MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10234816July 18, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 MINI COOPER, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. DEALERS STATES IT WOULD COST SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPLACE AND FIX. WITH THE CAR ONLY WORTH DOUBLE THAN THAT IT IS AN SHAMEFUL ACT ON MINI FOR DOING THIS TO CUSTOMERS. SOUNDS OF RATTLING AND TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, DEALER STATES IT IS A REGULAR PROBLEM WITH THE COOPER BUT THERE IS NO RECALL OF ANY SORT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234526July 16, 2008
POWER TRAIN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH ALWAYS EMITTED AN ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC. THE ENGINE GRADUALLY REVVED WITHIN A 48 HOUR PERIOD. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CLUTCH FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED AT THE ESTIMATED COST OF $3,300. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 5,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234352July 15, 2008
STEERING
I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER S AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FAILED AFTER ONLY 4 YEARS AND 65,000 MILES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURE IS ACUTELY AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL OR WARRANTY THE ITEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234449July 15, 2008
STEERING
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED IN MARCH 2008. LUCKILY IN MASSACHUSETTS THEY HAVE A LAW REQUIRING WARRANTIES FOR ALL USED CARS FOR X NUMBER OF MILES/MONTHS DEPENDING ON MILEAGE AT TIME OF SALE AND ALL THAT. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE MUFFLER RE-WELDED INTO PLACE WHERE ITS MOUNTS FAILED. THE ONLY REASON IT DIDN'T FALL OFF IS BECAUSE MINI INCLUDED A SAFETY "CATCH" BAR FOR WHEN/IF THIS HAPPENS. BUT MY BIG PROBLEM NOW IS THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS GONE OUT; IT HAPPENED VERY SUDDENLY. THE REPAIR COULD BE DONE OUTSIDE OF THE DEALERSHIP BUT I'M AFRAID TO TAKE A GERMAN MADE MACHINE OF THIS QUALITY TO A CHOP-SHOP AND HOPE THEY CAN GET IT DONE. I CALLED A VW DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY SAID THEY WERE UNSURE THEY KNEW HOW TO DO THE REPAIR. *SHIVER* MINI IN BOSTON WANTS $900-1000.00 TO DO THE REPAIR AS THE PART IS ABOUT $800 AND THE TIME INVOLVED WILL BE ABOUT 2 HOURS AT $125 PER HOUR. PRAY FOR ME, PLEASE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233675July 9, 2008
STEERING
(1) ON THURSDAY, JULY 3RD, I ATTEMPTED TO MANIPULATE A 90 DEGREE RIGHTHAND TURN IN MY 2004 MINI COOPER S DURING MY VERY SHORT COMMUTE TO WORK AND DID SO ONLY WITH GREAT DIFFICULTLY. FROM THAT POINT FORWARD MY CAR TURNS NEITHER LEFT NOR RIGHT PROPERLY AND ONLY WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR NOISES OF ANY KIND TO ALERT ME TO THE PROBLEM. MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER, WHO IS A TRAINED MECHANIC, INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND IDENTIFIED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AS THE PROBLEM. I ALSO SPOKE WITH SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS HERB CHAMBERS BMW MINI OF BOSTON WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS EITHER A KNOWN AND/OR COMMON PROBLEM. THE PARTS DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT THE PUMP MANUFACTURER WHO MADE THE PUMP IN MY MINI IS NO LONGER MAKING PUMPS FOR MINI. (2) THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FAILED THEREFORE MY MINI IS RELYING ON THE RACK AND PINION TO TURN. THE MINI TURNS ONLY WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY AND REQUIRES TWO HANDS ON THE WHEEL AT ALL TIMES; THIS IS EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO DO WHILE NAVIGATING CORNERS AS I HAVE A STANDARD TRANSMISSION. THE MINI IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, SO I AM FORCED TO BORROW ANOTHER VEHICLE. (3) MY CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000 MILES ON IT AND MINI'S WARRANTY ONLY COVERS PROBLEMS UP THROUGH 50,000 MILES DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE PUMP IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND SAFETY HAZARD. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY THE DEALERSHIP TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. MY MINI REMAINS PARKED WHILE I AWAIT THE NEW POWER STEERING PUMP THAT I ORDERED AND PAID FOR. THE NEW PUMP IS MANUFACTURED BY A DIFFERENT COMPANY THAN THE DEFECTIVE PUMP THAT HAS FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232953July 1, 2008
