOT BMW ENGINEER TO LOOK AT IT. THEY REPLACED A CHECK VALVE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO TRAP OIL IN THE VANOS SYSTEM AND SAID ONCE AGAIN IT WAS FIXED. THE NOISE WAS BACK THREE DAYS LATER. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE NOISE. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH MINI OF NORTH AMERICA AND THEY HAVE ASKED ME TO KEEP A LOG AS TO HOW I DRIVE AND WHEN IT HAPPENS WITH TEMPERATURE. THE ENGINE HAS OIL AND WATER ON DEMAND RATHER THAN ALL THE TIME LIKE REGULAR ENGINES. STARTING THIS UP WITH NO OIL IN THE HEAD IS BOUND TO CAUSE DAMAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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