MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10567652March 6, 2014
STEERING, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
1) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BUSTED. CAR STALLED DANGEROUSLY ON THE HIGHWAY. 2) POWER STEERING PUMP BUSTED. STEERING LOCKED DANGEROUSLY ON THE ROAD AND COULD NOT BE MOVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567392March 5, 2014
SEAT BELTS
I PURCHASED CAR FROM A PRIVATE PARTY. THE REAR SEAT WAS REMOVED FOR A CUSTOM AUDIO SYSTEM. I HAVE THE SEATS BUT THEY NEVER GAVE ME THE REAR SEAT, SEAT BELTS. IS IT THE SELLERS' RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE THEM? YOU CAN IMAGINE, I FEEL CHEATED, AS I PLAN ON PULLING THE AUDIO AND RE-INSTALLING THE SEAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566785March 3, 2014
STEERING
AFTER DRIVING FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO BURLINGAME, CALIFORNIA, I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN I RETURNED 10 MINUTES LATER, I LOST POWER STEERING WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. ON THAT SAME DAY, I DROVE FROM BURLINGAME BACK TO SAN FRANCISCO. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. 5 MINUTES LATER, I LOST POWER STEERING AGAIN WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE. THE CAR IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN WITHOUT POWER STEERING, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566790March 3, 2014
ENGINE
TURBO OIL FEED LINE LEAKING ONTO ENGINE/MANIFOLD. POSSIBLY COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566596March 1, 2014
ENGINE
DRIVING ON 405 FWY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TURNING OUT OF FREEWAY OFF RAMP IN THE POURING RAIN. THE CAR DEAD STOPPED. VERY DANGEROUS, CARS COMING OFF FREEWAY BEHIND ME WAS A 911 SITUATION. AFTER SOMEONE PUSHED ME OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD HAD CAR TOWED. NO ENGINE LIGHT WARNING TO INDICATE PROBLEM OF TENSIONER (TIMING CHAIN BREAKAGE). ENTIRE ENGINE WAS REPLACED/REBUILT BECAUSE OF EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. BMW APPARENTLY IS AWARE OF THE TIMING CHAIN DEFECT AND HAS NOT ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN OR RECALL. I'M HEARING THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT BECAUSE OF THE MANY COMPLAINTS. THE FACT THAT I COULD HAVE VERY EASILY BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED IS WHY I AM ISSUING A COMPLAINT (NOT TO MENTION MY BILL FOR $6200.00 I HAVE ON MY CREDIT CARD) AND THE THREE WEEKS IT TOOK TO FIX. NATURALLY I WAS 6 MONTHS OUT OF MY WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566519February 28, 2014
STEERING
MY 2007 MINI COOPER ONLY 55K MILEAGE. AT LAST WEEK SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND STOPPED WHILE ON FREEWAY WHICH ALMOST HIT BY THE ANOTHER CAR AND MIGHT CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENT. AFTER THAT I SENT MY CAR TO LICENSED AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHOSE SAID THE STEERING WHEEL WAS FAILED AND NEED TO REPLACE IT AND COST AROUND $1400 OTHERWISE IT WILL CAUSED THE SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MY CAR BOUGHT AT ORIGINAL OWNER AT JULY 2013 AND I GOT A FULL CHECKUP REPORT FROM MINICOOPER SF THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AT ALL. I TRIED TO CONTACT WITH MINI COOPER SF BUT THEY SAID NO RECALL FOR THIS MODEL OF CAR SO I NEED PAY FOR IT BY MYSELF TO FIXING THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10568443February 27, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TRAVELING EAST ON 376 APPROX. ONE MILE FROM THE SQUIREL HILL TUNNELS, A WOMEN IN ANOTHER VEHICLE ALERTED ME, TRYING TO TELL ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PULLED UP THE HOOD AND SAW FIRE. I CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE COMPANY CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. GOOGLED THE INTERENET AND FOUND THERE WAS APPROX 200,000 CASES OF FIRE WITHOUT THE MANUFACTURE RECALLING ALL VEHICLES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566203February 27, 2014
