MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10189072April 26, 2007
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
DRIVING NORMALLY, NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING. THE CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. PARKED CAR AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. LOOKED UNDER HOOD, NOTICED SMOKE GETTING WORSE, SO I DROVE THE CAR UP TO STREET LEVEL FROM GARAGE. LOOKED UNDER HOOD AND THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE STARTING AT THE LOWER REAR OF THE ENGINE. I WAS ABLE TO USE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS TO PUT OUT THE FIRE JUST AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. HAD CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE INITIAL DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THERE WAS A STUCK RELAY IN THE POWER STEERING UNIT, CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT. A WIRING HARNESS ON OR NEAR THE POWER STEERING UNIT WAS DAMAGED BY THE HEAT AND SHORTED SOME WIRING, CAUSING THE FIRE. THE FIRE WAS LOCALIZED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT THE DEALER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188250April 18, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN IF THE VEHICLE WAS LOCKED WITH THE REMOTE. THE DEALER WAS CALLED AND AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR WAS GIVEN OVER THE PHONE. THE COMPONENT THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 18,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188290April 18, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I HAVE HAD A SECOND STRESS FRACTURE IN MY FRONT WINDSHIELD IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS AND MINI USA DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH STRESS FRACTURES, BUT WILL NOT FESS UP TO IT. THEY ARE STATING THAT THERE IS A PINHEAD SIZED CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD, BUT SINCE WHEN WILL A PINHEAD SIZED CHIP CREATE A FOOT LONG FRACTURE IN MY WINDSHIELD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188190April 17, 2007
AIR BAGS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
SEVERAL, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED MORE THEN TEN DIFFERENT TIMES, EACH TIME IT WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER (WESTCHESTER BMW/WESTCHESTER MINI) THE LAST FIX WAS AFTER THE NORMAL WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND REQUIRED MUCH FUSS TO GET IT REPAIRED FOR FREE. THE POWER STEERING PUMP SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE RADIATOR FAN WAS REPLACED TWO TIMES BY ME (CAR OUT OF WARRANTY) EVEN THOUGH I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER WHEN THE CAR WAS STILL QUITE NEW ABOUT THE FREQUENCY OF THE FAN MOTOR'S STARTING AND STOPPING WHICH WILL SEVERELY SHORTEN THE LIFE OF ANY ELECTRIC MOTOR. THE WINDSHIELD STRESS CRACKED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS REPAIRED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPED MOTOR HAS JUST FAILED DURING AN INCREDIBLE RAINSTORM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188048April 16, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD CRACK. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186792April 2, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2001 BMW X5 4.4I WITH ONLY 66K MLS HAS TRANSMISSION OIL LEAK AT FRONT SHAFT SEAL TO TORQUE CONVERTER CAUSES CAR TO STALL OUT FROM LOSS OF TRANSMISSION POWER DUE TO LOSS OF LUBRICATION,EXCESSIVE HEAT AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHEN ACCELERATING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186350March 28, 2007
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
AS THE CLUTCH WAS ENGAGED THERE WAS A GRINDING AND SLIPPING NOISE THAT DEVELOPED FROM FULL STOPS. THIS USUALLY ONLY HAPPENED WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE IN FIRST GEAR. THIS BEGAN WITH FEWER THAN 3,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY, BUT WAS FIRST MOST NOTICEABLE IN COLD AND WET WEATHER. IT WAS NOW PROGRESSING TO OCCUR MORE OFTEN. SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON FORUMS, SUCH AS THE WEBSITE FORUM FOR MINIS, NORTH AMERICAN MOTORING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186331March 27, 2007
