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: Mar 31, 2011
LOUD NOISE IN TRANSMISSION - LEADS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING MANY COMPLAINTS INDICATING THIS HAPPENING WHILE IN TRAFFIC ARE ON A COUPLE WEBSITES - MAIN SITE: HTTP://NEWMINI.WORDPRESS.COM/2008/01/08/MINI-COOPER-TRANSMISSION-PROBLEMS/ ALSO MANY ON: HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/MINI.HTML
Incident date: May 11, 2012
WHILE DRIVING, IT FELT AS THOUGH MY POWER STEERING HAD GONE OUT. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO MY LOCATION. ONCE IN THE PARKING LOT, STEERING BECAME NEAR IMPOSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY WHILE GOING AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS. WHEN I WENT TO BACK OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT THAT EVENING, IT WAS UNABLE TO BE DONE, CAUSING ME TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TOW MY CAR. *TR
MINI
COOPER CONVERTIBLE
(2005) - AIR BAGS
May 12, 2012
Incident date: May 7, 2012
SEAT SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG CHILD DISABLING FEATURE FAILED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE SEAT. DEALER ESTIMATE WAS $1300 FOR THE REPLACEMENT SEAT AND LABOR. DEALER ADMITTED THAT IT HAS BEEN A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN SEVERAL BMW MODELS. THE CAR ONLY HAS 32000 MILES ON IT. NO WARRANTY COVERAGE WAS OFFERED. *TR
Incident date: Feb 1, 2012
POWER STEERING CUTS OUT INTERMITTENTLY. POWER STEERING COMES BACK AFTER RESTARTING VEHICLE. THEN FAILS LATER AGAIN. *TR
Incident date: May 11, 2012
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE I WAS IN A TURN AT 30 MPH. STEERING BECAME VERY HEAVY AND NEARLY CAUSED THE CAR TO LEAVE THE ROAD DUE TO GREATLY INCREASED REQUIRED STEERING EFFORT. SHUT CAR OFF AND CHECKED FLUID LEVEL. FLUID LEVEL FOUND TO BE FULL. RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM WHEN I GOT HOME AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE WITH MINI'S. ADDITIONALLY, TRANSPORT CANADA HAS ISSUE... Read more
Incident date: May 6, 2012
MY 2005 MINI COOPER S OUT OF NO WHERE BURIED THE NEEDLE ON THE THERMOSTAT AND WAS COMPLETELY OVERHEATED. UNABLE TO DRIVE ANY FURTHER AS I SMELT SMOKE AND POSSIBLY A SWEET SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND HAVE NOW SEEN THAT THIS IS AN ITEM THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED ON ALL MINI COOPERS S FROM 2006 TO 2011, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE 2005 DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME PUMP ... Read more
Incident date: May 11, 2011
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY INCIDENT HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED. *TR
MINI
COOPER COUNTRYMAN
(2011) - POWER TRAIN
May 9, 2012
Incident date: May 4, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE PLACED A CUP IN THE CUP HOLDER AND SOMETHING PUNCTURED A HOLE IN THE CUP, CAUSING LIQUID TO LEAK. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE SHIFT ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. T... Read more
MINI
COOPER S CONVERTIBLE
(2006) - POWER TRAIN
May 8, 2012
Incident date: Apr 3, 2012
WHILE PULLING UP TO A SIGNAL WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL DOWN, WE HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE CENTER OF THE CAR. THE REST OF THE DRIVE, THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT (6 SPEED MANUAL) INTO ANY GEAR. TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE LINKAGE WAS FINE. THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE THROW OUT BEARING HAD FAILED, REQU... Read more
MINI
COOPER CONVERTIBLE
(2005) - STEERING
May 7, 2012
Incident date: Mar 16, 2012
I HAVE LOST POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS. IT CAUSES LOSS OF CONTROL AND MAKES THE CAR UNDRIVABLE AND THERE IS NO WARNING. I PULL OVER AND RESTART IT AND IT HAS POWER STEERING AGAIN. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ON THE FREEWAY. *TR
Incident date: May 7, 2012
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE AT 127,000 MILES. *TR
Incident date: Apr 2, 2012
MY MINI COOPER S HAS LESS THAN 60000 MILES ON IT WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE AND HAS HAD FAILURE OF THE FRICTION WHEEL (AKA TIMING CHAIN OR TENSIONER SYSTEM). THE FIRST SIGNS OF THE ISSUE ARE A VERY LOUD, RATTLING NOISE DURING ACCELERATION AND AS THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE, IT CONTINUES TO RATTLE DURING IDLING. THE MINI CORPORATION IS VERY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND WHILE THE DEALERSHIP ITSELF WORKED WITH... Read more
MINI
COOPER S CLUBMAN
(2008) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
May 7, 2012
Incident date: Mar 8, 2012
I CAME HOME FROM WORK AND PARKED THE CAR IN HIS NORMAL PARKING SPACE ON THE BLACK TOP. I TURNED OFF THE CAR, PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR WITH THE PARKING BRAKE AND LOCKED THE DOOR. A MINUTE LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPT REPORT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF THERE WAS A KEY LEFT IN THE IGNITION.