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING PUMP STOPPED WORKING THE FIRST TIME WHEN I STOPPED TO GET A SANDWICH. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR TO DRIVE OFF THE STEERING WAS VERY HEAVY. I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF ONCE AGAIN SO I COULD LOOK UNDER THE HOOD TO CHECK THINGS OUT BUT EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE SO I RESTARTED THE ENGINE TO TRY TO DRIVE OFF AGAIN AND THE STEERING STILL WAS VERY HEAVY. NO POWER ASSIST. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES SINCE, ONE TIME WHILE I WAS DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566054February 26, 2014
ENGINE
THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SUFFER CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE CUSTOMER IS EXPECTED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR A REPAIR EVEN THOUGH MINI HAS ADMITTED A POOR DESIGN AND ARE REPLACING TENSIONERS VIA A CAMPAIGN. THE CUSTOMER WILL NOT GET REIMBURSEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565757February 25, 2014
ENGINE
MY MINI HAS A FAULTY OIL SUPPLY LINE GOING TO THE TURBO CHARGER. THE DEALERSHIP HAS KNOWN ABOUT THESE FAULTY LINES FOR SOMETIME. INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE LINE WITH A BETTER DESIGN THEY HAVE INSTALLED HEAT SHIELDS TO PREVENT THE HEAT FROM BURNING UP THE O-RING IN THE FITTING ON THE LINE. THEY INSTALLED ANOTHER HEAT SHIELD ON 2/21/14 OVER TOP OF THE OIL LINE TO PREVENT THE HEAT FROM BURNING UP THE O-RING THAT IS ALREADY BAD. NOW THEY INFORM ME THAT SINCE THE HEAT SHIELDS ARE IN PLACE I NEED TO PAY TO HAVE THE OIL LINE REPLACED WHICH COST $805.00. I THINK THAT MINI COOPER SHOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL THESE VEHICLES AND REPAIRED THE FAULTY OIL LINES SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FROM 2007 MODELS TO 2011 MODELS. THIS IS A BAD SAFETY PROBLEM UNDER THE HOOD BECAUSE WHEN THE OIL GOES TO LEAKING ON THE TURBO CHARGER WHICH IS REALLY HOTTER THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IT CAUSES EXCESSIVE SMOKE FROM COMING OUT OF UNDER THE HOOD AND COULD CAUSE A LARGE FIRE FUELED BY MOTOR OIL PUMPING OUT ON TOP OF TURBO CHARGER. ALLOWING THE DEALERSHIPS TO PUT SHIELDS OVER TOP OF THE BAD OIL LINE NEEDS TO BE STOPPED. THEY NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEM THAT EXISTS FOR FREE AND NOT TRY TO COVER UP THE PROBLEM AS THEY DID ON MY CAR AND THEN TELL ME THAT THE OIL LINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE WARRANTY RUN OUT. THEY WERE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM THEN AND NOW BECAUSE OF THEM PUTTING HEAT SHIELDS ON TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM.THE OIL SUPPLY LINE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THEN THE SHIELDS PUT ON. THANKS, HOPE TO SEE A RECALL VERY SOON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565652February 24, 2014
POWER TRAIN
2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN MANUAL TRANSMISSION. LIVE IN A MOUNTAINOUS REGION IN COLORADO. NOTICED A PECULIAR SMELL COMING FROM THE CAR AFTER BEING STUCK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. HAD THE CAR SERVICED AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS GOOD TO GO. FEW DAYS LATER WHEN ON VACATION DRIVING THROUGH NEVADA, THE CLUTCH COMPLETELY GAVE OUT & LEFT US STRANDED FROM 8:30 AT NIGHT UNTIL 2:30 IN THE MORNING BEFORE THE TOW TRUCK COULD GET TO US. DEALER VERIFIED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS INOPERABLE AND REPLACED THE CLUTCH DISK, FLYWHEEL, AND PRESSURE PLATE UNDER WARRANTY. MANAGER SAID THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THEY HAVE SEEN A FEW TIMES PREVIOUSLY. NOW, 12,000 MILES (41,000 TOTAL) AND 6 MONTHS LATER, THE SAME THING AS HAPPENED. BUT NOW, MINI IS SAYING THAT IT'S "DRIVER ERROR" OR "WEAR AND TEAR" AND NOT COVERED. DEALER SERVICE MANAGER STILL ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR THE REGION WE LIVE IN. HOWEVER, I AM EXPECTED TO COME UP WITH $3,000 TO FIX THIS PLUS KEEP PAYING A NEW CAR PAYMENT. I HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS/TRUCKS/MOTORCYCLES/SPORTS CARS FOR 35 YEARS AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH A CLUTCH GOING OUT ON ME BEFORE. THIS IS MY 3RD MINI, AND IT WILL BE THE LAST I WILL EVER OWN, I CAN'T WAIT TO GET RID OF IT. MINI HAS HAD ENOUGH TROUBLE WITH THIS THAT THEY CHANGED THE CLUTCH IN THE 2013 MODELS. EXTREMELY UPSET WITH THEM AS A COMPANY THAT THEY CAN'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND FESS UP THAT THEY DIDN'T PUT A CLUTCH IN A CAR THAT WAS APPROPRIATE TO HANDLE THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. DON'T BUY ONE UNLESS YOU LIVE IN THE FLATLANDS AND DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH TRAFFIC! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565294February 21, 2014
