MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#11269786October 20, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, STEERING
HELLO, YESTERDAY AFTERNOON I STARTED MY 2009 MINI COOPER AND NOTED THAT MY GAUGES SUDDENLY FAILED. THE TACH DROPPED TO ZERO. SUDDENLY I RECEIVED A TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT. I DECIDED I WOULD MOVE THE CAR TO A MORE FAVORABLE LOCATION TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD. AS I PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE I NOTED THAT MY POWER STEERING HAD FAILED. I STOPPED THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AND POPPED THE HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE SMELL OF BURNING ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT. I RAN DOWN TO THE BASEMENT TO GRAB A WRENCH TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. WHEN I RETURNED I COULD HEAR POPS AND CRACKS AND NOTED CHAR ON THE HOOD INTERIOR. THOUGH THE KEYS WERE OUT I CONTINUED TO HEAR POPS AND CRACKS AND FELT HEAT ACCUMULATING . I FINALLY GOT THE BATTERY DISCONNECTED AND THE POPPING STOPPED. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THE WIRING NEAR THE POWER STEERING MODULE WAS COMPLETELY BURNT OUT. THE CAR DROVE FINE THE DAY PRIOR. MY WIFE IS 38 WEEKS PREGNANT AND I AM SHAKEN BY THE IDEA THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING THE DAY BEFORE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11269812October 20, 2019
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR ACCIDENT CAUSE PROBLEMS , HAVING PROBLEMS WITH CLUTCH / FLYWHEEL WAS REPAIRED ONE TIME DRIVE SLOW WON'T MOVE FAST. NOT STEERING , HAS LEAKAGE , DAMAGE DENTS ON RIGHT SIDE FRONT END PAINT DAMAGES, NOT RIGHT COLOR. BACK BUMPER DAMAGE SCRATCHES , HATCHBACK LOCK NEEDS BE REPLACED. WHEELS DAMAGE LT RT . ABS SYMPTOM LIGHT ON, AIRBAG LIGHT ON, FRONT REAR HOOD LIGHT ON PROBLEMS NOT CLOSING. IN MOTION STREET .
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11269428October 18, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN. AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY FOUR HOURS, THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND BLACK SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED 911. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT AND A FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND FACILITY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. *LN*JB*PM*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11269288October 17, 2019
STEERING
POWER STEERING IS MALFUNCTIONING. IT COME AND GOES FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS WHILE IN A WINDING ROAD. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACE SOME LINES. A FEW MOTHS LATER IT STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DRIVING AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN IDLE FOR MORE THAN 2 HOURS. NOW THE POWER STEERING IS TOTALLY NOT WORKING AT ALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11269051October 16, 2019
ENGINE
DAILY ON COLD STARTS, THE CAR MISFIRES AND STALLS 2-20 TIMES BEFORE IT STARTS. THIS HAS JUST STARTED HAPPENING IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11267347October 9, 2019
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
PROBLEM 1: CLUTCH/TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 50,000 JUST AFTER WARRANTY. UNABLE TO SHIFT ON HIGHWAY, HAD TO STAY IN LOW GEAR. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. IT FAILED A SECOND TIME, WAS REPLACED AT ABOUT 80,000. I BELIEVE IT IS FAILING AGAIN AS THE CLUTCH IS SLIPPING IN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS; MINI COOPER SAYS THEY NOTE NO PROBLEM. PROBLEM 2: TIMING CHAIN. PARKED, MY CAR WOULD NOT START EASILY; STARTED ON 3RD TRY. MY CAR STALLED, STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN DUE TO TRAFFIC. RESTARTED AND CONTINUED. NO ENGINE LIGHT. DRIVING TO MINI SERVICE, CAR STALLED COMING IN; HAD TO COAST IN. FOUND TO BE TIMING CHAIN, VALVETRONIC ECCENTRIC SHAFT, PERHAPS PARTS FALLING INTO OIL PAN. $2800 IN REPAIRS. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT LAW SUITS OR RECALLS OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS BECAUSE I'VE HAD MAJOR PERFORMANCE ISSUES, MINI COOPER STATED NO KNOWN SUITS EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE. I FIND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SUITS, AND I "MISSED THE WINDOW" FOR THE TIMING CHAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11266192October 4, 2019
