Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,245,377 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA, including 140,173 crashes, 56,794 fires, and 8,580 deaths.
What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?
A consumer complaint is a free-form report filed by a vehicle owner directly to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) describing a safety concern about their vehicle. NHTSA collects these reports through its Vehicle Owner Defect Report (VOQ) system and publishes them publicly. Each complaint includes the affected component, the date and circumstances of the incident, whether the failure caused a crash or fire, and any reported injuries or deaths. The owner's full narrative description is included verbatim, NHTSA does not edit or moderate the descriptions.
The database below contains over 2,245,377 individual complaints. NHTSA's investigators monitor it for clusters of similar reports, when enough owners describe the same failure mode on the same vehicle, NHTSA may open a Preliminary Evaluation that can lead to a recall. Many of the largest recalls in U.S. history, including the Takata airbag recall and the Hyundai/Kia engine fire recalls, started as patterns visible in this complaint database years before they became formal recalls.
How to interpret what you read
A few principles for reading consumer complaints usefully:
- One complaint is anecdote; a hundred similar complaints is data. NHTSA does not investigate the truthfulness of any individual report, that's the job of the Office of Defects Investigation, which looks at the full pattern. When evaluating a vehicle, look for whether multiple owners describe the same chain of events.
- Crash, fire, injury, and death flags are owner-set. They are not verified by NHTSA. They are still useful as a filter, because owners who tick those boxes are typically reporting more serious incidents than those who don't.
- Component categories are NHTSA-assigned, not owner-assigned. NHTSA standardizes the component field so that complaints can be aggregated. The owner narrative often goes into more detail than the component category captures.
- Complaint volume scales with sales volume. A best-selling model will accumulate more raw complaints than a niche model even at the same defect rate. To compare across vehicles, look at complaints per 100,000 units sold, not raw counts.
If you've experienced a defect
File a complaint. NHTSA's investigators rely on this database to detect emerging defects, and useful complaints, specific, concrete, with dates and mileage and clear descriptions of what happened, feed directly into the agency's pattern detection. The form takes about 10 minutes and is at nhtsa.gov/recalls under "Report a Safety Problem." Your complaint becomes part of the same public record that this page is built from. Owners filing detailed VOQs are how recalls get triggered.
Read more from our blog
Showing 6,381 complaints for MINI
MINI
COOPER CONVERTIBLE
(2005) - STEERING
Oct 13, 2009
Incident date: Oct 13, 2009
2005 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. JUST OVER 50,000 MILES. TODAY, WHILST DRIVING TO LUNCH, MY POWER STEERING FAILED. THERE WAS NO WARNING, IT JUST QUIT, MID-DRIVE. THE CAR IS NOW VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. LOOKING ONLINE, I SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE, YET THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS. HTTP://WWW.MINI2.COM/FORUM/FIRST-GENERATION-FAULTS-FIXES/49527-IM... Read more
MINI
COOPER S CONVERTIBLE
(2008) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Oct 7, 2009
Incident date: Oct 3, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS IN THE PROCESS OF INVESTIGATING THE FAILURE. HE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.
