MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10511997May 14, 2013
ENGINE
I HAD MY OIL CHANGED AND AUTOMATIC SHIFTER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY RITE AROUND 49500 ON ODOMETER. I HAVE A 100K MAINTENANCE CARE PLAN THAT COVERS ALL ENGINE OIL CHANGES, BRAKES AND ROTORS. BUT RIGHT AROUND 53000 I KEPT GETTING THE SERVICE IN 1700 MILES LIGHT WHEN EVER I START THE CAR AND GOES AWAY. THE MILES STARTED REDUCING SOONER THAN THE ACTUAL MILES DRIVEN. I WENT TO MINI SHOWROOM TO CHECK WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THEY SAID I NEED A OIL CHANGE ACCORDING TO KEY FOB (THEY CHANGED MY ENGINE OIL JUST 3K MILES BACK) . I GOT THE CALL THAT AFTERNOON SAYING MY TIMING CHAIN TENSOR WAS BAD AND LEAKING OIL. IT'S A CAR LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD WITH 50K MILES, THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN. THEY SAID IT CAN GRENADE THE CAR IF I DRIVING WITHOUT FIXING. THE PARTS WAS $33 BUT LABOR WAS $400. WTH MINI. PEOPLE ARE NOT BUYING WARRANTY FOR THIS. IN THE MORNING I WAS PROUD OF HAVING A MINI THAT COVERED ENGINE OIL CHANGE UNDER MY 100K WARRANTY. BUT EVENING $450 RIPPED OFF MY BANK ACCOUNT. CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE. HAPPY I DID NOT GRENADE MY ENGINE. BUT NOT HAPPY TAKING THE $450 CHARGE. SOME PEOPLE HERE GET THE SAME PROBLEM EVEN AFTER FIXING THIS ISSUE IN 20K MILES AND MINI DOESN'T SEEM TO KEEP UP THEIR WORD ON THERE 2 YEAR WARRANTY ON THEIR REPAIRS. I THINK I'M GOING TO CHANGE MY CAR IN A YEAR. I LIKE THE DRIVE BUT CAN'T TAKE THIS REPAIR BILLS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511998May 14, 2013
STEERING
MY DAUGHTER HAD BEEN DRIVING MY CAR WITH NO PROBLEMS, WHEN SHE PARKED TO PICK ME UP I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING STALL THE STEERING WAS SO HARD. I THEN HAD TO DRIVE HOME USING EVERY OUNCE OF STRENGTH I HAD, WHILE MAKING SURE NOT TO HIT ANYTHING. I TOO HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND AM TRULY DISAPPOINTED WITH BMW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511752May 13, 2013
ENGINE
I WAS THE ONE THAT REPORTED THE "DEATH RATTLE" ON MY WIFE'S MINI COOPER A FEW WEEKS AGO. I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT DAMAGED AND MINI FIXED IT FOR $1800, WHICH WAS RIGHT IN LINE WITH THEIR ESTIMATE. THEY REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN (IT WAS STRETCHED 70MM... 70!!), THE TENSION PULLEY, THE GUIDE, CHANGED THE OIL, REPLACED THE AUX WATER PUMP (WAS A RECALL SO IT COST $0), RETIMED THE ENGINE, WASHED THE CAR, AND CLEANED THE ENGINE BAY. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE CAR RUNS LIKE NEW. THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME HE CALLED MINI ON MY BEHALF AND THEY GAVE US A $500 DISCOUNT ON THE REPAIR SINCE THE CAR WAS "ONLY A COUPLE OF YEARS OUT OF WARRANTY". PERHAPS THAT MEANS MINI IS FINALLY WAKING UP TO THIS PROBLEM? I'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND HOW BETWEEN THE TIMING CHAIN STRETCHED 70MM, AND THE BROKEN PIECE OF GUIDE RATTLING AROUND FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG, DIDN'T DESTROY THE ENGINE... BUT I'M NOT COMPLAINING. ANYWAY, JUST WANTED TO LET OTHER MINI OWNERS KNOW THAT THERE'S HOPE AFTER ALL. AND $1300 IS BETTER THAN $1800 ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. CAR RUNS GREAT AND NEITHER MY WIFE AND I REALIZED HOW MUCH POWER THE CAR HAD LOST. WE'RE STILL GETTING RID OF IT THOUGH... ENOUGH IS ENOUGH... EVERY TIME SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH THIS CAR, IT'S DRAMA. AND THIS WAS THE LAST STRAW. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511801May 13, 2013
STEERING
I WAS ON AN EXIT RAMP FROM THE HIGHWAY AND AROUND THE CURVE I FELT THE STEERING STIFFEN. WHEN I HAD TO TURN RIGHT I HAD TO SWING VERY WIDE INTO THE OTHER LANE BECAUSE I HAD NO POWER STEERING. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS THERE! IT RETURNED AFTER I SHUT MY CAR OFF AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT. THEN THE NEXT DAY IT DID IT AGAIN. TODAY IT WENT OUT AND HASN'T RETURNED YET. MY HUSBAND CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THE FAN WORKED AND IT DOES. THIS IS A KNOWN TO BMW PROBLEM AND NO RECALL IN THE USA. CANADA HAS A RECALL. TELL ME PLEASE, WHY WE DO NOT? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511490May 11, 2013
