MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10859741April 12, 2016
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN GUIDE IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC. IT BROKE APART AND FELL IN PIECES INTO THE OIL PAN. IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10854255April 8, 2016
ENGINE
ENGINE WAS RUNNING EXTREMELY ROUGH AND VERY LOUD ENGINE NOISE RATTLE. TOOK THE CAR TO MINI COOPER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN JACKSONVILLE FOR DIAGNOSTIC THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN, THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME OVER 2,800. WHEN MY UNDERSTANDING THIS ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED BY A RECALL TO BE REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10854464April 8, 2016
ENGINE
MY 2007 MINI COOPER STARTED TO OVERHEAT, DISPLAYING BOTH THE YELLOW AND RED INDICATION LIGHT SIMULTANEOUSLY. I STOPPED, LOOKED AT THE MANUAL AND IT SUGGESTED THAT I TURN THE CAR OFF AND LET IT COOL OFF. I LET MY MINI "COOL DOWN" AND WHEN I WENT TO START MY CAR IT WOULD NOT START UP. MY CAR IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF, I CALLED MINI COOPER WHICH IS 75 MILES AWAY AND GOT MY CAR TOWED. I WAS TOLD MY ENGINE NEEDS REPLACEMENT FOR 11K. MY MINI WAS CHECKED LESS THAN ONE MONTH AGO AND I RECEIVED NO WARNING THAT MY ENGINE WAS FAILING. MY 2007 MINI ONLY HAS 83,000 FAR FROM THE EXPECTED OVER 100,000 LIFE EXPECTANCY. I WAS TOLD MY ENGINE FAILED DUE TO LOW COMPRESSION AND THE REPLACEMENT OF A THERMOSTAT; A THERMOSTAT THAT HAVEN'T BEEN IN STOCK FOR MONTHS. AFTER GOOGLING THIS ISSUE, I FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. BMW REFUSE TO RECALL THE THERMOSTAT OR ENGINE, AND IT'S AN OUTRAGE. TO MAKE MATTERS WORST, A FAIR CONDITION, RUNNING 2007 MINI W/83,000 MILES AND PACKAGES VALUE IS LESS THAN 5K, A CLEAR SIGN OF THE WORTH OF A MINI. SUPER SAD CUSTOMER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10853777April 6, 2016
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE FAN FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10853874April 6, 2016
AIR BAGS
VIN: [XXX] AIRBAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WARNING LAMP CAME ON ANDROID STAYS ON. VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON INTERSTATE WHEN THE WARNING LAMP CAME ON. ODOMETER READING WHEN THE WARNING LAMP CAME ON WAS: 42630 MILES. CALLED MINI CHARLESTON OF SAVANNAH AND ALSO MINI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEORY IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR VIN DESPITE OTHER VIN'S OF THE SAME MODEL BEING AFFECTED BY AN AIRBAG SENSOR MALFUNCTION. AM NOW FACED WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR THE AIRBAGS TO INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY DURING NORMAL DRIVING, OR THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10853923April 6, 2016
ENGINE
ON SATURDAY MARCH 19TH, 2016 I EXPERIENCED A MAJOR VEHICLE MALFUNCTION WITH MY 2013 MINI PACEMAN S. WHILE TRAVELING NB ON THE 15 FREEWAY IN THE #1 OR FAST LANE, I SLOWED FOR TRAFFIC TO A STOP, IMMEDIATELY THE CAR TEMPERATURE LIGHT TURNED ON AND WITHIN SECONDS IT CHANGED TO THE HALF ENGINE LIGHT. DURING THIS TIME I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL 3 TIMES TO ATTEMPT TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC LANES TO PREVENT INJURY AND THE CAR DIED. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF THE FAST LANE ONTO THE SHOULDER WHERE I SAT WITH 3 CHILDREN INSIDE THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. WHILE WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK A CHP (CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL) OFFICER PULLED UP BEHIND ME AND CONTACTED ME AT THE DRIVER WINDOW WHICH I HAD ROLLED DOWN. HE ASKED WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE CAR AND I EXPLAINED THAT IT HAD DIED. HE ASKED ME TO MOVE IT TO A SAFER LOCATION AND I EXPLAINED THAT I COULDN'T. HE ASKED ME TO GET OUT AND HE GOT INTO THE DRIVER SEAT TO ATTEMPT TO GET THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. HE WAS ABLE TO, AND HE PUSHED IT MAYBE 5 FEET DOWN THE SLIGHT SLOPE. HE USED THE EMERGENCY BREAK TO STOP IT AND LEFT IT THERE TO WAIT FOR THE TOW TRUCK. LACK OF A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON A CAR WITH COMMON FAILURE ITEMS SUCH AS 'LEAKING OIL PUMP DRIVE UNITS' THAT ALLOW THE ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK OUT SHOULD HAVE AN INDICATOR LIGHT TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM BEFORE THE PROBLEM IS HUGE AND CAN'T BE FIXED. WHEN WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING OUT?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10853576April 5, 2016
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING AN OIL CHANGE, THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A LEAKAGE ON THE OIL CONTROL VALVE. AS A RESULT, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE OIL CONTROL VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10853567April 5, 2016
ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN ISSUE LEAD TO OIL LEAK IN ENGINE. 2008-2010 MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED AFTER A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS FILED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. MY MODEL IS ONE YEAR OUTSIDE THE OFFICIAL BMW RECALL. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THAT'S WHEN THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME I COULDN'T DRIVE MY CAR WITHOUT THE REPAIRS. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS NEARLY $2000 SINCE I AM ALSO OUTSIDE OF MY WARRANTEE PERIOD. I HAVE READ THAT IF THIS ISSUE WASN'T FOUND, IT COULD LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE EITHER WHEN IDLE OR DRIVING. I AM LUCKY NOT TO HAVE SUSTAINED INJURIES OR INCUR FURTHER COSTS. OTHER 2011 MINI COOPER DRIVERS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE SINCE THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFICIAL WARNING FROM BMW. BMW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10853338April 4, 2016
