MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10452811March 23, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK WHEN USING THE KEY FOB. IN ORDER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT NO FAILURE WAS PRESENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452633March 22, 2012
STEERING
STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT WHILE DRIVING REQUIRING FULL ARM STRENGTH TO TURN WHEEL. AN ACCIDENT COULD EASILY HAVE OCCURRED IF OTHER VEHICLES WERE IN THE AREA WHERE I WAS TURNING. VEHICLE NOW REQUIRES WIDE RADIUS TO TURN. A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE A STRONG UPPER BODY BUT ANYONE DRIVING 2004/05 MINIS WITH THIS STEERING PROBLEM SHOULD TAKE CARE AND HAVE DEALERSHIP FIX AND PAY FOR THE REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452671March 22, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT COLD START, DEALER INFORMED ME IT'S THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER, TOTAL COST ABOUT $1950.00. DEALER INFORMED ME IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM BUT THERE IS NO RECALL FROM MINI USA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452707March 22, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT STOPPED ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. ONCE RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE REGAINED POWER STEERING FUNCTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,774.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452502March 21, 2012
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR LOST ALL POWER STEERING. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING MADE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE CAR. THE CAR WAS MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN THAN A CAR THAT HAS NO POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IT WAS WORKING ONE MOMENT, THEN AFTER A SHORT DRIVING FOR A SHORT PERIOD IT JUST CEASED TO WORK. CHECKED POWER STEERING FLUID AND THE FLUID LEVEL WAS OK. AFTER RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. THE POWER STEERING WILL JUST QUIT WORKING WHILE DRIVING. YOU ARE GIVEN NO WARNING THAT IT IS NO LONGER WORKING, UNTIL YOU ATTEMPT TO TURN AND THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452446March 20, 2012
STEERING
HAVE BEEN NOTICING MY MINI'S FAN HAS BEEN SOUNDING LOUDER THAN NORMAL THOUGHT MAYBE A COOLING ISSUE GOING ON HOWEVER LAST WEEK THE POWER STEERING RANDOMLY WENT OUT IN THE CAR WHILE DRIVING. I MANAGED TO PULL THE CAR OVER AND TRIED TURNING CAR OFF AND RESTARTING IT, POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. I THOUGHT IT WAS A WEIRD FLUKE AND CHECKED ALL MY ENGINE FLUID LEVELS WHEN I GOT HOME. ALL FLUIDS WERE AT NORMAL LEVEL AND THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT. TODAY AGAIN POWER STEERING QUIT THIS TIME EARLY IN THE MORNING AS I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE FOR WORK (CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE PREVIOUS NIGHT). I HAD TO DRIVE INTO WORK WITH NO POWER STEERING AS I COULD NOT CALL OUT AND SAME THING DRIVING HOME TODAY POWER STEERING WAS STILL OUT. I STARTED SEARCHING ONLINE AND SAW THERE HAD BEEN SUPPOSEDLY A "SAFETY RECALL" ON 2005 MINI COOPER'S FOR "CAMPAIGN - POWER STEERING FAN RELAY WIRING MODIFICATION -NOTES :SI M32 03 04" STATING: "SERVICE ACTION: CORRECT THE WIRING FOR THE POWER STEERING FAN RELAY". I JUST CALLED MY LOCAL MINI DEALERSHIP (BOSTON) GAVE THEM THE LAST 7 OF MY VIN FOR THEM TO LOOK UP IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON MY CAR, THEY STATED MY CAR IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST DESPITE THIS RECALL WAS SUPPOSEDLY ON MODELS R50 AND R53 (MY MODEL IS R50). I CANNOT DRIVE THIS CAR NOW WITHOUT PERFORMING THIS REPAIR, MY CAR HAS JUST TURNED 60,000 MILES (STILL CONSIDERABLY LOW I THINK FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS). IN MY SEARCHING I HAVE FOUND THERE ARE 14 OTHER COMPLAINTS LITERALLY JUST LIKE MINE SINCE JUST JANUARY OF THIS YEAR!!! HOW IS THIS NOT ON A RECALL LIST ? I LOVED MY CAR UP UNTIL NOW, I FEEL LIKE MINI HAS A HUGE PROBLEM THEY ALREADY KNOW ABOUT AND ARE STICKING THEIR CUSTOMERS WITH PAYING A BILL FOR SOMETHING THEY PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGED AS A SAFETY ISSUE IN THEIR CARS. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452149March 19, 2012
STEERING
EXITING ON AN OFF-RAMP FROM THE FREEWAY THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AND STEERING BECAME ROCK HARD AND IT TOOK CONSIDERABLE STRENGTH TO KEEP THE CAR FROM GOING STRAIGHT AND RUNNING INTO THE GUARD RAIL AROUND THE TURN. VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE AND IF I HAD DECREASED MUSCLE STRENGTH THE CAR WOULD HAVE VEERED STRAIGHT FOR THE GUARD RAIL AND AT HIGH FREEWAY EXIT SPEEDS. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452159March 19, 2012
STEERING
FAILURE OF POWER STEERING PUMP MADE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER IN TRAFFIC AND WHEN PARKING. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452181March 19, 2012