Fire
MINI
COOPER S CLUBMAN
(2008) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
May 7, 2012
Incident date: Mar 8, 2012
I CAME HOME FROM WORK AND PARKED THE CAR IN HIS NORMAL PARKING SPACE ON THE BLACK TOP. I TURNED OFF THE CAR, PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR WITH THE PARKING BRAKE AND LOCKED THE DOOR. A MINUTE LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPT REPORT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF THERE WAS A KEY LEFT IN THE IGNITION.
Fire
Incident date: May 4, 2012
THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR 2ND TIME. THE 1ST. WAS 08-11-10 @ 81,539 MILES.THE CONTROL UNIT FOR THE AIR BAG WAS REPLACED. PN: 65-77-184-432. COST FOR THE MODULE WAS $507.00. PART HAS A 2 YEAR WARRANTY FORM BMW. STARTED CAR FRIDAY MORNING TO GO TO WORK AND THE WARNING LIGHT CAME BACK ON. WILL TAKE BACK TO DEALER. PART SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 1 1/2 YEARS. THIS IS A EXPENSIVE PART AND LABO... Read more
Incident date: Apr 20, 2012
THE CAR HAD BEEN PERFORMING NORMALLY AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE IT WAS SUDDENLY EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. AFTER COMING OUT OF THE STORE THE CAR RESUMED STEERING CORRECTLY. THEN A FEW DAYS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED-IT WAS TERRIBLY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE VEHICLE. I CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO SUGGESTED CHECKING THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL. I WAS UNABLE TO FIND IN MY OWNERS... Read more
Incident date: May 2, 2012
VEHICLE FIRE 5/2/2012. CAR PARKED FOR 4 HRS. RETURNED TO CAR & DROVE IT <50 YARDS FOR ~2 MINUTES (MOVED IT FROM STREET TO PARKING LOT). TURNED IT OFF AND WENT IN STORE. RETURNED ~4 MINUTES LATER, NOTICED SMOKE/EXHAUST SMELL; PRESUMED IT WAS ADJACENT CAR. UNLOCKED CAR. CAR WOULD'T START (NO LIGHTS/ELECTRICAL AT ALL). I THEN NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD. OPENED HOOD THEN NOTICED FLAM... Read more
Fire
Incident date: May 2, 2012
VEHICLE FIRE 5/2/2012. CAR PARKED FOR 4 HRS. RETURNED TO CAR & DROVE IT <50 YARDS FOR ~2 MINUTES (MOVED IT FROM STREET TO PARKING LOT). TURNED IT OFF AND WENT IN STORE. RETURNED ~4 MINUTES LATER, NOTICED SMOKE/EXHAUST SMELL; PRESUMED IT WAS ADJACENT CAR. UNLOCKED CAR. CAR WOULD'T START (NO LIGHTS/ELECTRICAL AT ALL). I THEN NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD. OPENED HOOD THEN NOTICED FLAM... Read more
Fire
Incident date: May 2, 2012
VEHICLE FIRE 5/2/2012. CAR PARKED FOR 4 HRS. RETURNED TO CAR & DROVE IT <50 YARDS FOR ~2 MINUTES (MOVED IT FROM STREET TO PARKING LOT). TURNED IT OFF AND WENT IN STORE. RETURNED ~4 MINUTES LATER, NOTICED SMOKE/EXHAUST SMELL; PRESUMED IT WAS ADJACENT CAR. UNLOCKED CAR. CAR WOULD'T START (NO LIGHTS/ELECTRICAL AT ALL). I THEN NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD. OPENED HOOD THEN NOTICED FLAM... Read more
Fire
Incident date: May 3, 2012
I WAS MERGING ONTO HIGHWAY I-25, TAKING A SHARP TURN AT 50 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED. I NEARLY MISSED THE TURN AND ALMOST CRASH DOWN THE ON-RAMP, WHICH WOULD'VE PLACED ME HEADING PERPENDICULAR STRAIGHT INTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. *TR
Incident date: Apr 25, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE FROM A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT UNDER THE HOOD WITH A GARDEN HOSE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CONTACTED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER W... Read more
Fire
MINI
COOPER CONVERTIBLE
(2005) - STEERING
May 2, 2012
Incident date: Apr 12, 2012
POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING, HAS NOT COME BACK. *JS
Incident date: Jul 18, 2011
