MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10228872May 25, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND THE MINI COOPER WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ANY LONGER. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABOUT A MILE AWAY FROM HOME AND CALLED FOR HELP. WE HAD TO PUSH THE CAR ALL THE WAY HOME. COME TO FIND OUT, MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE MINI COOPER TRANSMISSION. THEY NOTED SOMETHING ABOUT THE CVT TRANSMISSION THAT MINI TRIED EXPERIMENTING WITH. I'VE READ MANY STORIES WHERE MINI CARS JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. MANY MINI TRANSMISSIONS HAVE BEEN GIVING OUT AROUND 70,000 TO 80,000 MILES WHICH IS UNORTHODOX FOR A TRANSMISSION. THE COST TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WAS APPROX 8,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228713May 22, 2008
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
MY CAR WAS PARKED AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR 20 MILES OR SO. WITHIN TEN MINUTES OF BEING PARKED, MY OFFICEMATE RAN INTO THE OFFICE SAYING MY CAR WAS SMOKING. IT WAS ACTUALLY ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT IT IS A FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP. I NEED TO REPLACE IT, THE FAN, AND MOST OF THE WIRING AROUND THE PART. RIGHT NOW, I'M TRYING TO FIND A WIRE FOR HIM THAT MINI WILL NOT GET HIM. IT IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING CORRECTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228252May 20, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY CVT IN MY 2003 MINI COOPER FAILED AT 85000 MILES.. SUDDENLY AND IT SEEMS A RARER LARGE PERCENT ARE FAILING. WITH AN AVERAGE REPLACEMENT PRICE OF $7000.. FOR A CAR THAT COST $21,000.. NEVER HAD A TRANSMISSION FAIL LIKE THIS.!! CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER.. APPRO 1.4 MILES AWAY AND WE WERE GIVEN A LIFT HOME... APPROX 24 MILES AWAY. WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR WHAT THE REPAIR COST WILL BE BUT RESEARCH GAVE ME THE NUMBER ALREADY OF $7000. TO BE HONEST.. I CANT AFFORD THAT !!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227637May 13, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
LOWER LEG SUSTAINED BURN RESULTING IN SCARING AS RESULT OF COMING INTO CONTACT WITH EDGE OF REAR EXHAUST PIPE(S). EXHAUST PIPES EXTEND TOO FAR BEYOND REAR BUMPER CREATING EXPOSURE TO A PERSON ACCESSING TRUNK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10227487May 12, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT, EQUIPMENT
2004 MINI COOPER, HAD SEVERAL PROBLEM WITH FRONT EXCEL , HYDOROPLATES AND DANGEROUS CAR TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227127May 9, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AND LOCKED UP CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT 40MPH. NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AS I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE SLIDE. HOWEVER I HAVE SPOKEN TO BOTH DEALER AND MANUFACTURE AND THEY BOTH ADMIT THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THESE VEHICLES BOTH AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL ARE WEAK AND CAN CAUSE FAILURE AT ANY SPEED WHICH WILL RESULT IN LOCKUP OF THE FRONT TIRES. NUMEROUS REPORTS FROM OTHER MINI COOPER OWNERS SHOW THE SAME. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN THIS VEHICLE 3 YEARS AGO FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW IT NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN. THE ONLY REPAIR IS TO PUT A REBUILT UNIT IN PLACE WITH THE SAME WEAK GEARS. MINI NO LONGER WARRANTIES THE REPAIRS AS OF 2008 BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS. I GOT LUCKY BUT I CARRY MY 3YR OLD SON WITH ME MOST OF THE TIME AND THIS DOES NOT FEEL LIKE A SAFE VEHICLE CONSIDERING OUT OF NOWHERE WITH NO WARNING THIS FAILURE COULD OCCUR AGAIN. BOTH MINI USA, BMW HAVE BEEN VERY UNHELPFUL IN THE MATTER UNLESS I'M WILLING TO PAY OVER $1000 TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A MINI COOPER DEALER JUST TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227144May 9, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN, STEERING, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHEN THE CONTACT WOULD TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, SHE COULD STILL HEAR THE MOTOR FAN RUNNING. