MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10579073April 11, 2014
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SUDDEN FAILURE OF POWER STEERING RESULTING IN VERY HIGH STEERING EFFORT, TRACED BY DEALER TO A WELL-KNOWN FAILURE MODE IN ELECTROHYDRAULIC POWER STEERING PUMP. PUMP AND ASSOCIATED FAN WERE REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER SPECIAL ("SECRET") WARRANTY COVERAGE, DUE TO COMMON INCIDENCE OF THIS FAILURE. EXISTENCE OF THIS SPECIAL WARRANTY WAS FOUND ONLY AFTER SEARCH AND LOCATION OF MANY IDENTICAL FAILURES ON THE INTERNET. THE VEHICLE BATTERY WAS FOUND TO BE COMPLETELY DISCHARGED UPON ARRIVAL AT DEALERSHIP. ONCE A SHOP BATTERY WAS CONNECTED, THE PUMP WAS FOUND TO BE RUNNING CONTINUOUSLY EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IGNITION WAS IN THE FULL OFF POSITION. ALSO, THE ALTERNATOR WAS FOUND TO HAVE FAILED, PRESUMABLY BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE STRESS IMPOSED BY THE DEFECTIVE PUMP ON THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. COST OF ALTERNATOR REPLACEMENT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THIS KNOWN FAILURE MODE IS BELIEVED TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY DEFECT. FORMAL RECALL OF AFFECTED VEHICLES BY NHTSA IS WARRANTED, SINCE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT SPEED CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10579109April 11, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH LOCATED A FAILURE CODE AT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR. THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,200.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10579264April 11, 2014
STEERING
FAILURE TO POWERSTEERING STARTED ACTING UP IN JANUARY OF 2014 AFTER I GOT MY O2 SENOR REPLACED. WAS TOLD TO CONTINUED TO DRIVE CAR BECAUSE THE O2 SENSOR NEEDED TO RECALIBRATE ITSELF. SO NOW IN APRIL 9TH 2014, WHILE GETTING READY TO TAKE OFF FOR WORK,I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR, CALLED AAA TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THIS IS WHEN I WAS INFORMED IT WAS IN FACT THE POWER STEERING PUMP, AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME 1700 TO REPLACE, IM OUTRAGED. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10579303April 11, 2014
STEERING
POWER STEERING WENT OUT ABRUPTLY WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578700April 9, 2014
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT IN THE GAUGE CLUSTER IS LIT AT ALL TIMES AND MAKES THE CAR CHIME ALL THE TIME TOO. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THAT THIS IS BECAUSE THE SENSOR MAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS FAILED AND MUST BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO TELLS ME THAT ALL OF THE AIR BAGS IN THE CAR ARE DISABLED AS LONG AS THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON, PUTTING ALL PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE IN DANGER OF SUSTAINING GREATER INJURIES IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THESE CARS ARE MADE BY BMW, WHICH HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE SAME PROBLEM IN THEIR OWN CARS, AND HAVE RECALLED OVER 200,000 BMW'S TO FIX IT . I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM IN MINI COOPERS, TOO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578294April 8, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE REARVIEW MIRROR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT PAD SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILE WAS 67,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578344April 8, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577930April 7, 2014
SEATS
MY AIR BAG LITE CAME ON.WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING.I HAD MY SYSTEM CHECKED. I FOUND THAT THE SEAT HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF 2000 $.BMW HAS RECALL ON ALL 3,5,7 SERIES.BUT NOT ON MINI. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577750April 6, 2014
ENGINE
I AM DEAF I DRIVE MY 2008 MINI CLUBMAN S MY MOTHER , BROTHER AND FRIEND HEARD MY ENGINE NOISE ENGINE ,I DON'T KNOW I CAN'T HEAR SO I OPEN OIL CAP I SAW BROWN PLASTIC PIECE I FOUND TIMING CHAIN GUIDE IS BAD, THAT IS SHORT LIFE THAT IS WRONG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577795April 6, 2014
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON DASH IS ILLUMINATED AFTER MOVING PASSENGER SEAT BACK AND FORTH. UNABLE TO CLEAR THE LIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577645April 5, 2014
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR FAILED WHEN I WAS TRYING TO GO THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING SIGNS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING TO STOP WORKING. I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION BECAUSE OF THIS. I WAS NEARLY HIT SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF MY LOCATION. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE MINI DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A KNOW PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT AND THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577491April 4, 2014
ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS... I WORKED MY A** OFF FOR A YEAR SAVING UP FOR ONE OF THESE CARS AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW THE TENSIONER GOES... MINI DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOU OR THE CAR THEY SELL, ITS ALL ABOUT TAKING WHATS IN YOUR WALLET AND PUTTING IT IN THERES, DONT BUY ONE OF THESE CARS AND NOT EXPECT TO PAY FOR IT TWICE LITERALLY IN FIXING IT..
