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
Incident date: Aug 5, 2014
I BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER A 2006 MINI COOPER S A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. TODAY I DECIDED TO DRIVE IT TO WORK HERE AT FORT HOOD, TEXAS. A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR AFTER I GOT TO WORK I DECIDED TO GO GET BREAKFAST SO WHEN I WALKED OUT OF MY OFFICE I HEARD A CAR ALARM GOING OFF AND WHEN I ROUNDED THE CORNER I SAW MY DAUGHTER'S CAR BILLOWING SMOKE! I RAN INSIDE TO GET HELP AND WAS ABLE TO FIND TOOLS TO DISCONNE... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Aug 5, 2014
I BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER A 2006 MINI COOPER S A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. TODAY I DECIDED TO DRIVE IT TO WORK HERE AT FORT HOOD, TEXAS. A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR AFTER I GOT TO WORK I DECIDED TO GO GET BREAKFAST SO WHEN I WALKED OUT OF MY OFFICE I HEARD A CAR ALARM GOING OFF AND WHEN I ROUNDED THE CORNER I SAW MY DAUGHTER'S CAR BILLOWING SMOKE! I RAN INSIDE TO GET HELP AND WAS ABLE TO FIND TOOLS TO DISCONNE... Read more
Fire
Incident date: May 1, 2014
2002 MINI COOPER, MANUAL TRANSMISSION. LOW MILEAGE, ONLY 22,000 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING IS CITY TRAFFIC, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN I SHIFTED INTO 1ST AND LIFTED THE CLUTCH TRYING TO START FROM A RED LIGHT. THERE WAS A SMALL "SPUTTER" AND THEN THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THOUGHT THAT THE CLUTCH WAS OUT. THE REPAIR SHOP FOUND OU... Read more
MINI
COOPER CLUBMAN
(2009) - POWER TRAIN
Aug 5, 2014
Incident date: Jul 24, 2014
AFTER HEARING A RATTLING WHILE IDLING AT A STOP SIGN AND THEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THERE WAS A TERRIBLE NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. MY HUSBAND PUSHED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OPENED THE HOOD. IT APPEARED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BUSTED OUT OF THE TOP OF THE ENGINE COVER. WE WERE VERY CONCERNED AS THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH HE HAD JU... Read more
MINI
COOPER CLUBMAN
(2009) - ENGINE
Aug 5, 2014
Incident date: Jul 24, 2014
AFTER HEARING A RATTLING WHILE IDLING AT A STOP SIGN AND THEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THERE WAS A TERRIBLE NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. MY HUSBAND PUSHED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OPENED THE HOOD. IT APPEARED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BUSTED OUT OF THE TOP OF THE ENGINE COVER. WE WERE VERY CONCERNED AS THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH HE HAD JU... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2014
LEG BURN FROM HOT EXHAUST PIPE WHILE UNLOADING ITEMS FROM TRUNK. LEANED AGAINST REAR BUMPER WITH BARE LEG. *TR
1 injured
Incident date: Jul 26, 2013
THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND SAYS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS TURNED OFF. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A WEIGHT SENSOR IN THE SEAT AND IT IS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS THAT THERE IS CONFLICTING INFORMATION NOT THERE AS TO WEATHER THE AIR BAGS WILL WORK OR NOT IN THIS CONDITION. THE DEALER FIX COST BETWEEN 1000 A... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE FAILURE WAS 60,000.
Incident date: Oct 1, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE FAILURE WAS 60,000.
