MINI Cooper Complaints
4,588 consumer complaints on file.
- #10862447May 2, 2016AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL....MY PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR TWO YRS NOW AND FOR NO REASON I'M A SINGLE MAN WITH NO DEPENDENT CHILDREN SO RARELY IS ANYONE SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. DEALERSHIP WANT 100'S FOR REPAIR.RREALLY..SO I HAVE LET IT ON.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10862669May 2, 2016AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL: MY 2008 MINI COOPER S HARDTOP BEGAN EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT STAYING LITE WHETHER OR NOT A PASSENGER IS IN THE CAR. ON APRIL 28, 2016, I TOOK MY CAR TO A MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE ISSUE DIAGNOSED (AT A COST OF $53.95). THE DIAGNOSIS STATES "FAULT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT MAT SENSOR" (INVOICE COPY ATTACHED). I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY VEHICLE THAT MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR THE APRIL 2015 AIR-BAG RECALL EXCEPT IT IS A HARDTOP INSTEAD OF A CONVERTIBLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. TO FIX THIS ITEM WILL BE OVER 1300. MY CAR ONLY HAS 14,000 MILES ON IT. DUE TO THE COST, AT THIS POINT I DO NOT PLAN ON HAVING IT FIXED AND WILL SAY MY PRAYERS EVERY TIME I TRAVEL WITH A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10862425May 1, 2016AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL: THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON OVER A YEAR AGO AND IT SAYS THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS TURNED OFF. IT WILL COME ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE CERTIFIED INDEPENDENT MINI MECHANIC IN TOWN WHO SAID THE PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR IS FAULTY AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10862247April 29, 2016ENGINE
I NOTED THAT AT IDLE THE ENGINE OF MY 2009 MINI COOPER WAS NOT RUNNING SMOOTH AND INSTEAD BEGINNING TO PULSATE/VIBRATE. WITHIN IN 3 DAYS I HAD MY MINI AT THE SERVICE CENTER. ON THE WAY TO THE APPOINTMENT THE ENGINE CUT OFF AT IDLE AT A STOP LIGHT BUT WAS ABLE TO RESTART. NO SENSOR LIGHT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. AS A RESULT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE DAMAGE ALSO CAUSED AN OIL LEAK SO THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING WITHOUT OIL, THOUGH I'D RECENTLY RECEIVED AN OIL CHANGE. ADDITIONALLY, THE VACUUM PUMP WAS ALSO LEAKING. AT NO TIME DID ANY SENSOR LIGHTS COME ON AS A WARNING, INCLUDING A CHECK ENGINE, LOW OIL, OR LOW COOLANT . I WAS INFORMED THAT REPAIRS WOULD BE UPWARDS OF $3500.00, OVER HALF OF THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. DESPITE THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT THAT I INQUIRED ABOUT, MINI FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM. IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SETTLEMENT OF THE LAWSUIT RESULTED IN EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THESE VEHICLES FOR THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE TO 7 YEARS/100,000MI. MY MINI ONLY HAD 64,000MILES AND WAS WITHIN THE 7 YEAR MARK. ADDITIONALLY, I LEARNED THAT MINI HAD PREVIOUSLY ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE VACUUM PUMP. HOWEVER, I WAS REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT FOR BOTH OF THESE ISSUES "[MY] VEHICLE WAS NOT ONE OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES."
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10862049April 28, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CUP HOLDER LEAKS IF THERE IS ANY FLUID SPILLED IN IT AND SHORTS OUT AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT THAT CONTROLS THE GEAR SHIFT KNOB. EVEN THE SMALLEST AMOUNT OF LIQUID CAN CAUSE THIS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10861870April 27, 2016STEERING
WAS DRIVING TO SEE MY HUSBAND OUT OF TOWN AND MY STEERING WHEEL START GETTING HARD, I STOPPED TURN OF THE CAR AND BACK ON AND IT WORKED, BUT AFTER THAT IT COINTINUE TO DO IT MORE AND MORE OFTEN, TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WAS THE POWER WHEEL PUMP,
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10861480April 26, 2016ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE OR WHILE PARKED, THE COOLANT IN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LEAK PROFUSELY. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V008000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,178.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10861529April 26, 2016AIR BAGS, SEATS
