MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10323372April 1, 2010
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING ON I-95N WHEN THE STEERING BECAME ALL TIGHT LIKE I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL. NO INDICATIOR LIGHTS CAME ON. I REACHED MY DESTINATION, SHUT THE CAR OFF FOR SEVERAL MIN, GOT IN STARTED IT UP AND IT WAS FINE. GOT BACK ON I-95S AND 5 MIN LATER THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LIKE IT WAS LOCKED UP I COULDN'T TURN IT. AGAIN NO WARNINGS!!!!! ARE YOU PEOPLE GOING TO WAIT TILL SOME ONE IS KILLED TO MAKE BMW FIX THIS!!!!!! I HAVE READ IT'S BEEIN GOING ON SINCE 2002 POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323230March 31, 2010
STEERING
MINI COOPER POWER STEERING FAILURE. NEED TO MANEUVER VEHICLE TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER AND ON COMING VEHICLE. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED-UP AND DRIVER WAS DISTRACTED. THIS POWER STEERING FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF FAILED POWER STEERING PUMP. THIS FAILURE WAS CORRECTED BY A REPAIR. COSTING 850.00 US DOLLARS. OLD PART IS AVAILABLE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10322758March 30, 2010
VISIBILITY
2003 MINI COOPER S. MY WIPER MOTOR DIED IN A HEAVY RAINSTORM, OR SO I THOUGHT. DRIVING WITHOUT THE WIPERS IN HILO, HI WHERE I LIVE WITH 140" A YEAR OF RAIN CAN BE DEADLY WHEN WIPERS DON'T WORK. IT IS A WELL DOCUMENTED DEFECT AFFECTING ALL ORIGINAL 02-06 MINIS. SEE HERE FOR DETAILS. I REPAIRED MINE SIMPLY BY GROUNDING THE WIPER MOTOR TO ANYWHERE ELSE ON THE CAR. I HAD TO DRIVE 3 WEEKS WITHOUT WIPERS BEFORE I COULD FIX THIS. DEALERS CHARGE $600 TO FIX IT AND IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND THE MOTOR IS NOT ACTUALLY DEAD. IT IS A POOR, AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY DESIGN. I GUESS I COULD HAVE SPENT A COUPLE THOUSAND RENTING A CAR FOR THAT TIME, OR JUST SPENT $600 RIGHT AWAY AND ANOTHER $500 ON THE CAR TO GET IT FIXED. I TOOK MY CHANCES, SO WILL MANY OTHERS. THERE WERE PLENTY OF TIMES I COULDN'T SEE WELL AND HOPED FOR THE BEST. HERE IS THE SITE WITH LOTS OF INFO ABOUT IT. HTTP://WWW.MINI2.COM/FORUM/FIRST-GENERATION-FAULTS-FIXES/141234-WIPER-MOTOR-FAILURE-2.HTML HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/1ST-GEAR/83170-MY-WINDSHIELD-WIPER-MOTOR-DIED-IN-A-STORM-AT-NIGHT.HTML. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315445March 30, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
2004 MINI COOPER WITH MOTOR MOUNT, ELECTRICAL, FLAT TIRE SENSORS ISSUES. CVT TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT RECOMMENDED. *TGW ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED; DEAD NO POWER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IS SITTING IN THE GARAGE UN-DRIVABLE BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE $8,000 TO REPLACE THE CVT TRANSMISSION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10322651March 29, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. HE STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILURE OCCURRED NO MATTER THE SPEED AND HAS OCCURRED AT OTHER SPEED LEVELS. HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HIM PAYING A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPPROXIMATELY 67,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10322670March 29, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURE, THE STEERING PROBLEMS BECAME INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10322365March 26, 2010
STEERING
SUDDEN FAILURE OF POWER STEERING ASSIST IN TRAFFIC I WAS BARELY ABLE TO CONTROL CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10322206March 25, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
R56 MCS MINI 2007 - BOUGHT USED IN SEPT 09 HAD THE "COLD START RATTLE" BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AT THE TIME. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 38,000 DEALER REPLACED TIMING CHAIN . ON THE WAY HOME VACUUM PUMP SEIZED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VALUES. DEALER SENT PICTURES TO MINI AND THE DECISION WAS MADE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A NEW ONE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10321823March 24, 2010
