MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10915215October 11, 2016
ENGINE
LEAKING THERMOSTAT REPLACEMENT. THE MINI DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED ME AFTER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE THAT NEARLY EVERY MINI IN THIS MODEL YEAR IS COMING IN FOR A THERMOSTAT REPLACEMENT. I WAS TIPPED OFF TO THIS AFTER QUESTIONING AN ADAPTER THAT WAS INVOICED. MINI KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE OF DEFECTIVE THERMOSTATS BUT IS AVOIDING A RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10914301October 6, 2016
ENGINE
PRISTINE CONDITION, LOW MILEAGE, DEALER SERVICED MINI COOPER S (OWNED SINCE NEW) BEGAN EXHIBITING A RATTLING NOISE FROM ENGINE AT 34K MILES. DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS A TIMING CHAIN DEFECT AND TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER DEFECT. THIS IS A KNOWN ENGINE DEFECT. REFERENCE CLASS ACTION SUIT AND SETTLEMENT 338403. THIS SETTLEMENT BY BMW/MINI USA COVERS THIS FLAW AND BMW/MINI KNOWS THAT VEHICLES PRODUCED WITHIN THE 2007-2010 TIMEFRAME HAVE THIS FLAW. THIS FLAW CAN RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. IN MY CASE, IT WAS NOISY UNDER ACCELERATION, AND WAS INTO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE WITHIN DAYS OF FIRST ISSUE. THIS IS A KNOWN FLAW. HOWEVER, BMW/MINI SETTLED THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND SET ASIDE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR CLAIMS....BUT THOSE CLAIMS MUST BE FILED BY 7/1/16. I DID NOT HAVE THE ISSUE BEFORE THAT DATE, I HAD IT HAPPEN IN SEPTEMBER 2016 - TWO MONTHS LATER. I HAVE REQUESTED SOME ACCOMMODATION FROM BMW/MINI, HOWEVER THEY ARE REFUSING TO PARTICIPATE AT ANY LEVEL, EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THIS WAS A FLAWED PART AND COULD HAVE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. I AM NOT EXPECTING FULL REIMBURSEMENT, BUT IF THEY KNOW THE CAR HAS A MAJOR FLAW, THEY SHOULD HAVE SOME COVERAGE IN PLACE FOR ANY OF THESE VEHICLES WITH THE FLAW. THUS FAR THE REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER AND MINI USA HAVE INDICATED BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED AFTER 7/1/16 THEY WILL NOT ACCOMMODATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10914090October 5, 2016
AIR BAGS
MY AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT IS ON CONTINUOUSLY AND MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR MAT PROBLEM. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT RESULTED IN A RECALL FOR 2005-2008 MODELS IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 15V205000. I'VE CALLED MY LOCAL BMW/MINI SERVICE DEPARTMENT, BUT THEY SAY IT'S NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10910754September 30, 2016
POWER TRAIN
TAKATA RECALL. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE IN AUTOMATIC. SPENT $5,600 TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION. STILL HAVING INTERMITTENT ISSUES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10910541September 29, 2016
ENGINE
WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR ITS FIRST SERVICE I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A RECALL. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE ANY SUCH RECALL. I HAVE FOUND THIS ENTIRE EXPERIENCE TO BE VERY UNUSUAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10910564September 29, 2016
ENGINE
THE MINI COOPER CLUBMAN HAS A DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER THAT CAN CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND CRASHES. BMW HAS AGREED TO REPLACE THE CHAINS IN SOME MODELS, BUT NOT OTHERS, LEAVING OPEN THE POSSIBILITY OF CRASHES RELATED TO THE FAILURE OF THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. BMW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE PART SINCE 2008, WHEN THE COMPANY ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM; HOWEVER, FOLLOWING THE NOTICE, BMW FAILED TO ISSUE ANY RECALL OR PROVIDE COMPENSATION FOR THOSE WHO HAD ALREADY REPLACED THEIR CHAINS OR ENGINES. BMW'S FAILURE TO NOTIFY DRIVERS OF THIS PROBLEM IS A DANGER TO THE DRIVING PUBLIC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10910594September 29, 2016
ENGINE
BOUGHT A 2009 MINI S FOR MY DAUGHTER IN AUGUST OF 2015 WITH 36K MILES ON IT. SINCE THEN I'VE SPENT OVER $5000 IN REPAIRS AND THE CAR IS CURRENTLY PARKED AND NOT BEING DRIVEN BECAUSE NOW THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR IS 5 MONTHS PAST THE "WARRANTY" PERIOD FOR THIS SERVICE BULLETIN CAMPAIGN, AND THIS REPAIR WILL LIKELY COST ANOTHER $3000OR MORE I'VE PAID FOR TO REPAIR THE OIL LEAK IN THE TURBO LINE AS WELL AS THE WATER PUMP FAILING, AND REPLACED THE VALVE COVER DUE TO OIL LEAKING, ALL WELL KNOWN ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER ISSUES ARE WELL KNOWN BY BMW/MINI AS WELL AND THERE IS NO RECOURSE FOR OWNERS OF THESE CARS AT THIS POINT. MY CAR ONLY HAS 48,000 MILES ON IT! THERE IS NO REASON FOR ALL OF THESE PARTS TO BE FAILING THE WAY THEY ARE. I WILL HAVE SPENT MORE THAN DOUBLE WHAT I PAID FOR THIS CAR BEFORE ITS DRIVABLE AGAIN. VERY UNHAPPY WITH MINI!!!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10909978September 27, 2016
ENGINE
ENGINE, THERMOSTAT, GASKET, RADIATOR, COOLANT TUBE, AND BATTERY WENT OUT ON THE V AT THE SAME TIME. IT WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND JUST STOP RUNNING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10910019September 27, 2016
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IS ERRATIC, SOMETIMES IT WORKS, MOST TIMES NOT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10908587September 21, 2016
AIR BAGS, SEATS
FAULTY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR FOR AIRBAG. WEIGHT SENSOR FAILS TO DISTINGUISH WHEN SOMEONE IS OR IS NOT IN THE SEAT, CAUSING THE AIRBAG FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER CONSTANTLY READ "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF."