ENGINE COOLING FAN LOW SPEED STAGE FAILURE. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL OF COOLING FAN FOR THE SAME MODEL UP TO MODEL YEAR 2004. BUT MY 2005 MINI COOPER S HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THUS, IT IS APPROPRIATE TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE MODEL YEAR 2005. *JS
Incident date: Aug 13, 2011
THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND STOOPED WORKING AS I WAS DRIVING THROUGH BOSTON. NOW, THE POWER STEERING PUMP STAYS ON EVEN WHEN THE KEY IS TAKEN OUT OF THE IGNITION. *JS
Incident date: Mar 30, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE CONTROLLED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURVE AND PUNCTURED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. IN ADDITION, THE WAS AN ABNORMAL HUMMING HEARD FROM THE ENGINE AND THE BATTERY FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLA... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 19, 2012
AT 35 MPH I NOTICED INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING (PS). I WAS DIVING ON 2 LANE WINDING COUNTRY ROAD WITH NO SHOULDERS AND ENDED UP IN THE ONCOMING LANE BEFORE I REGAINED CONTROL. LUCKILY WAS NO TRAFFIC AT THE TIME. THE MOST TERRIFYING THING IS WHEN PS IT'S DEAD FOR A WHILE AND THEN SUDDENLY COMES BACK ON. IF YOU ARE IN A CORNER, BECAUSE YOU'VE JUST BEEN MUSCLING THE STEERING WHEEL, AND PS CO... Read more
Incident date: Apr 13, 2012
PURCHASED 2006 MINI COOPER S BRAND NEW AT A MINI DEALER IN BOSTON. THE VEHICLE HAS 108K HIGHWAY MILES. I HAD SERVICED THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER UNTIL WARRANTY RAN OUT AND TRANSITIONED TO A NATIONAL CAR CARE CHAIN. I BEGAN TO NOTICE THE VEHICLE SLIPPING BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR WHEN TRAVELING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC AND THEY INDICATED THAT I SHOULD BRI... Read more
Incident date: Apr 13, 2012
PURCHASED 2006 MINI COOPER S BRAND NEW AT A MINI DEALER IN BOSTON. THE VEHICLE HAS 108K HIGHWAY MILES. I HAD SERVICED THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER UNTIL WARRANTY RAN OUT AND TRANSITIONED TO A NATIONAL CAR CARE CHAIN. I BEGAN TO NOTICE THE VEHICLE SLIPPING BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR WHEN TRAVELING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC AND THEY INDICATED THAT I SHOULD BRI... Read more
Incident date: Apr 25, 2012
WHILE DRIVING MY 04 MINI COOPER AT FREEWAY SPEED, I SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST. I CAN STILL DRIVE THE VEHICLE, BUT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE NEW POWER STEERING PUMP ALONE WILL COST ME OVER 600 DOLLARS. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE LABOR AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH REPLACING THE UNIT. THE REPAIR WILL COST ME ... Read more
MINI
COOPER S CLUBMAN
(2009) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Apr 27, 2012
Incident date: Apr 27, 2012
VEHICLE FAILED DUE TO ISSUE WITH THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. THIS CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES TO BREAK AND DROP INTO THE OIL PAN. ENTIRE ENGINE MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. ENGINE FAILED AS I WAS PULLING OUT ONTO A VERY BUSY STREET (7TH STREET IN PHOENIX AZ) LEAVING ME STRANDED AND UNABLE TO MOVE IN TRAFFIC. THE CAR HAD TO BE PUSHED ONTO A SIDE STREET. *TR
MINI
COOPER S CLUBMAN
(2009) - POWER TRAIN
Apr 27, 2012
Incident date: Apr 27, 2012
VEHICLE FAILED DUE TO ISSUE WITH THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. THIS CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES TO BREAK AND DROP INTO THE OIL PAN. ENTIRE ENGINE MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. ENGINE FAILED AS I WAS PULLING OUT ONTO A VERY BUSY STREET (7TH STREET IN PHOENIX AZ) LEAVING ME STRANDED AND UNABLE TO MOVE IN TRAFFIC. THE CAR HAD TO BE PUSHED ONTO A SIDE STREET. *TR
