MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10555493December 10, 2013
ENGINE
WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR AT 20 MPH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DID NOT NOTE ANY PROBLEMS. WE THEN DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP NEARBY AND THEY SAID THE HEAD GASKET SEAL WAS BROKEN A LEAKING OIL. ALSO THEY SAID THE TIMING CHAIN AND BELT TENSIONER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS THEY WERE LOOSE. NO REPAIRS WERE EVER PERFORMED ON THESE PARTS. IT WAS NOTED THAT THERE WAS BUILD UP IN THE OIL LINES TO THE TURBO CAUSING IT TO SEIZE UP AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TOTAL COSTS WERE $3,000 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555520December 10, 2013
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE MINI MADE A BEEPING NOISE / WARNING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. STOPPED THE CAR. IT WAS VERY SLUGGISH TO START SO I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC (NOT THE MINI DEALER IN MY TOWN WHICH HAS A HORRIBLE SERVICE DEPARTMENT.) THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A FAILING TIMING CHAIN AND EVERYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH IT. REPLACED TIMING CHAIN, CHAIN TENSIONER, ADJUSTER UNIT CAM, GUIDE RAIL, SLIDE RAIL, CRANKSHAFT SEAL, GASKET RING, VALVE COVER GASKET, DRIVE BELT, IGNITION COIL, SPARK PLUGS ... EVERYTHING. THIS FAILURE COULD GAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC WITHOUT MY IMMEDIATE ACTION TO STOP THE CAR AND TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC. IT WAS A $3,000 + FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555546December 10, 2013
ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FIRE DID NOT OCCUR, BUT THERE IS A RISK. MANY MINI COOPER MODELS WITH TURBOCHARGERS ARE EXPERIENCING A LEAKY OIL FEED LINE TO THE TURBO AFTER APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES. DUE TO A POORLY INSULATED RUBBER GASKET. IT IS A MANUFACTURING FLAW, BUT MINI HAS FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE. THIS IS A FIRE RISK. THE OIL IS ALLOWED TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE BAY, AND IT CAN DESTROY THE ENGINE BECAUSE MINI COOPERS DO NOT HAVE AN OIL SENSOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555365December 9, 2013
VISIBILITY, POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, ENGINE, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MAIN COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED TO REMEDY THE STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. MONTHS LATER, THE STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE RECURRED ACCOMPANIED BY A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO REPROGRAMMED THE SYSTEM BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE DEALER ALSO INSTALLED AN EPS COMPUTER PATCH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,800. . ..UPDATED 01-10-14 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED MINI USA WAS AWARE OF THE STEERING PROBLEM FAILURE OCCURRING IN 2011 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN'S. THEY HAVE FAILED TO PROVIDED HER INFORMATION ON EXACTLY WHAT THEY KNOW IS FAILING IN THE STEERING SYSTEM OR THE BULLETIN THAT HAVE ON THE STEERING ISSUE. THE DEALER WORKED ON THE VEHICLE, AND THEY BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, FOR DIFFERENT THINGS. THE MIRRORS WERE NOT OPERATING PROPERLY, THE CLUTCH FAILED TWICE, TWO STEERING FAILURES, AND THE RE-PROGRAMMING OF THE COMPUTER, SEVERAL TIMES. UPDATED 01/15/14
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555219December 8, 2013
ENGINE
