MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10380058February 3, 2011
STEERING
I HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER S WITH 51,000 MILES ON IT. I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND HAVE HAD A CREAK IN MY STEERING COLUMN THAT IS GETTING WORSE. LAST MONTH, I FIRST EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LACK OF POWER STEERING. THE CAR CORRECTED ITSELF AND WORKED PROPERLY UNTIL A FEW INTERMITTENT OCCASIONS THIS WEEK. TURNING OFF THE CAR AND TURNING IT BACK ON SEEM TO TEMPORARILY CORRECT THE LACK OF POWER STEERING. HOWEVER, IT IS VERY TEMPORARY. WHILE DRIVING, I CAN FEEL THE STEERING RESPONSE CHANGE ON/OFF DUE TO LACK OF POWER STEERING CONTROL. WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILS, THE WHEEL IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. IT FEELS LIKE A 1961 CHEVY TRUCK WITH A 350 V8. IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE CAR FROM A DEAD STOP MAKING PARKING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. I AM BEING FORCED TO DRIVE BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT TO LIMIT MY LIABILITY IN CORNERS AND TURNS, ESPECIALLY ON THE INTERSTATE. I AM SETTING UP AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL MINI DEALER TO ADDRESS AND CORRECT THE FAILURE. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA, BUT I CANNOT WAIT TO HAVE THE REPAIR. I AM BEWILDERED AS TO WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL YET. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT A VEHICLE'S STEERING SYSTEM CAN FAIL AFTER VERY LITTLE MILES. MINI NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380146February 3, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2007 MINI COOPER S ENGINE RATTLES LOUDLY FOR THE FIRST 30 SECONDS TO 2 MIN. AFTER STARTUP IN COLD WEATHER. CAUSED BY CAM TENSION ISSUES. MIN HAS WORKED ON IT NUMEROUS TIMES. IT IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY BUT STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. I HAPPENS ON AN ALMOST DAILY BASIS ON COLD DAYS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379961February 2, 2011
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE ALL POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH CONCLUDED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND COMPLETED THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,648 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379999February 2, 2011
STEERING
I DROVE MY MINI COOPER 2004 S WITH 95K MILES ON THE FREEWAY AND NOTICED MY STEERING VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE. I ARRIVED TO MY DESTINATION SAFELY AND SEARCHING ON THE WEB FOR STEERING PROBLEMS WITH 2004 MINI COOPER AND FOUND FEDERAL INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. THEY FOUND THE POWER STEERING PUMP DEFECTIVE AS DESCRIBED ON THE WEBSITE AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOR 1500 DOLLARS. THE DEALER/BMW OFFERED NO COMPENSATION TO DEFER THE COST. I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND RECEIVED A NON RESPONSE ON IF AND HOW BMW WOULD RESPOND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380019February 2, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I FILLED OUT YOUR SAFETY COMPLAINT PORTABLE FROM BUT COULD NOT SUBMIT IT. WHEN I USED THE LINK ON THE PDF FORM, IT TOLD ME THERE WAS NO SUCH ADDRESS, AND WHEN I USED THE LINK IN THE COVERING E-MAIL, I REPEATEDLY RECEIVED THE MESSAGE "FILE SELECTED IS NOT A PORTABLE FORM!." IS THERE ANOTHER WAY TO SUBMIT IT? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379797February 1, 2011
STEERING
WE BOUGHT THIS CAR 1 MONTH AGO FOR OUR 16 YEAR OLD TWINS TO LEARN TO DRIVE ON. TWICE WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING HAS LOCKED UP TO THE POINT THEY ARE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. BOTH TIMES THEY CALLED ME FROM THEIR CELL PHONES AND I INSTRUCTED THEM TO TURN ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND TRY AND GET TO A SAFE PLACE. THEY COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR FROM SIDE TO SIDE SO I INSTRUCTED THEM TO STOP PUTTHE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF AND TRY TO RE-START. EACH TIMES THIS SEEMED TO HELP BUT WHEN WE HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAD ONLY 27,982 MILES A MONTH AGO WHEN WE BOUGHT IT. *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379839February 1, 2011