Incident date: Jul 24, 2014
WHILE IDLING AT A RED LIGHT, VEHICLE RPMS VARIED DRAMATICALLY AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND MOVED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE VALVE COVER WAS FOUND TO HAVE A VACUUM LEAK, WHICH HAS BECOME A COMMON ISSUE WITH MINI COOPER S MODELS. *TR
Incident date: Jul 29, 2014
ON TWO OCCASIONS (7/19/14 AND 7/29/14), THE ENGINE CUT-OFF, PUTTING THE CAR IN "ACCESSORY MODE." ON BOTH OCCASIONS, I WAS DRIVING ON A FLAT ROAD, AT LOW SPEED. THERE WAS NO ABILITY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT COMPLETELY STOPPING, PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK, AND RESTARTING THE CAR. AS A RESULT OF BEING IN ACCESSORY MODE, I HAD NO POWER STEERING AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO GLIDE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE RO... Read more
Incident date: Jul 29, 2014
ON TWO OCCASIONS (7/19/14 AND 7/29/14), THE ENGINE CUT-OFF, PUTTING THE CAR IN "ACCESSORY MODE." ON BOTH OCCASIONS, I WAS DRIVING ON A FLAT ROAD, AT LOW SPEED. THERE WAS NO ABILITY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT COMPLETELY STOPPING, PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK, AND RESTARTING THE CAR. AS A RESULT OF BEING IN ACCESSORY MODE, I HAD NO POWER STEERING AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO GLIDE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE RO... Read more
Incident date: Jul 29, 2014
ON TWO OCCASIONS (7/19/14 AND 7/29/14), THE ENGINE CUT-OFF, PUTTING THE CAR IN "ACCESSORY MODE." ON BOTH OCCASIONS, I WAS DRIVING ON A FLAT ROAD, AT LOW SPEED. THERE WAS NO ABILITY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT COMPLETELY STOPPING, PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK, AND RESTARTING THE CAR. AS A RESULT OF BEING IN ACCESSORY MODE, I HAD NO POWER STEERING AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO GLIDE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE RO... Read more
MINI
COOPER CONVERTIBLE
(2005) - STEERING
Jul 29, 2014
Incident date: Jul 29, 2014
WAS DRIVING AT 45MPH AND ALL OF SUDDEN COULD TELL SOMETHING WAS DIFFERENT WITH THE STEERING. SLOWED DOWN AND TURNED AT THE NEXT INTERSECTION AND IT WAS LIKE DRIVING A TANK. COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY BAD IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING FASTER. *JS
Incident date: Jun 22, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THERE WERE STRONG GASOLINE FUMES EMITTING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND EXTINGUISHED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Oct 10, 2013
AS MANY OTHER MINI OWNERS HAVE REPORTED, MY SRS LIGHT IS ON AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS CONTINUOUSLY OFF (LIGHT STAYS ON). I HAVE NO IDEA IF I AM DRIVING WITH OR WITHOUT AIRBAGS. *JS $1,500 TO FIX AT DEALER. MINI DID A RECALL ON MODELS UP TO 2005.
Incident date: May 16, 2014
POWER STEERING COMPLETELY QUIT WORKING. CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. STOPPED AND TURNED OFF CAR FOR A WHILE. STARTED CAR AGAIN AND POWER STEERING WAS OK. NOW POWER STEERING IS VERY DIFFICULT UNTIL CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A FEW MINUTES. *JS
MINI
COOPER S CONVERTIBLE
(2006) - AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
Jul 28, 2014
Incident date: Aug 22, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
MINI
COOPER S CLUBMAN
(2010) - ENGINE
Jul 27, 2014
Incident date: Jul 1, 2014
COLD START KNOCKING NOISE, AFTER DRIVING OUT MY LOT THE ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY TURN OFF AND HAVE TO START UP AGAIN. RATTLING SOUND CONTINUES.... *JS
Incident date: Jun 10, 2014
WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING MAKING THE CAR VERY HARD TO TURN. IT WAS NOT NOTICEABLE DRIVING STRAIGHT, BUT WHEN TAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN YOU ALMOST CANNOT MAKE THE TURN UNLESS YOU REALLY CRANK ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT NO WARNING. IN ORDER TO GET THE POWER STEERING BACK, THE IGNITION HAS TO BE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 10, 2014
WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING MAKING THE CAR VERY HARD TO TURN. IT WAS NOT NOTICEABLE DRIVING STRAIGHT, BUT WHEN TAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN YOU ALMOST CANNOT MAKE THE TURN UNLESS YOU REALLY CRANK ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT NO WARNING. IN ORDER TO GET THE POWER STEERING BACK, THE IGNITION HAS TO BE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2014
