Showing 6,381 complaints for MINI
Incident date: Mar 24, 2011
I WAS DRIVING ON STRAIGHT ROAD THEN INTO CURVE...NOTICED THE STEERING WAS HARD TO TURN....WENT IN & OUT FOR A DAY THEN TOTALLY OUT...NO POWER STEERING...HAVE REPLACED THIS AND NOW IT'S OUT AGAIN!!!! *TR
Incident date: Mar 29, 2013
THE POWER STEERING FAILED. SEARCHING, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
Incident date: Dec 3, 2012
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THEY HAD REPAIRED THIS PREVIOUSLY UNDER WARRANTY. WE THEN CONTACTED MINI USA AND THEY SAID OUR VIN# WAS NOT LISTED FOR A RECALL. I MENTIONED THERE ARE MINI COOPERS IN FORUMS ALL OVER THE INTERNET WITH AIRB
... AG LIGHT ISSUES. *TRRead more
Incident date: Mar 27, 2013
I BOUGHT MY USED MINI COOPER S (64,686 MILES) FROM HONDA DEALERSHIP - SERRAMONTE (DALY CITY, CA) ON MARCH 13, 2012. I'M THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. THE STEERING PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED ON JUNE 2012, BUT IT WAS TEMPORARY. WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO MANEUVER FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND STOPPED THE CAR TO SEE WHAT'S WRONG. IT CAME BACK TO NORMAL AFTER I TURNED
... ON THE ENGINE. THE STEERING PROBLEM WOULD HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY, I WOULD DO THE SAME PROCEDURES AND THE STEERING WOULD GO BACK TO NORMAL AGAIN. TODAY (3/27/13), WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREA, I NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL STIFFEN LIKE LAST TIME. I STOPPED AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND FIRED IT BACK UP. THIS TIME, IT STAYED STIFF PERMANENTLY. I HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR BACK HOME DURING RUSH HOURS. LUCKILY I MANAGED TO GET HOME WITHOUT GETTING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I CHECKED THE STEERING FLUID LEVEL UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS FULL. I GOOGLED THE STEERING PROBLEM ON THE 2004 MINI COOPER S, I CAME TO FIND OUT THE SAME PROBLEMS WERE EXPERIENCED BY MANY MINI OWNERS. I NEED YOUR ADVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ON HOW I CAN GET MY CAR REPAIRED BEFORE IT CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD. THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE TO MAKE A LIVING. BECAUSE OF THESE COMMON STEERING PROBLEMS, I HOPE MINI WOULD TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. *TRRead more
Crash
Incident date: May 8, 2012
I WAS TRYING TO GET ONTO AN OFF RAMP AND WHEN I WAS INTO THE TURN I ALMOST RAN INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER BECAUSE THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE STEERING WHEEL ALWAYS LOCKS UP SOMETIMES IT WITH A FEW MILES AND OTHERS IT IS GOOD UNTIL IT LOCKS UP. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Incident date: Mar 13, 2013
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 30 TO 40 MILES AN HOUR/SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR, MY TRANSMISSION WOULD REV UP THE RPMS AND MY CAR NO LONGER ACCELERATES. IT WENT FROM ABOUT 2 TO 5.5 RPMS, EVEN AFTER I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. ONCE IT FINALLY DOES SHIFT, IT LURCHES THE CAR FORWARD VIOLENTLY. IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO START ACTING UP, BUT ONCE THE CAR IS FULLY WARMED UP, IT SEEMS
... NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE IT NOT HAPPEN. IT'S EVEN MORE FRUSTRATING AND FRIGHTENING BECAUSE I DO ALL CITY DRIVING, WHERE I SLOW DOWN AND SPEED UP SO I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO GET WITHIN THE 30MPH RANGE. MY CAR STOPS ACCELERATING SO I AM AFRAID OF MY TRANSMISSION DYING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC OR SLOWING DOWN SO MUCH THAT IS CAUSES AN ACCIDENT. BOTTOM LINE: MY CAR DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND POTENTIALLY ENDANGERS ME, SO I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. *TRRead more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2013
