MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#11516815April 12, 2023
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Rear tail lights have a bulb socket and a 6-pin connector that have a tendency to burn at the brown ground wire where the connector and bulb socket meet. Requiring replacement of both parts and disabling the rear tail light (brake, turn, and reverse lights). It requires rewiring the 6-pin connector and replacing the bulb socket. About $60 in parts. When this occurs it an alert comes on the dash of a malfunction to all three rear lighting functions. One or all three of the lights can be affected. However, due to the complexity of the parts and labor required, it can be burdensome for people to diagnose and then afford to repair, if they don’t know how to repair themselves. Web searches helped me diagnose the issue and find the burnt connections on our vehicle, with folks commenting of a known issue on MINIs and BMWs for this type of connection, surprised it hasn’t been part of a recall. An example can be found here: https://www.mini2.com/threads/solution-driver-side-tail-light-failure-melted-connector.361711/
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11516087April 8, 2023
AIR BAGS, SEATS
There is a known issue with the passenger seat occupancy sensor that trips the airbag/seatblet lights and, I assume, doesn't turn off the airbag in the applicable situations.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11515234April 3, 2023
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The contact owns a 2017 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while that vehicle was parked, the vehicle was turned on that there was a message on the instrument panel stating that there was a taillight malfunction. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that the driver’s side rear taillight had not illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the driver’s side taillight housing and connector needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired, and the VIN was not included in a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11514968April 1, 2023
POWER TRAIN
"Secure Vehicle from Rolling" comes up in instrument cluster and millions of Mini/BMW's have this problem due to a faulty gear shifter selector knob going bad due to a spring in the gear selector box. Annoying because the part fails over time and dealer wants $3000 for the fix. Please help!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11514824March 31, 2023
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
The contact owns a 2011 Mini Cooper. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer stated that the air bag mat sensor on the passenger’s side needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted or notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 148,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11514570March 30, 2023
AIR BAGS
All air bags lights are on. Indicates airbags are deactivated.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11514006March 27, 2023
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS
BMW issued a Recall 15V-205 Safety Recall, to cover the Airbag sensor in the passenger seat of my vehicle, a 2006 Mini Cooper S. The failure error was in the airbag sensor in the passenger seat, and the system warned of potential hazard with the passenger airbag. My car had a recall fix in 2018 for this fault. Now some 4 years later the same fault has arisen in the same sensor and system. I returned to BMW Mini who carried out the previous recall to have this fixed again. They said that while their repairs and parts generally carry an 8-year warranty, they do not warrant Recall repairs. They wanted over $2,000 to fix this issue. As this is a repeat of the original fault, and the car has under 100,000 miles I believe it should be covered, as their repair and or part has again failed. The date below is when I took it for the recall and was refused the warrenty repair.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11514050March 27, 2023
ENGINE
Nothing has failed yet, however, the oil stick is completely illegible. On a car that fails to have an electronic dipstick and likes to burn oil, as well as has a very small oil capacity (Around 5 liters or less) this design is going to cause the engine to run out of oil without the driver knowing. It is a seriously bad design, especially combined with BMW recommending a 10,000 mile oil change, the car will burn off all the oil it has and operator will have no idea due to the faulty design of the dipstick. I generally like BMWS engineering and designs, but this one is just atrocious and I have no idea how it got approved. Running a car out of oil usually causes the engine seize unless you shut it off at the right time, which, most people will not do. Imagine if your engine seizes on the highway? No it hasn't been inspected, I can send pictures of it, if you want? Or a video? I have not had this problem yet (knock on wood) but I have read the only warning sign, is the sound of an engine without oil and the oil pressure light comes on (which at that point you have maybe 3s to pull over and shut off the engine before it toasts the engine) I have also read about the engines consuming the entire oil capacity if you follow the BMW recommended schedule. It all just seems like a huge oversight for a company that usually has few issues.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11513759March 25, 2023
AIR BAGS
Run out of lane over raised median hit 2 road signs head on they flew over the car into opposite side of traffic and into a ditch at 45mph. Airbags did not deploy despite broken frame, collapsed suspension, all 4 no flat tires were flat and front end damage.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11512562March 18, 2023
SERVICE BRAKES