LOUD NOISE/RATTLE AT IDLE. LOOSE CAMSHAFT TIMING CHAIN DUE TO TENSIONER FAILURE. IT WOULD APPEAR FROM SEVERAL FORUMS THAT THIS IS FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM THAT DEALERS ARE REFUSING TO FIX SINCE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. *TR
MINI
COOPER S CONVERTIBLE
(2007) - AIR BAGS
Jul 24, 2014
Incident date: Nov 1, 2013
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR FAILED, AIRBAG LIGHT AND PASSENGER OCCUPANCY LIGHT ARE ILLUMINATED. COST TO REPLACE IS AROUND $1K. THERE WAS A RECALL OF THIS FOR MODELS UP TO 2005, BUT THIS MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED. *TR
Incident date: Jul 3, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED AND BOTH FRONT WINDOWS HESITATED TO ROLL UP AND DOWN. ALSO, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE BUCKLED OR UNBUCKLED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A POSITIVE CABLE IN THE FUSE BOX THAT MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TH... Read more
Incident date: Jul 3, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED AND BOTH FRONT WINDOWS HESITATED TO ROLL UP AND DOWN. ALSO, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE BUCKLED OR UNBUCKLED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A POSITIVE CABLE IN THE FUSE BOX THAT MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TH... Read more
Incident date: Jul 3, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED AND BOTH FRONT WINDOWS HESITATED TO ROLL UP AND DOWN. ALSO, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE BUCKLED OR UNBUCKLED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A POSITIVE CABLE IN THE FUSE BOX THAT MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TH... Read more
Incident date: Jul 3, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED AND BOTH FRONT WINDOWS HESITATED TO ROLL UP AND DOWN. ALSO, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE BUCKLED OR UNBUCKLED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A POSITIVE CABLE IN THE FUSE BOX THAT MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TH... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2014
DURING LIGHT ACCELERATION AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS, THE ENGINE LOST SOME POWER AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER FIRST REPLACE THE VACUUM HOSES. IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THE DEALER REPLACED THE VACUUM PUMP. IT HAPPENED AGAIN IMMEDIATELY, THE DEALER REPLACED THE TURBOCHARGER UNIT BECAUSE THE WASTEGATE WON'T CLOSE COMPLETELY. THE TURBOCHARGER AND WASTEGATE SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THAN 5 YEARS ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 18, 2014
MY PROBLEM IS WITH A 2005 MINI COOPER S. WHY IS THEIR NOT A RECALL ON THE WATER PUMP? IT HAS BEEN KNOW FOR GOING OUT PREMATURE AND BMW HAS REDESIGNED THE NEW PUMPS WITH A METAL IMPELLER INSTEAD OF PREVIOUS PLASTIC. TALKING TO THE DEALER, THEY MADE ME FEEL FORTUNATE THAT MY WATER PUMP MADE IT TO 50,000 MILES STATING THEY REPLACE MANY WATER PUMPS IN THE 1ST GENERATION SERIES AROUND 20,000 MILES. I S... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2014
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS REMAIN ON WITH OR WITHOUT SOMEONE IN THE SEAT. CAUSES CONCERN IF AIRBAGS WILL OPERATE IN A CRASH. *TR
Incident date: Jul 15, 2014
MERGING ONTO INTERSTATE I ACCELERATED AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER. ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT I COULD NOT GET ANY SPEED. EML MESSAGE LIT UP ON DASH. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, LOSING POWER AS I MERGED WITH TRAFFIC THAT WAS GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I MANAGED TO LIMP TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHUTTING OFF CAR AND RESTARTING RESET SOMETHING AND EML MESSAGE DISAPPEARED AND ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY. GOOGLING... Read more
Incident date: Jul 15, 2014
MERGING ONTO INTERSTATE I ACCELERATED AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER. ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT I COULD NOT GET ANY SPEED. EML MESSAGE LIT UP ON DASH. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, LOSING POWER AS I MERGED WITH TRAFFIC THAT WAS GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I MANAGED TO LIMP TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHUTTING OFF CAR AND RESTARTING RESET SOMETHING AND EML MESSAGE DISAPPEARED AND ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY. GOOGLING... Read more
Incident date: Jun 3, 2013
PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY 2006 MINI COOPER, ABOVE REARVIEW MIRROR STAYS ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY, WHETHER THE PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED OR NOT. AFTER CALLING THE NEARBY MINI COOPER DEALER, AND TALKING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER HE SAID YES WE HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THEM. HOWEVER THERE IS NO RECALL OUT FOR 2006 MINI AIRBAG PROBLEMS BUT THERE HAS BEEN FOR OTHER MODEL YEARS. SAID THE SENSOR AND ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2011
I HAD NOTICED THAT THE POWER GOING UP HILLS HAD BEEN SLOWING DOWN FOR SOMETIME BUT AS WE WERE DRIVING IN TOWN AND LOST IT'S NUMBER THREE CYLINDER, TOOK IT TO SHOP AND WITH SEVERAL DAYS OF WORK FOUND OUT I WOULD BE BETTER OFF SCRAPPING IT THAN FIXING IT. MECHANIC WHO DEALS WITH BMW SAID THAT HE COULD PUT IN A NEW ENGINE BUT HE SAND THAT THE ISSUES THAT HE HAS SEEN ON THIS YEARS COOPER SHOW IT IS J... Read more
Incident date: Jul 14, 2014
MY OCCUPANCY SENSOR 2 MAT IS BAD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART, OTHERWISE IT WILL BE ABOUT $1400 TO REPLACE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE SENSOR IS UNABLE TO READ WHETHER OR NOT A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. *TR
Incident date: Jul 8, 2014
DSC AND BRAKE LIGHT TURNED APPEARED ON TACHOMETER DISPLAY IN YELLOW AND DOES NOT GO OUT. DSC BUTTON IF PRESSED MAKES NO CHANGES TO DCS/ABS LIGHTS ON DISPLAYS. IMMEDIATELY THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS/ISSUES APPEARED: STEERING STARTED TO FAULT LIKE UNALIGNED, BRAKE PEDAL SLIGHTLY ERRATIC, BLINKER TURN SIGNAL DOES NOW NOT TURN OFF AFTER ACTIVATING AND MAKING A TURN. VEHICLE HAS JCW SPORT BRAKE KIT, I... Read more
Incident date: Jul 8, 2014
DSC AND BRAKE LIGHT TURNED APPEARED ON TACHOMETER DISPLAY IN YELLOW AND DOES NOT GO OUT. DSC BUTTON IF PRESSED MAKES NO CHANGES TO DCS/ABS LIGHTS ON DISPLAYS. IMMEDIATELY THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS/ISSUES APPEARED: STEERING STARTED TO FAULT LIKE UNALIGNED, BRAKE PEDAL SLIGHTLY ERRATIC, BLINKER TURN SIGNAL DOES NOW NOT TURN OFF AFTER ACTIVATING AND MAKING A TURN. VEHICLE HAS JCW SPORT BRAKE KIT, I... Read more
Incident date: Jul 8, 2014
DSC AND BRAKE LIGHT TURNED APPEARED ON TACHOMETER DISPLAY IN YELLOW AND DOES NOT GO OUT. DSC BUTTON IF PRESSED MAKES NO CHANGES TO DCS/ABS LIGHTS ON DISPLAYS. IMMEDIATELY THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS/ISSUES APPEARED: STEERING STARTED TO FAULT LIKE UNALIGNED, BRAKE PEDAL SLIGHTLY ERRATIC, BLINKER TURN SIGNAL DOES NOW NOT TURN OFF AFTER ACTIVATING AND MAKING A TURN. VEHICLE HAS JCW SPORT BRAKE KIT, I... Read more
MINI
COOPER CLUBMAN
(2008) - SEATS
Jul 11, 2014
Incident date: Jun 24, 2014
THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY LIGHT LIT UP IN 2 PLACES ON DASH INFORMATION-THERE WAS NO OCCUPANT IN THE SEAT. RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE @ MINI COOPER WEB SITES INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND HAS PERSISTED FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS. IT IS AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPAIR (USUALLY BETWEEN $1600 & $2600) AS THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR (FOR AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT) IS SEWN INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT & THE REPAIR... Read more
MINI
COOPER CLUBMAN
(2008) - AIR BAGS
Jul 11, 2014
Incident date: Jun 24, 2014
THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY LIGHT LIT UP IN 2 PLACES ON DASH INFORMATION-THERE WAS NO OCCUPANT IN THE SEAT. RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE @ MINI COOPER WEB SITES INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND HAS PERSISTED FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS. IT IS AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPAIR (USUALLY BETWEEN $1600 & $2600) AS THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR (FOR AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT) IS SEWN INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT & THE REPAIR... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2013
OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT BAD AND PASSENGER AIR BAG DISABLED LIGHT ON. A KNOWN ISSUE AND BMW AUTOS AND SUVS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE THE MINI PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT IS THE SAME DESIGN AS THE BMW 3 SERIES AND SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THIS DISABLES THE PASSENGER AIRBAG PUTTING A PASSENGER IN DANGER. THE BMW RECALL CAMPAIGN IS NO. 13V-564. *TR
MINI
COOPER S CONVERTIBLE
(2005) - STEERING
Jul 11, 2014
