MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10535486August 15, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535554August 15, 2013
STRUCTURE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THAT MY RIGHT FOOT WAS GETTING HOT. I MOVED MY HAND DOWN TO THE GAS PEDAL AREA AND FELT A LOT HEAT WHICH I LATER DETERMINED TO BE COMING FROM THE PLASTIC PANEL TO THE RIGHT OF THE GAS PEDAL. IT WAS SO HOT THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TOUCH WITH MY BARE HANDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535631August 15, 2013
STEERING
LUCKILY, I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE (LOW SPEED, HIGH MANAGEABILITY) AND MY POWER STEERING COMPLETELY WENT OUT. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE TURNS. I STOPPED AT A MECHANIC SHOP - FLUIDS AND BELTS WERE FINE. IT'S THE FAN/PUMP THAT HAS SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535644August 15, 2013
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
STARTED TO HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ISSUE WITH THE TIME CHAIN. SO BENT OUT OF SHAPE THAT THE CHAIN ALMOST BROKE. I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT ON TOP OF CHANGING MY OIL AND GETTING MY CAR SERVICED EVERYTIME IT NEED IT SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS WOULD EVEN HAPPEN. WHEN RESEARCHING MY PROBLEM I SAW THAT ITS EXTREMELY COMMON FOR MODELS SINCE 2007+ TO EXPERIENCE THIS. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THERE'S NO REASON FOR A OWNER TO HAVE TO PAY 200-2000 DOLLARS WHEN THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT WITH SERVICING AND OIL CHANGES ETC. IM JUST GLAD I WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO ME BECAUSE HAVING YOUR ENGINE BELT BREAK IN A BUSY HIGHWAY DOESN'T SOUND SAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535265August 14, 2013
ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE CAUSED IMMEDIATE ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DAMAGED TIMING CHAIN HOUSING CRACKED CAUSING OIL TO SPRAY THE HOT ENGINE. SUBSEQUENT OIL STARTED A SMALL FIRE THAT WAS EXTINGUISHED BY DRIVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535439August 14, 2013
STEERING
MY COOLING FAN BURNED OUT CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO FAIL. I FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN MY MODEL YEAR AND THAT THE WARRANTY ON THAT PART HAD BEEN EXTENDED. HOWEVER, MINI CLAIMS THAT THEY STARTED PUTTING NEW PUMPS IN FEB OF 2005. MY CAR WAS MADE IN MAR OF 2005 AND THUS THEY WILL NOT COVER IT. I WENT THE EXTRA STEP AND HAD THE DEALER DO A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH FOUND THAT MY CAR HAS THE SAME PART WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE WARRANTY EXTENSION. STILL MINI WILL NOT COVER IT. ONE OF THE REPS TRIED TO COVER IT UP BY TELLING ME THAT THERE IS CONFUSION ON THE PART NUMBER MATCHING BECAUSE THEY USED THE SAME PART NUMBER WHEN THEY CHANGED THE OEM PART. THAT DOES NOT COMPUTE BECAUSE IF THAT WERE TRUE, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO ACCURATELY DISTINGUISH THE GOOD PARTS FROM THE BAD ONES. THERE 222 OTHER STEERING COMPLAINTS AT NTSB SO I'M NOT ONLY ONE. I'M CALLING A LAWYER BECAUSE THIS IS RIDICULOUS. HOW CAN MINI LET CARS THAT HAVE A KNOWN SAFETY RISK CONTINUE TO BE ON THE ROADS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535051August 13, 2013
STEERING
POWER STEERING IN THE VEHICLE WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE CORRECTLY. SINCE THIS DATE THE POWER STEERING COMES AND GOES INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535143August 13, 2013
STEERING
THE CAR LOSES POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY AND IT MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT HAPPENS ON THE INTERSECTION AND I CAN'T TURN THE CAR. I DRIVE WITH MY CHILD AND THIS FREAKS ME OUT. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND IN MAY 2013 I RECEIVED MINI RECALL/EXTENSION OF WARRANTY LETTER AND CALLED MINI DEALER IN SACRAMENTO CA AND THEY PUT ME TO THE RECORDING MACHINE, WHERE I LEFT A MESSAGE REGARDING EXTENSION OF WARRANTY BY MINI AND TO SCHEDULE REPLACEMENT OF POWER STEERING - NO REPLY. CALLED THEM TWICE, THEY SEEM TO IGNORE MY CALLS. VERY UPSET WITH DEALER'S IGNORANCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10534891August 12, 2013
STEERING
I HAD A TEMPORARY LOST OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. I DROVE TO A FEW BLOCKS TO STOP. THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED AFTER I RESTARTED THE CAR AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING A MONTH EARLIER OR SO. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, I HAD A VERY HARD TIME TO STEER THE CAR AND FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PARK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10534785August 11, 2013
ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PLAYING GOLF, CAR IS IN PARKING LOT. ENGINE CATCHES FIRE, DESTROYED FRONT HALF OF CAR, ENGINE FELL ON PAVEMENT . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10534619August 10, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE BEEN A MINI COOPER OWNER SINCE 2007 AND LOVED MY MINI. IT WAS A 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC AND EVEN THOUGH IT HAD APPROX. 127K MILES, IT DROVE GREAT AND I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT IN THE SIX YEARS I OWNED IT. IN JULY 2013, I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY AT 65MPH AND HEARD A VERY FAINT PERCOLATING SOUND COMING FROM INSIDE THE DASH. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS SO I KEPT DRIVING BECAUSE I WAS IN A DESERTED AREA AT NIGHT. APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES LATER, I SAW A FLAME OUTSIDE MY RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR AND SAW THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM BEHIND THE PASSENGER TIRE OF THE VEHICLE AND FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I CALLED 911 BUT WITHIN MINUTES, THE ENTIRE HOOD AND FRONT SEATS OF THE CAR WERE IN FLAMES. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THE CAR WAS A COMPLETELY ENGULFED BY THE FIRE. NOTHING FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE COULD BE RECOVERED. OTHER THAN THE FAINT PERCOLATING SOUND AND A SLIGHT ODOR IMMEDIATELY BEFORE I SAW THE FLAMES, THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RULED THE FIRE AN UNDETERMINED MECHANICAL CAUSE AND SAID IT STARTED ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10534464August 9, 2013
STEERING
RE: EHPS EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE I RECEIVED A LETTER FOR EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR A POWER-ASSIST STEERING ISSUE WHICH I HAD ALREADY REPAIRED AT MY OWN EXPENSE. WHEN I CALLED TO INQUIRE, WAS TOLD CLAIMS FOR REIMBURSEMENT WOULD BE PROCESSED IN 6-8 WEEKS. I SUBMITTED MY CLAIM JUNE 12, 2013. YESTERDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013, I CALLED TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE STATUS OF MY CLAIM AND WAS TOLD THAT, DUE TO "OVERWHELMING" RESPONSE, CLAIMS FOR REIMBURSEMENT WERE TAKING MUCH LONGER AND THAT MY CLAIM HAD NO STATUS (MEANING NOTHING HAD BEEN DONE WITH IT). AT MINI'S RECOMMENDATION, I RESUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT BY EMAIL TODAY. I WOULD LIKE THE NHTSA TO BE AWARE OF THE DELAYED PROCESSING AS I AM SURELY NOT THE ONLY PERSON AFFECTED. [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
#10534544August 9, 2013
STEERING
THE FIRST OF MULTIPLE STEERING FAILURES OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT, THANKFULLY. NONE HAS YET TO HAPPEN ON INTERSTATE OR AT A DEADLY RATE OF SPEED, WHICH THAT WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE VERY FAST IF A CHILD RIDING ON THEIR BIKE UNEXPECTEDLY DARTED IN FRONT OF YOU. IF THE STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AT THAT MOMENT IT WOULD BE OVER FOR THE KID. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A KNOWN, POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS, ISSUED GOES UNADDRESSED. I'M BEWILDERED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10534180August 8, 2013
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
I HAD JUST PARKED IN OUR GARAGE AND GOT OUT TO GET ITEMS OUT OF THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. MY LEG TOUCHED THE TAIL PIPE OF THE CAR AND THERE WAS IN INSTANT BURN TO THE CALF OF MY LEG. IT ONLY TOOK ONE SECOND. IT WAS THE SIZE OF A QUARTER AND SKIN WAS BURNED OFF INSTANTLY. IT IS QUITE PAINFUL. I TOOK A PICTURE OF THE INJURY AND I ALSO TOOK A PICTURE OF THE TAIL PIPE TO SHOW THAT IT STICKS OUT BEYOND THE BUMPER. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A POOR DESIGN IN REGARDS TO SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10533811August 6, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE STOPPED WORKING. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC WINDOW WITH A ONE-TOUCH FEATURE. AT FIRST, THE ONE-TOUCH FEATURE STOPPED WORKING. THEN NOTHING WORKED TO GET THE WINDOW TO GO UP OR DOWN. UPON PRESSING THE BUTTON THAT CONTROLS THIS WINDOW, THE WINDOW DID NOTHING AND A FAINT CLICKING SOUND COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S DOOR/FOOTWELL AREA. I TOOK THIS CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT. THEY KEPT IT FOR 3 BUSINESS DAYS. THE WINDOW WORKED WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR AND CONTINUED TO WORK FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF. THEN THE WINDOW STOPPED WORKING ALTOGETHER. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP ON JULY 16, 2013. THE DEALERSHIP STILL HAS MY CAR, AND THE WINDOW HAS STILL NOT BEEN FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10533686August 5, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SHIFT LINKAGE HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V201000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10533753August 5, 2013
