2008 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN Complaints

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WENT OFF EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. NO ONE WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, AND I (THE DRIVER), HAD MY BELT ON. I TRIED BUCKLING THE PASSENGER BELT, BUT THE LIGHT REMAINED ON. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW IF THE AIRBAG IS DEFECTIVE, OR WHETHER THERE IS A SENSOR PROBLEM, AND THE SEAT BELT AND AIRBAGS FOR THE PASSENGER ARE OPERABLE. THERE APPEAR TO BE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT FALSE AIRBAG LIGHTS, ILLUMINATING. *TR

I AM DEAF I DRIVE MY 2008 MINI CLUBMAN S MY MOTHER , BROTHER AND FRIEND HEARD MY ENGINE NOISE ENGINE ,I DON'T KNOW I CAN'T HEAR SO I OPEN OIL CAP I SAW BROWN PLASTIC PIECE I FOUND TIMING CHAIN GUIDE IS BAD, THAT IS SHORT LIFE THAT IS WRONG. *TR

IN NOVEMBER THE DEALER INFORMED ME MY OIL FEED LINES TO THE TURBO WERE LEAKING AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED SOON. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THE COUPLINGS THAT ATTACHES THESE LINES TO THE TURBO ARE DEFECTIVE. ON THE INTERNET THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOT A RECALL AND WILL COST APPROX: $1200.00. THE DEALER ALSO SAID THE NEW COUPLINGS ARE MANUFACTURED BY A NEW COMPANY AND THE DEFECT HAS BEEN FIXED. WITH SO MANY EFFECTIVE SHOULDN'T MINI BE FIXING THIS ISSUE. *TR

I WAS A VICTIM OF THE "DEATH RATTLE" FROM THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE. LUCKILY FOR ME, I RESEARCHED THE NOISE WHEN I FIRST HEARD IT AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT FIXED BEFORE IT DESTROYED MY ENTIRE ENGINE (ALTHOUGH MINI REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS). BUT OWNERS WHO ARE NOT AWARE OF ISSUE MAY KEEP DRIVING THEIR CAR TO THE POINT OF FAILURE WHICH COULD LEAD TO A FATAL CRASH. IT IS A POORLY MANUFACTURED PART THAT IS CREATING THE PROBLEM WHICH CAN BE EASILY FIXED. *TR

THERMOSTAT FAILURE, AS DIAGNOSED BY DEALER. CAR UNDRIVEABLE. WORLD WIDE BAC KORDER ON THE PART FOR 2007-2010 MINI COOPERS. NO KNOWN DATE OF WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE (OR IF) AND THE DEALER IN BEDFORD NH, STATED OVER 17,000 OF THESE PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER. A FAILED THERMOSTAT CAN LEAD TO STRANDED MOTORISTS, ENGINE OVERHEATING AND EXTENSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE. THIS PART IS NOTORIOUS FOR PREMATURE FAILURE. SHOULD THIS NOT BE A RECALLABLE ISSUE? *JB

PLAYING GOLF, CAR IS IN PARKING LOT. ENGINE CATCHES FIRE, DESTROYED FRONT HALF OF CAR, ENGINE FELL ON PAVEMENT . *TR

WHILE DRIVING UP AN INCLINE ON A SEMI-RURAL ROAD IN ORANGE COUNTY, CA, MY CAR APPEARED TO BE UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS (IT IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). MY HEAD LURCHED FORWARD AND BACK AGAIN FORCEFULLY, AND I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MORE THAN 20 MPH ON A 60 MPH SPEED LIMIT ROAD FOR THE NEXT MILE, UNTIL I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS CLOSE BEHIND ME, OR I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED, AND LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE TO MY FINAL DESTINATION. I DRIVE A 2008 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN S, AUTOMATIC WITH PADDLE SHIFTERS. IT IS ABOUT $8,300 TO $9,700 TO REPAIR IT (2 DIFFERENT REPAIR QUOTES OBTAINED). *TR

THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING HAD A SMALL CRACK IN IT RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE COOLANT LEAK. DUE TO LACK OF TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND NO WARNING LIGHT, I WAS UNABLE TO TELL THAT MY ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO A FAULTY PLASTIC THERMOSTAT HOUSING. *TR

ENGINE HAD A COLD START RATTLE FOR A LONG TIME. THEN WHILE DRIVING, THE RATTLE GOT WORSE AND AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED AT THE DEALERSHIP, IT WAS DUE TO THE PLASTIC TIMING GUIDE BREAKING DUE TO NOT ENOUGH TENSION ON THE TIMING CHAIN. I HAD TO STOP DRIVING IMMEDIATELY AND GET MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. MY WARRANTY HAD RAN OUT SHORTLY BEFORE THE INCIDENT. *TR

OIL LEAK FROM TOP OF TURBO OIL LINE CONNECTOR NEAR BANJO BOLT. THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY O-RING FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *TR