Incident date: Apr 18, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS IN THE POWER STEERING WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING WITH CAUTION AT A REDUCED SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE... Read more
Incident date: Sep 15, 2010
THE XENON IGNITER COMPONENT IN THE LEFT HEADLAMP HAS INTERMITTENT FUNCTION, FREQUENTLY CAUSING THE BULB NOT TO LIGHT. THE QUOTED REPAIR COST BY THE DEALER IS IN EXCESS OF $800 BECAUSE THE IGNITER PART IS NOT A REPLACEABLE COMPONENT (THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSY IS REPLACED). THE ORIGINAL OEM BULB IN THE AFFECTED LEFT HEADLAMP WAS REPLACED BY MINI DURING ITS WARRANTY PERIOD AND THIS WAS NOT REPORTED... Read more
Incident date: Apr 19, 2012
MY POWER STEERING FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING DURING RUSH HOUR ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY INTO WASHINGTON, DC. THE WHEEL WAS NOT LOCKED, BUT IT BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL IN ANY DIRECTION, WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS TRAFFIC WAS GOING 70MPH. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OFF AT AN EXIT, AND STOP IT ON THE SHOULDER. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RE-STARTED THE CAR, AT WHICH TIME THE POWER STEERING... Read more
Incident date: Apr 22, 2012
MY MINI WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS. WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE IN IT, I COULD NOT STEER IT. THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME (ABOUT 5 MILES) BUT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Incident date: Apr 21, 2012
POWER ASSIST FOR STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY. SUBSEQUENT BRIEF (< 1 MINUTE) FUNCTION AFTER RESTARTING ENGINE ALSO ENDS UP IN FAILURE. BEHAVIOR IS CONSISTENT WITH FAILURE THAT CAUSED CANADA TO ISSUE RECALL FOR SAME MODEL VEHICLE FOR SAME ISSUE (TRANSPORT CANADA RECALL # 2003055). *TR
Incident date: Jun 10, 2008
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE AS A LOUD RATTLING NOISE EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MALFUNCTION CONTINUED TO OCCUR. MOST RECENTLY THE V... Read more
Incident date: Apr 13, 2012
LOST POWER STEERING WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. FEELS LIKE THE STEERING LOCKS UP BUT CAN STILL STEER WHEN USING A LOT OF STRENGTH. SINCE FIRST INCIDENT, THIS HAS HAPPENED AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES. USUALLY AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. *TR
Incident date: Apr 2, 2010
VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. I HAD THE POWER STEERING ASSIST COOLING FAN REPLACED TWICE AND THE RELAY SWITCH FOR THE COOLING FAN. IT WORKED FINE FOR A TIME. NOW (10,000 MILES LATER) IS INTERMITTENT. *TR
Incident date: Apr 17, 2012
WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER ON TUESDAY, THE STEERING FELT ODD. WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE THE CAR THE FOLLOWING DAY THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. I FELT I DIDN'T HAVE CONTROL. WHEN MAKING A TURN I HAD TO PHYSICALLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE CAR TO STRAIGHTEN OUT. IT WAS FRIGHTENING. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO HIM BY OTHER MINI OWNERS. UPON ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2010
PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT, ILLUMINATES 3-4 SECONDS AFTER ENGINE START, ALONG WITH THE RED AIR BAG FAILURE LIGHT, ON THE MAIN SPEEDOMETER. THIS OCCURS, WHETHER THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT, OR NOT, DUE TO THIS SAFETY DEFECT. MINI COOPER DEALERS, DENY THIS IS A PROBLEM, HOWEVER, I HAVE FOUND OVER 40 OTHER COMPLAINTS REGISTERED ON THIS EXACT DEFECT !!... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2010
PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT, ILLUMINATES 3-4 SECONDS AFTER ENGINE START, ALONG WITH THE RED AIR BAG FAILURE LIGHT, ON THE MAIN SPEEDOMETER. THIS OCCURS, WHETHER THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT, OR NOT, DUE TO THIS SAFETY DEFECT. MINI COOPER DEALERS, DENY THIS IS A PROBLEM, HOWEVER, I HAVE FOUND OVER 40 OTHER COMPLAINTS REGISTERED ON THIS EXACT DEFECT !!... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2010
PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT, ILLUMINATES 3-4 SECONDS AFTER ENGINE START, ALONG WITH THE RED AIR BAG FAILURE LIGHT, ON THE MAIN SPEEDOMETER. THIS OCCURS, WHETHER THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT, OR NOT, DUE TO THIS SAFETY DEFECT. MINI COOPER DEALERS, DENY THIS IS A PROBLEM, HOWEVER, I HAVE FOUND OVER 40 OTHER COMPLAINTS REGISTERED ON THIS EXACT DEFECT !!... Read more
Incident date: Apr 13, 2012
BOTH AIRBAG WARNIG LIGHTS COME ON WHEN SOMEONE SITS IN FRONT PASS SEAT. WHEN THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG STATUS LAMP" IS ON THAT MEANS NO ONE IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT WHILE IT'S ON AND THERE IS AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY B/C THE CAR THINKS SOMEONE ISN'T IN THE SEAT. *JS
Incident date: Oct 15, 2009
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG STARTED HAVING INTERMITTENT FAILURES STARTING ABOUT 55,000 MILES AND LITTLE OVER THREE YEARS, SEVEN MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. FULL FAILURE OCCURRED AT 80,000. THE SEAT WAS NOT COMMONLY USED. THE CAR IS USED PRIMARILY TO COMMUTE TO AND FROM WORK BY ONE PERSON. *JS
Incident date: Jan 10, 2012
AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHTS REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN IGNITION IS POWERED. SEAT CAN BE EITHER OCCUPIED OR UNOCCUPIED. INITIAL PROBLEM INTERMITTENT, WITHIN 1 MONTH PROBLEM CONSTANT, BOTH AIRBAG LIGHTS REMAIN ON. THERE ARE (2) AIRBAG LIGHTS IN THIS VEHICLE, ONE RED LAMP THAT IS IN THE DASH, THE SECOND A YELLOW LAMP LOCATED NEAR THE INSIDE CENTER REAR VIEW MIRROR. FEEDBACK APPEARS THAT THE ISSUE IS T... Read more
MINI
COOPER S CONVERTIBLE
(2005) - STEERING
Apr 18, 2012
Incident date: Dec 1, 2011
AT RANDOM TIMES, THE POWER STEERING FAILS, MOSTLY AT START-UP, BUT SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. I ALWAYS NEED TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION, AND RESTART THE CAR, WHICH SEEMS TO TEMPORARILY RE-ENGAGE THE POWER ASSIST STEERING.
Incident date: Apr 13, 2012
THE POWER STEERING WASN'T WORKING. IT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF, BACK ON AGAIN, AND MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM SIDE TO SIDE SLIGHTLY, THE POWER STEERING RE-ENGAGED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. EVERYTHING ELSE WITH THE CAR SEEMED TO BE RUNNING NORMAL. *JS
Incident date: Mar 8, 2012
TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILED RESULTING IN SLACK IN THE TIMING BELT. FINAL RESULT WAS THE TIMING BELT SLACK CONTACTED PLASTIC CHAIN GUARDS WHICH BROKE OFF AND LODGED INSIDE THE ENGINE. AFTER BEING TOWED TO MINI SERVICE, THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE ENTIRE ENGINE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CRITICAL TIMING CHAIN FAILURE LED TO PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF SMO... Read more
Incident date: Mar 8, 2012
TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILED RESULTING IN SLACK IN THE TIMING BELT. FINAL RESULT WAS THE TIMING BELT SLACK CONTACTED PLASTIC CHAIN GUARDS WHICH BROKE OFF AND LODGED INSIDE THE ENGINE. AFTER BEING TOWED TO MINI SERVICE, THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE ENTIRE ENGINE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CRITICAL TIMING CHAIN FAILURE LED TO PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF SMO... Read more