MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10564084February 6, 2014
TIRES
CPSC: I1420055A. 2013 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER STATED THE CONTINENTAL TIRES ARE FAULTY AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *LN THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TWO TIRE FAILURES, WITHIN MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, AND THE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED AS SHE WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, WHEN THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE, SHE DISCOVERED A BUSTED SEAM ON BOTH FRONT TIRES, AND THREE GIANT BUBBLES ON THREE OF THE TIRES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10563181February 5, 2014
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON US 75 SOUTH (DOWNTOWN DALLAS) AND THE VEHICLE (2009 MINI COOPER S) JUST STOPPED, AND ALL OF THE OIL WAS LEAKING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THE ISSUE IS WITH A MINI ISSUE RELATING TO THE TENSIONERS/TIMING CHAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10562490February 1, 2014
ENGINE
UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE SOUNDS AS IF PARTS ARE LOOSE IN THE ENGINE AREA. IT LESSENS UP AFTER THE ENGINE WARMS UP BUT IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. IT APPEARS IT MAY BE THE TIMING CHAIN/ TENSIONER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10562162January 30, 2014
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MINI COOPER 2010. STARTING/STALLING ISSUES. CAR DOESN'T START. IT HAPPENED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AS WELL. CAR HAS BEEN TOWED 1 AND BROUGHT TO PRESTIGE MINI IN NJ (CAR DEALER) FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES. AFTER REPLACING BATTERY AND AN ENGINE SENSOR, THE PROBLEM PERSIST. THE CAR WILL BE TOWED AGAIN TODAY (JAN 30, 2014) FOR FURTHER COSTLY REPAIRS. I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE ON THIS CAR BUT EVEN WITH THAT, THE COST OF REPAIRS AND TOWING ARE NOT COVERED. THIS IS A VERY POOR, UNRELIABLE CAR (MINI COOPER 2010). RESPONSIVENESS FROM PRESTIGE MINI IS ALSO VERY POOR. SERVICE MANAGER DOESN'T RESPOND TO CALLS OR RETURN VOICE MAILS. VERY POOR SERVICE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561984January 29, 2014
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
CAR HAS HAD ISSUES WITH CVT TRANSMISSION. YESTERDAY I WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AT URGING OF OTHER MINI OWNERS IN THE SAME SITUATION, I AM REPORTING PROBLEM TO YOUR AGENCY IN HOPES TO HAVE BMW RECALL THE CARS AND REPLACE THE FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10562140January 29, 2014
AIR BAGS, SEATS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE SEAT SENSOR IS FAULTY. IT READS THAT SOMEONE UNDER 30LBS IS IN IT (DISABLING THE AIRBAG) THE DASH LIGHT VERIFIES IT IS OFF. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT TO THIS DAY. SO IF A CRASH OCCURS THE SENSOR WON'T READ CORRECTLY IF ANYONE IS IN THE SEAT OR NOT, THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY AND IF IT DOES WILL DO SO POSSIBLY WITH TOO MUCH FORCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561813January 28, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COPPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED INTO A PARKING SPACE WHERE THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S PLACE OF RESIDENCE BUT HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561901January 28, 2014
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ON 580 CAR LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP FROZE UP, BOLT ON TIMING GEAR SHEARED OFF AND FELL INTO OIL PAN. OIL PUMP WAS DESTROYED AS A RESULT. ON 11/7/13 RECEIVED LETTER FROM MINI CORP. REGARDING A FAULTY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WITH PREMATURE WEAR, WHICH COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS. UPON REPLACEMENT OF TENSIONER ASSEMBLY, MECHANIC FOUND A FAULTY VACUUM PUMP WHICH FROZE WITHOUT WARNING. OIL DISTRIBUTION WAS COMPROMISED. THIS ABRUPT LOSS OF POWER PUT MY ENTIRE FAMILY IN JEOPARDY, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED BODILY INJURY OR DEATH. BMW CORPORATION HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE VACUUM PUMP PROBLEM SINCE 2012. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN 3/15/11 WITH 32K MILES. MINI CORP LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRS. I HAVE BEEN DECLINED ANY ASSISTANCE FOR A FAILED VACUUM PUMP ASSEMBLY WHICH CAUSED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD REPORTS OF SIMILAR FAILURE. HIGHWAY SPEED, LOSS OF POWER, PUTTING VEHICLE AND OCCUPANTS IN PERIL CIRCUMSTANCE, BMW IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE/MECHANICAL FLAWS IN THE ENGINEERING OF THIS MOTOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561555January 26, 2014
ENGINE
COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WHILE SURROUNDED BY SEMIS IN THE 3/4-MILE-LONG BIG WALKER MOUNTAIN TUNNEL WHILE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON I-77 (NEAR VIRGINIA EXIT 47). THANKFULLY THE ENGINE DIDN'T SEIZE AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF ONCE THROUGH THE TUNNEL. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, THE CAUSE WAS A CHECK VALVE IN THE VALVE COVER, WHICH MALFUNCTIONED IN A WAY THAT CREATED A VACUUM AND TRAPPED OIL IN THE TOP PART OF THE ENGINE. REPLACEMENT COVER HAD BEEN REDESIGNED TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM, SO IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560996January 22, 2014
ENGINE
TURBO OIL FEED LINE LEAK, OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET WHICH IS COSTING ME CLOSE TO 1200$. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561036January 22, 2014
STEERING
I HAVE AN 03 MINI COOPER BASE MODEL THAT HAD THE IMPENDING POWER STEERING FAILURE. IT HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. LAST JUNE I RECEIVED THE REIMBURSEMENT LETTER, SO I SENT IN MY INFORMATION AND RECEIPT FOR THE REPLACEMENT. AS TIME PASSED AND NO RESPONSE FROM MINI I DECIDED TO CONTACT COSTUMER RELATIONS, NEEDLESS TO SAY THEY HAD NOTHING ON FILE AND SAID IT SHOULD TAKE ANOTHER MONTH TO RECEIVE MY INFO. ANOTHER MONTH PASSED, KEEP IN MIND WE ARE IN AUGUST NOW, NO RESPONSE. CALLED THEM UP AND WAS TOLD MY INFORMATION IS STILL NOT THERE. SO I SENT TWO EMAILS WITH MY RECEIPT IN HOPES THAT IT MIGHT SPEED UP THE PROCESS. ABOUT THREE MONTHS LATER I CALLED AND THEY HAD SAID THEY RECEIVED MY INFORMATION AND THAT THEY HAD SENT IT TO THEIR REIMBURSING DIVISION. TWO DAYS AGO I CALLED AND THEY GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND AGAIN. THIS IS JUST OUTRAGEOUS, IF YOUR GOING TO SEND A LETTER SAY YOU'LL REIMBURSE EVERYONE DO IT IN A TIMELY PROFESSIONAL MANNER. JUST BEFORE ALL THIS HAPPENED I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH MINI. I WAS ACTUALLY THINKING ABOUT BUYING A 4DOOR VERSION OF THE MINI. AFTER THIS INCIDENT I WILL NOT BE PURCHASING A MINI OR BMW FOR THAT MATTER. IN ADDITION I WILL INFLUENCE PEOPLE INTO NOT PURCHASING ANY OF THEIR PRODUCTS. I UNDERSTAND THEY HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE SEND IN LETTERS FOR REIMBURSEMENTS BUT IT IS NOT OK TO LIE TO PEOPLE. I ALSO KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD THIS ISSUE. I AM TRYING TO CONTACT AS MUCH PEOPLE AS I CAN ABOUT THIS MATTER IN HOPES THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560613January 20, 2014
ENGINE
TURBOCHARGER OIL FEED LINE LEAKING. THE PART IS POORLY DESIGNED AND ACCORDING TO THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE PRONE TO FAILURE. THE PART IS NOT COVERED BY THE CPO WARRANTY AND THE DEALER WANTED $1400 TO REPLACE IT. I REPLACED IT MYSELF WITH A BETTER DESIGNED AFTERMARKET PART. I THINK MINI SHOULD COVER THE COST OF REPLACING THE PART WITH A BETTER DESIGN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560660January 20, 2014
ENGINE