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON ABOVE MY REAR VIEW MIRROR AND ON MY DASH. I HAVE FOUND ON MULTIPLE SITES THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452226March 19, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER S CLUBMAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V008000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO SECURE AN APPOINTMENT FOR RECALL REPAIRS DUE TO A LACK IN AVAILABILITY OF THE NECESSARY PARTS. THE CONTACT CALLED TWO DEALER LOCATIONS AND NEITHER DEALER HAD THE PARTS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIR READILY AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452228March 19, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE DEALER SERVICED THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V008000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) ONE DAY PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE REMEDY HOWEVER, FAILED TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452280March 19, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION OF THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11005 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452061March 17, 2012
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHETHER OR NOT A PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE DEALER SAYS THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS COST US OVER $1500. IN 2006 MINI ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 2002 AND 2003 MODELS WITH THE SAME DEFECT. BMW'S INVESTIGATION OF THE SAME SENSOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEATS OF BMW AUTOS RESULTED IN A RECALL OF THIS PART. NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08001. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. MESSAGE BOARDS HAVE INSTANCES OF PEOPLE PAYING FOR THIS EXPENSIVE SAFETY DEFECT AT THE DEALER, AND THE PROBLEMS RETURNING AFTER 1 TO 2 YEARS IN SOME CASES. SOMEONE WITH BE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED IF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG FAILS TO DEPLOY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451911March 16, 2012
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED, RESULTING IN A NEAR-LOSS OF CONTROL AND CRASH DUE TO THE SUDDEN DRAMATIC INCREASE IN PHYSICAL EFFORT REQUIRED TO CONTROL THE CAR. THE FAILURE WAS DETERMINED TO BE RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. THERE WAS NO LOSS OF FLUID OR BREACH IN THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. THIS IS APPARENTLY A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THIS MODEL OF CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451823March 15, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE COMMONLY REFERRED TO BY MINI OWNERS AS "THE DEATH RATTLE". THE DEALER CLAIMS THE ISSUE IS CAUSED AS A RESULT OF BEING 1.5 QUARTS LOW ON OIL. BUT DOZENS OF OTHER OWNERS ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM WITHOUT BEING LOW ON OIL. I SUSPECT THE LOW OIL LEVEL IS A COVER ALLOWING THE MANUFACTURER TO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. NO OIL INDICATOR LIGHT IS TRIGGERED AT THAT LEVEL. MINI IS TAKING ACTION ON THIS ISSUE BUT HAS STOPPED SHORT OF ISSUING A RECALL. AS SUCH, THOUSANDS OF MINI OWNERS RISK SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THEIR ENGINE AT SPEED AS A RESULT OF POTENTIAL TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. FURTHERMORE, MOST OWNERS HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR (BETWEEN $1,200 - $1,700) TO PREVENT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. THIS IS A DEFECT. IT REQUIRES CORRECTIVE ACTION BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451835March 15, 2012
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, AIR BAGS, SEATS
AIRBAG PASSENGER MAT SEAT SENSOR . THIS HAS BEEN A ONGOING PROBLEM FROM THE 2003 TO PRESENT. SEAT SENSOR TURNS AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND CAN DISABLE AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE AND ACCORDING TO MINI DEALERSHIP, NOT ON FACTORY RECALL BUT THEY SAY GET HUNDREDS A YEAR AND CHARGE TO REPLACE SENSOR AT 1000.00. SAFETY ISSUE! SOMEONE REALLY NEEDS TO HAVE THEM FIX A KNOWN ISSUE AT ALL DEALERSHIPS AND PUT PEOPLES LIVES IN DANGER. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451632March 14, 2012
STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP STOPPED FUNCTIONING MAKING CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451647March 14, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HINGE ON THE REAR HATCH FRACTURED AND THE ENTIRE REAR HATCH WAS DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE REAR HATCH WOULD NOT CLOSE DUE TO THE BROKEN HINGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451685March 14, 2012
SEAT BELTS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451117March 12, 2012
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH WAY SPEED CAR LOST STEERING ASSIST, INTERMITTENTLY CAME BAD THEN FAILED, I THEN SLOWED DOWN STEERING DID NOT CAME BACK, ONCE STOPPED LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD THE SMELL OF ELECTRICAL BURNING, EVEN WITH KEY OFF I COULD HEAR ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP STILL TRYING TO RUN, THE FIRE WAS FROM THE HEAVY BATTERY FEED WIRES INTO THE POWER STEERING PUMP THE COMPOSITE END OF PUMP MELTED, ONCE I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY THE SOURCE OF FIRE WAS REMOVED, I HAVE SPENT THE LAST 4 YEARS WORKING IN A GM DEALER SHIP, MASTER ASE TECH, I FEEL IF I WAS A TYPICAL CONSUMER AND HAD NOT KNOWN TO PULL BATTERY POWER THE OUT COME COULD HAD BEEN WORSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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