MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10349214August 13, 2010
STEERING
THERE WERE NO "EVENTS" LEADING UP TO THIS. SUDDEN FAILURE OF POWER STEERING PUMP AS I TURNED OFF THE HIGHWAY ONTO A CITY SIDE STREET - NO NOTICE, JUST COMPLETE FAILURE OF COMPONENT. THE FAILURE LEFT THE VEHICLE WITH NO POWER STEERING - ONLY MANUAL "ARM STRONG" STEERING UNTIL REPAIRED. PERSONALLY REPLACED THE PUMP WITH NEW PART - NO SUPPORT FROM DEALER OR MANUFACTURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349277August 13, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP IS FAILING. SO FAR NO MAJOR PROBLEMS BUT I HAVE HAD OTHER MINI OWNERS REPORT THIS SAME PROBLEM AND WORSE. I AM HAVING MY PUMP REPLACED THIS WEEKEND WITH THE HOPE OF AVOIDING ANY FURTHER ISSUES. HOPEFULLY THIS ONE WILL LAST A LONG TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348919August 12, 2010
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
AFTER DRIVING MY 2007 MINI COPPER S, FOR SEVERAL MINUTES THE "BRAKE" AND DSC WARNING ICONS ILLUMINATE YELLOW. ONCE ILLUMINATED THE SIGNAL CANCEL FUNCTION STOPS WORKING AND WIPERS TURN ON AUTONOMOUSLY WHEN ENGINE IS STOPPED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349086August 12, 2010
POWER TRAIN, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
A 2009 MINI COOPER CLUTCH WAS DEFECTIVE WAS REPLACED IN MAY OF 2010 AND IN AUGUST OF 2010 THE CLUTCH WENT AGAIN AND THIS TIME BURNT THE FLY WHEEL. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED SAFETY OF PASSENGER WAS COMPROMISED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348334August 9, 2010
STEERING, TIRES
CAR IS VERY NOISY ON COLD STARTS WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. STEERING WOULD JUDDER WHEN BEING TURNED. WHEEL WILL FEEL HEAVY AND STUCK AT TIMES. POWER STEERING RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY WITH NO SIGNS OF LEAKS. POWER STEERING FLUID FLOODED INTO STEERING RACK DUE TO FAILED SEAL. STEERING RACK NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347843August 6, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY 2003 MINI COOPER S STOPPED WORKING SUDDENLY ON THE FREEWAY. THERE WERE NO SIGNS INDICATING AN IMMINENT PROBLEM; IT JUST CUT ASSISTANCE TO STEERING AND FAILED COMPLETELY. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DIFFICULT, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO A MECHANIC TO GET A REPLACEMENT PS PUMP FOR $820. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE MINI BRAND SINCE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE REPORTING POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURES EVEN AT 40KMILES (IN MY CASE, THE CAR HAD 95KMILES WHEN THE PUMP FAILED). THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP DOES POSE A SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES EXTREMELY HEAVY AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347497August 5, 2010
STEERING
MY POWER STEERING COMPLETELY WENT OUT IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER WHILE COMING AROUND A TURN ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN A MAJOR CITY. I WAS AWAY FROM HOME AND SCARED TO DEATH. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MINI MODELS 01-06. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. CURRENTLY I AM FIGHTING WITH THE MINI CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT BECAUSE MY "CASEWORKER" IS ALSO MYSTERIOUSLY UNAVAILABLE AND THEY WILL NOT LET ME SPEAK TO ANYONE ELSE BECAUSE MY "CASEWORKER" HAS ALL THE DETAILS ABOUT THE CAR'S DEFECT EVENTHOUGH THEY WORK OUT OF A CALL CENTER AND ALL THE NOTES ARE UPLOADED IN THE COMPUTER AND VISIBLE FOR ALL "CASEWORKERS". *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346723August 2, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2005 MINI COPPER CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE AUTOMOBILE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346831August 2, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE ITS PURCHASE BRAND NEW IN MARCH, 2003. WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM AND STARTING IT UP AFTER HAVING BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR UP TO TWO HOURS THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MINOR, INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH A ROUGH AND SURGING IDLE THAT OSCILLATES BETWEEN 1050 RPM DOWN TO 400 RPM THEN BACK UP THEN DOWN WHICH LASTS FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS BEFORE SETTLING DOWN. AS THE VEHICLE HAS AGED THE PROBLEM HAS INTENSIFIED TO THE POINT THAT THE ENGINE SOMETIMES STALLS. THE SYMPTOMS ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE AS NOTED IN NHTSA ITEM #10009756, SERVICE BULLETIN #110104 (ROUGH IDLE, STALLING). LATELY IT HAS NOW EVEN BEGUN TO OCCUR WHEN STOPPING QUICKLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO ALMOST STALL. IF IT WERE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION THERE WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH IMMEDIATE POWER TO ACCELERATE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN SHOWN THE PROBLEM BUT HAS FAILED TO RECTIFY. THE ONLY INVESTIGATION THEY DO IS TO MAKE SURE THE SOFTWARE IN THE VEHICLE IS THE LATEST RELEASE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346542August 1, 2010
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I PARKED MY 2009 MINI CLUBMAN AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 10 MILES TO THE GROCERY STORE ROUND TRIP AND UNLOADED GROCERIES, WENT BACK OUT TO THE CAR AND IT WAS SMOKING WHITE SMOKE. FLAMES STARTED SHOOTING UP FROM THE ENGINE OVER THE WINDSHIELD AND IT PROGRESSED FROM THERE. THE SMOKE TURNED BLACK ALL WINDOWS WERE BLOWN OUT, FRONT TIRES MELTED AND BLOWN AND THE CAR WAS DECLARED AN OBVIOUS TOTAL LOSS. IT CAUGHT OUR HOME ON FIRE AND HAS CAUSED MORE THAN $50,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. PLEASE CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346467July 31, 2010
STEERING
