MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10434202November 4, 2011
STEERING
DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED TURNING RIGHT INTO PARKING GARAGE POWER STEERING FAILED AND ALMOST CAUSED VEHICLE TO CONTACT ANOTHER CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN THE PAST WEEK THAT THE POWER STEERING HAS RANDOMLY FAILED. TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED CAR AND STEERING STARTS WORKING CORRECTLY AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434112November 3, 2011
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER S HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER WHEN THE PUMP STROPS WORKING WITHOUT WARNING AND MY WIFE NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS INTERMITTENT FAILURE. I CHECKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE VERY SAME PROBLEM.. STOPPING THE CAR AND SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTARTING IT, CLEARS THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434163November 3, 2011
STEERING
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH, WHEN POWER STEERING FAILED. POWER STEERING FAILURE ACCOMPANIED BY OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. GAUGE CLUSTER RESET, ALL FAILURE LIGHTS WENT ON. POWER STEERING RESTORED SHORTLY AFTER FAILURE. OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY TWO MORE TIMES AFTER FIRST INCIDENT. AFTER POWER STEERING FAILURE NOTICED, ISSUE WITH CHARGING SYSTEM ALSO. CHARGING SYSTEM VOLTAGE CONSISTENTLY LOW, SOMETIMES EVEN GOING DOWN TO 10V ACCOMPANIED BY LOSS OF POWER AND OTHER MALFUNCTION LIGHTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433978November 2, 2011
STEERING
2003 MINI COOPER S. CAR OVER HEATED AND POWER STEERING FAILED. PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. FAN ON POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED, CAUSED PUMP TO FAIL AND CAR TO OVER HEAT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434019November 2, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT IT COULD POSSIBLY BE THE AIR BAG SENSOR THAT WAS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433757November 1, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON 9/20/2011 I PULLED ON TO THE HIGHWAY WITH MY MINI AND TURNED ON THE AIR CONDITIONER WHICH DID NOT WORK. THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE AND THERE WERE NO LIGHTED INDICATOR LIGHTS. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE LIGHT WENT ON AND THEN WENT OFF. I TURNED ON THE AIR CONDITIONER AND IT WAS NOW WORKING. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN SO I TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER, ENTERED THE RIGHT LANE AND SLOWED DOWN. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE CONTINUED TO GO ON AND OFF AND THEN I SMELLED SMOKE. WHEN I LOOKED IN MY REAR-VIEW MIRROR, I SAW DARK SMOKE AND THEN MORE SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUR FROM UNDER MY HOOD. I PULLED MY CAR OFF THE ROAD AND OPENED THE HOOD AFTER A WHILE. OIL WAS SPLATTERED ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND I NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT TANK WAS BONE DRY. I WAS TOWED TO HASSLE MINI WHERE MY VEHICLE STILL IS. AFTER INSPECTING MY CAR, HASSLE TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T REPAIR THE ENGINE EVEN THOUGH MY WARRANTY WAS STILL IN EFFECT. THEY TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS MY FAULT AND I SHOULD REPORT IT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I WAS ALSO TOLD IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $15,000.00 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY HASSLE WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE SHOULD BEHAVE LIKE THIS. MY LIFE WAS ENDANGERED IN THIS SITUATION. THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS I BELIEVE MINI SHOULD HONOR MY CAR'S WARRANTY: 1. ALL REQUIRED SERVICE WAS PERFORMED AND RECORDS PROVIDED. 2. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED ONLY 700 MILES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT AND FOUND TO BE IN RUNNING ORDER. 3. THE CAR HAD A DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF FAULTY INDICATOR LIGHTS. 4. THERE WERE ONLY 13,674 MILES ON THE CAR. 5. MINI HAS A HISTORY OF ENGINE FIRES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433891November 1, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN IN EARLY AUGUST 2011. HOWEVER, BY AUGUST 24,2011. WE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE GRINDING. WE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY AGREED THAT THE BRAKES WERE GRINDING AND CHANGED THE BACK BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS AND WE EVENTUALLY HAD TO GO BACK THE SECOND TIME BECAUSE THE GRINDING WAS STILL THERE; THEN THEY CHANGED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS & ROTORS. HOWEVER, THIS DID NOT HELP THE ISSUE. THE BRAKES CONTINUE TO HAVE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND WE WENT BACK THE THIRD TIME WITH THE DEALERSHIP OFFERING THAT THEY HAVE SOMEONE IN THE FACTORY VISITING THE SHOWROOM AND WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THE BRAKES AGAIN BUT AFTER THEIR THIRD INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO ASSIST FURTHER ON THIS ISSUE. