MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#11365835October 22, 2020
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I LOVE MY MINI COOPER S. BUT THERE IS A ISSUE. TODAY I STARTED UP THE CAR AND IT STARTS SMOKING. TWICE THIS HAS HAPPENED IN TWO WEEKS. WHEN I BOUGHT IT 2 YEARS AGO I NOTICED ON THE INSIDE OF MY HOOD OF THE CAR IT'S A BLACK BURNT MARK. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED. LAST WEEK I TOOK IT TO A OIL SHOP AND THEY SAID MY TURBO IS BURNING MY CAR AND WOULD CATCH FIRE SOON. I'M IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING A NEW TURBO BUT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM CAUSE NOW IT'S SMOKING ONLY WHEN IN IDLE OR STARTED UP.BUT THE HOOD IS SUPER HOT AFTER A SHORT DRIVE. I HOPE YOUR CREW CAN LOOK INTO THIS PART AND SAVE SOMEONE THE TERROR OF A CAR ON FIRE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11365166October 19, 2020
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UP A MOUNTAIN AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AN ENGINE PROBLEM MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED SOON AFTER RESTART. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HER THAT THERE WAS A WARRANTY ON HER VEHICLE FOR THE HIGH-PRESSURE PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MINI OF ONTARIO (1251 AUTO CENTER DR, ONTARIO, CA 91761) WHERE THEY INFORMED HER THAT HER VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE VALVE COVER, OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET O RING, FRONT CRANKSHAFT SEAL, OIL PUMP SOLENOID VALVE, WATER PUMP PULLEY DRIVE WHEEL, AND WATER PUMP ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11363558October 9, 2020
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE BILLOWING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER OPENING THE HOOD, FLAMES WERE PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE NEIGHBOR ASSISTED IN EXTINGUISHING THE FLAMES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11362365October 2, 2020
AIR BAGS, SEATS
MY AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON DASH AND CENTER CONSOLE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO FOUND MULTIPLE SEAT MAT SENSOR FAULT CODES STORED. THE SEAT MAT IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY BY FAILING TO RECOGNIZE IF THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT AND/OR THEIR WEIGHT. AS A RESULT, THE AIRBAG MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY COMPLETELY OR INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY ON A PASSENGER WEIGHING LESS THAN 45 POUNDS. BOTH RESULTING IN ADDITIONAL INJURIES AND/OR DEATH. MY MECHANIC HAS INFORMED ME MINI HAS HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES/RECALLS WITH THESE SEAT MAT SENSORS, AS DOCUMENTED IN MINI SERVICE BULLETIN DATE JANUARY 2019 (I HAVE ATTACHED A COPY). THE ISSUE AFFECTS NUMEROUS MINI MODELS MADE THROUGHOUT VARIOUS YEARS, INCLUDING 2012 WHICH IS THE SAME YEAR AS MY MINI. THESE SEAT MAT SENSORS DEFINITELY NEED TO BE REEVALUATED AND POTENTIALLY EXPAND THE RECALL/SAFETY ALERT TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL MODELS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11362320October 1, 2020
STEERING, SUSPENSION
I WAS STARTING MY VEHICLE AND IT MADE A BAD KNOCKING NOISE THEN IT WAS LIKE CRUNCHING NOISE SO I STOPPED TURN IT OFF AND WAITED FOR A WHILE WENT BACK TO THE CAR STILL MAKING A STRANGE NOISE BUT ONCE I PUT IT IN THE DRIVE IT STOPPED MAKING NOISE DROVE DOWN THE ROAD A BIT AND TALKING ABOUT APPARENTLY SLIPS OFF OF THE CAR SO IT JUST PULLS OVER INSIDE ALL THE ALL THE WEARING LIGHTS CAME ON SO PULLED OVER APPARENTLY THIS HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN BUT THE HARMONIC BALANCER SEPARATED AND WITH SPINNING AGAINST ITSELF AND KNOCKED THE PIECES OFF OF IT AND THROUGH THE SERPENTINE BELT SO THAT NEEDS TO REPLACE NOW THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IT'S ONE PIECE IS THIS ONE PIECE THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR THESE WHATEVER CARS HAD THESE HARMONIC BALANCERS IS DANGEROUS AND IT COULD BLOW YOUR CAR UP THANK YOU
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11362085September 30, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
BATTERY LIGHT FLASHING, POWER STEERING CUTTING OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. ALTERNATOR AND SERPINTINE BELT REPLACED BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES. ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SEEMS TO BE DRAINING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11362018September 30, 2020
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT STOPPED WORKING 3 YEARS AGO. I CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES FOR A RECALL BUT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. I WENT TO A DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IF THERE ISN'T A RECALL, THERE WAS NOTHING MINI COOPER COULD DO ABOUT IT. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND IT WILL BE OVER 900.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. ISN'T IT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CAR MANUFACTURER TO FIX SOMETHING THAT JUST STOPPED WORKING (NO ACCIDENTS OR ANY REASON), ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS SUCH A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11361883September 29, 2020
