MINI Cooper Complaints
4,588 consumer complaints on file.
- #11091069April 30, 2018SEATS, AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION, AIR BAGS
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR (RECALL 15V-205, OC3 SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT) IN MY 2006 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE HAS FAILED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH AND OVERHEAD STAY LIT AT ALL TIMES. RECALL ISSUED BY MINI IN 2015 COVERING EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED FOR SAME MAKE AND MODEL FOR YEARS 2005 - 2008. DEALER SHIP AND MINI USA BOTH SAY THE VIN NUMBER FOR MY 2006 S CONVERTIBLE IS NOT INCLUDED WITH THIS RECALL. HOW CAN THIS BE, THE EXACT PROBLEM FOR THE EXACT VEHICLES IDENTIFIED FOR THIS RECALL. MINI STATES THAT THIS VEHICLE IS THE CORRECT TYPE, MODEL AND YEAR BUT NOT PART OF THE RECALL BECAUSE IT PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME PART THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS FAILING INSTALLED. I WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO FOR ME AND WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD IS THAT THE COST FOR THE FIX WILL BE AT LEAST $1,200 OUT OF POCKET. THIS COST IS RIDICULOUS AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED UNDER THE STANDING RECALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FACT THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS OBVIOUS AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11089223April 21, 2018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
REAR BRAKE LIGHT BURNT AND MELTED. IT WAS REPAIRED AND NOW IT MELTED AND BURNT AGAIN BUT HAS CAUSED FURTHER DAMAGE REQUIRING THE WHOLE TAILLIGHT NEEDING REPLACEMENT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11089231April 21, 2018SEATS
THE SEATS' HEATING ELEMENTS HAD BEEN REPLACED DUE TO A RECALL APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO. THIS MONTH I BROUGHT THE CAR TO ND FROM TX AND WE USED THE HEATED SEATS HERE. THE SEATS' WERE VERY HOT. TODAY I NOTICED THREE BURN HOLES IN THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHERE IT CONTACTS THE DRIVER'S BACK.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11088772April 18, 2018ENGINE
THE TIMING CHAIN IS FAILING AT 80,000. DEALER AND MINIUSA HAVE AGREED SHOULD LAST 4 LIFE OF THE ENGINE AT LEAST 120,000. . CAUSED OIL TO BURN OFF , WHICH CAUSED WEARING AND DAMAGE TO EXHAUST CAMSHAFT,SEAL , AND VANOS. TIME CHAIN FAILURE HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED ON OTHER MODELS AND CLASS ACTION SUIT HAS DETERMINED MINI IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FAILURE AND KNEW ABOUT FAILURE IN THE 2010 AS WELL AS FAR BACK AS 2008. MINI HAS REDUCED REPAIR COSTS FROM 4200$ TO 1400$ BUT ARE REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY THIS FAR FOR FULL REIMBURSEMENT. TIME CHAIN SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. VEHICLE WAS OPERATING WHEN TIME CHAIN BEGAN TO RATTLE
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11088783April 18, 2018UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. ON SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 2018 I DROVE 10 MINUTES FROM HOME. I WAS PARKED IN A LOT FOR 5 MINUTES. CAME OUT OF STORE, STARTED ENGINE AND HEAVY SMOKE IMMEDIATELY STARTED FILLING THE INTERIOR AND BILLOWING UP FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I QUICKLY GOT OUT. OPENED THE HOOD. SAW FLAMES DEEP DOWN, JUST TO THE LEFT OF THE COOLANT EXPANSION TANK. HEAVY WHITE/GRAY SMOKE. CALLED 911, WHO RESPONDED QUICKLY (DANBURY CT FIRE DEPT.) THE OWNER OF THE STORE I HAD BEEN IN, CAME OUT AND WITNESSED FIRE/SMOKE. FIRE SUBSIDED AND FIRE DEPT CHECKED FOR HOT SPOTS, AUTHORIZED FOR TOWING BY AAA TO DEALER. MY MINI HAD BEEN IN THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT. APRIL 12, HAVING MAINTENANCE DONE... LESS THAN 48 HOURS BEFORE THIS FIRE HAPPENED. (WORK DONE INCLUDED NEW FAN BELT, OIL CHANGE, FILTER, BRAKES, 2 FRONT TIRES...) I PICKED MY CAR UP ON FRIDAY, APR. 13, AND DROVE HOME. AFTER 2 SHORT ERRANDS ON SUNDAY, THE FIRE BROKE OUT. MY CAR IS AT THE DEALER BEING FIXED BY MINI. MINI USA HAS AUTHORIZED THE WORK. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT DAMAGE THE INTENSE HEAT CAUSED TO SURROUNDING PARTS UNDER THE HOOD. SO MANY SENSORS AND CIRCUIT BOARDS/ELECTRICAL PARTS... SERVICE MGR SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY A "HOT WIRE." COULD IT HAPPEN AGAIN? I WILL NEVER FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR AGAIN. I HAVE THE DANBURY FIRE DEPT. RECORD IN AN EMAIL, AND PHOTOS OF MY CAR BEING TOWED. THE DEALER HAS THE INSPECTION REPORT OF DAMAGE. FIRE HAPPENED JUST HOURS AFTER CAR HAD BEEN WORKED ON. COINCIDENCE? THEY SAY SO. NO PROOF. BUT, THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. IF I HAD BEEN ON A ROAD/HIGHWAY (WHICH I ALMOST WAS), I WOULD'VE BEEN OVERCOME WITH SMOKE AND PROBABLY PASS OUT BEFORE PULLING OFF THE ROAD. THANK GOD I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AT THE TIME! VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. I OWNED THE CAR FOR 7+ YEARS. ONLY OWNER/DRIVER. 73K MILES. MAINTAINED VERY WELL. NO GAS/FUEL/OIL/COOLANT LEAKS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11084013April 9, 2018ENGINE
THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE TIMING CHAIN, SO I HAD IT REPLACED IN THE RECALL PROGRAM THAT WAS OFFERED THROUGH MINI COOPER. LESS THEN 2 YEARS LATER, MY TIMING CHAIN BROKE AGAIN, AND HAS DAMAGED THE MOTOR OF MY CAR. IT WOULD NOT START
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11083387April 5, 2018FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER S US. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PRESSURE PUMP FAILED, STATING THAT THE PRESSURE WAS AT ZERO PSI. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,774.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11083492April 5, 2018ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED BEFORE AND AFTER THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11083212April 4, 2018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, SUSPENSION
I KEEP HAVING PROBLEMS ELECTRIC PROBLEMS ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON COIL BROKE BROKE DOWN WON'T START
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10863888March 30, 2018ENGINE
2009 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AND VEHICLE ENGINE FAILURE. *SMD *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11081977March 29, 2018STEERING
WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON LOCAL ROADS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN HAD A LOSS OF POWER AND STEERING WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER/TURN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11079020March 13, 2018POWER TRAIN
PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE 34,500 MILES, WHILE THE DEALER REPAIRED THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY THEY INFORMED ME ABOUT THE CLUTCH BEING TOO SMALL TO DOWNSHIFT THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN. I DIDN'T SPEND NORTHWARDS OF 40K ON A SPORTS CAR ONLY TO BE TOLD ALL SLOWING DOWN SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. YOU BUY A STICK SHIFT CAR TO BE ABLE TO DO THESE THINGS NORMALLY. TO BE TOLD BY THE DEALERS SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THE CLUTCH IS INADEQUATE FOR THIS NORMAL DRIVING PRACTICE WAS QUITE A SURPRISE HAD THE SALESPERSON TOLD ME THIS I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I GUESS THE REAL SURPRISE WILL BE WHEN IT GOES OUT AGAIN AND I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE A DESIGN FLAW REPAIRED AT MY OWN EXPENSE. THIS CLUTCH PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE PREVALENT IN THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE VERSION WHERE APPARENTLY THE FRICTION COEFFICIENT OF 4 WHEELS TO THE PAVEMENT EXCEEDS THAT OF THE CLUTCH.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11078443March 10, 2018POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION ISSUE: WHEN INDICATOR DISPLAY OF TRANSMISSION STATUS IS NOT THE SAME AS SELECTED ON THE STICK. THEREFORE, CAR ALWAYS STUCK WHEN EVER TRANSMISSION IS PUT ON PARK MODE. SAFETY ISSUE IS MOST PEOPLE LAND THE TRANSMISSION ON NEUTRAL MODE TO AVOID LOCKING WHEN PARKING. THIS ISSUE CAN EFFECT SAFETY WHEN PARKED ON UP OR DOWN HILL CAUSE IT'S NOT ON PARKED MODE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11078335March 9, 2018AIR BAGS
I WAS AT A STOP BECAUSE TRAFFIC WAS BACKED UP IN TOWN NEAR THE HIGHWAY ENTRANCE AND A CAR REAR ENDED ME, PUSHING ME INTO THE CAR AHEAD. THE REAR CAR WAS MOVING AT AT LEAST 20 MPH. WITH A REAR END AND HEAD ON COLLISION AT THAT SPEED, MY AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11078341March 9, 2018STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE CONTACT, A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11076783March 7, 2018VISIBILITY/WIPER
