MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10432340October 21, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A LEFT HAND TURN. THE CAR'S STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME SO HEAVY THAT I ALMOST DROVE INTO SOMEBODY'S YARD. SINCE THE ROAD WAS A 3 MILE STRAIGHT SHOT TO MY HOME, I DROVE IT THE REST OF THE WAY. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO COME AND GO TO VARYING DEGREES OVER THAT DISTANCE. I WILL NOT BE DRIVING IT AGAIN UNTIL REPAIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432363October 21, 2011
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY WHEN MY BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT WENT ON; I LOST POWER STEERING AND SAW A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE MINI DEALERSHIP HAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE FAILED, AND SUBSEQUENTLY BURNED THE WIRING HARNESS. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL REPORTS OF FAULTY MANUFACTURING IN REGARD TO THIS PART FROM BBC IN UK, AS WELL AS ON MANY FORUMS, IN PARTICULAR NORTH AMERICAN MOTORING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432231October 20, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OIL RETURN LINE EXITING TURBOCHARGER LEAKS ENGINE OIL, WHICH DRIPS DIRECTLY ONTO HOT ENGINE EXHAUST DOWNPIPE, THIS LEADS TO SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE BAY AND WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE A FIRE IF NOT REMEDIED PROMPTLY. BMW SHOULD QUICKLY RECALL AND REPAIR THIS DESIGN DEFECT BEFORE A LOT OF PRIVATE PROPERTY GOES UP IN FLAMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432258October 20, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION WAS BEING TOWED BEHIND MY MOTOR HOME (WHICH I DO ALL THE TIME) WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER GOT MY ATTENTION TO SEE SMOKE COMING FROM MY CAR. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER GRABBED MY FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND LIFTED THE HOOD AND PUT OUT THE FIRE, BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. 6 FIREMEN WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OR WHERE IT STARTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430886October 19, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I BOUGHT CAR NEW IN NOV 2007. CAR WAS USED AS TRANSPORTATION EVERY DAY TO AND FROM WORK (~100 MI TOTAL). CAR WAS WELL CARED FOR, SERVICE WAS PERFORMED AS REQUIRED, ETC. IN SEPT 2008 AFTER SITTING UNDRIVEN FOR 10 DAYS WHILE I WAS AWAY ON VACATION, I DROVE 50 MI TO WORK AND THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF TROUBLE EXCEPT THAT AN INDICATOR FOR A BLOWN HEADLAMP CAME ON WHEN I INITIALLY STARTED UP. WHEN I ARRIVED AT WORK AND PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE I NOTICED WISPS OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE GRILL AND INTAKE AND SUSPECTED OVERHEATING. I PEERED INTO THE INTAKE AND SAW GLOWING ORANGE, AND SMELLED THE SMOKE AND REALIZED THIS WAS A FIRE NOT AN OVERHEATING. I HAD A COLLEAGUE CALL 911 AND GRABBED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. WHEN I GOT BACK TO THE CAR SMOKE WAS POURING OUT OF THE HOOD. NOT WANTING TO OPEN THE HOOD I AIMED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER INTO THE GRILL, INTAKE, AND GAPS BUT IT DIDN'T DO MUCH. AT THAT POINT I GRABBED VALUABLES FROM CAR AND WALKED AWAY. FLAMES BEGAN COMING OUT OF THE HOOD OVER THE WINDSHIELD. CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED WITHIN 10 MINUTES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE EXCEPT FOR THE CAR ITSELF. INSURANCE DECLARED IT A TOTAL LOSS. MINI WAS NOTIFIED. I HAVE PHOTOS OF IN-PROGRESS AND AFTERMATH. HAVING SEEN THE RECENT PUBLICITY ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE ENGINE FIRES I THOUGHT I SHOULD LOG MY VERY RELEVANT EXPERIENCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10431139October 19, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AS I APPROACHED THE STREET ON WHERE I LIVE, THE CAR STARTED TO SEVERELY SHAKE AND JERK , AS IF POWER WAS NOT GOING TO THE ENGINE. I WAS ABLE TO PARK IT ON MY DRIVEWAY, BUT THE NEXT MORNING, THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START. WHEN THE CAR ARRIVED AT THE DEALER AFTER BEING TOWED IN, THE CAR COULD NOT BE JUMP-STARTED, EVEN AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. TWO WEEKS PRIOR, I HAD BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEY REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN AND FOUND SEVERAL MISFIRE FAULTS, WHICH WERE SUPPOSEDLY CORRECTED. THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS REMOVED AND DISASSEMBLED AND FOUND TO HAVE CARBON BUILD UP. THE INTAKE VALVES AND EXHAUST VALVES WERE CLEANED. SINCE THE INCIDENT, THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALER. AN EXTENDED ROAD TEST IS SCHEDULED TO BE PERFORMED WITHIN THESE NEXT FEW DAYS. NO WORD ON WHAT HAS CAUSED THE CAR'S ENGINE TO DIE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430744October 19, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY WIFE AND I BOTH NOTICED A BURNING SMELL INSIDE OUR 2007 MINI COOPER S LAST WEEK WHILE TRAVELING ON AN EXPRESSWAY IN EITHER TENNESSEE OR NORTH CAROLINA ON VACATION. I OPENED MY WINDOW FOR 3-4 MINUTES, SUSPECTING THE SMELL MIGHT BE GETTING INTO THE CAR FROM A PICKUP TRUCK RUNNING APPROXIMATELY 40-50 YARDS AHEAD OF US. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF SMOKE OR FIRE AROUND THE PICK-UP TRUCK. THIS SMELL HAPPENED VERY BRIEFLY TWICE ON THE SAME DAY; I OPENED MY WINDOW FOR A FEW MINUTES IN BOTH CASES, AND THE BURNING SMELL DID NOT RETURN AFTER THAT. WE DROVE 2200 MILES IN 9 DAYS AND DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430619October 18, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER DRIVING TO WORK FOR 30 MINUTES, I PARKED MY CAR. I THOUGHT I SMELLED SOMETHING AS I WALKED AWAY, SO I STOPPED AN LOOKED, BUT I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. FIVE MINUTES AFTER WALKING INTO MY BUILDING, SOMEONE TOLD ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRST WITNESS TO SEE SOMETHING (A CO-WORKER) SAID HE SAW SOMETHING ON FIRE DROP FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. WHEN I RAN OUTSIDE, THE CAR WAS PUTTING OFF A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SMOKE. WE TRIED TO USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, TO NO END, AND WITHIN MINUTES WE WERE SEEING FLAMES. FIVE MINUTES LATER, THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FIRE. IT WAS FAST AND HOT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT IT OUT, BUT IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I HAVE PHOTO DOCUMENTATION OF THE EVENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430651October 18, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH DOES NOT OPEN THE DOOR. I AM UNABLE TO EXIT MY CAR WITHOUT UNLOCKING THE DOORS FROM THE CENTRAL PANEL, ROLLING DOWN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND OPENING THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THIS IS CLEARLY NOT A BEST PRACTICE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE WHICH I WOULD LIKE MINI TO RECOGNIZE AS DANGEROUS. IF IT IS JUST A CABLE INSIDE THE DOOR THAT IS NEEDED, THE TOTAL COST FOR REPAIR WILL BE $233.00 (THE PART IS $17.00 THE REST IS FOR LABOR). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430444October 17, 2011
STEERING
PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO A SPOT AND LOST ALL STEERING. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED AND IT WORKED AGAIN, BUT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER WITHOUT THE POWER ASSIST. I SEE THIS MORNING THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOW COMMON AND I HESITATE TO GO INTO MINI TO HAVE IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY SINCE IT WILL COST MORE THAN $1000 TO FIX! WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10431049October 17, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED... SAW SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE AREA, EVEN WHEN POWER TO ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF AND KEY REMOVED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART VEHICLE AFTER TALKING WITH SERVICE MECHANIC, HE ADVISED TO "RESTART" CAR UNTIL THE POWER STEERING UNIT POSSIBLY TURNED BACK ON. AFTER 6 ATTEMPTS (APPOX 3 MINS APART), THE SYSTEM STARTED TO WORK AGAIN, BUT WITH A "STIFF & GRINDING" NOISE COMING FROM THE PUMP BEING TRANSMITTED THRU THE STEERING WHEEL. CAUSE OF FAILURE IS "POWER STEERING PUMP/FAN UNIT". VERY DANGEROUS, AS THIS HAPPENED AT SPEED ON FREEWAY, AND LOST ALMOST ALL CONTROL OF STEERING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430535October 17, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON AUGUST 15, 2011, I DROVE MY VEHICLE TO WORK AS I DO EVERY MORNING. ON THE WAY, I STOPPED FOR GAS. AFTER FILLING UP THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS VERY, VERY HOT AND THE COOLANT OVERFLOW TANK WAS OVERFLOWING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP AND, AFTER INVESTIGATING, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STARVED OF OIL, HAD SEIZED, AND WOULD NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS RECEIVED REGULAR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM MINI IN 2008. THE LAST SERVICE WAS PERFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP ON A LEAKING OIL PAN GASKET. FURTHERMORE, THERE HAD BEEN NO WARNING SIGNALS WHATSOEVER THAT THE ENGINE WAS IN DANGER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430391October 16, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I DROVE THE CAR FOR LESS THAN A MILE AT CITY SPEEDS AND PROCEEDED TO PARK TO RUN ERRANDS. ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE CAR, UPON CLOSER INSPECTION I REALIZED THE CAR WAS ON FIRE AND CALLED 911. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO THE SCENE (ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER) THE FIRE HAD SPREAD THROUGH THE VEHICLE. THE CAR SHOWED NO WARNING SIGNS BEFORE THE FIRE STARTED AND ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN PERFORMED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS TO BE DETERMINED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430331October 15, 2011