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE CALIFORNIA STATE NEW VEHICLE BOARD WHO RECOMMENDED THAT WE MAKE A STATEMENT TO THE NHTSA. I FEEL THAT GRINDING BRAKES ARE A SAFETY CONCERN AND NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433608October 30, 2011
STEERING
LOST POWER STEERING ON FREEWAY AT 70 MILE AN HOUR. NEXT DAY IT WORK FOR 40 MILES THEN FAILED AGAIN ON FREEWAY AT 70 MILES AN HOUR, THERE IS NO WARNING OR FLUID LOSS,JUST COMPLETE STEERING LOSS . THEN IT IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433478October 28, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILED AFTER 27,000 MILES. INTERMITTENTLY WORKS FOR 5 MINUTES IN THE MORNING AND SOMETIMES INTERMITTENTLY FUNCTIONS WHEN DRIVING WHICH CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAD THE MINI DEALER INSPECT IT FROM MINI CORPORATES RECOMMENDATION. DEALER INDICATED THE ELECTRONICS ARE MALFUNCTIONING AND THAT THEY HAD PLENTY OF REPLACEMENT UNITS IN STOCK FOR CIRCA $1,600.00. MY CLAIM WAS REJECTED BECAUSE IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR EARLIER MINI COOPER POWER STEERING UNITS TO FAIL. I HAVE INVESTIGATED AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPANIES NOW IN THE BUSINESS OF REBUILDING/REMANUFACTURING SPECIFICALLY MINI COOPER POWER STEERING UNITS. ODD THAT A RELATIVELY LOW VOLUME VEHICLE COULD GENERATE SO MANY BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT APPARENTLY DOES NOT EXIST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433485October 28, 2011
STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL WENT ALMOST COMPLETELY RIGID AND THE WHEEL REQUIRED A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT TO TURN. TURNING THE WHEEL WAS FAR MORE DIFFICULT THAN IN ANY VEHICLE I HAVE DRIVEN WITHOUT POWER STEERING, AND THERE WAS A PULSE OF DIFFERING PRESSURE AGAINST THE TURNS AT TIMES. AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE CAR AND STARTING AGAIN, THE STEERING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433383October 27, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE, THEN STOPPED AT A GAS STATION TO ADD AIR TO A LOW TIRE. WHILE THE CAR WAS IDLING, WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE, FOLLOWED BY DARK SMOKE. WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED, WE SAW A SMALL FLAME COMING FROM INSIDE THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. WE RAN TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM THE GAS STATION ATTENDANT; BY THE TIME WE RETURNED, FLAMES WERE VISIBLY SHOOTING UP OUT OF THE ENGINE. WE WERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A HAND-HELD FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST MINI DEALER. THE SERVICE ATTENDANT DECLARED THAT HE HAD NO EXPERIENCE WITH ANY ENGINE FIRES IN HIS TENURE WITH MINI. AFTER AN INVESTIGATION (PICTURES TAKEN BY SERVICE AND EMAILED TO MINI CORPORATE), THE AUXILIARY WATER PUMP WAS FOUND TO BE THE SOURCE. IT WAS REPLACED, ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF CONNECTORS AND HOSES, AND THE ENGINE WAS CLEANED OF FIRE EXTINGUISHER POWDER. WHEN I ASKED SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, THE ONLY ANSWER I RECEIVED WAS THAT THIS STAFFER HAD NEVER HEARD OF A CAR FIRE LIKE THIS IN HIS TIME (3 YEARS) AT MINI.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433075October 27, 2011
STEERING
AFTER STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT, WHEN I ACCELERATED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, LOST POWER STEERING. DROVE TO WORK NEXT DAY WITH NO POWER STEERING, BUT ON THE WAY HOME, IT CAME BACK ON. HOWEVER, WHEN I TURN OFF THE ENGINE, THE ELECTRIC MOTOR KEPT ON RUNNING. HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY TO KEEP IT FROM DRAINING AND/OR CAUSE A FIRE. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432698October 25, 2011
STEERING
I BOUGHT A 2002 MINI COOPER S ALMOST A MONTH AGO AND LOST THE POWER TO STEER MY CAR IN A TURN AT ALMOST 50 MPH. IF TOYOTA WOULD HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM I'M SURE SOME ONE WOULD BE IN JAIL OR MAYBE YOU WOULD HERE IT ON THE NEWS. THIS IS MY THIRD MINI IN 6 YEARS AND I NEVER HEARD A PEEP ABOUT THIS SCAREY PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ARE GOVERNMENT FOR MAKING THE ROADS SO SAFE. AT LEAST THEY ARE TAKING THE EFFORT TO STOP THOSE PESKY KIDS AND THERE TEXTING. THANKS AGAIN! *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432759October 25, 2011
STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
POWER ASSISTED STEERING WILL CEASE WORKING WHILE DRIVING, MAKING THE CAR VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER/CONTROL. THIS PROBLEM IS CURRENTLY INTERMITTENT, BUT WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN IT IS VERY SCARY. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432573October 24, 2011
STEERING
MY WIFE NOTICED AN UNUSUAL ELECTRICAL HUMMING NOISE THAT RAPIDLY BECAME PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER COMING FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN THE CAR WAS RUNNING. VERY QUICKLY IT BECAME HARDER AND HARDER TO STEER UNTIL IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS NO ASSISTED STEERING AT ALL. SHE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT SINCE. RECENTLY WENT TO A MINI DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT WITH THE RESULT THAT THEY SAID THE PUMP DID INDEED FAIL. NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED AS OF YET, EVEN THOUGH THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432589October 24, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SHORTLY AFTER THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. I PULLED OVER ALMOST IMMEDIATELY ON THE SIDE OF THE BUSY HIGHWAY I WAS ON. HOWEVER, IN JUST THAT SHORT TIME, SMOKE WAS ALREADY COMING OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND OUT OF THE CAR VENTS. AT LEAST ONE BYSTANDER SAID HE SAW A FIRE BEFORE I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. HE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND PARAMEDICS FOR FEAR THAT I MIGHT BE INJURED. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WAS NOT A MINI COOPER S. I AM REQUESTING THAT YOU EXPAND YOUR CURRENT INVESTIGATION OF MINI ENGINE FIRES TO INCLUDE THE STANDARD MODEL (MINI COOPER). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432689October 24, 2011
STEERING
DRIVING OFF A PARKING LOT ABOUT TO MAKE A LEFT ONTO TRAFFIC, CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING, TRY TO CORRECT DIRECTION BUT WEIGHT TONS TO STEER INTO RIGHT DIRECTION AND RUNS STRAIGHT INTO TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432490October 23, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
STRANGE ENGINE KNOCKING/RUBBING NOISE COME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT APPEARED TO BE THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT TO THE DEALER TWICE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AND THIS TIME THEY REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432315October 21, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN
MY CAR IS THE MINI COUNTRYMAN ALL 4 YEAR 2011. AS I WAS DRIVING ON TONNELE AVE HEADING TOWARDS RT 3 W, THE CAR WAS ON 3RD GEAR AND I SHIFTED TO 4TH. I FELT THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, AND LOSE POWER. I HAD TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER, WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL "ROLLING". WHEN I GOT TO THE SHOULDER THE CAR JUST COMPLETELY DIED. THE YELLOW INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON, I LOOKED UP FROM THE USER'S MANUAL, IT SAYS, " FULL ENGINE POWER IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE, YOU CAN CONTINUE YOUR JOURNEY, BUT MODERATE YOUR SPEED AND EXERCISE DUE CAUTION. HAVE ENGINE CHECKED ASAP." I THEN TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR, IT CRANKED BUT WOULDN'T START. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND TOW TRUCK CAME TO TOW THE CAR AFTER HOUR AND A HALF. THE NEXT DAY, SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLED AND EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THERE IS A SENSOR MALFUNCTION CAUSED THE CAR TO LOSE POWER. I IMMEDIATELY SEARCHED ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY RECALLS AND OR ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, I FOUND A FEW OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME INDICATOR LIGHT WENT OFF. ALL THESE OWNERS HAVE THEIR CARS FOR AS LITTLE AS A MONTH TO A COUPLE OF MONTHS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432326October 21, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WASDRIVING IN CT. WHEN MY CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. MY CAR WAS HAULED AWAY AND BMW (MINI COOPER) AND MINI OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY IN STAMFORD CT TRY TO CLAIM THAT THIS ENGINE WAS HYDROLOCKED. THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE WHEN IT WAS NOT RAINING TO MAKE THIS CLAIM. ENGINE COMPLETELY SEIZED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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