MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10617810July 31, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE IDLING AT A RED LIGHT, VEHICLE RPMS VARIED DRAMATICALLY AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND MOVED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE VALVE COVER WAS FOUND TO HAVE A VACUUM LEAK, WHICH HAS BECOME A COMMON ISSUE WITH MINI COOPER S MODELS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10617917July 31, 2014
AIR BAGS, SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE FAILURE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10617503July 30, 2014
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
ON TWO OCCASIONS (7/19/14 AND 7/29/14), THE ENGINE CUT-OFF, PUTTING THE CAR IN "ACCESSORY MODE." ON BOTH OCCASIONS, I WAS DRIVING ON A FLAT ROAD, AT LOW SPEED. THERE WAS NO ABILITY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT COMPLETELY STOPPING, PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK, AND RESTARTING THE CAR. AS A RESULT OF BEING IN ACCESSORY MODE, I HAD NO POWER STEERING AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO GLIDE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE CAR'S SCREEN: "TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK, VEHICLE MAY ROLL." I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 3 MONTHS AGO. I AM VERY CONCERNED, AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN ON A HIGHWAY, THERE WOULD CERTAINLY BE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, AS I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER. AS EVIDENCED IN THE GM IGNITION SWITCH CASES, WHEN A CAR IS SWITCHED INTO ACCESSORY MODE WHILE DRIVING, THE AIRBAGS ARE DEACTIVATED AS WELL. SHOULD THIS HAPPEN ON A BUSY ROADWAY/HIGHWAY, AND THERE IS AN ACCIDENT, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THAT IT COULD BE FATAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10617193July 29, 2014
STEERING
POWER STEERING COMPLETELY QUIT WORKING. CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. STOPPED AND TURNED OFF CAR FOR A WHILE. STARTED CAR AGAIN AND POWER STEERING WAS OK. NOW POWER STEERING IS VERY DIFFICULT UNTIL CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A FEW MINUTES. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10617194July 29, 2014
AIR BAGS
AS MANY OTHER MINI OWNERS HAVE REPORTED, MY SRS LIGHT IS ON AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS CONTINUOUSLY OFF (LIGHT STAYS ON). I HAVE NO IDEA IF I AM DRIVING WITH OR WITHOUT AIRBAGS. *JS $1,500 TO FIX AT DEALER. MINI DID A RECALL ON MODELS UP TO 2005.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10617333July 29, 2014
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THERE WERE STRONG GASOLINE FUMES EMITTING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND EXTINGUISHED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10616912July 28, 2014
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10616661July 27, 2014
ENGINE
COLD START KNOCKING NOISE, AFTER DRIVING OUT MY LOT THE ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY TURN OFF AND HAVE TO START UP AGAIN. RATTLING SOUND CONTINUES.... *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10616584July 26, 2014
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING MAKING THE CAR VERY HARD TO TURN. IT WAS NOT NOTICEABLE DRIVING STRAIGHT, BUT WHEN TAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN YOU ALMOST CANNOT MAKE THE TURN UNLESS YOU REALLY CRANK ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT NO WARNING. IN ORDER TO GET THE POWER STEERING BACK, THE IGNITION HAS TO BE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, AND THEN RESTARTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10616133July 24, 2014
ENGINE
LOUD NOISE/RATTLE AT IDLE. LOOSE CAMSHAFT TIMING CHAIN DUE TO TENSIONER FAILURE. IT WOULD APPEAR FROM SEVERAL FORUMS THAT THIS IS FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM THAT DEALERS ARE REFUSING TO FIX SINCE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10615906July 24, 2014
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR FAILED, AIRBAG LIGHT AND PASSENGER OCCUPANCY LIGHT ARE ILLUMINATED. COST TO REPLACE IS AROUND $1K. THERE WAS A RECALL OF THIS FOR MODELS UP TO 2005, BUT THIS MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10615824July 23, 2014