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND ONLY HEARD A SPINNING SOUND. FIRST I THOUGHT THE TRANSMISSION OR STARTER WOULD NEED REPLACING BUT AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED IT IS THE TIMING CHAIN. UPON FURTHER REVIEW I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BELT HAD SHATTERED AND BENT THE VALVES, AND NOW THE PISTONS ARE BLOCKED AND A PLETHORA OF OTHER THINGS. THE TOTAL TO REPAIR THIS DOMINO EFFECT OF DAMAGE IS ABOVE $8,000 AND JUST THE CHAIN ALONE IS 1500 BUT I WAS INFORMED WOULD BE A GRAND MISTAKE BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT RUN. I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT WHO IS FINANCIALLY CHALLENGED AND AM NOW IN TOO DEEP TO EVEN TRY AND FLOAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565355February 21, 2014
STEERING
I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, I WAS ONLY TWO HOUSES FROM MY HOME GOING AROUND SMALL CURVE THOUGHT MY CAR HAD CUT OFF THEN REALIZED ONLY THE STEERING HAD GONE OUT VERY HARD TO STEER IF HAD BEEN ON HWY AT MED RATE OF SPEED COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE CAR AND POSSIBLE WRECK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564533February 15, 2014
STEERING, AIR BAGS
MY CAR STARTED WITH A LOW HUM AND AS TIME HAS GONE BY THE SOUND HAS GOTTEN LOUDER AND EVER SINCE THE SOUND HAS BEEN THERE THE POWER STEERING HAS INTERMITTENTLY GONE OUT, BUT NOW IS OUT ALMOST ALL THE TIME. MY WIFE DRIVES THE VEHICLE THE MOST BUT WE WERE PLANNING ON GIVING IT TO OUR 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER FOR HER GRADUATION PRESENT BUT NOW THAT THIS PROBLEM IS AN ALL THE TIME THING WE WILL HAVE TO GO PURCHASE A DIFFERENT VEHICLE FOR HER. IT IS JUST FRUSTRATING THAT AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND THEM BEING THE SAME IT ALMOST SEEMS USELESS TO FILE A COMPLAINT DUE TO MINI NOT WANTING THEIR VEHICLES TO BE GOOD. ALSO ABOUT 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT IS ALWAYS LIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564280February 13, 2014
STEERING
FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE LIFE OF THIS CAR (FIRST IN 2011), THE STEERING PUMP STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME I WAS LUCKY AND AT LOW SPEED HIT A CONCRETE PILING IN A PARKING GARAGE. THE SECOND TIME I WAS ACTUALLY IN TRAFFIC IN AN INTERSECTION. I WAS LUCKY NOT TO HIT THE COLLEGE STUDENTS IN THE CROSS WALK, AGAIN BECAUSE I WAS NOT GOING VERY FAST, BUT IT'S A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. AND HAD I NOT KNOWN WHAT WAS GOING ON DUE TO THE FIRST TIME THE STEERING PUMP BLEW OUT, I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN TO BREAK AND RE-START THE CAR TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. HONESTLY, THE CAR CANNOT BE STEERED WHEN THE PUMP STOPS FUNCTIONING. AND MINI HAS KNOWN FOR YEARS THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE. I HAD TO WAIT 8 WEEKS FOR THE FAN TO COME IN AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO ANY WORK UNTIL THEY HAD BOTH PARTS. THE PUMPS NEED TO BE RE-DESIGNED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564011February 12, 2014
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FIRST INCIDENT: ON A HOT DAY, VEHICLE WAS PARKED, DRIVERS SEAT OCCUPIED AND RECLINED. AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES UPON RESTART OF VEHICLE. FAULT WAS RESET BY DEALER WITH NO EXPLANATION. SECOND TIME SAME SITUATION; HOT DAY, PARKED, DRIVER SEAT OCCUPIED AND RECLINED, AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES UPON RESTART. DEALER REPLACED AIR BAG DUE TO ELECTRICAL CABLE FOR DRIVERS SEAT AIRBAG BEING NEARLY CUT IN TWO BY SHARP EDGE OF SEAT FRAME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564066February 12, 2014
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
