MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10216298January 28, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MINI COOPER S 07 MAKES A HORRIBLE RATTLE ON COLD START UP. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. CAR DIES. SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS NO OIL IN ENGINE. AFTER CAR IS WARMED UP NOISE GOES AWAY. DEALER HAS REPLACED NON RETURN OIL VALVE. DIDN'T WORK. CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER AT LEAST 6 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS MUST BE DAMAGING THE ENGINE. ONLY 13,300 MILES ON THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215605January 22, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2001 330I WITH 110,000 MILES ON IT ABRUPTLY STOPPED GOING IN REVERSE. ONE DAY IT WAS FINE AND RUNNING NORMALLY AND THE NEXT DAY WHEN I WENT TO BACK OUT OF MY GARAGE IT WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. I RECENTLY SOLD MY OLD CAR AND BOUGHT A BMW FOR THE "RELIABILITY" AND TO GET A HIGH VALUE CAR, INSTEAD I HAVE A MONEY PIT THAT I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX AND NOW NEEDS A $6,100 TRANSMISSION. WISH I HAD KEPT MY OLD CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215373January 18, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 MINI COOPER. I HAD DRIVEN 1/4 MILE AND THOUGHT I HEARD SOMETHING CRACK OR SPARK UNDER THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THEN I SAW SMOKE, PULLED OVER, GOT OUT, AND THE WHOLE CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215106January 16, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN ACCELERATING OUT OF A TOLL BOOTH, THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER JUST AS I CHANGED LANES IN FRONT OF LARGE TRUCK. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS A PULL-OUT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD. IF I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO QUICKLY PULL OVER, THE TRUCK WOULD HAVE LIKELY COLLIDED WITH MY CAR. TURNING OF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING IT TEMPORARILY CLEARED THE PROBLEM. IT WOULD REOCCUR WHENEVER I USED FULL THROTTLE AND THE ENGINE HIT 5000 RPM. THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BY A STICKY SUPER-CHARGER BYPASS VALVE. IT IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM, SO MUCH SO THAT THE DEALER ALWAYS HAVE THE PARTS IN STOCK. LOOSING ALL ENGINE POWER IS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS - BMW SHOULD FIX THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214695January 14, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
2001 BMW X5- I'VE OWNED THE MENTIONED VEHICLE FOR 3 YRS. AND AM UNABLE TO DRIVE IT THE WINTER DUE TO DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE BECAUSE LATCHING MECH FREEZES AND WILL NOT CLOSE UNTIL DOOR THAWS OUT. IT'S BEEN TO BMW DEALERSHIP AND SAYS IT'S A FAULTY CARRIER ON THESE 2000-2001 BMW WILL NOT HONOR THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION MY DRIVING WITH THE DOOR OPEN AND HAVING TO HOLD IT SOMEWHAT CLOSED AFTER GETTING IN !! IT'S A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. YOU MAY READ ABOUT THIS ON THE BMW WEBSITE -WWW.ROADFLY.COM AND SEARCH THE ARCHIVES OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY WANT CLOSE 800.00 TO FIX THIS PROPERLY WITH A NEW DESIGNED "CARRIER" . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214608January 12, 2008
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING PUMP IS NOISY ALL THE TIME. I AM AFRAID THIS MAY LEAD TO FAILURE OF MY ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE . THE CAR IS A 2002 MINI. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213658January 4, 2008
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER S, 62,000 MILES, FAILS INTERMITTENTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING AN INSTANT AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER ASSISTED STEERING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND CAN CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH SHOULD LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. FURTHER RESEARCH OF ONLINE FORUMS (MINI2.COM, NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM, ROADFLY.COM) INDICATES THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AFFECTING MANY MINI OWNERS, AND POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE HAS ALSO BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE ENGINE BAY FIRES. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213520January 2, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER
