MINI Cooper Complaints (2011)

200 consumer complaints on file.

#10627740August 23, 2014
WHEELS, TIRES
AT A WARRANTY SERVICE FOR AN EXTERIOR TRIM ITEM, THE MINI TECH WENT TO VERIFY MY MILEAGE AND ALSO EXAMINED MY RUN-FLAT TIRES IN DETAIL (GOODYEAR 225/45 R18 EFFICIENT GRIP). HE ADVISED THAT TWO TIRES HAD DEFECTIVE SIDEWALLS AND SAID THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE EVEN RECOMMENDED A DIFFERENT BRAND. THE TIRES WERE UNDER WARRANTY AND I REALLY HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE THEM REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY TERMS. BECAUSE IT WAS AN AWD VEHICLE, I CHOSE ALSO TO HAVE ALL FOUR REPLACED. 4000 MILES LATER, I NOTICED A SIDEWALL BULGE ON ONE OF MY FRONT TIRES. I COMPLAINED TO MINI THAT THE TIRES THEY WERE PROVIDING WERE DEFECTIVE AND HAD I THOUGHT MORE ABOUT THE MINI TECH'S ACTIONS IN THE BEGINNING, I WOULD HAVE SUSPECTED THAT MINI WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AT THE OUTSET. MINI USA RESPONSE WAS AS EXPECTED, GIVING ME A LECTURE ON WHAT CAUSES A TIRE TO WEAR AND FAIL ETC., AND ADVISED THE PROBLEM WAS BETWEEN ME AND GOODYEAR. I TOLD THEM THAT THEIR RESPONSE WAS NOT ADEQUATE AND I WOULD FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY, WHICH I DID. MY SITUATION CONCERNS ME. I NOTICED ON-LINE THAT THERE WERE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT RUN-FLAT TECHNOLOGY AND WONDER IF THIS IS A FAULTY CONCLUSION THAT THE WEIGHT SAVED BY ELIMINATING SPARE TIRES, JACKS, ETC JUSTIFIES THE GAS CONSUMPTION OBJECTIVES. I AM NOT SURPRISED HOW "STAND-OFF-ISH" THE TIRE DEALER AND MINI ARE, SIMPLY BECAUSE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE TO BOOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610155July 13, 2014
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES
DSC AND BRAKE LIGHT TURNED APPEARED ON TACHOMETER DISPLAY IN YELLOW AND DOES NOT GO OUT. DSC BUTTON IF PRESSED MAKES NO CHANGES TO DCS/ABS LIGHTS ON DISPLAYS. IMMEDIATELY THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS/ISSUES APPEARED: STEERING STARTED TO FAULT LIKE UNALIGNED, BRAKE PEDAL SLIGHTLY ERRATIC, BLINKER TURN SIGNAL DOES NOW NOT TURN OFF AFTER ACTIVATING AND MAKING A TURN. VEHICLE HAS JCW SPORT BRAKE KIT, INSTALLED AT 30,000 MILES, 3 MONTHS AGO. VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY ALIGNED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. VEHICLE WAS SCANNED WITH TO DIAGNOSE FAULT AND FAULT CODE WAS THAT THE SWITCH UNIT STEERING COLUMN/DSC IS FAULTY.NO MISSING SENSORS, ALL ARE CONNECTED IN PLACE. NO PINCHED OR BROKEN CABLES. REPLACED PART #61319253769 MSP $550.00 AND MECHANIC FEE OF $500.00 (REMOVAL OF PART, INSTALLATION, VEHICLE ECU RECODING, AND RECHECK ECU DIAGNOSIS. NO MORE ERROR CODES AND STEERING, DCS AND ABS BACK TO NORMAL. UNKNOWN ROOT CAUSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10608728July 7, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. DURING THE IMPACT ALL AIR BAGS INSIDE THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT DURING THE INCIDENT THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DAMAGED AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED, THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10607114June 30, 2014
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER. THE WHEN THE CONTACT CLOSED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, THE SUN ROOF DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,786.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10605751June 24, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A LOSS OF POWER AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO NO AVAIL ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO HAD THE VEHICLE FOR SIX WEEKS AND WAS NOT ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, FUEL FILTER FOUR SETS OF BRAKES, THREE BATTERIES, IGNITION COILS, WIRING AND THE COMPUTER BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING TWICE, CORE AND NEW BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED PLUS THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A FALSE READING FROM THE COMPUTER. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IT HAD CONTINUED TO JERK VIOLENTLY WHILE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE ODOMETER WAS FLUCTUATING AND NOT READING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAD CONTINUED TO JERK VIOLENTLY, DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE BRAKES MADE A LOUD NOISE INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN BACK TO AN INDPENDENT MECHANIC FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598849June 17, 2014
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MINI COOPER 2011 OVERHEATED AND BLEW OFF RADIATOR HOSES WHILE DRIVING ON FWY- ENGINE DAMAGE AND HEAD REPLACEMENT.. DEALER IS SAYING BOTTOM RADIATOR HOSE MUST HAVE COME OFF AND LEAKED COOLANT. JUST HAD IT SERVICED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598125June 13, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10586869May 6, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
