MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10307199February 7, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2003 MINI COOPER. 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. CAR TRANSMISSION FLEW APART WHILE DRIVING. *TW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306539February 5, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2007 MINI COOPER S. AFTER 26000 MILES I HAVE A WHAT APPEARS TO BE A RATTLING ENGINE WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE FROM A COLD START (SITTING OVERNIGHT). SO THIS HAPPENS EVERY MORNING. I LIVE IN FLORIDA WITH RELATIVELY WARM TEMPERATURES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CLAIM THE DIESEL ENGINE SOUND COMING OUT OF THE CAR IS NORMAL. I DIDN'T BY THE CAR THIS WAY. I HAVE FOUND VARIOUS FORUMS AND YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306710February 5, 2010
STRUCTURE
DRIVER SIDE DOOR OF MY 2004 MINI COOPER CAN ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE (I.E. I NEED TO LOWER THE WINDOW IN ORDER TO OPEN THE DOOR) MINI DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT GUARANTEE A FIX WILL LAST MORE THAN FEW WEEKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304012February 2, 2010
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 MINI COOPER- 50K MILES- POWER STEERING FAN / MOTOR FAILURE LEADING TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, HEAT/FIRE DAMAGE RESULTING IN INABILITY TO TURN OFF ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303148January 29, 2010
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND RELATED PARTS IN MY 2003 MINI COOPER HAD TO BE REPLACED IN 2006 AND AGAIN IN 2009. THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC INCIDENT THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM: THE POWER STEERING JUST STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. 4/26/2006 38,492 MILES POWER STEERING FAN SEIZED - REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY 5/03/2006 38, 709 MILES POWER STEERING PUMP FAULTY -REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY 11/19/2009 89,305 MILES POWER STEERING PUMP, POWER STEERING RACK AND STEERING SHAFT DEFECTIVE - REPAIR PAID FOR BY CAR OWNER. MECHANIC RETURNED DEFECTIVE PARTS TO MINI COOPER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302928January 28, 2010
STEERING
1. STEERING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS 2. POWER STEERING ASSIST MOTOR CUTS IN AND OUT, MAKING CONTROL DIFFICULT AND UNPREDICTABLE: STEERING GETS HEAVY SO ADDITIONAL FORCE IS APPLIED BUT THEN THE POWER ASSIST 'REACTIVATES' CAUSING DRAMATIC OVERSTEER. FIRST OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 60000 MILES, TURNED CAR ON/OFF STEERING WAS FINE. RE-OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 100000 MILES AND HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT. 3. MECHANIC HAS SUGGESTED REPLACING ASSIST MOTOR. *TW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10301992January 23, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 MINI COOPER TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. CAR JUST STOPPED WHILE GOING 60 MPH. MANUFACTURER/DEALER WOULD NOT COVER REPAIRS (85,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY). ESTIMATE TO REPLACE: $9,000. SOLD CAR AS IS AT AUCTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302031January 23, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION CVT FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302688January 22, 2010
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
COURTESY COPY TO THE ADMINISTRATOR OF LETTER FROM KATHLEEN BIDDICK TO MINI USA RE STEERING PUMP SYSTEM OF MINI MODELS MANUFACTURED IN 2003 -2007. *NJ THE SUDDEN AND UNPREDICTABLE LOSS OF STEERING POWER IN A VEHICLE IS A THREAT TO ALL DRIVERS ESPECIALLY IN FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A REFUND OF $1,180.44 TO COVER THE REPAIR OF THE STEERING PUMP SYSTEM ON HER 2003 MINI COOPER. THE STEERING PUMP FAILED BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300211January 18, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
MY 2008 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN HAS A SPEEDOMETER THAT READS 4-6 MPH GREATER THAN WHAT IT IS REALLY GOING. THIS IS PROBLEMATIC SINCE THEN MY ODOMETER READING AND GAS MILEAGE IS INCORRECT (IT WILL BE INACCURATELY HIGH). MIN SEEMS TO BE AWARE OF THIS BUT WILL DO NOTHING. MY DEALER DIDN'T THINK IT WAS AN ISSUE AND WOULDN'T DEAL WITH IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300084January 17, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
COMPLETE CLUTCH FAILURE WITH ONLY 3700 MILES ON CARL IT WAS REPLACED BY DEALER BUT "NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY" DEALER CLAIMS EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR IN CAR THAT IS NOT ABUSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299826January 15, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2004 MINI COOPERS TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 80K MILES WITH NO WARNING. LUCKILY I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY, WHERE I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE COST OF REPLACING THE TRANNY WAS $7,000. MINI USA WAS USELESS WHEN I PLEADED WITH THEM TO HELP ME. AFTER READING ABOUT ALL OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE CVT TRANS, I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE WAS NO RECALL. I WILL NEVER BUY A MINI AGAIN. I STILL OWE $11,000 ON THE CAR AND CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299608January 13, 2010