Left brake light continues to blow out with a loud pop through the speakers. Instrument at parts store shows ABS warning but not on dash. Bulb has been replaced approximately 5 times and continues to blow out after a day or two. No one can seem to find the problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11512098March 16, 2023
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The high pressure fuel pump failed. There was a class action settlement and a warranty extension campaign for this part. Mini refused to warranty my vehicles h/p fuel pump stating it was only covered for 10 years or 120,000 miles. My vehicle only has 71,312 miles. I was informed by a local news source that manufacturers are required to honor the recall for 15 years per NHTSA, and that I should file a complaint. Please help. Thank you very much.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11512027March 15, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The horn does no longer work. Had to press harder and harder on the horn button and in different places as time went on. Also have the same problem in a 2005 Mini Cooper.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509535February 28, 2023
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2010 Mini Cooper Convertible. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger’s air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V205000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic and it was determined that the front passenger occupant detection sensor needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509250February 27, 2023
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2017 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle rolled backwards. The contact applied the parking brake. There was an abnormal scraping noise detected while starting the vehicle. The roll back warning light was illuminated. There was a message stating “Transmission, Not Secure” was displayed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 43,198.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509134February 25, 2023
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Tail light assembly including brake light and turn signal failed due to burnt electrical socket and connector. This is caused by a faulty grounding point that is very clearly a manufacturing issue but wasn't considered as a recall for some odd reason. This issue is prominent in several BMW 3,4, and 5 series models
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11507276February 14, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Rear tail light malfunction due to defective ground, melting connectors to rear break lights and indicators. Lack of break lights and indicators is a risk to motorist safety as a whole.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11506521February 9, 2023
POWER TRAIN
While driving, the car shifted into park on its own coming to a sudden stop from about 30mph. The car reported “drivetrain error”. After turning off then back on, the error code disappeared and the car drove normally.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11505013February 1, 2023
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
There have been at least 7 write-ups about air bag failure on this model reported to you. When a passenger sits in the seat of my car, with the seat belt on, 01 the airbag light and seat belt light come on. If I have an accident the airbag on the passenger side will not deploy, leading to death or injury to the passenger. This has been reported to a MINI dealership. They will inspect it at my cost to see if it rates as a safety item. It is available for inspection as I can't drive it with a passenger and I can't leave my disabled wife alone at home. The car has 92323 miles on it. [XXX]--- [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11503777January 26, 2023
ENGINE
2023 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO COMPLETE MALFUNCTION OF VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER RECEIVING INSTRUCTIONAL TRAINING AND TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND EXPERIENCING A COMPLETE MULTIFUNCTION RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11502939January 21, 2023
ENGINE
On 2014 a Class Action Lawsuit was filed against BMW OF NORTH AMERICA for claims regarding MINI COOPER models. Answering your questions as follows: -The failing component was the timing chain tensioner -Yes, engine stalled at any speed -No, dealer did not acknowledge the real problem -No, dealer did not told me about the Class Action Lawsuit, did not advice me of any preventive repair or to install a new timing chain tensioner, when the component failed dealer told me that the problem was a jumping timing chain ; the same excuse as in the lawsuit. -There was only an engine light, not any other warning light There were two repairs, the first for $ 2,629.10 on 6/18/2016 the second for $ 3,354.93 on 1/13/2017 dealer had a two years parts and labor warranty that didn't honor and in 2016 the lawsuit was active and not of my knowledge. My question is: if the production numbers engraved on the timing chain tensioner cylinder face match or are part of the production batch from the factory for which the class action lawsuit took place ? Numbers top line: 7565868 80-02 Lower line: IV/ IS GERMANY 3 1 0 This is looks like half cero All components (parts) and the vehicle are available for inspection. Once engine is out of timing pistons will hit the valves (interference engine), in my engine broke at least one valve seat, pieces fell into combustion chamber getting stuck between pistons and cylinder walls scratching these, result lost of compression, engine die. Engine was beyond any repair, and still was charged for. Lawsuit for vehicles manufactured goes to April 2007 mine was February 2007 Neither the MINI COOPER dealer or BMW North America corporate offices paid any attention to my complaint.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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