MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10626745August 20, 2014
POWER TRAIN
ON 08/13/2014, I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 MINI COOPER, CAME TO A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED, I WENT TO START OUT THRU THE INTERSECTION AND LOST ALL POWER-I MANAGED TO GET IT THRU ABOUT THE TIME THE LIGHT HAD TURNED RED, AGAIN! I COASTED TO THE CURB, PUT IT IN PARK, SAT THERE FOR A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED, AGAIN, TO TAKE OFF. IT SEEMED TO BE FINE, THIS TIME,( EXCEPT FOR SOME TAKE-OFF JERKING, AND RPM'S SPIKING).DROVE 42 MILES THEN CAME TO A ONE WAY STOP SIGN AT THE INTERSECTION OF US HWY 40 & US HWY 56, WHEN TRAFFIC CLEARED I WENT TO CROSS THE INTERSECTION AND MY CAR JERKED AND DIED!!! I HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF THE INTERSECTION WHILE CROSS TRAFFIC HAD TO STOP & WAIT ON ME! NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, IN FACT, I QUESTIONED WHETHER OR NOT THEY EVEN WORKED. IT'S NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE I PURCHASED IT, USED, ON 07/29/2014, GETTING DIAGNOSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10626797August 20, 2014
STEERING
3 MONTHS AGO I BECAME AWARE OF A FAULT IN MY MINI COOPER 2004 REGARDING THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN. STEERING HAD BECOME OVERLY DIFFICULT, AND AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO MY USUAL MECHANIC AND THEN BMW, THIS WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. I THEN DISCOVERED THE ISSUE HAD BEEN THE SUBJECT OF AN UNOFFICIAL RECALL BY MINI USA (BMW), AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, IN BEVERLY, MA, A ROUND TRIP OF 200 MILES, TO HAVE THE ITEM FIXED. AFTER THIS, THE CAR BECAME HARD TO CONTROL ON CURVES. IT APPEARS THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN PUT UNDUE STRAIN ON THE STEERING KNUCKLE, AND AT 80,000 THIS HAS BECOME PREMATURELY WORN. CONSEQUENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS VERY HARD TO HANDLE PROPERLY ON TURNS, AND IS BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE. FOR THREE MONTHS MY MECHANIC HAS BEEN TRYING TO SECURE THIS PART FROM MINI USA TO NO AVAIL. MEANWHILE MY CAR IS BECOMING MORE UNDRIVABLE BY THE DAY. THIS PART IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE PETITIONED BMW FOR AN ANSWER, AND AFTER TWO WEEKS OF PEOPLE AVOIDING THE ISSUE, IT SEEMS THE PART REMAINS UNAVAILABLE. MINI USA(BMW)'S BEST RESPONSE WAS TO ASK ME TO DRIVE BACK TO MA TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT, WHICH POINT THEY MAY OFFER ME A LOANER. BUT THIS IS BESIDE THE POINT: ASIDE FROM NOT PROVIDING AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT THAT AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, THEY WANT ME TO WASTE A DAY DRIVING TO MA, THEN PAY THE DEALER'S OVER-INFLATED SERVICE CHARGES, BECAUSE THEY MADE IT CLEAR ON THE PHONE THEY WILL NOT SELL THIS PART TO NON-MINI REPAIR FACILITIES WHEN IT FINALLY DOES ARRIVE (THERE IS STILL NO DATE FOR THIS, BY THE WAY). ESSENTIALLY THEY ARE COVERING UP AN ISSUE BY KEEPING THE MATTER IN-HOUSE, FAILING TO PROVIDE A COMPONENT, AND FORCING CUSTOMERS TO DRIVE HUNDREDS OF MILES AND USE ONLY THEIR FACILITIES. CLEARLY THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND ILLEGAL. ANY ASSISTANCE FROM YOUR OFFICE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10626488August 19, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
PULLED2005 MINI COOPER S IN GARAGE, BRAKES WORKED FINE. NEXT DAY, BACKED CAR OUT THE GARAGE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. NO BRAKES AT ALL! NO FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR SO I REFILLED IT BUT STILL NO BRAKES AT ALL. HAD CAR FLAT BEDDED TO WALSH'S GARAGE 7 MILE RD REDFORD,MI 313-532-2823 REAR BRAKE LINES WERE TOTALLY RUSTED THRU WHERE THE BRAKE LINES ARE HELD UP TO THE FRAME. LINES WERE RUSTED THRU UNDER THE BRACKET THAT IS TACKED TO THE FRAME. I DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR IN THE WINTER AND HARDLY EVER IN THE RAIN SO I CAN JUST IMAGINE WHAT THE BRAKE LINES WOULD LIKE IF I DROVE IT IN THE WINTER IN MICHIGAN?? I CONTACTED MINI USA AND THEY DID NOT SEEM TO CARE ABOUT MY BRAKE FAILURE?? THE REP STATED: " WHAT DO U WANT MINI TO DO ABOUT IT? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10626095August 18, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 125,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10626184August 18, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE CONTACT TO NEARLY LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR REMAINED ACTIVATED ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO EJECT THE BATTERY OUT OF THE VEHICLE EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF BECAUSE THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10622655August 16, 2014
AIR BAGS
THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DISABLED LIGHT CAME ON WHILE THERE WAS AN ADULT MALE (198 LBS) IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE LIGHT REMAINED LIT WHETHER SOMEONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT INDICATING THE SYSTEM WAS DISABLED AT ALL TIMES. THE PROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE SEATBELT TENSIONING SYSTEM IS CONTROLLED VIA THIS SAFETY SYSTEM WHICH MEANT THAT IT WAS DISABLED AS WELL. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED BY A MINI SERVICE PROVIDER (DEALER WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED AS NEW) AS A FAULTY PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR LOCATED IN THE SEAT BASE AND WAS REPAIRED AS VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. EXACTLY TWO YEARS AND 3 MONTHS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM HAS RECURRED BUT BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT SENSOR IS WARRANTIED FOR ONLY TWO YEARS FROM INSTALLATION I WAS INFORMED THE COST TO FIX THE SAME PROBLEM WOULD BE $1400.00. THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH THE BMW 3,4 & 5 SERIES AND WAS HANDLED BY A RECALL BUT BMW (MINI PARENT COMPANY) HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE SAME FAULT WITH THEIR MINI COOPER LINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10622184August 14, 2014
ENGINE, STEERING
8/13/2014- I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN IN A MALL PARKING LOT AND SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING OUT FROM UNDER THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE CAR AND AT THE SAME TIME STARTED COMING THROUGH THE VENTS INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR. I TRIED TO SHUT OFF THE CAR, BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. A BYSTANDER CAME RUNNING AND OPENED THE HOOD, SMOKE POURED OUT, TOLD ME TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AS HE WAS OPENING HOOD AND THEN TOLD ME TO HANG UP AND CALL 911 THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE AREA BUT THERE WAS TOO MUCH SMOKE. THE ENGINE FAN WAS STILL RUNNING. ANOTHER PASSERBY HAD AN COMMERCIAL EXTINGUISHER AND EMPTIED IT ON MY VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPT. WAS PULLING UP AS THEY WERE TRYING TO PUSH IT ASIDE, THE CAR RE-IGNITED AND IT TOOK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT APPROX. 15 TO MAKE DOUSE THE FIRE WITHOUT IT RE-IGNITING. ALL OF THESE PEOPLE LOOKED MY VEHICLE OVER AND COULD FIND NO REASON FOR IT TO IGNITE. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO AND HAVE PUT ABOUT 3000 MILES ON IT WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC DOWN THE ROAD AND THEY ARE TO CONTACT ME TOMORROW TO SEE IF THEY CAN SEE WHY THIS OCCURRED. LUCKILY, MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR AND BE IN AN AREA CLOSE TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND GOOD SAMARITANS...UPDATED 10/06/14 *BF *TR UPDATED 7/15/2015 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10622422August 14, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS, STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