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. IT CAME ON A FEW MONTHS AGO AND STAYS ON. HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER BUT NO KNOWN CAUSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430334October 15, 2011
SEATS
DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS GET STUCK IN POSITION. POSITION FOR DRIVERS SEAT IS TOTALLY STRAIGHT UP. MY BROTHER REPAIRED BUT SEAT STILL DOES NOT POSITION CORRECTLY AS I MUST USE A PILLOW BEHIND ME IN ORDER TO DRIVE. THE SAME THING HAPPENS TO THE PASSENGER SEAT AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE PASSENGER SEAT BACK INTO POSITION AS THERE IS A "TRICK" POSTED ONLINE THAT INSTRUCTS HOW TO REPOSITION THE SEAT. YOU MUST SIT ON YOUR KNEES ON THE SEAT AND TRY TO MANEUVER BOTH SEAT CONTROLS AT THE SAME TIME TO UNLOCK THE POSITION. THIS TRICK DOES NOT ALWAYS RELEASE THE SEAT UNTIL TRIED MANY MANY TIMES DAYS APART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430333October 15, 2011
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING FAILS WITH NO WARNING. THE CAR BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. IT MAY LAST JUST A FEW MINUTES OR MUCH LONGER - HOUR OR SO. USUALLY DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN JUST STARTING THE CAR BUT NO OTHER KNOWN PATTERN. IT HAPPENS 1 TO 2 TIMES A MONTH OR MORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430190October 14, 2011
STEERING
TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING. AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS, I STOPPED TO FILL UP AT A GAS STATION. I THEN STARTED THE CAR AND BEGAN TO DRIVE OUT OF THE GAS STATION. I SOON NOTICED THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, OPENED THE HOOD, AND PROCEEDED TO CHECK THE POWER STEERING FLUID. THE POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR WAS FULL. I RESTARTED THE CAR AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. THIS TEMPORARY POWER STEERING LOSS HAS OCCURRED 3 MORE TIMES OVER THE LAST MONTH SINCE THE INITIAL INCIDENT DESCRIBED ABOVE. DURING THE LAST OCCURRENCE, I DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE BACK TO MY HOME WITH NO POWER STEERING. I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT, NEARLY UNDRIVEABLE AROUND SLOW SPEED TURNS. THE STEERING EFFORT WAS MUCH MORE THAN MANUAL STEERING CARS I'VE OWNED IN THE PAST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430949October 13, 2011
POWER TRAIN
IT STARTED WITH LOUD NOISES AND RPM JUMPS TO BETWEEN 5 AND 6 WHEN ACCELERATING. IT NOW MAKES UNBELIEVABLE SOUNDS WHEN TRYING TO GO BEYOND 50 MPH. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANICS AND HE TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE AND IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. BMW DOES NOT SELL PARTS. IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT $5400 AT LEAST FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 55000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429624October 12, 2011
STEERING, STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
MY DAUGHTER EXPERIENCED COMPLETE POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING HER MINI COOPER, NEARLY CAUSING A COLLISION WITH AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. I DROVE THE CAR AFTERWARD AND COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW HARD IT WAS TO STEER THE CAR (COMPARED TO A MANUAL STEERING VEHICLE). I CALLED MINI AT THEIR TOLL FREE NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD NO RECALL NOTICE FROM THE NHTSA, THEREFORE THEY HAD NO OBLIGATION TO FIX THIS INCREDIBLE DEFECT. I HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE A BODY COUNT FOR THE NHTSA TO RECALL THE 223,000 MINI'S EFFECTED BY THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DEFECT. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429397October 11, 2011
STEERING, STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING; HAD NEW STEERING RACK/PUMP INSTALLED AT 90,000, WORKED FINE FOR A YEAR AND NOW THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME; A NEW STEERING PUMP/RACK NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED... *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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