MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10605086June 22, 2014
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON TWO OCCASIONS WHEN DRIVING, THE AUTO START AND STOP FUNCTION SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, WHERE I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK & RESTART IT. HAPPENED ONCE ON A FLAT SURFACE AND ONCE ON A DOWNHILL SLOP AT A STOP. ALSO, I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR ONE MONTH AND THE DRIVETRAIN LIGHT CAME AND THE MINI SERVICE REPAIR SAYS IT WAS FAULT #20A503 WITH THE WATER PUMP. PLEASE ADVISE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10604671June 20, 2014
ENGINE
HAVE HAD A SEVERE RATTLING NOISE FROM ENGINE FOR SOME TIME NOW, RESEARCH SAYS THAT IT IS A FAULTY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER PROBLEM. ALSO HAVE A LEAKING OIL SUPPLY LINE TO THE TURBO. BOTH PROBLEMS ARE MAJOR ISSUES FOR WHICH THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALLS FROM MINI. THESE ARE BOTH EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS WHICH I CAN NOT AFFORD.......THERE SHOULD BE RECALLS ON THESE PROBLEMS! PLEASE HELP..... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10604843June 20, 2014
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG SENSOR FAILURE IN PASSENGER SEAT. PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10604882June 20, 2014
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE SEAT CUSHION HAS FAILED AND A WARNING LIGHT NOW PERMANENTLY SHOWS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG MAY NOT FUNCTION AS DESIGNED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10604469June 19, 2014
POWER TRAIN
2010 MINI CLUBMAN S TIMING CHAIN BROKE. SLOWED WITH NO POWER ACCELERATION. THEN NOTHING. INSTANTLY SHATTERED INTO PIECES. (PRODUCED "DEATH RATTLE" AND AND THEN SHATTERED.) *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10599184June 18, 2014
ENGINE
THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE OIL LINE FEEDING THE TURBO CHARGING UNIT. OIL NOW LEAKS DIRECTLY ONTO THE TURBO CHARGER CAUSING LARGE DISCHARGES OF SMOKE AT LOWER (CITY) SPEEDS FROM THE HOOD. THE BURNED OIL SMOKE IS NOT VISIBLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ALTHOUGH ONCE ONE SLOWS DOWN FOR A RAMP THE SMOKE POURS OUT AGAIN. DUE TO THE HIGH RISK OF FIRE THE CAR IS NO LONGER PARKED IN OUR GARAGE. IT IS PARKED TOWARDS THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY AS FAR FROM OUR HOUSE AS POSSIBLE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE AN URGENT SAFETY ISSUE SEEING THAT THE ENGINE COULD CATCH FIRE AT ANY TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598798June 17, 2014
POWER TRAIN
GEAR SHIFT COMPLETELY BECAME DETACHED AT SPEED. TWO MAGAZINES HAVE HAD SAME ISSUE. THIS COULD EASILY CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT IF IT HAPPENED TO SOMEONE THAT ISN'T AS CALM AS MYSELF. CONSUMER REPORTS JUST HAD THIS SAME ISSUE HAPPEN. AFFECTS 2014 MINI COOPER HARDTOP MODELS, CHASSIS CODE F56. HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERREPORTS.ORG/CRO/NEWS/2014/06/2014-MINI-COOPER-S-SHIFTER-COMES-OFF-WHILE-DRIVING/INDEX.HTM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598849June 17, 2014
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MINI COOPER 2011 OVERHEATED AND BLEW OFF RADIATOR HOSES WHILE DRIVING ON FWY- ENGINE DAMAGE AND HEAD REPLACEMENT.. DEALER IS SAYING BOTTOM RADIATOR HOSE MUST HAVE COME OFF AND LEAKED COOLANT. JUST HAD IT SERVICED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598698June 16, 2014
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND WAS GOING TO MAKE A RIGHT TO TURN, SLOWED DOWN TO SAY HI TO MY ROOMMATE WHO WAS LEAVING AND WENT OUT OF GEAR WHEN I WENT BACK IN MY STEERING WAS EXTREMELY STIFF AND I COULD BARELY MOVE THE WHEEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598272June 14, 2014
