MINI Cooper Complaints (2012)

173 consumer complaints on file.

#11242890August 9, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S CLUBMAN. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING HISSING AND POPPING SOUNDS. AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, A FRACTURED AIR FLOW SENSOR, AND SEVERAL OTHER FAILURES. CENTURY MINI (2930 LAURENS RD, GREENVILLE, SC 29607, (800) 430-0508) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A REPAIR COST ESTIMATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. *DT THE FREEZE CAP BLEW FOR SOME MYSTERIOUS REASON.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11241863August 5, 2019
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER, AIR BAGS, SEATS
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR SENSOR FAULTS WHICH WERE COVERED IN RECALLS ON EARLIER MODELS ARE STILL A PROBLEM, YET NO LONGER COVERED FOR REPAIR. THIS SENSOR CONTROLS AIRBAG INFLATION DURING ACCIDENTS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11240683July 30, 2019
POWER TRAIN
CLUTCH SLIPPING, TAKING A LOT OF RPMS TO GET MOVING, LOT OF CHATTER ACCELERATING AROUND CORNERS (LIKE MAKING A TURN FROM OUT OF A DEAD STOP). STALLED OUT AT BUSY INTERSECTIONS, AND AT TRAFFIC SIGNALS ON HILLS, NEARLY CAUSING A FEW ACCIDENTS. BACKING UP INTO DRIVEWAY, JUST TRYING TO GET OVER THE CURB SLOPE WAS ENOUGH TO CAUSE A BURNING SMELL FROM THE CLUTCH. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE CLUTCH IN THIS MAKE/MODEL YEAR SUBJECT TO PREMATURE AND EXCESSIVE WEAR (ONLY 7 YRS AND 40K MILES ON THIS VEHICLE - BY CONTRAST, I ALSO DRIVE A VW 10 YEARS OLDER WITH TWICE THE MILEAGE, CLUTCH STILL WORKING PERFECTLY). REPAIR TECH REPORT STATES CLUTCH WORN DOWN TO THE RIVETS, FLYWHEEL HEAVILY SCORED - VEHICLE HAS NO HISTORY OF RACING OR EVEN HEAVY USE, IS ONLY A DAILY DRIVER ON A SHORT (3 MI.) COMMUTE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11233919July 22, 2019
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE MOVING IN TRAFFIC AND ACCELERATING, THE FUEL PUMP CUT OUT AND THE ENGINE DIED, FORCING THE DRIVER TO MANEUVER IN TRAFFIC (COASTING) EVENTUALLY COMING TO STOP IN A LEFT HAND TURN LANE WHICH WAS THEN BLOCKED WITH THE DEAD VEHICLE. THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS UNDAMAGED, THE POSSIBILITY OF A COLLISION EXISTED. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT MINIS FROM 2010-EARLY 2012 HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS, RESULTING IN MINI USA EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE FUEL PUMP TO 10 YEARS/ 120,000 MILES. VEHICLES PRODUCED ON OR AFTER 3/1/2012 (INCLUDING MINE) WERE FITTED WITH DIFFERENT EQUIPMENT. NO RECALL WAS CONDUCTED. MY CAR HAD 25,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE FUEL PUMP FAILED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11230081July 8, 2019
ENGINE
THE WATER PUMP IN THE CAR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON, CAUSING IMMEDIATE OVERHEATING AND THE HEAD GASKET ON THE ENGINE TO BLOW. MINI REFUSED TO FIX THE CAR, AS THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, DESPITE THE FAULTY WATER PUMP BEING THE CAUSE OF THE OVERHEATING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11228391June 29, 2019
AIR BAGS
THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR MAT IS FAULTY. THIS ISSUE WAS LISTED AS A RECALL ON PREVIOUS MODELS OF MINI COOPERS FROM NHTSA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11222428June 25, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE VEHICLE STARTS INTERMITTENTLY. THE IMMOBILIZER OF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF THEY KEY FOB IN THE SLOT AND THEREFORE WONT START THE VEHICLE. THESE EVENTS HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY. ONE INSTANCE WAS IN A GASOLINE STATION. I STOP THE ENGINE AND REFUELED. WHEN IT WAS OVER I COULDNT GET THE CAR TO START BECAUSE THER WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE CAR. I TRIED TO INSERT/EJECT THE KEY FOB IN ITS SLOT AND AFTER COUNTELESS AND MORE THAN THIRTY MINUTES WAS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED. ONE TIME , I WENT GROCERY SHOPPPING AND WHEN I WAS DONE WHEN BACK TO THE CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. KNOWING THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING , I DID THE INSERT/EJECT OF KEY FOB IN ITS SLOT COUNTLESS NUMBER OF TIMES. I DID THIS FOR OVER AN HOUR BEFORE I GOT A RESPONSE FROM THE CAR AND GET IT STARTED. MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE SHE MAY GET STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. IF THERE IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY AND THIS IS THE ONLY CAR AVAILABLE, IT WOULD BE BETTER OFF TO JUST WAIT FOR THE AMBULANCE THAN ATTEMPT TO BRING THE PERSON NEEDING MEDICAL ATTENTION TO THE HOSPITAL IN THIS CAR BECAUSE YOU MAY GET STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. ANY ROAD TRIP THAT WILL GET YOU 100 MILES AWAY FROM YOUR PLACE OR DRIVING AT NIGHT IS A SAFETY RISK BECAUSE YOU MAY RUN OUT OF FUEL AND REFUEL AT A REMOTE GASOLINE STATION BUT THEN YOU CANT GET THE CAR TO START AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11222097June 24, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAD JUST EXITED ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND HAD NOT EVEN MADE IT TO THE NEXT EXIT RAMP, WHEN MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. IT SOUNDED AS IF A GUN SHOT HAD GONE OFF IN MY CAR. WE WERE HIT WITH SHARDS OF GLASS AS THE GLASS DID NOT SHATTER INTO SMALL PIECES. GLASS PIECES WERE 1+ INCHES LONG AND 1+ INCHES WIDE. WE HAD NO VEHICLES NEXT TO US. WE DID NOT FIND ANY DEBRIS IN THE CAR OR ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR EXCEPT FOR SHATTERED GLASS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11204487April 29, 2019
AIR BAGS, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2011 AND HAS REQUIRED A MULTITUDE OF MAINTENANCE /REPAIRS DUE TO MANUFACTURER ISSUES. THE DEALERSHIP OF ORIGINAL PURCHASE WAS INCREDIBLY RESPONSIBLE AND TOOK RESPONSIBILITY OF THESE REPAIRS. I MOVED TO ANOTHER AREA TWO YEARS AGO AND RIGHT ABOUT THIS TIME, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT BEGAN TO RANDOMLY GO ON AND OFF INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT BE ENGAGED. THE LIGHT WILL GO ON AND OFF WHEN IN MOTION OR JUST IDLING. THIS HAS CONTINUED TO GO UNRESOLVED AS I TEND TO MOST OFTEN RIDE ALONE AND DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL $$$ FOR THE REPAIR AT THIS TIME. I DID JUST FINISH REPLACING THE CLUTCH IN THIS VEHICLE WHICH CURRENTLY ONLY HAS 51K MILES ON IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11204131April 27, 2019
ENGINE
THE CORE PLUG FAILED ALLOWING COOLANT INTO THE CRANK CASE. THE MINI AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR FACILITY SPECULATED THAT THE VEHILCE MUST HAVE BECOME OVERHEATED TO THE POINT OF DAMAGING THE CYLINDER HEAD. AT FIRST IS WAS THOUGHT THAT A REPLACEMENT CYLINDER HEAD WOULD COST $9K. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CRANK CASE WAS TO BADLY COMPROMISED FOR ADEQUATE REPAIR AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST THAT EXCEEDED THE MARKET VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. SINCE IT WAS NOT ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, I WAS FORCE TO PURCHASE AN ALTERNATE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. BEING THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NO LONGER BE DRIVEN WITH OUT A COSTLY REPAIR, I CHOSE TO DONATE IT FOR CHARITY. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT IF THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, I WAS NOT AWARE OF IT AS THE DRIVER INFORMATION GAVE NO ALERT. