MINI Complaints

I BOUGHT MY USED 2009 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE ON DECEMBER 13, 2012. APPROXIMATELY 10 MONTHS LATER ON OCTOBER 16, 2013, I NOTICED AN OIL LEAK AND A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BROUGHT IT TO FLETCHER'S TIRE & AUTO OFF 27TH DRIVE AND CAREFREE HWY AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT HOUSING UNIT AS THE REASON FOR THE LEAK AND ENGINE LIGHT. I PAID FOR THE REPAIRS TO MADE. ADDITIONALLY, HAD THE FRONT TIRES REPLACED AS THEY WERE COMPLETELY WORN. TWO MONTHS LATER ON DECEMBER 7TH, 2013, THE CAR BROKE DOWN ON CAREFREE HIGHWAY, I WAS UNABLE TO USE THE FRONT BREAKS. MY STEP DAD WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO BRAKE MASTERS IN ANTHEM, AZ THE FOLLOWING MORNING WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT TWO WHEELS HAD THE WRONG ROTORS AND 0 BREAK PADS LEFT. ACCORDING TO THE TECHNICIAN, THE S MODEL REQUIRES LARGER ROTORS ON THE FRONT WHEELS, HOWEVER SCOTTSDALE MOTOR COMPANY SOLD ME THE CAR WITH THE SAME SIZE ROTORS ON ALL WHEELS THAT THE REGULAR MODEL MINI'S ARE EQUIPPED WITH. SEE BELOW: 2009 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE- TIMELINE OF REPAIRS DATE OF PURCHASE: 12/13/2012 1ST REPAIR- 10/16/2013 FLETCHER'S TIRE & AUTO ENGINE LIGHT DISPLAYED WATER PUMP THERMOSTAT HOUSING UNIT 2 FRONT TIRES TOTAL: $1,168.19 2ND REPAIR- 12/7/2013 BRAKE MASTERS FRONT BRAKES & FRONT ROTORS ENGINE LIGHT STILL DISPLAYED- CODE CAME UP FOR THERMOSTAT HOUSING UNIT TOTAL: $506.40 3RD REPAIR- 2/17/2014 MINI NORTH SCOTTSDALE PRESSURE CONVERTER VALVE FOR TURBO TURBO HEAT SHIELD BATTERY VALVE COVER GASKET TOTAL: $637.86 4TH REPAIR- 5/19/2014 MINI NORTH SCOTTSDALE TIMING CHAIN- IT WAS BROKEN INTO PIECES , UNABLE TO DRIVE DAR TOTAL: $1,480.99 5TH REPAIR- 1/6/2015 MINI NORTH SCOTTSDALE ENGINE LIGHT DISPLAYED VALVE COVER REPLACED VACUUM PUMP LEAKING TURBO OIL LINE LEAKING TOTAL: $2,145.19 TOTAL IN REPAIRS TO DATE: $5,938.63. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE LEFT REAR CONTROL ARM BROKE IN HALF. I NOTICED MY CAR WAS NOT REVERSING CORRECTLY AS IF THE REAR WHEEL WAS DRAGGING. I EXITED THE CAR AND ELEVATED IT WITH A FLOOR JACK TO FIND THE REAR CONTROL ARM ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BROKEN IN HALF. *TR