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY 2010 COOPER CLUBMAN S RECENTLY HAD ITS TIMING CHAIN SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING FAIL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO MINI'S SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED IT. IN FACT, I WAS ON MY WAY TO A SCHEDULED SERVICING OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE MOTOR FAILED. IT STARTED WITH A LOUD RATTLING NOISE FROM THE MOTOR, WHICH MADE THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY SOUND LIKE EITHER A DIESEL ENGINE OR A CHAINSAW SLICING THROUGH SOMETHING. THEN AS I SLOWED DOWN IN TRAFFIC, THE RPMS ON THE CAR BEGAN TO SPASTICALLY JUMP. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT A BUSINESS COMPLEX PARKING LOT WAS IMMEDIATELY ACCESSIBLE. AS I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP IN THE LOT, THE MOTOR CUT OUT AND REFUSED TO START. I WAS LESS THAN A HALF MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER! THE SERVICE REP FIRST TOLD ME MY TIMING CHAIN HAD SLIPPED. THEN SHE CALLS BACK THREE HOURS LATER TO TELL ME THERE'S REASON TO BELIEVE THAT A VALVE ISN'T UNDER COMPRESSION. THIS MORNING SHE INFORMS ME THAT I'M LOOKING AT POSSIBLY REPLACING MY MOTOR. THIS CAR WAS WORKING FINE ON THURSDAY WITH NO SIGN THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THIS SUDDEN FAILURE OF MY MOTOR WOULD HAVE BEEN BEYOND DANGEROUS HAD IT HAPPENED NOT TWO MINUTES PRIOR WHEN I WAS PULLING OFF OF A MAJOR HIGHWAY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED ME THAT NONE OF THE DAMAGE INCURRED IS COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED MAINTENANCE PLAN. I DID A LITTLE DIGGING AND DISCOVERED THAT NOT ONLY IS THIS PROBLEM APPARENTLY A COMMON ONE, BUT MINI HAS FACED - OR IS CURRENTLY FACING - SEVERAL POTENTIAL CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS OVER THIS FAILURE FOR MANY OF THEIR MODELS MADE DURING THE 2008-2010 YEARS. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598280June 14, 2014
ENGINE
BOUGHT MINI COOPER IN 09/13. SINCE THEN THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TIMING CHAIN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ONLY DRIVEN THE CAR 9 MONTHS. I HAVE SPENT CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY ON THIS CAR AND HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT A YEAR YET. IT ONLY HAS 8600 MILES ON IT. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598310June 14, 2014
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
ENGINE ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTS MAKING A RATTLING NOISE. TOOK IT IN TO DEALER, TIMING CHAIN GUIDES HAD BROKEN AND CHAIN WAS STRETCHED. WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A MINI CAMPAIGN ABOUT THIS BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF CHAIN HAD BROKEN. WAS INFORMED AFTER WORK WAS DONE THAT CLUTCH WAS BAD AS WELL. HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE THE DAY BEFORE WITHOUT ISSUE BUT AFTER ONLY 10 MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FROM STOPPED SINCE CLUTCH WOULD NOT ENGAGE. EXTREMELY EARLY FOR THIS AMOUNT OF REPAIRS TO BE NEEDED, I QUESTION THE DURABILITY OF THESE PARTS AND THIS BRAND. BOTH OF THESE SUDDEN WEAR FAILURES COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF THEY HAD OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598125June 13, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598243June 13, 2014
AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN
38,000 MILES: AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FOR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT STAYS ILLUMINATED. AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON AFTER VEHICLE HAS STARTED AND DOES NOT TURN OFF. 54,900 MILES: AISIN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED THEREBY MAKING THE CAR INOPERABLE. THE CAR SHOWED SIGNS OF GEAR CHANGE SLIPPING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. TRANSMISSION DIAGNOSIS, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF MANUAL VALVE BODY AND INTERNAL GEARS. REQUIRED A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REBUILD. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10597910June 12, 2014