Fire
Incident date: Oct 1, 2009
2005 MINI COOPER AUTOMATIC CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED AT ONLY 47,000 MILES. WHEN TAKING MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS, THE RPM'S WOULD REV UP AS THE CAR SLOWED DOWN. THEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND EP (TRANSMISSION) WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT ABOVE SECOND GEAR, MAKING THE CAR PRACTICALLY UNDRIVABLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED PROMPTLY AND WELL MAINTAINED THROUGH MINI C... Read more
Incident date: Oct 2, 2009
2008 MINI COOPER S SPONTANEOUS ENGINE FIRE 10/02. I HAD JUST RETURNED HOME FROM WORK AND I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR FOR ABOUT 45MINS AND THEN 10MINS AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR DOWN A FIRE HAD STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR
Fire
Incident date: Aug 25, 2009
"SRS" WARNING LIGHT (PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF) BLINKS ON AND OFF IN A 2005 MINI COOPERS WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT. THE WARNING LIGHT ONLY TRIGGERS WHEN THERE IS SOMEONE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. WAS TOLD BY MINI DEALERSHIP THAT IT WOULD COST $800 FOR THE PART AND +$200 IN LABOR TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE. NOT AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER. *TR
Incident date: Oct 5, 2009
YESTERDAY MY 23-YEAR DAUGHTER EXPERIENCED A DANGEROUS INCIDENT, WITH BURSTING OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. SHE ALMOST KILLED HERSELF. IT IS A NEW CAR (MINI COOPER, 2008) WITH ONLY 11,000 MILES TRAVELED. THE AAA WHICH WAS CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE DID NOT FIND ANY SIGN OF EXTERNAL PERFORATION AND THOUGHT THAT IT WAS AN EXPLOSION OF THE TIRE. *TR
Incident date: Oct 1, 2009
OUR 2004 MINI COOPER (CVT) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS ONLY 74,000 MILE ON IT. *TR
Incident date: Nov 30, 2008
IN EARLY DECEMBER 2008 MY WIFE WAS PUTTING ITEMS IN THE BACK OF THE MINI COOPER AND HER LEG TOUCHED THE EXHAUST, PIPE BURNING HER LEG. WE TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE CENTER AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED US THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. ON A RECENT VISIT TO THE SERVICE CENTER THE NEW SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED US THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BUT NOT FOR THIS MODEL. WE ARE CONCERNED FROM A SAFE... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Sep 25, 2009
2006 MINI COPPER S. I BOUGHT IT WITH 15997 MILES ON THE CAR. THE CLUTCH WENT OUT 3000 MILES LATER AND THE MINI DEALERSHIP WAS ASKED TO CHECK OUT THE CAR ESPECIALLY THE CLUTCH ONLY 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. NO WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED BEFORE THE CLUTCH STOPPED WORKING. NOW THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT IS NOT COVERING BY THE WARRANTY AND THEN INFORMS ME THAT THIS WILL BE THE THIRD CLUTCH TO BE IN... Read more
Incident date: Sep 25, 2009
2006 MINI COPPER S. I BOUGHT IT WITH 15997 MILES ON THE CAR. THE CLUTCH WENT OUT 3000 MILES LATER AND THE MINI DEALERSHIP WAS ASKED TO CHECK OUT THE CAR ESPECIALLY THE CLUTCH ONLY 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. NO WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED BEFORE THE CLUTCH STOPPED WORKING. NOW THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT IS NOT COVERING BY THE WARRANTY AND THEN INFORMS ME THAT THIS WILL BE THE THIRD CLUTCH TO BE IN... Read more
Incident date: Sep 19, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT INTO THE DRIVE GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY, AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CVT TRANSMISSION, AT AN EXPENSE OF $ 8,300.00. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,000. ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 20, 2009
