Showing 6,381 complaints for MINI
Incident date: May 20, 2013
2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITH AN OCCUPANT POSITIONED IN THE SEAT. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR EVEN WHEN AN OCCUPANT WAS NOT PRESENT IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE ILLUMINATION NO LONGER CONTINUED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR
... WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. *TRRead more
Incident date: May 20, 2013
2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITH AN OCCUPANT POSITIONED IN THE SEAT. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR EVEN WHEN AN OCCUPANT WAS NOT PRESENT IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE ILLUMINATION NO LONGER CONTINUED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR
... WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. *TRRead more
Incident date: May 24, 2013
I WAS ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY POWER STEERING FAILED AND I NEARLY CRASHED WHILE TRYING TO CHANGE LANES AND EXIT THE FREEWAY. *TR
Incident date: May 8, 2012
PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG FAILED. SEAT PASSENGER DETECTOR FAILURE IS CAUSE. A REVIEW OF ON LINE TROUBLE SITES SHOW THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WHICH MANUFACTURER DENIES AND DELAYS REPAIR. THOUGH MINI HAS MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THIS, THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR AS THEY STATE "OUT OF WARRANTY". THIS IS A BASIC SAFETY FEATURE WHICH IS FLAWED AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO IMMEDIATE AND BROAD RECALL. *TR
Incident date: Apr 9, 2013
PROBLEM OF POWER ASSIST FAILING CAUSING STEERING TO BECOME DIFFICULT. ONLY HAPPENS AFTER BEEN ON HIGHWAY FOR MORE THAN 15 MINUTES. VERY SIMILAR TO OTHER REPORTS ON 2004-2005 MINI COOPER S'S REPORTING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Incident date: Oct 1, 2012
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK MY STEERING ALL OF A SUDDEN BECAME HARD TO TURN I HIT THE CURB AND BLEW TWO TIRES. *TR
Crash
Incident date: Sep 10, 2012
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS NOT GONE OFF. THIS HAS RENDERED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INOPERABLE . THE SEAT WAS RARELY USED AS MY WIFE USES THE CAR AS A SUMMER CAR. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##
Incident date: May 16, 2013
WITH ONLY 23,000 MILES, ENGINE EXHIBITED A LOUD RATTLING NOISE AT IDLE, AND RUNNING UP TO ABOUT 2800 RPM, WHEN NOISE WOULD DISAPPEAR. TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILURE OF THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER PISTON; THAT FAILURE CAUSED THE CHAIN TO SKIP AND THROW THE CAM TIMING OUT OF ALIGNMENT, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER... COST OF $188.00 TO REPLACE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, AND $47
... 1 TO DIAGNOSE CAM TIMING SKIP AND RESTORE CAM TIMING... TOTAL COST $659. DEALER REFUSED TO SUBMIT CLAIM TO MINI NORTH AMERICA FOR GOODWILL COVERAGE, DESPITE OUTSTANDING CONDITION, LOW MILEAGE, REGULAR DEALER MAINTENANCE, AND PROPER OIL LEVELS AND CHANGE INTERVALS. THIS ISSUE WITH THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE AND RESULTING DAMAGE IS WELL KNOWN AND WELL DOCUMENTED AND SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL AND REPAIR OF ENTIRE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM AT MINI'S COST-- SEVERE CASES CAN RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND POTENTIAL CRASHES/FATALITIES. NHTSA, PLEASE MAKE MINI DO THE RIGHT THING!!!! *TRRead more
Incident date: May 14, 2013
MY AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS ON. MINI DEALER SAYS IT IS A BROKEN SENSOR IN THE SEAT. I CHECKED ONLINE FORUMS AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM LOTS OF COMPLAINTS. MINI WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM UNLESS I PAY. IT SEEMS AS IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. I WOULD THINK BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
