MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10370482December 13, 2010
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CAR HAS HAD INTERMITTENT POWER FAILURE SINCE 2008, USUALLY LASTING A FEW DAYS. MORE RECENTLY MY POWER STEERING HAS BEEN OUT FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS. TODAY IT STARTED WORKING ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK BUT THE POWER STEERING FAN REMAINS ON AFTER I TURN THE CAR OFF. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO KEEP THE FAN OFF. CONSEQUENCES HAVE RESULTED IN NEAR ACCIDENTS ON THE HIGHWAY AND ROAD WHEN FAILURE OCCURS (FAILURES HAPPENED WHEN I HAVE GONE INTO TURNS). POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370494December 13, 2010
STEERING
2005 MINI COOPER 2 DOOR STANDARD VEHICLE HAS A POWER STEERING FAILURE. IT STARTED 2 MONTHS AGO WITH AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING AT ANY GIVEN TIME OF THE VEHICLE IN USE. 60% OF THE TIME THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER OR TURN CORNERS. IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING AND IS VERY SCARY AS THE DRIVE HANDLING IS IMMEDIATELY CHANGED AND THE MANEUVERING TO THE END OF THE CURVE CHANGES DRASTICALLY. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOW INCREASED AS OF LATE TO THE POWER STEERING NOT TURNING OFF, EVEN AFTER THE KEY HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE POWER STEERING MOTOR HUMS AND WHINES LOUDLY AS THE CAR SITS PARKED AND WITH NO KEY INSERTED. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO TURN THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF. I CALLED CONCORD, CA. MINI (BMW), AND AFTER HAVING EXPLAINED TO THEM THE ABOVE MENTIONED PROBLEMS, THEY STATE THAT THERE ARE NO BULLETIN CLAIMS FOR THIS AND MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THEY FURTHER STATE THAT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WILL COST ME AT LEAST $1200. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND 225,000 OTHER FOLKS WITH THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I AM HOPING THAT THIS FORUM AND MY ADDED COMPLAINT WILL GENERATE ENOUGH CONCERN FOR DRIVER SAFETY AND BRING ABOUT A RECALL OR SOME LEVEL OF OWNERSHIP ON MINI TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION. FOR NOW I WILL KEEP MY MINI COOPER OFF THE STREET AND BATTERY DISCONNECTED AS IT IS A DANGER TO THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND OTHER DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369926December 10, 2010
STEERING
I PURCHASED A 2003 MINI COOPER S USED IN NOVEMBER 2007. IT HAD 30,000 MILES. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED IT PROMPTLY, DEC. 2007. I AM NOW EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE AGAIN, AT 79,000 MILES, 49,000 MILES ON A NEW PUMP. IT COMES AND GOES WHILE DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS WHILE TAKING CURVES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370258December 10, 2010
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED DURING CORNERING. REQUIRED ME TO APPLY EXTRA FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL AT WHICH POINT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST RE-ENGAGED CAUSING THE CAR TO OVER STEER. I NEEDED TO MAKE A QUICK CORRECTION IN ORDER TO AVOID CROSSING OVER THE CENTERLINE AND HITTING AN ON COMING VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS BEEN ON AND OFF FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS SINCE THAT TIME AND HAS BEEN COMPLETELY NON FUNCTIONAL FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369765December 9, 2010
STEERING
LOSS OF POWER STEERING 2002 MINI COOPER S. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369836December 9, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP. COMPLETE FAILURE WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369582December 8, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING; IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, AND COOLING FAN. THE COOLING FAN WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 113,306.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369613December 8, 2010
POWER TRAIN
2007 MINI COOPER HAD LOUD SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, SOUNDED LIKE A DIESEL ENGINE WHEN COLD, DEALER REPLACED TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AT 32K MILES, VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER SEVEN TIMES, ONLY TWICE FOR SCHEDULED SERVICE, NOW VEHICLE IS STARTING TO MAKE SAME NOISE AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED @36K MILES, NOW WITH 42K MILES, ENGINE OIL IS DOWN 2 QUARTS AND DEALER SAYS ITS MY FAULT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369692December 8, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE STEERING COLUMN MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS AND ENGINE HARNESS TO IGNITE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE STEERING PUMP WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE. . THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,209. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369460December 7, 2010
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY TIGHT. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED BEFORE BUT NOT AS EXTREME AS THE MOST CURRENT FAILURE. THE CONTACT COULD BARELY MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN AND ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING PUMP WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILURE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,053 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 4,509 UPDATED 02/03/11*LJ ALSO, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER GRID BURNED THROUGH THE COVER AND THE DRIVERS JACKET. THE SECOND SEAT COVER BURNED THROUGH ALSO AND MADE A HOLE IN THE PASSENGERS COAT. UPDATED 03/18/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369539December 7, 2010
