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: Oct 30, 2012
THE SEAT SENSOR IS FAULTY. IT READS THAT SOMEONE UNDER 30LBS IS IN IT (DISABLING THE AIRBAG) THE DASH LIGHT VERIFIES IT IS OFF. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT TO THIS DAY. SO IF A CRASH OCCURS THE SENSOR WON'T READ CORRECTLY IF ANYONE IS IN THE SEAT OR NOT, THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY AND IF IT DOES WILL DO SO POSSIBLY WITH TOO MUCH FORCE. *TR
Incident date: Oct 30, 2012
THE SEAT SENSOR IS FAULTY. IT READS THAT SOMEONE UNDER 30LBS IS IN IT (DISABLING THE AIRBAG) THE DASH LIGHT VERIFIES IT IS OFF. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT TO THIS DAY. SO IF A CRASH OCCURS THE SENSOR WON'T READ CORRECTLY IF ANYONE IS IN THE SEAT OR NOT, THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY AND IF IT DOES WILL DO SO POSSIBLY WITH TOO MUCH FORCE. *TR
Incident date: Jan 16, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COPPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED INTO A PARKING SPACE WHERE THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S PLACE OF RESIDENCE BUT HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OF... Read more
Incident date: Jun 26, 2013
WHILE DRIVING ON 580 CAR LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP FROZE UP, BOLT ON TIMING GEAR SHEARED OFF AND FELL INTO OIL PAN. OIL PUMP WAS DESTROYED AS A RESULT. ON 11/7/13 RECEIVED LETTER FROM MINI CORP. REGARDING A FAULTY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WITH PREMATURE WEAR, WHICH COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS. UPON REPLACEMENT OF TENSIONER ASSEMBLY... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2014
I HAVE A 2013 MINI CLUBMAN S WITH ONLY 8K MILES ON IT. AS I STARTED IT TODAY AND WAS DRIVING OUT OF MY GARAGE THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FUNCTION AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS VERY HARD, (LIKE STEPPING ON A BRICK) AND WAS UNABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP USING THE BRAKE PEDAL? LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WITH THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER BEFORE I HIT ANYTHING... (THANK GOD MY WIFE WASN'T DRIVING...) AS I... Read more
Incident date: Aug 18, 2013
COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WHILE SURROUNDED BY SEMIS IN THE 3/4-MILE-LONG BIG WALKER MOUNTAIN TUNNEL WHILE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON I-77 (NEAR VIRGINIA EXIT 47). THANKFULLY THE ENGINE DIDN'T SEIZE AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF ONCE THROUGH THE TUNNEL. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, THE CAUSE WAS A CHECK VALVE IN THE VALVE COVER, WHICH MALFUNCTIONED IN A WAY THAT CREATED A VACUUM AND TRAPPED OIL I... Read more
Incident date: Jan 10, 2014
TURBO OIL FEED LINE LEAK, OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET WHICH IS COSTING ME CLOSE TO 1200$. *TR
Incident date: Jul 1, 2010
I HAVE AN 03 MINI COOPER BASE MODEL THAT HAD THE IMPENDING POWER STEERING FAILURE. IT HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. LAST JUNE I RECEIVED THE REIMBURSEMENT LETTER, SO I SENT IN MY INFORMATION AND RECEIPT FOR THE REPLACEMENT. AS TIME PASSED AND NO RESPONSE FROM MINI I DECIDED TO CONTACT COSTUMER RELATIONS, NEEDLESS TO SAY THEY HAD NOTHING ON FILE AND SAID IT SHOULD TAKE ANOTHER MONTH... Read more
Incident date: Nov 25, 2013
TURBOCHARGER OIL FEED LINE LEAKING. THE PART IS POORLY DESIGNED AND ACCORDING TO THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE PRONE TO FAILURE. THE PART IS NOT COVERED BY THE CPO WARRANTY AND THE DEALER WANTED $1400 TO REPLACE IT. I REPLACED IT MYSELF WITH A BETTER DESIGNED AFTERMARKET PART. I THINK MINI SHOULD COVER THE COST OF REPLACING THE PART WITH A BETTER DESIGN. *TR
Incident date: Dec 9, 2013
THE CAR LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT RUN AT IDLE SPEED. AFTER MUCH EFFORT, MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO THE ONLY DEALER IN THE STATE. AFTER TWO FAILED DIAGNOSTICS AND TWO "REPAIRS," THE DEALER SAYS I NOW NEED THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACED. THERE ARE KNOWN ISSUES ABOUT THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE TENSIONER. BMW AND DEALER DENY RESPONSIBILITY AND NOW WISH TO CHARGE AN ADDITIONAL $1500 TO REPAIR. *TR