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 30 TO 40 MILES AN HOUR/SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR, MY TRANSMISSION WOULD REV UP THE RPMS AND MY CAR NO LONGER ACCELERATES. IT WENT FROM ABOUT 2 TO 5.5 RPMS, EVEN AFTER I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. ONCE IT FINALLY DOES SHIFT, IT LURCHES THE CAR FORWARD VIOLENTLY. IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO START ACTING UP, BUT ONCE THE CAR IS FULLY WARMED UP, IT SEEMS
... NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE IT NOT HAPPEN. IT'S EVEN MORE FRUSTRATING AND FRIGHTENING BECAUSE I DO ALL CITY DRIVING, WHERE I SLOW DOWN AND SPEED UP SO I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO GET WITHIN THE 30MPH RANGE. MY CAR STOPS ACCELERATING SO I AM AFRAID OF MY TRANSMISSION DYING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC OR SLOWING DOWN SO MUCH THAT IS CAUSES AN ACCIDENT. BOTTOM LINE: MY CAR DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND POTENTIALLY ENDANGERS ME, SO I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. *TRRead more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2013
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 30 TO 40 MILES AN HOUR/SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR, MY TRANSMISSION WOULD REV UP THE RPMS AND MY CAR NO LONGER ACCELERATES. IT WENT FROM ABOUT 2 TO 5.5 RPMS, EVEN AFTER I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. ONCE IT FINALLY DOES SHIFT, IT LURCHES THE CAR FORWARD VIOLENTLY. IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO START ACTING UP, BUT ONCE THE CAR IS FULLY WARMED UP, IT SEEMS
... NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE IT NOT HAPPEN. IT'S EVEN MORE FRUSTRATING AND FRIGHTENING BECAUSE I DO ALL CITY DRIVING, WHERE I SLOW DOWN AND SPEED UP SO I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO GET WITHIN THE 30MPH RANGE. MY CAR STOPS ACCELERATING SO I AM AFRAID OF MY TRANSMISSION DYING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC OR SLOWING DOWN SO MUCH THAT IS CAUSES AN ACCIDENT. BOTTOM LINE: MY CAR DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND POTENTIALLY ENDANGERS ME, SO I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. *TRRead more
Incident date: Mar 21, 2013
WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE 2 WAY (1 PER DIRECTION) RURAL ROAD VERY WINDY ON MY DAILY COMMUTE INTO MY OFFICE I LOST POWER STEERING. I WAS ON A STRAIGHTAWAY AND LUCKILY NOT IN A CURVE BECAUSE THE STEERING INSTANTLY BECAME TIGHT AND AT LOW SPEEDS IS ALMOST UNABLE TO STEER. I SAY ALMOST BECAUSE I I AM ABLE TO DRIVE WITH GREAT EFFORT AND ATTENTION HOWEVER ANY EVASIVE MOVEMENT FOR AN EMERGENCY MAY CAUS
... E ME TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE SEEN MIMI HAD A RECALL FOR THE EXACT ISSUE IN CANADA BUT HAS NOT HAD A RECALL IN THE USA WHILE WE ARE HAVING THE EXACT PROBLEMS. MINI ALSO CHANGED THE STEERING PUMP/FAN/WIRING IN THE 2006 MODELS WHICH IS THE LAST YEAR OF PRODUCTION ON THE EXACT MODEL I OWN. OBVIOUSLY THEY (MINI) IS AWARE AND TRIED TO FIX THE ISSUE ON THEIR END WITHOUT A RECALL.Read more
Incident date: Mar 25, 2013
PROBLEM WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON 2005 MINI COOPER S. NEEDS REPLACEMENT $8000+. ONLY 90K MILES. HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON LINE REGARDING CVT TRANSMISSION DEFECT. MINI COOPER/ BMW NOT ADMITTING PROBLEM TO PUBLIC. *TR
Incident date: Mar 23, 2013
AFTER A SHORT TRIP, I HAD JUST PARKED THE MINI. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS OUTDOORS AND WITHIN 50FT OF MY TOOL CHEST. ON TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND REMOVING THE KEY, I NOTICED AN UNUSUAL NOISE; THE [ELECTRIC] POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN. A FEW SECONDS LATER, SMOKE APPEARED. I RACED TO MY TOOL DRAWER, GRABBING THE FIRST SUITABLE TOOL, CHANNEL LOCK PLIERS, AND PROCEEDED TO HASTILY DISCONNECT