Incident date: May 17, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE STEERING SYSTEM SEIZED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS CHANGING LANES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC HOWEVER, NO DETAILS REGARDING THE STEERING SYSTEM DEFECT WAS PROVIDED BY THE MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Incident date: May 14, 2013
DURING THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON. AT TIMES IT WOULD STAY ON FOR A LONG PERIOD, OTHER TIMES NOT AS LONG. THIS WEEK THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AFTER A PASSENGER LEFT THE CAR AND THE ALARM SOUNDED FOR APX. 10 MINUTES UNTIL I STOPPED AND SHUT OFF THE CAR. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ALSO CAME ON. I TOOK IT FOR SERVICING TODAY BUT THE GARAGE COULD NOT GET
... ANY CODES FROM THE SRS CONTROL UNIT. *TRRead more
Incident date: May 14, 2013
DURING THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON. AT TIMES IT WOULD STAY ON FOR A LONG PERIOD, OTHER TIMES NOT AS LONG. THIS WEEK THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AFTER A PASSENGER LEFT THE CAR AND THE ALARM SOUNDED FOR APX. 10 MINUTES UNTIL I STOPPED AND SHUT OFF THE CAR. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ALSO CAME ON. I TOOK IT FOR SERVICING TODAY BUT THE GARAGE COULD NOT GET
... ANY CODES FROM THE SRS CONTROL UNIT. *TRRead more
Incident date: May 14, 2013
TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *TR
Incident date: May 1, 2013
FIRST NOTICED THE RATTLE WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. EVERYTIME SUBSEQUENTLY AFTER THAT WHENEVER I TURNED THE CAR ON I WOULD HEAR A LOUD RATTLING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. CAR IS A 2009 MINI COOPER S WITH 38,005 MILES ON IT. TIMING CHAIN AND ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME $5,000 TO REPAIR. THE CAR WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND MINI USA DIDN'T WANT TO HELP OUT WITH REPAIR COST. SEEMS LIKE
... A LOTS OF THESE FAIRLY NEW CARS HAVE THIS ISSUE. DEALERSHIP THAT QUOTED ME SAID THEY HAD 5 THEY WERE WORKING ON JUST THIS WEEK. THEY EXPECTED MINI TO ISSUE A RECALL BUT WERE SURPRISED THEY HADN'T. GUYS IN THE PARTS DEPARTMENT WERE ALL TO FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE PARTS THAT WERE REQUIRED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY HAD THEM READILY ACCESSIBLE AND EXPRESSED THEIR SYMPATHY OF HAVING TO PAY $$ TO FIX WHAT UNQUESTIONABLY IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. PLEASE HELP US GIVE MINI A FRIENDLY NUDGE INTO ISSUING THIS RECALL. *TRRead more
Incident date: Feb 6, 2012
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR FOR AIRBAG ACTIVATION FAILED. DUE TO THIS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. THE ONLY FIX IS A $2000 REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. *TR
Incident date: Feb 6, 2012
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR FOR AIRBAG ACTIVATION FAILED. DUE TO THIS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. THE ONLY FIX IS A $2000 REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. *TR
Incident date: May 14, 2013
I HAD MY OIL CHANGED AND AUTOMATIC SHIFTER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY RITE AROUND 49500 ON ODOMETER. I HAVE A 100K MAINTENANCE CARE PLAN THAT COVERS ALL ENGINE OIL CHANGES, BRAKES AND ROTORS. BUT RIGHT AROUND 53000 I KEPT GETTING THE SERVICE IN 1700 MILES LIGHT WHEN EVER I START THE CAR AND GOES AWAY. THE MILES STARTED REDUCING SOONER THAN THE ACTUAL MILES DRIVEN. I WENT TO MINI SHOWROOM TO CHECK WHA
... T WAS GOING ON AND THEY SAID I NEED A OIL CHANGE ACCORDING TO KEY FOB (THEY CHANGED MY ENGINE OIL JUST 3K MILES BACK) . I GOT THE CALL THAT AFTERNOON SAYING MY TIMING CHAIN TENSOR WAS BAD AND LEAKING OIL. IT'S A CAR LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD WITH 50K MILES, THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN. THEY SAID IT CAN GRENADE THE CAR IF I DRIVING WITHOUT FIXING. THE PARTS WAS $33 BUT LABOR WAS $400. WTH MINI. PEOPLE ARE NOT BUYING WARRANTY FOR THIS. IN THE MORNING I WAS PROUD OF HAVING A MINI THAT COVERED ENGINE OIL CHANGE UNDER MY 100K WARRANTY. BUT EVENING $450 RIPPED OFF MY BANK ACCOUNT. CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE. HAPPY I DID NOT GRENADE MY ENGINE. BUT NOT HAPPY TAKING THE $450 CHARGE. SOME PEOPLE HERE GET THE SAME PROBLEM EVEN AFTER FIXING THIS ISSUE IN 20K MILES AND MINI DOESN'T SEEM TO KEEP UP THEIR WORD ON THERE 2 YEAR WARRANTY ON THEIR REPAIRS. I THINK I'M GOING TO CHANGE MY CAR IN A YEAR. I LIKE THE DRIVE BUT CAN'T TAKE THIS REPAIR BILLS. *TRRead more