MY 2008 MINI COOPER WAS IN ACCIDENT IN JAN 2016. THE (PASSENGER) LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKE TO AUTOBODY SHOP. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS EVALUATED AND ADDED TO REPAIRS. THE SEAT MAP SENSOR IS THE CHIEF PROBLEM. THE CAR IS UNDRIVABLE. THE DEALERSHIP IN STERLING INDICATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE 15-30 DAY TO RECEIVED THE PART. THE PART WAS DELAYED UNTIL MARCH 24,2016. THREE DAYS PRIOR TO DELIVERY IT WAS UPDATED TO JUL 13, 2016. AT THIS POINT MY RENTAL CAR FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY RAN OUT. I CONTACTED CUSTOMER CARE BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE A DATE NOR ASSISTANCE ABOUT MY PART AND LOST OF VEHICLE. AFTER CONVERSATION WITH LIBERTY MUTUAL, AUTO SHOP AND DEALERSHIP, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. NO RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MADE, MANY INDIVIDUALS ( CONSUMER, INSURANCE COMPANY AND AUTO SHOP) INVOLVED IN THE SITUATION STATED IT WAS NOT SAFE NOR COULD LOSS BE GUARANTEED. AS OF THE 4/18/2016, THE PART HAS BEEN PUT ON INDEFINITE BACK ORDER. CURRENTLY THERE IS NO KNOWN TIME FRAME RETURN OF VEHICLE. I AM WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION AND I WILL NEED TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR. ADDITIONALLY I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER REPAIR FACILITIES, MINI'S PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR AFFECTS FAR MORE MODEL YEARS THAN THOSE FOR WHICH BMW HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED RECALLS. I AM ALSO AWARE THAT MORE THAN 60 MINI OWNERS ARE WAITING ON THIS PART AS WELL.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10861598April 26, 2016AIR BAGS
THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND CANNOT BE RESET DUE TO A FAULTY OCCUPATION SENSOR. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THIS WILL CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO MALFUNCTION IF AN ACCIDENT WERE TO OCCUR. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND COSTS OVER $1000 TO REPAIR AND IS NOT COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10861298April 25, 2016AIR BAGS
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHING ON INTERMITTENTLY DURING OPERATION OF VEHICAL AND PASSENGER AIR BAG OVERHEAD STATUS LIGHT COMING ON SAYING AIR BAG IS DEACTIVATED WHILE AN ADULT PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS HAPPENS BOTH WHEN VEHICLE IS MOVING AND STOPPED. PROBLEM IS ONGOING.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10861372April 25, 2016ENGINE
I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF A MINI COOPER CLUBMAN S 2009. IT HAD ABOUT 50K MILES WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THIS CAR. NEW TO THIS MAKE OF VEHICLE, I DID NOT PUT MUCH ATTENTION TO THE NOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I CAME ACROSS A COMMENT AT THE MINI FORUMS WHERE SOMEONE STATED THAT THIS CARS HAD A COMMON DIESEL SOUND. IN THE TWO YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD THIS CAR, I HAVE DONE A FEW REPAIRS AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE HEARD THE SOUND HAVE TOLD ME THE SAME THING. "THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG IN THE ENGINE." " THAT SOUND IS NOT NORMAL." YOU GOT TO TAKE YOUR CAR TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A SPECIALIST CHECK WHAT'S WRONG IN THERE." I DID NOT TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THESE CARS. I WOULD TELL THEM THAT IT WAS A NORMAL DIESEL SOUND. SOMETIME IN FEBRUARY I RECEIVED A LETTER REGARDING THIS ISSUE. IT IS NOT A RECALL LETTER BUT INSTEAD IS A "TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT CLAIM FORM." I HAVE NOT HAD ANY REPAIRS DONE TO THE CAR. IF I SPEND OVER $1K TO GET IT FIXED, I MAY GET REFUNDED. CHANCES ARE THAT I WON'T. I HAVE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY WILL CHECKING THE CAR FOR THIS ISSUE. THEY DID NOT TELL ME THAT THEY WILL MAKE THE REPAIRS AT NO CHARGE. SINCE IT ISN'T A RECALL YET, I DOUBT THE DEALER PEOPLE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL COST. LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS BUT I AM REALLY UNHAPPY ABOUT ALL THIS. FIRST, VALVE COVER. THEN, FUEL FEED LINE, AFTER THAT, VACUUM PUMP, THEN THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING. RIGHT NOW, TENSIONER CHAIN ALONG WITH VANOS SOLENOID. I WISH I HAD NOT SOLD MY TOYOTA MINI TRUCK I HAD BACK IN THE 80'S. NOT MUCH TECHNOLOGY. WHICH WAS OK. JUST ADD GAS, DO REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND GOOD TO GO WITH NO WORRIES OF SENSOR, CODES HERE AND CODES THERE. NO RECALLS EITHER. MAKE THIS MINI CHAIN TENSIONER A RECALL AND HAVE BMV RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING THEIR BAD ENGINEERING. WHY SHOULD THE CONSUMER HAVE TO PAY?