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPED WITH A TEMPERATURE WHICH MAY WHICH SHOULD HAVE INDICATED THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WAS OUTSIDE OF NORMAL OPERATING PARAMETERS. HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHICH I PROMPTLY TOOK TO HAVE IT SERVICED. THE CODE WHICH INITIALLY PRESENTED AND PROMPTED ME TO VISIT THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR FACILITY TO BEGIN WITH. THE VEHICLE GAVE NO TEMPERATURE WARNINGS THROUGH THE DRIVER INFORMATION DISPLAY AND THE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT CHANGE; I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY WITH NO PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS, THERE ARE NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS THAT CAN BE FOUND ONLINE OF DRIVERS THAT GAVE AN ACCOUNT SIMIULAR TO MY EXPERIENCE - FAILURRE OF THE CORE PLUG WITH NO NOTIFICATION THROUGH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AND, IN MANY CASES, THEY WERE ALSO TOLD BY THE MAKER'S REPAIR SHOP THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED BUT COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THE DRIVER WAS NOT ALERTED. WHILE I DID NOT PAY FOR ACTUAL REPAIRS, I WOULD NOT HAVE NEEDED TO BUY REPLACEMENT VEHICLE. I ALSO HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MAINTENCE SCHEDULE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11197140April 18, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS MELTING. THE PLASTIC THE THE LIGHT BUILD SCREWS INTO IS ACTUALLY MELTING T THE BRAKE LIGHT BULB. I'VE PAID MINI TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE AND THE SAME ISSUES HAS SURFACED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11196221April 15, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
HANDBRAKE HARNESS NOT ROUTED AS DESIGNED. FROM THE PICTURE YOU CAN SEE THE HARNESS NOT INSIDE THE CLIP. THIS MAKES THE HANDBRAKE HARNESS SHORT FROM POINT TO POINT. WHICH WILL LEAD TO MY REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE ALWAYS ON. AND ALSO, IT WILL CAUSE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IF I WANT TO USE MY HANDBRAKE TO STOP MY VEHICLE. THE FORCE APPLIED ON PASSENGER SIDE IS WAY MORE THAN DRIVE SIDE ( IT WAS INSTALLED CORRECTLY ) . AND IT MAY LEAD MY PASSENGER SIDE HANDBRAKE WIRING HARNESS BROKEN ( BECAUSE OF THE INCORRECT ROUTING ) I FOUND IT OUT WHEN MY BRAKE LIGHT IN ON. MY FRONT BRAKE STILL WORKING FOR ANOTHER 1100 MILES WHILE MY REAR BRAKE SENSOR TELL ME I NEED TO CHANGE MY BRAKE . WE CHANGE THE REAR PASSENGER BRAKE AND FOUND OUT ITS DIFFICULT TO CLIP THE HANDBRAKE WIRING HARNESS TO RIGHT HOLE. THEN WE TRACK THE WIRING DONE. IT'S SHOCKS ME . THE ROUTING IS 100% INCORRECT. YOU CAN SEE THE CORRECT HANDBRAKE HOLE IS EMPTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11194680April 8, 2019
ENGINE
DRIVING ON HWY AND MY CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE NO WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF ON THE CAR SO I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP THAT SAID THAT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF COOLANT LEAKAGE AND A MALFUNCTION OF THERMOSTAT SO THE ENGINE OVER HEATED. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME 10,000 TO FIX IT AND THE WARRANTY THAT I BOUGHT FOR 2999.00 DID NOT WANT TO COVER THE COST. SO THE SHOP CHARGED ME 1500.00 TO TAKE THE HEAD APART AND I HAD TO TOW IT BACK HOME WHERE IT SITS IN MY DRIVE WAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11184760March 7, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TAKATA INFLATORS" I NOTICE A BURNING SMELL INSIDE MY VEHICLE WHICH I REPORTED TO THE DEALER. THEY STATED "THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. THEN I WOULD DEPART FROM MY CAR WITH THE WINDOWS UP SUNROOF CLOSED AND LOCK IT I WOULD RETURN THE WINDOWS WOULD BE ALL THE WAY DOWN AND TOP UP. THIS TOOK PLACE AGAIN ON 3/6/19.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11184966March 7, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SIMPLY PUT, MY SHIFT CABLE DETACHED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I WENT FROM 1ST TO 2ND TO NEUTRAL TO STOP AT THE END OF MY DRIVEWAY TO LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE PULLING ONTO THE ROAD TO NO SHIFT CAPABILITIES WHATSOEVER. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED AT THE END OF MY DRIVEWAY AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE I NORMALLY DRIVE TO GET TO WORK. I MANAGED TO POP THE LOOP END BACK IN PLACE, BUT FEAR IT MAY FALL OFF, AGAIN. DEALER WANTED 1K TO REPLACE SHIFT CABLES/HARDWARE. TWO CABLES IN MY SITUATION...
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11184296March 5, 2019
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER, AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING LEADING TO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG BEING DISABLED WHILE IN MOTION. A PERSON SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT TRIGGERS THE AIRBAG SENSOR WARNING AND DISABLING OF THE AIRBAG. WHILE THE PERSON IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE WARNING CAN COME ON AND OFF, AND THE ERROR DOES NOT OCCUR WHILE THE SEAT IS UNOCCUPIED. THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED YET IT IS NOT AVAILABLE TO BE SOLD SEPARATELY AND REQUIRES REPLACING OF THE ENTIRE SEAT CUSHION (COST PROHIBITIVE) AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE 2012 MINI COOPER MODEL IS NOT COVERED BY THE MINI RECALL FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUE WHICH HAS AFFECTED THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11163462December 26, 2018
ENGINE
WATER PUMP LEAKING COOLANT. RECALLED ACCORDING TO BMW WEBSITE. CALLED MINI MALL OF GA NO ONE WOULD HELP OR CALL ME BACK AROUND THANKSGIVING. SCHEDULED APPT TODAY FOR REPAIRS MY HUSBAND DROVE MY MINI TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VIN NUMBER AND THE WATER PUMP WARRANTY EXPIRED DEC 11 2018......HOW CONVENIENT. MY 2012 ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT !!!!!! THE SERVICE DEPT AT MINI MALL OF GA IS A JOKE THEY WOULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE PAPERWORK MY HUSBAND HAD OR LISTEN TO WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO SAY. IT WAS LIKE SPEAKING TO ROBOTS THAT KEPT REPEATING THEMSELVES. I NEED THIS FIXED AND DO NOT HAVE THE 800.00 THEY ARE ASKING FOR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11162247December 18, 2018
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES ON THE HIGHWAY, MY MINI COOPER SHUT OFF COMPLETELY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER AND THAT IS WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE ENGINE, WITHIN 6 MINUTES MY WHOLE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, CAR TOTALED. INSURENCE INSPECTORS COULDN'T FIGURE OUT A CAUSE. ONE OF THE FIRE FIGHTERS SAID IT LOOKS LIKE IT STARTED NEAR THE WATER PUMP. THERE ARE RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT MINE. MY MINI HASN'T BEEN WORKED ON SINCE LAST YEAR WHEN I GOT NEW TIRES, I ALSO KEEP UP WITH EVERY OIL CHANGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11155449December 2, 2018
ENGINE
MY 2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN WITH 83033 MILES IS REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING, THE RECALLED WATER PUMP WAS INSTALLED BY THE DEALER ON 10/31/2018, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID IT WILL COST YOU $1800 TO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING, I HAVE BEEN TOLD NOT TO DRIVE MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WILL COST ME $1800. PRE THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX. THERE IS NOT ANY PARTS IN THE UNITED STATES CURRENTLY TO FIX THIS CAR. I HAVE INCLUDED PHOTOS OF THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING THAT WAS REMOVED FROM MY CAR AND BY PAPER WORK FROM THE DEALER. IT LOOK LIKE IT WAS CHIP WHEN THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED AND NOT CRACKED. I HAVE ORDER TWO THERMOSTAT AND THEY DO NOT FIX. I AM STILL PAYING FOR THIS CAR THOUGH MINI FINANICEL, MAYBE IT TIME TO HAVE THIS CAR RETURN BACK TO THEM. I CANNOT GET THE CORRECT THERMOSTAT TO GET IT FIX. DO NOT WANT TO KEEP PAYING FOR A CAR I CANNOT DRIVE. SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE....
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11150856November 11, 2018
ENGINE
OIL FILTER HOUSING AND/OR OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKETS LEAKING DIRECTLY ON EXHAUST DOWNPIPE, AND IN MY OPINION IS A FIRE HAZARD. THE OIL FLLTER HOUSING IS ONLY HELD ON BY A FEW BOLTS, AND ENGINE VIBRATION AND HEAT CAUSE LEAKING. THIS IS A HORRIBLE DESIGN, AND A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 1.6 ENGINE. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX, AND AGAIN IN MY OPINION, THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. MY MINI ONLY HAS 106K MILES, AND I HAVE NOT YET FIXED IT DUE TO THE EXPENSE. WITH THE OIL DRIPPING DIRECTLY ON THE EXHAUST, THE OIL BURNS AND SMOKES AND IS A FIRE HAZARD. I KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON COMPLAINT FOR THOUSANDS OF MINI OWNERS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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