2010 MINI COOPER S Recalls, Complaints & Safety

The contact owns a 2010 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the engine compartment, after which the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR/PASSENGER SEATBELT SENSOR ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED AND FIXED IN LOTS OF OTHER MINI COOPER MODEL YEARS IS SEEMINGLY AN ISSUE WITH 2010 MODELS TOO AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED VIA RECALL. THE SENSOR BEING FAULTY IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, AND RUNS CLOSE TO $1200 TO REPAIR. MY SENSOR WAS INTERMITTENTLY OFF AND ON AND IS NOW FULL TIME WARNING ABOUT THE AIRBAG BEING OFF. THIS HAPPENS NO MATTER THE STATUS OF THE VEHICLE - AS SOON AS THE MOTOR IS RUNNING THE WARNING LIGHTS ARE LIT UP.

THE CAR COMPLETELY QUITS RUNNING WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING IT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON BUT CAR HAS ALREADY DIED. HAVE TO COAST TO A STOP WITH NO POWER STEERING SINCE THE ENGINE HAS DIED. CAR WILL NOT ALWAYS RESTART. SOMETIMES IT WILL CRANK BUT NOT TURN OVER. SOMETIMES IT WILL RESTART. TODAY IT DIED WHILE I WAS GOING 65MPH ON THE INTERSTATE A D I HAD TO DODGE ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. HAVE HAD THIS EXACT ISSUE BEFORE. 3 YRS AGO I REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS WAS A $1500 REPAIR COST. MINI COOPER SAID THAT 2010 MINI COOPERS WERE NOT COVERED. ONLY MINIS UP TO TNE YEAR 2009 WERE COVERED IN THAT SAFETY RECALL SO I PAID OUT OF POCKET. HOWEVER, MINI COOPER USED THE SAME PART THAT HAD BEEN RECALLED ON MY 2010. IT FAILED IN 2017 AND THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS NOW FAILED AGAIN. MINI COOPER CALLED IT A "KNOWN" ISSUE, BUT WOULD NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT COST IN 2017. REPAIR ORDER NUMBER WITH MINI COOPER DEALER: 262724 AND PART NUMBER 13-51-7-588-879

MI VEHCULO MINI COOPER S 2010, ESTANDO ESTACIONADO EN EL GARAGE POR MS DE 12 HORAS Y SIN PRENDER EL MOTOR EN NINGN MOMENTO COMENZ A INCENDIARSE SIN NINGN MOTIVO. POR FORTUNA HABA PERSONAS QUE ALERTARAN DE LO OCURRIDO Y PUDE APAGAR EL FUEGO EN EL VEHCULO, AUNQUE YA HABA CONSUMIDO PARTES ELCTRICA, DE MOTOR Y COFRE, ETC. CABE MENCIONAR QUE ESTO SUCEDI EN LA CIUDAD DE MXICO, NO EN EUA, PERO USTEDES TIENEN MEJOR INFORMACIN AL RESPECTO. SALUDOS.

Fire

MI VEHCULO MINI COOPER S 2010, ESTANDO ESTACIONADO EN EL GARAGE POR MS DE 12 HORAS Y SIN PRENDER EL MOTOR EN NINGN MOMENTO COMENZ A INCENDIARSE SIN NINGN MOTIVO. POR FORTUNA HABA PERSONAS QUE ALERTARAN DE LO OCURRIDO Y PUDE APAGAR EL FUEGO EN EL VEHCULO, AUNQUE YA HABA CONSUMIDO PARTES ELCTRICA, DE MOTOR Y COFRE, ETC. CABE MENCIONAR QUE ESTO SUCEDI EN LA CIUDAD DE MXICO, NO EN EUA, PERO USTEDES TIENEN MEJOR INFORMACIN AL RESPECTO. SALUDOS.

Fire

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP NEEDS REPLACED @ 30,000 MILES

AIRBAG AND SEATBELT WARNING LIGHTS COME ON FOR PASSENGER SEAT AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. IT INDICATES THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT ACTIVATE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT WITH AN OCCUPANT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. FRONT PASSENGER WILL NOT HAVE AIRBAG PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

MINI COOPER SEAT OCCUPATION SENSOR OC3 IS FAULTY CAUSING AIRBAG NOT TO WORK PROPERLY.

THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD THE WARRANTY EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OR 120000 MILES DUE TO FEDERAL EMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS ON ALL YEARS EXCEPT THE 2010. M01 01 16 [SI] JULY 2016 SHOWS THE 2011 AND 2012 AND A LETTER FROM MINI SHOWS 2007 -2009. NOBODY AT MINI CORPORATE UNDERSTANDS WHY THE 2010 WAS LEFT OUT, BUT ALL AGREE IT IS THE SAME PUMP AND I HAVE FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE SAYING THE DEALER DID NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS THE WRONG THE YEAR. THESE PUMPS FAIL AND THE VEHICLE FAILS EMISSIONS TESTING. THE PUMP IS 1300 DOLLARS PLUS LABOR AND CAN ONLY BE DONE AT THE DEALER.

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED, MINI HAS ISSUED EXT WARRANTIES O THE 2009, 2001, 20012 MODELS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE BUT NOT THIS MODEL. CAR IS BELOW 100,000 MILES IF THESE YEARS HAVE PROBLEMS AND NOW I AM HAVING A PROBLEM SHOULD THE 2010 MODELS BE COVERED

GOT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ISSUE, THE CAR WILL NOT START AND STALL AND WILL NOT KEEP IN IDEAL UNTIL STEPPING ON THE GAS OVER 3000 RPM FOR OVER 1 MINS, IT STALLED ON LOCAL STREET COUPLE TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP SAID MINI COVER UP TO 7 YEARS ONLY.

VEHICLE JERKS/HESTIATES AT LOW SPEED AROUND 10MPH. JERKS DURING STOP AND GO IN TRAFFIC. BE TO A HANDFUL OF AUTO SHOPS AND NO SOLUTION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TOM BUSH MINI (9881 ATLANTIC BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32225, (904) 371-4360) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 106,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

JUST HAD TO HAVE A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP REPLACED IN MY MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE AND HAD . I UNDERSTAND THAT ALL THE FUEL PUMPS IN THIS YEAR MAKE OF CAR WERE RECALLED EXCEPT THE ONE ON THE CONVERTIBLE?? PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHY THE FUEL PUMP IS ANY DIFFERENT? IT ACTUALLY WENT OUT ON AN INTERSTATE AND I HAD TO PULL OVER AND WAS ALMOST STRUCK BY A SEMI TRUCK. I HAVE THE BILL FOR THE REPAIR WHICH COST ME OVER $1400.00..

TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED AND STRETCHED TIMING CHAIN NOW THE DEATH RATTLE AND BMW MINI COOPER KNOWS 2010 WERE AFFECTED THERE IS LOTS OF DATA ONLINE FOR 2010 MINI COOPER S TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER FAILING AT 20K TO 50K MILE RANGE. WE HAVE 42K MILES AND IN RANGE OF CLASS ACTION THAT WAS FILED. THEY WON'T FIX ISSUE AND WANT 2500. I'M ONE OF MANY WITH 2010 ISSUES. THEY SAY IT'S UPGRADED BUT FAILED AT 40K SAME AS OTHERS. [XXX] OR [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

DURING MY MORNING COMMUTE ON AUGUST 2ND IN BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS, THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2010 MINI COOPER FAILED CAUSING MASSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE AND ULTIMATE FAILURE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE IN MOTION, APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON 93 NORTH, A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY LEADING INTO BOSTON. THE CAR BECAME DISABLED AND WOULD NOT NOT START AGAIN. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO HERB CHAMBERS, THE NEAREST MINI DEALER.