AIR BAGS
TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS OFF LINE. THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS DO NOT TURN ON WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWS THAT IT IS NOT TURNING ON WITH OR WITHOUT A PASSENGER. ALSO THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE TACHOMETER WHEN I START THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND STATIONARY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11361203September 25, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
REAR LIGHT CONNECTOR OVER HEATING, MELTING AND SHORTING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11360812September 23, 2020
AIR BAGS
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING SAFETY LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON WHEN NO-ONE OR SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WITH AND WITHOUT THEIR SEATBELT FASTENED. I SEARCHED ONLINE REGARDING THIS AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. SINCE THIS IS POTENTIALLY A SAFETY HAZARD TO A PASSENGER IT MUST BE RECALLED SINCE MULTIPLE MINI COOPERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ERROR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11355550September 17, 2020
ENGINE
THERE IS A COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE IN MY CAR THAT HAS CAUSED CYLINDER HEAD ISSUES AND HEAD GASKET ISSUES. EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS A 2009, IT ONLY HAS ABOUT 53,000 MILES. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN DECEMBER 2019 AND IN JANUARY 2020 THE CAR OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING AND THEN I NOTICED THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE CAR. I REPLACED THE HOSE AND THERMOSTAT. NOW IN AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 THE CAR OVERHEATED AGAIN AND THERE WAS ALSO LEAKING FROM THE COOLANT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THE ENGINE NEEDS MAJOR REPAIR WORK. I RECENTLY NOTICED RECALLS ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, HOWEVER BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS CAR, I'M THINKING THIS MAY STILL BE AN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. ADDITIONALLY, I REVIEWED THE CARFAX REPORT FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNERS AND THERE WAS NO INFORMATION ABOUT ANY RESOLVED RECALLS. HOWEVER, I SPOKE WITH THE BMW DEALERSHIP THAT THE CAR HAD WORK DONE AT FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND THEY SAID THE RECALLS IN 2012 (AUXILIARY COOLANT PUMP) AND 2015 (HEAT SHIELD TURBO CHARGER) WERE RESOLVED. I ALSO CONFIRMED THIS WITH ANOTHER MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP. BASED ON THE CARFAX REPORT, THESE RECALLS MAY HAVE NEVER BEEN RESOLVED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11355604September 17, 2020
ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN JUMPED OUT OF TIMING AND CAUSED BENT VALVES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353457September 6, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING, CARS AROUND ME WERE BEEPING WHEN I SWITCHED LANES AFTER SIGNALING AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKES. I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED! COME TO FIND OUT ALL OF MY LIGHTING SYSTEMS WERE INOPERABLE. I HAD: *NO BRAKE LIGHTS *NO TURN SIGNALS *NO HAZARD LIGHTS *NO HEADLIGHTS *NO TAIL LIGHTS *WINDOWS WERE INOPERABLE. THE LIST GOES ON. THIS IS TERRIFYING TO HAVE HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, AND EVEN WORSE, I DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING UNTIL I HAD NEARLY BEEN HIT BY TWO DIFFERENT CARS. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN WORSE HAD IT FAILED AT NIGHT. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE FOOTWELL MODULE (AKA FRM) HAD FAILED. THIS HAPPENED AT ONLY 41,000 MILES. APPARENTLY THIS IS EXTREMELY COMMON AND A LONG-KNOWN DEFECT ON MINI COOPERS. IN MY OPINION THERE NEEDS TO BE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL ON ALL AFFECTED FRMS. I LEARNED THAT MINI ISSUED A "SILENT RECALL" OF EXTENDED WARRANTIES, FROM 4 YEARS TO 8 YEARS, AND NOW TO 10 YEARS/156,000 MILES. I AM OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY 6 MONTHS BY TIME, BUT WITHIN WARRANTY BY 115,000 MILES. I CONTACTED MINI USA TO REQUEST THAT THEY COVER THE PART REPAIR, AS THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART IN MY CAR'S MODEL AND YEAR AND A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE. THEY HAVE REFUSED, DESPITE ME GETTING IN TOUCH THREE TIMES. I ALSO NOTIFIED CUSTOMER RELATIONS AT MINI USA THAT I NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION ON THIS PART, OR ON ANY OTHER PART. