MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10559534January 12, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
PREMATURE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE MAY LEAD TO LOSS IN POWER, FURTHERING THE POTENTIAL FOR A WRECK. ENGINE ENTERS "LIMP HOME" MODE, WHICH REDUCES POWER CONSIDERABLY AND MAKES ACCELERATION MUCH SLOWER THAN NORMAL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, SEVERAL OBD-II DIAGNOSTICS CODES APPEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559454January 11, 2014
STEERING
CAME HOME ON TUESDAY NIGHT FROM MY GIRLFRIENDS HOUSE THEN IN THE MORNING MY BATTERY WAS DEAD. AS CONFUSED AS I WAS SINCE I KNEW I DIDNT LEAAVE ANY LIGHTS OR ANYTHING ON WENT AHEAD AND DECIDED TO JUMP THE CAR AND AS SOON AS I CONNECTED THE CABLES I HEARD A NOISE ALMOST LIKE A FAN NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. I THEN PROCEEDED TO OPEN THE HOOD AND SEE OR TRY AND HEAR WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM. DECIDED TO LIFT THE CAR UP AND GET UNDERNEATH TO SEE WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM AND SURE ENOUGH IT WAS FROM INSIDE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. CHECKED FLUIDS AND WAS OK BUT FOR SOME ODD REASON THE PUMP JUST STAYS ON WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF SO TO PREVENT BATTERY DRAINAGE I HAVE TO DISCONNECT A BATTERY TERMINAL EVERY TIME I NEED TO USE THE CAR. IM REQUESTING THAT MINIUSA TAKE CARE OF THIS BEING THAT THERE IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559163January 9, 2014
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN 1.2 MILES FOR FIRST RUN OF THE DAY. TEMP WAS 48 F. CAR WAS IN DRIVE AT STOPLIGHT WHEN ENGINE ACCELERATED BEYOND MAX RPM. CAR LUNGED FORWARD INTO INTERSECTION AND A LOT OF EFFORT HAD TO BE APPLIED TO BRAKE TO KEED CAR FROM GOING ANY FURTHER. DRIVER GRABBED GEAR SHIFTER AND SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND HAVING SLIPPED INTO REVERSE. ENGINE RPM THEN SUBSIDED AND VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN 14 MILES WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559198January 9, 2014
ENGINE
THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES AND TENSIONER IN THE MINI COOPER ARE MADE FROM PLASTIC. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN CREATED BY MINI USA TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, BUT NO RECALL. AS I WAS DRIVING HOME, MAKING A TURN ACROSS A BUSY INTERSECTION, MY TENSIONER BROKE, WHICH CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAD TO GET OUT OF MY VEHICLE AND PUSH IT ACROSS THE INTERSECTION WHILE CARS WERE DRIVING BY. ALTHOUGH IT IS COMMON FOR VEHICLE ENGINES TO DIE OF DIFFERENT ISSUES, THIS IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED AND ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM FOR MINI COOPERS, BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH OF A PUBLIC OUTCRY FOR A RECALL. THE SITUATION IS DANGEROUS, AS IT CAN CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE WHICH CAN RESULT IN A COLLISION. THE REMEDY IS A REPLACEMENT OF A MANUFACTURER-ACKNOWLEDGED FAULTY PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558477January 4, 2014
ENGINE
TURBO OIL COOLING LINES LEAKING ENGINE OIL ON TO HOT TURBOCHARGER. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. MANY MINI COOPER S MODELS ARE HAVING THIS FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558305January 3, 2014
ENGINE
MY CAR HAS BEEN LEAKING OIL AND THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED IT WAS DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. THEY ARE CHARGING $357.98 TO HAVE IT FIXED. MY CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AND HAS ONLY 50,000 MILES ON IT. AS SOON AS MY 4-YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED, MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES DUE TO ENGINE ISSUES. SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN PERFORMED AT 50,000 MILES: 1. THERMOSTAT IS LEAKING COOLANT- $ 671.99 2. WATER-PUMP ALSO LEAKING COOLANT- $661.20 3. COOLANT FLUSH- $169.80 I USE ONLY PREMIUM GAS FOR MY CAR, PERFORM REGULAR OIL CHANGES, AND MAINTAIN MY CAR METICULOUSLY. THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING AFTER 4.5 YEARS OF DRIVING. I BELIEVE THAT MINI PRODUCES FAULTY CARS THAT DO NOT LAST, HAVE ABSOLUTELY ZERO RELIABILITY, AND THEN CHARGES AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT TO FIX SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE NOT BEEN BROKEN IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558403January 3, 2014
