MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10466275July 17, 2012
STEERING
STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND STAYED THAT WAY. IT WAS FINE THE NEXT DAY, BUT AS THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN A WHILE THE PROBLEM CAME BACK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466293July 17, 2012
STEERING
I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ON TO A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN MY POWER STEERING FAILED, CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO BE TEMPORARILY OUT OF MY CONTROL. DUE TO THE LOSS OF STEERING, I WAS UNABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE CAR INTO TRAFFIC AND WAS FORCED TO USE BOTH MY PARKING BRAKE AND MY REGULAR FOOT BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE I COLLIDED WITH A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE VEHICLE STOPPED APPROXIMATELY 5-10 FEET FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT POLE AND PLACED ME IN THE CENTER OF THE INTERSECTION WHERE OTHER MOTORISTS WERE ATTEMPTING TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE ON RAMP. AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS, THE POWERSTEERING REENGAGED AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE, WITHOUT INCIDENT. I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE, AND THANKFUL THAT IT WAS NOT MY DEATH THE PROMPTED SOME CONCRETE ACTION BY BOTH YOUR AGENCY AND BMW. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME MY POWER STEERING UNIT HAS FAILED. THE FIRST TWO TIMES WERE LESS THAN ONE SECOND EACH AND OCCURRED WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE. SOME HOW CANADA HAS FORCED BMW TO ISSUE AT THE VERY LEAST AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS SPECIFIC PART, HOW IS IT THAT THE US IS SO FAR BEHIND? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466320July 17, 2012
SEATS, AIR BAGS
THE RIGHT FRONT OCCUPANT SENSOR FOR AIR BAG APPEARS TO BE DEFECTIVE. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE HAVE HEARD OF SEVERAL MINI COOPER'S THAT HAVE DEFECTIVE SEAT SENSORS. WHEN THIS SENSOR FAILS, THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED. THIS IS A SAFETY SYSTEM FAILURE. COST TO REPLACE THIS SENSOR WAS OVER $1,400.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465775July 16, 2012
ENGINE
THE COLD START RATTLE WAS/IS BEING CAUSED BY THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER (WHICH IS IN TURN POWERED BY AN OIL-PRESSURIZED PISTON). MORE SPECIFICALLY THE SOUND IS CAUSED WHEN THE TENSIONER PISTON DOESN'T EXTEND ALL THE WAY (OR AT ALL) WHICH THEN ALLOWS THE TIMING CHAIN TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE GUIDES ON THE ENGINE COVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465805July 16, 2012
STEERING
POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILS REPEATEDLY. SOLUTION HAS BEEN TO STOP CAR AND RESTARTED ENGINE; SEEMS TO RESET PUMP ELECTRONICS. THIS INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE HAS HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIMES IN THE 3 YEARS WE'VE OWNED THE CAR AND CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF DRIVER IS NOT AWARE OF THE CHANGE IN STEERING ABILITY. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE PUMP I BELIEVE AND WITH ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I FEEL MINI/BMW SHOULD VIEW THIS AS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND COVER UNDER WARRANTY -- IT IS CLEARLY A DANGEROUS PART AND POOR DESIGN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465881July 16, 2012
STEERING
I WAS GOING AROUND A 90 DEGREE CORNER AT ABOUT 15 MPH WHEN THE STEERING SEEMED TO LOCK UP. I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT THE POWER STEERING HAD FAILED, AND I WRESTLED THE STEERING WHEEL TO COMPLETE THE TURN. SINCE THEN, THE POWER STEERING HAS NOT WORKED 90% OF THE TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465876July 16, 2012
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ON JULY 3, 2012, I WAS BURNED ON MY CALF BY THE EXHAUST PIPE LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE BACK OF THE MINI COOPER S. I HAVE A LARGE HALF MOON SCAR REMAINING. MY DAUGHTER WAS ALSO BURNED LAST YEAR BY THE SAME VEHICLE 2 PLACES ON HER CALF. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND SEE A REPORT ON THE R56 MODEL BUT WAS ONLY PERTAINING TO 2007-2008. IF BMW DID ANYTHING TO RESOLVE (SHORTENING THE PIPE), IT DIDN'T WORK SINCE I WAS BURNED LIKE OTHERS BY A 2010 MODEL. I OWNED A 2004 FOR 7 YEARS AND NEVER HAD AN ISSUE. NOT THAT THE POSSIBILITY WASN'T THERE, BUT IT NEVER HAPPENED. I CHECKED TO SEE IF LASER COULD REMOVE THE SCAR, BUT WAS TOLD IT WOULD NOT. BMW MUST REDESIGN AND/OR RECALL IN ORDER TO PROVIDE BETTER SAFETY. I EXPECT AND KNOW THE RISK OF BURN WITH A MOTORCYCLE, BUT NEVER EXPECT TO GET BURNED BY A CAR (MINI). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10465899July 16, 2012
STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT NOTICE. NEVER GOT A WARNING LIGHT BEFORE DURING OR AFTER FAILURE. NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT SINCE I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR STEERING TO BE SO DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE I TURNED THE CAR OFF, LET IT SIT FOR A WHILE AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE STEERING WAS OK AGAIN. SINCE THE STEERING IS BACK AND NO WARNING LIGHTS, I ASSUME EVERYTHING IS GOING TO WORK OK FROM NOW ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465737July 15, 2012
STEERING
POWER STEERING OCCASIONALLY FAILS DURING LOW SPEED TURNS, E.G. U-TURN OR DRIVING IN PARKING LOTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465587July 13, 2012
STEERING
I EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO CENTER AFTER TURNING. FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED FIRST AT A VERY LOW SPEED. I DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER WHICH HAD REPLACED THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP 1,300 MILES EARLIER. THIS FAILURE WAS DETERMINED BY THE DEALER TO BE BINDING OF THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT AND IT WAS REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465339July 12, 2012
