MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10410757July 6, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A BMW 2011 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE BEGIN SMOKING AS HE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE JUST AS IT IGNITED INTO FLAMES, FOLLOWED BY AN EXPLOSION. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES FROM THE EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED BY THE STATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK TO HIM AT A LATER DATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410800July 6, 2011
STEERING
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON MY 2003 MINI COOPER AT THE BEGINNING OF A 40 MINUTE DRIVE HOME. THE NEXT DAY, ALL WAS FINE AND CONTINUED TO BE SO UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON. BRIEFLY THIS AFTERNOON, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN, BUT RETURNED WHEN THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND TURNED BACK ON. HOWEVER, ONCE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AGAIN, THE FAN IN THE POWER STEERING COLUMN CONTINUED TO RUN FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS. THE CAR STARTED AND DROVE FINE, AND AGAIN UPON RETURNING HOME, THE FAN CONTINUED TO RUN. WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED BACK ON, THE POWER STEERING AGAIN DID NOT WORK, AND NOW THE FAN IS NOT RUNNING. I HAVE READ MESSAGE BOARDS DETAILING ALMOST THE SAME PHENOMENON AND DESCRIBING UPWARDS OF $1000 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THE MINI WAS JUST IN FOR IT'S 100,000 MILE SERVICE THREE WEEKS AGO AT THE COST OF $1700 AND NO MENTION WAS MADE OF ANY ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10411228July 5, 2011
POWER TRAIN
WHEN ACCELERATING, THERE APPEARS TO BE A 1-1.5 SECOND DELAY FROM COMPLETE STOP POSITION TO START WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THIS DELAYED ACCELERATION IS PROBLEMATIC ONLY FROM COMPLETE STOPPING POSITION. EXAMPLE, AT PERPENDICULAR INTERSECTION WAITING TO TURN LEFT (PULLING OUT OF A GAS STATION OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE REQUIRES A ROLLING OR MOVING START BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL ACTUALLY ACCELERATE OR AT A SAFE ENOUGH SPEED TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC. WHEN I AM AT A COMPLETE STOP AND TRY TO ACCELERATE BY PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR FIRMLY FROM ANY COMPLETE STOP POSITION IN A SAFE ENOUGH SPEED TO CROSS TRAFFIC WHEN TURNING, THERE IS ALWAYS A DELAYED REACTION FROM THE TIME I DEPRESS THE PEDAL AND THE TIME THE VEHICLE TAKES OFF. THIS DOES NOT TO APPEAR AS A PROBLEM THAT HAPPENS ONLY ONCE IN A WHILE, BUT APPEARS ALL THE TIME AND TO BE A MANUFACTURER ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION AND GEAR CONTROL. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD ACTIVATE THE SPORT BUTTON AND DE-ACTIVATE THE DCS CONTROL WHICH CONTROLS THE "SPIN-OUT" ACTION ON THE COUNTRYMAN. I HAVE TRIED THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THIS IS NOT ONLY THE PROBLEM. THERE IS ALSO AN ISSUE WHEN I AM SIMPLY IN THE DRIVEWAY. WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THERE IS ALSO THAT "DELAYED" REACTION AFTER THE CAR IS ALREADY IN GEAR, ALMOST LIKE THE VEHICLE HAS TO THINK ABOUT MOVING BEFORE IT ACTUALLY DOES. THIS OCCURS EACH AND EVERY TIME WHILE IN THE VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE IS AN AUTOMATIC. I HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH BOTH AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND HAVE OVER 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND HAVE PURCHASED OVER 15 CARS IN MY DRIVING CAREER AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE EVERY EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE DRIVING EXPERIENCE WITH AN AUTOMATIC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410561July 5, 2011
STEERING, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10411288July 5, 2011
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING FAILS ON THE CAR. IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. IT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU FIRST START THE CAR, OR IT CAN HAPPEN AFTERYOU HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR SOME TIME. ALL OF THE SUDDEN YOU LOSE YOUR POWER STEERING AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. I AM A FEMALE AND I HAVE TO USE BOTH ARMS TO GET THE CAR TO TURN WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. I AM AFRAID THAT THE POWER STEERING IS GOING TO GO OUT AT A BAD TIME AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO TURN QUICK ENOUGH AND I COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410378July 4, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP ON 2005 MINI FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410366July 3, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410198July 1, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE TAILPIPE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE EXTENDS BEYOND THE REAR BUMPER. MY LOWER LEG INADVERTENTLY MADE CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST AND, AS A RESULT, I SUFFERED A SERIOUS "C"-SHAPED BURN. THE INJURY HAS REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. *TR IT APPEARS THAT THE MANUFACTURER RECALLED A PRIOR YEAR'S MODEL FOR THE IDENTICAL AND/OR SIGNIFICANTLY SIMILAR ISSUE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLE IS A SISTER AND/OR CLONE OF THE VEHICLE THAT WAS RECALLED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10410254July 1, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, AND UPON RESTART THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410054June 30, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2007 MINI COOPER S: COLD START RATTLE HAD BEEN AN ON-AGAIN, OFF-AGAIN PROBLEM, BUT SINCE I'D HAD THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER CHANGED WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, I DIDN'T MAKE THE