STEERING
2004 MINI COOPER S, POWER STEERING FAILURE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF POWER STEERING IN MY 2004 MINI COOPER S. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEEMINGLY AT RANDOM AND CAUSES GREAT DIFFICULTY WITH STEERING THE VEHICLE. THIS CREATES AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION IN WHICH IT IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN A GIVEN DAY OR SOMETIMES ONLY ONCE IN A WEEK. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AT VARIOUS TIMES OF OPERATION, INCLUDING IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE CAR IN THE MORNING, MID-COMMUTE, AND AT THE END OF A LONG DRIVE. THE ONLY CONSISTENCY IS THAT IT SEEMS TO OCCUR JUST AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE, THEN BACK IN 1ST GEAR (THOUGH NOT EVERY TIME). POWER STEERING IS ALMOST ALWAYS RESTORED BY TURNING IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON- NOT A SAFE ACTION IN MOST OF MY DRIVING CIRCUMSTANCES. ON ONE OCCASION THE POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN AUDIBLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, THREATENING TO DRAIN THE BATTERY. THIS LASTED FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND WAS ONLY RESOLVED BY DRIVING THE CAR AGAIN FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AGAIN, THE PUMP FINALLY SHUT OFF. *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379754January 31, 2011
STEERING
MY 2005 MINI COOPER S SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING AS I WAS DRIVING ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I'VE NOT HAD IT IN FOR REPAIRS YET, BUT RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET IT SEEMS MANY CONSUMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE EVEN READ OF THOSE WHOSE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND AM FEARFUL OF THE SAME HAPPENING TO ME NOT TO MENTION THE EXTREMELY HIGH COST OF REPAIR. MINI SHOULD RECALL THE 2005 AND FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379580January 30, 2011
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER AIRBAG PROBLEM INDICATOR IS ON. THE CAR ONLY HAS 54811 MILES. THE DEALER CHARGED $118.37 TO CHECK. THEY STATED A SEAT SENSOR PAD WAS BAD AND WOULD COST $1,200. TO REPLACE. THEY INDICATED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WOULD STILL DEPLOY. I CONTACTED MINI USA TO FILE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE I THOUGHT AT THIS MILEAGE AND SAFETY ISSUE THE REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED AS WARRANTY (RECALL). THEY DENIED THE REQUEST AND ALSO INDICATED THE SYSTEM WOULD STILL DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. AFTER READING SEVERAL BLOGS, EVERYONE SEEMS TO INDICATE THE BAGS WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON ON MINI COOPERS. I READ SEVERAL OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE REPAIRED MULTIPLE TIMES. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379614January 30, 2011
STEERING
I HAVE AN 05 MINI COOPER S AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS DEFECTIVE ALONG WITH 80,000+ OTHERS. I AM ROUGHLY AROUND 90,000 MILES AND THE PUMP HAS JUST RECENTLY STARED GOING OUT DUE TO WHAT THE DEALERSHIP CALLED A "DEFECTIVE LEAK ON THE ACTUALLY BODY OF THE PUMP". I ASKED THEM WHAT I SHOULD DO AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $1100 TO "FIX IT" BUT SAID THAT IT COULD GO OUT AND FAIL AT ANYTIME WHILE I AM DRIVING. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE BECAUSE MY WIFE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR IF IT COULD GO OUT AT ANYTIME? THEY ALSO SAID THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN 04/05 MINI COOPERS. I REALLY WISH SOMEBODY WOULD MAKE THEM RECALL THIS POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM WITHOUT CHARGING US $1100 FOR THEIR MISTAKE IN DESIGNING/INSTALLING THE POWER STEERING PUMPS??? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379442January 28, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER F. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG AND ATTENTION TO HARNESS. THEY ALSO, ADVISED HER TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THEIR WAS A RECALL FOR THIS SPECIFIC FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 3/28/11 *CN UPDATED 12/20/11 *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380360January 28, 2011