... ONE OF THE BATTERY TERMINALS. SMOKE WAS HEAVY AT THAT POINT. DISCONNECTING POWER PREVENTED FURTHER DAMAGE, AND WAS FORTUNATELY DONE IN TIME, BEFORE THE WIRING HARNESS WAS INCINERATED, OR THE SITUATION BECAME A SELF-SUSTAINING CONFLAGRATION. APPARENTLY, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A 100A FUSE PRESENT, THE FAULT PROTECTION ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP CIRCUIT IS INADEQUATE. I REMOVED THE POWER WIRE TO THE PUMP, TO ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN, WITH HEAVY [NON-ASSISTED] STEERING, PENDING SERVICE. SINCE THE OUTCOME IS NOT SO BAD, WHY SHOULD I COMPLAIN? CONSIDER IF THE VEHICLE WERE PARKED INDOORS, AND/OR IF THE SAME EVENT WERE TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE WITH LESS ELECTRICAL APTITUDE. I DON'T EXPECT ACCESSORIES TO LAST FOREVER; THE VEHICLE IS 11 YEARS OLD WITH 123K MILES. I DO OBJECT TO THE FAILURE MODE, IN WHICH THE POWER STEERING PUMP CIRCUIT BECOMES AN INCENDIARY DEVICE... *TRRead more
Fire
Incident date: Mar 23, 2013
AFTER A SHORT TRIP, I HAD JUST PARKED THE MINI. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS OUTDOORS AND WITHIN 50FT OF MY TOOL CHEST. ON TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND REMOVING THE KEY, I NOTICED AN UNUSUAL NOISE; THE [ELECTRIC] POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN. A FEW SECONDS LATER, SMOKE APPEARED. I RACED TO MY TOOL DRAWER, GRABBING THE FIRST SUITABLE TOOL, CHANNEL LOCK PLIERS, AND PROCEEDED TO HASTILY DISCONNECT
... ONE OF THE BATTERY TERMINALS. SMOKE WAS HEAVY AT THAT POINT. DISCONNECTING POWER PREVENTED FURTHER DAMAGE, AND WAS FORTUNATELY DONE IN TIME, BEFORE THE WIRING HARNESS WAS INCINERATED, OR THE SITUATION BECAME A SELF-SUSTAINING CONFLAGRATION. APPARENTLY, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A 100A FUSE PRESENT, THE FAULT PROTECTION ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP CIRCUIT IS INADEQUATE. I REMOVED THE POWER WIRE TO THE PUMP, TO ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN, WITH HEAVY [NON-ASSISTED] STEERING, PENDING SERVICE. SINCE THE OUTCOME IS NOT SO BAD, WHY SHOULD I COMPLAIN? CONSIDER IF THE VEHICLE WERE PARKED INDOORS, AND/OR IF THE SAME EVENT WERE TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE WITH LESS ELECTRICAL APTITUDE. I DON'T EXPECT ACCESSORIES TO LAST FOREVER; THE VEHICLE IS 11 YEARS OLD WITH 123K MILES. I DO OBJECT TO THE FAILURE MODE, IN WHICH THE POWER STEERING PUMP CIRCUIT BECOMES AN INCENDIARY DEVICE... *TRRead more
Fire
Incident date: Jan 27, 2012
WE PURCHASED THIS CAR IN LATE SEPT./EARLY OCT. 2012 WITH 29K MILES ON THE CAR. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR, AND WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE, AS SHE WAS ENTERING THE OFF RAMP IN FOREST LAKE, MN HER CAR STARTED TO JERK/RUN LIKE CRAP (LATE JANUARY 2013). SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME, I TRIED TO FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE, BUT EVERYTHING I CHECKED TEST GOOD, SO I BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL IMPORT TECH, A
... ND HE DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE TO BE THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, ALLOWING THE TIMING TO JUMP. HE SAYS HE STARTED UP THE MOTOR TO TEST FURTHER, IT IDLED FOR LESS THAN A MINUTE BEFORE THE MOTOR DIED AND NOW WILL NOT START. I NOW, AFTER OWNING THE CAR FOR 3-4 MONTHS, HAVE A MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE. I DO NOT CARE TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT HIGH SPEEDS.... THANKX *TRRead more
Incident date: Mar 21, 2013
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING, COULDN'T TURN WHEEL ,HIT CURB. *TR
Crash
Incident date: Sep 10, 2010
DURING THE FIRST INCIDENT I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN, SUDDENLY THE STEERING HAD A HARD RESISTANT MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DO A RIGHT TURN. I HAD TO MUSCLE THE WHEEL IN ORDER TO KEEP FROM VEERING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WHEN I PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO DO AN UNDER THE HOOD INSPECTION AND CHECK THE STEERING FLUID LEVEL, I SAW NOTHING THAT INDICATE DAMAGE. ONCE I RESTART THE VEHICLE, IT SEEM TO CORRECT IT