Incident date: Mar 11, 2013
MY DAUGHTER HAD BEEN DRIVING MY CAR WITH NO PROBLEMS, WHEN SHE PARKED TO PICK ME UP I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING STALL THE STEERING WAS SO HARD. I THEN HAD TO DRIVE HOME USING EVERY OUNCE OF STRENGTH I HAD, WHILE MAKING SURE NOT TO HIT ANYTHING. I TOO HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND AM TRULY DISAPPOINTED WITH BMW. *TR
Incident date: May 2, 2013
I WAS THE ONE THAT REPORTED THE "DEATH RATTLE" ON MY WIFE'S MINI COOPER A FEW WEEKS AGO. I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT DAMAGED AND MINI FIXED IT FOR $1800, WHICH WAS RIGHT IN LINE WITH THEIR ESTIMATE. THEY REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN (IT WAS STRETCHED 70MM... 70!!), THE TENSION PULLEY, THE GUIDE, CHANGED THE OIL, REPLACED THE AUX WATER PUMP (WAS A RECALL SO IT COST $0), RETIMED THE E
... NGINE, WASHED THE CAR, AND CLEANED THE ENGINE BAY. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE CAR RUNS LIKE NEW. THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME HE CALLED MINI ON MY BEHALF AND THEY GAVE US A $500 DISCOUNT ON THE REPAIR SINCE THE CAR WAS "ONLY A COUPLE OF YEARS OUT OF WARRANTY". PERHAPS THAT MEANS MINI IS FINALLY WAKING UP TO THIS PROBLEM? I'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND HOW BETWEEN THE TIMING CHAIN STRETCHED 70MM, AND THE BROKEN PIECE OF GUIDE RATTLING AROUND FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG, DIDN'T DESTROY THE ENGINE... BUT I'M NOT COMPLAINING. ANYWAY, JUST WANTED TO LET OTHER MINI OWNERS KNOW THAT THERE'S HOPE AFTER ALL. AND $1300 IS BETTER THAN $1800 ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. CAR RUNS GREAT AND NEITHER MY WIFE AND I REALIZED HOW MUCH POWER THE CAR HAD LOST. WE'RE STILL GETTING RID OF IT THOUGH... ENOUGH IS ENOUGH... EVERY TIME SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH THIS CAR, IT'S DRAMA. AND THIS WAS THE LAST STRAW. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE. *TRRead more
Incident date: May 9, 2013
I WAS ON AN EXIT RAMP FROM THE HIGHWAY AND AROUND THE CURVE I FELT THE STEERING STIFFEN. WHEN I HAD TO TURN RIGHT I HAD TO SWING VERY WIDE INTO THE OTHER LANE BECAUSE I HAD NO POWER STEERING. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS THERE! IT RETURNED AFTER I SHUT MY CAR OFF AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT. THEN THE NEXT DAY IT DID IT AGAIN. TODAY IT WENT OUT AND HASN'T RETURNED YET. MY HUSBAND CHECKED TO MAKE SURE
... THE FAN WORKED AND IT DOES. THIS IS A KNOWN TO BMW PROBLEM AND NO RECALL IN THE USA. CANADA HAS A RECALL. TELL ME PLEASE, WHY WE DO NOT? *TRRead more
Incident date: May 9, 2012
PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY TRIP PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT. ADJUSTING WEIGHT ON SEAT WOULD INITIALLY EXTINGUISH; HOWEVER, PROBLEM IS NOW CONSTANT. COST PROHIBITIVE TO REPLACE. *TR
Incident date: May 16, 2012
I HAD BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING IN MY CAR GOING IN AND OUT AT RANDOM TIMES. TO FIX THIS PROBLEM I WOULD JUST TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON. NOW, HOWEVER, THE POWER STEERING IS ALWAYS OFF. I HAVE MANAGED TO DRIVE JUST FINE FOR MONTHS WITHOUT, BECAUSE I SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GET THE SYSTEM REPLACED. IT HAS FINALLY COME TO THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN I HAVE TO GET MY INSPECT
... ION RENEWED, AND I HAVE NOW LEARNED THAT THE CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION IN MY STATE BECAUSE OF ITS LACK OF POWER STEERING. IF THE CAR CANNOT PASS A STATE INSPECTION WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING, HOW IS IT THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL MADE BECAUSE OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE? THERE IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. IT IS ENTIRELY UNFAIR THAT NOT ONLY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL MADE FORCING BMW TO FIX THIS DESIGN FLAW, BUT THERE IS ALSO LAWS IN PLACE THAT FORCE ME TO EITHER STOP DRIVING, GET A NEW CAR, OR SPEND MONEY I DON'T HAVE TO GET IT FIXED. *TRRead more