ENGINE SEEMED TO BE LACKING POWER INTERMITTENTLY DRIVING TO WORK. FELT SOMETHING WAS WRONG, BUT NO INDICATOR LIGHTS DISPLAYED SO I CONTINUED DRIVING. NOTICED HEATER BEGAN BLOWING COLD AIR, YELLOW WARNING LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING ENGINE WAS BEGINNING TO OVERHEAT. WITHIN 10 SECONDS, RED WARNING LIGHT REPLACED THE FIRST LIGHT (ENGINE OVERHEATING!). CONTINUED ON UNTIL I COULD SAFELY STOP. CALLED WRECKER TO TAKE TO REPAIR SHOP. FOUND COOLANT & OIL HAD EXPLODED FROM ENGINE WITH VISIBLE CRACK IN THE PLASTIC HOUSING. THANKFULLY, CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. MINI DEALERSHIP HONORED THE WARRANTY. STATED THE VACUUM PUMP HAD FAILED CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE ENTIRE ENGINE. ENGINE IS BEING REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555248December 8, 2013
ENGINE
WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER HAD BEEN REPLACED WHILE IN FOR SERVICE IN PAST BUT NOW IT NEEDS REPLACED ANOTHER EMPLOYEE 2 DAYS LATER SAYS NO RECORD OF IT. I NEED TO PAY FULL AMOUNT. TOO EARLY FOR TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT TO BE REQUIRED IN A DECENT CAR. DEFECT. NEEDS RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555151December 7, 2013
ENGINE
DRIVING MINI COOPER S WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST POWER TO THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE HWY. TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THE CAR HAS 91,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554968December 5, 2013
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554711December 3, 2013
ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. HAPPENED ON FREEWAY. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER, HAD TO BE TOWED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553858November 26, 2013
ENGINE
RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MINI ON 11/16/13 NOTIFYING ME OF POSSIBILITY OF FAULTY CHAIN TENSIONER, WHICH NEEDED TO BE "CHECKED FOR WEAR AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY," AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT AN AUTHORIZED MINI DEALER TO ARRANGE AN APPOINTMENT. NO INDICATION THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. TWO DAYS LATER (11/18/13), JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE, THEN THE RED ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SO I SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED FIRST TO THE IMPORT SHOP THAT NORMALLY SERVICES THE MINI THEN, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THAT MECHANIC ABOUT MINI'S RECALL LETTER, HAD IT TOWED TO A MINI DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT NOW SITS WAITING FOR DIAGNOSIS AND NEWS ABOUT WHAT ANY DAMAGE MIGHT COST TO REPAIR, WHETHER I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT, AND WHETHER I WILL BE REIMBURSED FOR TWO TOW CHARGES AND A CAR RENTAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553915November 26, 2013
ENGINE
HAVE FOUND THAT MY MINI IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES AS THOSE COVERED BY THE BMW SERVICE RECALL ARE HAVING, ALTHOUGH MINE IS NOT COVERED AS CONFIRMED BY MINI CUSTOMER RELATIONS. THIS SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDED ALL MINIS THAT ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE AND NOT ONLY THOSE THAT OPTED FOR THE UPGRADED MODEL S. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553949November 26, 2013
ENGINE
I STARTED THE CAR AND A LOUD RATTLING NOISE CAME FROM THE ENGINE. I DROVE ABOUT 5 MILES AND THE OIL CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO A JIFFY LUBE THAT WAS WITHIN 2 MILES AND THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BY THE TIME I GOT TO JIFFY LUBE THE CAR DIDN'T HAVE ANY OIL LEFT. THE CAR WAS SERVICED BY THE MINI DEALER ONLY 4 MONTHS PRIOR. HAD THE CAR TOWED 1 1/2 HOURS TO THE NEAREST MINI DEALER. MOST OF THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY THE TIMING TENSIONER CHAIN. THE DEALER SAID MINI WOULD COVER THOSE REPAIRS BUT THE TURBO OIL FEED LINE WAS LEAKING TOO AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT. IT COST ME $900.00. I ASKED IF THE CAR HAD A HEAT ON IT AND HE SAID NO BUT THAT I DON'T REALLY NEED ONE. I THOUGHT THERE HAD BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN PUT OUT SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THE HEAT FROM THE TURBO CAUSING THIS ISSUE BUT HE SAID IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553537November 23, 2013