MY CAR WILL SUDDENLY ONLY GO ABOUT 5 MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE THINKS HE HAS IT FIXED AND THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. NOW THEY ARE SAYING IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $8,400. THEY CAN'T REBUILD ONE, THEY CAN'T BUY A REBUILT ONE. THE CAR HAS LOW MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION SHOULDN'T BE GOING OUT. I BELIEVE MINI COOPERS HAVE A FLAWED TRANSMIS... Read more
Incident date: Jul 29, 2009
OUR MINI COOPER REPEATEDLY STALLED WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC RESULTING IN SEVERAL NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES. NO FAULT CODE OR CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT EVER APPEARED. UPON TAKING THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP, WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, THE PROBLEM AND OUR CONCERNS WERE DISMISSED WITHOUT REMEDY. FINALLY, AFTER BEING IN THE MOUNTAINS ON WINDY ROADS A CLICKING NOISE BEGAN. SINCE NO FAULT OR CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT APPEAR... Read more
Incident date: Sep 11, 2009
I NOTICED ON THE FRONT OF A SET OF A BRAND NEW TIRES THE TREAD ON LEFT TIRE WAS WORN TO THE CORE AND THE WAS SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE ON THE INSIDE, THE RIGHT TIRE HAD EVERY LITTLE TREAD LEFT. THE CAUSE OF THIS WAS THE STRUTS HAD DAMAGED THE UPPER STRUT PLATES ON BOTH SIDES, CAUSING IT TO BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT .THERE HAS BEEN 216 COMPLAINTS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; I... Read more
MINI
COOPER CONVERTIBLE
(2005) - SUSPENSION:FRONT
Sep 13, 2009
Incident date: Sep 11, 2009
NOTICED ON BRAND NEW TIRES THE TREAD ON LEFT TIRE WAS WORN TO THE CORE AND THE WAS SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE ON INSIDE, THE RIGHT TIRE HAD EVERY LITTLE TREAD LEFT. THERE HAS BEEN 216 COMPLAINTS . NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE OR REPAIR OR REPLACE THE PARTS. THE TIRES HAD ONLY 4000 MILES ON THEM WHEN IT WAS NOTICED. *TR
MINI
COOPER CONVERTIBLE
(2005) - FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Sep 13, 2009
Incident date: Sep 11, 2009
NOTICED ON BRAND NEW TIRES THE TREAD ON LEFT TIRE WAS WORN TO THE CORE AND THE WAS SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE ON INSIDE, THE RIGHT TIRE HAD EVERY LITTLE TREAD LEFT. THERE HAS BEEN 216 COMPLAINTS . NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE OR REPAIR OR REPLACE THE PARTS. THE TIRES HAD ONLY 4000 MILES ON THEM WHEN IT WAS NOTICED. *TR
Incident date: Aug 13, 2009
I HAVE A 2003 MINI COOPER WITH AUTOMATIC CVT TRANSMISSION AND HAVE HAD RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH THE CVT SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF SERVICE VISITS, REPLACEMENT OF THE CVT IN 2007, AND THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE CVT AS INOPERABLE. I HAVE ALL INVOICES DETAILING WORK DONE. 10/9/02 - I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 MINI COOPER WITH AUTOMATIC CVT TRANSMISSION FROM BARON BMW IN MERRIAM... Read more
MINI
COOPER
(2008) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
Sep 8, 2009
Incident date: Aug 30, 2009
TAILPIPE BURNED LEG WHILE GETTING ITEMS OUT OF TRUNK OF 2008 MINI COOPER 2 DOOR SEDAN. *TR
1 injured
MINI
COOPER CONVERTIBLE
(2005) - STRUCTURE
Aug 27, 2009
Incident date: Aug 1, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. WHENEVER SHE PRESSED THE BUTTON TO OPEN THE SUNROOF OR CONVERTIBLE, THE DRIVERS SIDE OPENED BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS A LAPSE IN THE CABLE AND SHE'D THE ENTIRE UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT OFFER HER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAIL... Read more
Incident date: Aug 25, 2009
WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2005 MINI COOPER AND SAID THAT SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER STARTING HER DRIVE, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN ACTING ERRATICALLY. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD GO CEASE WHEN SHE WAS TURNING A CORNER, FORCING HER TO MUSCLE THE CAR IN UNASSISTED STEERING MODE. THEN, THE POWER STEERING WOULD KICK IN, RESULTING IN OVERSTEER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN, REQUIRING QUICK CORRECTION. I WAS UNA... Read more
Incident date: Nov 2, 2007
2007 MINI COOPER S - MANUAL TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ALLOW GEARSHIFTS AND COULD ONLY BE DRIVEN IN FIRST GEAR. DEALERSHIP STATED CLUTCH CAME APART AFTER 8 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. DEALERSHIP REPLACED WITH REMANUFACTURED CLUTCH, FLYWHEEL, GEARBOX OIL AND CLIP UNDER WARRANTY. IN JULY OF 2009 I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING ROUGH AND THE CLUTCH WAS MAKING A SQUEAKING SOUND WHEN APPLIED. DEAL... Read more
Incident date: Jul 31, 2009
THE MINI COOPER ENGINE HAS AN INTERNAL THERMOSTAT THAT IS PLASTIC, WHEN MINE CRACKED AND LEAKED I HAD NO SIGNS SHOWING THAT. THE ENGINE ONE DAY GOT HOT, I DROVE ABOUT 5 MILES AND STOPPED. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND I NEED A NEW ENGINE. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THIS HAPPENS ALOT. *TR
Incident date: Jan 1, 2008
MY 2003 MINI COOPER HAS A CRACKED WINDSHIELD THAT RESULTED FROM STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS. IT IS L-SHAPED AND IT STARTED AT THE BOTTOM MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
Incident date: Aug 3, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BUMP ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND ... Read more
Incident date: May 8, 2009
TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH NO WARNING OR SYMPTOMS. *TR
Incident date: Jul 18, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE PARKED OUTSIDE OF A RETIREMENT CENTER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND UNPLUGGED THE BATTERY BECAUSE IT APPEARED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE ELECTRICA... Read more
Fire
MINI
JCW CLUBMAN
(2009) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Jul 18, 2009
Incident date: Nov 20, 2008
A LOUD RATTLING NOISE IS HEARD AND FELT WHEN ENGINE IS FIRST STARTED AND LASTS UNTIL THE ENGINE STARTS TO WARM UP DEPENDING ON HOW QUICKLY THE ENGINE BEGINS TO WARM UP. IN MY EXPERIENCE, SEVERAL MINUTES OF RATTLING. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL OF THE TIME. I'VE NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP (INSKIP MINI IN WARWICK, RI) MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE SERVICE MANAGER (JEFF S) SAID MINI IS AWARE OF THE COMPLAINT A... Read more
Incident date: Jul 18, 2009
2004 MINI COOPER NON S , TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO A MIDLAND TRANSMISSION. *TR
Incident date: Jul 8, 2009
POWER STEERING PUMP FAN SEIZED. PER DEALERSHIP AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, MOST COMMON MINI REPAIR. PROBLEM IS THAT SEIZED FAN MOTOR CONTINUES TO DRAW POWER WHICH DRAINS BATTERY. HAD TO HAVE CAR JUMPED BY AAA TO GET IT STARTED TO BRING IN FOR REPAIR. NOW ALL THE DASHBOARD ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS ARE MALFUNCTIONING: NO SPEEDOMETER/TACH/GAS GAGE READ OUT. IN EXCESS OF $2K TO FIX PLUS ALREADY PAID $400... Read more
Incident date: Jul 8, 2009
POWER STEERING PUMP FAN SEIZED. PER DEALERSHIP AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, MOST COMMON MINI REPAIR. PROBLEM IS THAT SEIZED FAN MOTOR CONTINUES TO DRAW POWER WHICH DRAINS BATTERY. HAD TO HAVE CAR JUMPED BY AAA TO GET IT STARTED TO BRING IN FOR REPAIR. NOW ALL THE DASHBOARD ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS ARE MALFUNCTIONING: NO SPEEDOMETER/TACH/GAS GAGE READ OUT. IN EXCESS OF $2K TO FIX PLUS ALREADY PAID $400... Read more
Incident date: Jul 11, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
Incident date: Jul 6, 2009