DRAIN HOSE FROM SUNROOF DRAIN RUNNING DOWN A-PILLAR CAME DISLODGED THROUGH "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" CAUSING MASSIVE FLOODING TO THE INTERIOR OF MY CAR. IT WAS RENDERED UNSERVICEABLE AND TOTALED, ON JUNE 16, 2014, BUT UNCOVERED BY INSURANCE. THIS WAS NOTHING THAT I WAS AWARE OF THAT WAS AN ISSUE, NOR WERE ANY RECALLS EVER ISSUED ON THIS ISSUE. I HAD IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP IN 2012, 2 YEARS AGO, FOR ELECTRICAL FAILURE, AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS MERELY THE BATTERY, SO THEY REPLACED IT AND IT SEEMED TO BE FINE, BUT THEY SAID TO KEEP THE BATTERY AS A BACK UP "JUST IN CASE" BECAUSE IT STILL APPEARED TO BE A GOOD BATTERY. THEN LATER IN 2013, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE MINI DEALER FOR GENERAL SERVICE AND I SAID I NOTICED WATER IN THE BOOT (TRUNK) AND FOR THEM TO CHECK THE HATCHBACK SEAL TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY LEAKS, THEY SAID NO, AND NO FURTHER INVESTIGATION WAS DONE FOR EITHER EVENT. I BELIEVE THAT BOTH THESE EVENTS WERE RESULTS OF THE FAULTY DRAIN HOSE FROM THE A-PILLAR BEING DISLODGED FOR SO LONG. TODAY, THE AUTOMOBILE LEFT MY POSSESSION, TO AN AUCTION HOUSE. I WANTED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT SO THAT YOU, THE NHTSA CAN PERHAPS HAVE MINI ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND HAVE THEM CHANGE THEIR VEHICLE'S SUNROOF DRAINAGE SYSTEM SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE DOESN'T HAVE A CAR TOTALLY RUINED BY FLOODING DUE TO THIS DEFECT IN ENGINEERING AND DESIGN. AFTER VIEWING SOME MINI FORUMS, I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS HAD THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TO THEIR MINI COOPER. I'M VERY SAD, BECAUSE I HAPPENED TO REALLY ENJOY THIS CAR, AND IT WAS TOTALLY FUN TO DRIVE. I WAS ADVISED BY A FRIEND WHO IS A MOTORCYCLE MECHANIC AND MY INSURANCE AGENT TO FILE THIS REPORT WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION, IN HOPES THAT SOMETHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT THIS. TOO MANY PEOPLE DON'T SPEAK UP, AND I AM NOT ONE TO LET SOMETHING DONE WRONG TO ME GO WITHOUT A FIGHT! DO ALL YOU CAN TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE WITH MINI! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10621941August 13, 2014
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE STREET TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN, BAM! MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND I COULD NOT STEER. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. LUCKILY I SLOWED DOWN AND MADE THE CORNER SLOWLY. WHEN I ARRIVED HOME, I TURNED THE CARE OFF, CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID, AND TURNED IT BACK ON. NOW THE POWER STEERING WORKS AGAIN. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. NOT SURE WHY IT INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT BUT IT SHOULD BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10621598August 12, 2014
AIR BAGS, SEATS
FAILURE OF FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SAME BMW SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION MAT (OC3) THAT WAS REFERRED TO IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V-384 HAS BEEN FAILING IN MINI COOPERS ON A WIDE SCALE. THIS CAUSES THE AIRBAG TO BE DEACTIVATED WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN OCCUPANTS OCCUPY THE SEAT AND ARE INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE THE AIRBAG'S ACTIVATION COULD PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN SURVIVABILITY. I BELIEVE THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD INCLUDE OTHER BMW CORPORATE MAKES AND MODELS, SUCH AS MINI, WHICH INVOLVE THE SAME SEAT SENSOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10621541August 11, 2014
STEERING
