MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10484831November 15, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I FELT THE CAR JERK FORWARD AND THEN IT FELT AS IF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING IN AND OUT OF GEARS. MANAGED TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY AND DRIVE TO THE LOCAL MINI DEALERSHIP, WHICH WAS LUCKILY ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD. WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THE PROBLEM WAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND WAS QUOTED $9,000 REPAIR COST. WHEN I ASKED THE MECHANIC WHY THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED THIS EARLY, TOLD ME THEY HAD NO IDEA. HOWEVER, WHEN I ASKED ANOTHER EMPLOYEE HOW MANY OTHER CARS HAD THEY SEEN WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, HE RELUCTANTLY ADMITTED "QUITE A FEW". *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484862November 15, 2012
ENGINE
A CAR STOPPED SHORT IN MY PATH CAUSING ME TO BRAKE HARD AND STALL. SINCE I DIDN'T APPLY THE CLUTCH DURING THE EMERGENCY STOP I PRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO THE FLOOR IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE ENGINE. WHEN IT FAILED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS I HAD IT TOWED TO MINI OF BALTIMORE. THEY TOLD ME IT HAD NO COMPRESSION AND THAT THE EXHAUST CAM HAD JUMPED 180 DEGREES OUT OF TIMING. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A TIMING BELT TENSIONER PROBLEM THE SERVICE MANAGER GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $2800. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT MINI WON'T ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484119November 13, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSTALLING A GPS SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE HE BECAME AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER WAS GIVEN THE INCORRECT READING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE GPS READ 51MPH AND THE VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER READ 60 MPH, BUT VEHICLE WAS GOING SLOWER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT PROVIDING ANY ASSISTANCE GIVEN THAT THE VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER WAS IN TOLERANCE SINCE THE MARGIN OF ERROR ALLOWED WAS TEN PERCENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 11/29/12 *BF UPDATED 12/4/2012 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484507November 13, 2012
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, SERVICE BRAKES
DEAR NHTSA, I NEARLY LOST MY LIFE 3WKS BACK, MY CAR IS FILLED WITH AFTERMARKET PRDT. MY CARS COMPUTER IS FAILED ALSO, WHICH WON'T ALERT OR RECORD ANY INCIDENT. I TRIED TALKING TO MINIUSA&CARMAX, THEY WONT LISTEN. I HAVE AN HEART CONDITION NOW COZ OF THE NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE. I DEVELOPED A LOW HIGH BP 80/103 & FAST HEARTBEAT, WHICH I AM TAKING MED. AFTER THE INCIDENT. I WROTE LETTERS&POSTED ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE NO RESPONSE. I NEED HELP! I USED TO BE A PROUD OWNER OF 2008 MINI COOPER! NOW MY CAR TURNED INTO A DEATH TRAP! ITS NOTHING BUT A NIGHTMARE, SO FAR 3 TIMES CAR WAS TURNED OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD & FREEWAY, WHEN IT HAPPENED I APPLIED MY (ALL THREE TIMES) BREAK WHICH WENT TO THE FLOOR, DIDN'T WORK, BOUGHT THE CAR FROM CARMAX WITH A WARRANTY (EXTENDED), ALSO THE CAR HAS 53,100 MILES ONLY! CALLED CARMAX BURBANK OFFICE NO RESPONSE, THEN CALLED CARMAX OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AFTER A GREAT DEAL GOT RESPONSE FROM A REP. NOW THE CAR IS WITH UNIVERSAL CITY MINI OF NOHO! CARS BREAK SYS. IS AN AFTER MARKET PROD. MY CAR COMPUTER/DASH DISPLAY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR SIGNAL COMES ON EVERY 3-4 MONTHS, WHEN IT DOES, THE LIGHT WILL STAY ON FOR A DAY OR TWO, THEN IT DISAPPEARS, WHEN I MENTIONED THIS TO MINI DEALERSHIP, CAR KEY RECORDS ALL THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CARS ENGINE AND INCIDENTS, WHEN THE REP. AT DEALERSHIP DOWNLOADED THE CAR KEY, HE COULDN'T FIND A SINGLE INCIDENT, THEN I SHOWED HIM THE PIC I TOOK.. HE WAS SURPRISED... " THIS CAR IS NOTHING BUT A LEMON" POORLY HANDLED BY CARMAX AND MINI. THIS CAR WILL KILL SOMEONE, IF YOU LET IT DRIVE. PLEASE SAVE MY LIFE AND OTHERS. LTRS WERE SENT TO CARMAX&MINI USA CEO'S TOM FOLLIARD CEO OF CARMAX,[XXX] AND [XXX]. NONE OF THEM, EVEN BOTHERED TO REPLY, RESPOND OR TRIED TO REACH OUT TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10484073November 12, 2012
STEERING