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING WOULD STOP AND IT BECAME HARD TO TURN AND STEER. IT CAME BACK ON AND HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS. IT EFFECTS STEERING WHEN GOING SLOW MORE THAN FAST. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO FAIL UNDER ANY SPECIFIC CONDITION, IT WILL JUST STOP AND AFTER AWHILE IT WILL COME BACK ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380362January 28, 2011
STEERING
MULTIPLE POWER STEERING FAILURES. INITIALLY WHEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 1 HOUR, NOW (JAN. 2011) OFTEN GOES OUT WHEN DRIVING MORE THAN 10 MINUTES. SOMETIMES COMES/GOES DURING A TURN. EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE WHEN CORNERING IN THE CITY OR PARALLEL PARKING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379509January 28, 2011
SEATS
THE SEAT HEATERS IN MY 2008 MINI COOPER S GET WAY TOO HOT. THEY HAVE TWO TEMPERATURE SETTINGS (ONE IS HOTTER THAN THE OTHER) AND EITHER ONE GETS TOO HOT AND YOU HAVE TO TURN OFF THE HEATER. IF YOU DON'T TURN IT OFF IT WILL CONTINUE TO HEAT UNTIL IT BURNS YOU. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I AM CERTAIN THAT WITHOUT TURNING THE HEATER OFF THE PASSENGER COULD BE BURNED AND/OR THE WIRING TO THE HEATER COULD MELT OR CATCH ON FIRE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH BMW/MINI AND THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT VIA A WIRING HARNESS INSTALLED IN-LINE WITH THE HEATER TO CONTROL THE VOLTAGE, BUT THIS FIX DIDN'T WORK ON MY CAR. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR A RECALL DUE TO SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10379253January 27, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2009 MINI COOPER S LOUD NOISE AT COLD STARTUP IMMEDIATELY AFTER CAR WAS RECEIVED IN NOVEMBER 2008 MINIUSA HAS DISCOVERED IT'S AN ISSUE WITH THE TIMING BELT AND ITS TENSIONER I READ OF THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND ASKED MINI DEALER TO REPAIR IT: THEY REPLACED TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER BUT SOME MINI OWNERS REPORT A RECURRENCE OF THE ISSUE AND MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR'S ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379315January 27, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAD A LOUD NOISE UNDER THE HOOD OF MY 2008 MINI COOPER S, FOLLOWED BY THE TIMING BELT BREAKING. I HAD IT FIXED TO THE TUNE OF $2000+. IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD IT BROKE DUE TO BEING DOWN 1 QT OF OIL. I HAVE HEARD THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378750January 26, 2011
STEERING
WHEN I BOUGHT THE MINI BACK IN MARCH THE NIGHT I BROUGHT IT HOME THE STEERING SUDDENLY GOT REALLY STIFF. THEN WENT AWAY FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS WORKING FINE, THEN ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO GOT STIFF AGAIN, WENT AWAY AND NOW IS COMPLETELY OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378833January 26, 2011
STEERING
I HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER I JUST HIT 55K MILES AND MY POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FAILED. MY BATTERY IS NOW DEAD, ALTERNATOR IS FRIED. IT WAS RUNNING FINE ONE DAY AND THE NEXT IT TURNED ON AND I COULDN'T GET IT OUT OF MY GARAGE AND THEN THE BATTERY COMPLETELY DIED. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND AN EXPENSIVE COST THAT IS THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT IN THE UK THEY ARE PAYING FOR PARTS BUT IN THE US IT IS A MINOR ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378270January 22, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE ON 2004 MINI COOPER S. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378094January 21, 2011
STEERING
HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER WITH INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING, DRIVING ALONG AND OCCASIONALLY THE POWER STEERING JUST GOES. REQUIRES INCREASED FORCE TO STEER AND MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. STOP THE CAR RESTART AND ALL APPEARS OKAY AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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