... SELF. I THOUGH WAS IT WAS MAYBE A FLUKE. LATER ON, MY WIFE INDICATED SHE HEARD A WHINING NOISE THAT CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND ASK ME TO LOOK INTO IT. AFTER LOOKING IT OVER, I ADD SOME BELT DRESSING, BECAUSE I THOUGHT COULD HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM. IN THE MEANTIME I MADE SEVERAL CALLS TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP IN TEMPE, AZ. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THIS NOISE COULD BE SEVERAL INDICATORS, SUCH AS AN AGING STEERING PUMP, A MIXTURE OF NON-RECOMMENDED FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR OR THE PUMP COULD BE GOING OUT. I DISMISSED THE MIX FLUID INDICATOR, BECAUSE THE LEVELS WERE ALWAYS WITHIN RANGE AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE WAS NEVER TAMPERED WITH OR TOPPED OFF. AS SEVERAL MONTHS WENT BY, THE VEHICLE CONTINUE TO OPERATE WITHOUT INCIDENT, OTHER THAN THE WHINING NOISE, WHICH WAS HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED FOR THE FIRST TIME OF THE DAY, OR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING IN IDLE. RECENTLY, MY WIFE CALL ME FROM WORK AND INDICATED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING TO WORK FOR THE 2ND TIME, THE STEERING SEEM TO LOCK AND WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. SHE MANAGE TO DRIVE HOME WITHOUT INJURY TO HERSELF OR OTHERS. THAT SAME DAY, WHEN I LOOKED OVER THE VEHICLE FOR LEAKS, DAMAGE OR FLUID LEVELS AND THE VEHICLE STEERING AGAIN LOCKED IN PLACE. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH, I FOUND THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE 2004 AND 2005 MINI COOPERS, WHICH HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY MINI OF CANADA WHO ISSUED A RECALL. ON THE FLIP SIDE, MINI CORP IN THE US AND LOCAL DEALERS DO NOT. PLEASE ADVISE WITH A REPLY. *TRRead more
Incident date: Mar 9, 2013
I AM THE CURRENT OWNER OF A 2005 MINI COOPER S. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2006 FROM MINI OF IRVINE WITH 3,000 MILES. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION. THE CAR JERKS WHEN CHANGING GEARS AT ANY SPEED, AS WELL AS WHEN SWITCHING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO MINI OF SAN DIEGO TO BE DIAGNOSED AND HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE RE
... PLACED AT A COST OF $8,000. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 73,000 MILES AND FIND IT COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING SO EARLY ON. *TRRead more
Incident date: Feb 25, 2013
TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE ON 2008 MINI COOPER LEADING TO LARGE OIL LEAK UNDER PRESSURE. LOSS OF ALL ENGINE OIL, OIL SPRAYING ONTO HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM, ENGINE OIL PRESSURE LOSS AND OIL WARNING LIGHT. COULD EASILY LEAD TO COMPLETE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE/SEIZURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND ACCIDENT. *TR
Incident date: Mar 10, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED AS THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. TH
... E VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. *TRRead more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2013
POWER STEERING RANDOMLY GOES OUT ON CAR. LOW-SPEED FAN HAS SEIZED, DAMAGING POWER STEERING PUMP. CAR HAS NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. *TR
Incident date: Mar 16, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED A RIGHT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY NEEDED TO TURN THE WHEEL INCREASED. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AS IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE FUNCTION PROPERLY UNTIL THE FAILURE RECURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS N
... OT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,600. RETURNED BY USPS ON 4/8/2013. 2ND ATTEMPT ON 4/9/2013. *KBRead more
Incident date: May 2, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURREN
... T MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *TRRead more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2012