AROUND 7:30PM ON WAY HOME FROM WORK ENGINE STARTED TICKING AND NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY. CALL MY MECHANIC, WHO IS CERTIFIED BMW, TO GET CAR INTO SHOP NEXT MORNING. TOOK CAR TO SHOP NEXT DAY AT 730AM FOR HIM TO CHECK OUT. HE CALLED LATER IN THE DAY TO TELL ME TIMING CHAIN GUIDE BROKE OFF INTO ENGINE. ACCORDING TO HIS RESEARCH THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS FOR EARLIER MODELS - M110212 - SO CALLED DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY WOULD CONSIDER THIS UNDER RECALL. SPOKE TO SERVICE MANAGER AND HE SAID THE RECALL WAS FOR MINIS' UP TO DATE 5/03/2009 AND MY PRODUCTION DATE WAS 11/2009. TOLD HIM IT SEEMED ODD I HAD SAME ISSUE AND LAST TIME I HAD ISSUE WITH CAR MY REPLACEMENT PART WAS PRIOR TO PRODUCTION DATE - THIS WAS FIXED BECAUSE I WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I SPOKE TO MINI USA AND THEY SAID UP TO DEALERSHIP TO CONSIDER. DEALERSHIP SAID I COULD GET IT TOLLED IN AND THEY WOULD DO DIAGNOSISTICS BUT DIDN'T BELIEVE IT WOULD BE PART OF RECALL AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO SHOW PROOF OF ALL CAR MAINTANENCE - MADE ME FEEL LIKE MY FAULT. MY MECHANIC CAN CERTIFY I DO PROPER MAINTANENCE AS HE SAID HE LOOKED AT MY ENGINE AND IT IS CLEAN. MINI DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT SPEAK WITH MY MECHANIC TO GET THE PROFESSIONAL TO PROFESSIONAL EXPLANATION, THEY JUST KEPT STAYING MY PRODUCTION DATE WAS TOO LATE FOR RECALL. I HAVE OPTED NOT TO GET VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP (1 1/2 HOUR AWAY) SO THEY COULD DIAGNOSIS AND THEN TELL ME NOT PART OF RECALL SO CHARGE ME FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEN I PAY FOR TOW BACK. THE REASON BEING IS LAST TIME THEY HAD MY CAR IN FOR AN ISSUE IT TOOK THEM 3 DAYS TO DIAGNOSIS, ANOTHER WEEK TO GET PART AND COUPLE IF MORE DAYS TO FIX - THEY SEEMED TO BE IN NO HURRY TO FIX MY PROBLEM NOR CARED THAT I LIVED SO FAR AWAY AND HAD TO RENT A CAR. *TR

MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WITHOUT WARNING WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE AT FULL SPEED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. LUCKILY TRAFFIC WAS VERY LIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO GUIDE MY VEHICLE SAFELY TO THE SHOULDER BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS AROUND 15 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. IT TOOK OVER 2 HOURS FOR A TWO TRUCK TO ARRIVE AND MY WIFE AND I WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY KIT IN THE VEHICLE AND WERE ABLE TO USE THE INCLUDED SPACE BLANKET TO SURVIVE THE FREEZING TEMPERATURES. BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED I AM CERTAIN THAT MY VEHICLES TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF POWER AND INABILITY TO START. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE MODEL HAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS. MY VEHICLE HAS HAD THIS ISSUE BEFORE AND WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALER SINCE IT WAS RECOGNIZED BEFORE ANY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AROSE BUT THIS TIME I WAS NOT SO LUCKY. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW BUT REFUSES TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR PROPERLY FIX IT. MY WIFE AND I WOULD HAVE CALLED EMERGENCY SERVICES BUT WERE TOLD BY THE TOW SERVICE THAT WE WOULD BE HELPED SOONER THAN WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. I FEEL THAT THIS KNOWN MANUFACTURERS DEFECT PUT ME AND MY WIFE'S LIVES AT RISK. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED, AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR 2002-2005 COOPERS, BUT FOR SOME REASON OUR VIN IS NOT COVERED, WHY? OBVIOUSLY THE RECALL CAME LONG AFTER THE CARS WERE DELIVERED, DOES OUR REALLY HAVE A DIFFERENT PART NUMBER OF PUMP? WHY ISN'T OUR COVERED BY THE RECALL? *TR

THE OIL SUPPLY LINE TO THE TURBO ON THIS CAR LEAKS DUE TO A POOR DESIGN. THE PART(S) USED BY THE MANUFACTURER ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR THE APPLICATION AND FAIL, CAUSING NOT ONLY AN OIL LEAK, BUT A POTENTIAL TURBO FAILURE, AND WORSE, THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ENGINE FIRE, AS THE OIL LEAKS ONTO A HOT TURBO CHARGER AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD/DOWNPIPE. THE OIL LINE USES A COMPRESSION FITTING WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE TURBO BODY. THIS FITTING USES AN INTERNAL RUBBER O-RING/SEAL THAT IS SUBJECTED TO HIGH HEAT, AND HEAT CYCLES EVERY TIME THE CAR IS RUN. RUBBER SEALS FAIL UNDER THESE CONDITIONS! THE MANUFACTURER (MINI/BMW) IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND IS DOING NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. (IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR) INSTEAD, THE MANUFACTURER IS PROVIDING A "BAND-AID FIX" BY SUPPLYING A "HEAT SHIELD" THAT ATTACHES TO THE FITTING. THIS WILL DO LITTLE-TO-NOTHING TO PREVENT THE RUBBER O-RING FROM FAILING, NOR DOES IT FIX A LINE THAT IS ALREADY LEAKING. THIS FAILURE OCCURS, TYPICALLY, AFTER THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. IT'S A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW, AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUE IT CREATES. *TR

