MINI Cooper Complaints
4,588 consumer complaints on file.
- #10587311May 8, 2014AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR IS GOING OFF WHEN EITHER A PASSENGER OF AVERAGE WEIGHT (150LBS.) IS OCCUPYING SEAT OR A SMALL BUMP IN ROAD IS HIT. THE AIR BAG SENSOR FOR WIRING AND SEAT CUSHION REPLACEMENT IS NO LONGER UNDER A WARRANTY FOR 2008 MODEL, BUT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM COSTING APPROXIMATELY $1200.00 TO REPAIR AT THE DEALER. THE 2002-2006 MODELS HAD RECALL BY MINI FOR THIS. ALONG WITH THE BELOW SERVICE BULLETIN. SERVICE BULLETIN NO.: SIM-65-08-03 COMPONENT(S): AIR BAGS NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10043927 MANUFACTURER: BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC SUMMARY: BMW MINI: AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON: MRS FC 02, 03, 05, 06. *KB I WOULD LIKE A RECALL ON THIS MADE FOR THE 2008 MODEL AS THIS IS A MASSIVE SAFETY ISSUE AS I DON'T KNOW IF IN AN ACCIDENT EITHER DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY. WITHOUT A RECALL OWNERS MUST PAY $1200 FOR WHAT IS A KNOWN DEFECT BY MINI. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET INJURIES FOR THIS TO BECOME A RECALL? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10587349May 8, 2014POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
NOTICED DECREASED ACCELERATION PERFORMANCE AND VISIBLY NOTICED LEAKING OIL FROM THE TOP OF THE TURBO SYSTEM NEXT TO THE HEAT SHIELD AFTER RETURNING HOME AFTER A DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY. MINI DEALER IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A TURBO OIL FEED LINE LEAK. NOTICED ON NHTSA FORUMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH MINI OWNERS AND COULD BECOME A FIRE HAZARD UNDER THE HOOD IF NOT DETECTED AND QUICKLY REPAIRED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10587111May 7, 2014ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE THERMOSTAT FAILED, THE TEMPERATURE ELEVATED, THE FREEZE PLUG FELL OUT/BROKE OUT OF PLACE CAUSING THE HEAD GASKET TO BLOW OUT. THE COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE OIL AND CAUSED IT TO BECOME "MILKY" THEREFORE BLOWING OUT MY ENGINE. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AND THE CAR FAILED TO ACCELERATE. LUCKILY PEOPLE WERE KIND ENOUGH TO LET ME PASS FROM THE FAR LEFT LANE TO THE NEAREST EXIT AND I DID NOT CRASH. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10586735May 6, 2014STEERING
WAS APPROACHING AIRPORT PARKING LOT (DRIVING WAY TOO FAST, BECAUSE I WAS LATE!) WHEN THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY "FAILED"! IT WAS REALLY FRIGHTENING TO HAVE NO CONTROL, AS THE CAR PULLED TO THE LEFT. LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO CARS COMING FROM BEHIND. JUST BEFORE THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE POWER STEERING MYSTERIOUSLY "RETURNED". IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILST DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE, IT WOULD SURELY END WITH FATALITIES. (THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ONLY ONCE, HOWEVER, I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR ONLY 8 1/2 MONTHS!). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10586869May 6, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
KEY STUCK IN IGNITION DUE TO FAULTY ELECTRICAL SENSOR. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10586604May 5, 2014AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
AIRBAG FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON... AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY. 700.00 TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX THE ISSUE (CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE) CALLED MINI USA, AND THEY WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL EVEN THOUGH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10586323May 3, 2014STEERING