THE POWER STEERING IN MY CAR HAS FAILED CONTINUOUSLY. WE HAD THE ENTIRE RACK REPLACED IN 2011 - THE STEERING FLUID CONSTANTLY LEAKS, OR BURNS DRY - FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS, THE POWER STEERING PUMP DOES NOT STOP RUNNING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED - REQUIRING FOR THE BATTERY TO BE DISCONNECTED AT EVERY STOP, OR RISK A DEAD BATTERY. *TR
Incident date: Mar 19, 2013
INTERMITTENTLY ON COLD START THE POWER STEERING IS INOPERATIVE. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN WILL USUALLY RESULT IN THE POWER STEERING BECOMING OPERATIVE AGAIN. DEALERSHIP SAYS PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Incident date: Mar 14, 2013
MINI RELEASED A SERVICE BULLETIN (CAMPAIGN: SIM 11 02 12) REGARDING FAULTY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. AT APPX. 40K MILES, MY COOPER S WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AND IT WAS REPORTED THERE WAS A "RATTLE" IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TENSIONER UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THE SAME ISSUE HAS OCCURRED. I AM BEING TOLD THE ENTIRE TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY NEEDS REPLACEMENT AT AN APPROXIMATE COS
... T OF $3K. MINI HAS OFFERED TO PAY 1/2 THE COST. THERE IS NO EXPLANATION WHY THE REPAIR IS NOT COVERED UNDER 2 YEAR REPLACEMENT TENSIONER WARRANTY; SINCE THIS ORIGINAL ISSUE WAS ONLY PARTLY ADDRESSED WHILE IN 50K CAR WARRANTY. MY MINI NOW HAS 77K. ONCE WARRANTY REQUEST IS SUBMITTED FROM DEALER TO MINI CORPORATE, DECISION IS FINAL. THERE IS NO APPEAL. FAILURE TO PERFORM SERVICE WILL RESULT IN ENGINE FAILURE IN NEAR FUTURE. *TRRead more
Incident date: Sep 18, 2012
PASS AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. *TR
Incident date: Jul 10, 2012
MY CAR IS 2009 MINI. BOUGHT NEW. AIR BAG SENSOR IN PASSENGER SEAT WENT OUT @ 70,000 MI. PASSENGER AIR BAG WONT WORK. DEALER IN BIRMINGHAM, AL. GAVE A QUOTE FOR $1300 FOR A PASSENGER SEAT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, MINI MUST STEP UP TO THE PLATE FOR RECALLS LIKE CHEVY, FORD, HONDA, NISSAN FOR RECALLS. I WONT GIVE YOU SHARKS $1300 FOR A NEW SEAT. MY WIFE DIES, MY ATTORNEY'S WILL BE IN TOUCH. GIVE ME A
... RECALL I CAN LIVE WITH. *TRRead more
Incident date: Jul 10, 2012
MY CAR IS 2009 MINI. BOUGHT NEW. AIR BAG SENSOR IN PASSENGER SEAT WENT OUT @ 70,000 MI. PASSENGER AIR BAG WONT WORK. DEALER IN BIRMINGHAM, AL. GAVE A QUOTE FOR $1300 FOR A PASSENGER SEAT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, MINI MUST STEP UP TO THE PLATE FOR RECALLS LIKE CHEVY, FORD, HONDA, NISSAN FOR RECALLS. I WONT GIVE YOU SHARKS $1300 FOR A NEW SEAT. MY WIFE DIES, MY ATTORNEY'S WILL BE IN TOUCH. GIVE ME A
... RECALL I CAN LIVE WITH. *TRRead more
Incident date: Mar 16, 2013
I STOPPED MY CAR IN A PARKING LOT TO RUN SOME ERRANDS. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR AND GOT IT STARTED, I REALIZED THAT THE POWER STEERING OF MY CAR BECAME REALLY STIFF. IT WAS REALLY HARD FOR ME TO STEER MY CAR LEFT AND RIGHT. THE POWER STEERING OF MY CAR NO LONGER FUNCTION AS BEFORE AND IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO DRIVE ON THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT AT A ROAD JUNCT
... ION. *TRRead more
Incident date: Mar 17, 2013
I MADE A LEFT TURN AT A LIGHT AND THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN. THE STEERING BECAME VERY HEAVY AND I THOUGHT I HAD A FLAT TIRE. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE FLUID AND THE LEVEL WAS CORRECT. I CONTINUED DRIVING AND THE STEERING WAS FINE. *TR
Incident date: Mar 15, 2013
INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURES WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. ONE MINUTE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONS, NEXT MINUTE, NO PS AT ALL. POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUES TO RUN EVEN WHEN ENGINE IS OFF AND KEY OUT OF IGNITION. AFTER RETURNING TO VEHICLE, BATTERY IS DEAD AS A RESULT OF CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING PUMP OR FAN. *TR
Incident date: Mar 15, 2013
INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURES WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. ONE MINUTE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONS, NEXT MINUTE, NO PS AT ALL. POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUES TO RUN EVEN WHEN ENGINE IS OFF AND KEY OUT OF IGNITION. AFTER RETURNING TO VEHICLE, BATTERY IS DEAD AS A RESULT OF CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING PUMP OR FAN. *TR
Incident date: Mar 1, 2011
AROUND 2 YEARS AGO, WHILE DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT, THE LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF. THIS IS EXTREMELY CONCERNING THAT THE CAR'S PASSENGER AIRBAG MIGHT NOT BE WORKING, PARTICULARLY WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. THIS MALFUNCTION HAS BEEN REPORTED ON OTHER FORUMS TO BE LINKED T
... O A FAULTY SENSOR IN THE CAR SEAT, AND A NHTSA SERVICE BULLETIN (ID NUMBER: 10043927) HAS BEEN FILED. I HOPE THAT NHTSA CAN CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION INTO WHETHER A RECALL SHOULD OCCUR, GIVEN THE SAFETY CONCERN OF POTENTIALLY NOT HAVING A PASSENGER AIRBAG GO OFF IF A PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT SEAT AND AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. *TRRead more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2013
MY POWER STEERING IS FAILING. IT CAUSES MYSELF OR WHEN MY WIFE DRIVES (WITH BOTH MY YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR) TO COME AND GO INTERMITTENTLY. AT TIMES IN PARKING LOTS OR EVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT WILL GO FROM NORMAL USAGE AND EASE OF USE TO HEAVY MANUAL STEERING. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED MORE THEN JUST "BEING LOOKED INTO." THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD/WILL CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE IF NOT RESOL
... VED PER BMW/MINI COOPER AND IT'S OWNERSHIP. I LISTED IT AS "CRASH" IN THE YES FORM. SO FAR IT HAS ONLY BEEN INTO THE CURB A FEW TIMES AT TYPICAL PARKING SPEEDS. SO FAR IS THE STATEMENT HERE. THIS WILL BECOME AN ISSUE IF NOT RESOLVED AND I HOPE THAT IT IS JUST A CURB AND NOT ANOTHER CAR/FAMILY THAT ARE AFFECTED DUE TO THIS "KNOWN" ISSUE. *TRRead more
Crash
Incident date: Mar 9, 2013
-MY DEPENDENT DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH DURING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS WHEN POWER STEERING ASSIST TURNED OFF. STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS. FOLLOW-ON OCCURRENCES WERE REGULARLY REPEATED AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 - 15 MILES. DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WAS CEASED UNTIL REPAIRS MADE THEREFORE WAS UNABLE TO COMMUTE TO / FROM SCHOOL OF HIGHER EDUCATION. VEHICLE
... BROUGHT TO LOCAL REPAIR STATION AND A FAULTY POWER STEERING MOTOR WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CAUSE. SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS TOTALLY 934.00 USD APPEAR TO HAVE FIXED PROBLEM. THE FACT THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THIS POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC CONDITION, AND CHOSE TO PUT MY DAUGHTER AT RISK OR HARMS WAY IS SHAMEFUL. *TRRead more
Incident date: Mar 14, 2013
THE TIMING CHAIN HAS LOCKED UP. I NOTICE THAT THIS IS A COMMOM COMPLAINT. *TR
Incident date: Mar 11, 2013
I TOOK MY MINI S IN TO THE SHOP FOR BRAKE MAINTENANCE, TO BE TOLD THAT THE TENSIONER HAD FAILED AND THE TIMING CHAIN KIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. UNNECESSARY TO MENTION, THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. AFTER DOING MUCH RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT THE TENSIONER IN THE MINI HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR QUITE SOME TIME, SOME SITES HAVE QUOTED SINCE 2007. HAD I NOT TAKEN MY CAR IN FOR A COMPLETELY UNRELATED ISSU
... E, MY TIMING CHAIN COULD HAVE BROKEN, RESULTING IN A THROWN ROD AND A BLOWN ENGINE, WHICH CAN BE INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. THIS TENSIONER IS A DEFECTIVE PIECE WHICH CAUSES SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE TIMING CHAIN AND AREA COMPONENTS WHEN IT FAILS. DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS ISSUE AND THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS SEEN ON THE WEB, A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL SHOULD BE MADE. *TRRead more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2013
TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE. NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. TIMING CHAIN BROKE, CAUSING COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. OUT OF WARRANTY SO MINI WON'T TOUCH IT. WILL COST $7500+. *TR
Incident date: Jul 1, 2012
BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FEB. 2012 A FEW MONTHS LATER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 15-20 TIMES, TO DATE. I HAVE LOST FULL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, NO STEERING CAPABILITY. SEVERAL TIME HAS BEEN WHILE TURNING OR EXITING THE FREEWAY, VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. I HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO CAUSING SEVERAL ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Incident date: Mar 2, 2013
ONLY RUN 12000 MILE LESS THAN YEAR THERE IS RATTLE SOUND ON SPEEDOMETER" SPECIALLY NAVIGATION SCREEN. THEY TRY FIX THE PROBLEM, AND TELL ME , THEY CAN NOT FIX, BECAUSE IT COMING FROM SPEEDOMETER. AND PRINT OUR ONE PIECE PAPER, WHICH IS MINI OFFICIAL PAPER AS BELOW" SUBJECT: BUZZING NOISE FROM SPEEDOMETER SITUATION: WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DECELERATION THE CUSTOMER MIGHT EXPERIENCE A BUZ
... ZING NOISE FORM THE SPEEDOMETER, WHEN SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE IS BETWEEN 0 AND 12 MILES PER HOUR. GENERAL INFORMATION: THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION????. WHAT?? NORMAL? THIS SOUND MAKE ME CRAZY, SAME SOUND EVERYTIME I RUN. I WAS TALK TO MINI TEC PERSON, MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT MINI U.S.A DON;T RECALL ANYTHING. THEY SHOULD RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, SINCE THEY AGREE THERE IS NOISE FORM SPEEDOMETER" I HAVE PRINTED PAPER FROM MINI. ALSO THERE IS NOISE INSIDE OF CAR, THEY ALREADY FIX THE DASHBOARD, AND ,SIDE DOOR NOISE. *TRRead more
Incident date: Mar 2, 2013
ONLY RUN 12000 MILE LESS THAN YEAR THERE IS RATTLE SOUND ON SPEEDOMETER" SPECIALLY NAVIGATION SCREEN. THEY TRY FIX THE PROBLEM, AND TELL ME , THEY CAN NOT FIX, BECAUSE IT COMING FROM SPEEDOMETER. AND PRINT OUR ONE PIECE PAPER, WHICH IS MINI OFFICIAL PAPER AS BELOW" SUBJECT: BUZZING NOISE FROM SPEEDOMETER SITUATION: WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DECELERATION THE CUSTOMER MIGHT EXPERIENCE A BUZ
... ZING NOISE FORM THE SPEEDOMETER, WHEN SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE IS BETWEEN 0 AND 12 MILES PER HOUR. GENERAL INFORMATION: THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION????. WHAT?? NORMAL? THIS SOUND MAKE ME CRAZY, SAME SOUND EVERYTIME I RUN. I WAS TALK TO MINI TEC PERSON, MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT MINI U.S.A DON;T RECALL ANYTHING. THEY SHOULD RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, SINCE THEY AGREE THERE IS NOISE FORM SPEEDOMETER" I HAVE PRINTED PAPER FROM MINI. ALSO THERE IS NOISE INSIDE OF CAR, THEY ALREADY FIX THE DASHBOARD, AND ,SIDE DOOR NOISE. *TRRead more
Incident date: Mar 12, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILU
... RE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.Read more
Incident date: Apr 18, 2012
POWER STEERING FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING, UNABLE TO STEER CAR. AFTER SOME TIME, POWER RESUMED INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
Incident date: Feb 19, 2013
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE AND DRAINED BATTERY (RECENTLY REPLACED). CAR WILL NOT START, AND CAN NOT ACCESS PASSENGER OR TRUNK DOOR DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURE. *TR
Incident date: Feb 19, 2013
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE AND DRAINED BATTERY (RECENTLY REPLACED). CAR WILL NOT START, AND CAN NOT ACCESS PASSENGER OR TRUNK DOOR DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURE. *TR