I NOTICED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE CAME ON, I KEPT AN EYE ON IT AND AT FIRST IT WOULD GO ON AND OFF. THEN IT GOT WORSE, IT WOULD GO ON AND OFF WHEN I WOULD HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. NOW ITS ALWAYS ON, I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND I FOUND THIS SITE W/OVER 130 COMPLAINTS ON IT. I SEE THAT BMW HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND DID A RECALL OF ALL AIRBAG ISSUES. MINI IS MADE BY BMW WHY WOULD THEY NOT COVER ANY YEAR THAT HAS THE SAME AIRBAG PROBLEM. I'M A TEENAGER AND CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THE ISSUE THAT'S APPROX $1,500-2,000. OR DO I WAIT TILL MY FRIEND OR SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT, OR EVEN WORSE DIES FROM THIS PROBLEM. FOR BMW AND THE COST OF THEIR CARS THIS IS SMALL POTATOES FOR THEM. FOR ME TO FIX IT MIND AS WELL BE A MILLION DOLLARS, OR THE COST OF A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER..GOD FORBID!!! IF THERE'S THIS MANY COMPLAINTS THEN SHOULDN'T THE MANUFACTURER BE HELD RESPONSIBLE? THEY HAD A RECALL UNTIL 05, OBVIOUSLY THE PROBLEM STILL CONT. INTO 06 AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED. THEY MADE THE CAR, SO I GUESS THEY ALSO MADE THE MISTAKE..CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

FAILURE OF OC-3 WEIGHT MAT IN PASSENGER SEAT BASE, THUS DISABLING PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SYSTEM. COST TO REPLACE SEAT BOTTOM IS $1200. AS THIS PART IS COMMON BETWEEN MINIS AND BMWS, AND IS VERY PRONE TO FAILURE, BMW HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON BMWS IN THIS MODEL YEAR AREA, BUT HAS NOT YET DONE SO FOR MINIS. PERHAPS BMW NEEDS A WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT TO ISSUE A RECALL? THIS IS A TRAVESTY. *TR

I BOUGHT A CAR FROM NEW COUNTRY MINI IN HARTFORD ON JANUARY 2, 2015. AT FIRST THE CAR WORKED GREAT, HOWEVER THE FRICTION POINT OF THE CLUTCH WAS PRETTY FAR TOWARDS THE END RANGE. BECAUSE IT'S A HYDRAULIC CLUTCH, I THOUGHT THIS WAS ADJUSTABLE. HOWEVER I STARTED NOTICING THE NEXT DAY THAT THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING OUT OF FIRST AND IN REVERSE. I EMAILED THE PERSON AT NEW COUNTRY MINI FROM WHOM I BOUGHT IT FROM EXPLAINING WHAT I WAS HEARING/FEELING AND WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE CLUTCH GOING. HE REPLIED THAT IT PROBABLY JUST NEEDED TO BE OILED AND IT WOULD BE FINE. HE DID NOT ASK ANY OTHER QUALIFYING QUESTIONS, OR OFFER TO LOOK AT IT. AS OF JANUARY 5, THE CLUTCH HAS BECOME EXPONENTIALLY WORSE. THE CAR NOW SHUTTERS WHILE ENGAGING THE CLUTCH, AND CONTINUES TO SHUTTER AFTER THE CLUTCH HAS BEEN ENGAGED. ADDITIONALLY THERE IS A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE CAR. ALSO, THIS IS NOT MY FIRST CAR I'VE HAD THAT WAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I LEARNED HOW TO DRIVE ONE WHEN I WAS 16, SO I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS DRIVER ERROR; ESPECIALLY HOW QUICK THE CLUTCH DIMINISHED. I AM INCLINED TO THINK THAT NEW COUNTRY MINI NEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM PRIOR TO SELLING IT, BUT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MOREOVER, THERE IS A CLUNK THAT HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 2ND GEAR TO 3RD GEAR. ANY AND ALL HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR