MINI Complaints

THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER BACKED OUT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK ALLOWING ENGINE OIL TO BE PUMPED OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE TENSIONER WORKS ON ENGINE OIL PRESSURE AND IT BACKED OUT FAR ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE ENGINE OIL THAT NORMALLY PRESSURIZED THE PISTON TO BE PUMPED OUT OF THE ENGINE. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEE THE STREAK OF OIL AS I BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, BUT IF I HAD NOT I AM SURE THAT MORE DAMAGE AND POTENTIAL FIRE WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. THIS IS SURPRISING AS THIS SAME PART WAS REPLACED UNDER A RECALL FOR BEING FAULTY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS STILL A DESIGN FLAW AND SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY MINI. *TR

BEGINNING EARLY 2012 (APPROX), THERE WAS INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE; THE FREQUENCY INCREASED THROUGH 2012. TOTAL POWER STEERING FAILURE AS OF JANUARY 19, 2013. MECHANIC ADVISES THIS IS A FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP - A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2004 MINI COOPERS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AT ANY SPEED, THE AUTOMATIC POWER TRAIN DOES NOT SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY. IT WILL SHIFT UP, AND DOWN, AND NOT ENGAGE THE PROPER GEAR. THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WILL "WIND-UP", THEN JUMP INTO A GEAR. AT TIMES, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. *TR

I HEARD A WHIRRING SOUND AND A LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. TOOK IT TO THE MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP BOB SMITH WHERE I HAD THE CAR SERVICED AND WHERE IT WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED. THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT PULL ANY CODES, JUST TOOK THE CAR FOR A RIDE. HE PRONOUNCED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AS IT IS A SEALED TRANSMISSION AS IT IS A "SEALED" TRANSMISSION AND THEREFORE IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AT A COST OF $9000! HE THEN TOOK OFF $1500 FOR A COST OF $7500! GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM TO FIND OUT THAT SO MANY MINI'S HAD THIS PROBLEM THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAD BEEN FILED. CONTACTED MINIUSA WHO SCOFFED AT THE PROBLEM AND OFFERED NO HELP OR RELIEF. HOPING THAT MINI WILL BE FORCED TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE AND THAT A RECALL WILL BE INITIATED BEFORE ANYONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF WARNING LIGHT ON. DEALER WANTS $1800 TO FIX DEFECTIVE SYSTEM. *TR

2007 MINI COOPER S. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING HOSES AND OIL PAN GASKETS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING HOSE AND OIL PAN GASKET FAILED AT THE SAME TIME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SLIGHT INJURIES IN THE CRASH. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. .. UPDATED 02-07-13 *BF UPDATED 02/13/2013 *JS

DRIVING TO WORK IN THE AM. I SMELL SOMETHING IN THE CAR. WHEN I LOOK AT MY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT I SAW SMOKE. PULL OVER AND GOT A BETTER LOOK AT IT. I HAVE A HOLES IN MY CAR SEAT AND THE TWO VEST THAT I PLACE ON THE SEAT. IT APPEARS THE HEATED SEAT HAD A ELECTRICAL FAILURE. TOOK CAR TO MINI DEALER. THEY SAID IT REAL ODD THIS HAPPEN. THEY ALSO NICE TO SAY I WOULD HAVE TO PAID TO FIX IT. LOOK AT MANY SITE ON INTERNET AND SEEN BMW/MINI AND OTHER COMPANY HAVE ISSUES WITH HEATED SEATS. IT DO NOT SEEM TO ODD TO ME. I DID NOT EVEN HAD THE HEATED SEAT ON BECAUSE NO ONE WAS SEATING THERE. *TR

ENGINE TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE OF A FAULTY PLASTIC TENSIONER PIECE BRAKING. THIS ISSUE HAS SURFACED REPEATEDLY GLOBALLY, BUT NO RECALL ISSUED. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED, IT IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND BECAUSE OF ONE SMALL LITTLE PLASTIC FAULTY PART COST ME CLOSE TO $5000. MINI/BMW NORTH AMERICA DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE NOR WANTS TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE EXPENSES INCURRED TO KEEP DRIVING SAFELY. *TR

PARKED VEHICLE IN HOME GARAGE AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN EVEN WHEN KEY IS REMOVED. I WAS FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE AS MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED IT AND REPORTED. REFER TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : EA11005. THE PUMP WILL CONTINUE TO RUN UNTIL BATTERY DEPLETES OR FIRE OCCURS. THERE IS NO COOLING PROVIDED BY DEDICATED COOLING FAN WHEN VEHICLE IS OFF. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY TO STOP PUMP FROM OVERHEATING. *TR