MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10366415November 16, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT
THE SPARKPLUG HAS BLOWN COMPLETELY OUT THE HEAD OF MY 2003 MINI COOPER, I WENT ON LINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366422November 16, 2010
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ASSIST ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER STARTED FAILING VERY SPORADICALLY OVER ONE YEAR AGO BECOMING MORE AND MORE FREQUENT UNTIL FINALLY I EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE POWER ASSIST. SOMETIMES THIS WOULD OCCUR WHEN I WAS FIRST STARTING THE CAR BUT THEN AS THE FREQUENCY INCREASE, IT WOULD ALSO JUST STOP WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING, SOMETIMES GOING AS FAST AS 50-60 MILES PER HOUR, MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED WITH A BRAND NEW ONE, WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE CAR ONLY HAD 83,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED, WHICH, I BELIEVE, IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366453November 16, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP, NOISE, BINDING, AND EVENTUAL FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365671November 15, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STEERED THE VEHICLE TO A PARKING LOT WHERE HE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE STEERING RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 01/13/11 *BF UPDATED 01/24/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365705November 15, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AT 55K MILES AND I HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO GET CHECKED AT THE DEALER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THAT THE TIMING CHAIN IS BEGINNING TO FAIL AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH A WATER PUMP LEAK. THE TIMING CHAIN IS A KNOWN FAILURE AND STILL HAS NO RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365578November 13, 2010
STEERING
FOLLOWING REAR END IMPACT, THERE WAS AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, WHICH WAS LATER TRACED TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. TERMINALS WERE BURNED OFF THE PUMP, AND ALTERNATOR ALSO FAILED AS A RESULT. NOTE: THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO COLLISION DAMAGE TO FRONT END. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365467November 12, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALTHOUGH A PASSENGER (WHO WEIGHED OVER 200 LBS) WAS SEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSOR MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 153,600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365488November 12, 2010
STEERING
MY 2004 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING PUMP JUST FAILED AND HAS TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 45K MILES. *TR UPDATED 08-29/11 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365508November 12, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MINI COOPER COLD START KNOCKING NOISE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365376November 11, 2010
STEERING
OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO "STICK" IN THAT I COULD NOT STEER RIGHT OR LEFT WITHOUT PHYSICALLY FORCING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, USING ALL MY STRENGTH TO DO IT. I THOUGHT I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS A TERRIFYING EVENT. THEN IT WOULD GO BACK TO "NORMAL" THE NEXT DAY, BUT THEN "STICK" AGAIN ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS WITH NO RHYME OR REASON; THERE WAS NO PATTERN AS TO WHEN IT WOULD OCCUR. BUT IT DID HAPPEN AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD "STICK" NO MATTER IF THE CAR WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, OR WHILE DRIVING. AFTER CHECKING WITH LOCAL GARAGES, THEY SUGGESTED TO HAVE MY MINI DEALERSHIP REPAIR IT AS NO ONE COULD FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. MINI DIAGNOSED THE FAILED POWER STEERING, AND INSTALLED A FAN WITH PROTECTING "GRI" (PART # 32-41-6-781-742 @ $222.43) AND INSTALLED A REPAIR KIT, LOWER "SECT" (PART # 32-30-6-763-722 @ $186.63). MINI SERVICE FOUND THE STEERING SHAFT KNUCKLE SEIZED UP, MAKING IT HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. MINI REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT, AND ALSO FOUND THE POWER STEERING FAN TO BE SEIZED, SO THEY ALSO REPLACED THE STEERING FAN. INCLUDED IN THIS DIAGNOSIS, MINI FOUND THE CONTROL ARM BRACKETS, WHICH ARE PART OF THE STEERING OF THE CAR, NEEDS REPAIR IN THE NEAR FUTURE TOO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366103November 11, 2010
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING. I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THE STEERING WAS ABOUT TO GO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366091November 10, 2010
STEERING