THE CAR BEGAN TO MAKE A HIGH PITCHED WHINE WHICH INCREASED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, IT CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AND I NOTICED WHEN I WOULD MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH THE NOISE BECAME MUCH MUCH WORSE, LEADING TO THE FAILURE OF MY POWER STEERING PUMP. MINI ISSUED A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING PUMPS FOR THEIR 2001-2005 MODELS (13 YEAR, 150,000 MILES.) MINE IS A 2006, I STILL DON'T THINK THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED FOR THIS YEAR OF MODEL AS I AM FINDING MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS ONLINE OF INDIVIDUALS WITH 2006 MINI POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10586386May 3, 2014STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, STEERING GOT REALLY HEAVY HARD TO TURN, THEN THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, STARTING SMELLING SOMETHING ELECTRICAL BURNING, PULLED OVER OFF THE ROAD SHUT CAR OFF, SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD, OPEN IT, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE BACK OF ENGINE. SMOKE SUBSIDED IN A FEW MINUTES, CALLED TOW TRUCK, TOW BACK TO WORK, OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP LOCKED UP AND FRIED IT, IT ALSO DRAW A LOT OF AMPERAGE THAT IT BLOW 100 AMP MAIN FUSE UNDER FUSE BLOCK, BURNT MAIN POWER WIRE TO POWER STEERING PUMP. REPLACED PUMP, WIRING AND FUSE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10586194May 2, 2014AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. THE SERVICE DIAGNOSED FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR AND QUOTED $1,880 TO FIX. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS COMMON FOR THIS MAKE BASED ON FORUM WEBSITES. THE CAR HAS ONLY 28K MILEAGE AND SPORT SEATS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10585962May 1, 2014STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10585970May 1, 2014STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING A 35MPH. STOPPED AND RESTARTED VEHICLE NO CHANGE, AN HOUR LATER PUMP WORKED AGAIN. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10585995May 1, 2014STEERING
MY POWER STEERING PUMP IS FAILING. VERY LOUD AND WHINY. READY TO FAIL AT ANY SECOND. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10586068May 1, 2014STEERING
THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, CONTACT WAS MADE WITH THE MINI DEALER IN NASHVILLE TN AND I INQUIRED ABOUT A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING AND WAS TOLD NO RECALL WAS PLACED ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10584172April 22, 2014ENGINE
THE VERY WELL KNOWN "TIMING CHAIN FAILURE". THE EVENT STARTED WITH RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE BAY ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, THEN THE BIG MESSY OIL LEAKED AND THE ENGINE WAS DRYING UP AND CHOKED (MADE A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION).LUCKILY, I WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY!! BMW DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR COST OF THIS FAULT DESIGN/ENGINEERING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10583831April 20, 2014ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED A 2009 MINI COOPER WITH 16,000 MILES IN DECEMBER 2011 THROUGH A DEALERSHIP. IN THE SPRING OF 2012 THE CAR SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING BOTH WINDOWS WERE COMPLETELY DOWN. IT HAD RAINED 5 INCHES DURING THE NIGHT AND THE PIE WAS AN AQUARIUM. I HAD JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE AT A MINI DEALERSHIP SO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THEM. THE DEALER REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WATER DAMAGE. THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED AND PAID FOR THROUGH A CLAIM ON MY INSURANCE POLICY. I TOLD MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO NOT PAY THE CLAIM BECAUSE THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE CAR. AFTER THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED THE WINDOWS AGAIN LOWERED ON THEIR OWN ACCORD BUT THIS TIME THEY ONLY WENT DOWN HALF WAY. THE DEALER THEN SAID THEY REINITIALIZED THE COMPUTER. SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS RANDOMLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN HOUSTON, MERGING ONTO THE FREEWAYS, WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS. I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER MINI DEALER IN HOUSTON AND THEY KEPT THE CAR BUT CLAIMED IT NEVER STALLED WHEN THEY DROVE IT. THE