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE ON THE MINI COOPER IS UNDERNEATH THE PARKING BRAKE AND DRINK HOLDERS. LIQUID SPILLED FROM THE DRINK HOLDER HAS RENDERED THE MODULE UNUSABLE AND CREATED A SAFETY ISSUE. MINI IS BLAMING THE CUSTOMER FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299564January 12, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1/10/2010, I MY HEATER WAS BLOWING COLD AIR AND MY ENGINE TEMP INDICATOR WAS JUMPING AROUND. I CALLED MINI OF TOWSON AND TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE. I REMINDED THEM THAT BOTH AIR BAG AND FLAT TIRE INDICATORS HAD BEEN FLICKERING ON AND OFF SINCE THE LAST TIME I CAME IN ON JUNE OF 2009 AND THAT AS OF A FEW WEEKS AGO THEY HAD BOTH REMAINED ON. AT THAT TIME, NO ONE TOOK MY INQUIRY SERIOUSLY AND I WAS TOLD THE LIGHTS WERE COMING ON AS A RESULT OF THE PAST REQUIRED ENGINE WORK FOR THE COOLING SYSTEM AND ENGINE, AND A SLOW LEAK IN ONE OF MY TIRES, WHICH I WAS INSTRUCTED TOO MONITOR BY FILLING-UP WHEN LOW AND TO IGNORE. I WAS INFORMED RECENTLY THAT I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR ($1000). I HAVE READ MANY OF POSTS ON THE MINIUSA WEBSITE THAT SAY THIS AS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MINI'S BEING WIRED INCORRECTLY FORM THE MANUFACTURER; SOMETHING THAT COULD BE AVOIDED WITH EARLY DETECTION BY THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF THE INITIAL FAULTY INDICATOR LIGHTING. I WAS ALSO TOLD MY WATER PUMP IS NOW LEAKING COOLANT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ($900); SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN TOLD MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE EARLIER MANUFACTURING DEFECTS I HAD. ALSO, I AM ENROLLED IN THEIR TIRE AND RIM PROTECTION WARRANTY THAT STATES ANY TIRES OR RIMS THAT ARE DAMAGED BY NAILS, POT HOLES, ETC ARE REPLACED FOR FREE. THEY HAVE PATCHED 4 OF MY TIRES FOR NAIL DAMAGE; 3 OUT OF THE 4 TIRES CONTINUE TO LEAK AND I FEEL SHOULD BE REPLACED. LASTLY, MY MINI APPRAISED $6,500 BY THIS DEALER. I ASKED HOW MUCH THE VALUE INCREASES IF I COMPLETELY SERVICE THE CAR AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD INCREASE THE VALUE OF SERVICES RENDERED ($3,100) A TOTAL EST.VALUE OF $9,600. WHEN ASKED WHY MY MINI HAD DEPRECIATED SO MUCH I WAS TOLD BECAUSE OF THE CARS EXTENSIVE SERVICE RECORD. SHE SAID BECAUSE OF THE DEPLORABLE SERVICE RECORD, MY CAR COULD NOT BE KEPT BY THE MINI DEALER AND THAT IT HAD TO BE SOLD AT WHOLESALE BECAUSE THE CAR IS CONSIDERED FAULTY. SHE SAID MY MINI WAS NOT SAFE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER RESELL STANDARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299567January 12, 2010
STEERING
2003 MINI COOPER S, 90000 MILES. POWER STEERING WHEEL FAILURE DURING NORMAL DRIVING. THE STEERING WHEEL IS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN MANUALLY, THUS CAUSING PANIC AND REAL DANGER, BECAUSE THE CAR SWERVED OUT OF A TURN. DEALER SAYS IT IS A COMMON ISSUE, AND NEED TO REPLACE THE FAN OR PUMP, REPAIR PRICE $1300. MINI NEEDS TO RECALL THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298966January 11, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN AUGUST 2008. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. PREVIOUSLY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING AND LOSING POWER. HE ALSO OBSERVED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SMELLED OIL BURNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A LOSS IN PRESSURE AND ONE OF THE FOUR CYLINDERS HAD FAILED. THEY ALSO FOUND A DILAPIDATED TIMING CHAIN AND POSSIBLE EMISSIONS FAILURES. THE DEALER WAS NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURES TO OCCUR. THE DEALER ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL EXCESSIVELY AND THE FUEL INJECTORS HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS TO DATE. THE CONTACT ASSUMED ALL REPAIRS WERE TO BE MADE UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 29,335.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296903December 24, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. WHILE PARKED, A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296654December 22, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
MINI COOPER CLUBMAN S ROUGH RATTLE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT UPON IGNITION OF THE VEHICLE. SOUNDS LIKE A LIFTER. CONTINUES UNTIL 1 MINUTE OF OPERATION THEN SUBSIDES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296284December 17, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
24 DEGREE MORNING CAR'S MANUAL 6-SPEED TRANSMISSION FROZEN IN 1ST GEAR. TOOK OTHER CAR TO WORK. PROBLEM GONE AFTER RETURNING FROM WORK AT 40 DEGREES. LOOKED UP ONLINE. SAW MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS DUE TO WATER IN SHIFTER CABLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296080December 16, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
MY 2008 MINI COOPER SPEEDOMETER IS OFF BY APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES AN HOUR. SO THAT IF I AM ACTUALLY DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE SPEEDOMETER WILL SHOW 56 MPH. ADDITIONALLY, IF I DRIVE 100 MILES, THE ODOMETER WILL ACTUALLY SHOW AS IF I DROVE 106 MILES. THIS IS BOTH A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE INSTRUMENTATION IS WRONG, AS WELL AS A FRAUD ISSUE AS THE CAR LOSES VALUE BECAUSE OF THE PERCEIVED ADDITIONAL MILES DRIVEN AND WOULD BE OUT OF WARRANTY SOONER BECAUSE OF THE PERCEIVED MILEAGE AMOUNT. ALSO, IF THIS WERE A LEASE AND I WENT OVER THE AMOUNT ALLOTTED BY SAID LEASE, MINI WOULD PENALIZE THE DRIVE PER THE MILEAGE. BMW/MINI HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND SAY ITS NOT A PROBLEM AS THEY GIVE ALOT OF LEEWAY FOR THE ACCURACY OF THE SPEEDOMETER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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