Incident date: Feb 22, 2011
CAR HAS TIMING CHAIN NOISE ON COLD START-UP AND IF LEFT UNREPAIRED, IT WILL RESULT IN TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AND ENGINE DESTRUCTION. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM ON 2007 AND LATER MINI COOPER S. DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR OUT OF WARRANTY AND, EVEN IF REPAIRED, THE PROBLEM WILL RETURN. THERE ARE CASES OF MULTIPLE ENGINE FAILURES TO SAME CAR. CAR ALSO USES 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 2,000 MILES. *TR
Incident date: May 8, 2013
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A MAJOR FLAW WITH OIL SUPPLY/RETURN LINES TO THE TURBO. A CONDITION EXISTS WHERE IF LEFT UNATTENDED AND UNCARED FOR CREATES THE HIGH RISK OF FIRE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE/VEHICLE. THIS EVENT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN AND/OR LATER PARKED. THE RISK IS CREATED WHEN OIL ACCUMULATES, EITHER THROUGH TIME OR OVER A LEISURE DRIVE, AND COLLECTS NEAR/ON
... THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD & TURBO COMPONENTS, BOTH OF WHICH OPERATE AT EXTREMELY HIGH TEMPERATURES. IT IS BECOMING A DAILY TASK TO LOOK UNDER THE CAR HOOD AND INVESTIGATE FOR ACCUMULATION OF OIL NEAR THESE PARTS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CAR SMELLS OF BURNING PETROLEUM. NEED I BE MORE APPARENT OF BURNING OIL THAT WILL BURN AND DESTROY A CAR DUE TO A FAULTY PRODUCT? THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE MAJORITY LIFE OF THE CAR BUT HE ISSUE HAS NEVER BEEN PROFESSIONALLY ADDRESSED DUE TO DISREGARD OF THE MINI/BMW DEALERSHIPS TO ACCEPT THIS DESIGN FLAW. IF RESEARCHED FURTHER, THERE ARE MANY STANDARD EXAMPLES OF THIS DESIGN FLAW AND NUMEROUS DESCRIPTIONS, IMAGES, EXAMPLES, FORUMS, AND COMPLAINTS OF THIS FLAW OCCURRING IN MANY CARS OF VARIOUS STYLES, MILEAGE, AND TRIMS OCCURRING WITHIN THE SAME YEAR MODEL OF 2007. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCE MANY OF THE MAJOR FLAWS ALREADY LISTED AND COMPLAINED ABOUT ON THE NHTSA SUCH AS THE ??DEATH RATTLE?? BELT TENSIONER FAILING (LUCKILY NO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND WHICH HAS BEEN LISTED NUMEROUS TIMES ON NHTSA, NUMEROUS), VALVE COVER REPLACEMENT (ALSO LISTED), ETC. NHTSA, ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS AN AVID AND DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE COMMON PERSON DOES NOT CHECK UNDER THE HOOD DAILY AND ITS ONLY TIME BEFORE SOMEONE PARKS THEIR MINI IN A GARAGE AND THE HOME GOES DOWN IN FLAMES. I PERSONALLY DON??T PARK THE MINI IN THE GARAGE FOR FEAR OF FIRE. DO NOT REPAIR THE MINI WITH THE SAME FAULTY OIL LINE DESIGN. RECALL DESIGN. *TRRead more
Incident date: May 8, 2013
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A MAJOR FLAW WITH OIL SUPPLY/RETURN LINES TO THE TURBO. A CONDITION EXISTS WHERE IF LEFT UNATTENDED AND UNCARED FOR CREATES THE HIGH RISK OF FIRE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE/VEHICLE. THIS EVENT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN AND/OR LATER PARKED. THE RISK IS CREATED WHEN OIL ACCUMULATES, EITHER THROUGH TIME OR OVER A LEISURE DRIVE, AND COLLECTS NEAR/ON
... THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD & TURBO COMPONENTS, BOTH OF WHICH OPERATE AT EXTREMELY HIGH TEMPERATURES. IT IS BECOMING A DAILY TASK TO LOOK UNDER THE CAR HOOD AND INVESTIGATE FOR ACCUMULATION OF OIL NEAR THESE PARTS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CAR SMELLS OF BURNING PETROLEUM. NEED I BE MORE APPARENT OF BURNING OIL THAT WILL BURN AND DESTROY A CAR DUE TO A FAULTY PRODUCT? THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE MAJORITY LIFE OF THE CAR BUT HE ISSUE HAS NEVER BEEN PROFESSIONALLY ADDRESSED DUE TO DISREGARD OF THE MINI/BMW DEALERSHIPS TO ACCEPT THIS DESIGN FLAW. IF RESEARCHED FURTHER, THERE ARE MANY STANDARD EXAMPLES OF THIS DESIGN FLAW AND NUMEROUS DESCRIPTIONS, IMAGES, EXAMPLES, FORUMS, AND COMPLAINTS OF THIS FLAW OCCURRING IN MANY CARS OF VARIOUS STYLES, MILEAGE, AND TRIMS OCCURRING WITHIN THE SAME YEAR MODEL OF 2007. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCE MANY OF THE MAJOR FLAWS ALREADY LISTED AND COMPLAINED ABOUT ON THE NHTSA SUCH AS THE ??DEATH RATTLE?? BELT TENSIONER FAILING (LUCKILY NO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND WHICH HAS BEEN LISTED NUMEROUS TIMES ON NHTSA, NUMEROUS), VALVE COVER REPLACEMENT (ALSO LISTED), ETC. NHTSA, ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS AN AVID AND DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE COMMON PERSON DOES NOT CHECK UNDER THE HOOD DAILY AND ITS ONLY TIME BEFORE SOMEONE PARKS THEIR MINI IN A GARAGE AND THE HOME GOES DOWN IN FLAMES. I PERSONALLY DON??T PARK THE MINI IN THE GARAGE FOR FEAR OF FIRE. DO NOT REPAIR THE MINI WITH THE SAME FAULTY OIL LINE DESIGN. RECALL DESIGN. *TRRead more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2013
I WAS EXITING INTERSTATE AND SLOWING TO A STOP WHEN STEERING WHEEL NO LONGER WORKED EASILY. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Incident date: May 15, 2012
DRIVING ALONG AT 30 MPH WHEN AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND OVER HEAD PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF. HAD PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM REPLACED ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHT COME BACK ON 3 DAYS LATER. I HAVE HAD THE SYSTEM CHECKED 3 TIMES ( WITH LIGHT TURNED OFF WHEN RETURNED) ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHT COME BACK ON A FEW DAYS LATER. *TR
Incident date: Apr 26, 2013
WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2005 MINI COOPER (R50) WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED THUS CAUSING A VERY FRIGHTENING AND POSSIBLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
Incident date: Apr 25, 2013
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION. I BARELY MADE IT THROUGH A FEW CURBS BEFORE ENTERING A PARKING LOT. I LET THE ENGINE COOL OFF FOR 30 MINUTES, THEN THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. I DECIDED TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP, ABOUT 3 MILES HIGHWAY, AND ABOUT 1 MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP I LOST THE POWER STEERING AGAIN. FORCING THE CAR THROUGH THE LAST FEW TURNS, DRI
... VING SLOWLY, I MADE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE REPLACEMENT PUMP & FAN SET ME BACK ABOUT $1,500. *TRRead more
Incident date: May 1, 2013
I HAVE AN OIL LEAK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT IS COMING FROM THE TENSIONER LOCATION. THE OIL IS DRIPPING ON THE EXHAUST CAUSING STEAM TO RISE FROM THE ENGINE. I AM AFRAID THAT THE CAR WILL EVENTUALLY BURN ENOUGH OIL TO CATCH ON FIRE. I WILL TOW THE CAR TO BRAMAN MINI PALM BEACH (PURCHASED CAR HERE TOO) AND SEE IF THEY CAN DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Incident date: Mar 24, 2013
2012 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A FAULTY SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP IN VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY ON AN INCLINE HILL. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DELIVERY OF FUEL TO THE GAS TANK AND THE VEHICLE HAD SIMPLY RUN OUT OF GAS. HOWEVER, THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWED THERE WAS AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF
... GAS.Read more
Incident date: May 31, 2012
I DROVE MY SISTER'S 2004 MINI COOPER SOMETIME IN SPRING OF 2012 TO CHECK ON WORK DONE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. AS I YIELDED INTO A ROUNDABOUT AND ENTERED IT, THE POWER STEERING CUT OFF WHICH STEERING EFFORT BECAME VERY HEAVY AND VERY NEARLY HAD A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. I SISTER INFORMED ME AFTERWARDS THAT THE ISSUE JUST HAPPEN RECENTLY OCCURRED TO HER TOO, AS SHE EXITED A HIGHWAY EXIT RAMP AT