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY TRIP PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT. ADJUSTING WEIGHT ON SEAT WOULD INITIALLY EXTINGUISH; HOWEVER, PROBLEM IS NOW CONSTANT. COST PROHIBITIVE TO REPLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511512May 11, 2013
STEERING
I HAD BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING IN MY CAR GOING IN AND OUT AT RANDOM TIMES. TO FIX THIS PROBLEM I WOULD JUST TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON. NOW, HOWEVER, THE POWER STEERING IS ALWAYS OFF. I HAVE MANAGED TO DRIVE JUST FINE FOR MONTHS WITHOUT, BECAUSE I SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GET THE SYSTEM REPLACED. IT HAS FINALLY COME TO THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN I HAVE TO GET MY INSPECTION RENEWED, AND I HAVE NOW LEARNED THAT THE CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION IN MY STATE BECAUSE OF ITS LACK OF POWER STEERING. IF THE CAR CANNOT PASS A STATE INSPECTION WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING, HOW IS IT THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL MADE BECAUSE OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE? THERE IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. IT IS ENTIRELY UNFAIR THAT NOT ONLY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL MADE FORCING BMW TO FIX THIS DESIGN FLAW, BUT THERE IS ALSO LAWS IN PLACE THAT FORCE ME TO EITHER STOP DRIVING, GET A NEW CAR, OR SPEND MONEY I DON'T HAVE TO GET IT FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511292May 9, 2013
ENGINE
CAR HAS TIMING CHAIN NOISE ON COLD START-UP AND IF LEFT UNREPAIRED, IT WILL RESULT IN TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AND ENGINE DESTRUCTION. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM ON 2007 AND LATER MINI COOPER S. DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR OUT OF WARRANTY AND, EVEN IF REPAIRED, THE PROBLEM WILL RETURN. THERE ARE CASES OF MULTIPLE ENGINE FAILURES TO SAME CAR. CAR ALSO USES 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 2,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511174May 8, 2013
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A MAJOR FLAW WITH OIL SUPPLY/RETURN LINES TO THE TURBO. A CONDITION EXISTS WHERE IF LEFT UNATTENDED AND UNCARED FOR CREATES THE HIGH RISK OF FIRE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE/VEHICLE. THIS EVENT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN AND/OR LATER PARKED. THE RISK IS CREATED WHEN OIL ACCUMULATES, EITHER THROUGH TIME OR OVER A LEISURE DRIVE, AND COLLECTS NEAR/ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD & TURBO COMPONENTS, BOTH OF WHICH OPERATE AT EXTREMELY HIGH TEMPERATURES. IT IS BECOMING A DAILY TASK TO LOOK UNDER THE CAR HOOD AND INVESTIGATE FOR ACCUMULATION OF OIL NEAR THESE PARTS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CAR SMELLS OF BURNING PETROLEUM. NEED I BE MORE APPARENT OF BURNING OIL THAT WILL BURN AND DESTROY A CAR DUE TO A FAULTY PRODUCT? THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE MAJORITY LIFE OF THE CAR BUT HE ISSUE HAS NEVER BEEN PROFESSIONALLY ADDRESSED DUE TO DISREGARD OF THE MINI/BMW DEALERSHIPS TO ACCEPT THIS DESIGN FLAW. IF RESEARCHED FURTHER, THERE ARE MANY STANDARD EXAMPLES OF THIS DESIGN FLAW AND NUMEROUS DESCRIPTIONS, IMAGES, EXAMPLES, FORUMS, AND COMPLAINTS OF THIS FLAW OCCURRING IN MANY CARS OF VARIOUS STYLES, MILEAGE, AND TRIMS OCCURRING WITHIN THE SAME YEAR MODEL OF 2007. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCE MANY OF THE MAJOR FLAWS ALREADY LISTED AND COMPLAINED ABOUT ON THE NHTSA SUCH AS THE ??DEATH RATTLE?? BELT TENSIONER FAILING (LUCKILY NO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND WHICH HAS BEEN LISTED NUMEROUS TIMES ON NHTSA, NUMEROUS), VALVE COVER REPLACEMENT (ALSO LISTED), ETC. NHTSA, ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS AN AVID AND DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE COMMON PERSON DOES NOT CHECK UNDER THE HOOD DAILY AND ITS ONLY TIME BEFORE SOMEONE PARKS THEIR MINI IN A GARAGE AND THE HOME GOES DOWN IN FLAMES. I PERSONALLY DON??T PARK THE MINI IN THE GARAGE FOR FEAR OF FIRE. DO NOT REPAIR THE MINI WITH THE SAME FAULTY OIL LINE DESIGN. RECALL DESIGN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510593May 4, 2013