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. ALSO, ALL OF THE WINDOWS ON HER VEHICLE WOULD SPONTANEOUSLY OPEN. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN DEACTIVATED THE CONVENIENCE POWER SYSTEM FOR THE POWER WINDOWS. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226994May 8, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2 TRANSMISSIONS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN 1 1/2 YEARS. 1ST TRANS WAS REPLACED IN NOVEMBER 2006 AFTER EXPERIENCING GRINDING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. ON FRIDAY MAY 2, 2008 HEARD A POP WHILE TURNING LEFT AND EXPERIENCE THE GRINDING NOISE. DEALER NOW STATES THAT IT'S THE TRANSMISSION AND WANT $5,000 TO REPLACE. I COMPLAINED THAT THIS IS THE SECOND ONE IN 1 1/2 YEARS AND WAS TOLD THAT A CALL WAS PLACED TO THE ENGINEER AND WAITING FOR THEIR RESPONSE ON WHETHER THEY WILL COVER THE COSTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227054May 8, 2008
STRUCTURE
AREA NEAR THE GAS PEDAL GETS EXTREMELY HOT, AS WELL AS THE WALL TO THE RIGHT OF THE GAS PEDAL. IT'S HOT ENOUGH THAT I CAN'T LEAN A BARE FOOT AGAINST IT.. TOO HOT. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS AS A DRIVER COULD INADVERTENTLY REST HIS FOOT ON THE WALL, AND BE SURPRISED BY THE EXTREME HEAT, JERK THEIR FOOT AWAY AND POSSIBLE HIT THE GAS PEDAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226573May 3, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CVT FAILURE AT 37,000 MILES DEALER ESTIMATES COST AT $8,400 TO REPLACE (THERE IS NO REPAIR OPTION). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226471May 2, 2008
STEERING
OVERHEATING OF POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225910April 28, 2008
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAD DRIVEN 2004 MINI FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTE, THEN PARKED IT IN DRIVEWAY. WITHIN 15 MINUTES I LOOKED OVER TO SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I OPENED THE COMPARTMENT AND GOT HELP. WE PUSHED IT INTO A NEARBY FIELD AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPT. IF IT HAD STAYED IN THE DRIVE, IT WOULD HAVE ALSO IGNITED 2 CARS, THE HOUSE AND A BOAT. WHO KNOW ABOUT PEOPLE AND ANIMALS. I ALMOST GOT RUN OVER TRYING TO STOP THE MINI AS IT WAS PUSHED. AFTER THE CAR WAS OUT, WE HAD IT TOWED TO INSKIP AUTO IN WARWICK RI. JEOF SAID AT FIRST IT WAS A POWER STEERING HOSE THAT BURST AND GOT ON THE HOT EXHAUST...IGNITING. AFTER LOOKING AT IT FURTHER AND WITH METLIFE INSURANCE AGENT, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING FAN AND PUMP FAILURE. THIS OVERHEATED THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS, TO START THE ELECTRICAL FIRE. NEITHER THE INSURANCE NOR INSKIP FELT IT WAS COVERED BY THEM. I AM TO PAY $2,600. TODAY WHEN IT PICK IT UP. THIS COVERS LABOR, A POWER STEERING PUMP, FAN AND HARNESS. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET TO UPSETTING TO ME AND FIND AT LEAST 250 POSTED MINI'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MINI DOES NOT HAVE TO RECALL IT. ARE THEY WAITING FOR JUST AS MANY DEATHS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225606April 24, 2008
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2003 MINICOOPER. THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FAILED ON MY MINI IN ADDITION TO THE COOLING FAN AND THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE PUMP. THIS IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH ALL MINI COOPERS MADE BETWEEN 2002 AND 2006. IT IS A POOR DESIGN THAT RESULTS IN AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT WILL ONLY REPEAT ITSELF BECAUSE THE REPAIR DOES NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE OF PLACEMENT OF THE PUMP RIGHT OVER THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. IT I HAS ALSO ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS RESULTED IN FIRES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225613April 24, 2008
