MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10470561August 14, 2012
ENGINE
WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR STARTED JERKING AND RUNNING VERY ROUGHLY AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE MINI DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. WHILE THE DEALER WAS VERY HELPFUL, THE DIAGNOSES WAS DISTURBING AT BEST. AFTER TEARING APART THE MOTOR, CLEANING IT AND REASSEMBLING, THE PROBLEM REMAINED. IT WAS "MINI SERVICES" RECOMMENDATION TO THE DEALER THAT THE TIMING BELT BE CHANGED. THIS IS A 13 HOUR PROCEDURE THAT COST JUST OVER $2000 AND PROVIDES NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, THEY MAY RUN INTO MORE PROBLEMS ONCE THEY ARE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED DO TO A SIMILAR PROBLEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. WE HAVE ELECTED TO PAY $5000 FOR A NEW MOTOR AND 2 YEAR WARRANTY SO AT LEAST WE WOULD HAVE A SLIGHT PIECE OF MIND THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT REOCCUR AT OUR EXPENSE. I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE RISKS OF OWNING A VEHICLE BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I JUST WISH BMW MINI WOULD RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM AND STAND BEHIND WHAT APPEARS TO BE A RAMPANT PROBLEM WITH THE "TIMING-BELT-TENSIONER" ON THE 2007 S MODELS. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THE PAGES OF OWNERS THAT ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM. MY WIFE LOVES THIS CAR. THERE IS NO WAY I WOULD PURCHASE ANOTHER MINI PRODUCT AFTER PAYING OVER $30,000 FOR THE 2007 63,000 MILE DISPOSABLE MODEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470566August 14, 2012
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AT 66K MILES - AS I AM RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I CAN SEE THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURES WITH THEIR MINI COOPER AND BMW HAS NOT BEEN WILLING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THE COST TO US WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $10,000 TO REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470621August 14, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,000. UPDATED 9/10/12 *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470623August 14, 2012
STEERING
LOST POWER STEERING UNEXPECTEDLY IN MY CAR. POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN WERE REPLACED 6/3/2010. ON 6/29/2011, I AGAIN LOST POWER STEERING UNEXPECTEDLY MILEAGE- 96250 . POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN WERE REPLACED AGAIN. ON 6/26/2012 I YET AGAIN LOST POWER STEERING - MILEAGE -111834, PUMP AND FAN WERE REPLACED FOR THE 3RD TIME. EACH TIME THE FAN HAD FAILED AND THE PUMP OVERHEATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470646August 14, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470682August 14, 2012
ENGINE
I WAS TOLD MY WARRANTY EXPIRED END OF JUNE. I BOUGHT MINI-S 08 USED IN FEBRUARY FROM A MINI DEALERSHIP IN WESTCHESTER, ELMSFORD, NY. I NOTICED A KNOCKING NOISE THAT TO ME DIDN'T SOUND NORMAL NOT TOO LONG AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE PEOPLE AT MINI TOLD ME IT WAS FROM SOMETHING ELSE, A LOOSE PIECE AND THAT THEY "FIXED THE PROBLEM." THIS NOISE ONLY BECAME WORSE, AND NOW THE CAR IS AT 45,000 MILES AND NOT EVEN 6 MONTHS FROM PURCHASE. THE NOISE BECAME EVEN LOUDER, WHICH THEN IT SOUNDED LIKE A TRACTOR TRAILER. I CHANGED THE OIL, THE NOISE WASN'T AS LOUD BUT STILL THERE. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE TIMING BELT IS GOING TO SNAP SOON, AND IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, AND ONCE IT BREAKS, THE WHOLE ENGINE WILL BE DESTROYED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470222August 11, 2012
AIR BAGS, SEATS
THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR HAS FAILED. THIS CAUSES THE AIRBAGS TO BE UNARMED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE. I HAVE CONTACTED MINI ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY COVERED THE REPAIR ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, BUT NOT MINE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND IT SHOULD BE COVERED ON ALL VEHICLES THAT IT HAS OCCURRED ON, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. THE REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE, AND SHOULD BE COVERED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470139August 10, 2012
STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP FAN GOT LOWER IN TONE, HARDER TO TURN BUT HASN'T FAILED YET. LOOKING UP THE ISSUE ON SEVERAL SITES, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS PART FAILING. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER WHICH I ORIGINALLY BOUGHT IT FROM AND NO RECALLS WERE SHOWN FOR IT - FOR THE US. CANADA HOWEVER GOT A RECALL AND THEY ARE FIXING THE PROBLEM THERE FREE OF CHARGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470195August 10, 2012
STEERING, POWER TRAIN
I WAS YIELDING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ON GREEN. THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. IT WAS A RELATIVELY HOT DAY. WHEN I WENT TO GO I SHIFTED INTO GEAR AND IMMEDIATELY FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO TURN. AS I FURTHERED DOWN THE ROAD TO MY EVENT AND WAS USHERED INTO THE PARKING LOT BY TRAFFIC CONTROL, THE POWER STEERING DIMINISHED MORE AND MORE AS I DROVE ON. BY TIME I GOT TO A PARKING SPACE, I COULD JUST BARELY TURN INTO MY SPOT. A FEW HOURS AFTER THE EVENT I TURNED ON MY CAR AND IT DROVE AS NORMAL AGAIN. AFTER THIS POWERSTEERING FAILURE I HAD A POWER STEERING FLUID FLUSH DONE. IT HAS BEEN A BIT OVER A YEAR SINCE THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, BUT IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS I'VE LOST MY POWER STEERING ABOUT TEN TIMES. IT'S ALWAYS WHEN I'M AT A SLOW SPEED OR STOPPED. USUALLY SHUTTING THE ENGINE ON AND OFF AGAIN WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM BUT ONCE IT DID NOT. I LEFT THE CAR ALONE FOR A FEW HOURS AND WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE IT AGAIN IT WAS LIKE NORMAL. IT HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN HOT WHEN MY POWER STEERING FAILS. I KEEP MY CAR IN A GARAGE SO IT IS SELDOM BAKING IN THE SUN. WHEN THE POWER STEERING GOES, IT FEELS AS IF THE CAR IS GRIPPING BACK AND GETS PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS I CONTINUE TO DRIVE. I AM NOT AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER AND I LIVE IN A FLAT AREA WHERE DRIVING IS A SIMPLE TASK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470201August 10, 2012
ENGINE
PURCHASED USED VEHICLE IN JUNE 2012. ON TODAYS DATE, UPON COLD START VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING KNOCKING NOISES AS IF LIFTERS WERE INVOLVED. AS CAR WARMED UP NOISE BECAME LESS APPARENT, BUT PROMPTED ME TO TAKE TO LOCAL MECHANIC. MECHANIC ADVISED THAT TIMING CHAIN NEEDS ADJUSTING/REPLACING AND NEEDS TO GO TO DEALER (AN HOUR TRAVEL). UPON PERUSING WEB INFO ON VEHICLE AND YEAR, THIS ISSUE APPEARS TO BE A PREVALENT MAFUNCTION IN THIS VEHICLE CAUSING MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469952August 9, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
RIGHT INSIDE DOOR RELEASE FAILED SO THAT PASSENGER COULD NOT OPEN DOOR FROM INSIDE. PASSENGER WOULD BE TRAPPED INSIDE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY. MINI DEALER REPAIRED BY REPLACING ROTARY LATCH LOCK AT COST OF $447. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469997August 9, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COPPER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND UPON RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAD INDEPENDENTLY RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,005.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469472August 7, 2012
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON JULY 25TH, APROX 9:00PM. MY DAUGHTER (DRIVER) HAVE JUST ARRIVED FROM COLLEGE INTERNSHIP AND ARRIVED BOYFRIEND FAMILY HOME (12-15MI TRIP). UPON TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND GETTING OUT OF THE CAR SHE SMELL BURNT AND SAW SPARKS AND FIRE THROUGH THE CAR FRONT GRILL. BOYFRIEND CAME AND OPEN THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE FIRE. THE BOYFRIEND'S FATHER CAME AND USED DRY CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHER TO PUT FIRE OUT. REPORT WAS MADE TO MINI COOPER. I CAME LATER AND NOTICE SEVERAL WIRES BURNT. THE CAR WAS TOWED (7/25, 7/26 EARLY MORNING) AND IS TODAY (8/7/2012) AT MONTGOMERY COUNTY MINI COOPER ROCKVILLE, MD, AWAITING INSPECTION BY BMW ENGINEERING. THE CAR STILL PENDING REPAIR. I TOOK PICTURES LAST SATURDAY (8/4). THESE PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469524August 7, 2012