... NEARLY 55MPH, AND POWER STEERING HAD FAILED. LUCKILY, SHE WAS ABLE TO REACT QUICKLY WITH THE POWER STEERING LOSS. PULLED TO THE SIDE, SHUT THE VEHICLE, AND TURNED ON THE VEHICLE AGAIN, AND POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. IT HAS INTERMITTENTLY GOING OFF/ON W POWER SINCE THEN WHICH THE DEALER RECOGNIZES, BUT WARRANTY HAS BEEN EXPIRED SINCE IT'S 9 YEARS AND OVER 100,000 MI. AND WE ARE LEFT WITH A BILL AT AROUND $1,400 AVERAGE. $800 IN PARTS ALONE. THERE ARE MANY MINI CUSTOMERS KNOWN TO HAVE THIS ISSUE OF POWER STEERING LOSS IN THEIR EARLY MODELS TOO, SAME AS MY SISTER'S YEAR MODEL. SO FAR FORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NO INJURIES NOR FATALITIES DIRECTLY FROM THIS POWER STEERING LOSS FROM WHAT I KNOW OF. BUT MANY ARE FACED WITH THIS LARGE REPAIR WITH WE'RE FACING, AND SOME MAY FOREGO/ DELAY REPAIRING IT. TRANSPORT CANADA, RECOGNIZES THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND RECALLED ABOUT 9,000 MINI'S LAST YEAR. AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP PART IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THEIRS. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO ACT LIKE OUR NEIGHBORS? UNTIL WE GET SOMEONE HORRIBLY INJURED OR KILLED?! OR HAVE MINI CUSTOMERS SUCH MY SISTER FACING THIS LARGE REPAIR ORDER ON THIS DEFECTIVE PART THAT'S KNOWN TO FAIL PREMATURELY? THIS IS A SERIOUS GAMBLE WITH LIVES. *TRRead more
Incident date: May 31, 2012
I DROVE MY SISTER'S 2004 MINI COOPER SOMETIME IN SPRING OF 2012 TO CHECK ON WORK DONE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. AS I YIELDED INTO A ROUNDABOUT AND ENTERED IT, THE POWER STEERING CUT OFF WHICH STEERING EFFORT BECAME VERY HEAVY AND VERY NEARLY HAD A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. I SISTER INFORMED ME AFTERWARDS THAT THE ISSUE JUST HAPPEN RECENTLY OCCURRED TO HER TOO, AS SHE EXITED A HIGHWAY EXIT RAMP AT
... NEARLY 55MPH, AND POWER STEERING HAD FAILED. LUCKILY, SHE WAS ABLE TO REACT QUICKLY WITH THE POWER STEERING LOSS. PULLED TO THE SIDE, SHUT THE VEHICLE, AND TURNED ON THE VEHICLE AGAIN, AND POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. IT HAS INTERMITTENTLY GOING OFF/ON W POWER SINCE THEN WHICH THE DEALER RECOGNIZES, BUT WARRANTY HAS BEEN EXPIRED SINCE IT'S 9 YEARS AND OVER 100,000 MI. AND WE ARE LEFT WITH A BILL AT AROUND $1,400 AVERAGE. $800 IN PARTS ALONE. THERE ARE MANY MINI CUSTOMERS KNOWN TO HAVE THIS ISSUE OF POWER STEERING LOSS IN THEIR EARLY MODELS TOO, SAME AS MY SISTER'S YEAR MODEL. SO FAR FORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NO INJURIES NOR FATALITIES DIRECTLY FROM THIS POWER STEERING LOSS FROM WHAT I KNOW OF. BUT MANY ARE FACED WITH THIS LARGE REPAIR WITH WE'RE FACING, AND SOME MAY FOREGO/ DELAY REPAIRING IT. TRANSPORT CANADA, RECOGNIZES THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND RECALLED ABOUT 9,000 MINI'S LAST YEAR. AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP PART IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THEIRS. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO ACT LIKE OUR NEIGHBORS? UNTIL WE GET SOMEONE HORRIBLY INJURED OR KILLED?! OR HAVE MINI CUSTOMERS SUCH MY SISTER FACING THIS LARGE REPAIR ORDER ON THIS DEFECTIVE PART THAT'S KNOWN TO FAIL PREMATURELY? THIS IS A SERIOUS GAMBLE WITH LIVES. *TRRead more
Incident date: Apr 16, 2013
WHILE DRIVING ON A CURVY ROAD THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND IS VERY DANGEROUS! *TR
Incident date: Feb 2, 2010
PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WON'T GO OFF. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE AIRBAGS WILL WORK IN A ACCIDENT. *TR
Incident date: Apr 22, 2013
MY 2007 MINI COOPER S THERMOSTAT HOUSING HAS STARTED LEAKING TO THE POINT THAT IT WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AT PROLONGED STOPS IN TRAFFIC IF FLUID IS NOT PUT IN THE OVERFLOW TANK. I HAVE BEEN READING VARIOUS THREADS REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND SEE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL REPORTS OF THIS FAILURE, HOWEVER MINI DOES NOT SEEM TOO WORRIED ABOUT THIS PART. *TR
Incident date: Apr 15, 2013
I WAS TRAVELING THROUGH CITY TRAFFIC AND THE POWER STEERING CEASED TO OPERATE. STEERING BECAME IMMEDIATELY VERY HEAVY. PULLED INTO PARKING LOT, LOOKED UNDER HOOD, LOOKED UNDER CAR FOR FLUIDS, BELTS, ETC., AND FOUND NOTHING VISIBLE. GOT BACK INTO CAR, STARTED IT UP AND IT BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN, AS NORMAL. TWO WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, POWER STEERING AGAIN FAILED ABRUPTLY. POWER STEERING
