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 7, 2012
INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. POWER STEERING PUMP REMAINS ON AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE CAR AND DRAINS THE BATTERY. *TR
Incident date: Jan 7, 2005
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2004, AND HAVE HAD CONSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING, MOST RECENTLY ON FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE MINI COOPER DEALER AT LEAST FOUR TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED, SO HAS THE STEERING COLUMN, AS WELL AS THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT SPINDLE. STILL, THE POWER STEERING FUNCTION GOES OUT WITHOUT WARNING. IT IS EXCEEDING... Read more
Incident date: Dec 30, 2011
WHILE ON A SHORT VACATION OUT OF TOWN, CLOSE TO 230 MILES FROM MY HOME, MY COOPER S' POWER STEERING FAILED AND ALMOST CAUSE ME AN ACCIDENT. I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE FLUID AND SAW THAT THERE WERE NO VISIBLE LEAKS PRESENT. AFTER MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR A RENTAL VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING STARTED WORKING CORRECTLY AGAIN. BECAUSE OF THAT I PROCEEDED TO RETURN HOME AND THE STEERING DID... Read more
Incident date: Dec 30, 2011
WHILE ON A SHORT VACATION OUT OF TOWN, CLOSE TO 230 MILES FROM MY HOME, MY COOPER S' POWER STEERING FAILED AND ALMOST CAUSE ME AN ACCIDENT. I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE FLUID AND SAW THAT THERE WERE NO VISIBLE LEAKS PRESENT. AFTER MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR A RENTAL VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING STARTED WORKING CORRECTLY AGAIN. BECAUSE OF THAT I PROCEEDED TO RETURN HOME AND THE STEERING DID... Read more
Incident date: Mar 9, 2012
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER FAILED AND I HAD TROUBLE TURNING THE CAR. THE POWER STEERING FAILURE CONTINUED UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I LET THE CAR TO COOL DOWN FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR BEFORE RESTARTING IT AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED FINE THE REST OF THE TRIP HOME. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME I EXPERIEN... Read more
MINI
COOPER S CONVERTIBLE
(2005) - STEERING
Mar 9, 2012
Incident date: Dec 15, 2011
POWER STEERING RANDOMLY COMPLETELY FAILS AT LOWER SPEEDS/ NO ASSIST AT ALL. *TR
Incident date: Dec 7, 2009
I HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WHERE MY POWER STEERING WASN'T AVAILABLE. SEVERAL TIMES THE POWER STEERING FAILED DRIVING AROUND THE CORNER WHICH WAS VERY FREIGHTING. I CONTACTED BMW ABOUT THE ISSUE BUT THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT SINCE MY CAR ONLY HAD 35K MILES. I OWNED OTHER CARS WHERE I NEVER HAD A FAILED POWER STEERING PUMP. MINI UK SEEM TO HANDLE THE PROBLEM MUC... Read more
Incident date: Feb 23, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP IN AND OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT'S MECHANIC ORIGINALLY ASSUMED THE PROBLEM WAS THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SWITCH BUT AFTER SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SWITCH WAS NOT THE ISSUE. THE M... Read more
Incident date: Feb 3, 2012
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE ABRUPTLY HALTED CAUSING ME TO VEER OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SO THAT IT COULD BE STOPPED SOMEWHERE SAFE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART, NO WARNING LIGHTS OF ANY SORT WERE PRESENT PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE PUSHED TO A LOCATION TO ALLOW IT TO BE TOWED. DETAILS OF SERVICE PROVIDED FROM KNAUZ MINI AS FOLLOWS: FOUND CAR NOT STARTING, DURING FAULT IN... Read more
Incident date: Feb 3, 2012