INTERMITTENT (TWICE WITHIN 40 MINUTES) POWER STEERING FAILURE. FIRST OCCURRENCE WHILE TURNING A CORNER, CONTINUED UNTIL I PULLED IN TO MAKE A CALL TO THE DEALERSHIP. ONCE I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE POWER STEERING WAS APPARENTLY WORKING NORMALLY AGAIN. WHILE TELEPHONING THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS WORKING AGAIN, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN AND REMAINED NO... Read more
Incident date: Jan 4, 2004
I HAVE A 2002 MINI COOPER, I PURCHASED NEW. I HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. MY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 20+ TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY STILL CAN NOT SEEM TO GET A PERMANENT FIX FOR THIS(NEXT APPOINTMENT JULY 9, 2009). *TR
Incident date: Jun 26, 2009
FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR WHEN AN ADULT PASSENGER WEIGHING BETWEEN 130 AND 140 LBS SITS. THE AIRBAG SYSTEM TURNS OFF AND THERE IS NO WAY TO OVERRIDE THIS AUTOMATIC SENSOR. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP MINI (SAN ANTONIO) TWO TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION. MINI STATES THERE IS NO ERROR FROM THE SYSTEM, SO THEY CANNOT REPLACE THIS SENSOR. I DEMONSTRATED THE ISSUE TO SEVERAL PEOPLE A... Read more
MINI
COOPER
(2002) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
Jun 26, 2009
Incident date: Jun 26, 2009
I DROVE MY 2002 MINI COOPER APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES TO DROP OFF A FRIEND WHO WAS VISITING FROM OUT OF TOWN. I WAS HELPING MY FRIEND REMOVE HIS SUITCASE AND STANDING TO THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR OF THE CAR WHEN MY LEG MADE CONTACT WITH THE TAILPIPE CAUSING ABOUT A 2 INCH CRESCENT SHAPED BURN. THE TAILPIPE WAS HOT ENOUGH THAT MY SKIN STUCK TO THE PIPE - IT IS A PRETTY NASTY SECOND DEGREE BURN. *TR
1 injured
MINI
COOPER CONVERTIBLE
(2008) - SUSPENSION
Jun 24, 2009
Incident date: Dec 15, 2008
MY 2008 MINI CONVERTIBLE HAS A BAD VIBRATION THAT STARTS AT 70MPH. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SEVERAL SERVICE VISITS WHERE THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REBALANCED TWICE, TIRES REPLACED TWICE, FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT, AND INSPECTION OF THE SUSPENSION. NONE OF THESE ACTIONS HAS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. BMW / MINI ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND CLAIM THE CAR IS BEHAVING AS DESIGNED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE... Read more
Incident date: Jun 12, 2009
DRIVING HOME THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP. GOT THE CAR PARKED. NEXT MORNING THE CAR WAS DEAD. NOTHING WORKED. TOWED CAR TO REPAIR SHOP. MECHANIC CALLED AND SAID CAR MUST GO TO THE DEALER. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. 1ST ESTIMATE FROM DEALER WAS 2350.00 FOR A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP, POWER STEERING HARNESS AND A NEW BATTERY. CAR REMAINED AT THE DEALER UNTIL TODAY 6/19/09. TOTAL FOR THE WORK PERFORMED ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 11, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. SHE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR SPRING LEAF CRACKED. THE REAR SPRING LEAF WAS REPLACED AT THE COST OF $860. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER, ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 2, 2009
2005 MINI COOPER S-BEGAN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CAR JERKING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS (NOT A MANUAL TRANSMISSION) IN EARLY 2009. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANICS. THEY HAD IT FOR QUITE AWHILE, TRYING TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE. THEY ADVISED THAT THEY EVEN CONSULTED WITH THE DEALERSHIP, BUT SAID THEY FELT LIKE THE DEALERSHIP WASN'T VERY FORTHCOMING IN THEIR INFORMATION. MY MECHANIC ULTIMATELY DECIDED THAT... Read more
MINI
COOPER S CONVERTIBLE
(2007) - AIR BAGS
Jun 14, 2009
Incident date: Mar 15, 2009
PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING THAT THERE IS A FAULT WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND THE SYSTEM IS INACTIVE. *TR
Incident date: May 15, 2008