POWER TRAIN
ONCE THE CAR WARMS UP THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LURCHES WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. THE ENGINE STILL ACCELERATES, HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION SIMPLY WHINES AND NO POWER IS DISTRIBUTED TO THE WHEELS. VERY UNSAFE WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC. MINI ADVERTISED THESE VEHICLES AS NEVER REQUIRING TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGES. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. NO RECALL EXISTS, HOWEVER, THE ISSUE IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON WEB FORUMS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10852862April 1, 2016
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS FRACTURED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE WINDSHIELD WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE AND WAS AT RISK OF COMPLETELY DETACHING. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COVERED IN THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10852609March 31, 2016
ENGINE
ENGINE RATTLING NOISE (TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER) AT ALL TIMES, VEHICLE HAS ONLY 50,000 MILES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10852727March 31, 2016
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD OVER HEATED CAUSING THE POWER STEERING FLUID TO EVAPORATE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT SINCE 2012 THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED FIVE SEPARATE TIMES AND RECENTLY WITH THE NEW REDESIGN PUMP BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME FAILURE OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10852717March 31, 2016
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING LINE AND PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000.(STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10852758March 31, 2016
STEERING
IN NOV-2014 MY SON WAS DRIVING OUR '05 MINI COOPER DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 55MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING STOPPED WORKING. HE WAS BARELY ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND GET IT TO THE SIDE OF INTERSTATE. HE WAS 17 YRS OLD AND IT WAS VERY HARD FOR HIM TO STEER IT AND GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. HE WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENED. WE THEN GOT THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP (NOT THE LOCAL MINI SHOP, SINCE THEIR LABOR RATE WAS TOO HIGH), WE HAD TO PAY $1,201.75 TO REPAIR THE STEERING. AFTER RECEIVING A LETTER REGARDING THE STEERING RECALL FROM MINI CORPORATE IN EARLY 2016, WE WERE TOLD TO CALL/GO TO THE LOCAL MINI DEALER AND THEY WOULD HANDLE THE CLAIM. AFTER SEVERAL CALLS, EMAILS, AND A PERSONAL VISIT TO THE KNOXVILLE, TN MINI COOPER DEALER, I HAVE GOT NOWHERE. THEY REFUSE TO HANDLE THE CLAIM (ONCE TELLING ME THAT IT HAD BEEN SUBMITTED TO MINI CORPORATE, BUT THEN IT TURNS OUT THEY ADMITTED THAT IT NEVER WAS SUBMITTED)... THEN MOST RECENTLY BASICALLY THEY TOLD ME TO LEAVE THEM ALONE. THEY WILL NOT GIVE ME PROOF THAT THE CLAIM WAS SUBMITTED (WHICH I AM GUESSING IT HAS NOT BEEN), AND NOW THEY WILL NOT ANSWER MY EMAILS. CAROL HWANG AT KNOXVILLE MINI HAS BEEN VERY RUDE AND UNCOOPERATIVE. THEY REFUSE TO GIVE ME A CONTACT AT CORPORATE, AS I'VE REQUESTED, TO CONFIRM THE CLAIM HAS BEEN SUBMITTED AND TO FOLLOW UP ON GETTING REIMBURSED FOR THIS REPAIR RELATED TO THE RECALL. WHEN I CALLED CORPORATE MINI, THEY SAID I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE LOCAL MINI SHOP. LOCAL MINI SHOP IN KNOXVILLE SAYS CORPORATE WILL HANDLE THE CLAIM. SO I AM GETTING NOTHING BUT A RUN-ROUND. THIS INCIDENT WAS VERY SCARY FOR US! MY SON COULD'VE BEEN KILLED WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT. HE WAS TERRIFIED AND THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO GET HIT AND CRUSHED BY A SEMI TRUCK. THE WHOLE THING WAS AWFUL. NOW ALL I WANT TO DO IS GET REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR, BUT I CANNOT GET MINI COOPER TO COOPERATE. PLEASE HELP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10852760March 31, 2016
ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN STRETCHED CAUSING TIMING TO BE OFF BY 75MM, THIS RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE ECCENTRIC SHAFT AND TIMING CHAIN. ENGINE ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED, UPON INSPECTION AT MINI DEALER DETERMINED THE ABOVE CONDITION OF VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10852794March 31, 2016
AIR BAGS, ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN , PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR WHEN IN MOTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10852820March 31, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND BECAME WORSE OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10852542March 30, 2016
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THICK, GREY SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED FLAMES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT AND A FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V008000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,777.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10852158March 29, 2016
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I PURCHASED MY 2008 MINI COOPER 3 YEARS AGO AND IT'S CURRENTLY AROUND 78K MY CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH TIMING CHAIN STRETCHED AND POSSIBLY ENGINE DAMAGE. HOWEVER MINI COOPER USA DOESN'T WANT TO REIMBURSE THE MONEY I'D PAY OUT OF POCKET MYSELF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10852218March 29, 2016
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 05/18/16*LJ UPDATED 06/14/16.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to MINI Cooper