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY, VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED AND BOTH FRONT WINDOWS HESITATED TO ROLL UP AND DOWN. ALSO, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE BUCKLED OR UNBUCKLED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A POSITIVE CABLE IN THE FUSE BOX THAT MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD DESTROY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSE A FIRE, AND KEEP THE AIR BAG FROM DEPLOYING IN A CRASH. THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE CABLE WAS BEING STRETCHED AND THE CENTER SWITCH PACK CASE WAS SEPARATED, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE WINDOWS TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10615414July 22, 2014
POWER TRAIN
DURING LIGHT ACCELERATION AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS, THE ENGINE LOST SOME POWER AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER FIRST REPLACE THE VACUUM HOSES. IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THE DEALER REPLACED THE VACUUM PUMP. IT HAPPENED AGAIN IMMEDIATELY, THE DEALER REPLACED THE TURBOCHARGER UNIT BECAUSE THE WASTEGATE WON'T CLOSE COMPLETELY. THE TURBOCHARGER AND WASTEGATE SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THAN 5 YEARS (THE CAR WAS DELIVERED IN APRIL 2009) OR 70,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10614709July 19, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY PROBLEM IS WITH A 2005 MINI COOPER S. WHY IS THEIR NOT A RECALL ON THE WATER PUMP? IT HAS BEEN KNOW FOR GOING OUT PREMATURE AND BMW HAS REDESIGNED THE NEW PUMPS WITH A METAL IMPELLER INSTEAD OF PREVIOUS PLASTIC. TALKING TO THE DEALER, THEY MADE ME FEEL FORTUNATE THAT MY WATER PUMP MADE IT TO 50,000 MILES STATING THEY REPLACE MANY WATER PUMPS IN THE 1ST GENERATION SERIES AROUND 20,000 MILES. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS IS DANGEROUS, AS THE FAILURE CAN CAUSE OVERHEATING AND REQUIRES YOU TO SHUT OFF THE CAR, AND SIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CARS ARE NOT MADE TO OVER HEAT. THIS GREATLY INCREASES THE CHANCE OF A FIRE. BMW KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM BUT IS NOT RECALLING THE WATER PUMPS UNTIL 2006-2011. I THINK THE 1ST GENERATION MINIS SHOULD HAVE THE SAME RECALL AS MOST MINIS INCLUDING MINE HAS/HAD A WATER PUMP ISSUE AND WOULD LIKE OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HAVE IT REPLACED. I HAVE CAUGHT MINE EARLY BUT ONLY BECAUSE I JACK UP MY MINI TO CLEAN THE UNDERBODY ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. MINI COOPERS ARE WELL KNOWN FOR THEIR WATER PUMPS, THERMOSTATS, AND POWER STEERING, FAILING. I AM 18 YEARS OLD AND WOULD LIKE TO USE THIS CAR TO TRAVEL FROM SOUTH CAROLINA TO WISCONSIN IN THE FUTURE, YET IF MY COOLANT SYSTEM (WATER PUMP OR THERMOSTAT) COULD GO OUT AGAIN AT ANY TIME AND COST A FORTUNE TO REPLACE AND LEAVE ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF A HIGHWAY. I WILL BE TAKING A PLANE EVERY TIME I TRAVEL A FEW HUNDRED MILES AND RENT A CAR. THIS MUST BE ADDRESSED! I JUST PAID 1200 FOR MINI TO REPLACE A WATER PUMP THAT SHOULD HAVE HAD AT THE LEAST 30-50 THOUSAND MILES MORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610948July 16, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MERGING ONTO INTERSTATE I ACCELERATED AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER. ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT I COULD NOT GET ANY SPEED. EML MESSAGE LIT UP ON DASH. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, LOSING POWER AS I MERGED WITH TRAFFIC THAT WAS GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I MANAGED TO LIMP TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHUTTING OFF CAR AND RESTARTING RESET SOMETHING AND EML MESSAGE DISAPPEARED AND ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY. GOOGLING PROBLEM SHOWED MY EXPERIENCE WAS NOT UNIQUE AND THAT COULD EXPECT IT TO OCCUR AGAIN. AND IT SEEMS DEALER CAN ONLY DIAGNOSE SOURCE OF PROBLEM IF ERROR MESSAGE IS ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610971July 16, 2014
AIR BAGS