THE CAR LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT RUN AT IDLE SPEED. AFTER MUCH EFFORT, MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO THE ONLY DEALER IN THE STATE. AFTER TWO FAILED DIAGNOSTICS AND TWO "REPAIRS," THE DEALER SAYS I NOW NEED THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACED. THERE ARE KNOWN ISSUES ABOUT THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE TENSIONER. BMW AND DEALER DENY RESPONSIBILITY AND NOW WISH TO CHARGE AN ADDITIONAL $1500 TO REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560399January 17, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V008000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560277January 16, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION STARTING BUCKING AND CAUSING UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION THE ONLY "FIX" IS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A $9,000 COST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560030January 15, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND A LITTLE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE AND POPPED THE HOOD TO FIND THE OIL FEED LINE TO THE TURBO HAD LEAKED OIL ALL OVER THE TURBO AND WAS BURNING OFF. I KNOW THE PROBLEM IS A FAULTY LINE THAT USES RUBBER WASHERS AND OVER TIME HEAT FROM THE TURBO CAUSES THEM TO FAIL. IN 2010 MINI PUT IN A HEAT SHIELD TO PROTECT THE LINE, ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED PROPERLY, TO MANY PRE 2010 COOPER S ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560094January 15, 2014
ENGINE
AT ABOUT 42000 MILES, I STARTED TO NOTICE A RATTLE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS FIRST STARTED. THE RATTLE WAS MOST NOTICEABLE BETWEEN 2000 AND 3000 RPM. THIS RATTLE ALSO COINCIDED WITH THE WEATHER TURNING COLDER. THE RATTLE CONTINUED TO WORSEN OVER TIME, AN OIL LEAK DEVELOPED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT EVENTUALLY CAME ON. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET AND CALLING MY MINI DEALERSHIP, I DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WAS MOST LIKELY AT FAULT. I ORDERED THE PART AND REPLACED IT MYSELF. DURING THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE TENSIONER, I FOUND THAT THE OLD TENSIONER WAS LOOSE IN ITS SOCKET. AFTER REPLACING THE PART, THE ENGINE RAN SMOOTHLY AND CONTINUES TO RUN SMOOTHLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559813January 14, 2014
ENGINE
RATTLE AND OIL LEAK. LOSS OF FULL ENGINE POWER WHEN RESTARTED. DEALER SAYS ITS A TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559686January 13, 2014
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER S FAILED, MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE CAR SAFELY IN TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO A SERVICE SHOP AND LATER DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I CALLED MINI, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE VIN NUMBER FOR MY CAR WAS NOT ONE COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS A MODEL YEAR 2005. THEY OFFERED NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WHATSOEVER TO HELP ME REPLACE THE PART. A NEW PART WAS QUOTED AS 1300 DOLLARS, AND THAT WAS ASIDE FROM THE LABOR. FOR COST REASONS, IT LOOKS LIKE I WILL HAVE TO INSTALL A REFURBISHED PART INSTEAD, WHICH GIVES ME CONCERNS ABOUT FUTURE FAILURES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559487January 12, 2014
ENGINE
I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP AFTER I HEARD A NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. FROM ONLINE DESCRIPTIONS, I SUSPECTED IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. I CONTACTED MINI CORPORATION AND OPENED A REPORT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT A WEEK LATER AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER NEEDED REPLACED. IT WAS A $3500 FIX. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED MINI TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER THE REPAIR AND THEY REFUSED SAYING THE VEHICLE HAD TOO MANY MILES. THEY CHANGED THE OIL AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER MY SON WAS AT A RED LIGHT, STOPPED AND THE CARS STALLED. WE HAD IT FLAT-BEDDED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE TIMING CHAIN HAD SNAPPED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $5700. I JUST SAW WHERE MINI ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AND I CONTACTED THEM BUT THEY HAVE NOT REPLIED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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