MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10487161December 3, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487198December 3, 2012
STEERING
BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE AND UPON SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND STARTING FORWARD POWER STEERING WENT OUT. VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE CAR DUE TO DIFFICULTY STEERING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487188December 3, 2012
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
AT LOW MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. NO FORE WARNING JUST GONE. I'M TRYING TO DRIVE AND AT 10 MPH I'M REVVING AT UP TO 3000 RPM'S. THIS SHOULD DEF NOT BE HAPPENING! I'M FUMING BEING THAT I HAVE TO NOW REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WHEN I HAVE NOT BEATEN ON IT OR ANYTHING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. SO FAR MY EXPERIENCE WITH BMW HAS NOT BEEN GOOD. I WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER BUYING ANYTHING ELSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486619November 30, 2012
STEERING
MY 2004 MINI COOPER HAS HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WHERE THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILS. IT HAS FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES, SOME EVEN WHILE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM STARTS IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS CRANKED ALL THE WAY FOR A TIGHT TURN, GRADUAL TURN OR DOES NOT TURN ON WHEN THE CAR STARTS. SOMETIME THE PUMP WILL RESET IF THE CAR IF SHUT OFF THEN ON AGAIN OR THE PUMP REGAINS PRESSURE. I HAVE CHECKED THE PUMP ITSELF, THERE ARE NO LEAKS, FLUID IS FILLED TO THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL AND NO OTHER ISSUES HAVE COME UP. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAVE HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AND NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. IT IS A COSTLY REPAIR THAT I FIND BMW SHOULD ASSIST WITH BEING THAT THE PUMP APPEARS TO BE FAULTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486391November 28, 2012
ENGINE
I OWN A 2007 MINI COOPER S, THAT I PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN JUNE OF 2007. I IMMEDIATELY FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CAR AND KNEW THAT THIS WOULD BE THE LAST CAR I WOULD EVER OWN. IT IS A $31,000 CAR THAT I HAVE BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS MADE EXPENSIVE ($560/MONTH) PAYMENTS ON FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. ABOUT TWO YEARS INTO OWNING THIS CAR, I NOTICED WHEN IT WAS COLD OUT THAT MY MINI WOULD GET WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS "THE DEATH RATTLE". WHEN I CALLED RALPH SCHOMP MINI (WHERE I HAD PURCHASED IT), THEY TOLD ME THAT THE NOISE WAS NOTHING THAT I HAD TO WORRY ABOUT AND THAT IT JUST HAD TO DO WITH COLD WEATHER. A YEAR AFTER THAT MY MINI WOULD STRUGGLE TO GET MOVING, I THOUGHT IT WAS A BATTERY PROBLEM, AGAIN THE MECHANICS AT RALPH SCHOMP MINI TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT, AGAIN JUST COLD WEATHER. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS ACTING UP SEVERELY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEN A COUPLE DAYS LATER IT WENT OFF AND IT SEEMINGLY STOPPED HAVING ISSUES. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THAT, IT STARTED ACTING UP AGAIN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I ATTEMPTED TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER AUTO PLACE TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED, BUT IT WAS NON-CONCLUSIVE, AND THE SYMPTOMS ONLY GOT WORSE. I HAD MY MINI TOWED BACK TO RALPH SCHOMP MINI, AND THEIR DIAGNOSIS RESULTED IN SAYING THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER MALFUNCTIONED AND HAD COME LOOSE WHICH DID SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. AN ENGINE SUPPOSEDLY BUILT TO LAST AT LEAST TO 250,000 MILES ONLY MADE IT UNTIL 52,000 MILES AND WILL COST ME AS MUCH AS $8,000 TO REPAIR. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED LITERALLY SIX MONTHS AGO, AND I AM ONLY ABOUT THREE MONTHS AWAY FROM HAVING HER PAID OFF. IN LOOKING UP THIS ISSUE ONLINE, MANY OTHER 2007 MINI OWNERS HAVE ALSO HAD THIS ISSUE. I AM INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE ENTIRE SITUATION, AND WOULD ENCOURAGE A RECALL TO BE ISSUED ON 2007 MINI COOPER S. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485992November 26, 2012
STEERING
POWER STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY FAILED AND BECAME STIFF WHILE GETTING OFF FREEWAY. TOOK GREAT FORCE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL TO STEER CAR. LUCKILY ABLE TO STOP CAR SAFELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486021November 26, 2012
ENGINE