CAR CONTINUED TO STALL RANDOMLY. EACH TIME THE CAR STALLED I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND AFTER NUMEROUS TIMES OF BEING TOLD THERE WERE NO CODES SHOWN BY READING THE FOB I QUIT TAKING THE CAR TO THEM. THE CAR CONTINUED TO RANDOMLY STALL. IN MARCH 2014 THE CAR STALLED IN 4:00PM TRAFFIC WHILE I TOPPED AN OVERPASS ON A FRIDAY. AFTER A WRECKER TOWED THE CAR TO A MECHANIC THE DIAGNOSIS IS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I HAVE NOT GOTTEN A SECOND OPINION AND HAVE NOT HAD IT FIXED YET. THIS MINI COOPER TRULY HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS AND IS A HAZARD TO BE ON THE ROAD. I NO LONGER DRIVE THE MINI, WILL NEVER DRIVE ANOTHER MINI AND I NO LONGER HAVE TO SAY A PRAYER BEFORE I GET IN MY CAR. I HOPE THE NHTSA CAN PROVIDE SOME ASSISTANCE WITH THIS SITUATION . *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10582794April 15, 2014ENGINE, SEAT BELTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
AFTER MULTIPLE FRUSTRATING COMPLAINTS AND UNSUCCESSFUL SERVICE ATTEMPTS ON 8/17/11, 9/1/11, 9/6/11, 9/21/11 AND 9/28/11 FOR MY 2007 MINI COOPER S (PURCHASED ON 8/16/11) AT MAYORS AUTO MALL SAAB LOCATED AT 6001 NORTHERN BOULEVARD, WOODSIDE NY 11377 AND FAILING INSPECTION ON 9/1/12; I WAS FED UP AND BROUGHT MY VEHICLE DIRECTLY TO HASSEL BMW MINI OF FREEPORT LOCATED AT 100 CLEVELAND AVENUE, FREEPORT NY 11520 ON 10/31/11. AFTER A SERVICE BILL OF $3,546 (SERVICE) +$141.21 (EVALUATION FEE) = $3,688.03 FROM BMW MINI, THE PROBLEMS WERE STILL NOT RESOLVED. I THEN FILED A LEMON LAW CASE AGAINST MAYORS AUTO MALL AND WON ON. DESPITE WINNING THE CASE, MAYORS AUTO MALL REFUSED TO RETURN MY MONIES FOR THE PURCHASE PRICE OF VEHICLE. AFTER CONTACTING DMV WITH THE ISSUE AND HAVING THEM SUSPENDING THEIR BUSINESS LICENSE, MAYORS AUTO MALL FINALLY REFUNDED MY MONIES FOR VEHICLE PURCHASE BUT IT WAS EXCLUDING SERVICE BILLS OF $3,688.03 FROM BMW MINI SINCE LEMON LAW DID NOT COVER THIS AMOUNT. I AM FILING A COMPLAINT AGAINST BMW MINI AND WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT POSSIBLE REMEDIES FOR GETTING A REFUND SERVICES PAID TOWARDS A VEHICLE THAT I NO LONGER HAVE DUE TO LEMON LAW CASE AND AM OUT OF $3,688.03 FOR NO REASON. I UNDERSTAND BMW MINI IS CURRENTLY BEING SUED FOR THESE SAME ISSUES BY MANY CONSUMERS. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH ANY POSSIBLE INFORMATION YOU MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE REGARDING MY CASE. I AM IN AWE SHOCK THAT I AM STILL DEALING WITH THIS AND IT HAS BEEN 3 YEARS ALREADY SINCE I HAD TO RETURN THE CAR TO MAYORS AUTO MALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN WITH THIS MATTER AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION YOU ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10582806April 15, 2014UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE
AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, THE HOOD IN THE FRONT STARTED TO RELEASE SMOKE. THERE WAS ALSO A SMOKING SMELL. THIS CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE RIDE. BROUGHT THE CAR TO A MECHANIC WHO INDICATES THAT THE CAR IS LEAKING OIL ONTO THE ENGINE, MAKING IT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS IT CAN CAUSE A FIRE. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES TO EXIST AFTER I REPLACE THE OIL PIPE. *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10582851April 15, 2014ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, PARTS OF THE ENGINE SOUND AS IF THEY WERE LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 60,000. UPDATED 06/10/14*LJ
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10582931April 15, 2014STEERING
REPLACEMENT OF POWER STEERING PUMP PER RECALL, BUT UNABLE TO STEER WITHOUT REPLACEMENT OF U JOINT ALSO. *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10579361April 12, 2014ENGINE
WAS DRIVING ON HWY, AT 55 OIL SUPPLY LINE TO TURBOLEAKING OIL ORDER REPLACEMENT LINE OIL LINE HAS DEFECTIVE RUBBER SEALS AFTER HEATING UP FAIL CO WAS AWARE OF THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED I MAY REPAIR WITH FACTORY PCS THAT DID NOT WORK CO SHOULD RECALL DO TO FIRE POSSIBILITY OIL POURS OUT OF ENGINE ON TO MUFFERS VERY UNHAPPY. *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0