MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#11675501July 22, 2025
ENGINE
Front passenger side motor mount failed pretty terribly, the rubber completely slipped off the engine side mount leaving a severe engine vibration. The mount is very under engineered. Ours failed at 27,0000 miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674947July 21, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The instrument cluster completely went blank and stopped working while driving, causing loss of critical information such as speed, warning lights, fuel level, and other vital indicators. This failure significantly impaired the safe operation of the vehicle and posed a serious safety risk. The vehicle is no longer under warranty, and I had to pay out-of-pocket for repairs. I understand there is a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) related to this instrument cluster issue (“Instrument cluster version MID black screen”), which indicates this is a known defect. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this matter to ensure other owners of this vehicle model are aware and protected. Thank you for your attention.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11673014July 12, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2018 Mini Convertible has 47,000 miles on it. Recently the convertible top stopped retracting and now doesn't fit snuggly when closed. I brought my car into the dealer and they said that a cable broke and gave me a repair quote of $4600-. I sent a msg to Mini USA and they called me and said they would cover the repair if it breakage wasn't due to something I did improperly. About a week later they called back and stated that they would not cover the repair because the warranty had expired. They definitely mislead me on the initial call. My car no longer operates as a convertible, and I have excessive wind noise in the car. I feel like a car with 47,000 miles on it should not be experiencing such expensive repairs. I shared my experience on social media and apparently many others are having similar experiences. I am considering trading my car in for a different model as Mini Cooper does not stand behind their products.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11673034July 12, 2025
ENGINE
I purchased a 2012 MINI Cooper Countryman from LA Motorsports (703 1st Ave N, Windom, MN 56101) in November 2024. Prior to purchase, I specifically asked whether any open recalls remained, and the dealership assured me all had been completed. After the vehicle failed within 60 days, a certified MINI technician inspected it and confirmed the presence of stop leak and catastrophic internal engine damage. The technician also confirmed that the auxiliary water pump—subject to NHTSA Recall 18V-248, a federal Stop-Sale recall—was still actively leaking at the time of inspection, and that the recall was still open at the time of sale. This indicates the dealer sold the vehicle without completing the required recall, which violates federal law (49 U.S.C. § 30120(i); 49 C.F.R. § 573.11). I am reporting this as a violation of federal safety standards and consumer protection. I have evidence available, including a video inspection and technician report, and I am willing to provide those upon request.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672201July 9, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2017 Mini Cooper. The contact stated when the vehicle was started, the vertical aim headlights malfunctioned. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was confirmed that rodents had chewed through the insulation around and the electrical wires. The contact was informed that the insulation was made of soy, which attracted the rodents. The contact was informed that the electrical wires needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. In addition, the contact stated the repair had occurred previously and the current issue was the second occurrence. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11671223July 4, 2025
ENGINE
Engine issues Engine leaks over heating seal gasket Timing bell Engine missed firing
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11669081June 25, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I was pulling into a parking spot slowly and all of the sudden the car took off and took off and I couldn’t stop and when I tried to sped hard on the break it wouldn’t work and I lost control and my car wouldn’t stop until it crashed into another vehicle that was sitting in another parking spot.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11668418June 22, 2025
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
We have had issues with every single door lock actuator assembly in this vehicle the passenger door will not latch shut at all! I'm sure how you could see this as a safety concern!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11666386June 11, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
After receiving your notice regarding my MiniCooper (VIN [XXX] ), I contacted my local dealer, Motor City Mini (where I purchased the vehicle) to schedule the inspection, and repairs if necessary. I was informed that the earliest inspection would be in September and they would need to keep the vehicle for several weeks to do the inspection. If repairs are required, they would need to keep 'the vehicle 'for additional weeks or months to complete the work. Loaner vehicles would not be available. In your letter, you state, "If your MINI dealer is unable to remedy the defect ...within a reasonable period of time, you may notify the Administrator. .." . I consider weeks to inspect and month(s) to repair unreasonable. Please advise on how I should proceed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11665052June 5, 2025
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE
The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 40 MPH, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that the fuel pump was defective, and the fuel pump was replaced. The contact stated that approximately a year later the failure recurred, and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer and was diagnosed and determined that the fuel pump had failed again and needed to be replaced. The fuel pump was replaced under warranty; however, the failure recently returned a third time. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11664610June 3, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2013 Mini Cooper Countryman. The contact stated that there was a damp odor inside the vehicle after it rained. The contact stated that the vehicle started having electrical failures. The contact stated that the electrical system had stopped working on the driver's side of the vehicle. The contact stated that the windows were not rolling up or down and the doors were not locking as needed. Additionally, the turn signals and the driver's side headlight and taillights were inoperable. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that there was a recall associated with the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System). The contact called the manufacturer and was informed that the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11663212May 27, 2025
STEERING