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MINI COOPER SEAT OCCUPATION SENSOR OC3 IS FAULTY CAUSING AIRBAG NOT TO WORK PROPERLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11258958September 30, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2004 MINI COOPER HOME TRAVELING UPHILL ON A STEEP PAVED MOUNTAIN ROADWAY TRAVELING A MAXIMUM OF 15 MPH WHEN FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROADWAY; STRUCK A TREE WITH ITS LEFT FRONT AND BURST INTO AN EXPLODING FIRE KILLING MY WIFE WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO ESCAPE THE BURNING VEHICLE. THE NC STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AND DEATH. THEY DO NOT KNOW YET WHETHER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE PRIOR TO STRIKING THE TREE BUT, FEEL THE FIRE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE VEHICLE STRIKING THE TREE AT A LOW IMPACT AND SPEED. NC MV ACCIDENT REPORT#[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#11258744September 28, 2019
ENGINE
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2010 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN ON AN INTERSTATE IN MICHIGAN IN APRIL 2018 GOING 70 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE JUST QUIT, LOSING ALL POWER. I WAS FOLLOWING HER IN A VEHICLE THAT I HAD JUST PURCHASED SO I PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE BEHIND HER. THERE WAS NOT ANY INDICATION OF EXTERNAL LIQUIDS ESCAPING THE ENGINE SO AFTER 15 MINUTES OF EXAMINING THE VEHICLE I STARTED IT BACK UP AND DROVE THE 9 REMAINING MILES TO OUR HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT UNTIL I PARKED THE VEHICLE IN OUR GARAGE, LIFTED THE HOOD AND STEAM WAS COMING OUT OF THE OIL CAP WHEN I OPENED IT. I PROCEEDED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A FOREIGN IMPORT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $8,800 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AS THEY INDICATED THE ENGINE COOLANT HAD BECOME MIXED WITH THE ENGINE OIL. NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THE $8,800 AT THAT TIME I STORED THE MINI IN OUR BARN FOR A YEAR. NOT WANTING JUST TO JUNK THE CAR AFTER HAVING IT FOR ONLY 6 MONTHS BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILED, I DECIDED TO HAVE A FOREIGN IMPORT CAR REPAIR FACILITY REPLACE THE ENGINE AT A COST OF $7,300! AFTER EXPRESSING MY CONCERN ONCE IN AN EMAIL AND THEN IN A LETTER TO THE CEO OF MINI USA, MINI SAID THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING FOR ME. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. A CAR WITH 100,000 MILES ON IT AND HAVING BEEN WELL TAKEN CAR OF WITH A CARFAX TO SHOW THAT, SHOULD NOT HAVE A TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. UNFORTUNATELY I AM NOT THE ONLY CUSTOMER WITH THIS PROBLEM. THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF MINI COOPER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ENGINE FAILURE AS I HAVE. LOOKING AT ANY MINI COOPER FORUM OR EVEN ON MINI USA'S WEB SITE WILL SHOW ENGINE FAILURES AT AN ABNORMAL RATE. THE FACT THAT MINI IS STICKING THEIR HEAD IN THE SAND JUST SAYING THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY IS ABSURD. MINI NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DESIGN FLAWS IN THEIR VEHICLES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11258503September 27, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AC NOT WORKING WATER PUMP
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11258025September 25, 2019
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE STEERING WAS ROUGH AND STIFF. THE CONTACT PERFORMED HIS OWN INSPECTION ON THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS LEAKING. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY BE INCLUDED IN AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MINI OF THE WOODLANDS (16675 I-45, CONROE, TX 77385, 936-344-1258) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE STEERING PUMP WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL MINI COOPER STEERING PUMP. THE DEALER OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE PUMP HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11257851September 24, 2019
