2008 MINI COOPER S Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS IN THE PROCESS OF INVESTIGATING THE FAILURE. HE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR WHEN AN ADULT PASSENGER WEIGHING BETWEEN 130 AND 140 LBS SITS. THE AIRBAG SYSTEM TURNS OFF AND THERE IS NO WAY TO OVERRIDE THIS AUTOMATIC SENSOR. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP MINI (SAN ANTONIO) TWO TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION. MINI STATES THERE IS NO ERROR FROM THE SYSTEM, SO THEY CANNOT REPLACE THIS SENSOR. I DEMONSTRATED THE ISSUE TO SEVERAL PEOPLE AT THE MINI DEALERSHIP BUT STILL NO RESOLUTION. *TR

CAR WILL NOT START, LEAVING YOU STRANDED. PUSHING IN CLUTCH THEN START BUTTON, AND NOTHING. FIRST TIME WAS 5 WEEKS AGO, TOWED TO DEALER, DID TESTS, FOUND NO PROBLEM. HAPPENED AGAIN ON 4/23/2009, GIGGLED DEAD MAN SWITCH ON CLUTCH PEDAL AND THEN STARTED. HAPPENED AGAIN 4/27/2009, TRIED GIGGLE THING, NOTHING THIS TIME. SAT OVERNIGHT, THEN STARTED. ONLY COMMON FACTOR HAS BEEN ON WARM SPRING DAYS AROUND 90 DEGREES. WILL BE TAKING BACK TO DEALER. *TR

MY 2008 MINI COOPER S HAS A TERRIBLE RATTLING NOISE OCCASIONALLY DURING STARTUP. THE PROBLEM CAN BE REPRODUCED 100% OF THE TIME UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: - START CAR FOR SHORT PERIOD OF TIME (BACK OUT OF GARAGE / WASH CAR) - RESTART CAR FOR SHORT PERIOD OF TIME (MOVE INTO GARAGE) - LEAVE CAR FOR 8 OR MORE HOURS - RESTART AND DRIVE AWAY. FOR THE FIRST 2 MINUTES THERE'S A TERRIBLE RATTLING SOUND. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CLUTCH FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE CENTER OF AN INTERSECTION. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO ABUSIVE OPERATION OF THE CLUTCH. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT IS NOT COVERED IN THE SERVICE WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 11,000.

THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG HAS BEEN DISABLED WHEN A FULL SIZED ADULT IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. *TR

VERY NOISY DRIVE TRAIN UPON INITIAL START-UP; MORE SIGNIFICANT WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. NOISE ABATES AS ENGINE WARMS. *TR

ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF 08 MINI COOPER S GETS SO HOT IT HAS MELT THE HOOD SCOOP. MY HOOD SCOOPING IS BOWING DOWN AND THE CAR HAS 2700 MILES ON IT. I SUGGEST A RECALL AND A HEAT SHIELD TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE FORUMS. *TR

"PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT ON INTERMITTENTLY. I BRING TO DEALER FOR REPAIR THREE TIMES, BUT DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG. AND MY PROBLEM CONTINUE. *TR

WE PURCHASED A 2008 MINI COOPER FOR MY DAUGHTER. LAST NIGHT WHILE SHE WAS PUTTING THINGS IN THE TRUNK, HER LEG GLANCED THE TAILPIPE AND SHE RECEIVED A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT BURN. ON LOOKING AT CARS IN A PARKING LOT, I SEE THAT THE MINI COOPER'S TAIL PIPES ARE VERY EXPOSED AND NOT EVEN SLANTED BACK...I SEE THIS AS A HUGE DANGER. *TR PIC RECEIVED 10/0708 *BF ADD PICTURE *121108 CW UPDATED 12/11/08