BACKING OUT OF MY LONG RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. SINCE MY MILEAGE WAS OUT OF STANDARD WARRANTY AND SINCE I DIDN'T PURCHASE EXTENDED WARRANTY, I USED THE "BENTLEY PUBLISHER'S" COMPREHENSIVE MINI COOPER SERVICE MANUAL TO INVESTIGATE THE TROUBLE. I TESTED THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN AND THE PUMP FOR OPERATION. THE FAN WAS OK, BUT THE PUMP WASN'T GETTING ANY POWER. I REMOVED THE 100-AMP FUSE FROM THE FUSE BLOCK ASIDE THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT, INSPECTED IT FOR FAILURE, BUT IT LOOKED GOOD, WIPED IT CLEAN WITH ALCOHOL, AND RE-INSTALLED IT. AFTER EVERYTHING WAS RECONNECTED, THE POWER STEERING RETURNED TO FULL OPERATION. SEVERAL TIMES FROM 2008 TO 2014, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, USUALLY AT SLOW SPEEDS OR UPON START UP OF THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WAS ALWAYS INTERMITTENT AND RETURNED TO FULL OPERATION ON ITS OWN WITHIN A FEW DAYS OR WEEKS. IT FAILED ONCE AGAIN ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, AND HAS NOT RETURNED TO OPERATION ON ITS OWN SINCE THEN. ALTHOUGH THE NHTSA WEBSITE SHOWS 122 COMPLAINTS ON 2006 MINI'S, OF WHICH ABOUT 25% OF THE COMPLAINTS ARE FOR FAILED POWER STEERING, AND SINCE I CAN'T LOCATE ANY OFFICIAL MANUFACTURER'S RECALL ON THE INTERNET FOR REPEATED 2006 MINI POWER STEERING FAILURES, I GUESS I'LL TAKE IT TO MY LOCAL REPAIR GUY FOR A FUSE OR PUMP REPLACEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10620914August 8, 2014
AIR BAGS
SRS LIGHT CAME ON...PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10619567August 7, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10620740August 7, 2014
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
ON 2/16/2013 MY HARMONIC BALANCER WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THEIR ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS . WHAT HAPPENS IS A LOUD POP THEN A BUNCH OF CRUNCHING NOISES FROM THAT SHOCK YOUR CAR WILL GO FROM 55 MPH TO 20 MPH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS ...EXTREMELY SCARY WHEN YOU SEE A SEMI BEHIND YOU . MINI PAID FOR THIS MALFUNCTION BECAUSE THEY KNOW THIS ISSUE IS A MAJOR FLAW AND WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR POSSIBLY SOMEONE'S DEATH . ON 8/29/2013 MY TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 55,123 ...NO WARNINGS JUST SLOW LUNCHING AND GRINDING ALSO DURING THIS EVENT I FOUND OUT MY ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS WERE CRACKED. SEAT BELTS ARE CONSTANTLY CURLING BACKWARDS AND DON'T LAY FLAT . CONVERTIBLE ROOF DRIP SEAL RUBBER HAS BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN TWICE MAKING ME BELIEVE THAT MINI HAS USED A SUB STANDARD RUBBER THEREFORE USING IT IN THEIR ENGINE PARTS ...PLEASE NOTE THAT I'VE HAD NUMEROUS HOSES REPLACED DUE TO BEING BRITTLE AND SUB STANDARD ... POWER STEERING ,RADIATOR,AND OTHER HOSES . MINI COPPER IS CURRENTLY BATTLING A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT WHY DO I KNOW ABOUT EVERY OTHER CAR COMPANY BENIGN SUED ? DOES IT REALLY TAKE A DEATH,ACCIDENT ,OR OTHER ISSUE TO MAKE CAR COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE ? PLEASE NOTE CURRENT MILEAGE IS AT 68,000 MEANING I DON'T TRUST THIS CAR NOR DO I FEEL SAFE IN SELLING IT TO SOME HIGH SCHOOLER OR OTHER PERSON BECAUSE THIS MANUFACTURE ISN'T HONEST AND RUSHED OUT A PRODUCT ALL IN THE NAME OF PROFIT . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10619208August 6, 2014
STEERING
THE STEERING KNUCKLE ON MY CAR HAS BECOME PREMATURELY WORN FOLLOWING A STEERING PUMP FAILURE, AND CONSEQUENTLY, THE STEERING HAS BECOME IMPRECISE AND THE CAR HARD TO CONTROL AROUND CURVES. I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DESIGN DEFECT (DOCUMENTED BY DOT) OF THE STEERING PUMP UNTIL I RESEARCHED THE STEERING ISSUE AND DISCOVERED THERE WAS AN 'UNOFFICIAL' RECALL TO FIX THE PUMP. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT FOR TWO MONTHS, BMW USA STILL HAS THE STEERING KNUCKLE ON BACK ORDER. MEANWHILE MY VEHICLE IS BECOMING HARDER TO DRIVE AND WILL SOON BE A SAFETY CONCERN. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT DOT FORCE BMW USA TO MAKE THIS PART AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE IT IS A CRUCIAL COMPONENT IN THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10618880August 5, 2014
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