CONNECTION. AT 81,000 MILES, I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE RED OIL LIGHT CAME ON. THIS WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. I STOPPED AT THE NEXT GAS STATION, GOT SOME SYNTHETIC OIL, AND PUT IN 2 QUARTS. I CONTINUED ON MY WAY, BUT THE OIL LIGHT HAD NOT GONE OFF. WITHIN ABOUT 1-2 MILES, AS I WAS ENTERING A HIGHWAY, THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A VERY LOUD RATTLING NOISE AND THEN STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. I CALLED MINI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, BUT AFTER ABOUT 15 MINS. ON THE PHONE, THEY FINALLY FIGURED OUT THAT THEY WERE NOT AUTHORIZED TO TOW OFF THIS INTERSTATE. I GOT AN AUTHORIZED TOWING CO. TO COME, AND I LET THEM TOW IT TO THEIR LOCAL GARAGE. THE NEXT DAY THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE HAD CEASED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FOLLOWING DAY I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO PRESTIGE MINI TO DETERMINE IF THIS WAS, IN FACT, WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY DIAGNOSED THE SAME THING, SAID THERE WAS NO WAY TO KNOW THE CAUSE, AND QUOTED ME $6400 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE (WHICH THEY ULTIMATELY BROUGHT DOWN TO $5600). AT 81K MILES, THERE IS NO REASON THIS ENGINE SHOULD HAVE CEASED. PLUS, I HAD NO WARNING THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR--NO "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT, NO "CHECK OIL" LIGHT UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. BASED ON WHAT I'VE READ, NOW ABOUT THE 2007 MINI, I AM CERTAIN THIS WAS DEFECT RELATED. HOW DO I PROVE THAT? I'M AT THE MERCY OF THE DEALERSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410057June 30, 2011
STEERING
I HAVE LOST THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2004 MINI COOPER S AT LEAST TEN TIMES WITHIN THE LAST MONTH. ON EACH OCCASION THE POWER STEERING WAS ABSENT WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED. AFTER SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR AND RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THIS FIXED, AND THEY SAID THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH ELECTRICAL POWER AND REPLACED MY BATTERY. HOWEVER, AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP AND WHILE PARKING, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, AGAIN. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR TWO TIMES, THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. I WILL BE RETURNING TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS EVENING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409908June 29, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING HAS BECOME INTERMITTENT. WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED, SOMETIMES THE POWER STEERING IS FUNCTIONING AND SOMETIMES IT IS NOT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409308June 29, 2011
STEERING
AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROX 2 HOURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, POWER STEERING FAILED. NOTICED UPON EXITING HIGHWAY - NO ACCIDENT, BUT STEERING REQUIRED UNEXPECTEDLY SIGNIFICANT FORCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409312June 29, 2011
STEERING
2005 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409323June 29, 2011
STEERING
DRIVING UNDER NORMAL DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409399June 29, 2011
STEERING
A PROBLEM DEVELOPED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY MINI COOPER "S" (2006). THE PROBLEM STARTED SOMEWHAT GRADUALLY, OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL DAYS TO A WEEK, DURING WHICH THE WHEEL BECAME MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN. MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR IN ANY SORT OF INCIDENT. IT HAS LESS THAN THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND MILES ON IT. I TOOK MY MINI TO AN AUTHORIZED MINI-COOPER REPAIR FACILITY WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE KNOCK (SP?) SENSOR AND STEERING MOTOR HAD FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THIS WAS AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $2,000.00 DOLLARS, HOWEVER IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUES TO BE SLUGGISH AND DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT WHATEVER IS WRONG WITH THE STEERING IS A DESIGN FLAW, AS NO CAR WITH LESS THAN THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND MILES ON IT SHOULD EXHIBIT SUCH A STRANGE AND CRITICAL FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409395June 29, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME RESISTANT. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED AS THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY THE DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409200June 28, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITH A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. A STRONG ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SIX TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE WILL SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409059June 27, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING CAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BECOME MUCH HARDER TO STEER, NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409134June 27, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MINI COOPER, 2007, 81000 MILES. WITH MINIMAL ADVANCE WARNING (A RATTLE THAT BEGAN WHEN CAR WAS STARTED THAT MORNING) TIMING CHAIN BROKE, LEADING TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. CAR WAS STOPPED AND BLOCKING TRAFFIC ON BUSY TWO LANE BRIDGE DURING MORNING COMMUTE UNTIL IT WAS TOWED AWAY. NO PREVIOUS ISSUES, WARNINGS EMERGED FROM THIS VEHICLE. WAS MAINTAINED REGULARLY AND BECAUSE OF NOISE ON START, I WAS INTENDING TO TAKE IT IN IMMEDIATELY. IN FACT, I WAS ON THE WAY TO THE GARAGE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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