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. THE STEERING BECAME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND THE FIRST EXIT WE APPROACHED WE STOPPED AND CHECKED FLUID LEVELS, EVERYTHING WAS FINE. RESTARTED THE CAR AND POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN AFTER A FEW MILES POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. CAR IS MUCH HARDER TO STEER WHEN THE PUMP GOES OUT THAN IF EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL STEERING. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN VEHICLE IS AT SLOWER SPEEDS BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT IT REQUIRES TO TURN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469543August 7, 2012
ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER FAILURE MENTIONED BY OTHERS ALSO OCCURRED IN MY CAR. FAILURE IN MY CASE WAS PROGRESSIVE: STARTED WITH ROUGH STARTS, NOISY IDLE (FROM CHAIN IMPACTING COVER!) PROGRESSED TO NON-EXISTENT ACCELERATION ABOVE 4000 RPMS (A SAFETY ISSUE ON THE HIGHWAY) . BROUGHT THE CAR TO MECHANIC AND WHILE HE WAS INVESTIGATING THE OBVIOUS AIR LEAK, CAR FAILED TO START. DEALER EVENTUALLY DISCOVERED BENT VALVES FROM IMPACT WITH PISTON PREVENTING PROPER SEAL, BUT ONLY AFTER REPLACING SNAPPED TENSIONER GUIDES AND TIMING CHAIN DROPPED INTO OIL PAN FOR $2,525. HAD THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IT POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. THEN THEY TELL ME THEY CAN REPLACE ALL VALVES FOR $4,500. TOTAL COST, OVER $7,000. EFFECTIVELY, THIS IS A TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE AND IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO DROP IN A COMPLETE NEW ENGINE. MINI AND THEIR DEALERS ARE WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND AS IT CAN - AND HAS - RESULTED IN FAILURES FOR OTHER MOTORISTS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT POSES SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITH A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469395August 6, 2012
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN PARKING THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469217August 5, 2012
STEERING
AFTER LEAVING THE HIGHWAY AND NEGOTIATING THE OFF RAMP, THE POWER STEERING SIMPLY STOPPED WORKING. THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT SO I PULLED OVER, SHUT THE CAR OFF AND LIFTED HOOD TO INSPECT. THE WAS NO VISUAL INDICATION OF ISSUES AN FLUID LEVEL IS FINE. AFTER RESTARTING THE STEERING WORKED FINE AGAIN. SEVERAL DAYS LATER THE SAME SITUATION OCCURRED IN THE MIDDLE OF A CORNER, IT WAS ALL I COULD TO MAINTAIN CONTROL THROUGH THE CORNER. I READ WHERE THERE WAS SOME "OPINIONS" THAT IF POWER STEERING COOLING FAN WAS BAD IT COULD CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN SO I REPLACED. STILL HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. I WILL LIKELY PULL THE STEERING UNIT TO INSPECT BUT THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS IT GIVES A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY. WHEN YOU RESTART THE ENGINE EVERYTHING SEEMS OK SO YOU CONTINUE, SOMETIMES FOR WEEKS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE FAILURE CAN OCCUR IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THERE IS ALSO NO LIGHTED INDICATION OF THE FAILURE ON YOUR DASH, SO YOU DON,T EXPECT IT. THIS WILL END UP KILLING SOMEONE IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469230August 5, 2012
STEERING
DRIVING AT AROUND 40 MPH AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469257August 5, 2012
ENGINE
ENGINE IS RATTLING HORRIBLY. IN DOING SOME RESEARCH IT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT MOST ARE CALLING THE "RATTLE OF DEATH". THE TIMING CHAIN IS MAKING ENTIRELY TOO MUCH NOISE. AND CAR IS RUNNING POORLY. I CAN NOT AND WILL NOT DRIVE THIS CAR TILL IT IS REPAIRED! THIS IS A POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. MINI COOPER KNOWS ABOUT THIS MAJOR ENGINEERING PROBLEM AND WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL. REPAIR ESTIMATES ARE AS MUCH AS $2500.00 FOR TIMING CHAIN AND TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468909August 2, 2012
STEERING
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE STEERING GOT HARD. AFTER ALMOST WRECKING AND MAKING IT HOME , TURNED CAR OFF AND 10 MINUTES LATER IT WORKED AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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