2011 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN Complaints

A JUNE 2016 LEAK IN THE OIL PUMP SOLENOID VALVE RESULTED IN REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE DME (INCLUDING PROGRAMMING) AND THE ENGINE HARNESS. THIS ISSUE PRESENTED A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE IT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND RESULTED IN EXTREME SLUGGISHNESS OF THE ACCELERATOR. SAFECAR.GOV IDENTIFIED MINI SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETINS THAT ADDRESS THE LEAK FROM THE SOLENOID AS EARLY AS 2012. MORE THAN ONE SERVICE BULLETIN (SI M11 01 12 DATED 6/2012, 1/2013, 1/2014) WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO DEALERSHIPS THAT OUTLINED THE PROBLEM AND REPAIR FOR THIS ISSUE. SINCE THIS ISSUE PRESENTS SAFETY PROBLEMS WHEN DRIVING THE CAR, WE ASSERT THE PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROACTIVELY FIXED. SINCE MINI USA HAS NOT DONE SO, THERE SHOULD BE A GOVERNMENT RECALL TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. FURTHERMORE, WHEN THE PROBLEM MANIFESTED IN OUR CAR WE WERE EXPECTED TO COVER THE REPAIR COST. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE TO US SINCE THE DEALERSHIP KNEW ABOUT YET WAS NOT PROACTIVE IN PREVENTING THE SAFETY ISSUE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT WHEN WE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY REIMBURSED LESS THAN HALF OF THE REPAIR COSTS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFT. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FUNCTIONED INDEPENDENTLY AND DIFFERENT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

REFERENCE MY CALL IN REPORT REF. # 10598125: THE "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT (LOCATED IN THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE) REMAINS ILLUMINATED AFTER THE SYSTEM DOES IT'S INITIAL CHECK AT START UP. IF ANYONE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE LIGHT GOES OUT. THE SYSTEM DID NOT OPERATE THIS WAY UNTIL THE CAR REACHED APPROXIMATELY 15,000 MILES. ORIGINALLY THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON FOR A FEW SECONDS AT START UP THEN GO OUT. AFTER CHECKING SEVERAL OWNER BLOGS ONLINE, I FOUND OUT THAT ALL OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN GETTING A DEFINITIVE EXPLANATION FROM THEIR DEALERS. SOME DEALERS REPAIRED THE ISSUE BY REPLACING THE SEAT PAN SENSOR OR REPAIRING THE UNDER SEAT CONNECTOR. SOME DEALERS HAVE SAID THE CONDITION IS NORMAL. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY DEALER, "SOUTH MINI OF MIAMI" AND WAS INITIALLY TOLD THERE WAS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM AND SCHEDULED THE CAR FOR TROUBLESHOOTING AND REPAIR. AFTER THE SCHEDULED SERVICE, I WAS TOLD THAT THE SYSTEM WAS CHECKED AND THAT ALL COMPONENTS WERE OPERATIONAL AND NOTHING WAS FAULTY. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE LIGHT REMAINING ON WITHOUT A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT WAS NORMAL. MY CONCERN IS THAT NONE OF THE USA MINI DEALERSHIPS CAN DEFINITIVELY EXPLAIN THE CORRECT OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM OR WHY IT SUDDENLY STARTED WORKING IN A DIFFERENT WAY. IT CAN'T BE CORRECT BOTH WAYS; IT WAS EITHER FAULTY FOR THE FIRST 15,000 MILES OR IT IS FAULTY NOW. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH SEVERAL MINI COOPERS AND SOME BMW MODELS. I BELIEVE FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED GIVEN THE POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE "SMART AIRBAG SYSTEM" . *TR

