MINI Complaints

WHILE TRAVELING NORTH ON US 221 FROM BENT MOUNTAIN, VA TO ROANOKE VA MY HYDRALIC STEERING TOTALLY FAILED. AS I TRAVELLED A SHORT DISTANCE MY BRAKE LIGHT WARNING LIGHTS, ABS LIGHT, OTHER BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I LOOKED AT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GUAGE AND THE TEMP WAS NORMAL. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, RAISED THE HOOD, CHECKED THE FLUIDS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND REENTERED THE CAR. WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVERS SEAT I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION, LOOKED FORWARD AND NOTED THICK STEAM COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, EXITED THE CAR AND WHEN THE STEAM DISSIPATED I NOTED THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM FILLING/OVERFLOW TANK WAS SPLIT IN HALF DAMAGING A PROTECTING COVER ON THE FIREWALL AND SPRAYED A BUILDING WALL AND WINDOW WITH ENGINE COOLANT 10 FEET AWAY IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MARTIN'S GERMAN SERVICE IN CAVE SPRING, VA. BECAUSE THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP IN LOCATED IN NORTH CAROLINA 150 MILES AWAY. DUE TO SERVICE VOLUME THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EVALUATE THE PROBLEM UNTIL 24 MAY 2016.

I DROVE AN AUTOMATIC 2013 CERTIFIED MINI COOPER OFF THE LOT WITH 33K PRIOR MILES. AFTER LESS THAN A WEEK, AND AFTER ONLY DRIVING A TOTAL OF 254 MILES, THE ACCELERATOR FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. I DID NOT LOOSE ALL POWER, THE GAS PEDAL JUST QUIT RESPONDING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. ALL OTHER SYSTEMS IN THE CAR SEEMED FULLY RESPONSIVE/OPERATIONAL WITH EXCEPTION TO THE ACCELERATOR. THE ENGINE DID NOT REV AND THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR EVEN WHEN IT WAS PUSHED FULLY DOWN. MY CAR WAS MANUALLY PUSHED OUT OF THE INTERSECTION/TRAFFIC WITH HELP BY THE PERSON BEHIND ME. AFTER SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I TURNED OFF THE CAR. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES I RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS OPERATIONAL. THE FOLLOWING DAY I DROVE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER WITHOUT INCIDENT. THEY RE-CHECKED THE CERTIFICATION ITEMS AND WERE NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEIR ERROR READERS DID NOT DETECT ANY CODES. PERPLEXED- THEY SENT THE INFORMATION TO THEIR TECHNICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. THE ENGINEERS CLAIM THAT IT IS A NEEDED SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT CAUSED THE ACCELERATOR FAILURE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE ENGINEERS ARE ASKING THAT THE MINI SERVICE DEPARTMENT UPDATE THE SOFTWARE AND DRIVE A BIT TO TEST THE VEHICLE. THE SITUATION THAT THE NEEDED SOFTWARE UPDATE CAUSED IS DANGEROUS. I HAVE SEEN POSTS FROM OTHER MINI COOPER DRIVERS WHO HAVE/ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE- YET THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR KNOWN SERVICE BULLETINS FOR THE HAZARDOUS PROBLEM. I DID NOTIFY MINI USA (CORPORATE) OF THE ACCELERATOR FAILURE. NOTES: THE CAR WAS VERY RECENTLY FULLY SERVICED/CERTIFIED WITH NO KNOW PROBLEMS, I HAD FUEL, I WAS IN DRIVE, THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN IN A RESIDENTIAL INTERSECTION, I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF ACCELERATING WHEN THE GAS PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND FURTHER- I WAS IMMOBILIZED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER NOT TO AFFECT THE AIR BAG FUNCTIONALITY. UPON SHIFTING THE WEIGHT ON THE SEAT, THE LIGHTS NEAR THE ODOMETER ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR ENABLES AIRBAG WHEN EXTREMELY LIGHT ITEMS ARE PLACED IN THE SEAT SUCH AS A CELL PHONE. CAR COULD DEPLOY AIRBAG WITH SMALL OCCUPANT IN SEAT.

TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER MAKES VERY LOUD RATTLE WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. COST $1500. KNOWN ISSUE BY MINI BUT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO REPAIR OR RECALL

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V505000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN BACK FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECREASE IN SPEED WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

I OWN A 09 MINI S. ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AGO I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS STICKING WHEREAS I HAD TO JIGGLE IT IN ORDER TO OPEN IT. I TOOK THE DOOR PANEL OFF TO LOOK FOR ANY OBSTRUCTIONS AND FOUND NONE. I GREASED THE DOOR HINGE AND IT WORKED BETTER. I HEADED TO THE STORE ONE DAY AND UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE I HEARD A LITTLE DIFFERENT SOUND THAN USUAL AT LEAST I THOUGHT. AFTER COMING FROM THE STORE I ONCE AGAIN HAD TO JIGGLE THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE DOOR LATCH AND THE OUTSIDE DOOR LATCH. I GOT THE DOOR OPEN AND DECIDED TO STOP FOR GAS ON THE WAY HOME. AFTER ARRIVING AT THE GAS STATION I RELEASED MY SEAT BELT AND ATTEMPTED TO GET OUT BUT THE DOOR WOULD NOT BUDGE. AFTER NUMEROUS FAILED ATTEMPTS I COULD NOT OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR. I HEADED HOME AND IN MY DRIVEWAY I TRIED FOR SOME TIME MY USUAL TECHNIQUE ALONG WITH REPEATED ATTEMPTS WITH THE UNLOCK AND LOCK TOGGLE SWITCH, I COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR. THE WINDOW IS TOO SMALL TO CLIMB OUT AT LEAST FOR ME SO I EXITED THE VEHICLE BY CLIMBING OVER TO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AND EXITED THROUGH THAT DOOR. THIS COULD OF BEEN A BAD SITUATION AND A 911 CALL. THE 1ST RESPONDERS WOULD OF ARRIVED AND TRIED TO HELP ME GET OUT AND IF I WASN'T NIMBLE AS I AM TO CLIMB OUT THROUGH THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR THEY WOULD HAVE TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO COME AND CUT ME OUT OF MY PERFECTLY GOOD CAR AS FAR AS NOTHING ELSE IS WRONG WITH IT. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND THERE ARE NO MODIFICATIONS ON THE DOORS OR ANY KNOWN ACCIDENTS. I SPOKE WITH A MECHANIC AND HE DIAGNOSED IT TO BE A FAULTY DOOR LATCH MODULE. I HAVEN'T HAD IT FIXED YET.

POWER STEERING RANDOMLY WHEN OUT WHILE IN MOTION. THANKFULLY, I WAS ON A LOCAL ROAD GOING SLOWLY WHEN IT HAPPENED. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TURNED IT BACK ON. POWER STEERING CAME BACK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING AT A LOW SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. ONCE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN OFF WITH THE KEY IN THE OFF POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR HAD FAILED AND MELTED. THE POWER STEERING MOTOR, WIRES, BATTERY, PUMP, FAN, PRESSURE HOSE AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED. AFTER REPAIRS, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE USING THE DIAGNOSTIC TOOL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING) BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.