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT ON THE CENTER DASHBOARD AND "AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT ABOVE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR TURN ON WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE CAR. IT APPEARS AS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IS FAILING TO PROPERLY DETECT THE PASSENGER'S WEIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369338December 6, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPERS S. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING BEGIN TO FAIL AND THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369351December 6, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY HER PERSONAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,528 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369382December 6, 2010
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER AND TOOK A SWEEPING RIGHT TURN ONTO A FREEWAY ON RAMP. DURING THE TURN THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AND IT TOOK AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF FORCE ON THE WHEEL FOR ME TO AVOID HITTING THE SIDE OF THE OVERPASS AS THE CAR WANTED TO CONTINUE GOING STRAIGHT.. IT PROCEEDED TO CUT OUT AGAIN AS I TRIED TO GET IT HOME. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL IT AND PARK IT. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF THE PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN AND DRAINED THE BATTERY OVERNIGHT. THE CAR WOULD NOT START IN THE MORNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369213December 4, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FAILURE OF TIMING BELT TENSIONER IN 2009 MINI COOPER S LEADING TO MASSIVE OIL LEAK LOSS OF POWER TO ENGINE AND NEAR LETHAL ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369001December 2, 2010
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I GOT THE CAR AND I READ THAT IT HAD TO DO WITH PUTTING BAGS ON THE SEAT. I LATER DISCOVERED THAT IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THERE IS A BAG, A PERSON OR AN EMPTY PASSENGER SEAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369017December 2, 2010
AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
THE RED AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IN THE SPEEDOMETER AREA CAME ON AT APPROXIMATELY 99,450 MILES. IT CAME ON AFTER DRIVING ACROSS A CITY RAILROAD CROSSING AT LOW SPEED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND ASKED ABOUT THE LIGHT, AND THEY INDICATED THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION BUT COULD BE A FAULTY SEAT SENSOR WHICH WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1250 TO REPLACE. THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT THEY WERE NOT SURE WHETHER OR NOT THE AIRBAGS WOULD DEPLOY PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. FURTHER RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS MODEL AND YEAR MAY ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRING HARNESSES AND CONNECTIONS, AND THAT ONLY THE DEALER CAN RESET THE WARNING LIGHT. AS OF DECEMBER 2 2010 THE VEHICLE HAS 113,000 MILES ON IT AND THE WARNING LIGHT IS STILL ON. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE DEALER AS A WARRANTY ISSUE AS I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE CURRENT SITUATION BUT DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR AN EXPENSIVE SAFETY RELATED DEFECT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND STILL HAVE IT. THANKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368552December 1, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 2006 MINI COOPER AND RECENTLY, AT 62,000 MILES HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE CYLINDERS LOSING COMPRESSION. I WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO CARBON BUILD-UP WHICH "PITTED" THE VALVES AS A RESULT OF ETHANOL IN GASOLINE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS IS BECOMING A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH MINI COOPERS BECAUSE THE CAR CAN NOT HANDLE THE GASOLINE WITH ETHANOL, AS THEY ARE INTENDED TO BE RUN ON PURE GAS. SO DUE TO THE ETHANOL MIXTURE, THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE. SHOULDN'T THESE CARS SOLD HERE IN THE UNITED STATES BE ABLE TO RUN ON THE GASOLINE THAT IS AVAILABLE HERE? I HAVE USED HIGH-OCTANE PREMIUM GAS ONLY IN MY CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD DONE NOTHING WRONG, YET WAS STILL FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE REPAIR. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE PURCHASED THROUGH THE DEALER AND HAVE FOLLOWED THE MINI MANUAL IN TERMS OF FUEL TO USE. THEY TOLD ME THEY ARE SEEING THIS PROBLEM MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY IN THE MINI. IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THIS IS A VEHICLE PROBLEM AND PERHAPS DESERVES A RECALL. IS THIS SOMETHING YOU CAN HELP ME WITH? THEY CLEANED, MACHINED AND TESTED THE CYLINDERS AND REPLACED THE VALVES AT A COST TO ME OF $4800. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368320November 30, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2007 MINI COOPER S HAS HAD LOUD KNOCKING NOISE, SOUNDING LIKE ROCKS IN A WASHING MACHINE, FOR WEEKS NOW. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE PAST, WITH THE REPAIRS FALLING UNDER THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND DONE AT NO COST OF COURSE. CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY, TAKING IT IN THIS WEEK FOR DIAGNOSES AND REPAIRS. THIS WILL BE AT LEAST THE SECOND TIME THIS PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, ALTHOUGH I THINK IT MIGHT BE THE THIRD TIME AS ONCE IT WAS DONE AS PART OF A LARGER REPAIR BEING PERFORMED ON THE ENGINE. CAR ACTS SLUGGISH, JUMPY, AND SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL TRUCK. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED UP AND CONTINUES FOR THE FIRST FEW MILES DRIVEN, AT WHICH POINT IS SUBSIDES A BIT. AS I SAID, IT HAS BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE IN THE PAST, AND THIS WEEK WILL BE REPLACED AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368410November 30, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON 10/27/2010 I WAS DRIVING ON 595 WEST (STOP AND GO TRAFFIC) CAME TO A STOP, MY CAR STALLS AND DIES. IT WILL NOT RESTART. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LAUDERDALE MINI DEALERSHIP IN FORT LAUDERDALE. AFTER INSPECTION I WAS INFORMED THE VACUUM PUMP LOCKED UP AND JAMMED ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. ENGINE WAS REPLACED. COST- OVER $6000.00. MINI USA REFUSED TO COMPENSATE UNLESS THEIR IS A FUTURE RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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