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER, AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION, AIR BAGS
PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR ON 2007 MINI COOPER FAULTED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON BMW AND MINI COOPERS EXCEPT FOR THIS BASE MODEL. DEALER SAID IT WOULD BE $1800. TO FIX I WOULD THINK THE PARTS FOR THIS CAR ARE THE SAME. SHOULD BE RECALLED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11257091September 21, 2019
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION, AIR BAGS
MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY, EVEN IF SOMEONE IS SITTING THERE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11257094September 21, 2019
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ADVISED FROM MECHANIC THAT WATER IS GETTING DOWN FROM THE FRONT AREA BELOW THE WINDSHIELD AND IS CAUSING THE BODY CONTROL MODULE AND OTHER ELECTRONICS TO SHORT OUT. GOT TO WHERE THE CAR WOULDN'T EVEN TURN OVER TO TRY AND START. HAD TO HAVE OVER $3450 WORTH OF REPAIRS DONE AND WAS TOLD THEY SPOKE WITH MINI AND THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WAS TOLD THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IF NOT FIXED. WAS TOLD TO TAKE TO MINI, BUT THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11256102September 17, 2019
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
6/21/2018, MY 2010 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN S DEVELOPED SERIOUS DEFECTS. I DROVE MY CAR ON THE LEFTMOST LANE OF THREE-LANE BOSTON TURNPIKE. CLOSE TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT, I BRAKED TO DECELERATE VEHICLE BUT THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION. BOTH BATTERY AND STARTER WORKED. I TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO RESTART THE ENGINE IN FAILURE. I BLOCKED TRAFFIC DURING RUSH-HOUR. SEVERAL CARS TOOK ACROSS ROAD CURB AND PASSED TO MY LEFT. IT MADE ME AND MY SON IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. UNTIL A TRUCK DRIVER CAME TO HELP ME TO PUSH MY CAR OFF ROAD. AFTER DIAGNOSIS AND ANALYSIS IN LOCAL AUTO SHOP, MECHANIC FOUND OUT THE VEHICLE COMPUTER ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) WAS FAULTY, NOT SUPPLYING POWER TO THE IGNITION COILS. I WAS CHARGED $2298.13 TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE ECM AND $150 FOR THE TOWING SERVICE. THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED BUT I BELIEVE I AM STILL ENTITLED TO A FREE REPAIR BECAUSE THE EXISTENCE OF SUCH A SERIOUS DEFECT IN A CAR WHICH HAS ONLY RUN A LOW MILEAGE OF 47,812 MILES INDICATES IT WAS NOT OF ACCEPTABLE QUALITY. I AM A CAREFUL AND CONSCIENTIOUS OWNER, AS THE GENERAL CONDITION OF THE CAR SHOWS. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO THE CAR TO CAUSE THIS DEFECT. THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT IS NOT MOVING MECHANICAL PARTS. IT IS SUPPOSED THAT IT HAS MUCH LONGER LIFE TIME. THE DEFECT FORCED ME TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON REPLACEMENT COSTS. TO OBTAIN BMW REIMBURSEMENT IN FULL, I CALLED 1.866.ASK.MINI (275-6464) AND TALKED TO A REPRESENTATIVE AND AN ESCALATION MANAGER. THE ESCALATION MANAGER EMPHASIZED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT REPAIRED AT A MINI SERVICE CENTER (DEALER). IF MY CAR WAS REPAIRED AT MINI CENTER, THEY WOULD ARRANGE A SOLUTION HOWEVER MY BROKEN CAR WAS FAR FROM DEALERS IN EITHER PEABODY OR BOSTON. I FILE A DEFECT PETITION TO NHTSA. I REQUEST THE AGENCY DO A BASIC REVIEW OF MY CONCERN AND PROVIDE A WRITTEN DECISION ON WHETHER IT WILL BEGIN THE IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11256017September 16, 2019
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THERE IS A CONSTANT FUEL / GASOLINE SMELL IN MY CAR AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. NO VISIBLE LEAKS. THE SMELL IS CONSTANT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11254721September 11, 2019