AFTER HEARING A RATTLING WHILE IDLING AT A STOP SIGN AND THEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THERE WAS A TERRIBLE NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. MY HUSBAND PUSHED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OPENED THE HOOD. IT APPEARED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BUSTED OUT OF THE TOP OF THE ENGINE COVER. WE WERE VERY CONCERNED AS THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH HE HAD JUST EXITED. WE HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE IN THE MINI AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT COME TO A RESOLUTION, AS OUR MECHANIC IS ADVISING US THAT THE COST OF REPAIR WILL BE UPWARDS FOR $6,000 AND MINI IS NOT COVERING COST OF REPAIR. WE ARE WONDERING IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES. WE HAVE READ THAT THEIR IS AN ACTIVE CLASS ACTION SUITE, AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10619044August 5, 2014
POWER TRAIN
2002 MINI COOPER, MANUAL TRANSMISSION. LOW MILEAGE, ONLY 22,000 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING IS CITY TRAFFIC, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN I SHIFTED INTO 1ST AND LIFTED THE CLUTCH TRYING TO START FROM A RED LIGHT. THERE WAS A SMALL "SPUTTER" AND THEN THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THOUGHT THAT THE CLUTCH WAS OUT. THE REPAIR SHOP FOUND OUT THAT THE ENTIRE MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAD DISINTEGRATED. IT HAD TORN ITSELF APART OVER THE YEARS. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT HE WAS AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON FLAW WITH THE EARLY MINI COOPERS. THIS WAS A $2500 REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10619109August 5, 2014
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER A 2006 MINI COOPER S A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. TODAY I DECIDED TO DRIVE IT TO WORK HERE AT FORT HOOD, TEXAS. A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR AFTER I GOT TO WORK I DECIDED TO GO GET BREAKFAST SO WHEN I WALKED OUT OF MY OFFICE I HEARD A CAR ALARM GOING OFF AND WHEN I ROUNDED THE CORNER I SAW MY DAUGHTER'S CAR BILLOWING SMOKE! I RAN INSIDE TO GET HELP AND WAS ABLE TO FIND TOOLS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. I RAISED THE HOOD AND WAS MEET WITH A LOT OF HEAT, SMOKE AND A STRONG ODOR OF BURNT PLASTIC. THE CAR WASN'T RUNNING AND LIKE I STATED, HAD BEEN SITTING FOR OVER AN HOUR. AFTER CONDUCTING RESEARCH ONLINE I FOUND OUT MINI USA HAD RECALLED SEVERAL MINI COOPERS FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP THAT HAD THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS. AFTER CALLING THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP, AN HOUR AWAY, AND MINI USA I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL AND I AM LEFT TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR MYSELF. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME A COST OF $1000 TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. DURING MY ONLINE RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER MINI OWNERS WITH THE SAME YEAR MODEL THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT MINI USA ISN'T WANTING TO FULLY COVER THE REPAIRS. I AM GLAD I WASN'T DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10618846August 4, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
LEG BURN FROM HOT EXHAUST PIPE WHILE UNLOADING ITEMS FROM TRUNK. LEANED AGAINST REAR BUMPER WITH BARE LEG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10618175August 1, 2014
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND SAYS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS TURNED OFF. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A WEIGHT SENSOR IN THE SEAT AND IT IS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS THAT THERE IS CONFLICTING INFORMATION NOT THERE AS TO WEATHER THE AIR BAGS WILL WORK OR NOT IN THIS CONDITION. THE DEALER FIX COST BETWEEN 1000 AND 1200 DOLLARS TO FIX. THESE SAFETY ITEMS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR AND NOT COST THIS MUCH TO REPAIR. WHY ISN'T BMW RECALLING THIS CAR AND FIXING AN OBVIOUS DEFECT? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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