THE CAR HAS A RECALL FOR WATER PUMP, NEVER DONE UNTIL THE CAR ENGINE STOP. NOW THE ENGINE IS TOTALLY LOST. I THINK THE CAR HAS A PREVIOUS RECALL THE TIMING CHAIN TENSOR BUT NEVER WAS DONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486079November 26, 2012
ENGINE, STRUCTURE:BODY
AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR STARTED CHUGGING. I PULLED OVER AND KEPT CHUGGING. I STOPPED THE CAR, LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW IF SOMETHING WAS WRONG. DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. STARTED IT UP AGAIN AND ONCE I ACCELERATED IT STOPPED CHUGGING. DROVE IT VERY SCARCELY AND BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD IT WAS A TIMING CHAIN. VERY LUCKY THAT IT HAS NOT SNAPPED OR SKIPPED BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE POSSIBLY LOSE CONTROL. THE CAR ONLY HAS 36000 MILES ON IT AND HAS HAD THE OIL LEVEL TOPPED OFF EVERY FEW FILL UPS. THEY DO NOT LOOK AT THIS AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS HAPPENED ON QUITE A FEW CARS. MY LOCAL MECHANIC SAID HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF A TIMING CHAIN SNAPPING OR STRETCHING TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT 36000 MILES. IT IS DANGEROUS AND ALSO VERY COSTLY TO PAY FOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485883November 24, 2012
POWER TRAIN
I HAD JUST ACCELERATED ONTO THE HIGHWAY WHEN I SMELLED MY CLUTCH BURNING. I LOST POWER TO THE WHEELS, AND HAD TO REV THE ENGINE IN ORDER MAINTAIN HIGHWAY SPEEDS, UNTIL I COULD EXIT. BY THE TIME THAT I GOT MY CAR TO A SAFE LOCATION, THERE WAS NO POWER GOING TO THE WHEELS AT ALL, SO MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485900November 24, 2012
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS RETURNED FAULT CODE 71. TECH CHECK ON SRS SYSTEM FOUND PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR FAULT. PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM IS DISABLED AS A RESULT. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST IS $1200. INTERNET SEARCHES FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MINI COOPER'S AND MINI REFUSES TO COVER WHEN OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485905November 24, 2012
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING HOME AS I TURNED INTO MY STREET THE STEERING POWER SUDDENLY WENT OUT CAUSING ME TO DRIVE INTO THE INCOMING TRAFFIC LANE, LUCKILY THERE WERE NO VEHICLES BUT IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN ANY VEHICLES I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A FRONT COLLISION. THE FACT THAT THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING MAKES THIS ISSUE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485829November 23, 2012
POWER TRAIN
I HAD A LITTLE WHINING SOUND WHEN I PUSHED ON THE CLUTCH. EVERYTHING WORKED FINE EVEN WITH THE WHINING SOUND. I STARTED DRIVING TO THE MECHANICS AND MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE TRANSMISSION CAME COMPLETELY APART. ALL THE TEETH ARE GONE FROM THE SECOND GEAR WITH NO WARNING. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT 2000.00, NOW I WILL HAVE TO EITHER SPEND ANOTHER 3000.00 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION, OR TRADE IN MY CAR AT A HORRIBLE LOSS AND I WILL BE UPSIDE DOWN ON THE NEXT CAR. I READ THAT THERE WERE CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS AGAINST MINI/BMW OVER THE TRANSMISSIONS. I WAS HOPING THAT I WOULD FIND A RECALL ON HERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485852November 23, 2012
ENGINE
BEGAN TO HEAR LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM ENGINE OF MY 4 YEAR OLD MINI @ 66000 MILES. HAVE HAD MY MINI SERVICED ACCORDING TO THE SCHEDULE AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP FOR 4 YEARS. AFTER HEARING THE NOISE DID RESEARCH ONLINE TO NOTICE THAT MINIS HAVE A TIMING BELT /TENSIONER ISSUE. NOTICED ON THE SAME NIGHT THAT MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT I JUST HAD MY OIL CHANGED IN AUGUST OF 2012 AND THIS WAS NOVEMBER 2012. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THE SERVICER SAID THEY HAD HEARD OF SOME MINI'S TIMING CHAINS FAILING AT 14K MILES. AFTER DIAGNOSIS HE NOTES THAT IT IS THE TIMING CHAIN AND THAT THE OIL FILTER GASKET WAS LEAKING WHICH CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO FAIL. THIS IS NOT CORRECT AS MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER LEAKED OIL, AND I HAD JUST GOTTEN MY OIL CHANGED 3 MONTHS EARLIER AND NO MENTION WAS MADE BY MY SERVICE TECHNICIAN. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE IN MINIS AND THEY ARE NOT PROVIDING ANY KIND OF RELIEF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485862November 23, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