Incident date: Mar 4, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE ENGINE FAN FAILED TO DEACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V008000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2011
IN SEPTEMBER 2011, I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 MINI COOPER S AT 55MPH ON A RURAL TWO LANE HIGHWAY WHEN I EXPERIENCED A MOMENTARY LOSS POWER STEERING OF POWER STEERING. THIS RESULTED IN THE WHEEL BECOMING VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. WHEN POWER STEERING RETURNED (WITHOUT WARNING), MY CAR SWERVED BUT I WAS ABLE TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE NEXT 20 MILES BEFORE I LOST POWER STEER
... ING AND IT DID NOT RETURN.WHEN I ARRIVED HOME, I CHECKED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND IT WAS NON-OPERATIONAL. I REPLACED THE PUMP AND ITS DEDICATED COOLING FAN. IN AUGUST 2012 (125000 MILES), I AGAIN LOST POWER STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE SECOND FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL TO THE FIRST (SUDDENLY CAME AND WENT BEFORE CUTTING OUT AND NOT RETURNING). *TRRead more
Incident date: Jan 26, 2013
THE STEERING ON MY '03 MINI COOPER STARTED MAKING WHINING/ GROANING NOISES THAT WERE NOT THE NORMAL STEERING NOISES. THE STEERING HAS LIMITED POWER BOOST, SOMETIMES NEAR NORMAL, OTHER TIMES ALMOST NO BOOST. THE STEERING DOESN'T RETURN TO STRAIGHT AS IT USED TO. AFTER MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, THE CAR KEEPS TRYING TO TURN THE LAST DIRECTION STEERED. WITH EFFORT, I CAN HOLD THE CAR STRAIGHT, BUT
... IT PULLS NOTICEABLY THE LAST DIRECTION TURNED. THE ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR GROANS, CHANGING SPEED UP AND DOWN, EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS NOT MOVING. ALL FLUID LEVELS ARE NORMAL AND THERE ARE NO LEAKS OR DRIPS OF ANY FLUID. THE POWER STEERING FAN AND RADIATOR COOLING FAN ARE OPERATING CORRECTLY. THE STEERING EFFORT IS NOT CONSISTENT. SOMETIMES AT EXPRESSWAY SPEEDS, AS WELL AS SLOWER SURFACE STREET SPEEDS, THE STEERING STIFFENS UP WHERE IT REQUIRES MUCH EFFORT TO CONTROL, THEN MINUTES LATER, WILL GO BACK TO NORMAL BOOST LEVELS. THIS OFTEN HAPPENS WHEN NEGOTIATING LANE CHANGES OR EXPRESSWAY RAMPS WITH WHAT SHOULD BE A STEADY RATE TURN. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATES THE ELECTRO- HYDRAULIC STEERING PUMP IS CAUSING THESE ISSUES AND THAT BMW IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TRRead more
Incident date: Dec 21, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED THE ENGINE HAD A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THE WATER PUMP AND THE TURBO CHARGER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Incident date: Feb 28, 2012
STRANGE KNOCKING/RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR 2007+ MINI COOPER. FROM THE MINI DEALER REPAIR DETAILS IT APPEARS TO BE A ISSUE WITH THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER SYSTEM. IT ALSO APPEARS THAT WITHOUT BEING FIXED THE CAR WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AND POSSIBLE MOTOR DESTRUCTION. THIS COULD OCCUR WHILE DRIVING AND I COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE
... CAUSING A CRASH. MINI WILL NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT WITHOUT THE VEHICLE STILL BEING UNDER WARRANTY. I CALL FOR A RECALL. *TRRead more
Incident date: Jan 17, 2013
TOOK VEHICLE IN TO MINI OF THE WOODLANDS TO HAVE RECALL WORK DONE TO THE VEHICLE AND WHILE IT WAS THERE HAD THEM DO A DIAGNOSTIC TO ENSURE CAR WAS IN GOOD SHAPE. WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDED A NEW TIMING CHAIN AND THAT I SHOULDN'T DRIVE IT. WAS TOLD TO TOW IT HOME OR LEAVE IT WITH THEM AND THEY WOULD FIX IT FOR CLOSE TO $2500. THE CAR HAS 37,000 MILES. REALLY? FEEL LIKE THERE'S A NICE SCAM GOING ON WIT
... H A PRODUCT THAT HAS OBVIOUS DEFECTS WITH THIS TIMING CHAIN ISSUE. THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. NO VEHICLE SHOULD NEED A NEW TIMING BELT WITH THIS LOW OF MILEAGE. MINI NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TRRead more