DRIVING NORMALLY WHEN SUDDENLY POWER STEERING FAILS COMPLETELY CAUSING INSTANT CONTROL ISSUES. POWER STEERING RETURNS INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346194July 29, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST DID NOT RESET ITSELF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE HAVING TO UTILIZE EXTREME BODILY FORCE TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HAVING THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 56,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345815July 28, 2010
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG DETECTION LIGHT SAYS OFF EVEN WHEN AN ADULT IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND THE AIRBAG CODE READ WAS A 71 INDICATING THAT THE OC3 MAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS FAULTING. THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THAT THE AIRBAG MAY OR MAY NOT WORK EVEN IF A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WOULD COST UP TO 3000.00 FOR MY CAR TO REPLACE THE OC3 MAT!!! NO SAFETY RECALL WARRANTY AVAILABLE FOR THIS MODEL YEAR AS THERE IS ON OTHERS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345716July 27, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. SHE CONTACTED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHICH JUMP-STARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED THE NEXT DAY AND SHE WAS ABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE JUMP-STARTED A SECOND TIME. THE DEALER REMOVED THE BATTERY AND THERE WAS EXCESSIVE WATER SURROUNDING THE BATTERY BOX. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION FOR A WHILE UNTIL THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY WAS ENTIRELY ENCASED IN WATER AND EXHIBITED CORROSION. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE BST CABLES AND FUSE ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION FOR THE EXCESSIVE WATER IN THE BATTERY. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY CONTINUE TO RECUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 28,326.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345391July 26, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL POP COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE, SPECIFICALLY WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH FRONT SWAY BAR BUSHINGS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345159July 25, 2010
SEATS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON MY WAY UP DRIVEWAY I NOTICED A SHARP STINGING SENSATION IN THE LUMBAR OF MY BACK. FELT SORT OF LIKE AN "CONTINUOUS ELECTRIC SHOCK". I IMMEDIATELY ARCHED MY BACK AS A REACTION TO THE STING AND HAD TO STRAIGHTEN MY BACK IN ORDER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. WHEN STRAIGHTENING MY BACK I FELT SOMETHING HOT, VERY HOT THIS TIME LIKE SOMETHING THAT WAS ON FIRE. I COULD NOT LONGER CONTROL THE VEHICLE GRABBED FOR THE HANDLE OPENED THE DOOR AND ROLLED OUT ONTO THE DRIVEWAY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. THE VEHICLE BUCKED AND STALLED OUT. I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE INTERIOR AND NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WAS SMOLDERING AND THERE WAS A HOLE THE SIZE OF A QUARTER BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT IN THE LUMBAR. IT WAS A 100 DEGREE DAY SO I WASN'T USING THE SEAT HEATER, NONETHELESS IT WAS ON, MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSED A FIRE WHICH RESULTED IN ME JUMPING OUT OF THE MOVING VEHICLE. I ALSO READ ONLINE ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO ANOTHER 2004 MINI COOPER S "PASSENGER SEAT" AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10344586July 21, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY MINI COOPER S HAS LESS THAN 27,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS BEEN CAREFULLY DRIVEN AND HAS SUSTAINED NO CRASH DAMAGE. HAD SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON THE CAR AND HAD FAILURES WITH THE ABS, STEERING ANGLE SENSOR, AND FRONT WHEEL SENSOR. IN ADDITION AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD "MUSHROOMING" AND CRACKED FRONT SHOCK TOWER MOUNTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR, AND THAT ALONE WOULD COST OVER $1,400 TO REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THAT HITTING POTHOLES OR OTHER ROAD HAZARDS CAUSED THIS. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER, ROADSHOW MINI IN MEMPHIS, TN, STATED THAT THE SHOCK TOWERS AND FRONT BUSHINGS WERE CONSIDERED WEAR ITEMS, AND THAT THEY COULD BE REDAMAGED IMMEDIATELY IF THE CAR CAME IN CONTACT WITH ANOTHER POTHOLE. ADDITIONALLY, I WAS TOLD BY MINI USA THAT NO ENGINEERS OR NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES COULD BE CONTACTED, AND THAT THE DEALER WOULD HANDLE ALL QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. I ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY UPGRADES AND FIXES OFFERED BY MINI AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NONE. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE FAIRLY COMMON, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL AFTERMARKET COMPANIES THAT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE,. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT HE SEES THIS PROBLEM ON 3-4 CARS IN THE SHOP EVERY MONTH. IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW, THAT THERE CAN BE STRUT COLLAPSE OR SUSPENSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING, AND THAT MINI SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. FOR NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS TO HAVE RESULTED IN DEFORMED AND CRACKED STRUT TOWERS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND REPRESENTS A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. I HAVE NEVER OWNED AN AUTOMOBILE THAT HAD STRUT TOWER FAILURE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10342576July 12, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10342668July 12, 2010
STEERING
2003 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY QUITS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. IT WILL WORK ON AND OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10342787July 12, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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