MINI Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT SOMETHING WAS LOOSE IN THE ENGINE AND THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT MAT SENSOR, THAT TRIGGERS THE AIRBAG IN AN ACCIDENT (I UNDERSTAND), HAS FAILED. MINI OF CHARLESTON SC (CLOSE TO WHERE I LIVE) INFORM ME THAT IT WILL TAKE 3-6 MONTHS TO GET A REPLACEMENT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED PREVIOUSLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, AND THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION OF MY CAR, THE VALVES WERE CLATTERING AND HAD NO POWER. *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ON A WINTER DAY, THE REAR PANEL OF THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF LITERALLY EXPANDED UPWARD AND SHATTERED. THE BULK OF THE GLASS FELL INTO THE CAR. THERE WAS NO IMPACT WITH FOREIGN OBJECTS OR CHIPS IN THE GLASS. THIS WAS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. *TR

TIMING CHAIN ISSUES THAT WOULD MAKE CAR RANDOMLY RATTLE THEN JUST TURN OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC OR AT A STOP LIGHT. CAR WOULD SKIP GEARS AS WELL. OUR 2009 HAS THE SAME ISSUES AND MINI HAS TOLD US IT IS THE TIMING CHAIN AS WELL. WE SPENT OVER $1800 FIXING THIS ISSUE THAT APPARENTLY HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH OTHER MINI CARS.

AT ABOUT 65,000 THE CAR WOULD JUST RANDOMLY RATTLE & TURN OFF AT ANY STOP INCLUDING DURING RUSH HOUR WHEN CAR HAD TO COME TO A ROLLING STOP DUE TO TRAFFIC. CAR ALSO SKIPPED GEARS, ALSO JUST RANDOMLY. WE WERE UNABLE TO TAKE TO A MINI SERVICE CENTER DUE TO MY DAUGHTER HAVING IT AT COLLEGE WHERE MINI WAS NOT AVAILABLE. WE DID TAKE TO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC AND UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE SYMPTOMS AND DIAGNOSTICS NOT TELLING HIM ANYTHING HE COULD NOT "FIX" THE PROBLEM.....TWICE. WE KNOW THAT MINI HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THE TIMING CHAIN AND THEY CLAIM THAT OUR MODEL AND YEAR IS NOT PART OF THIS ISSUE. WELL WE ALSO HAVE A 2010 MINI COOPER AND THE SAME TIMING CHAIN ISSUE WITH SIMILAR SYMPTOMS HAS JUST BEEN REPAIRED FOR OVER $1800.

CAR SHUT DOWN ENROUTE TO HOSPITAL. THERE WAS NO WARNING (AS CHARACTERIZED BY MANY OWNERS). I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A REPUTABLE REPAIR FACILITY. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER HAD DISINTEGRATED AND CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO "SLIP". THEY RAN A COMPRESSION TEST ON THE 4 CYLINDERS. TWO OF THE CYLINDERS HAVE 0 COMPRESSION AND THE OTHER TWO HAVE SERIOUSLY LOW READINGS. THEY TOLD ME THAT ANY ADDITIONAL DAMAGE IS INDETERMINATE. THE EXACT SEQUENCE OF EVENTS BEGINNING WITH THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED IN GREAT NUMBERS. THIS RESULTED IN RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM UP TO THE 2009 MODEL YEAR. WHY WASN'T THIS EXTENDED TO THE 2010 MODEL YEAR?

I AM ORIGINAL OWNER. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. SLIPPING AND HARD SHIFTING. AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL. 70,000 MILES. HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING. BMW TOLD ME TO SELL IT RIGHT AWAY. $9,000 TO REPAIR. SHOULD BE RECALLED. VERY UNHAPPY. PLEASE HELP. *TR

AT APPROXIMATELY 65,000, 2009 MINI COOPER R56 AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF, BUT NOW STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. NO IDEA IF THIS MEANS THAT AIR BAGS WILL FAIL.