RECALL CAMPAIGN NO: 12V-008 ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/DEFECTS/RESULTS.CFM THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WEBSITE SAYS WE ARE ALSO NOTIFIED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A BMW DEALER FOR REPAIR. WHY CANNOT I NOT DO THIS? WE HAVE A BMW DEALER IN BOISE. OWNERS OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES ARE NOTIFIED TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A BMW DEALER, WHO WILL REPLACE THE AUXILIARY WATER PUMP TO PREVENT ANY INCIDENTS RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS CLOSED. THE ODI REPORTS CITED ABOVE CAN BE VIEWED AT WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/COMPLAINTS UNDER THE FOLLOWING IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS (ODI NOS.): 10286597, 10286663, 10289793, 10310677, 10314796, 10342365, 10394808, 10394192, 10403982, 10418325, 10422646, 10429003. I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY HOURS I HAVE SPENT ON THE PHONE WITH MINI, MINI OF MURRAY, AND MINI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, MY LOCAL BMW DEALER, AND SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS AND A TOW TRUCKING COMPANY.MINI IS COMPLETELY LEAVING THOSE CUSTOMERS IN THE LURCH THAT DO NOT HAVE MINI DEALERS IN THEIR STATE. NOW MINI OF MURRAY IS TELLING ME THAT IF I FIX MY CAR IN BOISE AFTER I HAVE RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE THAT I AM STILL ON THE HOOK FOR PAYING FOR THIS EVEN IF A MINI DEALER WERE TO INSPECT THE REPAIR FROM ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP. HOW IS THIS LEGAL? ALL I WANT IS TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND BE REIMBURSED FOR IT, WITHOUT HAVING TO DRIVE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS VEHICLE 700 MILES TO DO IT. IT'S A SERIOUS WASTE OF RESOURCES, TIME AND MONEY! SOMEONE PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO MAKE THIS RIGHT WITHOUT TELLING ME THAT THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO.? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485794November 22, 2012
AIR BAGS
THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR HAS GONE BAD ACCORDING TO THE DIAGNOSE FROM THE DEALER. I'M TOLD THAT THIS WILL EITHER MAKE THE AIR BAG DEPLOY AT FULL FORCE OR POSSIBLY NOT AT ALL. THERE SEEMS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE ON BOTH BMW AND MINI'S. BMW HAS ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM, MINI HAS NOT. I HAVE A CAR WITH AN UNPREDICTABLE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT IT IS A 1000 TO MAKE THE CAR SAFE TO PUT MY FAMILY IN. THIS SEEMS LIKE DENIAL OF A PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485395November 21, 2012
ENGINE
CAR LOST POWER AND STARTED RUNNING AND IDLING VERY ROUGH. SERVICE SHOP DISCOVERED THAT THE NYLON CAPS FOR THE HYDRAULIC LASH VALVES HAD DETERIORATED AND CRACKED AND IN SOME CASES HAD FALLEN COMPLETELY OFF HAVING A NEGATIVE AFFECT ON THE ENGINE COMPRESSION. THE ORIGINAL CAPS ARE BRIGHT YELLOW AND AFTER USE AND HEAT THEY TURN ORANGE/BROWN. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS SOME MINI'S HAVE STEEL LASH CAPS. SEEMS THAT A ENGINE COMPONENT SUSCEPTIBLE TO HEAT DAMAGE SHOULD NOT BE MADE OF NYLON/PLASTIC. THE CAR HAS A TOTAL OF 18 OF THESE LASH CAPS AND AT LEAST 12 ARE CLEARLY CRACKED. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE FROM MINI OR IN THE AFTERMARKET. MINI'S ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ROCKER ARMS WHICH IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR WHEN THE ONLY FAILURE IS SMALL NYLON CAPS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485271November 20, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THE VEHICLE WOULD WARM UP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485325November 20, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE RPM READINGS INCREASED AS THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485016November 17, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
ON A 2012 MINI COUNTRYMAN S ALL4 WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION, STARTING AT 15500 MILES ON THE CAR, BEGAN NOTICING ODD RESPONSE TO THE THROTTLE WHEN ACCELERATING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CLUTCH WOULD ENGAGE AND ENGINE INCREASE REVS (200-400 RPM) TO ACCELERATE WHILE NOT DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THIS WORSENED OVER THE NEXT 500 MILES UNTIL THE RPM DIFFERENCE WAS 2000-4000 RPM. FINALLY, THE CLUTCH GAVE COMPLETELY, WITH SMOKE BILLOWING FROM THE HOOD AND OBVIOUS SMELL OF BURNT PLATE, EVEN THOUGH I HAD NOT ENGAGED THE PEDAL WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY IN HIGH GEAR. AFTER ALLOWING THE CAR TO REST DURING THE DAY, I MANAGED TO GET MOVING FOR 1/4 MILE BEFORE STOPPING AT A LIGHT. UPON TAKEOFF, THE CAR SHUDDERED VIOLENTLY, AND THEN DISENGAGED FROM 1ST GEAR AND WOULD NOT RE-ENGAGE. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484820November 15, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND CAUSED AND INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE THAT EXISTED WITH THE STEERING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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