2002 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING HYDRAULIC ASSIST FAILS WITHOUT WARNING MAKING CAR DIFFICULT TO STEER. FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT AND MAY OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY OR ON SURFACE ROADS. IN EITHER CASE THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. *TR
MINI
COOPER CONVERTIBLE
(2005) - STEERING
Jun 12, 2009
Incident date: Jun 9, 2009
REGULAR DRIVING AT AROUND 6PM AT ABOUT 40MPH AROUND A BEND, COMPLETE POWER STEERING FAILURE, THE CAR BECAME VERY HEAVY TO STEER, WITH NO PRIOR WARNING, AND NO WARNING LIGHTS. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS THE CAR FAILED TO STEER. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, THE WARRANTY HAS BEEN OVER FOR 3 MONTHS AND MINI ARE SAYING A GOODWILL REPAIR MIGHT BE AVAILABLE, BUT WILL NOT DO A FREE DIAGNOSTIC, HELP US GET ... Read more
Incident date: May 11, 2009
AIRBAG LIGHT ON SPEEDOMETER/TACH, NOT IN OVERHEAD CONSOLE. *TR
MINI
COOPER CONVERTIBLE
(2005) - STEERING
Jun 10, 2009
Incident date: Jun 9, 2009
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND MY STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY HARD AND ALMOST REFUSED TO COMPLETELY WORK AS I WAS ROUNDING A BEND! I HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND SLOWLY INCH TO A SAFE PARKING SPOT. AFTER BEING SCARED OUT OF MY WITS, I CALMED DOWN AND PARKED MY CAR. I LET THE CAR SIT OVERNIGHT AND CHECKED POWER STEERING FLUID AND IT WAS FULL. I THEN LOOKED ONLI... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2009
THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE DOES NOT RELEASE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. THIS STARTED WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2009. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME I TRY TO REMOVE THE SEATBELT. I HAVE TO JIGGLE THE BUCKLE TO GET IT TO RELEASE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM YET; THE DEALER WILL NOT WARRANTY THE BUCKLE. *TR
Incident date: May 31, 2009
TOOK 2003 MINI COOPER S TO PERFORMANCE DRIVING SCHOOL AND HAD POWER STEERING PUMP CATCH ON FIRE. *TR
Fire
MINI
COOPER
(2004) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
Jun 3, 2009
Incident date: Nov 12, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS PLACING ITEMS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, HIS CALF WAS BURNED BY THE EXTENDED TAIL PIPE. THE DRIVER HAS INCURRED MULTIPLE BURNS TO HIS CALF DUE TO THE EXTENDED TAIL PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE CO... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Oct 1, 2008
MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER SAID I HAD A DEFECTIVE SEAT SENSOR BUT THE AIRBAG WOULD STILL WORK... MY DASHBOARD LOOKS LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE. LATER I HEARD ABOUT THE WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THIS FAULT. I DROVE 200 MILES ROUND TRIP AFTER MAKING AN APPOINTMENT. THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. THE DEALER HAS GIVEN ME ALOT OF MISINFORMATION... DOI TRUST THEM ON THI... Read more
Incident date: May 13, 2009
TRANSMISSION WHINING NOISE EVENTUALLY LEADING TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. MINI IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH CVT TRANSMISSIONS AND REFUSES TO ADMIT FAULT. VERY COMMON PROBLEM OCCURRING IN MOST 2002 VEHICLES WITH ONLY 40,000-60,000 MILES ON THEM. COST IS 7000 TO REPLACE. MINI DOES NOT OFFER REPAIR ON THIS PART. *TR
Incident date: Oct 7, 2008
MY 2005 MINI HAD APROX. 77,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I HAD DROVE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY, HEARD A LOUD NOISE, AND WHEN I GOT OUT I SAW A PIECE OF THE TRANSMISSION CASING LAYING ON THE GROUND AND ALL THE FLUID DRAINED OUT. THERE ARE 95 MINI OWNERS THAT I KNOW OF WHO HAVE HAD 1 OR 2 TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED AFTER ONLY A FEW YEARS OF USE. MINE COST ME 5,000 DOLLARS AND LOSS OF USE FOR 2 M... Read more