STEERING
I WAS EXITING INTERSTATE AND SLOWING TO A STOP WHEN STEERING WHEEL NO LONGER WORKED EASILY. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510625May 4, 2013
AIR BAGS
DRIVING ALONG AT 30 MPH WHEN AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND OVER HEAD PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF. HAD PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM REPLACED ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHT COME BACK ON 3 DAYS LATER. I HAVE HAD THE SYSTEM CHECKED 3 TIMES ( WITH LIGHT TURNED OFF WHEN RETURNED) ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHT COME BACK ON A FEW DAYS LATER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510540May 3, 2013
STEERING
WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2005 MINI COOPER (R50) WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED THUS CAUSING A VERY FRIGHTENING AND POSSIBLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510556May 3, 2013
STEERING
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION. I BARELY MADE IT THROUGH A FEW CURBS BEFORE ENTERING A PARKING LOT. I LET THE ENGINE COOL OFF FOR 30 MINUTES, THEN THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. I DECIDED TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP, ABOUT 3 MILES HIGHWAY, AND ABOUT 1 MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP I LOST THE POWER STEERING AGAIN. FORCING THE CAR THROUGH THE LAST FEW TURNS, DRIVING SLOWLY, I MADE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE REPLACEMENT PUMP & FAN SET ME BACK ABOUT $1,500. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510590May 3, 2013
ENGINE
I HAVE AN OIL LEAK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT IS COMING FROM THE TENSIONER LOCATION. THE OIL IS DRIPPING ON THE EXHAUST CAUSING STEAM TO RISE FROM THE ENGINE. I AM AFRAID THAT THE CAR WILL EVENTUALLY BURN ENOUGH OIL TO CATCH ON FIRE. I WILL TOW THE CAR TO BRAMAN MINI PALM BEACH (PURCHASED CAR HERE TOO) AND SEE IF THEY CAN DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510079May 2, 2013
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
2012 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A FAULTY SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP IN VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY ON AN INCLINE HILL. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DELIVERY OF FUEL TO THE GAS TANK AND THE VEHICLE HAD SIMPLY RUN OUT OF GAS. HOWEVER, THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWED THERE WAS AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF GAS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510202May 1, 2013
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I DROVE MY SISTER'S 2004 MINI COOPER SOMETIME IN SPRING OF 2012 TO CHECK ON WORK DONE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. AS I YIELDED INTO A ROUNDABOUT AND ENTERED IT, THE POWER STEERING CUT OFF WHICH STEERING EFFORT BECAME VERY HEAVY AND VERY NEARLY HAD A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. I SISTER INFORMED ME AFTERWARDS THAT THE ISSUE JUST HAPPEN RECENTLY OCCURRED TO HER TOO, AS SHE EXITED A HIGHWAY EXIT RAMP AT NEARLY 55MPH, AND POWER STEERING HAD FAILED. LUCKILY, SHE WAS ABLE TO REACT QUICKLY WITH THE POWER STEERING LOSS. PULLED TO THE SIDE, SHUT THE VEHICLE, AND TURNED ON THE VEHICLE AGAIN, AND POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. IT HAS INTERMITTENTLY GOING OFF/ON W POWER SINCE THEN WHICH THE DEALER RECOGNIZES, BUT WARRANTY HAS BEEN EXPIRED SINCE IT'S 9 YEARS AND OVER 100,000 MI. AND WE ARE LEFT WITH A BILL AT AROUND $1,400 AVERAGE. $800 IN PARTS ALONE. THERE ARE MANY MINI CUSTOMERS KNOWN TO HAVE THIS ISSUE OF POWER STEERING LOSS IN THEIR EARLY MODELS TOO, SAME AS MY SISTER'S YEAR MODEL. SO FAR FORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NO INJURIES NOR FATALITIES DIRECTLY FROM THIS POWER STEERING LOSS FROM WHAT I KNOW OF. BUT MANY ARE FACED WITH THIS LARGE REPAIR WITH WE'RE FACING, AND SOME MAY FOREGO/ DELAY REPAIRING IT. TRANSPORT CANADA, RECOGNIZES THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND RECALLED ABOUT 9,000 MINI'S LAST YEAR. AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP PART IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THEIRS. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO ACT LIKE OUR NEIGHBORS? UNTIL WE GET SOMEONE HORRIBLY INJURED OR KILLED?! OR HAVE MINI CUSTOMERS SUCH MY SISTER FACING THIS LARGE REPAIR ORDER ON THIS DEFECTIVE PART THAT'S KNOWN TO FAIL PREMATURELY? THIS IS A SERIOUS GAMBLE WITH LIVES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510044April 30, 2013