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION OF RECALLS THAT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE, THOUGH THROUGH MY RECENT RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT SOME HAVE BEEN ISSUED. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH AS WELL AS DISCUSSIONS WITH MINI TECHS WILL REVEAL WIDESPREAD FRM FAILURE. MANY OTHER COMPLAINANTS ON THIS PAGE ARE REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE. HAS ANY INVESTIGATION TAKEN PLACE? IF NOT, I HOPE THERE WILL BE ONE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11349959August 17, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD DRIVER'S SIDE ROLL OVER BAR JUST POPPED UP. I'M CONCERNED THAT IF CAR WOULD HAVE ROLLED OVER PASSENGER WOULD HAVE BEEN CRASHED. ALREADY NOTIFIED MIN ICOOPER WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. CAR WILL BE SERVICE THIS WEEK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11349356August 15, 2020
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL FILLING NOZZLE SHUTS OFF REPEATEDLY WHILE REFUELING. UPON GASSING UP, VALVE CLICKS IMMEDIATELY AND PUMP SHUTS OFF LIKE IT'S FULL NO MATTER WHICH GAS STATION OR PRESSURE I EXERT. I SAW A BULLETIN "SI M16 01 15" WHICH AFFECTED MINIS PRODUCED IN 2014 BUT DID NOT INCLUDE MY 2015 COOPER S. A COMMENT FROM THE BULLETIN HAD A TEMPORARY SOLUTION WHICH IS TO ANGLE THE PUMP TO 45, THEN PUMP SLOWLY AT THE MAGIC SPEED, THOUGH THIS CAN TAKE ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO 30 MINUTES. THIS IS DANGEROUS ON MY PART AS I TRAVEL PAST MIDNIGHT FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND SPENDING MORE TIME AT A GAS STATION IN THE DARK IS WORRISOME. I DO GET SPILLS OCCASIONALLY WHICH I HAVE TO KEEP WIPING AND IS A STATION HAZARD. REPLACING THE FUEL TANK COMPLETELY AT AN ESTIMATED $2K+ IS TOO COSTLY ESPECIALLY DURING THIS PANDEMIC AND IS DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11343770August 6, 2020
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR FAILURE RESULTS IN THE AIRBAG FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE BEING DISABLED WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION/DRIVING REGARDLESS OF WHETHER A PERSON IS SITTING IN THE SEAT (AN ADULT WILL BE SITTING IN THE SEAT AND THE AIRBAG WILL CONTINUE TO BE DISABLED AS THE CAR IS DRIVEN AROUND). THE LACK OF AIRBAG FOR THE PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FAULTY SENSOR IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK THAT WILL LIKELY RESULT IN THE DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM MINI HAD ON OTHER MODELS OF ITS CARS WHICH RESULTED IN A RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11342154July 29, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY CAR HAS PROTRUDING TAILPIPES, IT CAUSED ME AND MY HUSBAND 3RD-DEGREE BURNS AFTER A SHORT DRIVE TO COSTCO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11341850July 28, 2020
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2008 MINI COOPER. PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHT IS ON AND ALWAYS STAYS ON. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT MINI HAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY/RECALL. I TOOK VEHICLE TO BMW/MINI DEALER IN BIRMINGHAM, AL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS PARTICULAR RECALL EXPIRED IN 2018, OR WITH VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 120,000 MILES. MINE HAS 123,000 MI. ALSO CALLED MINI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RECEIVED THE SAME INFORMATION. MANY VIDEOS EXIST ON INTERNET/YOUTUBE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR DEFECT AND HOW TO BYPASS PROBLEM BY INSTALLING A PART THAT BYPASSES THE SENSOR OR BY USING A SCAN TOOL TO ERASE THE CODE TO REMOVE THE WARNING LIGHT. NEITHER OF THESE SOLUTIONS SEEM SAFE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CAR'S PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD FAIL TO DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. HERE IS A VIDEO THAT EXPLAINS THE PROBLEM AND A POSSIBLE UNSAFE FIX: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=GDLMTYGUIPM&T=615S
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11341505July 26, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
REAR DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT HOUSING MELTED. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN TAIL LIGHT OUT INDICATOR TURNED ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11340744July 21, 2020
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR HAS STOPPED WORKING DURING ALL STATES OF VEHICLE OPERATION. UPON STARTING THE CAR AND WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT TURNS ON REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. IF I WERE TO GET INTO A CRASH, MY PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG WILL NOT ACTIVATE, LEAVING THE PASSENGER IN THE CAR UNPROTECTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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