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING EAST ON SHERIDAN DR. IN THE TOWN OF TONAWANDA, I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING. I WRESTLED WITH THE CAR FOR THE REST OF THE DAY, AND WHEN I GOT HOME, I HEARD THAT THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN WAS RUNNING CONTINUOUSLY, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF IN THE DRIVEWAY. I ASSUMED IT WOULD STOP EVENTUALLY, BUT WAS WRONG AND RETURNED TO A TOTALLY DEAD BATTERY. I CALLED THE DEALER, TOWNE MINI IN WILLIAMSVILLE, NY, AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE BOOKED TO JUNE 17TH, BUT THAT I COULD BRING IT IN. MIDWAY BETWEEN MY HOME AND TOWNE, WHILE ON THE 290, MY POWER STEERING RETURNED. WHEN I GOT TO TOWNE, THEY AS MUCH AS CALLED ME A LIAR, AND REFUSED TO REPLACE THE PUMP AND FAN. THEY DID HOWEVER, FIND $1300 WORTH OF OTHER WORK THAT "NEEDED" TO BE DONE TO PASS NYS INSPECTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10597663June 11, 2014
POWER TRAIN
DRIVING IN 2ND GEAR (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) AND THE CAR BRAKES EVERYTHING LOCKED UP SKIDDING TO AN IMMEDIATE, VIOLENT STOP THAT SQUEALED THE TIRES AND MADE SMOKE, OIL EVERYWHERE ON THE ROAD, ENGINE STILL RUNNING FINE. SCARY, COULD NOT EVEN PUSH THE CAR OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE IT WAS STUCK IN GEAR. WARRANTY COMPANY TOWED IT TO A MINI DEALER IN VALENCIA, CA. TWO WEEKS LATER, THEY GRANTED WARRANTY WORK HOWEVER, THE PRICE TAG IS $4000!! WARRANTY ONLY COVERS $2000 SO I HAVE TO GET ANOTHER USED TRANSMISSION! I SEE WHERE THERE IS A RECALL ON ALL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS 2003-2007 BECAUSE OF A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST MINI COOPER. ISN'T IT POSSIBLE THE SAME THING WRONG WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS ALSO HAPPENING WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS? I CAN'T AFFORD THIS EVEN WITH THE WARRANTY AND I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO RISK PUTTING ANOTHER FAULTY TRANSMISSION THAT LOCKS UP, WHAT IF I WAS DOING 65? I'D ROLL AND BE DEAD, THAT'S WHAT! THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND I FEEL THE NEW, APPROVED TRANSMISSION IS THE ONLY ANSWER. THIS ISN'T ABOUT MONEY, IT'S ABOUT THE FACT THE CAR LOCKED UP WITH NO SIGN OR WARNING WHATSOEVER. THOUGH, IF THERE IS A RECALL I WOULD LIKE REIMBURSED FOR THE COSTS OR HOWEVER THAT WORKS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10597692June 11, 2014
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR LOST PARTIAL POWER AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND BEGAN FLASHING. I PULLED OVER TO THE ROADSIDE AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I LOOKED AT THE OWNER'S MANUAL TO SEE WHAT THE FLASHING ENGINE LIGHT INDICATES. NOTHING DEFINITIVE WAS STATED IN THE MANUAL, SO I STARTED THE ENGINE AND DROVE IT TO MY HOME ABOUT 10 MILES UNDER PARTIAL POWER. I CONTACTED A LOCAL GARAGE (MIENKE) AND LET THEM KNOW THE PROBLEM. THE GARAGE WAS ABOUT THREE MILES AWAY SO I DROVE IT TO THEM. THEY DIAGNOSED A LOSS OF COMPRESSION IN ONE OF THE VALVES THAT WOULD REQUIRE A VALVE JOB. I CONTACTED MINIUSA TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. THEY REQUESTED I TAKE IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT OCCURRED AND ASKED IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE THE APPROXIMATE 20 MILES TO THEIR LOCATION WITH A COMPROMISED ENGINE. THEY SAID IT WOULD BE OKAY AND BRING IT IN. THEY DIAGNOSED IT THE NEXT DAY WITH A FAILED TIMING CHAIN ($1800), VACUUM PUMP ($600) AND VALVE COVER ASSEMBLY ($385). I LET THEM KNOW THE TIMING CHAIN WAS ALREADY REPLACED BY A MINI DEALERSHIP AT 40781 MILES AND THEY SHOULD REPLACE IT AT NO COST AS THIS IS SUPPOSED TO LAST 100,000 MILES. THE DEALER WOULD NOT. I CONTACTED MINIUSA AGAIN TO REPORT THE ISSUE AND REQUEST TO HAVE THIS REPLACED AT NO COST. THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN BACK TO ME YET AND IT IS STILL PENDING THEIR DECISION. I BEGAN TO LOOK ONLINE FOR SIMILAR ISSUES AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE TIMING CHAIN. MINI/BMW IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT STILL DOES NOT COVER THIS RECURRING PROBLEM. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND UNKNOWING MINI OWNERS ARE SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO HAVE THEIR CARS PUT BACK ON THE ROAD. THERE IS ALSO A PENDING CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT IN NEW JERSEY FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10597734June 11, 2014
ENGINE
AFTER BUYING THIS VEHICLE, DROVE ABOUT 30 OR SO MILES....WHILE SLOWING DOWN NOTICED THE CAR HAD SHUT OFF. NO WARNINGS, NO LIGHTS, NO NOISES....CAR WOULD NOT CRANK. LEFT ME STRANDED IN MIDDLE OF FOUR LANE HIGHWAY. TOWED THE VEHICLE TO MINI WHERE I WAS TOLD A VACUUM PUMP WENT OUT. DUE TO THIS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY (EXTENDED) NOW IM TOLD HAVE TO PAY 8000 FOR AN ENGINE. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE RESOLVED, THERE WAS NO WARNING AND FROM READING THE ONLINE NOTICES IT SEEMS TO BE A BIG ISSUE. MINI WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS. IT CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ME, AS IT GAVE NO WARNING WHEN ALL THIS OCCURRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10597503June 10, 2014
ENGINE
THE FOLLOWING REPORTS ARE FROM: ORLANDO MINI 350 S. LAKE DESTINY DRIVE ORLANDO, FL 32810 (407) 835-2727 INCIDENT 1 @ 47,603 MILES: SERVICE ADVISOR [XXX]. [XXX] FOUND TIMING CHAIN RATTLE "NOISE AT IDLE UP TO 2,100 RPM. NOISE IS A RATTLE UNDER VALVE COVER NEAR CYL 1. INTERROGATED FAULT MEMORY, NO FAULTS. FOUND NOISE TO BE RELATED TO VALVE-TRAIN. PERFORMED STEPS OUTLINED IN BULLETIN 110207. MEASURED TIMING CHAIN SLACK AT 71.5MM. NEEDS COMPLETED REPLACEMENT TIMING CHAIN CASSETTE." REPLACED TENSIONERS (PART # 11-31-7-598-956, PART # 11-31-7-534-833), AND MANY OTHER PARTS. INCIDENT 2 @ 96,125 MILES: 100% CLIENT GOODWILL PROVIDED. [XXX] FOUND THAT THE "TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED, FOUND VEHICLE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER TO HAVE FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO BECOME OUT OF TIMING, REPLACED TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER AT THIS TIME, CLEARED FAULTS FROM SYSTEM AND TEST DROVE VEHICLE, ALL OK..." REPLACED TENSIONERS (PART # 11-31-7-609-483 [ALREADY UPDATED FROM THE ONE USED ABOVE], PART # 11-31-7-534-833), AND MANY OTHER PARTS. INCIDENT 3 @ 105,543 MILES: SERVICE ADVISOR [XXX]) FOUND "DEFECT CODE 00 11 08 03 00, CHECK TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, FOUND IT WAS AN UPDATED MODEL, OK AFTER THAT REPAIR" SINCE IT WAS UPDATED. NOTHING WAS REPLACED. NOISE GOT WORSE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10596403June 5, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I GOT IN MY VEHICLE AND SHUT THE DOOR. I TURN THE KEY TO ON, THE LOCKS WENT DOWN (LOCKS USUALLY GO DOWN WHEN CAR IS IN GEAR AND MOVING) I TURNED THE KEY FURTHER TO START THE ENGINE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO DOWN, THE SUN ROOF WOULD NOT OPEN, THE FOB WOULD NOT WORK, AT THAT POINT I WAS LOCKED IN MY CAR. I HAD TO KICK OUT THE WINDOW TO GET OUT OF MY CAR. WHEN I DID GET OUT, I RE ENTERED THE CAR AND OPENED THE HOOD AND JIGGLED THE BATTERY CONNECTION. I SHUT THE HOOD AND TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND IT STARTED. I NOTICED AS I WAS DRIVING IT HOME THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE STEERING COLLUM WERE NOT WORKING AND THAT WHEN I PARKED IT AT HOME THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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