AT A WARRANTY SERVICE FOR AN EXTERIOR TRIM ITEM, THE MINI TECH WENT TO VERIFY MY MILEAGE AND ALSO EXAMINED MY RUN-FLAT TIRES IN DETAIL (GOODYEAR 225/45 R18 EFFICIENT GRIP). HE ADVISED THAT TWO TIRES HAD DEFECTIVE SIDEWALLS AND SAID THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE EVEN RECOMMENDED A DIFFERENT BRAND. THE TIRES WERE UNDER WARRANTY AND I REALLY HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE THEM REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY TERMS. BECAUSE IT WAS AN AWD VEHICLE, I CHOSE ALSO TO HAVE ALL FOUR REPLACED. 4000 MILES LATER, I NOTICED A SIDEWALL BULGE ON ONE OF MY FRONT TIRES. I COMPLAINED TO MINI THAT THE TIRES THEY WERE PROVIDING WERE DEFECTIVE AND HAD I THOUGHT MORE ABOUT THE MINI TECH'S ACTIONS IN THE BEGINNING, I WOULD HAVE SUSPECTED THAT MINI WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AT THE OUTSET. MINI USA RESPONSE WAS AS EXPECTED, GIVING ME A LECTURE ON WHAT CAUSES A TIRE TO WEAR AND FAIL ETC., AND ADVISED THE PROBLEM WAS BETWEEN ME AND GOODYEAR. I TOLD THEM THAT THEIR RESPONSE WAS NOT ADEQUATE AND I WOULD FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY, WHICH I DID. MY SITUATION CONCERNS ME. I NOTICED ON-LINE THAT THERE WERE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT RUN-FLAT TECHNOLOGY AND WONDER IF THIS IS A FAULTY CONCLUSION THAT THE WEIGHT SAVED BY ELIMINATING SPARE TIRES, JACKS, ETC JUSTIFIES THE GAS CONSUMPTION OBJECTIVES. I AM NOT SURPRISED HOW "STAND-OFF-ISH" THE TIRE DEALER AND MINI ARE, SIMPLY BECAUSE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE TO BOOT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. DURING THE IMPACT ALL AIR BAGS INSIDE THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT DURING THE INCIDENT THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DAMAGED AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED, THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A LOSS OF POWER AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO NO AVAIL ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO HAD THE VEHICLE FOR SIX WEEKS AND WAS NOT ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, FUEL FILTER FOUR SETS OF BRAKES, THREE BATTERIES, IGNITION COILS, WIRING AND THE COMPUTER BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING TWICE, CORE AND NEW BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED PLUS THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A FALSE READING FROM THE COMPUTER. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IT HAD CONTINUED TO JERK VIOLENTLY WHILE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE ODOMETER WAS FLUCTUATING AND NOT READING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAD CONTINUED TO JERK VIOLENTLY, DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE BRAKES MADE A LOUD NOISE INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN BACK TO AN INDPENDENT MECHANIC FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

KEY STUCK IN IGNITION DUE TO FAULTY ELECTRICAL SENSOR. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MAIN COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED TO REMEDY THE STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. MONTHS LATER, THE STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE RECURRED ACCOMPANIED BY A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO REPROGRAMMED THE SYSTEM BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE DEALER ALSO INSTALLED AN EPS COMPUTER PATCH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,800. . ..UPDATED 01-10-14 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED MINI USA WAS AWARE OF THE STEERING PROBLEM FAILURE OCCURRING IN 2011 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN'S. THEY HAVE FAILED TO PROVIDED HER INFORMATION ON EXACTLY WHAT THEY KNOW IS FAILING IN THE STEERING SYSTEM OR THE BULLETIN THAT HAVE ON THE STEERING ISSUE. THE DEALER WORKED ON THE VEHICLE, AND THEY BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, FOR DIFFERENT THINGS. THE MIRRORS WERE NOT OPERATING PROPERLY, THE CLUTCH FAILED TWICE, TWO STEERING FAILURES, AND THE RE-PROGRAMMING OF THE COMPUTER, SEVERAL TIMES. UPDATED 01/15/14

THE 2011 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN HAS A POORLY DESIGNED CUP HOLDER THAT PUNCTURES CUPS CAUSING LIQUID TO LEAK. THIS CUP HOLDER IS NOT PROPERLY SEALED AND ALLOWS FLUID (CONDENSATION) INTO THE GEARSHIFT ASSEMBLY. THIS CAUSES THE INABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY. IT WILL ALSO CAUSE THE KEY TO BE STUCK IN THE IGNITION. MINI WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LABOR TO FIX THE ISSUE AND WILL ALSO NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM FROM RECURRING. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS WELL AS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX FOR THE CONSUMER. WHEN I CALLED MINI USA THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS LANGUAGE IN THE MANUAL THAT PROVIDED A WARNING ABOUT WHAT CUPS WERE APPROPRIATE BUT I FOUND NO SUCH LANGUAGE. THERE WAS BARELY A REFERENCE TO THE CUP HOLDERS. THEY MAY HAVE UPDATED THEIR MANUAL SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR BUT MINE DID NOT HAVE ANY REFERENCE TO SUCH A PROBLEM. *TR