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING ON A CURVY ROAD THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND IS VERY DANGEROUS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509829April 29, 2013
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WON'T GO OFF. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE AIRBAGS WILL WORK IN A ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509831April 29, 2013
ENGINE
MY 2007 MINI COOPER S THERMOSTAT HOUSING HAS STARTED LEAKING TO THE POINT THAT IT WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AT PROLONGED STOPS IN TRAFFIC IF FLUID IS NOT PUT IN THE OVERFLOW TANK. I HAVE BEEN READING VARIOUS THREADS REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND SEE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL REPORTS OF THIS FAILURE, HOWEVER MINI DOES NOT SEEM TOO WORRIED ABOUT THIS PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509848April 29, 2013
STEERING
I WAS TRAVELING THROUGH CITY TRAFFIC AND THE POWER STEERING CEASED TO OPERATE. STEERING BECAME IMMEDIATELY VERY HEAVY. PULLED INTO PARKING LOT, LOOKED UNDER HOOD, LOOKED UNDER CAR FOR FLUIDS, BELTS, ETC., AND FOUND NOTHING VISIBLE. GOT BACK INTO CAR, STARTED IT UP AND IT BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN, AS NORMAL. TWO WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, POWER STEERING AGAIN FAILED ABRUPTLY. POWER STEERING PUMP IS SCHEDULED TO BE CHECKED/REPLACED TODAY AT DEALERSHIP TODAY. THIS COULD BE A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. HAD I BEEN IN A CURVE AT THIS SPEED, I'M NOT SURE I COULD HAVE MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509916April 29, 2013
ENGINE
JUST WANTED TO REPORT ANOTHER CASE OF THE "DEATH RATTLE". MY WIFE HAS A 2007 MINI COOPER S WE BOUGHT NEW IN SEPT. 2007. SHE COMPLAINED OF A LOUD RATTLE WHEN SHE STARTED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES UNTIL WARM. THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A LOOSE EXHAUST COMPONENT UNTIL IT STARTED HAVING IDLE ISSUES. WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP AND THEY "REBOOTED" THE COMPUTER AND THE IDLE PROBLEMS WENT AWAY BUT THE RATTLE PERSISTED. OUR CLOSEST MINI DEALER IS AN HOUR AWAY SO WE DON'T TAKE IT TO THEM UNLESS WE HAVE TO. EARLY LAST WEEK THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. CHECKED THE OIL AND OIL LEVEL WAS FINE... ALTHOUGH THE DIPSTICK DID NOT WANT TO GO BACK IN THE ENGINE. OIL LIGHT WOULD COME AND GO OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. SHE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL SHOP AGAIN TO HAVE THE RATTLE CHECKED AND THE OIL CHANGED SINCE IT WAS ALMOST DUE. THEY FOUND THE GUIDE FOR THE TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKEN AND LAYING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE COVER. THEY CALLED OUR CLOSEST MINI DEALER, SAID IT WAS A "COMMON PROBLEM" WITH TURBO MINIS, AND WE SHOULDN'T DRIVE IT. HAD IT TOWED TO MINI AND THAT'S WHERE IT SITS. THEY HAVEN'T WORKED ON IT YET AND THEY WILL CALL ME WHEN THEY DO, BUT AN EARLY ESTIMATE IS ~$1800 TO REPAIR, AS LONG AS THE ENGINE ISN'T DAMAGED (WHICH IT ISN'T AS THE CAR STARTS AND RUNS FINE). I ASKED MINI ABOUT IT BEING COVERED UNDER SOME SORT OF WARRANTY AFTER READING ALL THE HORROR STORIES SINCE IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT THEY SAID SINCE THE OIL LEVEL WAS LOW, AND LOW OIL LEVELS EXACERBATE THE PROBLEM, THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. HAD NO IDEA THE OIL LEVEL WAS LOW UNTIL THE LIGHT CAME ON. PRETTY SAD THAT THIS "COMMON PROBLEM" STILL HASN'T BEEN FIXED AFTER ALL THESE YEARS. WIFE IS NOW A FULL-TIME STUDENT AND HER SCHOOL IS OVER AN HOUR AWAY. SHE MAKES THAT DRIVE TWICE A DAY, THREE TIMES A WEEK. HOW THAT BROKEN PIECE DIDN'T GET TANGLED IN THE TIMING CHAIN AND DESTROY THE ENGINE I'LL NEVER KNOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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