AIR BAGS
ISSUES WITH AIRBAG LIGHT IN 2006 MINI COOPER S, WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT IF THEY ARE NOT SITTING JUST THE RIGHT WAY THE LIGHT WILL GO ON, WARNING US THE AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED, SOMETIMES THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL GO ON FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT WITH NOBODY IN THE SEAT. SOMETIMES THE SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON WITH NO ONE IN THE SEAT AS WELL. MOVING THE SEAT WILL SOMETIMES CORRECT THE ISSUE. COMPLAINTS TO MINI AND DEALER WERE ON DEAF EARS. [XXX] I COPIED AND PASTED THE COMPLAINT, BUT MY PROBLEM IS EXACTLY THE SAME. 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
#10465420July 12, 2012
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
THE DUAL POWER SUNROOF IS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAPPENS VERY FREQUENTLY ON THE 2007 MODEL MINI'S AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE BY THE MANUFACTURER. TO FIX THE PROBLEM MINI IS CHARGING OVER $2500.00 TO CORRECT THIS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ITEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465447July 12, 2012
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON IN MY MINI. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CABLE TENSIONER, BUT ON MODELS OF 2003 AND ABOVE. I AM WANTING YOU TO RECONSIDER THE YEAR OF THIS RECALL TO INCLUDE 2002. I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE REP CABE F SEAT SIDE AIRBAG, REP CABLE BEL TENSIONER, CABLE STRAP, CABLE CONNECTOR, SHRINKING HOSE AND CABLE STRAP WITH BRACKET FOR A COST OF 800. THE AFFECT OF THIS DEFECT IN THE CAR IS FOR THE CAR TO BE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE WEIGHT OF THE PASSENGER IN THE CAR IN ORDER TO DEPLOY THE AIRBAG PROPERLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465322July 11, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WITH HAND BRAKE ENGAGED. 5 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR ROLLED DOWN DRIVEWAY AND HIT A DITCH. REAR SUSPENSION WAS DAMAGED. THE HAND BRAKE WAS STILL ENGAGED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464684July 9, 2012
AIR BAGS
OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST SIX MONTHS THE SRS LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON. IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS IT FINALLY CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I TOOK TO THE LOCAL BMW/MINI DEALER AND THEY ASSESSED IT FOR $167.00. THEN I WAS TOLD IT WAS A PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR ISSUE AND THE COST OF THE PART AND LABOR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $1100. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE MATTER AND REALIZED THAT DOZENS IF NOT HUNDREDS OF MINI-OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SENSORS, SEATS AND LIGHTS DATING BACK TO 2003+. SEEMS TO ME THAT IF IT'S BEEN AN ISSUE THAT THEIR SO CALLED ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT MIGHT RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS WITHOUT COSTING OWNERS THIS KIND OF MONEY. I THINK ITS A RIP JOB BY THE DEALERS AND A FAILURE OF THE ENGINEERS AT MINI TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. COST FOR SUCH A REPAIR SHOULD BE ON THEM. I WILL MAKE SURE TO REPORT TO ANYONE THAT WILL LISTEN TO STAY AWAY FROM THE PURCHASE OF THESE CARS DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464818July 9, 2012
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILED AFTER 3 HOUR TRIP - WHILE PARKING. STEERING HAS RETURNED AND QUIT MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE - AND NOW HAS QUIT WORKING IT SEEMS FOR GOOD. CAR IS HARD TO STEER, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEED, BUT I AM STILL ABLE TO DRIVE IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464544July 7, 2012
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I AM FILING A COMPLAINT THAT THE MINI COOPER COUNTRYMEN WHICH HAS BEEN IN PRODUCTION FOR OVER 3 YEARS HAS NOT YET BEEN RATED FOR CRASHES OR ROLLOVERS. I FIND THIS TO BE UNACCEPTABLE HOW ARE CONSUMERS TO MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISION WHEN THERE IS NO DATA AVAILABLE ON THE VEHICLES SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464579July 7, 2012
STEERING
DRIVING ON FREEWAY, STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. LATER WENT BACK TO NORMAL. A MONTH LATER THE POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUES TO RUN AFTER VEHICLE SWITCHED OFF, DRAINING BATTERY DEAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464428July 6, 2012
ENGINE
OIL LEVEL IS DECREASING RAPIDLY AFTER EACH OIL CHANGE. DEALER STATES IT IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR TO BURN ONE QUART OF OIL EVERY 800 MILES. HOWEVER, I DISAGREE AND BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECT SINCE CARS SHOULD NOT BURN THIS MUCH OIL, ESPECIALLY WHEN NEW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464491July 6, 2012
ENGINE
THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER BRACKETS ALL BROKE ON MY 07 MINI. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS IN NOT A NEW ISSUE AND THE IT IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM THAT HE DEALS WITH ON SEVERAL MINIS. THEY ARE MADE OF PLASTIC AND WHEN CRACKED OR BROKEN THEY ALLOW MY TIMING CHAIN TO SLIP CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY ENGINE. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT OVER 2000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE LAST 5 YEAR THAT I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. BMW/MINI MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE ENGINE PARTS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES FOR IT CAN CAUSE ENOUGH DAMAGE TO WERE YOU WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to MINI Cooper