MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10429318October 10, 2011
STEERING, STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I NOTICED IT WHEN I WAS GOING AROUND A BEND AND THE STEERING EFFORT HAD GREATLY INCREASED. IF I HAD TO MAKE A EMERGENCY MANEUVER, I PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COMPLETE IT SUCCESSFULLY. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429383October 10, 2011
STEERING, STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CAR IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429110October 7, 2011
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT READS "OFF" AND CENTER CONSOLE ALERT IS LIT. GETTING VARIOUS DIAGNOSES FROM SHOPS, BUT NO ONE REALLY KNOWS HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NO ONE WILL DEFINITIVELY SAY, "YES, YOUR PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF" OR "ON." THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MINIS AND THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429003October 6, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I WAS DRIVING AROUND AND I BEGAN LOOSING POWER TO MY CAR, SO I STOPPED AND THEN I COULDN'T GET IT STARTED AGAIN. I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF CALLING A TOW COMPANY WHEN I POPPED THE HOOD AND WHEN I LIFTED IT UP I COULD SMELL GASOLINE AND NOTICED A CLOUD OF FUMES SO I BACKED UP AND IT CAUGHT FIRE SO I CALLED 911 AND NOW MY CARS VIRTUALLY GONE. I COME ACROSS SOME MINI COOPER OWNERS CLUB FORUM AND ITS APPARENTLY HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE AND ALSO ON YOUTUBE. OR IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS THE SAME THING SINCE THEY CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE FIRST TOO. I CALLED MINI AND THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE ME TOW IT THERE SO THEY CAN DIAGNOSE IT TO DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428857October 5, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428447October 4, 2011
STEERING
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND AT RANDOM TIMES, THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER S WILL STOP WORKING. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT PLAGUES ALMOST EVERY MINI SOLD SINCE 2002. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REFERENCE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER :EA11005, AS IT APPLIES TO MY PARTICULAR ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428231October 3, 2011
STEERING
ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO THE STEERING STARTED GETTING HARD TO STEER AS IF THE POWER STEERING WAS BROKEN. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IT WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. ON 9/26/11 THE STEERING BECAME HARD TO STEER ALL OF THE TIME AND MY WIFE ALMOST GOT INTO A COLLISION WHEN SHE FOUND IT VERY HARD TO STEER. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD FAILED. IN ADDITION, HE TOLD ME THAT THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF POWER STEERING UNIT FAILURE WITH MY 2005 MINI COOPER. I CALLED MY LOCAL MINI COOPER DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL AT ALL IN REGARDS TO THE POWER STEERING UNIT. SINCE MY WIFE AND I HAVE TO DRIVE THE CAR, I HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPAIRED AT A COST OF $1055.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428234October 3, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR DRIVEN TWO MILES TO MARKET AND RETURNED HOME TO HIGH RISE CONDO. PARKED IN GARAGE OF HIGH RISE. NO PROBLEMS NOTED DURING DRIVE, PARKING OR LOCKING. WITHIN 4-6 MINUTES, ANOTHER RESIDENT IN THE GARAGE REPORTED A CAR ON FIRE, HOOD/ENGINE AREA TO THE MANAGEMENT OFFICE. A 911 CALL SENT OUT, TOOK FIRE DEPARTMENT ~ 1 1/2 HOURS TO EXTINGUISH THE BLAZE. CAR HAS NO HISTORY OF ANY PROBLEMS. CAR IN FOR TIRE ROTATION, OIL CHANGE, GAS GAUGE FLOAT REPLACEMENT AND XM RADIO ANTENNA CHECK SIX WEEKS EARLIER. NEVER ANY PROBLEMS MECHANICALLY OR ELECTRICALLY. HAD MANUAL TRANSMISSION. NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEMS EVER NOTED. I WAS IN TOTAL DISBELIEF WHEN TOLD MY CAR HAD BURNED. SAW ALL THE FIRE EQUIPMENT FROM MY UNIT AND HAD NO IDEA IT WAS MY CAR, HAD JUST BEEN IN IT, AND PARKED IT AS I ALWAYS DO. MY INSURANCE COMPANY ADJUSTER AND MINI DEALERSHIP ALL SAID THERE WERE NO KNOW REPORTED FIRES STARTING SPONTANEOUSLY. FIRE AND POLICE DID NOT KNOW OF ANY MINI FIRES REPORTED. JUST PURCHASED ANOTHER, AM NOW CONCERNED. CAR WAS 23 MONTHS OLD AND HAD 26,000 MILES. MY CAR WAS A JOY TO DRIVE AND ALWAYS RELIABLE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE. HOPE IT WILL HELP IN SOLVING, WHAT NOW APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428249October 3, 2011
STEERING
DRIVING TO WORK AND TRIED TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN. THE POWER STEERING FAILED MAKING THE WHEEL VERY HARD TO TURN. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND SHUT THE CAR OFF, AND WHEN I RESTARTED IT, THE POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN. IT DOES THIS INTERMEDIATELY A FEW TIMES A WEEK SINCE THEN... MINI SAYS ITS AN INTERNAL FAULT IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428265October 3, 2011
STEERING
FAILURE OF POWER STEERING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428130October 1, 2011
