MINI Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AT 865-693-4553 AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

THE MANUAL TAILGATE RELEASE CABLE WAS NOT FITTED IN THIS AND OTHER EARLY PRODUCTION MINI COOPER S CARS, THOUGH THE OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATES THAT THIS SAFETY FEATURE IS PART OF THE DESIGN. THE MANUAL TAILGATE RELEASE CABLE ALLOWS ACCESS TO THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT, WHICH IS IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE, WHEN THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION SUCH AS A BATTERY FAILURE. WITHOUT THE MANUAL RELEASE CABLE, THE BATTERY IS INACCESSIBLE IN THE EVENT OF A FAILED BATTERY OR OTHER ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. THE BATTERY IN MY CAR FAILED AND LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITH NO CONVENIENT ACCESS TO REMOVE THE BATTERY. FURTHER, THE ABSENCE OF THIS MANUAL RELEASE CABLE MEANS THAT THE TAILGATE COULD NOT BE USED AS AN EGRESS FOR VEHICLE OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2009 MINI COOPER AND THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT WARNING LIGHTS COME ON WHENEVER I GET IN THE CAR. THE LIGHT CAME ON RECENTLY WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AND IT NOW OCCURS EVERY TIME I TURN THE MOTOR ON. I'VE BEEN ONLINE RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS MAY MEAN THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF I HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM FACING A NUMBER OF MINI COOPER OWNERS AND BMW HAS NOT RESOLVED THIS PROBLEM AFTER MANY COMPLAINTS.

THE STREWING WHEEL GOT STUCK WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT, LEFT OR MAKE A U-TURN. WHILE RESEARCHING ONLINE, I DISCOVERED IT IS ON RECALL BUT THE NORTH AMERICA MINI COMPANY CUSTOMER SERVICE INFORMED ME TO CONTACT NATIONAL HIGHWAY INSTITUTION TO ASK FOR A RECALL LETTER TO BE ISSUED TO THE COMPANY.

MY CAR HAS 114,000 MILE ON IT. THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED PER RECALL. THE ENGINE HAS FAILED WITH BAD INJECTORS, CYLINDERS AND RINGS. MECHANIC SAID THIS FAILURE IS PERVASIVE IN 2002 TO 2008 MODELS DO TO POOR DESIGN. THE COST TO REPAIR IS TOO HIGH.

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!!

THE REAR SPLIT DOORS WON'T OPEN WHEN UNLOCKING USING THE KEY FOB. THERE IS NO MANUAL LATCH TO OPEN REAR DOORS FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS MY WIFE'S ONLY VEHICLE AND MY CONCERNS ARE AS FOLLOW. 1- WE CAN'T ACCESS THE SPARE TIRE AND EMERGENCY TOOLS SINCE THE DOORS DOESN'T OPEN. AND MY MAIN CONCERN IS 2- WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT/FIRE IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE ONLY EMERGENCY EXIT IS THROUGH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE UTILIZING THE REAR DOORS? DIFFERENT SCENARIO WHAT IF THE VEHICLE FALLS IN WATER AND THE ONLY WAY OUT IS TO OPEN THE REAR DOORS BUT THERE IS NO MANUAL LATCH TO EGRESS? I BELIEVE THAT MINI COOPER FAILED OR DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THIS MATTER. I CAN'T INCLUDE PICTURES BECAUSE I'LL BE SHOWING A SHUT DOOR.

DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE. ON CITY STREETS OR THE HIGHWAY THE CAR ACTS LIKE IT ISN'T GETTING CONSISTENT FUEL THEREFORE IT "HESITATES" AS IF IT WERE GOING TO DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE. WE BELIEVE IT IS THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AS WE HAVE HAD THE HEADS CLEANED OF ALL CARBON AND SPARK PLUGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. FURTHERMORE THERE IS A CURRENT RECALL ON THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FOR THE YEARS 2007, 2008, AND 2009.

POWER STEERING WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION; MINI USA ADVISED IT WAS STILL DRIVEABLE, BUT TO BE CAUTIOUS DUE TO LACK OF CONTROL/POWER STEERING; WHEN PARKED, SMOKE BEGAN TO PLUME FROM UNDER HOOD WHERE A FIRE WAS NOTICED IN BACK OF ENGINE. CALLED MINI USA BACK AND THEY ADVISED US TO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE, AS IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. CONTACTED MINI TO SET UP RECALLED PART (HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING), BUT THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALER (120 MILES FROM MY RESIDENCE).

A STRESS FRACTURE FROM TOP OF WINDSHIELD MID WAY ALONG DRIVER SIDE, DOWN ABOUT SIX INCHES THEN TURN TOWARDS REAR VIEW MIRROR.