DRIVING HOME FROM WORK GETTING OFF THE TURNPIKE TO TAKE MY EXIT RIGHT, MY 2003 MINI COOPER KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE AS I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL COMING OFF HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THERE IS NO WARNING AT ALL WHEN THIS HAPPENS, YOU JUST CANNOT TURN THE WHEEL TO NEGOTIATE YOUR TURN. I'VE DRIVEN CARS WITHOUT POWER STEERING, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE AN ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILURE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THIS CAR. BMW MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS WELL DOCUMENTED DANGEROUS FAILURE AND DO THE RIGHT THING OR SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT AND/OR HURT SOMEONE ELSE. COST TO FIX THE STEERING PUMP FAILURE - $1200.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483833November 9, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE HOWEVER, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO MOVE OUT OF REVERSE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE WAS DETACHED FROM THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V201000 (POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS INELIGIBLE FOR RECALL REPAIRS. THE PART WAS ORDERED AND THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR REPAIRS WHEN THE PART BECAME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,200. ....UPDATED 12/20/12 *BF UPDATED 12/27/2012*JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483585November 7, 2012
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE SEIZED AND STOPPED ABRUPTLY DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE OIL SUCTION PUMP. THE PUMP FAILED INTERNALLY AND DUE TO THE DESIGN THAT TIED IT DIRECTLY TO THE OVERHEAD CAM, IT CAUSED THE CAMSHAFT TO SEIZE, STRETCHED AND BROKE THE BOLT CONNECTING THE TIMING GEAR AND CHAIN TO THE CAMSHAFT, WHICH THE FELL INTO THE LOWER ENGINE AREA AND CAUSED FURTHER ENGINE DAMAGE. FORTUNATELY, THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT OCCURRED IN A RELATIVELY SLOW TRAFFIC SITUATION AND THE CAR WAS SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND PUSHED OFF TO THE SIDE. DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE WAS SUBSTANTIAL AND CONSISTENT WITH MULTIPLE OTHER REPORTS OF SIMILAR FAILURES. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW (IN MY OPINION AS AN ENGINEER) IN THAT THE SHEAR POINT BEING ON THE CAMSHAFT INSTEAD OF THE PUMP CAUSES INSTANTANEOUS ENGINE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING AND COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS CRASH OR INJURY. IN ADDITION TO THIS FAILURE, THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE OIL SYSTEM THAT MAY HAVE TRIGGERED THIS PUMP FAILURE. MINI HAD ALLEGEDLY PERFORMED SOME 'VALVE CLEANING' APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY SUCH 'CLEANING' WHEN THE ENGINE WAS OPENED. I HAVE EXTENSIVE PHOTOS OF THIS ENGINE AS IT WAS DISASSEMBLED, SHOWING THE PUMP, BOLT AND OTHER PARTS AND WILL BE HAPPY TO SHARE THOSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483597November 7, 2012
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND WAS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483671November 7, 2012
STEERING
LEFT HOME WITH NO POWER STEERING ISSUES. HALF WAY TO WORK, DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND BEGAN TO TAKE A RIGHT HAND CURVE IN THE ROAD AND OUT OF NO WHERE THERE IS NO POWER STEERING. NO WARNING OR INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG PRIOR TO THIS. LUCKILY I REACTED QUICKLY AND THE CURVE WAS NOT TOO SHARP BECAUSE I WAS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE WITH CARS TO THE LEFT OF ME AND BEHIND ME. WOULD HAVE BEEN BAD NEWS HAD THE CURVE BEEN A LITTLE SHARPER. I CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL AND IT WAS FULL. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. DROVE THE CAR AGAIN LATER IN THE DAY, WHEN I STARTED THE CAR EVERYTHING WAS WORKING PERFECTLY AND THEN PART WAY TO MY DESTINATION THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483485November 6, 2012
STEERING
AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY I NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM MY HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR AND POPPED THE HOOD TO FIND SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS ABLE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BEFORE IT DID EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. CAUSE OF FIRE WAS FAILED POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483345November 5, 2012