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DRIVING MY 2008 MINI COOPER S AT 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND DIED. THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED CAUSING THE MOTOR TO BLOW UP AND THE TIMING CHAIN POPPING THROUGH THE VALVE COVER, THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER IS UNDER A FACTORY INSPECTION NOTICE, I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE TO INFORM ME OF THE PART FAILURE. NOW THE ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557915December 30, 2013
AIR BAGS
SATURDAY NIGHT, DEC. 28, 2013. I GO DOWNTOWN WITH MY GIRLFRIEND. SHE HAS A BIG BAG SO WE LET THE PASSENGER SEAT UP TO PUT HER BAG IN THE BACK SEAT. AS SOON AS SHE SITS DOWN AND WE BEGIN TO DRIVE AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE ROOF AND PRE BELT TENSIONER GOES OFF. I CHECK THE SEAT AND SEAT BELT. NOTHING VISIBLY WRONG. MY GIRLFRIEND IS 5'4 120 LBS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND FIND OUT BMW WHO MAKES MINI COOPER KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM AND ISSUED A RECALL ON EARLIER YEARS BUT LATER YEARS NEED A RECALL AS WELL AS THIS IS ANGLING DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE ISSUE TO FIX. YOU CAN FIND PROBLEMS ALL OVER THE NET REGARDING THIS ISSUE. MAKE BMW-MINI COOPER FIX THIS ISSUE THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557723December 30, 2013
ENGINE
KNOWN ISSUES: TIMING CHAIN AND INTAKE VALVES. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT APPROX 40,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED 2 ISSUES THAT SEEM TO BE KNOWN RECURRING ISSUES FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL: CARBONIZED INTAKE VALVES REQUIRING CLEANING, AND REPLACE TIMING CHAIN. THIS BILL WILL COST OVER $2600. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS HAVE APPEARED FOR INTAKE VALUE BUILDUP AND ALSO FOR THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUES. INTERNET SEARCHES SHOW THIS AS A COMMON ISSUE AND ALSO A KNOWN ISSUE BY BMW MINI. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL AS THEY KNOWINGLY SOLD THESE DEFECTED CARS IN 2009. WITH ONLY 40K MILES TO DATE, I PLAN TO KEEP THIS CAR FOR AT LEAST 4 MORE YEARS. MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE WITH BILLS LIKE THIS ONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557298December 26, 2013
POWER TRAIN
MINI COOPER WITH A CVT AUTO TRANSMISSION: I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD "REV." UP WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT OF THE ENGINE, THAN RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND MOVED AHEAD. LATER THE "SLIPPING" HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN; AT ALL SPEEDS AND WITH A COLD OR HOT ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 55+MPH, AND THIS REQUIRES COASTING OVER TO A BREAKDOWN LANE TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE CONDITION STILL EXISTS AND I AM TRYING TO LOCATE AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND HOPEFULLY RECTIFY THE PROBLEM AT A REASONABLE COST. MINI COOPER DEALERS ARE ASKING BETWEEN $5000 TO $9000.00 TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT MINI KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AS EARLY AS 2005. ASIDE FROM DOING WARRANTY REPAIRS NO ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE BY MINI TO NOTIFY OWNERS AND/OR OFFER TO REPAIR/REPLACE THESE FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557203December 25, 2013
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
LOUD ENGINE NOISE COMING FROM CHAIN TENSIONER AT STARTUP. SOUNDS LIKE DIESEL ENGINE. ALSO HAPPENS DURING COLD ENGINE START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557200December 24, 2013