MY POWER STEERING IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR ALL 01-07 MINI COOPERS AND BEFORE SOMEONE DIES OR IS SERIOUSLY INJURED BMW MINI NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND REPLACE THIS FAULTY PART. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND THE STEERING STARTED TO LOCKUP ON THE HIGHWAY, I THEN PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR THEN RESTARTED AND THE STEERING WORKED JUST FINE. TWO DAYS LATER I WAS PULLING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY AGAIN AND THE STEERING STARTED TO LOCK UP ONCE MORE. I BARELY MADE IT TO A NEARBY PARKING LOT STRONG-ARMING THE CAR WITH EACH TURN. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND TURNED OFF THE CAR ONCE AGAIN. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR THE STEERING STILL WOULD NOT WORK, I EVEN LET IT COOL DOWN FOR A FEW MINUTES TO TRY ONCE MORE. STILL UNABLE TO STEER. HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED AND HAD TO REPLACE POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN ON CAR. THIS CAR IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD AND THE POWER STEERING SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365084November 9, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. AT TIMES, THE POWER STEERING WOULD RESET ITSELF AFTER BEING TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365180November 9, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP AND COOLING FAN FAILURE. UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND SAFETY HAZARD. POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN WITH REGARDS TO PLACEMENT OF PUMP / FAN AND ELECTRICAL LOAD. DEFECTIVE (REBUILT AND NOT NEW) PARTS FROM MINI DEALERSHIP REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY ONE TIME. MINI DOES NOT STAND BY ITS PRODUCTS OR ENGINEERING. REPLACEMENT AND REPAIRS OCCURRED 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN 5 YEARS AND LESS THAN 65,000. *TR UPDATED 07/26/11 *BF UPDATED 2/29/12 *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10364993November 8, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH CAUSING LIMITED STEERING CAPABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED AT THAT TIME. THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10364259November 6, 2010
STEERING
NEAR THE END OF A 500 MILE TRIP FROM NORTHERN TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I COMPLETED THE TRIP WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10364155November 5, 2010
STEERING
DRIVING HOME FROM DROPPING MY CHILDREN OFF FROM SCHOOL AND THE STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. THIS WAS AS I WAS GOING AROUND A CORNER. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND NOT MY TEENAGE SON OR DAUGHTER AS THEY WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE STRENGTH TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE DONE SOME ONLINE RESEARCH ON MINI COOPER FORUMS AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO FAILURE OF A ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING PUMP. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER MINI OF MURRAY UTAH TO SEE IF THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL IN FORCE AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NONE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOW MINI COOPER ISSUE. THE SERVICE REP SAID THAT HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS OWN VEHICLE. THIS A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD HAVE COST MY THE LIFE OF MY CHILDREN. THIS MUST BE RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10364186November 5, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED; THE FAILURE LASTED ANYWHERE FROM A FEW MINUTES TO 45 MINUTES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SIX TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE DIFFERENT STEERING PARTS WERE REPLACED (THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHICH PARTS). THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000. UPDATED 2/17/11 *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10364208November 5, 2010
STEERING
I OWN A 2005 MINI COOPER. AS I WAS DRIVING IT, I SUFFERED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I HAVE HAD LITTLE TO NO PROBLEM WITH MY MINI BEFORE THIS, BUT COMPLETELY LOST ABILITY TO STEER. LUCKILY I WAS IN AN ALLEY AT THE TIME AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP WHO WAS UNAWARE OF ANY INVESTIGATION INTO MINICOOPER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10364223November 5, 2010
STEERING
ON SEP 5, 2010 AROUND 2:40PM, I PARKED MY 2003 MINI COOPER IN FRONT OF THE LOWE'S STORE IN SAN BRUNO, CA AND WENT INSIDE FOR SHOPPING WITH MY WIFE. AFTER 20 MINUTES LATER WE HEARD A STORE EMPLOYEE CALLED 911 FOR THE SMOKE/FIRE CAME OUT FROM MY CAR. I WENT OUT THE STORE IMMEDIATELY AND SAW THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE ABOUT TO PUT OUT THE SMOKE. THE FIREFIGHTERS OPENED THE HOOD AND HEARD THE NOISE UNDER THE CAR. NEXT, THEY DISCONNECTED THE CAR BATTERY AND THE NOISE WAS GONE. THE MINI COOPER WAS TOWED TO THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS. HERE IS THE DIAGNOSTICS RESULT: "INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND THE POWER STEERING INOPERATIVE. INSPECTED POWER STEERING PUMP AND WIRING. FOUND WIRING MELTED AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. FOUND OVER CURRENT DAMAGE DUE TO POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE CAUSING BATTERY LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, WIRING HARNESS, POWER STEERING PUMP FAN, AND ALTERNATOR." I BELIEVE THIS IS A MINI COOPER DESIGN FAILURE ACCORDING TO BBC SPECIAL REPORTS IN 2009. LINK 1: MINI POWER STEERING FAILURES HTTP://WWW.BBC.CO.UK/BLOGS/WATCHDOG/2009/02/MINI_STEERING_SYSTEM_FAILURES.HTML LINK 2: MINIS THAT COULD CATCH FIRE HTTP://WWW.BBC.CO.UK/BLOGS/WATCHDOG/2009/04/MINI_UPDATE.HTML. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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