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT ON FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2008 CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN STEERING AND NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. AS I TURNED INTO MY HOME DRIVEWAY. UPON TOWING THE VEHICLE TO CREVIER AUTO IN SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING, CREVIER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE VEHICLE. ON MONDAY, JUNE 30, AFTER MUCH CONSTERNATION, CREVIER FINALLY LOCATED THE VEHICLE AS THEY HAD IT ON THEIR PREMISES SINCE THE PREVIOUS FRIDAY. TUESDAY, JULY 1, A SERVICE TECHNICIAN NOTIFIED ME THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD GONE OUT ON THE 2003 MINI COOPER S. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN GENTLY THROUGHOUT ITS LIFETIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232670June 30, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ABOUT 60 MPH. EXTREMELY LOUD SCREECHING BURST OF SOUND OCCURRED. SOUND WAS SIMILAR TO SMOKE DETECTOR TEST SOUND, LASTING ABOUT A SECOND, BUT HORRIBLY LOUD, ESPECIALLY IN A SMALL ENCLOSED AREA WITH THE WINDOWS UP. NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT. OUR EARS HURT BADLY (I STILL FEEL SOME SORENESS A DAY LATER, AS I NOW WRITE. SIMILAR OCCURRENCES FOR MINI COOPER NOTED IN WEB FORUMS, REFERENCING A POSSIBLE STEREO AMPLIFIER PROBLEM. OUR RADIO WAS NOT ON. FORTUNATELY THE DEALER WAS OPEN (ON SUNDAY) AND WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED TODAY. FROM WHAT I'VE RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET, WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES VICTIMIZED BY THIS ISSUE. WE ARE ACTUALLY FEARFUL AND UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR, WORRYING THAT AT ANY TIME THIS COULD OCCUR AGAIN. THIS IS AN UNNECESSARY HARDSHIP AND DISTRACTION THAT KEEPS US FROM PAYING FULL ATTENTION TO SAFELY DRIVING THE CAR. UNTIL THE DEALER CAN SPECIFICALLY EXPLAIN WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND PERFORM WHATEVER WORK IS NEED TO GUARANTEE IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS ONE-YEAR-OLD CAR, BEING CONCERNED THAT I'LL HAVE AN ACCIDENT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF I STILL FEEL SORENESS IN MY LEFT EAR LATER TODAY, I PLAN TO CONTACT MY DOCTOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10232521June 27, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER SPORT. WHILE REMOVING GROCERIES FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT BURNED HER LEG ON THE EXHAUST PIPE, WHICH WAS LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER GAVE HER THE NUMBER TO THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK WITH HER. SINCE THAT TIME, THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING ELSE COULD BE DONE DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. SHE WAS ADVISED TO NOT GET TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,400. UPDATED 08/04/08.*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DESIGN ITSELF WAS FLAWED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ISSUE COULD EASILY BE RECTIFIED BY MAKING THE EXHAUST PIPE SHORTER. UPDATED 08/06/08
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10232345June 26, 2008
STEERING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
1. THE MALFUNCTION HAPPENS SPONTANEOUSLY 2. THE POWER STEERING PUMP MALFUNCTIONS AND CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE STIFF PLACING ME OR ANYONE ELSE DRIVING/ON THE ROAD IN DANGER DUE TO THE RELUCTANCE OF THE WHEEL TO TURN. 3. THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED NO MONETARY SUPPORT BUT INSTEAD TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO ABOUT IT BUT TO REPLACE IT AND ATTEMPTED TO CHARGE ME $1000 DOLLARS IN CASH. INSTEAD I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS CHARGED $700. A RIDICULOUS PRICE TO PAY FOR MY SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10231621June 19, 2008
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231622June 19, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CVT (CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION) FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230477June 10, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT
I BURNED MY LOWER FRONT LEG ON THE CHROME TIPPED DUAL EXHAUST PIPES OF OUT 2007 MINI COOPER S (TURBO VERSION). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10230390June 9, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
DURING A SERVICE CALL ON OUR 2006 MINI COOPER, WE WERE INFORMED THAT BOTH FRONT STRUT MOUNTS WERE BENT AND DAMAGED. THESE ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND IN ONE CASE HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE AT 20000+ MILES AFTER HITTING A BAD POTHOLE. THE CAR NOW HAS 34000 MILES AND HAD TO HAVE BOTH MOUNTS REPLACED. APPARENTLY THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT MINI/BMW IS NOT WILLING TO CORRECT ALTHOUGH THERE ARE AFTERMARKET REINFORCEMENTS AVAILABLE. A FURTHER SEARCH OF THE INTERNET REVEALS THAT A LOT OF MINI & BMW OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE, IN PARTICULAR THOSE WITH RUN-FLAT TIRES INSTALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230096June 6, 2008
STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP ON 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE STARTED MAKING NOISE (EVEN WITH ENGINE TURNED OFF, DRAINING THE BATTERY), THEN ULTIMATELY FAILED. AN INTERNET SEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS REPAIR COSTS APPROX $2000 TO FIX, AND THAT REPLACEMENT POWER STEERING PUMPS FAIL REGULARLY, SO WE'VE BEEN DRIVING WITHOUT POWER STEERING IN THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230178June 6, 2008