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE ABRUPTLY HALTED CAUSING ME TO VEER OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SO THAT IT COULD BE STOPPED SOMEWHERE SAFE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART, NO WARNING LIGHTS OF ANY SORT WERE PRESENT PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE PUSHED TO A LOCATION TO ALLOW IT TO BE TOWED. DETAILS OF SERVICE PROVIDED FROM KNAUZ MINI AS FOLLOWS: FOUND CAR NOT STARTING, DURING FAULT IN... Read more
Incident date: Apr 23, 2011
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, OIL STARTED TO DRAIN IN LARGE QUANTITIES OVER THE STREET. STEADY STREAM ABOUT 2 INCHES WIDE WAS VISIBLE ON THE STREET ONCE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. OIL LIGHT CAME ONE APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES AFTER OIL SPIN WAS NOTED. CAR WAS MOVED TO SAFE LOCATION ONCE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. NOTES FROM KNAUZ MINI SERVICE MANAGER: FOUND TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WALKIN... Read more
Incident date: Apr 23, 2011
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, OIL STARTED TO DRAIN IN LARGE QUANTITIES OVER THE STREET. STEADY STREAM ABOUT 2 INCHES WIDE WAS VISIBLE ON THE STREET ONCE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. OIL LIGHT CAME ONE APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES AFTER OIL SPIN WAS NOTED. CAR WAS MOVED TO SAFE LOCATION ONCE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. NOTES FROM KNAUZ MINI SERVICE MANAGER: FOUND TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WALKIN... Read more
MINI
COOPER S CONVERTIBLE
(2006) - AIR BAGS
Mar 8, 2012
Incident date: Mar 1, 2012
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT CAME ON WITH NO ONE IN THE SEAT, WHEN ADULT SAT DOWN THE LIGHT DID NOT GO OFF. ALSO THE AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT CAME ON. THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN PASSENGER DOES NOT BUCKLE SEAT BELT. *TR
MINI
COOPER S CONVERTIBLE
(2006) - SEAT BELTS
Mar 8, 2012
Incident date: Mar 1, 2012
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT CAME ON WITH NO ONE IN THE SEAT, WHEN ADULT SAT DOWN THE LIGHT DID NOT GO OFF. ALSO THE AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT CAME ON. THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN PASSENGER DOES NOT BUCKLE SEAT BELT. *TR
Incident date: Mar 3, 2012
CAR IMPACTED THE REAR END OF A JEEP AT LOW RATE OF SPEED (WAS BRAKING TO AVOID CRASH IN THE FRONT). UPON IMPACT THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. LUCKILY THE OCCUPANT OF THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF CAR. WITHIN MINUTES THE CAR WAS TOTALLY IN FLAMES. NO ONE WAS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED BUT IF THE OCCUPANT DID NOT GET OUT WHEN THEY DID THE OCCUPANT WOULD HAVE DIED DUE TO SMOK... Read more
Crash
Fire
1 injured
Incident date: Feb 16, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COPPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED THE WIRING HARNESS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Mar 22, 2011
OVER HEATING CONSTANTLY NO TECHNICAL PERSON KNOWS OF A REMEDY. OVERFLOW TANK BLOWS OUT WHEN CAR OVERHEATS CONSTANTLY .THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM SINCE THE BEGINNING NO MATTER WHAT YEAR THE CAR WAS BUILT AND NEVER REMEDIED. WHY NOT A RECALL? NOT KNOWING WHAT OTHER DAMAGE THIS CAUSES TO THE ENGINE. THIS HAS TO BE A RECALL FOR THE COMPANY TO FIX IT IS A HIT AND MISS FIX??? THIS IS A COSTLY PRO... Read more
Incident date: Mar 22, 2011
OVER HEATING CONSTANTLY NO TECHNICAL PERSON KNOWS OF A REMEDY. OVERFLOW TANK BLOWS OUT WHEN CAR OVERHEATS CONSTANTLY .THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM SINCE THE BEGINNING NO MATTER WHAT YEAR THE CAR WAS BUILT AND NEVER REMEDIED. WHY NOT A RECALL? NOT KNOWING WHAT OTHER DAMAGE THIS CAUSES TO THE ENGINE. THIS HAS TO BE A RECALL FOR THE COMPANY TO FIX IT IS A HIT AND MISS FIX??? THIS IS A COSTLY PRO... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY ONE AND A HALF YEARS LATER WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 16, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAR AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 2, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000. UPDATED 03/15/12 *BF