I HAVE MINI COOPER R56 S MODELS AND I HAVE SPENT ALMOST 5K IN JUST REPAIR THE TIMING CHAIN IS BROKE EVERY 2 OR 3 WEEKS THIS CAR IS PIECE OF CRACK EVERY 2 OR 3 WEEKS HAS SOMETHING NEW !! NEVER WOULD BUY AGAIN THIS PIECE OF CRACK AND WOULDN'T RECOMMEND TO ANYONE GET THIS PIECE OF CRACK!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MINI COOPER S. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. UPDATED 06/07/17*LJ UPDATED 07/12/2017*JS

THE TURBO OIL FEED LINE IS LEAKING. IT IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES, IT CAN RESULT IN A FIRE AS THE OIL SPRAYS OUR THE LINES ON THE EXHAUST. DEALER HAS TO COMMENT ABOUT THE REPAIRS BEING FREE OF CHARGE BUT DOES SAY IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE. MANY MINI COOPERS HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE AUXILIARY WATER PUMP AND ENGINE THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND, UPON OPENING THE HOOD, EXCESSIVE SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE AND AUXILIARY WATER PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE AND THE AUXILIARY WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V008000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. UPDATED 06/01/17*LJ *AS

LEAVING FOR WORK, HEARD A SNAP AND LOST POWER TO ENGINE LESS THAN A MILE FROM HOME. PULLED OVER, THEN COASTED (WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES) DOWNHILL TO A SAFER SPOT. TOWED TO MECHANIC; ISSUE IS BROKEN TIMING CHAIN. THIS VEHICLE IS JUST A FEW MONTHS OUTSIDE THE FINAL RECALL DATES FOR SKEEN V BMW. I BELIEVE THE CLASS WAS TOO NARROWLY DEFINED; THIS 2010 COOPER S (69K MI) HAS THE SAME N14 ENGINE AND PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. (CAN'T TELL BUT FROM SOME OF THE EARLY REPORTING ON THAT CASE IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS CAR MAY HAVE BEEN INCLUDED AN EARLIER VERSION/DRAFT??). VERY UPSET THAT THIS CAR HAS THE SAME ENGINE AND ISSUE COVERED BY THE RECALL, AND YET WE HAVE NO RECOURSE! *TR

MOTOR HAS RATTLE WAS TOLD IT WAS TIMING CHAIN BY MECHANIC AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED OR MOTOR WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED/ MINI SOLD A DEFECTIVE CAR AND KNEW ABOUT THIS DEFECT. NOW I AM OUT 10K IF THE CAR BREAKS AND HAVE NO CAR FOR FAMILY

DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION, VEHICLE LOST POWER. PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED VEHICLE OFF, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO LOCAL MECHANIC. PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN.

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND MY WIFE HEARD A NOISE- CHOSE TO IGNORE NOISE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I DISCOVERED THE TIMING CHAIN COULD CATASTROPHICALLY FAIL LEAVING MY WIFE ON MOUNTAIN ROADS WITH NO POWER AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING . ALTHOUGH BMW HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS THEY HAVE BOB AND WEAVED FIXING ONLY THOSE THEY HAVE BEEN FORCED TO, LEAVING OTHERS ,WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THE OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY.. THE DEALER CHARGED US $ 1300 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. OUR PARTICULAR CAR SUPPOSEDLY WAS JUST OUTSIDE THE PRODUCTION RUN CUTOFF FOR FREE REPAIR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND ALL CARS WITH THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM SHOULD BE RECALLED. ADDITIONALLY, CUSTOMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PLAY "WHAT IS THE NOISE DETECTIVE " IN ORDER TO DISCOVER A LIFE THREATENING DEFECT. IN ADDITION TO THE RECALL BMW NEEDS TO IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY ALL EFFECTED OWNERS WITH INFORMATION ON HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM AND WHAT ACTION TO TAKE.

TIMING CHAIN EVIDENTLY BROKE WITH LITTLE WARNING AND CAR DIED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. BMW MINI HAS KNOWN OF THIS AND SETTLED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WITHOUT EVER ISSUING A RECALL OR NOTIFICATION TO OWNERS. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON IT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MINI COOPER S. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, A TECHNICIAN HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATED THE AIR BAG WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE PASSENGER SEAT STARTED GETTING VERY HOT (THIS MODEL DOES NOT HAVE HEATED SEATS). WE REMOVED THE SEAT FROM THE VEHICLE AND INNVESTIGATED. WE FOUND THAT THE AIR BAG SEAT MAT WAS OVERHEATING. THE CIRCUIT WAS MELTED FROM THE HEAT. IF WE HAD NOT REMOVED THE SEAT FROM THE CAR IT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AT THE TIME. HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS DRIVEN EARLIER IN THE DAY AND THE LIGHT WAS ON THEN TO INDICATE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS NOT ON. THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS 2010 MODEL FOR THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS ON THE WEB. THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. FIXING THE PROBLEM IS EXPENSIVE TOO.