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
ON MARCH 16TH 2007 I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO EVALUATE A FAINT CLICKING NOISE THAT I DETERMINED TO BE A CLAMP ON THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL BOOT HITTING THE SUSPENSION FRAME. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AND INDICATED IT WAS PROBABLY TIRE NOISE. I PERSISTED THAT THE NOISE WAS NOT NORMAL AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD PUT THE CAR ON THE LIFT SO I COULD SHOW THEM THE PROBLEM. THE LEFT-HAND ENGINE SUPPORT BOLTS HAD APPARENTLY BEEN BACKING OUT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHIFT TO THE LEFT. THE THREADS OF THE BOLTS WERE NOT DAMAGED AND THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED. FURTHER IF I HAD NOT NOTICED THE NOISE AND INSISTED ON EVALUATION THE ONE REMAINING BOLT WOULD LIKELY HAVE BROKEN, AFFECTING THE ABILITY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND RESULTED IN A SERIOUS CRASH. AS OF MARCH 27TH THE DEALERS HAS DETERMINED THAT THEY CAN NOT SIMPLY RE-TIGHTEN THE BOLTS BECAUSE THEY MOST LIKELY UN-THREAD OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS. WITH PROLONGED DRIVING, THESE BOLTS BECAME LOOSE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND SUSPENSION. THIS 2001 BMW X5 IS A SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE, AND ALTHOUGH THIS ONE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD, THIS POWER TRAIN PROBLEM REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RELATED DEFECT THAT COULD AFFECT A NUMBER OF VEHICLES IF THE BOLTS SUPPORTING THE ENGINE VIBRATE LOOSE DUE TO IMPROPER TIGHTENING OR TORQUE FORCE. THE DEALER INSISTS THAT THIS IS NOT SAFETY RELATED DEFECT; THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THE PROBLEM AND HAVE NO EXPLANATION HOW THIS COULD HAVE OCCURRED IN A VEHICLE THAT HAS NEITHER BEEN OFF ROAD NOR INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. HOWEVER A SIMILAR NHTSA CAMPAIGN (NUMBER 03V475000) WAS ISSUED ON NOV 03, 2003 FOR 2004 BMX X5 VEHICLES WITH IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED RIGHT SIDE ENGINE SUPPORT BOLTS AND FRONT DIFFERENTIAL BOLTS. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE LEFT SIDE IN A DIFFERENT MODEL YEAR. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE AND REMEDY THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY RELATED DEFECT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185733March 21, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2003 MINI COOPER S HAD THREE SIGNIFICANT CRACKS AND MULTIPLE CHIPS WITHIN A YEAR OF OWNERSHIP.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185847March 21, 2007
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE PUMP ITSELF FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSED AN UNSAFE CONDITION.*AK PHONE INTERVIEW UPDATE (3/23/07): MR. KIRK STARTED HIS VEHICLE AND FOUND THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. HE CHECKED AND FOUND WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE POWER STEERING UNIT. THE DEALER MECHANIC TOLD HIM THE POWER STEERING HARNESS WAS CORRODED AND SHORTED AS SEEN IN OTHER MINI COOPER THAT THEY SERVICED, AND THAT MR. KIRK WAS LUCKY THAT HIS VEHICLE DIDN'T CATCH FIRE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184388March 6, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
OUR MINI BURNED TO THE GROUND. IT HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 20 MILES AND WAS PARKED WHEN IT HAPPENED. AFTER A FORENSIC SPECIALIST WAS HIRED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ABS UNIT WAS AT FAULT. IN LATER MODELS, THE FUSE WAS CHANGED FROM A 30 AMP TO A 20 AMP. NO RECALL WAS EVER ISSUED AND BMW/MINI NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. SINCE THIS HAPPENED, AT LEAST 10-15 OTHER MINIS HAVE BURNED. OUR MINI WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183427February 25, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THERE WAS A "TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN" ISSUED ON MY BMW REGARDING A BROKEN OR LEAKING VALVE WHICH COULD BREAK IN LOW TEMPERATURE WEATHER CONDITIONS. I DID BREAK DOWN, FINDING MYSELF IN A SMOKING CAR, BOTH INSIDE AND OUT IN 6 DEGREE WEATHER. IT HAS BEEN THREE WEEKS AND MY CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID I HAVE A CRACKED VALVE COVER. "ALL" OF THE PARTS ORDERED ARE NOT IN YET AS OF THIS PAST FRIDAY. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE LAST PART, A DIP STICK. A "VOR" ORDER WAS PLACED 3 WEEKS AGO AND I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR HERE, THAT IN ADDITION TO WHATEVER ELSE, THE DIP STICK BROKE. THEY ARE NOT CHARGING ME FOR THE REPAIR, WHICH THEY SAY IS $2000. I FIND THIS CURIOUS. I ALSO HAD TO BRING MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER IN DEC. BECAUSE IT WAS STALLING IN ADDITION TO A FEW OTHER PROBLEMS, THEY DID NOT CHARGE ME THERE EITHER, AGAIN, CURIOUS. MY CAR, A 2001 3 SERIES, HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT AND JUST HAD IT CHECKED OUT IN NOVEMBER WHEN I HAD AN OIL CHANGE. ALSO LAST YEAR, I HAD OVER $1000 OF REPAIRS DONE ON IT. I HAVE BEEN RENTING A CAR FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKS FOR $60 A DAY. I WONDER WHY THEY DID NOT GIVE ME A LOANER AND I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A RENTAL. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE BEEN WARNED, OR AT LEAST BEEN GIVEN A CHOICE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED BEFORE IT HAPPENED. I WAS LUCKY THAT I BROKE DOWN IN A SAFE AREA. I WONDER, HOW MANY SERVICE BULLETINS ARE OUT THERE ON CARS THAT WE ARE NOT ADVISED OF AND COULD RESULT IN PUTTING US IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION. AT THE VERY LEAST I THINK THAT THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD HAVE GIVEN ME A LOANER OR SHOULD PAY FOR MY CAR RENTAL. SINCE THEY ARE NOT CHARGING ME FOR THE REPAIR, DOESN'T THAT MEAN THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGE? SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE RENTAL, WHICH IS NOT UP TO $1260? LOSS WHEN IT COMES TO THE CAR I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT. CAN YOU HELP, ME AND OTHER CONSUMERS OUT THERE?*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181596January 25, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BUZZING NOISE ONCE CAR HITS 90 MILES PER HOUR**CC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180733January 25, 2007
TIRES
DURING A 10-MINUTE COMMUTE TO WORK, MY RIGHT REAR CONTINENTAL CONTITOURING CONTACT CH95 (GRAND TOURING ALL-SEASON) 175/65HR15, PURCHASED AND INSTALLED ON 6/29/06, FAILED. THE TREAD PORTION SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE SIDES. THE SIDES REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE WHEEL RIM. THE TREAD, MINUS THE TIRE SIDES, SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL AND WAS FOUND OTHERWISE INTACT ON THE ROADSIDE BEHIND MY DISABLED VEHICLE. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED AND NO DAMAGE OR PHYSICAL INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. A CALL TO THE RETAILER (THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TIRES AND CAR WERE PURCHASED) RESULTED IN A RESPONSE SUGGESTING THAT SOME ROAD HAZARD CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE AND THAT WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED COMING UNDER THE TIRE WARRANTY. UPON SEEING THE FAILED TIRE, THE NC STATE TROOPER AND EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TECHNICIAN DISAGREED, FEELING THAT THE TIRE MIGHT BE DEFECTIVE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179306January 22, 2007
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED A PRE-OWNED MINI COOPER WITH 34,000 MILES ON IT. 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE, I NOTICED A "STUDDER/HESITATION" ON TAKE OFF FROM A DEAD STOP IN FIRST GEAR. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC TO DEMONSTRATE THE PROBLEM. ON THE TEST DRIVE, THE CAR MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND ALL GEARS FAILED. THE CLUTCH AND GEAR SHIFT FELT NORMAL, BUT NO GEAR WOULD ENGAGE. THE CAR WAS ROLLING BACKWARDS DOWN A HILL INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL MINI DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. AT THAT POINT THE CAR HAD 35,000 MILES ON IT. BECAUSE IT WAS 4 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY, MINI REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I FOUND NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THE MIDLAND TRANSMISSIONS BEING REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY CAR RECEIVED THE NEWER GETRAG TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE MIDLANDS WERE DISCONTINUED IN 2004 IN FAVOR OF THE MORE RELIABLE GETRAG TRANSMISSIONS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH VERY LITTLE WARNING. IT WAS A DANGEROUS AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THAT RESULTED IN A CAR THAT SUDDENLY WOULD NOT MOVE IN TRAFFIC. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178144January 8, 2007
