2010 MINI COOPER Complaints

OIL LEVEL IS DECREASING RAPIDLY AFTER EACH OIL CHANGE. DEALER STATES IT IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR TO BURN ONE QUART OF OIL EVERY 800 MILES. HOWEVER, I DISAGREE AND BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECT SINCE CARS SHOULD NOT BURN THIS MUCH OIL, ESPECIALLY WHEN NEW. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, I CALLED THE DEALER WITHIN SECONDS AND ASKED THEM IF THIS WAS A CONCERN. THEY SAID TO DRIVE IT IN IT WAS PROBABLY JUST THE OIL LEVEL NEEDING TOPPED OUT. I CONTINUED FOR ABOUT A MILE WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT AND CALLED THEM BACK. THE AGAIN SAID TO BRING IT IN. I WALKED AROUND THE CAR BEFORE PROCEEDING AND NOTED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL WELL,TIRE AND WHEEL WERE ALL SOAKED WITH OIL( PASSENGER SIDE) . I CALLED THEM BACK AND REQUESTED A TOW TRUCK AS WHEN I STARTED IT UP IT MADE AN EXCEPTIONALLY LOUD HAMMERING NOISE. I I KNEW THAT THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO LET GO IF I CONTINUED. THE DEALER TOOK THE CAR IN AND CALLED ME A DAY OR SO LATER TO INFORM THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE A,FLATTENING THE VALVES, MESSING UP THE VALVES AND ENGINE BLOCK. THE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS APPROX 7,000MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD AN EXTENDED 100,000 SERVICE WARRANTY SOLD TO ME BY THE DEALER IN CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA. I WAS SOLD THIS BY THE "FINANCE MANAGER" AND HE MADE ME BELIEVE THAT I WAS COVERED. THE DEALER WHERE I LIVE IN DUBLIN OHIO, HAS SERVICED THE CAR FOR EVERY REQUIRED SERVICE SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. THEY ARE TRYING TO GET MINI TO COVER THE REPAIRS. I HAD INFORMED THEM THAT THE ODOMETER ALWAYS READS ABOUT 7 TO 8 MPH FASTER THAN MY GPS AND THAT THE WARRANTY PER THEIR INSTRUMENTS WOULD BE SHORTED. THE INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT CUT ME OFF IN A CLOSE SITUATION. THE ACTUAL POWER TRAIN WARRANTY IS 50,000. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A TIMING CHAIN BREAKING WITH EVEN A 100,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE SERVICED THE CAR AT ALL APPROPRIATE INTERVALS AS NOTED IN THE SERVICE RECORDS AND I PAMPER THE CAR. I AM 61 YRS OLD AND HAVE HAD MANY, MANY CARS AND DO NOT DRIVE IRRESPONSIBLY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY BMW. THE MID WEST AUTO GROUP HAS ALWAYS BEEN EXCEPTIONAL AND I HAVE NO PROBLEMS W/THEM. *JS

THE AIRBAG "OFF" LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V008000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. TWO DAYS AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF BUT THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO IGNITE INTO FLAMES. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE CALLED TO ASSIST AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS PENDING INVESTIGATION. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 1 YEAR AND THREE MONTHS. I DID NOT HAVE THE CHOICE OF SELECTING ANY OTHER TIRE. MINI COOPER( BMW) PUT RUN FLATS ON VEHICLE BECAUSE THERE IS NO WHERE FOR A SPARE TIRE. I KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE AT A CONDO IN FLORIDA WITH NO ACCESS TO ANYONE. I HAVE 4250 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD THREE FLATS. MINI RELATED THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY A TIRE AND SUSPENSION WARRANTY WHEN NEW FOR 800.00 PLUS DOLLARS. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I HAD ONE FLAT ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE. MY WIFE OR I HAVE USED THIS VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN 5 MONTHS AND THIS IS THE THIRD FLAT. MINI DENIES ANY DEFICIENCIES WITH THE TIRES BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THEM. THIS AVERAGES OUT TO A FLAT ABOUT EVERY 1400 MILES. MY FATHER GOT BETTER MILEAGE OUT OF RETREADS. STATISTICALLY IT SEEMS SIGNIFICANT AND THERE IS A DEFECT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND RESPOND. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MINI COOPER S HATCH BACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WOULD OFTEN RESIST STARTING ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE EVERY TIME THE STALLING FAILURE OCCURRED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE INSTRUMENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO EXCESSIVE CARBON BUILDUP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000. UPDATED 03/14/12 *BF THE TIMING CHAIN WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 04/18/12