... PUMP IS SCHEDULED TO BE CHECKED/REPLACED TODAY AT DEALERSHIP TODAY. THIS COULD BE A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. HAD I BEEN IN A CURVE AT THIS SPEED, I'M NOT SURE I COULD HAVE MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE CAR. *TRRead more
Incident date: Apr 26, 2013
JUST WANTED TO REPORT ANOTHER CASE OF THE "DEATH RATTLE". MY WIFE HAS A 2007 MINI COOPER S WE BOUGHT NEW IN SEPT. 2007. SHE COMPLAINED OF A LOUD RATTLE WHEN SHE STARTED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES UNTIL WARM. THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A LOOSE EXHAUST COMPONENT UNTIL IT STARTED HAVING IDLE ISSUES. WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP AND THEY "REBOOTED" THE COMPUTER AND THE IDLE PROBLEMS WENT AWAY BUT THE
... RATTLE PERSISTED. OUR CLOSEST MINI DEALER IS AN HOUR AWAY SO WE DON'T TAKE IT TO THEM UNLESS WE HAVE TO. EARLY LAST WEEK THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. CHECKED THE OIL AND OIL LEVEL WAS FINE... ALTHOUGH THE DIPSTICK DID NOT WANT TO GO BACK IN THE ENGINE. OIL LIGHT WOULD COME AND GO OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. SHE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL SHOP AGAIN TO HAVE THE RATTLE CHECKED AND THE OIL CHANGED SINCE IT WAS ALMOST DUE. THEY FOUND THE GUIDE FOR THE TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKEN AND LAYING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE COVER. THEY CALLED OUR CLOSEST MINI DEALER, SAID IT WAS A "COMMON PROBLEM" WITH TURBO MINIS, AND WE SHOULDN'T DRIVE IT. HAD IT TOWED TO MINI AND THAT'S WHERE IT SITS. THEY HAVEN'T WORKED ON IT YET AND THEY WILL CALL ME WHEN THEY DO, BUT AN EARLY ESTIMATE IS ~$1800 TO REPAIR, AS LONG AS THE ENGINE ISN'T DAMAGED (WHICH IT ISN'T AS THE CAR STARTS AND RUNS FINE). I ASKED MINI ABOUT IT BEING COVERED UNDER SOME SORT OF WARRANTY AFTER READING ALL THE HORROR STORIES SINCE IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT THEY SAID SINCE THE OIL LEVEL WAS LOW, AND LOW OIL LEVELS EXACERBATE THE PROBLEM, THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. HAD NO IDEA THE OIL LEVEL WAS LOW UNTIL THE LIGHT CAME ON. PRETTY SAD THAT THIS "COMMON PROBLEM" STILL HASN'T BEEN FIXED AFTER ALL THESE YEARS. WIFE IS NOW A FULL-TIME STUDENT AND HER SCHOOL IS OVER AN HOUR AWAY. SHE MAKES THAT DRIVE TWICE A DAY, THREE TIMES A WEEK. HOW THAT BROKEN PIECE DIDN'T GET TANGLED IN THE TIMING CHAIN AND DESTROY THE ENGINE I'LL NEVER KNOW. *TRRead more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2013
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING. IT IS A COMBINATION ELECTRO/HYDRAULIC PUMP. ELECTRICAL BURN SMELL WAS EVIDENT. I ALMOST GOT IN AN ACCIDENT, AND LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CAR IN THE OTHER LANE OR I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM. CANADA HAS MADE BMW MINI RECALL THESE AS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
Incident date: Apr 26, 2013
I PURCHASED A 2003 MINI COOPER FROM A PRIVATE PARTY IN THE DALLAS,TEXAS A FEW YEARS AGO. I JUST RECEIVED THE DREADED NEWS TODAY THAT MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AND IT WILL COST ME $6000 TO REPAIR. ACCORDING TO MINI THIS VEHICLE HAS ALREADY HAD THE TRANSMISSION CHANGED DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD SO THIS WOULD BE THE 2ND TRANSMISSION FOR THIS CAR. THE REPAIR IS EQUIVALANT TO THE PURCHASE PRICE OF
... THE VEHICLE 2 OR SO YEARS AGO. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY THIS PRICE AND UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON OCCURENCE WITH THIS YEAR VEHICLE SO IT WOULD SEEM THAT A RECALL WOULD NEED TO BE ISSUED. OTHERWISE I HAVE TO ATTEMPT TO SALE THIS CAR AND TAKE A LOSS. *TRRead more
Incident date: Apr 21, 2013
THE POWER STEERING PUMP DOESN'T SHUT OFF WHEN THE CAR DOES. THE PUMP RAN UNTIL THE BATTERY DIED. *TR
Incident date: Apr 21, 2013
THE POWER STEERING PUMP DOESN'T SHUT OFF WHEN THE CAR DOES. THE PUMP RAN UNTIL THE BATTERY DIED. *TR
Incident date: Jan 25, 2013
THE STEERING WHEEL STOPS TURNING WHILE MID-TURN. I TOOK THE CAR TO MINI OF SAN FRANCISCO AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THE STEERING CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM, HAPPENING RANDOMLY WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED UP. *TR
Incident date: Mar 19, 2013