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER HAS FAILED. I BELIEVE THAT THIS FAILURE MADE THE CAR DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE CAR IS A LOW-MILEAGE VEHICLE (43,000 MILES AT 4 YEARS) AND I BELIEVE THIS COMPONENT HAS FAILED PREMATURELY. I AM A MEMBER OF SEVERAL MINI ENTHUSIAST COMMUNITIES AND AM AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MINI. WWW.MINI2.COM HAS REPORTS OF AROUND 1 IN 4 VEHICLES HAVING THIS PUMP FAIL PREMATURELY. I BELIEVE AN INVESTIGATION IS IMPORTANT DUE TO MEMBER REPORTS OF FIRES STARTING UNDER THE HOOD. THE PART WAS REPLACE AT A MINI DEALERSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230038June 5, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH IN FIRST GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO RANDOMLY MAKE WHIRLING NOISES. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT EXPLAIN WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY REPAIRED AND A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT A TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPAIRED WITHIN FIVE YEARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229989June 4, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION BLEW AT 34 THOUSAND MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229299May 30, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION MONITOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE MONITOR. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED THE SAME REPAIR. THREE DAYS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER A THIRD TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS BECAUSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE CANNOT BE DETERMINED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND IS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 539.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229170May 29, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND FELT A SHUTTER, THEN A LOSS OF POWER AND SMOKE TO THE REAR OF THE CAR. I TURNED MOTOR OFF AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS OK. ONCE STOPPED, I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR. SAW MORE SMOKE AND SPARKS FROM THE TAIL PIPE. I THEN SAT AND STARTED TO CALL A TOW TRUCK, WHEN I NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE HOOD SCOOP. I POPPED THE HOOD AND UPON OPENING IT, NOTICED A FIRE AT THE FRONT OF THE MOTOR, DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE SUPERCHARGER. I WAS UNABLE TO PUT OUT THE FLAME, SO I CALL 911 AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ON SITE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE IN A FEW MINUTES, BUT BY THEN THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. ALLSTATE CALLED IT A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228977May 27, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER S MODEL, WITH 39,000 MILES. THE CAR IS WELL CARED FOR. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 30,000 AND I BEGAN RECEIVING ANNOYING CALLS AND LETTERS FROM MINI TO PURCHASE AN ADDITIONAL EXTENDED WARRANTY. I DID NOT, BELIEVING THAT SIMPLY MAINTAINING MY CAR PROPERLY WOULD TAKE CARE OF ANY FUTURE ISSUES. I TRUSTED BMW/MINI THAT THEY WOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT IF SOME UNUSUAL FAILURE OR BREAKDOWN OCCURRED. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO MY POWER STEERING WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT. AT FIRST, ONLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND THEN IT STARTED OCCURRING WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. WE CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND ALL WAS WELL. TOOK IT IN TO MY MECHANIC AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE EXPLAINED THAT MINI HAD TOLD HIM "THEY" HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING A HIGH INSTANCES OF STEERING POWER PUMP FAILURES. HE ASKED IF THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS ON THE RECALL LIST. "THEY" TOLD HIM NO AND EXPLAINED THAT THE PUMP WAS ELECTRICAL AND NOT MANUALLY THEREFORE IT WAS CONSIDERED WEAR AND TEAR. CREVIER MINI, WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $1100.00 TO REPLACE THE PUMP! MY MECHANIC TOLD ME HE WOULD REPLACE IT FOR $880.00. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IN ORDER FOR HIM TO GET A POWER STEERING PUMP, HE NEEDED TO TURN MY OLD PUMP INTO THEM. CREVIER TOLD HIM THAT "THEY" WERE REBUIDLING THESE!.THEY COULD NOT KEEP ENOUGH OF THEM ON THE SHELVES. THIS IS A SCANDALOUS OUTRAGE, PARTICULARLY AFTER READING VARIOUS BLOGS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT I AM EXPERIENCING WITH MY MINI. I SHOULD CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY IN THAT MY CAR DID NOT CATCH FIRE, SINCE IT IS ALWAYS GARAGED, OR THAT I DID NOT KILL MYSELF OR HURT SOME INNOCENT PEOPLE BY THE PROBLEM OCCURRING ON A STEEP CURVEY GRADE WHILE DRIVING. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO, MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW STOPPED WORKING!! TOOK IT IN CREVIER WANTED $900 TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AGAIN STATED WEAR AND TEAR!! MY MECHANIC CHARGED ME $400.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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