KEY STUCK IN IGNITION DUE TO FAULTY ELECTRICAL SENSOR. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559534January 12, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
PREMATURE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE MAY LEAD TO LOSS IN POWER, FURTHERING THE POTENTIAL FOR A WRECK. ENGINE ENTERS "LIMP HOME" MODE, WHICH REDUCES POWER CONSIDERABLY AND MAKES ACCELERATION MUCH SLOWER THAN NORMAL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, SEVERAL OBD-II DIAGNOSTICS CODES APPEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557200December 24, 2013
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AIRBAG SEAT SENSORS ARE FAULTY. THEY ARE TURNING OFF THE AIRBAGS EVEN THOUGHT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER ARE SEATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556980December 22, 2013
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2011 MINI COUNTRYMAN S ALL4 IN REGARDS TO CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR FOR SERVICE OF THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR 4 TIMES NOW. EACH TIME IT HAS BEEN CAUSED BY FUEL IN THE CHARCOAL FILTER SYSTEM. EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS FROM OVERFILLING THE FUEL TANK, WHICH I DO NOT DO. I AM CAREFUL TO STOP FUELING THE FIRST TIME THE PUMP KICKS OFF, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE FIRST 2 TIMES THE DEALER CHANGED THE CHARCOAL FILTER AT NO COST. THE 3RD TIME THEY CHANGED THE FUEL TANK AT NO CHARGE. I HAD NO PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT A YEAR, AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR CAME ON AGAIN ON 12/18/13, I SCHEDULED SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. TURNS OUT THAT FOR THE 4TH TIME FUEL WAS IN THE CHARCOAL FILTER. THE DEALER CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM AND THIS IS VERY ANNOYING TO SAY THE LEAST. WOULD LIKE TO TURN IN THE CAR NOW, LEASE ENDS IN 7 MONTHS, AND STAY AWAY FROM BMW AND MINI FROM NOW ON!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555365December 9, 2013
VISIBILITY, POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, ENGINE, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MAIN COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED TO REMEDY THE STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. MONTHS LATER, THE STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE RECURRED ACCOMPANIED BY A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO REPROGRAMMED THE SYSTEM BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE DEALER ALSO INSTALLED AN EPS COMPUTER PATCH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,800. . ..UPDATED 01-10-14 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED MINI USA WAS AWARE OF THE STEERING PROBLEM FAILURE OCCURRING IN 2011 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN'S. THEY HAVE FAILED TO PROVIDED HER INFORMATION ON EXACTLY WHAT THEY KNOW IS FAILING IN THE STEERING SYSTEM OR THE BULLETIN THAT HAVE ON THE STEERING ISSUE. THE DEALER WORKED ON THE VEHICLE, AND THEY BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, FOR DIFFERENT THINGS. THE MIRRORS WERE NOT OPERATING PROPERLY, THE CLUTCH FAILED TWICE, TWO STEERING FAILURES, AND THE RE-PROGRAMMING OF THE COMPUTER, SEVERAL TIMES. UPDATED 01/15/14
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10546491October 2, 2013
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
THE 2011 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN HAS A POORLY DESIGNED CUP HOLDER THAT PUNCTURES CUPS CAUSING LIQUID TO LEAK. THIS CUP HOLDER IS NOT PROPERLY SEALED AND ALLOWS FLUID (CONDENSATION) INTO THE GEARSHIFT ASSEMBLY. THIS CAUSES THE INABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY. IT WILL ALSO CAUSE THE KEY TO BE STUCK IN THE IGNITION. MINI WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LABOR TO FIX THE ISSUE AND WILL ALSO NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM FROM RECURRING. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS WELL AS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX FOR THE CONSUMER. WHEN I CALLED MINI USA THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS LANGUAGE IN THE MANUAL THAT PROVIDED A WARNING ABOUT WHAT CUPS WERE APPROPRIATE BUT I FOUND NO SUCH LANGUAGE. THERE WAS BARELY A REFERENCE TO THE CUP HOLDERS. THEY MAY HAVE UPDATED THEIR MANUAL SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR BUT MINE DID NOT HAVE ANY REFERENCE TO SUCH A PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10538114August 30, 2013
POWER TRAIN