I HAVE A 2002 MINI COOPER WITH 52K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION HAS WENT OUT TWICE IN THE PAST 2 YEARS THE FIRST TIME AT 31K MILES. THE CLUTCH HAS ALSO WENT OUT AS WELL AS THE SUNROOF MOTOR, LEFT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WITH A HOST OF SENSORS, GAUGES ETC... PARTS ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET AND SERVICE ON A 24K CAR (WHEN NEW) IS AS MUCH AS MY 70K BMW 7 SERIES.*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212903December 27, 2007
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
MY 2004 MINI COOPER S LOST STEERING CONTROL APPROACHING A VERY DANGEROUS CORNER ON CALIFORNIA SR 330. IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL AND I NEARLY AVOIDED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, BUT WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE TURN AND THEN GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. SEARCHING ON THE WEB, I SEEN HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF STEERING FAILURE IN 2002 THROUGH 2006 MINI COOPERS. MY DEALER WAS KNEW ABOUT THE ISSUE AND REPLACED THE STEERING PUMP. MY MINI HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212708December 26, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER RENDERING THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $6000+ TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO AND THEY JUST RESET THE CODE AND IT WORKED FINE. THEY SAID IF THEY TRIED RESETTING THE CODE AGAIN, THE CAR MAY JUST DIE ON ME WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212710December 26, 2007
AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I JUST FOUND THIS WEB SITE AND AFTER READING THROUGH THE VARIOUS ISSUES OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THEIR MINI, I DECIDED I SHOULD ALSO GO AHEAD AND SHARE MY ISSUES AS WELL. BACK IN APRIL OF 2004, I WAS HIT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BY A HONDA ACCORD TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MILES AN HOUR AND MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I NEVER HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR AN AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THAT MATTER BUT IT'S A SCARY THOUGHT NOT HAVING YOUR AIRBAGS DEPLOY, ESPECIALLY AT SUCH A HIGH SPEED OF IMPACT. I USED TO BE IN LOVE WITH MINI'S BUT I HAVE BEEN SO "SOURED" BY THEM AS OF LATE WITH ALL OF THE ISSUES I HAVE BEEN HAVING. MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I CAN'T EVEN START MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10212715December 26, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSTANT GRINDING NOISE COMING FRONT MY FRONT BRAKES. HAD SENSORS REPLACED, FRONT AND REAR BRAKES REPLACED AND THE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED AS WELL. STILL MAKING THE NOISE AND CAUSING EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE. FEELS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212868December 26, 2007
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
I COMPLAINED TO MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP ABOUT NOISE COMING FROM UNDERSIDE OF THE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND THE LAST TIME I COMPLAINED THEY BLAMED IT ON "WORN TIRES". AT 52,000 MILES I NOTICED A HIGH PITCH SQUEALING FROM UNDER THE CAR WHEN I HAD THE CLUTCH PRESSED IN. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO MINI SERVICE, THEY SAID THAT "CLUTCH MATERIAL PROBABLY GOT CAUGHT IN THE FINGERS OF THE CLUTCH". THEY SAID THAT SINCE MY WARRANTY WAS UP (OVER AT 50,000 MILES) AND THAT THIS WAS A "FRICTION MATERIAL" ISSUE, THE COST OF THE REPAIR ($2,200 - $2,800) WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. SINCE THIS COST WAS SO HIGH AND THE EARLY FAILURE SO FAR OUTSIDE OF NORMAL EXPECTED DUTY TIME, I REFUSED THE SERVICE. SINCE THERE ARE MANY REPORTED CASES OF EARLY CLUTCH FAILURE AND FLYWHEEL FIELD UPGRADES, I CONTACTED MINI USA AND ASKED FOR MY ISSUE TO BE REVIEWED AS A WARRANTY ISSUE. THEY WOULD NOT AGREE TO COVER THE REPAIR, BUT SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY AT LEAST $700 TO CHECK OUT TO EVEN CONSIDER THIS AS A WARRANTY. THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO BRING THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP FOR REVIEW. SINCE INDEPENDENT SHOPS CHARGE ABOUT HALF THE AMOUNT FOR CLUTCH REPLACEMENT, I WANTED THAT OPTION IN CASE MINI REFUSED TO COVER ANY COSTS. THE MINI CS REFERENCE NUMBER FOR THIS ISSUE IS 2000736002924. ON 12/25 (CHRISTMAS DAY) MY CLUTCH FAILED