MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10459509May 24, 2012
ENGINE
THE TURBO CHARGER HAS TOTALLY FAILED (CAR IS UNDER HALF POWER) AND THE TOP GUIDE ON THE TIMING CHAIR (TENSIONER SYSTEM) IS BROKEN. I HAVE DONE THE PROPER MAINTENANCE WITH EXCEPTIONAL CARE. THE TURBO IS COOLED BY THE KNOWN FAILED AUXILIARY WATER PUMP WITH INTEGRATED CIRCUIT BOARD AND IS CURRENTLY UNDER RECALL. MINI/BMW IS REFUSING TO COVER THESE FAILURES CLEARLY CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE PARTS AND DESIGN (OIL LINE LEADING TO TURBO GETS GUMMED UP BECAUSE IT IS TOO SMALL). THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO CHARGE ME OVER $5200 TO REPAIR THE CAR (20% OF THE VEHICLE COST IN 2008) FOR WHAT IS ABSOLUTELY A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. MY CAR IS NOT OPERATIONAL AND HAS NOT BEEN OPERATIONAL FOR OVER 2 WEEKS WHILE I CONTINUE TO 'FIGHT' BMW'S DETERMINATION NOT TO COVER THESE PROBLEMS. READING COUNTLESS BLOGS WITH OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM(S) I BELIEVE BMW IS INTENTIONALLY SELLING A PRODUCT IT KNOWS IS DEFECTIVE AND COLLECTING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON REPAIRS. NO CAR SHOULD EXPERIENCE A TOTAL FAILURE OF A TURBO AND BROKEN TIMING CHAIN IN 60K MILES. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND NHTSA SHOULD PROTECT US CONSUMERS FROM THIS FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY BY ISSUING A RECALL - SOONER THAN LATER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459358May 23, 2012
STEERING
POWER STEERING IS OF GREAT CONCERN AS IT HAS PERIODS WHERE IT SEEMS THAT THE POWER STEERING QUITS WORKING. ALSO WHEN ADJUSTING THE DIRECTION AS I AM BACKING UP INTO MY DRIVEWAY STEERING IS SORT OF LAZY AND IT MAKE A HIGH PITCH WHINING NOISE WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459378May 23, 2012
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
LOST POWER STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEED DUE TO POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. SHORT CIRCUIT OR FIRE MELTED POWER STEERING PUMP WIRING HARNESS. DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO OTHER PORTIONS OF ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS BY FIRE, RESULTING IN BLOWN FUSES. UPON REMOVING KEY FROM IGNITION AT ROADSIDE, ENGINE KEPT RUNNING UNTIL BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459490May 23, 2012
STEERING
SINCE I HAD THE CAR IN 2009 I HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING THAT IT HAS A FAILURE. BMW NO RESPONSE FOR THIS ITS A PUMP THAT ITS NOT DESIGN CORRECTLY. LOST OF MINIS HAS THIS PROBLEMS. HARD TO STEER AND ALMOST GOT INTO A CRASH. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459492May 23, 2012
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING STEERING BECAME STIFF. ALMOST UNABLE TO TURN WHEEL WHEN I SLOWED TO PARK. AFTER TURNING CAR OFF AND BACK ON, PROBLEM RESOLVED. STILL HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE PER DAY USUALLY WHILE SLOWING OR DOWNSHIFTING. ALWAYS RESOLVES AFTER RESTARTING CAR. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459281May 22, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY REGAINED POWER STEERING. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459292May 22, 2012
ENGINE