Incident date: Feb 26, 2014
DRIVING APPROX. 15 MILES - MOSTLY INTERSTATE - TO ATTEND A FRIEND'S BIRTHDAY DINNER. WHILE PULLING INTO THE PARKING LOT, LOST POWER STEERING AND ALL INDICATOR WARNING LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. I PROCEEDED TO A PARKING SPACE AND SAW SMOKE POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I RELEASED THE HOOD I COULD SEE AN ORANGE GLOW AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE (NIGHT TIME). WITHIN 30 SECONDS IT BURST INTO FLAM... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Apr 8, 2014
STARTED OUT BEING AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM,WHERE IT WOULD SEEM THE POWER STEERING WOULD SHUT OFF THEN COME BACK ON, MAKING HARD TO JUDGE IF YOU COULD JUST RELAX TO STEER OR NOT, NOW ITS MORE OFF THAN ON. CALLED THE MINI ASSISTANCE NUMBER BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS ISSUE, WAS TOLD THERE WAS BUT MY VEHICLE DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR IT, AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS FOR VEHICLE... Read more
Incident date: Jul 9, 2014
THE DEALER INFORMED ME MY OIL FEED LINES TO THE TURBO WERE LEAKING AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED SOON. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH FOUND THE COUPLINGS THAT ATTACHES THESE LINES TO THE TURBO ARE DEFECTIVE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOT A RECALL AND WILL COST APPROX: $1500.00. THE DEALER INSTALLED A TURBO SHIELD TO HELP WITH THE HEAT THAT IS CAUSING TH... Read more
Incident date: Jul 5, 2014
"PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" INDICATOR TURNS ON WHILE DRIVING AND REMAINS ON FOR THE DURATION OF THE DRIVE. PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED BY A PASSENGER WEIGHING APPROX 195 POUNDS WITH SEAT BELT PROPERLY FASTENED. THERE IS NO WAY TO MANUALLY TURN ON THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND BYPASS THE SEAT SENSOR. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE MINI COOPER AND IS DISCUSSED ON ONLINE ENTHUSIAST FORUMS, WITH MINI USA DEALER... Read more
Incident date: Jul 5, 2014
"PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" INDICATOR TURNS ON WHILE DRIVING AND REMAINS ON FOR THE DURATION OF THE DRIVE. PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED BY A PASSENGER WEIGHING APPROX 195 POUNDS WITH SEAT BELT PROPERLY FASTENED. THERE IS NO WAY TO MANUALLY TURN ON THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND BYPASS THE SEAT SENSOR. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE MINI COOPER AND IS DISCUSSED ON ONLINE ENTHUSIAST FORUMS, WITH MINI USA DEALER... Read more
Incident date: Jul 5, 2014
"PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" INDICATOR TURNS ON WHILE DRIVING AND REMAINS ON FOR THE DURATION OF THE DRIVE. PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED BY A PASSENGER WEIGHING APPROX 195 POUNDS WITH SEAT BELT PROPERLY FASTENED. THERE IS NO WAY TO MANUALLY TURN ON THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND BYPASS THE SEAT SENSOR. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE MINI COOPER AND IS DISCUSSED ON ONLINE ENTHUSIAST FORUMS, WITH MINI USA DEALER... Read more
MINI
COOPER COUNTRYMAN
(2011) - AIR BAGS
Jul 7, 2014
Incident date: Jun 5, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. DURING THE IMPACT ALL AIR BAGS INSIDE THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT DURING THE INCIDENT THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DAMAGED AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. T... Read more
Crash
MINI
COOPER CLUBMAN S
(2008) - ENGINE
Jul 3, 2014
Incident date: Jun 26, 2014
WE STARTED OUR 2008 MINI CLUBMAN S IN A PARKING LOT AND IT IMMEDIATELY INDICATED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (CEL) FOR 'LIMP' MODE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE UPPER GUIDE RAIL FOR THE TIMING CHAIN HAD SHATTERED. THE ODBII CODES WERE P0300, RANDOM MIS-FIRE, P0301 MIS-FIRE CYLINDER 1, P0303 MIS-FIRE CYLINDER 3 AND P1492, DOWNSTREAM THROTTLE AIR LEAK. *TR
Incident date: Jun 17, 2014
I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND CAR JUST STALLED. I MADE IT TO SIDE OF FREEWAY. IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION BEING ON FREEWAY IN SMALL CAR THAT STALLED. LUCKILY, I WAS DRIVING IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE SO I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER. REPAIR SHOP ADVISED THAT TIMING CHAIN BROKE. THERE WAS ADDITIONAL SERIOUS COLLATERAL ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO TIMING CHAIN BREAKING. CAR IS PERFECTLY MAINTAINED A... Read more