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10908611September 21, 2016
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. INFACT IT WAS SERVICED JUST A FEW THOUSAND MILES BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY COMING HOME FROM WORK THEN IT SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED AND EXPLODED. HAD SHE NOT NOTICED THE FLAMES SHE WOULD HAVE DIED. THIS IS NOT OKAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10908298September 20, 2016
POWER TRAIN
ON 8-28-16 THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED ON THE ENGINE OF MY 2009 MINI COOPER S, WHICH LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, REQUIRING THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED. AT THE TIME OF FAILURE I WAS DRIVING AT FULL SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS SUDDEN POWER LOSS AND I HAD TO AVERT TRAFFIC TO SAFELY PULL OVER. DURING POWER LOSS THERE WAS LOTS OF SMOKE POURING OUT OF THE CAR. TIMING CHAIN FAILURES ARE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MINI, AND THE SUBJECT OF A RECENT LAWSUIT AGAINST MINI. SEE INFO REGARDING A SETTLEMENT DUE TO TIMING CHAIN FAILURE: HTTP://WWW.TIMINGCHAINTENSIONERSETTLEMENT.COM/ THE LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT EXTENDS THE ENGINE WARRANTY TO 7YRS/100,000MI. MY MINI IS AT 86K MI, AND A FEW DAYS OVER 7 YEARS. MINI USA REFUSES TO ASSIST ME IN SOLVING THIS KNOWN ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10907340September 17, 2016
ENGINE
"TAMARA RECALL" TIMING CHAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10907296September 16, 2016
ENGINE
TURBO OIL LINE LEAKS AND DRIPS ON TURBO MANIFOLD CAUSING BURNING OIL SMELL AND SMOKE. THE ENGINE CAUGHT A SMALL FIRE, LUCKY I WAS PARKED ON SIDE OF A HIGHWAY ROAD UP IN THE MOUNTAINS. (NO FIRE STATIONS OR VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC) I SMELT SOMETHING BURNING UNDER TO HOOD WHEN IT HAPPENED AND CAUGHT THE FLAMES IN TIME TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. 2 SEATTLE AREA MINI DEALERS STATE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL THE TURBO ENGINES IN THIS CLASS. THEY WANT YOU TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR IT'S A $1300 FIX. I BELIEVE THAT MINI/BMW NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND REPAIR/RECALL THE TURBO OIL LINE BECAUSE IT POSES A SAFETY ISSUE THE CAR COULD CATCH FIRE AND POTENTIALLY INJURE SOMEONE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, OR WORSE DEATH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10906380September 14, 2016
AIR BAGS
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR HAS BEEN ON SINCE THE DATE POSTED. IT WOULD RESOLVE ON ITS OWN SOMETIMES BUT NOT IT NEVER TURNS OFF, HINDERING MY ABILITY TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER. I HAVE NOT SHELLED OUT THE THOUSANDS TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE I AM HOPING BMW WILL RECALL FOR THIS APPARENTLY COMMON PROBLEM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10906760September 14, 2016
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2013 MINI COOPER PACEMAN BASE AUTO. 05/30/2016- WE EXPERIENCE INSTANCES WHERE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE MAINTAINING SPEED AFTER RELEASING GAS PEDAL WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET, HIGHWAY, CITY STREET GOING DOWNHILL. DURATION OF THE PERIOD OF CONTINUED ACCELERATION MAINTAINING SPEED TYPICALLY LAST 1 TO 3 SECONDS. WE NOTED THAT THE OCCURRENCE OF THESE INSTANCES BEGAN RECENTLY AFTER ANNUAL SERVICE IN 05/2016. WE INQUIRED IF VEHICLE HAD RECENT SOFTWARE UPDATE. DEALER CANNOT DIAGNOSE ANY DEFECT. DEALER CITED ADAPTIVE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (ECU). DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE CITED THE SAME ISSUE WE ARE EXPERIENCING. DEALER RESET ECU UNIT. WE INQUIRED IF TRANSMISSION FLUID SERVICE WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. DEALER