MINI ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON FAILED TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS IN 2009. SERVICE BULLETINS SIM-11-02-07 AND PUMA MEASURE NUMBER 10686850-13. THE BULLETIN STATES THAT WHEN A CUSTOMER COMES IN WITH A TENSIONER PROBLEM THAT ALL CARS AFFECTED WILL RECEIVE A NEW TIMING CHAIN, CHAIN GUIDES, CAM SPROCKETS AND VANOS UNIT. ON 6/23/10 MY VEHICLE REQUIRED THIS REPAIR. BECAUSE I WASN'T AWARE OF THE SERVICE BULLETINS THE MINI DEALERSHIP ONLY REPLACED MY VEHICLES TENSIONER WITHOUT REPLACING THE OTHER PARTS...THE TENSIONER IS AN EASY REPLACE AND THE ACTUAL TIMING CHAIN IS A 9.9 HOUR JOB SO I'M ASSUMING THEY TOOK THE EASY ROUTE WITH LESS ACCUMULATING LABOR. NOW WE'RE 23 MONTHS INTO THAT REPAIR AND THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER HAS GONE BAD...AGAIN. THIS TIME THE TENSIONER GOING OUT ALSO CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO FAIL ALONG WITH THE CHAIN GUIDES. MINI WILL REPLACE THE TENSIONER AGAIN, WHICH IS A 26 DOLLAR PART, BECAUSE IT IS WITHIN THE 24 MONTH WARRANTY...BUT BECAUSE THE MINI DEALER THAT LAST REPLACED THE TENSIONER DID NOT FOLLOW THE BULLETINS ISSUED AND REPLACE THE OTHER PIECES INVOLVED IN THE BULLETIN, THEY SAY I'M RESPONSIBLE. MINI NOW WANTS TO CHARGE ME 1967 DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIR OF THE TIMING CHAIN AND CHAIN GUIDES BECAUSE IT SAYS THE OTHER PARTS ARE NOT COVERED. THE CAR HAS 50,062 MILES (WARRANTY IS TO 50K). THERE ARE WELL OVER 200 ENTRIES THAT I FOUND ON THE INTERNET WITH THIS PROBLEM AND A PETITION WITH OVER 650 SIGNATURES. WHEN IS SOMETHING GOING TO BE DONE? *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459110May 21, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459010May 19, 2012
AIR BAGS
INITIALLY WE WERE PARKED WITH A LARGE ADULT WHO WEIGHS ~200LBS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. SHIFTING AROUND AND UNBUCKLING-REBUCKLING SEATBELT CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO GO OFF FOR A BIT. WE BEGAN TO DRIVE ANYWAY, THE TERRAIN WAS MOUNTAINOUS, AND EVENTUALLY THE LIGHTS WENT OFF. THAT NIGHT. IN THE FOLLOWING WEEKS AND MONTHS, IT WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, SOMETIMES UPON GETTING SEATED AND STARTING TO DRIVE, OTHER TIMES ONCE WE WERE IN MOTION, VERY UNPREDICTABLE. THE PROBLEM SOMETIMES RESOLVED BY SHIFTING HIS WEIGHT OR FUSSING WITH THE SEATBELT TO GET THE LIGHTS OFF, BUT FOR THE PAST MONTH IT HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458985May 19, 2012
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING. I AM A 280 POUND MAN AND I CAN BARELY TURN . ALSO WHILE DRIVING AT TIMES IT FEELS HARDER TO TURN, ONCE AGAIN LIKE POWER STEERING NOT WORKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458886May 18, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
TIMING BELT FAILURE DUE TO RESTRICTOR BELT DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458911May 18, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458970May 18, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458670May 16, 2012
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRENTY IN 2009. THE SENSOR HAS MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN IN 2011. THE DEALER SAID THEY DO NOT COVER IT UNDER WARRENTY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE AND THE PART WERE PAST THE WARRENTY PERIOD. THEY WANTED OVER $1000 TO FIX IT. I CONVEYED TO THEM THAT THEY HAVE A SAFETY PROBLEM RELATED TO THIS SENSOR AND APPARENTLY THEY HAVE NOT CORRECTED IT YET, SO WHY WOULD I PAY TO HAVE IT REPLACED BY A PART THAT WILL MALFUNCTION AGAIN. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT BMW/MINI ARE IGNORING!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458712May 16, 2012
STEERING, WHEELS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
EXECUTING A LEFT TURN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS ISSUE. DAMAGE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF CAR AGAINST CURB. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ON A RECALL!