STEERING
I WAS ON MY WAY BACK TO WORK FROM LUNCH IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER S AND MY POWER STEERING SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF A CURVE! I FORTUNATELY MANAGED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND LIMP TO THE PARKING LOT TO PULL OVER. THEN, I TURNED THE CAR OFF TO GET OUT, AND DISCOVERED MY POWER STEERING PUMP WAS STILL RUNNING EVEN WITH THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF!? I WAS AFRAID THAT THIS WOULD CAUSE A MELTDOWN OR FIRE, SO I QUICKLY CALLED A MINI DEALER TO ASK HOW TO SHUT THE PUMP OFF. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED! THE BATTERY HAD TO REMAIN DISCONNECTED WHILE THE CAR WAS OFF OR THE PUMP WOULD RUN CONTINUOUSLY. I DID NOT FEEL THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AT THIS POINT. MY POWER STEERING WAS NOW UNPREDICTABLY INTERMITTENT WHEN THE CAR WAS RUNNING. THE POWER STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY FAIL AND THEN SUDDENLY COME BACK ON, CAUSING A JERK-AND-SWERVE REACTION IN THE STEERING WHEEL FOR ME WHILE DRIVING. SO I CALLED MINI USA TO REPORT THE PROBLEM, AND I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A MINI DEALER. THE MINI DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE KNOWN POWER STEERING FAILURE COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND ASSOCIATED PUMP COOLING FAN FOR MODEL YEARS 2002-2005 FOR UP TO 13 YEARS/150,000 MILES. BUT MINI USA DENIED COVERAGE DESPITE MY CAR ONLY HAVING APPROX 70,000 MILES, CLAIMING THAT THEY STOPPED COVERAGE AFTER FEB 2005 BECAUSE THE NEWLY DESIGNED REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE INSTALLED AFTER FEB 2005. MY CAR WAS BUILT IN MAY 2005 AND WAS PROVEN BY THE MINI DEALER TO HAVE THE ORIGINAL FAULTY POWER STEERING PARTS, NOT THE NEWLY DESIGNED PARTS. I AM REPORTING THIS AS A KNOWN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD INSTEAD BE A SAFETY RECALL, RATHER THAN THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT MINI USA DOES NOT PROPERLY ADVERTISE OR HONOR, SO THAT ALL MINI OWNERS WILL GET THEIR STEERING CHECKED BEFORE ANYTHING BAD HAPPENS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553334November 22, 2013
AIR BAGS, SEATS
THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT IN THE GAUGE CLUSTER IS LIT AT ALL TIMES. THE REPAIR SHOP TELLS ME THAT THIS IS BECAUSE THE SENSOR MAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS FAILED AND MUST BE REPLACED. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE THAT IS UNJUSTIFIABLE EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. THE REPAIR SHOP ALSO TELLS ME THAT ALL OF THE AIR BAGS IN THE CAR ARE DISABLED AS LONG AS THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON, PUTTING ALL PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE IN DANGER OF SUSTAINING GREATER INJURIES IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THESE CARS ARE MADE BY BMW, WHICH APPARENTLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE SAME PROBLEM IN OTHER CARS THEY PRODUCED AND MADE REPAIRS. I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM IN MINI COOPERS, TOO, VIA A FEDERALLY MANDATED RECALL CAMPAIGN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553348November 22, 2013
POWER TRAIN
BOTH THE TENSIONER AND THE TIMING CHAIN WENT ON THIS CAR WITH IN A FEW DAYS. WE WERE LUCKY THAT IT DID NOT TEAR APART THE ENGINE. WE CALLED MINI COOPER, AND NEW COUNTRY MINI WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW, AND WERE TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH THESE ITEMS. HOWEVER, EVERY MINI CHAT ROOM IT WAS A HOT TOPIC. WE ORDERED THE PARTS AND MY HUSBAND INSTALLED THEM. IN OCTOBER WE RECEIVED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE SAME PARTS, AND CALLED THE 800 NUMBER. I SPOKE WITH THE ADVISOR AND EVEN THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME A STRAIGHT ANSWER ON REPAIRING THIS CAR. FIRST THEY WOULD REIMBURSE US FOR THE PARTS, THEN THEY WANTED TO SEND A FLATBED TO PICK IT UP (THE FRONT DOOR LOCKS ARE ALSO FROZEN SHUT) AND PROVIDE A LOANER, THEN THEY NEVER SHOWED. I NEED HELP. THIS $34,000 CAR IS A DEATH TRAP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553345November 22, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IS FROZEN, IT CANNOT BE OPENED, FROM MINI FORUMS I HAVE SEEN WHERE THIS IS A SERIOUS ONGOING PROBLEM. NOW THE BACK BARN DOOR IS FROZEN SHUT. THE LOCKS ARE OBVIOUSLY BROKEN, YET THE DEALERSHIP EXPECTS THAT WE WILL COVER THIS OUT OF POCKET TO THE TUNE OF $1800. OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553487November 22, 2013
AIR BAGS
IN AN OFFSET FRONTAL ACCIDENT, BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EVEN WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT UNOCCUPIED. BASED UPON INFORMATION PROVIDED ABOUT THIS VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT RELATED TO THE OPERATION OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM. THE DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE SUFFERED A SERIOUS SECOND DEGREE BURN APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER TO THE INSIDE OF THE RIGHT WRIST. THE LONG SLEEVE SWEATER DRIVER WAS WEARING HAD A LARGE HOLE BURNED THRU IT IN THE LOCATION OF THE BURN TO THE WRIST. THIS BURN WAS CAUSED BY THE AIR BAG HOT GAS DISCHARGE. HANDS WERE BETWEEN THE 9 & 10 AND 2 & 3 O'CLOCK POSITIONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. DRIVER WAS SITTING CORRECTLY POSITIONED RELATIVE TO STEERING WHEEL AND WAS PROPERLY WEARING THE SEAT BELT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10553193November 21, 2013
AIR BAGS
OCCUPANT SEAT SENSOR FAILURE IN PASSENGER SEAT, AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STOPS AIRBAG OPERATION. I BELIEVE MINI/BMW IS LIABLE FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD FIX IT UNDER RECALL. SEVERAL PASSENGERS HAVE REFUSED TO RIDE IN MY CAR FOR FEAR OF SAFETY. PART IS $1200 PLUS INSTALLATION AND REPROGRAMMING. THIS IS A VERY COMMON KNOWN ISSUE. MINI/BMW'S NEGLIGENCE ON THIS ISSUE IS ASTONISHING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553201November 21, 2013
STEERING
I HAD ISSUE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL PUMP A YEAR AGO, AND I REPLACED IT. BUT LAST NIGHT WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN AND I ALMOST GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT. LUCKILY TRAFFIC WAS SLOW AND I WAS CLOSE TO MY HOUSE. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD FOR ME TO MAKE ANY TURN. I HAD TO CALL A TOWING COMPANY AND MY CAR IS NOW AT THE MINI DEALER IN CHICAGO. I ALREADY SPENT OVER 2 THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR AGO AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR IS HAVING THESE ISSUES AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553241November 21, 2013
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE CAR HAD A HARD TIME GETTING UP TO 65MPH . THERE WAS A LACK OF ACCELERATION FROM A DEAD STOP TO CRUISING SPEED. THE CAR HAD A WATER PUMP AND RADIATOR INSTALLED 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO MY TROUBLE. MINI TOLD ME THAT MY TIMING BELT TENSIONER HAD BROKE .I NEEDED TO HAVE A NEW TIMING BELT INSTALLED BECAUSE IT HAD STRETCHED .IT WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO KEEP THE TIMING CORRECT .I ASKED WHY WHEN THEY CHANGED TO WATER PUMP THEY DIDN'T SEE THE BROKEN TENSIONER. THEY HAD NO ANSWER . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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