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576624April 3, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2007 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FIRE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. *SMD THE FIRE OCCURRED WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND IS NOW BACK ON THE ROAD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577155April 3, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY AND THE ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576216April 1, 2014
STEERING
EXITING THE HIGHWAY, THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2006 MINI COOPER STOPPED WORKING. I WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE PAVEMENT. THE CAR LEFT THE ROADWAY, NARROWLY MISSING A HIGHWAY SIGN (WOODEN POST), AND STOPPED IN A GRASSY AREA OFF THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. MY WIFE AND I WERE SHAKEN BUT UNHURT. THE VEHICLE BODY DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE DAMAGED. HOWEVER, THERE IS NOW A LOUD RATTLE COMING FROM THE REAR OR UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING IS ALSO COMPLETELY GONE. THE CAR CAN BE DRIVEN BUT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO SO. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576338April 1, 2014
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER S FAILED, MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE THE CAR. A SERVICE SHOP INDICATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE MINI'S. MY IS OUT OF THE WARANTEE, HOWVERE IT ONLY HAS 45K MILES. WHEN I CALLED BMW/ MINI NORTH AMERICA TO DISCUSS A REMEDY BUT THEY TOLD ME THE VIN NUMBER FOR MY CAR WAS NOT ONE COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM, WHILE MY CAR IS A 2005 WITH VERY LOW MILAGE THEY WILL NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WHATSOEVER TO HELP ME REPLACE THE PART AS MY CARS PRODUCTION DATE IS JUNE 2005, WHICH IS PAST THE PRODUCTION DATE FOR CARS GETTING THE EXTENDED WARANTEE ON P/S PUMPS. IT SEAMS UNSCROPLOUS TO HIDE FROM RESPONSABILITY OF FAULTY PARTS, ALSO POTENTIAL SAFTY ISSUE. WHILE MY CAR MAY BE PRODUCED A FEW MONHS AFTER THE PRODUCTION DATE FROM THE CARS THEY ARE WILLING TO WARANTEE, IT APPERARS I AM SUFFERING FROM SAME ISSUES AS THE OTHERES THEY ARE WARANTEEING. VERRY DISCURAGING BMW/MINI. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576424April 1, 2014
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON! PASSENGER LIGHT TURNS OFF AND ON WITH PASSENGER IN SEAT. PASSENGER WARNING LIGHT GOES OFF WITH OUT PASSENGER IN SEAT. I LOOKED ON SEVERAL INTERNET FORMS AND THIS SEAMS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT MINI HAS HAD FOR SOME TIME WITHOUT A RECALL. THE FIX FOR MOST PROBLEMS IS AN EXPENSIVE 1200.0 TO 1400.00 SEAT SENSOR . I FILL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN WHICH MINI SHOULD ADDRESS . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575901March 31, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, A LOUD POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE BEFORE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576063March 31, 2014
ENGINE
I HAVE NOW EXPERIENCED MY SECOND TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE WITHIN A THREE YEAR PERIOD. COUNTLESS REPORTS ARE SURFACING AROUND THE GLOBE OF THE FAULTY DESIGN, AND THE MANUFACTURER (BMW) HAS ACKNOWLEDGED A DESIGN FLAW. THEY HAVE YET TO ISSUE A RECALL AS THE FEDERAL GOVT HAS NOT YET MANDATED THE REPAIR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION (AND EXPENSIVE ~ $2K) SHOULD THE SYSTEM FAIL. THE ONLY NOTICE IS A RATTLING SOUND IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT PRIOR TO FAILURE. BMW CLAIMS THE TENSIONER SHOULD BE GOOD FOR UPWARDS OF 120K MILES. MY VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 50K AND THIS IS THE 2ND FAILURE I'VE EXPERIENCED IN THE LAST 3 YEARS. CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF MINI COOPER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, A NATIONWIDE RECALL IS THE ONLY MEASURE TO ENSURE THIS PROBLEM IS ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574893March 26, 2014
STEERING
MY POWER STEERING JUST TOTALLY WENT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A CORNER AND I CAME WITHIN INCHES OF PLOWING THROUGH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT THERE MIGHT BE A RECALL ON THIS SOON. POWERS STEERING WILL NOW COME ON INTERMITTENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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