Incident date: Jan 16, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V008000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE... Read more
Incident date: Dec 18, 2013
TRANSMISSION STARTING BUCKING AND CAUSING UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION THE ONLY "FIX" IS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A $9,000 COST. *TR
Incident date: Jan 10, 2014
WHILE DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND A LITTLE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE AND POPPED THE HOOD TO FIND THE OIL FEED LINE TO THE TURBO HAD LEAKED OIL ALL OVER THE TURBO AND WAS BURNING OFF. I KNOW THE PROBLEM IS A FAULTY LINE THAT USES RUBBER WASHERS AND OVER TIME HEAT FROM THE TURBO CAUSES THEM TO FAIL. IN 2010 MINI PUT IN A HEAT SHIELD TO PRO... Read more
Incident date: Dec 30, 2013
AT ABOUT 42000 MILES, I STARTED TO NOTICE A RATTLE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS FIRST STARTED. THE RATTLE WAS MOST NOTICEABLE BETWEEN 2000 AND 3000 RPM. THIS RATTLE ALSO COINCIDED WITH THE WEATHER TURNING COLDER. THE RATTLE CONTINUED TO WORSEN OVER TIME, AN OIL LEAK DEVELOPED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT EVENTUALLY CAME ON. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET AND CALLING MY MINI DEALERSHIP,... Read more
Incident date: Jan 6, 2014
RATTLE AND OIL LEAK. LOSS OF FULL ENGINE POWER WHEN RESTARTED. DEALER SAYS ITS A TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY ISSUE. *TR
Incident date: Jan 9, 2014
THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER S FAILED, MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE CAR SAFELY IN TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO A SERVICE SHOP AND LATER DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I CALLED MINI, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE VIN NUMBER FOR MY CAR WAS NOT ONE COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS A MODEL YEAR 2005. THE... Read more
Incident date: Sep 16, 2013
I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP AFTER I HEARD A NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. FROM ONLINE DESCRIPTIONS, I SUSPECTED IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. I CONTACTED MINI CORPORATION AND OPENED A REPORT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT A WEEK LATER AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER NEEDED REPLACED.... Read more
Incident date: Dec 11, 2013
PREMATURE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE MAY LEAD TO LOSS IN POWER, FURTHERING THE POTENTIAL FOR A WRECK. ENGINE ENTERS "LIMP HOME" MODE, WHICH REDUCES POWER CONSIDERABLY AND MAKES ACCELERATION MUCH SLOWER THAN NORMAL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, SEVERAL OBD-II DIAGNOSTICS CODES APPEAR. *TR
Incident date: Dec 11, 2013
PREMATURE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE MAY LEAD TO LOSS IN POWER, FURTHERING THE POTENTIAL FOR A WRECK. ENGINE ENTERS "LIMP HOME" MODE, WHICH REDUCES POWER CONSIDERABLY AND MAKES ACCELERATION MUCH SLOWER THAN NORMAL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, SEVERAL OBD-II DIAGNOSTICS CODES APPEAR. *TR
MINI
COOPER S CONVERTIBLE
(2005) - STEERING
Jan 11, 2014
Incident date: Jan 8, 2014
CAME HOME ON TUESDAY NIGHT FROM MY GIRLFRIENDS HOUSE THEN IN THE MORNING MY BATTERY WAS DEAD. AS CONFUSED AS I WAS SINCE I KNEW I DIDNT LEAAVE ANY LIGHTS OR ANYTHING ON WENT AHEAD AND DECIDED TO JUMP THE CAR AND AS SOON AS I CONNECTED THE CABLES I HEARD A NOISE ALMOST LIKE A FAN NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. I THEN PROCEEDED TO OPEN THE HOOD AND SEE OR TRY AND HEAR WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 9, 2014
VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN 1.2 MILES FOR FIRST RUN OF THE DAY. TEMP WAS 48 F. CAR WAS IN DRIVE AT STOPLIGHT WHEN ENGINE ACCELERATED BEYOND MAX RPM. CAR LUNGED FORWARD INTO INTERSECTION AND A LOT OF EFFORT HAD TO BE APPLIED TO BRAKE TO KEED CAR FROM GOING ANY FURTHER. DRIVER GRABBED GEAR SHIFTER AND SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND HAVING SLIPPED INTO REVERSE. ENGINE RPM THEN SUBSIDED AND VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN 14 ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 9, 2014
VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN 1.2 MILES FOR FIRST RUN OF THE DAY. TEMP WAS 48 F. CAR WAS IN DRIVE AT STOPLIGHT WHEN ENGINE ACCELERATED BEYOND MAX RPM. CAR LUNGED FORWARD INTO INTERSECTION AND A LOT OF EFFORT HAD TO BE APPLIED TO BRAKE TO KEED CAR FROM GOING ANY FURTHER. DRIVER GRABBED GEAR SHIFTER AND SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND HAVING SLIPPED INTO REVERSE. ENGINE RPM THEN SUBSIDED AND VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN 14 ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 9, 2014
VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN 1.2 MILES FOR FIRST RUN OF THE DAY. TEMP WAS 48 F. CAR WAS IN DRIVE AT STOPLIGHT WHEN ENGINE ACCELERATED BEYOND MAX RPM. CAR LUNGED FORWARD INTO INTERSECTION AND A LOT OF EFFORT HAD TO BE APPLIED TO BRAKE TO KEED CAR FROM GOING ANY FURTHER. DRIVER GRABBED GEAR SHIFTER AND SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND HAVING SLIPPED INTO REVERSE. ENGINE RPM THEN SUBSIDED AND VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN 14 ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 19, 2013
THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES AND TENSIONER IN THE MINI COOPER ARE MADE FROM PLASTIC. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN CREATED BY MINI USA TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, BUT NO RECALL. AS I WAS DRIVING HOME, MAKING A TURN ACROSS A BUSY INTERSECTION, MY TENSIONER BROKE, WHICH CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAD TO GET OUT OF MY VEHICLE AND PUSH IT ACROSS THE INTERSECTION WHIL... Read more
Incident date: Dec 4, 2013
TURBO OIL COOLING LINES LEAKING ENGINE OIL ON TO HOT TURBOCHARGER. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. MANY MINI COOPER S MODELS ARE HAVING THIS FAILURE. *TR
Incident date: Jan 3, 2014
MY CAR HAS BEEN LEAKING OIL AND THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED IT WAS DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. THEY ARE CHARGING $357.98 TO HAVE IT FIXED. MY CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AND HAS ONLY 50,000 MILES ON IT. AS SOON AS MY 4-YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED, MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES DUE TO ENGINE ISSUES. SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN PERFORMED AT 50,000 MILES: 1. THERMOSTAT IS LEAKING COOLAN... Read more
Incident date: Dec 24, 2013
DRIVING MY 2008 MINI COOPER S AT 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND DIED. THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED CAUSING THE MOTOR TO BLOW UP AND THE TIMING CHAIN POPPING THROUGH THE VALVE COVER, THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER IS UNDER A FACTORY INSPECTION NOTICE, I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE TO INFORM ME OF THE PART FAILURE. NOW THE ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED. *TR
Incident date: Dec 24, 2013
DRIVING MY 2008 MINI COOPER S AT 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND DIED. THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED CAUSING THE MOTOR TO BLOW UP AND THE TIMING CHAIN POPPING THROUGH THE VALVE COVER, THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER IS UNDER A FACTORY INSPECTION NOTICE, I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE TO INFORM ME OF THE PART FAILURE. NOW THE ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED. *TR
Incident date: Dec 26, 2013
KNOWN ISSUES: TIMING CHAIN AND INTAKE VALVES. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT APPROX 40,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED 2 ISSUES THAT SEEM TO BE KNOWN RECURRING ISSUES FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL: CARBONIZED INTAKE VALVES REQUIRING CLEANING, AND REPLACE TIMING CHAIN. THIS BILL WILL COST OVER $2600. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS HAVE APPEARED FOR INTAKE VALUE BUILDUP AND ALSO FOR THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUES. INTERNET SEARC... Read more
Incident date: Dec 28, 2013
SATURDAY NIGHT, DEC. 28, 2013. I GO DOWNTOWN WITH MY GIRLFRIEND. SHE HAS A BIG BAG SO WE LET THE PASSENGER SEAT UP TO PUT HER BAG IN THE BACK SEAT. AS SOON AS SHE SITS DOWN AND WE BEGIN TO DRIVE AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE ROOF AND PRE BELT TENSIONER GOES OFF. I CHECK THE SEAT AND SEAT BELT. NOTHING VISIBLY WRONG. MY GIRLFRIEND IS 5'4 120 LBS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND FIND OUT BMW WH... Read more
Incident date: Dec 2, 2013