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR MALFUNCTION. SENSOR DOESN'T WORK THEREFORE CAUSING THE PASSENGER AIR BAG TO BE DISENGAGED. THIS IS A NONE PROBLEM AND WELL DOCUMENTED WITH THIS YEAR, HOWEVER, MINI DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL. THE ONLY RECALL IS FOR AFTER THIS YEAR MODEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428102September 30, 2011
STEERING
HEARD OF POWERSTEERING ISSUE BUT STILL PURCHASED CAR. DRIVING TO WORK SMELLED BURNING AND LOST POWERSTEERING, IF THIS HAPPENS TO A WOMAN DRIVING AROUND A ROTARY AND KILLS SOMEONE WILL YOU WAIT FOR 50 PEOPLE TO GET KILLED BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. THIS IS COMPLETE INADEQUATE RESEARCH ON YOUR PART FORD RECALLS DUE TO ELECTRICALSHORT OF THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE AND CRUISE CONTROL CUT PRESSURE SWITCH HAD TO BURN DOWN HOUSES WHEN THEY HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ISSUE WHICH NO RECALL TILL MONTHS AFTER THEY KNEW IT WAS A FAULT. BY THE WAY I AM A MECHANIC ASE CERTIFIED OWN A SHOP IN WAKEFIELD [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
#10427748September 28, 2011
STEERING
AS REPORTED BY HUNDREDS OF OTHERS TO NHTSA AND BY THOUSANDS ON THE INTERNET, THE POWER STEERING PUMP IN OUR 2005 MINI COOPER WILL SIMPLY STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT BECOMES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON-LINE AND WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A DEATH. IT IS MY OPINION THAT NHTSA MUST IMMEDIATELY MOVE TO ESCALATE THIS FROM ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO REQUIRE BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC ISSUE A RECALL ON ALL 2005 & 2006 MODEL MINI COOPERS, IF NOT EARLIER MODELS AS THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ON-LINE GOING BACK TO 2002 WHEN THE MODEL WAS FIRST INTRODUCED TO THE US MARKET. THE COST TO REPLACE THIS UNIT IS THE BETTER PART OF $900, BUT WHAT''S THE COST OF A LIFE? MINI SHOULD HAVE LONG SINCE RECALLED THIS UNIT AND THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE 2002 BUT THEY HAVE CLEARLY IGNORED COMPLAINT AFTER COMPLAINT INSTEAD CLAIMING THEY ''WORK CLOSELY WITH NHTSA ON ALL COMPLAINTS'' (THEY''RE REQUIRED TO DO SO BY LAW SO THEIR STATEMENT DOESN''T HOLD MUCH WEIGHT). AS THE FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT AN UNPREDICTABLE HOW CAN I ALLOW MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER WHO IS PREPARING TO LEARN TO DRIVE TO DRIVE EITHER OF OUR MINI COOPERS UNTIL IT''S REPLACED? MINI SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427524September 27, 2011
STEERING
NOTICED LEVEL OF POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW. NO APPARENT LEAK ON GROUND. NOTICED THE BOOTS ON RACK AND PINION ARE PRESSURIZED AND REALIZED THAT IS WHERE THE FLUID IS LEAKING INTO. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427577September 27, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED ONTO THE SHOULDER AND THEN TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427587September 27, 2011
AIR BAGS
UNEXPECTEDLY, THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON. I'VE SEEN OTHER REPORTS OF THIS OCCURRING ON THE WEB. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS SERVICED YET. IT IS NOT COVERED BY MINI'S WARRANTY. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427242September 26, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN MANEUVERING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. UPON RESTARTING, THE CONTACT RESUMED CAUTIOUSLY WITH THE STEERING MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427474September 26, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE DUE TO THE VACCUUM PUMP FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 64,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427514September 26, 2011
STEERING
THE POWER ASSIST FOR THE STEERING FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. OFTEN THIS OCCURS MIDWAY THROUGH A TURN. SOMETIMES TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RE-STARTING WILL RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, OTHER TIMES IT DOES NOT. REPORTED THE ISSUE TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND BEFORE I COULD FINISH THE SENTENCE THE TWO SERVICE WRITERS SAID THERE WAS NOT ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP! WITHOUT THE POWER ASSIST THE STEERING IS VERY HEAVY. AS A STRONG, EXPERIENCED DRIVER I KNEW WHAT TO DO WHEN THE POWER ASSIST FAILED, BUT THIS WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR AN OLDER OR LESS PHYSICAL DRIVER SINCE THE ASSIST FAILURE IS SUDDEN AND WITHOUT WARNING. AS A DRIVER YOU GO FROM BEING ABLE TO CASUALLY STEER WITH MINIMAL INPUT TO INSTANTLY NEEDING TO FORCEFULLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR!!!! THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 40,011 MILES AND CONTINUES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427018September 24, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE OIL SPRAYING FROM CAMSHAFT CHAIN TENSION-ER SEAL. OIL WAS SPRAYING OUT UNDER PRESSURE. I WOULD CONSIDER THIS TO BE A FIRE HAZARD, AS HOT EXHAUST COMPONENTS ARE NEARBY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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