COMPLETELY. SINCE MINI IS NOT WILLING TO GIVE ANY MATERIAL SUPPORT TO THIS ISSUE, AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER CASES OF EARLY CLUTCH FAILURE REPORTED I OPENED THIS COMPLAINT TO SEE IF NHTSA COULD HELP RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212332December 19, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DURING COLD START VEHICLE MAKES LOUD METAL ON METAL SOUND PERSISTENT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. SOUND IS SIMILAR TO OLDER DIESEL ENGINE WITH RATTLING AND ROUGH SOUNDS. IN THE UK DEALERS HAVE BEEN RESPONSIVE TO THE ISSUE REPLACING THE CHAIN TENSIONER AND NOW IN SOME CASES THE ENGINE. DEALERS IN THE US DENY THE ISSUE AND PROVIDE NO REMEDY CALLING THE SOUND NORMAL. ISSUE IS CAUSING UNDUE ENGINE WEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211370December 10, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. ON TWO OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER AND THEY ARE INVESTIGATING THE FAILURE. THEY DID NOT STATE IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211394December 10, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2002 MINI COOPER WITH A CVT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. THE CARE HAS ABOUT 61,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED COSTING ME AT LEAST $6,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211254December 9, 2007
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
ABSOLUTELY NO UNUSUAL NOISES OR ANY OTHER SYMPTOMS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. CAR HAS ABOUT 53,000 MILES ON IT, POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED- CAR IS NOW EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO STEER & A SAFETY HAZARD TO DRIVE. THANKFULLY I WAS DRIVING AT LOW SPEED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, SO NO CRASHES OR INJURIES OCCURRED. POWER STEERING PUMP & FAN WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT HAVE NOT HAD IT DONE YET, AS I AM TOLD IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $1500 FOR THIS REPAIR & I AM ABOUT 3000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY NOW. I HAVE ALSO HEARD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN 2002-2006 MINI COOPERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211079December 6, 2007
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I WILL BE INSTALLING WHAT WILL BE THE THIRD MANUAL 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION IN MY MINI. SAME PROBLEM, SEEMS TO BE THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING IS FAILING LIKELY DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. I HAVE RECORDS OF ALL SERVICE AND CHECK IT REGULARLY AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN LOW. THE BEARING IS APPARENTLY NOT GETTING A PROPER SUPPLY OF FLUID. PROBLEM NUMBER TWO, MY POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED ON ME ONCE. IT EXPLODED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE HOSES BASICALLY GOT TOO HOT AND BLEW UP. I FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO LIMP IT TO A SHOP WITHOUT ANY FIRE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE POWER STEERING FAN CONTINUED TO RUN EVEN WHEN THE IGNITION WAS SHUT OFF, NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PUMP THIS TIME WHICH COST ME $500 INSTALLED WITH A REMANUFACTURED PUMP. THIRD, I HAVE HAD TO PUT THREE WINDSHIELDS IN THE CAR. NONE OF THESE REPAIRS WERE WARRANTED! MINI NEEDS TO SUCK IT UP AND CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE SHODDILY MADE CARS, THEY HAVE MADE THEIR MONEY AND DON'T CARE TO HELP WITH ANYTHING. I AM A LOYAL BMW CUSTOMER BUT I THINK I WILL STICK WITH THE OLDER MODELS NOW AS THEY AREN'T IMPOSSIBLE TO WORK ON AND FIND PARTS FOR. GOD KNOWS I WILL NOT PAY 23 GRAND FOR THIS NIGHTMARE AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210217November 28, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 25 MPH AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER IT WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT ALL OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OVER THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 78,402.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209866November 25, 2007
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
COMPLETE AND INSTANTANEOUS POWER STEERING FAILURE. THERE IS PLENTY OF FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR AND THERE ARE NO BLOWN FUSES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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