MY DAUGHTER WAS IN TRAFFIC, DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME FROM AN OIL CHANGE, WHEN THE TIMING CHANGE BROKE CAUSING HER TO LOSE POWER. THE LOSS OF POWER CREATED A DANGEROUS AND HAZARDOUS SITUATION. FORTUNATELY, SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE MAIN ROADS AND WE HAD IT TOWED BY AAA TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE HAS BEEN A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT WITH BMW MINI OVER THE DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAINS, THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL EFFORT BY THE MANUFACTURER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, SMOKE AND A BURNING OIL ODOR EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, THE TURN SIGNALS AND WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,568.

Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, SMOKE AND A BURNING OIL ODOR EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, THE TURN SIGNALS AND WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,568.

Fire

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT MAT FOR DETECTING PASSENGERS PRESENTS, INTERMITTENTLY FAILS CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO BE DEACTIVATED WHEN A PASSENGER IS PRESENT AND THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE MINI COOPER ON HWY 101W WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY AND WITH OUT WARNING LOST ALL POWER. SHE WAS FORTUNATE TO NOT HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. WE HAD THE CAR LIFTED AND TAKEN TO A BMW DEALER. THEY DETERMINED THAT THERE IS A HOLE IN THE #4 CYLINDER THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LOSS OF POWER. THE CAR HAS 55K MILES ON IT AND IS 5K MILES OUTSIDE OF FULL WARRANTY. WE HAVE ALL SERVICE RECORDS WELL DOCUMENTED THAT EXCEED BMW \MC RECOMMENDATIONS. WE HAVE SINCE HAD THE CAR LIFTED AND TAKEN TO THE MC DEALER IN CAMARILLO CA. THEY WITH OUT EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT HAPPENED STATE THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW ENGINE AT OUR COST OF $6,500+. THIS IS CRAZY GIVEN THE LOW MILES AND THE FACT THAT IT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. THERE IS MUCH MORE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN PROVIDE HOWEVER THE SITE SEEMS TO TIME OUT AND THIS IS MY THIRD ATTEMPT AT WRITING THIS NOTIFICATION. PLEASE ADVISE OR CONTACT ME IF YOU CAN HELP WITH THIS MATTER. BMW IS FRAUDULENTLY SELLING THESE VEHICLES AS RELIABLE AND THEY NEED TO BE TAKEN TO TASK. REGARDS, [XXX] 'INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *BF

PURCHASED CAR W/50,000 MILES ON IT AND HAVE ALREADY HAD WATER PUMP REPLACED AND NOW WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING ABOUT 40 MPH THE TIMING BELT BROKE AND BLEW PARTS INTO THE ENGINE, SO IT PRETTY MUCH NEEDS A NEW ENGINE ALREADY NOW 25,000 MILES AFTER WE BOUGHT IT. LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TIMING BELT/CHAIN ON THESE 2010 MODELS. SEEMS ODD TO ME.

THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER CAME LOOSE CAUSING AN OIL LEAK AND THE TIMING CHAIN TO SLIP/SKIP WHICH IN TURN CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR AND NOW MY CAR NEEDS A NEW TIMING CHAIN & NEW MOTOR WHICH IS COSTING AROUND $9K. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 35K MILES ON IT & THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED! I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN ALL MY OIL LEAKED OUT, CAUSING LIGHTS TO FLASH & LOUD NOISES. ONCE PULLED OVER TO A GAS STATION AND FOUND ALL THE OIL WAS GONE, A MECHANIC THERE NOTICED THE TENSIONER COMING OUT, TIGHTENED IT, THEN REFILLED THE OIL. THE CAR HELD THE OIL AT THIS POINT BUT THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER TOWING IT TO A SHOP, THEY SAW THAT IT WOULD NEED A NEW TIMING CHAIN BUT DIDN'T WANT TO DO A FULL BREAK DOWN OF THE CAR SINCE IT IS VERY INVOLVED AND THERE COULD BE MOTOR ISSUES SO HE SUGGESTED I CONTACT MINI USA & A MINI DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAD TO HAVE IT THERE TO DETERMINE THE ISSUE & SEE IF THE MANUFACTURER WOULD COVER THE COSTS. SO I TOWED THE CAR AGAIN TO A MINI DEALERSHIP & THEY SAID IT NEEDS A NEW MOTOR SINCE THE VALVES WERE DAMAGED ALSO. AFTER SENDING THIS INFO TO MINI USA (THE MANUFACTURER), THEY REPORTED TO ME THAT THEY WOULD PAY $4K OF THE $9K IN COSTS (NOT EVEN HALF). GETTING ADVISE FROM A LAWYER, THIS ENTIRE ISSUE SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND I ALREADY PAID TOO MUCH JUST BY HAVING IT TOWED TWICE WHEN THIS IS A FLAW IN THE CAR. THE CAR ONLY HAS 35K MILES & THIS TENSIONER SHOULD NOT HAVE COME LOOSE IN THE 1ST PLACE CAUSING ALL THIS DAMAGE. IN THE END, I AM STILL FIGHTING WITH MINI USA (AFTER BEING WITHOUT MY CAR FOR ALMOST 4 WEEKS) TO COVER ALL COSTS OF REPAIR FOR THIS AND ASKING THAT THIS BE REPORTED AS A "KNOWN ISSUE" ON THE TSB SO OTHER PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING!! I HAVE ATTACHED THE EMAIL I GOT FROM SEATTLE MINI FOR THE DIAGNOSIS TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY SEE HAPPENED!

TIMING CHAIN MECHANISM FAILURE AT 70,000 MILES. KNOWN ISSUE AMONG AT LEAST 500,000 MINI COOPER GENERATION 2 MODELS

DRIVING ON FREEWAY WHEN TIMING CHAIN BREAKS AND CAUSES THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF DAMAGE TO ENGINE. COMPRESSION TO ENGINE STOPS AND CAR STALLS OUT. ONE MOMENT TOTALLY FINE, THE NEXT WRECKED ON FREEWAY.

PURCHASED CAR APRIL 2014 W 46,000 MILES. WARRANTY HISTORY SHOWED VALVE GASKET REPLACED. AT 64000 MILES DEALER SAYS IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. NOT TOLD AT PURCHASE - AT MINI DLR - THAT CAR CONSUMES A QUART OF OIL EVERY 700 MILES WHICH I WAS JUST TOLD BY LOCAL SERVICING DEALER THAT THEY CONSIDER THAT NORMAL. LEAK AT GASKET CONTRIBUTES TO AIR INFILTRATION AND POOR OIL CONSUMPTION I WAS TOLD. I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR KNOWING THIS. IT ADDS CONSIDERABLY TO THE OPERATING COSTS. AFTER TELLING SERVICING DLR THIS WEEKEND THAT I KNEW THE CAR HAD ALREADY HAD VALVE COVER GASKET REPLACED, HE SAID HE WOULD COVER 75% OF OVER $800 COST. HE OBVIOUSLY KNEW THAT IT DIDN'T OR SHOULDN'T NEED THAT WORK SO SOON AFTER BEING DONE. THE MINI DEALERS ARE THIEVES AND WITHHOLD VITAL INFORMATION. THE STRUT MOUNT APPARENTLY IS ALSO "DOMED" WHICH SPEAKS TO STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THIS CAR. I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND A MINI TO ANYONE AND FEEL THEIR PRACTICES ARE COMPLETELY UNETHICAL AND THE BUILD QUALITY IS SUBSTANDARD TO WHAT IS CONSIDERED NORMAL. WHO NEEDS TO HAVE THE VALVE COVER GASKETS REPLACED TWICE IN UNDER 65,000 MILES? WHO HAS TO GO AND BUY OIL EVERY MONTH AND A HALF? THE LAST CAR I OWNED THAT NEEDED THAT WAS A 20 YEAR OLD 1975 PONTIAC WITH OVER 100K. MILES. GARBAGE.