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IN THE VEHICLE GOES ON, AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG, NOW THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224836April 17, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING AND THE ENGINE RESPONSE SEEMED SLUGGISH. CALLED A MECHANIC FRIEND, HE SAID IT'S EITHER THE SPARK PLUGS OR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. BOOK APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 83,000KM. MINI COOPER HAS SAID THAT I NEED A COMPLETELY NEW TRANSMISSION, BEING JUST OFF WARRANTY BY 3,000KM I WAS QUOTED APPROXIMATELY $9,000 FOR REPAIRS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224581April 15, 2008
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MOTOR HAS FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME. WINDOW IS STUCK CLOSED. THIS IS A CONCERN IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY AND CAUSES PROBLEMS WHEN CLOSING THE DOOR AS THE GLASS HITS THE LIP OF THE ROOF SINCE IT DOES NOT DROP AS DESIGNED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224470April 14, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
WITH ONLY 24000 TOTAL MILES ON THE 2002 MINI COOPER-S ALL 4 BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE FAILING, WORN BEYOND LIMITS AND REQUIRED REPLACING. NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY DUE TO VEHICLE BEING OLDER THAN 3 YEARS AT THE TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224139April 10, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE VEHICLE LOOSES POWER AT FREEWAY SPEED AND EVENTUALLY STOPS RUNNING. THE FUEL CUT OFF NOT ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE THIS IS DANGEROUS, NOT ALLOWING THE DRIVER ADEQUATE TIME TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE ON FREEWAY AS THE VEHICLE HAS TOTALLY LOST POWER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223492April 6, 2008
STEERING
I HAVE A 2004 MINI COOPER WITH ABOUT 61000 MILES, AND HAVE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. IT WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION AS THE STEERING LOCKED AS I WAS DRIVING ON A LOS ANGELES FREEWAY AT A HIGH SPEED. THERE IS NO WARNING INDICATION, AND THERE IS DEFINITELY A POTENTIAL DANGER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223436April 5, 2008
TIRES:SIDEWALL
COMPLAINT FOR DUNLOP RADIAL TUBELESS TIRES, 205145 R17 (84V) SP SPORT 01, RUN FLAT TIRES. I WAS WASHING MY 2007 MINI COOPER S (WITH APPROXIMATELY 8,000 MILES) AND NOTICED THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD SEVERE BUBBLING OF THE SIDE WALL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPLACED, EXPLAINING THAT I HAD NOT HAD ANY UNUSUAL IMPACT ON THE TIRE AND THAT IT MUST BE DEFECTIVE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNWILLING TO COMPENSATE ME FOR THE TIRE, SAYING THAT I HAD TO GO DIRECTLY TO DUNLOP. I HAD THE TIRE REPLACED ON MARCH 13TH, 2008 BECAUSE I LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE DRIVING IS A NECESSITY AND WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES IF I DID NOT REPLACE IT. IT WAS REPLACED AT ASSAEL BMW/MINI OF MONROVIA, CA. LESS THAN THREE WEEKS LATER, I NOTICED YET ANOTHER BUBBLE ON THE NEWLY REPLACED TIRE! AGAIN, THERE WAS NO UNUSUAL IMPACT UPON THE TIRE WALL, NO RUB MARKS, AND NO OBVIOUS DEFECTS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. AGAIN, BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUES, I AM FORCED TO HAVE THE TIRE REPLACED, BUT AM FILING AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT FOR EACH TIRE, COSTING APPROXIMATELY $387.00. IN ADDITION, OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, I HAVE HAD THREE ADDITIONAL DUNLOP BRAND RUN FLAT TIRES REPLACED BECAUSE OF SIDE WALL BALLOONING AT MY EXPENSE. I WOULD ADVISE THAT ALL OWNERS OF THE TIRES DESCRIBED ABOVE CAREFULLY CHECK THEIR TIRES FOR POSSIBLE BALLOONING, AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT DUNLOP AND/OR THE DEALERSHIP IS UNWILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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