SHIFT MECHANISM FROZE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BEFORE GOING IN FOR SERVICE ON 1/6/12. UPON INSPECTION I WAS TOLD THAT REPAIR IS NOT CONSIDERED UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER CLAIMS THAT SOME COFFEE WAS SPILLED INSIDE OF CUP HOLDER AND LEAKED BELOW WHICH RESULTED IN SHORTING OUT OF A "WIRE CONNECTOR" AND REQUIRES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE "SHIFTER ASSEMBLY." REVIEWING SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM VARIOUS WEB SIGHTS I DETERMINED THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH A NUMBER OF MINI OWNERS. IN FACT AN OWNER REPORTED THE EXACT SAME COMPLAINT BACK IN 2003 WHERE THE REPORTED LEAK WAS FROM A SCREW FASTENING THE CUP HOLDER TO ITS SUPPORTING UNIT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE: IF THE WIRES CAN "SHORT OUT" THEY THEN MAY CAUSE A DANGEROUS SITUATION TO DEVELOP AND IF THE SHIFTER FREEZES, THIS COULD RESULT IN AN EVEN MORE SERIOUS SITUATION. SINCE THE APPARENT LEAKING THROUGH THESE HOLDERS WAS EVIDENT TO MINI - FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS - WHY HAVEN'T THEY EITHER FIXED THE POTENTIAL LEAK SOURCE OR PRINTED A WARNING WITHIN THEIR MANUAL: "DON'T PUT ANY CUP, OR OTHER SUCH CONTAINER INTO THE CUP HOLDERS AS THIS MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS DAMAGE TO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS." AREN'T "CUP" HOLDERS SUPPOSED TO BE DESIGNED TO HOLD CUPS SAFELY. SHOULDN'T THERE BE AN EXPECTATION THAT SOME LIQUID WILL SPILL OUT DURING USUAL DRIVING CONDITIONS? IF SO, WHY WAS THIS DESIGN FLAW NOT CORRECTED WITH CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OCCURRING FOR AT LEAST EIGHT YEARS? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 MINI COOPER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A BROWN SPOT ON THE HOOD AND FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE FIRE ALSO SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND DECLARED DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

MY DAUGHTER GOT OUT THE PASSENGER DOOR AND WALKED AROUND TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE TO GET GROCERY BAGS FROM INSIDE OF THE TRUNK AREA OF THE HATCHBACK. AS SHE LEANED FORWARD TO GRAB BAGS FROM INSIDE OF THE HATCHBACK AREA WHICH WAS OPENED BY MYSELF SHE SUDDENLY WAS TAKEN BACK BY A STINGING FEELING ON HER LOWER LEG. AS SHE STARTED TO SCREAM I ASKED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. SHE TOLD BE THAT HER LEG FELT LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE. AS I LOOKED DOWN I SAW A CRESCENT SHAPED DARK RED AREA ON HER LOWER LEG THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE TAIL PIPE THAT PROTRUDES SLIGHTLY FROM THE BUMPER. SHE DEVELOPED A BURN ON HER LOWER LEG THAT NOT ONLY HURT BUT SHE IS AFRAID SHE WILL LEAVE A SCAR. THIS SHOULD BE CORRECTED IN SOME MANNER TO PREVENT ANYONE FROM SUFFERING FROM BURNS EITHER USING A HEAT RESISTANT METAL OR A SHORTER TAILPIPE. ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL OR WRITE [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *KB

ALTERNATE WATER PUMP WIRING HARNESS FOR THE TURBO ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. CAR HAD BEEN SITTING FOR TWO HOURS WHILE MY WIFE AND I WERE SHOPPING. WE GOT IN AND STARTED THE VEHICLE WHEN LESS THAN FIVE SECONDS LATER, THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. TURNED THE MOTOR OFF AND CHECKED THE ENGINE. WHEN THE BMW TECH CAME TO RENDER ASSISTANCE, WE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND FLAMES CAME UP FROM THE WIRING HARNESS. USED MULTIPLE LITERS OF WATER TO DOUSE THE FIRE. CAR WAS TOWED TO MINI DEALER FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND REPAIRS. PLEASE VISIT NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM AND DO SOME SEARCHES FOR THIS TYPE OF ISSUE. YOU WILL BE SURPRISED. *KB