MINI COOPER WITH A CVT AUTO TRANSMISSION: I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD "REV." UP WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT OF THE ENGINE, THAN RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND MOVED AHEAD. LATER THE "SLIPPING" HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN; AT ALL SPEEDS AND WITH A COLD OR HOT ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 5... Read more
Incident date: Nov 11, 2011
LOUD ENGINE NOISE COMING FROM CHAIN TENSIONER AT STARTUP. SOUNDS LIKE DIESEL ENGINE. ALSO HAPPENS DURING COLD ENGINE START. *TR
Incident date: Nov 11, 2011
LOUD ENGINE NOISE COMING FROM CHAIN TENSIONER AT STARTUP. SOUNDS LIKE DIESEL ENGINE. ALSO HAPPENS DURING COLD ENGINE START. *TR
Incident date: Dec 1, 2013
AIRBAG SEAT SENSORS ARE FAULTY. THEY ARE TURNING OFF THE AIRBAGS EVEN THOUGHT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER ARE SEATED. *TR
Incident date: Dec 1, 2013
AIRBAG SEAT SENSORS ARE FAULTY. THEY ARE TURNING OFF THE AIRBAGS EVEN THOUGHT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER ARE SEATED. *TR
Incident date: Jan 10, 2012
I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2011 MINI COUNTRYMAN S ALL4 IN REGARDS TO CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR FOR SERVICE OF THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR 4 TIMES NOW. EACH TIME IT HAS BEEN CAUSED BY FUEL IN THE CHARCOAL FILTER SYSTEM. EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS FROM OVERFILLING THE FUEL TANK, WHICH I DO NOT DO. I AM CAREFUL TO STOP FUELING THE FIRST TIME THE PUMP KICKS OFF, ESPECIA... Read more
Incident date: Jan 10, 2012
I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2011 MINI COUNTRYMAN S ALL4 IN REGARDS TO CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR FOR SERVICE OF THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR 4 TIMES NOW. EACH TIME IT HAS BEEN CAUSED BY FUEL IN THE CHARCOAL FILTER SYSTEM. EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS FROM OVERFILLING THE FUEL TANK, WHICH I DO NOT DO. I AM CAREFUL TO STOP FUELING THE FIRST TIME THE PUMP KICKS OFF, ESPECIA... Read more
Incident date: Jul 19, 2010
WE PURCHASED A NEW 2004 MINI-COOPER R50 AND PAID EXTRA FOR INSTALLATION OF A CVT TRANSMISSION. THE CVT ' (SPORT MODE)' FAILED IN 2010, JUST 2 YEARS AFTER ITS WARRANTY EXPIRED AND WITH ONLY 35,147 MILES DRIVEN. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT COULD COST BETWEEN $2,000 AND $9,000 TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE SPORT MODE' FUNCTION, AND SINCE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS STILL OPERATING, WE DECIDED TO AVOID THE UNCERTA... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2013
ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP FAILED TWICE WITHIN A YEAR. MANUAL TRANSMISSION - CLUTCH DOES NOT ENGAGE GEARS PROPERLY. FRICTION POINT IS VAGUE AND UNENGAGING. GEAR SLIPS. REQUIRES EXCEEDINGLY HIGH REV. COUNTS/GAS TO ENGAGE IN GEAR PROPERLY. CAR STALLS MORE THAN NORMAL/OFTEN. OVERALL FUEL INJECTION/ECU MAPPING/CLUTCH ISSUES ARE EVIDENTLY AND REPEATS TO BE PROBLEM AREAS DESPITE PARTS REPLACEMENT AND ADJUSTM... Read more
MINI
COOPER COUNTRYMAN
(2013) - VISIBILITY/WIPER
Dec 18, 2013
Incident date: Dec 17, 2013
OUR BRAND NEW, 2014 MINI COUNTRYMAN WITH 100 MILES DEVELOPED A FRACTURE IN ITS WINDSHIELD WITH NO APPARENT OR OBSERVED CAUSE. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS DUE TO A DESIGN OR ENGINEERING DEFECT. THE FRACTURE IS LOCATED IN THE BOTTOM CORNER OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER-SIDE. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 8 INCHES LONG AND REACHES THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
Incident date: Dec 4, 2013
THE CAR STARTS VERY ROUGH ESPECIALLY IN COLDER WEATHER. I WAS TOLD BY A MINI DEALERSHIP THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DUE TO LACK OF OIL, WHICH IS NOT THE CASE AS THE OIL WAS JUST CHANGED. ALSO WHEN IN TRAFFIC COMING TO A STOP THE CAR WILL DROP IDLE AND STALL OUT. THE CAR WILL STALL IN NEUTRAL OR WITH CLUTCH FULLY PRESSED IN. RESEARCHING ONLINE AND WATCHING SOME VIDEOS, IT SEEMS MUCH LIKE THE TIMING TEN... Read more
Incident date: Nov 13, 2013
THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. IT WON'T GO OUT. THE MINI DEALER IN BIRMINGHAM SAID IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. MINI USA SAID THE SAME THING. HOWEVER, BMW RECALLED THEIR 2006 MODELS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. SEVERAL OTHER MINI OWNERS ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE OWNERS' MANUAL STATES THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH IF THE WARNING LIGHT IS O... Read more
Incident date: May 15, 2013
BACK IN MAY OF 2013 THE POWER STEERING PUMP STARTING BEING VERY LOUD AND MAKING NOISES. THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALSO QUITE HARD TO TURN SINCE THEN. THIS COULD END UP BADLY WHEN COMPLETELY FAILS WHEN I'M MID-TURN OR SOMETHING. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED ASAP. *TR
MINI
COOPER S CONVERTIBLE
(2005) - STEERING
Dec 11, 2013
Incident date: Nov 21, 2013
POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY DAUGHTER'S CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE ABOUT THREE (3) WEEKS AGO WHILE SHE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, LUCKILY SHE THOUGHT ENOUGH AND TURNED THE CAR OFF SO THE DAMAGE WAS ONLY TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND WIRING HARNESS . ONCE WE DISCOVERED WHAT HAD CAUGHT FIRE WE DID RESEARCH ON HOW TO MAKE THE REPAIR(S) AND CAME ACROSS THE RECALL FOR 2005 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLES POWER STEE... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Dec 9, 2013
WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR AT 20 MPH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DID NOT NOTE ANY PROBLEMS. WE THEN DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP NEARBY AND THEY SAID THE HEAD GASKET SEAL WAS BROKEN A LEAKING OIL. ALSO THEY SAID THE TIMING CHAIN AND BELT TENSIONER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS THEY WERE LOOSE. NO REPAIRS WERE EVER PERFORMED ON THESE PARTS. IT WA... Read more
Incident date: May 29, 2013
THE MINI MADE A BEEPING NOISE / WARNING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. STOPPED THE CAR. IT WAS VERY SLUGGISH TO START SO I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC (NOT THE MINI DEALER IN MY TOWN WHICH HAS A HORRIBLE SERVICE DEPARTMENT.) THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A FAILING TIMING CHAIN AND EVERYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH IT. REPLACED TIMING CHAIN, CHAIN TENSIONER, ADJUSTER UNIT CAM, GUIDE RAIL, SLIDE RAIL, CRANKSHAFT SEAL, GASKET RING, V... Read more
Incident date: Dec 8, 2013
FIRE DID NOT OCCUR, BUT THERE IS A RISK. MANY MINI COOPER MODELS WITH TURBOCHARGERS ARE EXPERIENCING A LEAKY OIL FEED LINE TO THE TURBO AFTER APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES. DUE TO A POORLY INSULATED RUBBER GASKET. IT IS A MANUFACTURING FLAW, BUT MINI HAS FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE. THIS IS A FIRE RISK. THE OIL IS ALLOWED TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE BAY, AND IT CAN DESTROY THE ENGINE BECAUSE MINI COO... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Dec 8, 2013
FIRE DID NOT OCCUR, BUT THERE IS A RISK. MANY MINI COOPER MODELS WITH TURBOCHARGERS ARE EXPERIENCING A LEAKY OIL FEED LINE TO THE TURBO AFTER APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES. DUE TO A POORLY INSULATED RUBBER GASKET. IT IS A MANUFACTURING FLAW, BUT MINI HAS FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE. THIS IS A FIRE RISK. THE OIL IS ALLOWED TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE BAY, AND IT CAN DESTROY THE ENGINE BECAUSE MINI COO... Read more
Fire
MINI
COOPER COUNTRYMAN
(2011) - VISIBILITY
Dec 9, 2013
Incident date: Dec 9, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MAIN COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED TO REMEDY THE STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. MONTHS LATER, THE STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE RECURRED ACCOMPANIED BY A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO REPROG... Read more
MINI
COOPER COUNTRYMAN
(2011) - POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
Dec 9, 2013
Incident date: Dec 9, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MAIN COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED TO REMEDY THE STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. MONTHS LATER, THE STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE RECURRED ACCOMPANIED BY A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO REPROG... Read more