WHILE TRAVELING ON I90 AT APPROXIMATELY 72MPH, I HEARD A VERY LOUD POP AND PART OF MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED. ONCE AT A SAFE STOPPING PLACE, I TOOK A LOOK AT THE SUNROOF AND I DIDN'T NOTICE ANY OUTSIDE FORCE THAT CAUSED THIS. I WAS NOT TRAVELING NEAR ANY OVERPASSES WHEN THIS OCCURRED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11076410March 5, 2018ENGINE
I'M JUST NOTICING A COOLANT LEAK PUDDLING UP UNDER FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD WAS THE THERMOSTAT OR IT'S HOUSING OR BOTH.. MY ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE IT'S RUNNING WITH NO OIL. I GO TO CHECK THE DIPSTICK AND THE OIL AT THE VERY END OF IT SEEMS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCURATELY READ, BECAUSE IT'S NOT UNIFORM IN IT'S COATING AT THE TIP OF IT. LIKE IF IT WAS SPLASHED ON. NOT SURE IF THE AUXILIARY COOLING SYSTEM IS EVEN WORKING ANYMORE, WHICH USED TO RUN FOR A MINUTE OR TWO AFTER ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I'M ADDING THE OEM SPECIFIED COOLANT ALONG WITH WATER, 50/50, EVERY DAY NOW, BECAUSE THE RESERVOIR SHOWS IT'S LOSS OF COOLANT. VIN CHECK SHOWS NO RECALLS, BUT I'M HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS THE RECALLS. I JUST WANT MY VEHICLE RUNNING LIKE IT WAS WHEN I FIRST GOT. I BEGAN FINANCE ON THE VEHICLE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, AND I STILL OWE 16K ON IT. I SHOULDN'T BE WORRIED ABOUT THE CAR DYING OUT ON ME ALREADY. BAD ENOUGH I WORK 35 MINUTES AWAY AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION INCLUDING HELP FROM ANYONE IS ALSO PRETTY MUCH IMPOSSIBLE. IT'S STRESSING ME OUT BIG TIME. I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET FIRED. WHERE I WORK, THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT MY ISSUES. I ALSO REQUIRE AN IID EQUIPPED VEHICLE, SO RENTALS ARE OUT OF THE QUESTION, OTHERWISE, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE HERE WRITING THIS MESSAGE! THANK YOU. I REALLY FEEL UNSAFE BEING ON THE HIGHWAY AS WHO KNOWS IF MY CAR'S ENGINE EVEN HAS OIL. OR IF THE COOLANT HOSES WILL JUST BLOW OFF. EITHER WAY, I FEEL LIKE I'M RIDING WITH DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. I TRIED TO BABY THIS CAR DRIVING, BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD A 16K BROKEN CAR. I FEEL TRAPPED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11075717March 1, 2018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, STEERING
PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW 2017 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN S AWD FROM DEALERSHIP IN SEPTEMBER 2017, DAY AFTER PURCHASE ON THE WAY FROM TEXAS TO OKLAHOMA VEHICLE STALLED ON HIGHWAY IN A SPEED ZONE OF 75, THE VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND PERFORMANCE WAS REDUCED AND STARTED SHAKING AND VEHICLE WENT FROM 70 MPH DOWN TO 55MPH IMMEDIATELY. DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION LIGHT WAS LIGHT UP AS WELL AS SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. DEALERHSIP TOWED VEHICLE AND WAS SUPPOSE TO FLASH/UPDATE SOFTWARE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE SPARK PLUGS AND COILS AFTER THAT VEHICLE WOULD DISPLAY DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND WOULD LOSE POWER AGAIN. ON 02/28 ON THE WAY BACK FROM TEXAS AGAIN VEHICLE DID SAME THING ALMOST CAUSING A WRECK WHEN VEHICLE DECELERATED AND SHAKED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AGAIN AND WAS ADVISED THAT VEHICLE SOFTWARE NEEDED FLASHED/UPDATED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11075336February 27, 2018AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER, AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON ONE DAY WHEN STARTING THE CAR. I TOOK IT INTO A MINI SPECIALIST AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE INDICATOR SENSOR IN THE SEAT. OTHER MINI MODELS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE BEEN RECALLED. HE QUOTED $600-700 TO REPAIR IT. HE COULD NOT GUARANTEE THE AIR BAG WOULD DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS SEEMS LIKE A NO BRAINER.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11073632February 19, 2018FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL RAIL DEVELOPED A CRACK AT A BRAZEN JOINT. HIGH PRESSURE FUEL WAS THEN BEEN RELEASED IN THE VICINITY OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. STRONG FUEL SMELL IN CABIN AND NEAR VEHICLE. NO FIRE OR DAMAGE RESULTED. VEHICLE REPAIRED AT OWNERS EXPENSE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0