Incident date: Dec 8, 2011
TECHNICALLY THERE WERE 3 INCIDENTS WITH MY 04 MINI COOPER. OUT OF NOWHERE, WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BUSY STREET, THE POWER STEERING JUST STOPPED WORKING. LUCKILY I WAS IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE, AND SLOWED ENOUGH TO VEER TO THE ROADSIDE AND CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, I WAS TOLD THAT IT HAPPENS FREQU... Read more
Incident date: Jan 18, 2012
THE OIL LINES THAT SUPPLY THE TURBOCHARGER ARE LEAKING OIL AND IT CONTINUES TO GET WORSE, STARVING THE TURBO OF COOLING OIL AND SPRAYING OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE. *TR
Incident date: Oct 12, 2011
ENGINE DEVELOPED A KNOCKING, RATTLING SOUND WHICH GREW LOUDER OVER TIME. THE LOCAL MINI DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED A TIMING CHAIN GLIDE AND TENSIONER FAILURE. REPLACED THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY. WAS TOLD MINI REALIZED THE GLIDES WERE INFERIOR AND WAS NOW USING UPGRADED GLIDES IN THE REPLACEMENT KITS. WHEN ASKED IF THIS SHOULDN'T BE A WARRANTY REPLACEMENT SINCE IT COULD LEAD TO TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE, WAS TOLD T... Read more
Incident date: Jan 7, 2010
PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG DETECTOR IS FAULTY. WHEN NO ONE IS SITTING ON THE SEAT, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES. THIS WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT 44300 MILES. THE WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON ONCE AGAIN AT 67000 MILES AND HAS STAYED ON. *TR
Incident date: Feb 28, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURBO CHARGER WAS NOT PROPERLY SHIELDED AND THE HOOD DID NOT HAVE ANY INSULATION. AS A RESULT, THE HOOD WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS... Read more
Incident date: Feb 24, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACT AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Incident date: Sep 13, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER ABNORMALLY AND WOULD SPORADICALLY STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FAILURE WITH THE TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CU... Read more
Incident date: Feb 14, 2012
WHILE DRIVING THE 2003 MINI, THE POWER STEERING FAILED MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. SINCE THE ORIGINAL INCIDENT, THE POWER STEERING WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. RESEARCH SHOWS THE LIKELY REASON FOR THE PROBLEM IS A POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. I AM ORDERING A NEW PUMP TO REPLACE THE FAILED PUMP. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH MINI FOR THIS YEAR MODEL. MINI SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 18, 2011
TENSIONER ALLOWED TIMING CHAIN TO SLAP THE CHAIN GUARD, SUCH THAT PIECES OF THE CHAIN GUARD EVENTUALLY GOT CAUGHT IN THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE CAR WAS OFF TIME AND OFF CAMBER. PIECES OF THE CHAIN GUARD WERE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE VALVE HOUSING. REPLACED TENSIONER AND WHOLE TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY. 2ND TENSIONER LASTED ONLY 3 WEEKS. AM ON MY 3RD TENSIONER AND HOLDING MY BREATH. *TR
MINI
COOPER CONVERTIBLE
(2005) - STEERING
Feb 29, 2012
Incident date: Feb 27, 2012
THE CAR LOST POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY LASTING DIFFERENT LENGTH OF TIMES. THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO MOVE. THIS OCCURRED AS I WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WITH NO WARNING ON A LEFT HAND TURN. MINI DIAGNOSTICS IDENTIFIED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND SAID IT WAS INFACT THE SAME ISSUE BEING INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA BUT DECLINED TO ASSIST IN REPAIRS.. $1200.00... STANDI... Read more
MINI
COOPER CONVERTIBLE