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER, AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
PASSENGERS OC3 SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT FAILED CAUSING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG TO BE DEACTIVATED. MINI HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS FOR 10 YEARS AND 120,000 MILES. MY MINI WAS LESS THAN 10 YEARS OLD BUT DID HAVE 130,000 MILES ON 4/3/2019 WHEN I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER. MINI HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THIS DEFECTED PART EVEN THOUGHT THEY KNOW IT WAS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY. THEY ALSO KNOW THAT ON PREVIOUS YEARS MODELS THEY WERE FORCED TO RECALL THIS PART AS I ALSO OWN A 2006 MINI THAT WENT BAD AND IT TOOK OVER A YEAR BEFORE THEY FINALLY DID A RECALL. MINI DOES NOT HAVE A WORKABLE CUSTOMER RELATIONS SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS THE CUSTOMER TO APPEAL THIS SAFETY DEFECT REPLACEMENT REJECTION. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT MINI KNOW THEY HAVE A DEFECTIVE SAFETY SENSOR AND HAVE A HISTORY OF THIS BEING A BAD PART BUT ARE UNWILLING TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND REPLACE IT. THEY INSTEAD WANT THE CUSTOMER TO SPEND OVER $1,000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE IT FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY. THIS IS A BAD COMPANY DYNAMIC AND SHOWS NO CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11254162September 9, 2019
STEERING
INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILIURE DURING DRIVING, STIFF STEERING WHEEL CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11254014September 8, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
AFTER RECEIVING ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR A BATTERY ISSUE I WAS DRIVING HOME AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT NIGHT WHEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTING OF MY DASHBOARD WENT OUT AND MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, TURN SIGNALS, FOG LIGHTS, HIGH BEAMS, AND WINDOWS CEASED TO FUNCTION. WHEN I MADE IT HOME I SCANNED MY VEHICLE VIA OBD2 AND A PLETHORA OF CODES HAD APPEARED ALMOST ALL RELATED TO SAFETY FEATURES SUCH AS LIGHTING, AIRBAGS,DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL, SUSPENSION, ABS, AND SPEED SENSING DEVICES. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF RESEARCH AND DIAGNOSTIC WORK I DETERMINED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE DRIVER SIDE FOOTWELL MODULE WHICH HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN TO BE A DEFECTIVE ITEM TO MINI/BMW SO MUCH SO THAT IT'S BEEN GIVEN A WARRANTY EXTENSION OF 10 YEARS/ 156,000 MILES THAT REMAINS ACTIVE, BUT ONLY TO ELIGIBLE VEHICLE WARRANTY HOLDERS. AFTER MY EXPERIENCE OF LOSING PRACTICALLY ALL VEHICLE LIGHTING WHICH INCLUDED BOTH TURN AND HAZARD SIGNALING ABILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS I IMPLORE THE NHTSA TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL ON THESE FAULTY FOOTWELL MODULES GIVEN THE EASE AND SUDDENNESS AT WHICH THEY CEASE TO FUNCTION FOR REASONS THAT RANGE FROM MOISTURE INTOLERANCE, ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PRACTICES, AND EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AS WAS MY PARTICULAR CASE. THE PROBLEM HAS ALREADY BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND I FEEL IT IS NOW TIME THAT THE GOVERNMENT ADDRESS THIS KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE IN ORDER TO PROTECT AMERICA'S ROADS AND HIGHWAYS AS WELL AS THE CITIZENRY AT LARGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11252000August 28, 2019
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS WIFE AND STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE OTHER VEHICLES AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK ACHES THAT NEEDED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGED YARD WAITING TO BE DIAGNOSED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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