MINI Complaints

THE POWER STEERING WHEN OUT ON THE CAR. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. ALSO, BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE, THE STEERING/CAR WILL NOT STRAIGHTEN ITSELF OUT AFTER MAKING A TURN. ONE HAS TO MAKE AN EXTRA EFFORT TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL OUT. I ALMOST HIT A PARKED CAR BECAUSE OF THAT PROBLEM. I SEE CANADA MADE MINI DO A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. IS IT GOING TO TAKE AN INJURY OR WORSE BEFORE THE USA MAKES MINI RECALL THE CARS ? *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED. CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

WHEN YOU START THE CAR THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON, WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT OR NOT. THE LIGHT STAYS ON, I VISITED THE DEALERSHIP THE FIX COST $1241. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING. DEALER SHOULD FIX THIS ERROR. *TR

TURBO OIL SUPPLY LINE FROM ENGINE TO TURBO LEAKING EXCESSIVE OIL REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN OF COMPRESSION FITTING LED TO PREMATURE FAILURE. CONTINUED OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITH THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE AND OR ENGINE TURBO FAILURE. MINI OF MARIN WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ONGOING ISSUES AND WERE TOLD THEY HADN'T HEARD OF THE ISSUE. CAR SMOKES UP IF DRIVEN SLOW. MUST BE ADDRESSED IN RECALL. *TR

HELLO, OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS THE STEERING ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER CUTS OUT UNEXPECTEDLY. THE WHEEL IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN WHEN THIS HAPPENS, AND IT OCCURS WITH NO WARNING. IT APPEARS THAT THE STEERING PUMP FAILS WHEN THE CAR WARMS UP. I HAVE NOTICED MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL MAKING THE SAME COMPLAINT IN ONLINE FORUMS. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I HAD PARKED MY CAR AT A DONUT SHOP AND WHEN I CAME OUT AND STARTED THE CAR AND GO, IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. I HAD TO CALL A FRIEND TO HELP ME TOW IT TO MY HOUSE. *TR

THE CAR HAS BEEN SMELLING LIKE BURNT OIL FOR ABOUT A WEEK. I TOOK IT IN TO THE SHOP ON SATURDAY. TODAY, TUESDAY, WHEN I WAS SUPPOSED TO PICK IT UP, I WAS TOLD THAT I NEED THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS BECAUSE THERE ARE "LEAKS": 1) WATER PUMP 2) TIMING CHAIN 3) VALVE COVER 4) OIL FEED AND RETURN LINE THE CAR HAS AROUND 36,500 MILES ON IT AND WE ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT 8,000.00 WORTH OF REPAIRS! WHAT??? I PAID ALMOST 30,000.00 FOR THIS CAR AND NOW HAVE TO SPEND ADDITIONAL MONEY TO KEEP IT RUNNING? THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED WILL COVER THE FIRST THREE ITEMS ON THE LIST. THE OIL FEED AND RETURN LINE IS NOT CURRENTLY COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH AFTER A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH, I FIND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE INVESTIGATED, AS MINI MUST CERTAINLY BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. THE CUSTOMERS ARE GETTING STUCK PAYING FOR A DESIGN FLAW AND THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AT 36,000 MILES. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR FROM MY DEALER IS 1400.00!! PLEASE DO AN INVESTIGATION AND MAKE THEM REPAIR THIS DEFECT!! *TR

VEHICLE STALLS FROM 1ST GEAR WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF THE "SPORT" BUTTON (REGARDLESS OF TERRAIN). COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVE LINE COMBINED WITH THE STANDARD MINI CLUTCH LACK THE FEEL TO THE POINT OF CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT OFTEN CAUSING IT TO STALL. BMW/MINI DEALERSHIPS DENY ANY PROBLEM OCCURRING / EVER HAS OCCURRED. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT NEEDS TO REFLECT VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUES ALREADY IN OPERATION BUILT PRIOR TO THE LISTED DATE. OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM MINI USA: "AS PART OF THE CONTINUAL REFINEMENT AND OPTIMIZATION OF MINI VEHICLES, WE HAVE IMPROVED THE TAKE-OFF CONVENIENCE AND PERFORMANCE OF ALL OUR MINI COUNTRYMAN CLUTCHES BY IMPLEMENTING SOME SOFTWARE UPDATES AS WELL AS CHANGING THE CLUTCH FACING MATERIAL TO IMPROVE THE FEELING OF THE CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT. WE ARE SURE THAT THESE CHANGES WILL EVEN FURTHER IMPROVE THE CONVENIENCE OF OUR MINI COUNTRYMAN MODELS, AND WILL BE RECOGNIZED AND APPRECIATED BY OUR CUSTOMERS. THESE CHANGES COINCIDE WITH THE START OF PRODUCTION OF OUR MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS COUNTRYMAN AS OF NOVEMBER 2012." *TR

GOT IN CAR ONE MORNING AND NOTICED WINDSHIELD HAD CRACKED IN CENTER FROM TOP OF WINDSHIELD AND FROM BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD, AND I'M HOPING THE CRACK DOESN'T MEET IN THE MIDDLE! *TR

TURBO OIL FEEDLINE / PIPE FAILURE, RESULTING IN LEAK, POSSIBLY DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT. *TR