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458586May 15, 2012
STEERING
I STARTED THE CAR COLD BEFORE HEADING OUT AND THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY OUT. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN, ALTHOUGH NOT WITH THE FULL ASSIST. SINCE THIS TIME, EVERY TIME I START UP THE CAR, I HAVE A VARYING DEGREE OF ASSIST FOR THE FIRST COUPLE MINUTES OF DRIVING IT. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458619May 15, 2012
STEERING
I DROVE MY 2003 MINI COOPER S TO MY LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO RENEW MY DRIVER'S LICENSE. NOTHING ABNORMAL OCCURRED ON THE TRIP TO THE DMV. WHEN I GOT IN AND BEGAN TO DRIVE HOME, THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. LATER THAT EVENING, I STARTED THE CAR WHEN IT WAS COOL AND THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK UNTIL THE CAR WARMED UP. THE RADIATOR FAN AND THE POWER STEERING FAN DO NOT FUNCTION UPON DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS EXTREMELY OFTEN IN 2002-2007 MINIS. I ALSO FOUND, POSTED ON A MINI FORUM BY SOMEONE CLAIMING TO BE AN ENGINEER, A DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM. CARBON DUST FROM THE ELECTRIC MOTOR THAT OPERATES THE POWER STEERING PUMP GETS INTO THE CONTROL UNIT ATTACHED TO IT. SINCE THE CHIP WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED WITH A LACQUER, IT CAUSEES A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE CHIP. THIS CAUSES THE PUMP TO FAIL. ANOTHER POSSIBLE CAUSE IS THE FAILURE OF THE COOLING FAN FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE FAN CAN SEIZE, STOP COOLING THE PUMP, AND EVENTUALLY IT WILL OVERHEAT. THIS ALSO TRIPS A FUSE THAT STOPS THE RADIATOR FAN. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE CAN ALSO OVERHEAT. I HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE FAN HAS STOPPED WORKING. SINCE I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR SINCE THE MIDDLE OF WINTER AND THE HAS BEEN THE ONLY WARM DAY I HAVE DRIVEN IT, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED IT. I PLAN TO AVOID THE $1000 CHARGE TO HAVE IT REPLACED AT THE DEALER BY REPAIRING IT MYSELF BUT MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT THIS FORTUNATE. I BELIEVE THIS DESIGN FLAW CAN AND WILL CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS TO OCCUR. IF MY MOTHER, SISTER, OR GIRLFRIEND HAD BEEN DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT FAILED, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STEER RESULTING IN A SERIOUS CRASH. WHILE PERUSING VARIOUS MINI FORUMS, I HAVE READ STORIES OF SEVERAL SERIOUS CRASHES. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL ON ALL 2002-2007 MINI COOPERS SO THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN NOT HARM SOMEONE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458439May 14, 2012
POWER TRAIN
LOUD NOISE IN TRANSMISSION - LEADS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING MANY COMPLAINTS INDICATING THIS HAPPENING WHILE IN TRAFFIC ARE ON A COUPLE WEBSITES - MAIN SITE: HTTP://NEWMINI.WORDPRESS.COM/2008/01/08/MINI-COOPER-TRANSMISSION-PROBLEMS/ ALSO MANY ON: HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/MINI.HTML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458184May 12, 2012
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING, IT FELT AS THOUGH MY POWER STEERING HAD GONE OUT. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO MY LOCATION. ONCE IN THE PARKING LOT, STEERING BECAME NEAR IMPOSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY WHILE GOING AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS. WHEN I WENT TO BACK OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT THAT EVENING, IT WAS UNABLE TO BE DONE, CAUSING ME TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TOW MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458161May 11, 2012
STEERING
POWER STEERING CUTS OUT INTERMITTENTLY. POWER STEERING COMES BACK AFTER RESTARTING VEHICLE. THEN FAILS LATER AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to MINI Cooper