SEATS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I TURNED THE SEAT HEATER ON AND IT MELTED A HOLE IN THE LEATHER SEAT AND THE FOAM PADDING STARTED TO BURN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483361November 5, 2012
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT AND PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483374November 5, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483422November 5, 2012
ENGINE
WAS DRIVING BACK FROM VACATION, AND UPON GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY WE HAD NOTICED A LOUD RATTLING WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. BROUGHT THE CAR TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER HAD FAILED, RESULTING IN THE TIMING CHAIN TO BE LOOSE AND DESTROY THE RAILS IT RODE ON. UPON LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE FURTHER, DISCOVERED THERE IS A TSB OUT ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM, BUT IT IS NOT A RECALL YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483253November 3, 2012
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND MANEUVER, AS IF THE POWER STEERING FEATURE HAD BEEN DISABLED. INITIALLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE SURFACE OF THE ROAD MAKING HANDLING OF THE CAR DIFFICULT, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO PERSIST EVEN AFTER I EXITED THE FREEWAY. WHILE PERFORMING LEFT-TURNS AND RIGHT-TURNS ON THE SIDE STREETS, I HAD TO EXERT TREMENDOUS LABOR TO COMPLETE THE TURN, AND ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS I ALMOST HIT ADJACENT CARS ON THE ROAD BECAUSE I COULDN'T FORCIBLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL ENOUGH. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION, I TURNED OFF MY ENGINE, RE-STARTED IT, AND TO MY RELIEF AND AMAZEMENT, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EASY TO MANEUVER AGAIN, WITHOUT A TRACE OF THE STEERING PROBLEMS THAT HAD JUST OCCURRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482876November 1, 2012
ENGINE
I JUST PURCHASED A PRE-OWNED 2008 MINI COOPER S 2MONTHS AGO... I JUST STARTED HAVING A COLD START ISSUE SINCE WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IT WAS HOT OUT AND NOW SINCE THE TEMP HAS DROPPED THE CAR HAS A CHATTER COMING FROM THE ENGINE BAY. I HAVE SEARCHED ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND I HAVE SEEN THERE ARE MANY COOPERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND MANY HAVE REPLACED TIMING CHAINS FOR ALMOST $2000 AND THE MANUFACTURER ISN'T BRINGING A RECALL TO ATTENTION. I WORK IN A DEALERSHIP AS A SALES PERSON AND MANY MECHANICS ARE SAYING IS A TIMING ISSUE. I FEEL LOSS OF POWER AND NOW FEEL THE CAR CAN DIE AT ANY MOMENT. PLEASE MAKE MINI OPEN AND INVESTIGATION IN THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482892November 1, 2012
POWER TRAIN
2006 MINI CVT TRANSMISSION MADE A WEIRD NOISES AND STOPPED MOVING, JUST PRIOR TO THIS THERE WAS HESITATION IN ACCELERATION AND VERY LOUD NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482916November 1, 2012
AIR BAGS
RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WARNING CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER SAYS CLOCK SPRING FAILED COST 1300 TO REPAIR NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR A RECALL AND THE CAR AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IF NOT REPAIRED. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED MY 2005 TRUCK FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH THE AIR BAGS IS THIS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE FOR BMW / MINI PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482772October 31, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE THAT BECAME INCREASINGLY STRONGER. AFTER I ARRIVED HOME I BEGAN LOOKING FOR THE SOURCE OF THE GASOLINE SMELL. WHAT I FOUND WAS THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE THAT SUPPLIES FUEL TO THE INJECTOR RAIL WAS LEAKING. THE WAY THE HOSE WAS ROUTED ON THE BACK OF THE ENGINE, ALLOWED THE HOSE TO REST ON A RETAINING CLIP FOR ANOTHER HOSE. THE RETAINING CLIP HAD WORN A GROOVE INTO THE HIGH PRESSURE LINE AND GASOLINE WAS SPRAYING ACROSS THE BACK OF THE ENGINE AND DOWN ONTO THE ENGINE EXHAUST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482442October 27, 2012
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN. AFTER DRIVING FURTHER ABOUT 20 MINUTES, POWER STEERING RETURNED. POWER STEERING NOW ACTS ERRATICALLY, OPERATING SOMETIMES AND NOT OTHERS. POWER STEERING PERIODICALLY DOES NOT OPERATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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