I CURRENTLY HAVE AN OIL LEAK DEVELOPING FROM THE TURBO OIL LINE THAT HAS RESULTED FROM A FAILED O-RING WITHIN THE LINE ITSELF. DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW, THE HEAT FROM THE TURBO WEARS AWAY THE O-RING, WHICH RESULTS IN OIL LEAKING FROM WHERE THE LINE IS BOLTED TO THE TURBO VIA A BANJO BOLT. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE IF THE LINE FAILS, THE TURBO BECOMES STARVED OF OIL AND BURNS UP, WHICH ULTIMATE
... LY CAUSES THE WHOLE TURBO UNIT TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE OIL LEAKING ONTO THE TURBO HAS A POTENTIAL TO CATCH FIRE, SINCE THE TURBO BECOMES VERY HOT DURING NORMAL DRIVING. ALSO IF ANY OIL LEAKS DOWN TO THE EXHAUST PIPING UNDERNEATH THE TURBO, THOSE PLACES ALSO POSE A FIRE HAZARD. MINI RECOGNIZES THIS TO BE AN ISSUE, BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN ADD A HEAT SHIELD AROUND THE CONNECTION TO THE TURBO. THE LINE STILL HAS A RUBBER O-RING IN IT THAT WILL FAIL OVER REPEATED HEAT CYCLES, AND THE LINE NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED. *TRRead more
Incident date: Apr 18, 2013
THE POWER STEERING WHEN OUT ON THE CAR. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. ALSO, BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE, THE STEERING/CAR WILL NOT STRAIGHTEN ITSELF OUT AFTER MAKING A TURN. ONE HAS TO MAKE AN EXTRA EFFORT TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL OUT. I ALMOST HIT A PARKED CAR BECAUSE OF THAT PROBLEM. I SEE CANADA MADE MINI DO A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. IS IT GOING TO TAKE AN INJURY OR WORSE BEFORE THE USA
... MAKES MINI RECALL THE CARS ? *TRRead more
Incident date: Apr 22, 2013
I WAS CHANGING LANES TO PREPARE TO EXIT OFF THE INTERSTATE WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK. AS I MADE THE LANE CHANGE NOTICED STEERING WAS TIGHTER. AFTER EXITING THE INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO STEER AT THE TOP OF THE EXIT RAMP. THE TURN MADE WAS VERY WIDE NEARLY MISSING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SUSPECT POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FAILED. *TR
Incident date: Apr 18, 2013
HELLO, OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS THE STEERING ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER CUTS OUT UNEXPECTEDLY. THE WHEEL IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN WHEN THIS HAPPENS, AND IT OCCURS WITH NO WARNING. IT APPEARS THAT THE STEERING PUMP FAILS WHEN THE CAR WARMS UP. I HAVE NOTICED MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL MAKING THE SAME COMPLAINT IN ONLINE FORUMS. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION
... . [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TRRead more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2013
TURBO OIL SUPPLY LINE FROM ENGINE TO TURBO LEAKING EXCESSIVE OIL REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN OF COMPRESSION FITTING LED TO PREMATURE FAILURE. CONTINUED OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITH THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE AND OR ENGINE TURBO FAILURE. MINI OF MARIN WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ONGOING ISSUES AND WERE TOLD THEY HADN'T HEARD OF THE ISSUE. CAR SMOKES UP IF DRIVEN SLOW
... . MUST BE ADDRESSED IN RECALL. *TRRead more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2013
TURBO OIL SUPPLY LINE FROM ENGINE TO TURBO LEAKING EXCESSIVE OIL REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN OF COMPRESSION FITTING LED TO PREMATURE FAILURE. CONTINUED OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITH THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE AND OR ENGINE TURBO FAILURE. MINI OF MARIN WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ONGOING ISSUES AND WERE TOLD THEY HADN'T HEARD OF THE ISSUE. CAR SMOKES UP IF DRIVEN SLOW
... . MUST BE ADDRESSED IN RECALL. *TRRead more
Incident date: Apr 30, 2012
WHEN YOU START THE CAR THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON, WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT OR NOT. THE LIGHT STAYS ON, I VISITED THE DEALERSHIP THE FIX COST $1241. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING. DEALER SHOULD FIX THIS ERROR. *TR