(2005) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Feb 29, 2012
Incident date: Feb 27, 2012
THE CAR LOST POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY LASTING DIFFERENT LENGTH OF TIMES. THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO MOVE. THIS OCCURRED AS I WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WITH NO WARNING ON A LEFT HAND TURN. MINI DIAGNOSTICS IDENTIFIED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND SAID IT WAS INFACT THE SAME ISSUE BEING INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA BUT DECLINED TO ASSIST IN REPAIRS.. $1200.00... STANDI... Read more
Incident date: Feb 29, 2012
WITH OUT ANY ADVICE, THE STEERING TURNS RIGID AND HARD TO MANIPULATE,I CHECKED THE FLUID AND IT LOOKS FINE AND CLEAN. *TR
Incident date: Dec 1, 2011
BOTH THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT LIGHT AND THE AIRBAG SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATE WHILE SEAT IS OCCUPIED INDICATING THE SYSTEM IS NOT OPERATIONAL AND MAY NOT FUNCTION IN A CRASH. INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALS MANY COMPLAINTS TO BMW CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM IN THE 2006 MINI. MANUFACTURER DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT DIAGNOSE WITHOUT A LARGE FEE. *TR
Incident date: Dec 1, 2011
BOTH THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT LIGHT AND THE AIRBAG SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATE WHILE SEAT IS OCCUPIED INDICATING THE SYSTEM IS NOT OPERATIONAL AND MAY NOT FUNCTION IN A CRASH. INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALS MANY COMPLAINTS TO BMW CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM IN THE 2006 MINI. MANUFACTURER DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT DIAGNOSE WITHOUT A LARGE FEE. *TR
Incident date: Jan 20, 2012
WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE 95 WHEN POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. PULLED OFF ROAD, CHECKED FLUID LEVELS AND COULDN'T FIND ANY OBVIOUS PROBLEMS. POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON WHEN RESTARTED CAR. POWER STEERING STAYED ON FOR REST OF DRIVE, BUT HAS GONE OUT SEVERAL TIMES SINCE. ALWAYS COMES BACK IF TURN OFF CAR AND RESTART. *TR
Incident date: Feb 25, 2012
VEHICLE DARTING AROUND ON ROAD LIKE STEERING STOPS THEN STARTS BACK UP,ACCELERATION DARTS LEFT , DECELERATION DARTS RIGHT. *TR
Incident date: Jan 18, 2012
COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE DURING OVERTAKING ON TWO LANE ROAD. STEERING REQUIRED AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF EFFORT. BARELY MANAGED TO MOVE BACK TO RIGHT HAND LAND BEFORE GETTING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. POWER STEERING DID NOT RECOVER FOR ANOTHER 2.5 MINS OF DRIVING. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, TURNED CAR OFF, ON AGAIN, POWER STEERING RETURNED. ELEC... Read more
Incident date: Feb 28, 2012
POWER STEERING FAILURE. VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER TO BACK UP OR DRIVE. AFTER SHUTTING OFF AND RESTARTING CAR TWICE THE POWER STEERING IS WORKING AGAIN. CAR IS UNSAFE IF POWER STEERING FAILS AT ANY SPEED. COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. *TR
MINI
COOPER COUNTRYMAN
(2011) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Feb 27, 2012
Incident date: Feb 27, 2012
ON 12/2/11 THERMOSTAT HOUSING SENSOR FAILED AND REPLACE ON 1/18/12 SECOND ONE FAILED. ON 2/27/12 NOTICED OIL LEAK. INFORMED THAT THE SOLENOID LEAKING TO ENGINE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED. *TR
Incident date: Feb 26, 2012
WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY THE STEERING SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING BECAME EXTREMELY HEAVY TAKING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE EFFORT THEN NORMAL TO JUST MOVE THE WHEEL SLIGHTLY. THE NEXT DAY THE POWER STEERING WORKED NORMALLY BUT THE FAN ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER 5 MINUTES IN A PARKING LOT IT HAD DRAINED THE BATTERY TO THE POINT WHERE IT STRUGGLED ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 26, 2012
WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY THE STEERING SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING BECAME EXTREMELY HEAVY TAKING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE EFFORT THEN NORMAL TO JUST MOVE THE WHEEL SLIGHTLY. THE NEXT DAY THE POWER STEERING WORKED NORMALLY BUT THE FAN ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER 5 MINUTES IN A PARKING LOT IT HAD DRAINED THE BATTERY TO THE POINT WHERE IT STRUGGLED ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 17, 2011
THE AIRBAG LIGHT SAYING THAT THE AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF HAS BEEN TURNING OFF AND ON FOR A WHILE. PROBABLY SEVERAL YEARS. IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, THE SEAT BELT SIGNAL WILL ACTIVATE EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. IT USUALLY HAPPENS RIGHT AFTER THE PASSENGER HAS EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO BUCKLE THE SEAT. THEN THE AIRBAG WARNING LAMP ON THE DASHBOARD WILL TURN ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 6, 2012
MY 2008 MINI COOPER S (WITH 28,300 MILES) HAS EXPERIENCED DIESEL SOUNDING ENGINE PROBLEMS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I LOOKED THIS UP ON THE INTERNET TO FIND THIS WAS A TENSIONER OR TIMING BELT ISSUE WITH THE CAR. ALMOST 600 PEOPLE HAVE USED THIS SITE: HTTP://WWW.MINICOOPERSPEED.COM/MINI-COOPER-COLD-START-KNOCKING-NOISE-ISSUE-2007/ TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A FORMA... Read more
Incident date: Feb 24, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM BEGAN OPERATING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,192.
Incident date: Feb 20, 2012
MY CAR WOULD NOT START ONE MORNING. I INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY. AS SOON AS I CONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLE, SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE. THE SMOKE WAS ACRID, LIKE SMOKE FROM AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO SMOKE AS LONG AS THE BATTERY CABLES WERE CONNECTED. CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ENGINE FIRE,I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A REP... Read more
Incident date: Apr 12, 2011
WATER PUMP MELTED - THERMOSTAT HOUSING REPLACED AT 49,492 MILES. MY ENGINE LIGHT LIT UP YELLOW AND BY THE TIME I ARRIVED AT WORK IT WAS RED. I TRIED POURING COOLANT AND IT JUST SPILLED OUT ONTO THE GROUND. I TOOK IT TO MINI TO GET IT SERVICED AND THEY SAID THE HEAT FROM MY ENGINE CAUSED THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING TO MELT AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY REPLACED IT WITH A NEW PUMP BUT NOT WIT... Read more
Incident date: Oct 20, 2011
LOUD KNOCKING NOISE UPON STARTING THE CAR. IT WAS VERY LOUD SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. A METAL PIECE FROM THE HOUSING FOR THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE OFF AND CAUSED DAMAGE THAT COST $2239 TO REPAIR. THE SERVICE REP SEEMED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I ASKED THE SERVICE REP FOR MY OLD PARTS WHICH I HAVE KEPT AND UPON INSPECTION THE PARTS LOOKED GOOD (TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONERS (PLASTIC PARTS). THE ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2012
TURBOCHARGER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE ME $3,700. BUT THE CAUSE OF MY TURBOCHARGER NEEDING TO BE REPLACED WAS THE CAUSE OF MY AUXILIARY WATER PUMP - THERMOSTAT HOUSING GOING OUT IN 04/12/11 WHICH CAUSED THE TURBOCHARGER TO OVERHEAT AND BECOME DAMAGED. I REMINDED THE DEALER ABOUT THE WATER PUMP BEING REPLACED SO THEY CONTACTED MINI USA AND IT TOOK THEM 2 WEEKS FOR THE D... Read more
Incident date: Feb 11, 2012
THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT DOES NOT CORRECTLY DETECT A PERSON SITTING IN IT. WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT, THE AIRBAG SENSOR STAYS "OFF". *TR