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10860685April 21, 2016ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. UPDATED 06/15/16*LJ *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10860688April 21, 2016ENGINE
THE TIMING CHAIN WAS REPLACED AT 90,000 MILE AND AND NOW NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 104,000 MILES
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10860322April 19, 2016STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP CAUSED METAL FRAGMENTS TO ENTER THE RACK AND PINION, WHICH CAUSED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE OF THE TREAD ACT, THE MANUFACTURER WAS ONLY OBLIGATED TO REPAIR THE POWER STEERING PUMP UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,155.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10860080April 18, 2016AIR BAGS, SEATS
I WAS INFORMED BY MY MINI SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR LOCATED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS EXACT PART HAS BEEN THE CAUSE OF A RECALL FOR MINIS MADE THE SAME YEAR AS MINE, BUT MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY THE SAME PROBLEM THAT GENERATED THE RECALL. I CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE THIS REPAIR MYSELF, AND NEITHER THE MINI DEALER NOR MINI CORPORATE HAS BEEN HELPFUL IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. I FEEL THAT MY CAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL AND THEREFORE SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO COST TO ME. I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THAT MY CAR BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OFFICIALLY, SO THAT I CAN COMPLETE THESE REPAIRS. OTHERWISE, I RISK DRIVING UNSAFELY, WITHOUT THE FUNCTION OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10860132April 18, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, SMOKE AND A BURNING OIL ODOR EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, THE TURN SIGNALS AND WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,568.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10859855April 16, 2016AIR BAGS
I PURCHASED MY 2008 MINI COOPER BRAND NEW FROM MINI OF THE WOODLANDS IN TEXAS. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STARTED ILLUMINATING RANDOMLY, WHICH DISABLES THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WHILE IT IS ILLUMINATED. THIS HAPPENED MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY, UNTIL IT STAYS ILLUMINATED MOST OF THE TIME NOW. I BROUGHT IT TO MINI IF THE WOODLANDS FOR EVALUATION, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SEAT SENSOR HAD GONE BAD, AND IT WOULD COST $1,900 TO REPLACE IT. I FIND THIS FAILURE TO BE A LITTLE ODD, CONSIDERING THAT MY MINI'S PASSENGER SEAT HAS ALMOST NEVER HAD ANYONE IN IT! ALSO, SLIDING THE SEAT FORWARD/BACKWARD SEEMS TO AFFECT THE FREQUENCY & DURATION OF THE SENSOR FAILURES; THOUGH THE OVERALL FREQUENCY & DURATION CONTINUES TO INCREASE. FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN ONLINE, AND HEARD FROM OTHER REPAIR FACILITIES, MINI'S PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR AFFECTS FAR MORE MODEL YEARS THAN THOSE FOR WHICH BMW HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED RECALLS. I'D EVEN BE HAPPY IF MINI COULD JUST CIRCUMVENT THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR, AND HAVE THE AIRBAG DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THAT'S A FAR BETTER OPTION THAN HAVING IT DEACTIVATED WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A PASSENGER IN THE CAR! BUT MINI OF THE WOODLANDS TOLD ME THAT THERE'S NO WAY THEY CAN DO THAT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10859916April 16, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS SPRING THE RIGHT FRONT (PASSENGER SIDE) SUN ROOF DRAIN HOSE CAME OFF WHILE THE CAR WAS SITTING. WATER POURED DOWN THE FRONT PILLAR FLOODING THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL BOX AND PUTTING APPROX. 2 " OF WATER INTO THE FLOOR. (FOUND THIS OUT AFTER IT BROKE DOWN) THE CAR WAS DRIED OUT AND NOT KNOWING THE CAUSE FLOODED AGAIN. I READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET AND REATTACHED THE HOSE. SEVERAL DAYS LATER MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR THROUGH ONE OF THE WORST INTERSTATE INTERSECTIONS IN MA, RT3 AND 93 MERGE, AND THE CAR LOST POWER AND STALLED. SHE GOT THE CAR TO START AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES AND EVENTUALLY GOT TO A SAFE PLACE OFF THE HIGHWAY WHERE THE CAR WAS TOWED. FIRST OF ALL HOW IS THIS DESIGN EVEN ALLOWED? BMW IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM YET DID NOTHING TO TRY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM OR NOTIFY US OF SUCH A POOR DESIGN DEFECT. (IT TOOK ME 15 MINUTES TO FIX). THE DEALER WANTED $2550. TO REPAIR. MY WIFE AND SISTER IN LAW COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10855233April 13, 2016AIR BAGS
AIRBAG OCCUPANCY LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN PASSENGER IS NO LONGER IN CAR, SOMETIMES OCCUPANCY LIGHT GOES ON AND TURNS BACK OFF WHILE PASSENGER IS SITTING IN CAR AND DRIVING AT SPEED. MINI/BMW CLAIMS THAT THE 2009 HARDTOPS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THEIR RECENT RECALL FOR EARLIER MODELS, BUT THE PROBLEM OBVIOUS STILL EXISTS. REALLY DANGEROUS TO HAVE PASSENGERS IN THE CAR!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10855015April 12, 2016ENGINE
THERE IS A LOUD CLANGING COMING FROM THE MOTOR, THE ENGINE LOST OIL, IT IS BEING TOWED TO A MECHANIC - THE DIAGNOSIS IS A BAD TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, THE CAR HAS ABOUT 65,000 MILES, THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2008 - 2010 MINIS FOR THIS PROBLEM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0