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. WHEN THIS WOULD OCCUR, THE CONTACT COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON IN HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10321153March 20, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANNY WENT ON MY 2006 S MANUAL AT 20K, 3 WEEKS OUT OF WARRANTY. I BROUGHT IT IN 5 WEEKS EARLIER WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. THEY SAID ?THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM?. I REALIZE NOW THAT THEY CHOSE THESE WORDS CAREFULLY. 5 WEEKS AND 1000 MILES LATER, JUST OUR OR WARRANTY IT BLEW. SAID THE TRANNY FLUID WAS DARK AND FULL OF SHARDS. DID THEY NOT CHECK THIS LAST MONTH????? THEY TOLD ME 6K TO FIX IT. I BLEW A GASKET. HE CALLED ME BACK A FEW HOURS LATER AND SAID MINI WOULD PROVIDE THE PARTS FOR FREE IF I PAID $1300 LABOR. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE ON THEIR MINI'S, MANY MORE THEN I HAVE SEEN WHEN I HAVE DONE SEARCHES ON OTHER ISSUES. I THINK THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10320616March 18, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY 2004 MINI COOPER HAD A BAD FUEL LEAK FROM THE FUEL RAIL THAT SITS ON TOP OF THE ENGINE CONNECTED TO THE FUEL INJECTORS. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT TO WORK WHEN SHE WAS ALL MOST OVERCOME BY GAS FUMES. WHEN SHE GOT TO WORK SHE NOTICED THAT SHE HAD LOST A HALF A TANK OF GAS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO VISTA MOTORS IN POMPANO BCH. FL. ON SAMPLE ROAD AND THE MINI SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. WHEN I ASKED HIM IF THE PART WAS GOING TO BE INVESTIGATED BY MINI WHY THE PART STARTED LEAKING AND COULD OF EASILY CAUSED A FIRE AND BECAME A SAFETY HAZARD I WAS TOLD NO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10320748March 18, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
(2005 MINI COOPER TRANSMISSION) VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE FROM STANDING POSITION WHEN ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED. SUDDENLY JUMPS INTO GEAR (IN DRIVE OR REVERSE POSITION). NEEDED TO STEP ON THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT ACCIDENT. ALSO LACKS ACCELERATION WHILE PASSING ON THE HIGHWAY.. UPDATED 03/30/10 *BF SPORADIC INITIALLY. BECAME MORE FREQUENT OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS (JANUARY TO MARCH 2009 TIME FRAME). PROBLEMS SURFACED JUST AT THE END OF WARRANTY MILEAGE. TAKEN TO DEALER ON MARCH 26, 2009. SERVICE TECHNICIAN FOUND NO FAULTS FROM SCANNING OR IN LINKAGE OPERATION. NO EFFECT DUE TO RESETTING ADAPTATIONS AND SHIFT SOLENOIDS. TRANSMISSION WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY. TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *TR UPDATED 07/07/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10320758March 18, 2010
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHEN THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE AT ANY VARIOUS SPEEDS SHE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY BEGIN TO MALFUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10320273March 16, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2008 MINI COOPER S CLUTCH FAILURE #1 @ APPROXIMATELY 23K #2 CLUTCH FAILURE @ 36K IN BOTH CASES IT LEFT THE DRIVER STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND NEEDING A TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319435March 13, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT, INTERIOR LIGHTING, AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS, VISIBILITY, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
DEFECT INITIALLY OCCURRED AT NIGHT TIME IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC: DASH-LIGHTS WENT OUT, TURN INDICATOR NOT FUNCTIONAL, HEATER BLOWER STOPPED WORKING (CAUSING FOGGING OF WINDSHIELD/WINDOWS), AIR BAG LIGHTS WENT ON, SEAT BELT LIGHT ON CONSEQUENTLY HAD TO PULL ON THE SIDE OF ROAD (LIMITED VISIBILITY, NO SPEED INDICATOR, COULD NOT OPERATE VEHICLE SAFELY). A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS AT IGNITION CYCLING PARTIALLY RESTORED FUNCTIONALITY. AFTER INITIAL DEFECT, PROBLEM COULD BE REPRODUCED INTERMITTENTLY (ALL/SOME OF THE COMPONENT LISTED ABOVE FAILED DURING COURSE OF NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE). VEHICLE INSPECTED BY MINI/BMW DEALER, ROOT CAUSE: INTERFERENCE ON K-BUS OF ONE OF THE AUDIO COMPONENT, RESULTING IN FAILURE/MALFUNCTION OF OTHER COMPONENTS ON THE BUS. ULTIMATELY COMPONENT (MINI I-POD INTERFACE) HAD TO BE REMOVED -- PART IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. REQUEST TO HAVE REPAIRS COVERED WAS REJECTED BY MINI/BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS ON GROUNDS THERE WAS NO RECALL (VEHICLE IS 5 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY --- 41K MILES). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319372March 12, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER EVERY OTHER WEEK FOR THE LAST 6 WEEKS. ON COLD STARTS THE CAR WOULD RUN ROUGH, HESITATE ALMOST STALL AND THE HEAT WASN'T WORKING UNLESS YOU WERE DRIVING OR HAD YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER THEY REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN CHANGED THE OIL AND BLED THE COOLANT. A FEW DAYS LATER IT STALLED ON A COLD START AND THE HEAT STILL WASN'T WORKING. THE DEALER THIS TIME FOUND EXCESSIVE CARBON IN ENGINE AND A LEAK AT WATER PUMP. COMPUTER DID NOT THROUGHOUT A CODE FOR EITHER. DEALER OPENED A CASE AT THE MANUFACTURE. 2 WEEKS LATER I BROUGHT IT BACK WHEN THE WINDOWS WOULD GO HALF WAY DOWN AND THE DOOR WOULD UNLOCK. DEALER RESET THE WINDOWS AND I WENT TO PICK IT UP TO FIND THE WINDOWS HALF WAY DOWN AND THE DOORS UNLOCKED. DEALER REPLACED THE MOTOR. 2 WEEKS LATER MY BATTERY LIGHT WHEN ON. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER THE CAR DIED. DEALER SAID THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK THE LED TO THE ALTERNATOR BELT SLIPPING OFF AND MY BATTERY DIDN'T CHARGE AND NOW IS DEAD. I WON'T GET IT BACK UNTIL SOMETIME NEXT WEEK. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 26,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318960March 11, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED FROM 3,000 TO 5,000. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER PROCEEDING TO SLOW DOWN DURING TRAVEL BETWEEN 50-70 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318168March 9, 2010
TIRES
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) KUMHO TIRE USA.,INCORPORATED AND DISCOUNT TIRE, COMPANY ON 12-18-2009 [XXX] DAUGHTER OF [XXX] PURCHASED TWO TIRES FROM DISCOUNT TIRE COMPANY LOCATED AT 2930 GEORGEBUSBEE PARKWAY NW, KENNESAW GA 30144 SO SHE WOULD HAVE SAFE DRIVING FROM ATLANTA, GEORGIA TO HOUSTON, TEXAS DURING CHRISTMAS AND PAM TOOK A FLIGHT OUT TO ATLANTA SO [XXX] WOULD HAVE SOMEBODY TO DRIVE BACK TO HOUSTON WITH AND SHARE THE DRIVING. THE TIRES PURCHASED WERE TWO RUN FLAT 205/45R-17 84V XL RF KUM ECSTA VR SPT KU31 BSW @ 169.00 PER TIRE. INVOICE TICKET 3311383 PHONE# 678-797-0447 SO [XXX] ARE DRIVING FROM ATLANTA TO HOUSTON ON I-20 INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, WHEN IN TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA THE KUMHO TIRE EXPLODES AND PAM BARNWELL IS DRIVING TRYING EVERYTHING TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE MINI COOPER NOW THE FRONT LEFT TIRE IS NOW JUST A RIM AND WITH RIM DAMAGE. [XXX] ARE SHAKEN AND FRIGHTENED BUT UNHARMED ONLY BECAUSE PAM IS MORE EXPERIENCED DRIVER. SO WE HAVE FILED CLAIMS WITH BOTH KUMHO AND DISCOUNT TIRE AND BEEN DENIED REPLACEMENT AND OR REFUND! THERE IS TOWING CHARGES, HOTEL CHARGES, RIM REPLACEMENT CHARGES, TIRE REPLACEMENT AND LABOR CHARGES THAT [XXX] INCURRED. TWO ALABAMA STATE TROOPERS WERE ON THE SCENE AND COULD NOT BELIEVE THE TIRE WAS BRAND NEW AND THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE TIRE AND RIM. THEIR NAMES ARE MOORE AND ROGERS. WILLIAM SULCA WITH KUMHO TIRE USA CLAIM DEPARTMENT 800-445-8646 EXT 358 DENIED OUR CLAIM AND HAS NOT RETURNED THE TIRE WE SENT TO HIM FOR THEIR DETERMINATION EVEN THOUGH WE REQUESTED THE TIRE BE RETURNED. WE HAVE PICTURES! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318231March 9, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2008 MINI COOPER S, WHEN COLD, OFTEN STARTS UP WITH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RATTLING FROM THE ENGINE. SO MUCH SO THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL (BUT ITS NOT A DIESEL MOTOR). NUMEROUS ONLINE FORUMS HAVE DOCUMENTED THIS PROBLEM, INCLUDING SOME COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURES. IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PROBLEM TO FIX AND I WOULD LIKE MINI TO ISSUE A RECALL TO PERMANENTLY FIX THE PROBLEM AND TO HAVE AN UNLIMITED WARRANTY ON THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317723March 8, 2010
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH WHEN HE LEANED FORWARD TO ADJUST HIMSELF ON THE SEAT, THE SEAT BROKE AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NO LONGER HAD ANY WARRANTY TO REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD THE SEAT WELDED SO THAT HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61419. UPDATED 05/06/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING, WHEN SHE ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HAS NO LOCK FORWARD AND THE CONSUMER WAS ALMOST THROWN FORWARD INTO THE WINDSHIELD. UPDATED 07/14/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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