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DESPITE PERFORMING REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND COMPLAINING ABOUT OUR TIMING CHAIN MAKING A NOISE FROM THE FIRST MONTH, MINI NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM ALWAYS INSISTING THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL OR THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. EVENTUALLY OUR TIMING CHAIN JUMPED THE RAILS AND DESTROYED OUR ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE AND MINI USA DECLINED TO FIX THE ISSUE. ONLY ONCE DID THEY TRY TO FIX IT BY REPLACING THE TENSIONER. THE PART THEY USED WAS AN OLDER DISCONTINUED PART. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE AND SO THE TIMING CHAIN CONTINUED TO RATTLE AND THEN DESTROYED THE ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10533430August 3, 2013
STEERING
WE HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING AND FAN GO OUT ABOUT 3 TIMES ON THIS CAR. WE HAVE OWNED IT NEW FROM 2002. THERE WAS A RECALL AND WE ONLY RECEIVED $525 DOLLARS WHEN WE SPEND OVER $2000. WHY WOULD WE NOT RECEIVE A FULL REFUND AS WE HAD THE WORK DONE ALWAYS AT THE MINI DEALER AND WE HAD TWO RECEIPTS FROM THE DEALER SHOWING THE DEFECT. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE WARRANTY IS NOT INCREASED TO 13 YEARS AND 150000 MILES. WHEN THE DEFECT HAPPENS THE CAR GETS NOISY FROM THE PUMP AND WHEN IT FAILS THE STEERING BECOMES SLUGGISH. WHY WOULD THEY BE ALLOWED TO ONLY REIMBURSE PART OF THE AMOUNT WHEN THIS IS SUCH A BIG ISSUE. $2000 FOR STEERING REPAIRS ON A $27,000 DOLLAR CAR SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10533173August 2, 2013
ENGINE
THIRD COMPLAINT AND COUNTING..... I WENT TO START MY MINI, ONLY TO NOTICE IT WAS LEAKING OIL HEAVILY UNDER MY CAR. I BROUGHT IT TO MY REPAIR SHOP WHO TOLD ME IT MIGHT BE THE O RING. THEY REPLACED IT AND TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK A WEEK LATER. I RETURNED FRIDAY JULY 19TH TO HAVE THEM LOOK UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WAS OIL EVERYWHERE. ALL OVER THE ENGINE. THE SEAL WAS FINE! IT TURNS OUT THE VACUUM PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND POSSIBLY THE TIMING CHAIN AT A LATER DATE. THE COST FOR THE PUMP AND LABOR IS $574.00. SO FAR I HAVE SPENT ALMOST $4000.00 ON REPAIRS. I DON'T HAVE AN ESTIMATE FOR THE TIMING CHAIN, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE. I ONLY BOUGHT MY MINI IN FEBRUARY AT 49K MILES AND SHE'S BEEN IN THE SHOP LONGER THAN SHE'S BEEN DRIVEN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANY MORE AND WISH THAT BMW/MINI WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ALL R56 ENGINES ARE DEFECTIVE. IF I KNOWN I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT ANOTHER BETTER RELIABLE CAR THAN A MINI AND THAT IS COMING FROM A PERSON WHO LOVES MY MINI. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10532837July 31, 2013
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
AFTER COMPLAINING TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES PRIOR, WE BROUGHT IN OUR MINI FOR SERVICE WITH A COLD-START RATTLE THAT WAS RELATED TO THE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM. THE DEALERSHIP IN ST. LOUIS REPLACED ONLY THE TENSIONER, EVEN THOUGH ACCORDING TO STANDARD PROTOCOL (PUMA MEASURE #10686850-13) THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE ENTIRE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM. WHEN THE RATTLE RETURNED A COUPLE THOUSAND MILES LATER WE BROUGHT IT BACK AND THEY TOLD US THAT IT WAS A "NORMAL NOISE" AND SENT US ON OUR WAY. THE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM EVENTUALLY BROKE DOWN, BUT BECAUSE WE WERE NOW OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT. I WOULD ADVISE ANYONE DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE TO PURSUE THE LEMON LAW, BECAUSE MINI IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND ISN'T FIXING IT AS THEY KNOW THEY SHOULD. WE GAVE THEM AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX THE ISSUE, AND BECAUSE OF THEIR NEGLIGENCE WE ENDED UP WITH A VEHICLE THAT DIDN'T RUN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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