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
PARKED VEHICLE OUTSIDE GROCERY STORE. RETURNED AFTER <5 MINUTES TO FIND SMOKE POURING FROM THE HOOD. OPENED HOOD TO DETERMINE CAUSE AND SMELT ELECTRICAL SMOKE, AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE. DOUSED FLAMES USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM STORE, AND DISCONNECTED BATTERY. INITIAL DEALER INVESTIGATION INDICATES THAT THE DAMAGE WAS TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND WIRING HARNESS. HAD I NOT STOPPED FOR GROCERIES, I WOULD HAVE BEEN UNLIKELY TO NOTICE THE SMOKE/FIRE EARLY ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE LOSS OF THE VEHICLE. INSURANCE AND DEALER ROOT CAUSE INVESTIGATION IS STILL PENDING, BUT AFTER SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET (MOSTLY HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=73527) I FOUND AT LEAST 10 OTHER INSTANCES OF A FAULT IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP CAUSING FIRES. BMW IS OBVIOUSLY AWARE OF SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS, AS THEY MADE CHANGES TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND POWER STEERING FAN WIRING HARNESS IN 04 MODELS ON. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE IS A SYSTEMATIC PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON MINIS. NO FUSE BLEW, AND TO HAVE AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT RUN TO THE POINT WHERE IS COMBUSTS, WITHOUT ANY FUSE OR THERMAL FUSE PROTECTION SEEMS A GROSS DESIGN DEFICIENCY TO ME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178033January 7, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
A BUZZING NOISE ONCE I GET TO 90 MILES PER HOUR. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177779January 4, 2007
AIR BAGS
TL*- THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH ON 12-28-06 WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, THE CAR THEN SPUN, AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL HEAD ON AND WENT INTO THE LEFT LANE. . THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AND A POLICE REPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED DURING THE CRASH BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10176651December 20, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AT A THREE WAY INTERSECTION MY MINI SUDDENLY CUT OUT AND BLOCKED TRAFFIC IN ALL DIRECTIONS; SO MUCH SO THAT PEOPLE HAD TO STOP TRAFFIC AND CARS NEEDED TO BE BACKED UP TO GET MY CAR IN A SECURE PLACE. THIS WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS. INITIAL ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR WAS $1200 PARTS AND LABOR, BUT UPON MY COMPLAINT JUST LABOR WAS CHARGED ME - I FEEL NEITHER IS APPROPRIATE AS THIS IS A PRODUCT ISSUE, IN MY CASE A SAFETY ISSUE, AND I SHOULD BE REINSTATED TO MY PRE-HARNESS INCIDENCE AT THE PRODUCT OWNER'S EXPENSE. I FURTHER NOTICE THAT THERE IS A T.O. FOR THIS ITEM AND PART OF IT STATES ONLY REPLACE AT OWNER'S COMPLAINT - IN MY CASE THIS WAS ALMOST TOO LATE AS I WAS IN A VERY BUSY AREA WHEN MY CAR DIED AND SHUT DOWN THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175934December 12, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, THE WINDSHIELD SUSTAINED A SMALL, HAIRLINE FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED A POSSIBLE ROAD HAZARD WAS THE CAUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION WHO DETERMINED THE WINDSHIELD FRACTURED FROM THE INSIDE AND NEEDED REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 2/6/2007 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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