WITH JUST OVER 16000 MILES ON MY 2011 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN, MY CLUTCH IS BURNED OUT! HAVING IT TOWED TO THE CLOSEST MINI DEALERSHIP AT 70 MILES AWAY, THEY ARE SAYING THE FAILURE IS DUE TO ABUSE AND IS NOT COVERED BY MINI USA WARRANTEE. I HAVE BEEN DRIVER FOR OVER 40 YEARS WITH MOST OF MY CARS BEING MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH. AFTER SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, THE CLUTCH SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE 2011 & 2012 COUNTRYMAN MODELS AND NOW HAVE SAID...'AS PART OF THE CONTINUAL REFINEMENT AND OPTIMIZATION OF MINI VEHICLES' THEY WERE MODIFYING THE CLUTCH ON THEIR 2013 MODELS! I AM STILL IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH MINI USA ON WHO WILL PAY FOR THE REPAIRS ON WHAT I SEE AS DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10532865July 31, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I FILED A COMPLAINT THE FIRST TIME IN 2012. HERE IS THE COMPLAINT THAN AND IT IS A REPEAT OF THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE CHECKED THE WEB AND OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME DESIGN PROBLEM I HAVE SPENT $1,100 ALREADY AND NOW AN REQUIRED TO PAY ANOTHER $1,400 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I WENT ON-LINE AND OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I WROTE THE DEALER AND MINI-COOPER/BMW ABOUT THIS AND RECEIVED A RUDE DENIAL. HERE IS THE ISSUE (#2): "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR LINK BECAME STUCK AS THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE FROM A DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT COFFEE HAD LEAKED INTO THE GEAR SHIFTER AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED ADVISED THAT BECAUSE THE CUP HOLDER WAS ABOVE THE GEAR SHIFTER, THE DESIGN WOULD ALLOW ANY SPILLED LIQUID TO EASILY ENTER THE SHIFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 03/23/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE COFFEE HOLDER SITS RIGHT OVER THE AREA WHERE THE DEALER SATED COFFEE RUINED THE TRANSMISSION COMPONENT. IT IS NOT SEALED AND THE PLACEMENT OF A LIQUID HOLDER OVER A VULNERABLE EXPENSIVE PIECE OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT WITHOUT ADEQUATE PROTECTION IS A NEGLIGENT DESIGN. UPDATED EVOQ 04/18/12" [XXX] 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
#10508465April 16, 2013
POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLE STALLS FROM 1ST GEAR WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF THE "SPORT" BUTTON (REGARDLESS OF TERRAIN). COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVE LINE COMBINED WITH THE STANDARD MINI CLUTCH LACK THE FEEL TO THE POINT OF CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT OFTEN CAUSING IT TO STALL. BMW/MINI DEALERSHIPS DENY ANY PROBLEM OCCURRING / EVER HAS OCCURRED. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT NEEDS TO REFLECT VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUES ALREADY IN OPERATION BUILT PRIOR TO THE LISTED DATE. OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM MINI USA: "AS PART OF THE CONTINUAL REFINEMENT AND OPTIMIZATION OF MINI VEHICLES, WE HAVE IMPROVED THE TAKE-OFF CONVENIENCE AND PERFORMANCE OF ALL OUR MINI COUNTRYMAN CLUTCHES BY IMPLEMENTING SOME SOFTWARE UPDATES AS WELL AS CHANGING THE CLUTCH FACING MATERIAL TO IMPROVE THE FEELING OF THE CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT. WE ARE SURE THAT THESE CHANGES WILL EVEN FURTHER IMPROVE THE CONVENIENCE OF OUR MINI COUNTRYMAN MODELS, AND WILL BE RECOGNIZED AND APPRECIATED BY OUR CUSTOMERS. THESE CHANGES COINCIDE WITH THE START OF PRODUCTION OF OUR MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS COUNTRYMAN AS OF NOVEMBER 2012." *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494811January 26, 2013
ENGINE
CAR DIED AT 65MPH. TOLD IT WAS AN AUXILIARY WATER PUMP THAT OVERHEATED AND BURNED OUT THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BOARD. EVEN THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS DIED OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485883November 24, 2012
POWER TRAIN
I HAD JUST ACCELERATED ONTO THE HIGHWAY WHEN I SMELLED MY CLUTCH BURNING. I LOST POWER TO THE WHEELS, AND HAD TO REV THE ENGINE IN ORDER MAINTAIN HIGHWAY SPEEDS, UNTIL I COULD EXIT. BY THE TIME THAT I GOT MY CAR TO A SAFE LOCATION, THERE WAS NO POWER GOING TO THE WHEELS AT ALL, SO MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10477412September 28, 2012
POWER TRAIN
AT 18XXX MILES THE CLUTCH IS GONE. TRANSFER CASE FOUND DEFECTIVE. THE CLUTCH HAS BEEN FAILING ON THE ALL4 MODELS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND DEALERS ARE BLAMING USER ERROR, EVEN AS FAST AS 1500 MILES. $2500 FOR A NEW CLUTCH ON A BRAND NEW VEHICLE IS ABSURD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464544July 7, 2012
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I AM FILING A COMPLAINT THAT THE MINI COOPER COUNTRYMEN WHICH HAS BEEN IN PRODUCTION FOR OVER 3 YEARS HAS NOT YET BEEN RATED FOR CRASHES OR ROLLOVERS. I FIND THIS TO BE UNACCEPTABLE HOW ARE CONSUMERS TO MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISION WHEN THERE IS NO DATA AVAILABLE ON THE VEHICLES SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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