Loss of power steering on startup or at stop light. A message pops up indicating that the Dynamic Stability Control is re-initializing and that steering may become difficult: Drive carefully. The warning message usually appears shortly after the failure. In fact, the steering gets so stiff, that my wife can barely turn corners. The problem comes and goes unexpectedly. This is my wife's car, and it has happened to her on several other occasions. Sometimes we can reset by restarting the car, but that isn't reliable. We put the car out of ECO mode into Sport mode, so that the engine does not stop at stop lights, but the engine sometimes stops anyway. When it happened at a stop light today, we tried several restarts, but the steering remained out. Steering is worse at low speeds. Today, we stopped at a light. My wife was driving. The engine stopped and restarted, and the error message appeared. She had difficulty steering into a parking lot where I swapped places with her. I drove her home. It was difficult for me to steer around corners after today's lock up, but I drove the car to a local BMW-Mini mechanic with whom I had discussed the problem, but it never appeared at his shop. Today, we tried starting at the shop and the difficult steering persisted without an error message. He ran a quick scan indicating that some modules in the steering column were not operating properly. He said the modules were not available for replacement, and that the entire steering column might need to be replaced. Unfortunately, he was booked up until Friday. I drove home and let the car sit in the garage for a couple of hours. I started it while writing this to try to more accurately reproduce the warning messages. However, no messages appeared and the car steered easily. Clearly, sudden loss of power steering poses a danger for my family and others on the road. I've looked on the internet and discovered that others have experienced similar problems with steering in Mini Coopers.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11662967May 24, 2025
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
Passenger Airbag sensor is off even when passenger is in the seat and airbag should be on.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11660994May 14, 2025
STEERING
The contact owns a 2003 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the steering wheel was difficult to turn in either direction. The contact stated that the steering wheel malfunctioned, making the steering wheel easy to turn, causing severe oversteer while making a turn in either direction. The contact stated that the failure was due to a faulty power steering pump, and installed as part of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (STEERING). The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that after turning off the vehicle, the power steering pump remained running, causing the battery to drain. The cause of the failure was not yet determined, and the vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 230,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11661001May 14, 2025
STEERING
The contact owns a 2004 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000(STEERING); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had experienced the failure, causing the driver to lose control of the steering and drive off the road. The exact cause of the failure was not determined, and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160.000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11660554May 12, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I had been having trouble with my Footwell Module since the fall, but for months, I didn’t know what was going on!! The first time, October 2024, I went to Advance Auto Parts to get help bc it was raining and my windows were down, and I needed headlights, not to mention, the signals weren’t working. The second time it happened in January 2025, I didn’t go to Advance, I just disconnected the battery myself for a few hours. The third time it happened, first week of April 2025, I got home that night, cut my engine off, and noticed a light in my dash I hadn’t seen before. It was a fog lamp bulb, but the car was off, and it wasn’t like normal, it was an error light. When I walked around to the front if the car, I saw my fog lamps were still on, which was weird. All lights were off on toe column and dash. So, I restarted my Mini and cut her back off again, then the fog lamps went off. I had no park lights, or headlights then either. I didn’t check my windows. If they did go down they may not go back up! I didn’t check my turn signals either. I was just happy the fogs went off… It was after much research, that I ‘figured’ out what was going on with my Mini concerning all of the intermittent craziness, but it never occurred to me that there was a fire hazard. I actually looked into purchasing an FRM back in February, and had put it into my shopping cart, but it cost more than I could gather together at one time. I am pretty sure that is why my Mini caught fire & burned to a total loss on April 18, 2025. There is no other explanation. She ran too good. She was my dream car. She would boot, scoot & boogie! PLZ SOMEONE IN BMW FIX THIS PROBLEM!!!!! I am a sucker for this yr, make & model & just purchased the same one. Plz make a RECALL & Save Us, who are so PROUD to be Mini Owners & our sweet LiL Mini’s that we ADORE, are PROUD of & LOVE! Mini Rule #1 Always park next to another Mini Mini Rule #5 Be compassionate to SUV’s
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11660568May 12, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, STEERING
On Thursday I was driving my 2010 Mini Cooper S with 75,000 miles on it and there was a total and sudden power outage on the high way. I was able to get to the breakdown lane and had it towed. My mini certified garage ran the computer on it and the car started right up. It was due for an inspection so we did an oil and filter and put on some new tires. No issues were found and car was running well. We picked it up on Friday and Saturday morning after a short drive I was parking and smoke started pouring out from behind the steering wheel. I ran inside a coffee shop for help and they asked if there were flames. I went back out and opened the car door and there was loud noise and the hood was in flames. The entire dash was melted, the hood had a hole burned in it and with the fire rescue interventions the car was a total loss. No one was injured.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11659864May 9, 2025
ENGINE
I had to take my car in to get serviced. The engine was rumbling loud and shaking. When they inspected the car, they found that one of the lower motor mounts was loose. BMW/Mini Service center of Dallas informed me that the bolt mounting the mount was “not tightened to factory specifications.”
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11659572May 7, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Water apparantly was going thru the sunroof and clogging the drains-- No water seeped into the car or from the roof-- It went through the interior of the car nor did it ever get into the vehicle floor so no way to even be aware of car accumlating water- This interior water damage nd destroyed the electronic system of the vehicle- Insured driver - my daughter was driving when car alarm and back door released while driving-- Windshield wipers stopped working and beeping noises continuelly came on! Damage to car 8K-- The same two door model and same year was in fact recalled for the same issue this year-
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11658879May 5, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2007 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that water was entering the vehicle through the sunroof. The contact stated that the water was collecting inside the headliner and would overflow and leak down the driver’s and passenger’s side sun visors and into the electronics of the footwell. Additionally, the front driver’s and passenger’s seats, floorboards, and dashboard would become soaked from moisture. Due to the failure, the vehicle would fail to start or operate as needed. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. An independent mechanic was notified about the failure and the contact was advised to park the vehicle outside as the failure could cause the vehicle to catch on fire. The manufacturer was then notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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