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS REMAIN ON WITH OR WITHOUT SOMEONE IN THE SEAT. CAUSES CONCERN IF AIRBAGS WILL OPERATE IN A CRASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610764July 15, 2014
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY 2006 MINI COOPER, ABOVE REARVIEW MIRROR STAYS ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY, WHETHER THE PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED OR NOT. AFTER CALLING THE NEARBY MINI COOPER DEALER, AND TALKING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER HE SAID YES WE HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THEM. HOWEVER THERE IS NO RECALL OUT FOR 2006 MINI AIRBAG PROBLEMS BUT THERE HAS BEEN FOR OTHER MODEL YEARS. SAID THE SENSOR AND THE WHOLE SEAT MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED, BRING IT IN AND IT WILL RUN YOU ABOUT $1200 TO $1600. I ASKED DOES IT MEAN MY AIRBAG WILL NOT FUNCTION IF I HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THE SERVICE MANAGER LAUGHED IN A CAVALIER MANNER "WELL YOU ALWAYS HAVE YOUR SEAT BELT." AFTER MONTHS WAITING FOR AN OFFICIAL RECALL, CALLED THE NATIONAL MINI CUSTOMER RELATIONS WHO ACTED VERY NON CHALANT AND GOT NO WHERE. WENT TO A LOCAL EUROPEAN CAR REPAIR SPECIALIST WHO USED A COMPUTER SCANNER THAT SAID THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. HE THEN USED A BRAND NEW SCANNER AND THIS TIME IT SAID THE DRIVER SIDE IS DEFECTIVE. SAID GO ON THE INTERNET I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THE MINI AIRBAG PROBLEMS. WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THOUSANDS, MANY WHO DID SPEND THE LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY AND THE PROBLEMS KEEPS RECURRING. MINI NEEDS TO EXTEND THE AIRBAG WARRANTY TO 150,000 MILES AT LEAST FOR 12 YEARS. SOMEONE IS GOING TO SUFFER SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH IN A SMALL CAR THAT DEFINITELY NEEDS ALL THE AIRBAG PROTECTION AVAILABLE. $1600 IS LOT OF MONEY FOR A DEALER FIX THAT DOES NOT SEEM TO WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610296July 14, 2014
AIR BAGS
MY OCCUPANCY SENSOR 2 MAT IS BAD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART, OTHERWISE IT WILL BE ABOUT $1400 TO REPLACE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE SENSOR IS UNABLE TO READ WHETHER OR NOT A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610540July 14, 2014
ENGINE
I HAD NOTICED THAT THE POWER GOING UP HILLS HAD BEEN SLOWING DOWN FOR SOMETIME BUT AS WE WERE DRIVING IN TOWN AND LOST IT'S NUMBER THREE CYLINDER, TOOK IT TO SHOP AND WITH SEVERAL DAYS OF WORK FOUND OUT I WOULD BE BETTER OFF SCRAPPING IT THAN FIXING IT. MECHANIC WHO DEALS WITH BMW SAID THAT HE COULD PUT IN A NEW ENGINE BUT HE SAND THAT THE ISSUES THAT HE HAS SEEN ON THIS YEARS COOPER SHOW IT IS JUST A MONEY PIT. HE SAID, JUST SCRAP IT AND TAKE YOUR LOSSES. THE ONLY THING IS I BOUGHT IT USED AND STILL OWE OVER $3,000. ON IT. I HAVE NO CAR AND CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE IT AND HAVE TWO PAYMENTS AS I AM DISABLED WITH A LOW INCOME FROM INJURIES. I FINALLY GOT MY CAR OF MY DREAMS AND IT BECAUSE MY NIGHTMARE. MISSING MY MINI. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610155July 13, 2014
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES
DSC AND BRAKE LIGHT TURNED APPEARED ON TACHOMETER DISPLAY IN YELLOW AND DOES NOT GO OUT. DSC BUTTON IF PRESSED MAKES NO CHANGES TO DCS/ABS LIGHTS ON DISPLAYS. IMMEDIATELY THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS/ISSUES APPEARED: STEERING STARTED TO FAULT LIKE UNALIGNED, BRAKE PEDAL SLIGHTLY ERRATIC, BLINKER TURN SIGNAL DOES NOW NOT TURN OFF AFTER ACTIVATING AND MAKING A TURN. VEHICLE HAS JCW SPORT BRAKE KIT, INSTALLED AT 30,000 MILES, 3 MONTHS AGO. VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY ALIGNED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. VEHICLE WAS SCANNED WITH TO DIAGNOSE FAULT AND FAULT CODE WAS THAT THE SWITCH UNIT STEERING COLUMN/DSC IS FAULTY.NO MISSING SENSORS, ALL ARE CONNECTED IN PLACE. NO PINCHED OR BROKEN CABLES. REPLACED PART #61319253769 MSP $550.00 AND MECHANIC FEE OF $500.00 (REMOVAL OF PART, INSTALLATION, VEHICLE ECU RECODING, AND RECHECK ECU DIAGNOSIS. NO MORE ERROR CODES AND STEERING, DCS AND ABS BACK TO NORMAL. UNKNOWN ROOT CAUSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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