STRETCHED TIMING CHAIN SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL, BUT RECALL IS ONLY ON THE TYPE S MODELS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10563887February 11, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN
AROUND JUNE 2008 MY MINI COOPER S 2005 BEGAN EXHIBITING WHAT APPEARED TO BE A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENT SPEED WHILE DRIVING AT A CONSTANT RPM. I EXPERIENCED SLOW, OR SLUGGISH ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON SPORADICALLY. I TOOK MY MINI, WHICH WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY IN FOR SERVICE TO BMW/MINI OF SAN ANTONIO AND WAS REASSURED THAT I WAS EXPERIENCING NORMAL SHIFTING MECHANICS. THEY WERE ALSO UNABLE TO DETECT WHY THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON. I EXPERIENCED THESE IDIOSYNCRATIC ISSUES CONTINUOUSLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND BEGAN TO NOTICE THE CAR JUMPING HIGHER AND LOWER IN SPEED DURING ACCELERATION IN MORE REGULAR INTERVALS. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2010 THE ENGINE WOULD LURCH INTO GEAR, SECONDS AFTER FAILING TO CHANGE GEARS EFFECTIVELY. AT TIMES, THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY DROP OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING. I BEGAN TAKING MY CAR INTO A BMW/MINI CERTIFIED SHOP IN AUSTIN, TX. AFTER MUCH TIME, MONEY, AND TROUBLE, PLUS MANY VISITS TO THE MECHANIC, MY MINI COOPER'S CONDITION DETERIORATED COMPLETELY. WHILE IN BUSY TRAFFIC MY MINI LURCHED FORWARD AND STALLED COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE DRIVING BEFORE I COULD GET IT OFF THE BUSY ROADWAY. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY VEHICLES BEHIND MINE, THESE DRIVERS HAD TO MAKE EXTREME EVASIVE MANEUVERS IN ORDER NOT TO HIT ME, THE CAR IN FRONT OF THEM, OR BE REAR ENDED THEMSELVES. THIS UNSAFE AND HAZARDOUS INCIDENT ENDANGERED MY LIFE, AND WAS THE LAST FOR MY MINI, RESULTING IN COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN JULY 2011. I SOUGHT OPINIONS ON MY OPTIONS, SHOP QUOTES TO FIX MY VEHICLE, ALL AROUND $10,000. MY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED OR ALTERED, IT STANDS AS IT DID THE DAY OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. IT WAS TOWED FROM THE SHOP TO STORAGE. MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCE DOCUMENTED. WHY WAS THERE NO RECALL? CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS IN CALIFORNIA AND NEW JERSEY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10563657February 10, 2014
ENGINE
THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED AS A NOISE WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE IN THE COLD. THIS "RATTLE" NOISE WOULD CONTINUE UNTIL THE ENGINE GOT A BIT WARMER AND THEN WOULD GO AWAY. EVERYTIME THE ENGINE STARTED COLD THE NOISE WOULD COME BACK. I TOOK MY (NOW OUT OF WARRANTY) CAR TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR AND THE TENSIONER WAS REPLACE. UNFORTUNATELY THE REPAIR DID NOT LAST LONG. ONLY 2 MONTHS LATER THE NOISE RETURNED. I AM STILL LIVING WITH THIS "RATTLE" NOISE HOPING MY CAR DOES NOT BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE DRIVING. I CAN NOT AFFORD THE (OVER $1000) QUOTE FOR REPAIRING THE TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY AT THIS TIME. I FEEL, AFTER READING THROUGH MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET, THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND ALL TIMING CHAINS OF THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE REPLACE. THERE IS NO REASON THAT A CAR WITH LESS THAN 75,000 SHOULD NEED A NEW TIMING CHAIN! I HAVE NEVER USED ANYONE BUT MY LOCAL MINI DEALER TO FIX ANY ISSUE WITH MY CAR, I FEEL THAT MINI HAS LET ME DOWN. I WILL BE LOOKING INTO JOINING THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST MINI. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10563331February 7, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
TURBO CHARGER FUEL SUPPLY LINE IS LEAKING ON MY 2008 MINI COOPER S. THE DEALER SUGGESTED A REPLACEMENT COST OF $750. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THE LEAK IS HAPPENING DUE TO POOR DESIGN. THE LEAK MAY CAUSE FIRE DAMAGE AND MIGHT CAUSE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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