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AIRBAG SEAT SENSORS ARE FAULTY. THEY ARE TURNING OFF THE AIRBAGS EVEN THOUGHT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER ARE SEATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556980December 22, 2013
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2011 MINI COUNTRYMAN S ALL4 IN REGARDS TO CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR FOR SERVICE OF THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR 4 TIMES NOW. EACH TIME IT HAS BEEN CAUSED BY FUEL IN THE CHARCOAL FILTER SYSTEM. EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS FROM OVERFILLING THE FUEL TANK, WHICH I DO NOT DO. I AM CAREFUL TO STOP FUELING THE FIRST TIME THE PUMP KICKS OFF, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE FIRST 2 TIMES THE DEALER CHANGED THE CHARCOAL FILTER AT NO COST. THE 3RD TIME THEY CHANGED THE FUEL TANK AT NO CHARGE. I HAD NO PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT A YEAR, AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR CAME ON AGAIN ON 12/18/13, I SCHEDULED SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. TURNS OUT THAT FOR THE 4TH TIME FUEL WAS IN THE CHARCOAL FILTER. THE DEALER CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM AND THIS IS VERY ANNOYING TO SAY THE LEAST. WOULD LIKE TO TURN IN THE CAR NOW, LEASE ENDS IN 7 MONTHS, AND STAY AWAY FROM BMW AND MINI FROM NOW ON!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556643December 19, 2013
POWER TRAIN
WE PURCHASED A NEW 2004 MINI-COOPER R50 AND PAID EXTRA FOR INSTALLATION OF A CVT TRANSMISSION. THE CVT ' (SPORT MODE)' FAILED IN 2010, JUST 2 YEARS AFTER ITS WARRANTY EXPIRED AND WITH ONLY 35,147 MILES DRIVEN. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT COULD COST BETWEEN $2,000 AND $9,000 TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE SPORT MODE' FUNCTION, AND SINCE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS STILL OPERATING, WE DECIDED TO AVOID THE UNCERTAINTY OF COSTLY REPAIRS AND MAKE SURE NO ONE ELSE DRIVES THIS VEHICLE. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE LEARNED OF OTHER PREMATURE CVT FAILURES AND THREE CLASS-ACTION LAWSUITS REGARDING THIS TRANSMISSION: AARONS V. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC [XXX],BONOMO V. BMW[XXX], AND BOURNE-MILLER V. BMW[XXX]. PREMATURE 'SPORT-MODE' FAILURE CAN CAUSE PERMANENT DAMAGE TO A $9,000 TRANSMISSION WITH DEADLY CONSEQUENCES ON U.S. HIGHWAYS AT HIGH SPEEDS. CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS DO NOT ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, AND WE HAVE 'OPTED-OUT' OF PARTICIPATION IN THEM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE EXTENT OF PREMATURE CVT FAILURES IN THE MINI-COOPER AND ISSUE A RECALL APPROPRIATE TO REMEDY THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY DEFECT. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF MORE INFORMATION OR DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED. UNDER PENALTIES OF PERJURY IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA I SWEAR THAT THE FORGOING DETAILS ARE ACCURATE AND TRUTHFUL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. 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
#10556456December 18, 2013
POWER TRAIN
ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP FAILED TWICE WITHIN A YEAR. MANUAL TRANSMISSION - CLUTCH DOES NOT ENGAGE GEARS PROPERLY. FRICTION POINT IS VAGUE AND UNENGAGING. GEAR SLIPS. REQUIRES EXCEEDINGLY HIGH REV. COUNTS/GAS TO ENGAGE IN GEAR PROPERLY. CAR STALLS MORE THAN NORMAL/OFTEN. OVERALL FUEL INJECTION/ECU MAPPING/CLUTCH ISSUES ARE EVIDENTLY AND REPEATS TO BE PROBLEM AREAS DESPITE PARTS REPLACEMENT AND ADJUSTMENT (ECU RE-MAP). FROM THE OWNER'S EXPERIENCE, THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING ON THE FREEWAY DUE TO FUEL PUMP FAILURES (TWICE) THUS CREATING ROAD HAZARD FOR FELLOW DRIVERS ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEED AS WELL AS MY OWN PERSONAL SAFETY. ALSO, DUE TO STALLING ISSUES OFF THE LINE, ENTERING FREEWAY AFTER METER-SIGNAL IS ALSO DANGEROUS IN MULTIPLE OCCASIONS CREATING POTENTIAL THREAT TO SAFETY. MANUFACTURER NEED TO ADDRESS BROAD ISSUE OF FUEL SYSTEM/POWERTRAIN/CLUTCH BEFORE ANYONE GETS SERIOUS HURT OR INJURED TO SUDDEN IMMOBILITY/STALLS. IN PARTICULAR, THE CLUTCH IN MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS SO BAD THAT IT DOES NOT FULFILL THE INTENDED FUNCTION OF ENGAGING GEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556490December 18, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