OFFERED TO PERFORM TRANSMISSION FLUID SERVICE AT OUR EXPENSE. NOTE VEHICLE STILL UNDER NEW CAR WARRANTY. DEALER ADVICE WHEN INSTANCE OF ACCELERATION OCCURS TO PRESS THE BRAKE. DEALER ADVISED US TO CHANGE DRIVING STYLE. WE CONFIRMED ALL REMEDIES AT DEALER LEVEL EXHAUSTED. WE CONTACTED MINI USA FOR ASSISTANCE AND INQUIRED IF TRANSMISSION FLUID SERVICE WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, REQUESTED MINI USA WORK WITH DEALER TO COVER EXPENSE. MINI USA CONTACTED DEALER. MINI USA DECLINED TO COVER TRANSMISSION FLUID SERVICE EXPENSE. MINI USA REFERRED US BACK TO DEALER SERVICE MANAGER FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE AND CLOSED INCIDENT. MINI USA OFFERED TO HAVE REGIONAL REP MEET WITH US WHEN AT DEALER IN 09/2016. WE ACCEPTED OFFER TO MEET. 09/14/2016 WE CONTACTED MINI USA ABOUT MEETING WITH REGIONAL REP. MINI USA HAD NO RECORD OF OFFER OR REQUEST. WE INFORMED MINI USA ALSO EXPERIENCING SAME ACCELERATION ISSUE IN 2013 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN BASE AUTOMATIC. ANNUAL SERVICE FOR THIS VEHICLE IN 05/2016. WE ASKED IF PROBLEM IS ECU SOFTWARE RELATED. FOR THE RECORD WE INFORMED MINI USA THAT THEY HAVE DEEMED VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10905578September 11, 2016
ENGINE
MY 2009 MINI COOPER HARDTOP WITH 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION CONSUMES ONE QUART OF ENGINE OIL PER 1000 MILES. THIS IS TRULY UNACCEPTABLE. IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND EXPENSE THAT IS VERY ANNOYING. NOT TO MENTION THE SAFETY SIDE OF IT AND THE POSSIBILITY OF BURNING OUT THE ENGINE. BMW/MINI NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND REBUILD AND REPAIR THE ENGINE TO CORRECT THIS VERY IMPORTANT PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10905148September 9, 2016
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL SMELL STARTED TO GET STRONGER IN THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT SEE ANY LEAKS ON THE FLOOR TILL TODAY. I ALSO NOTICE THE GREEN TEMPERATURE NOTIFICATION COME ON TODAY. I HAD MY OIL CHANGED AT THE BMW/MINI DEALER IN ONTARIO LAST MONTH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10904462September 7, 2016
STEERING
ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM RECALL. MINI COMPANY AND DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO TOW OUR CAR FOR REPAIR. WE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE OF STEERING "FREEZING UP" - SEVERELY LIMITED, ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH WAS SCARY AND DID NOT FEEL SAFE. ALL DEALERSHIPS REQUIRE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FROM OUR HOME. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, BUT I DO NOT AGREE, HAVING EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM FIRST HAND. MINI REFUSES TO TOW BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. PLEASE NOTE: INCIDENT DATE IS AN ESTIMATE. WILL GET ACTUAL DATE ASAP. NOTE: THIS STEERING LIMITATION HAS ALSO HAPPENED LAST WINTER WHEN TRYING TO STEER THE CAR OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL (1/16). CALLED DEALERSHIP, BUT DID NOT HAVE NEW PART IN STOCK YET AND DID NOT KNOW WHEN IT WOULD BE AVAILABLE. CAR DID NOT DO IT THE NEXT TIME (FEW DAYS LATER). DEALERSHIP NEVER CONTACTED US TO ALERT THE PART WAS AVAILABLE (AS IT NOW IS).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10904485September 7, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
CAR STARTED OF FIRE AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE BRAKES FAILED AS I WAS TRYING TO STOP THE CAR. HAD TO PULL THE E-BRAKE TO STOP AND BY THIS TIME THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. PASSENGER HAD TO CRAWL OUT THE DRIVERS SIDE BECAUSE OF THE FLAMES ON THAT SIDE. LUCK TO HAVE GOTTEN OUT AS THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED IN 10 MINS
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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