OUR BRAND NEW, 2014 MINI COUNTRYMAN WITH 100 MILES DEVELOPED A FRACTURE IN ITS WINDSHIELD WITH NO APPARENT OR OBSERVED CAUSE. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS DUE TO A DESIGN OR ENGINEERING DEFECT. THE FRACTURE IS LOCATED IN THE BOTTOM CORNER OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER-SIDE. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 8 INCHES LONG AND REACHES THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556188December 16, 2013
ENGINE
THE CAR STARTS VERY ROUGH ESPECIALLY IN COLDER WEATHER. I WAS TOLD BY A MINI DEALERSHIP THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DUE TO LACK OF OIL, WHICH IS NOT THE CASE AS THE OIL WAS JUST CHANGED. ALSO WHEN IN TRAFFIC COMING TO A STOP THE CAR WILL DROP IDLE AND STALL OUT. THE CAR WILL STALL IN NEUTRAL OR WITH CLUTCH FULLY PRESSED IN. RESEARCHING ONLINE AND WATCHING SOME VIDEOS, IT SEEMS MUCH LIKE THE TIMING TENSION/CHAIN ISSUES KNOWN BUT NOT YET HAVING MUCH DONE WITH THEM. IT WOULD BE NICE IF BMW/MINI WOULD SORT OUT THE ISSUE ESPECIALLY IF ITS A DESIGN FLAW. KINDA DISAPPOINTED AS ITS NOT THAT OLD AND HAS FEWER THEN 50K MILES ON THE ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556183December 16, 2013
AIR BAGS
THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. IT WON'T GO OUT. THE MINI DEALER IN BIRMINGHAM SAID IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. MINI USA SAID THE SAME THING. HOWEVER, BMW RECALLED THEIR 2006 MODELS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. SEVERAL OTHER MINI OWNERS ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE OWNERS' MANUAL STATES THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH IF THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND MINI USA NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555910December 13, 2013
STEERING
BACK IN MAY OF 2013 THE POWER STEERING PUMP STARTING BEING VERY LOUD AND MAKING NOISES. THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALSO QUITE HARD TO TURN SINCE THEN. THIS COULD END UP BADLY WHEN COMPLETELY FAILS WHEN I'M MID-TURN OR SOMETHING. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED ASAP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555751December 11, 2013
STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY DAUGHTER'S CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE ABOUT THREE (3) WEEKS AGO WHILE SHE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, LUCKILY SHE THOUGHT ENOUGH AND TURNED THE CAR OFF SO THE DAMAGE WAS ONLY TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND WIRING HARNESS . ONCE WE DISCOVERED WHAT HAD CAUGHT FIRE WE DID RESEARCH ON HOW TO MAKE THE REPAIR(S) AND CAME ACROSS THE RECALL FOR 2005 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLES POWER STEERING PUMPS, THEY ARE RECALLING THEM BECAUSE THEY FAIL AND SOMETIMES CATCH FIRE. THE RECALL IS FOR CARS PRODUCED UNTIL FEBRUARY 2005 AND MINE, ACCORDING TO THE DOOR STICKER, WAS PRODUCED IN MARCH 2005 SO MINI WILL NOT MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY 'FIXED' THE ISSUE. ONCE WE GOT UNDER THE CAR AND PULLED THE POWER STEERING PUMP OFF YOU COULD CLEARLY SEE IT WAS BURNED, THE LARGER POWER STEERING PUMP CONNECTOR WAS COMPLETELY BURNED AND MELTED TOGETHER, WE COULDN'T EVEN REMOVE THE PUMP WITHOUT CUTTING THE WIRING HARNESS. WHEN WE GOT THE PUMP OFF YOU COULD SEE THE PUMP WAS BURNED ON THE INSIDE AS WELL SO APPARENTLY THERE IS STILL AN ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMPS FAILING AND CATCHING FIRE. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH MINI NORTH AMERICA AGAIN AND AGAIN THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE ISSUED BECAUSE WELL, THERE'S NOT AN ISSUE, AGAIN ACCORDING TO THEM. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS ISSUE SO I WILL RESEARCHING THAT AVENUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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