MINI Complaints

I WAS GOING AROUND A 90 DEGREE CORNER AT ABOUT 15 MPH WHEN THE STEERING SEEMED TO LOCK UP. I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT THE POWER STEERING HAD FAILED, AND I WRESTLED THE STEERING WHEEL TO COMPLETE THE TURN. SINCE THEN, THE POWER STEERING HAS NOT WORKED 90% OF THE TIME. *TR

ON JULY 3, 2012, I WAS BURNED ON MY CALF BY THE EXHAUST PIPE LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE BACK OF THE MINI COOPER S. I HAVE A LARGE HALF MOON SCAR REMAINING. MY DAUGHTER WAS ALSO BURNED LAST YEAR BY THE SAME VEHICLE 2 PLACES ON HER CALF. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND SEE A REPORT ON THE R56 MODEL BUT WAS ONLY PERTAINING TO 2007-2008. IF BMW DID ANYTHING TO RESOLVE (SHORTENING THE PIPE), IT DIDN'T WORK SINCE I WAS BURNED LIKE OTHERS BY A 2010 MODEL. I OWNED A 2004 FOR 7 YEARS AND NEVER HAD AN ISSUE. NOT THAT THE POSSIBILITY WASN'T THERE, BUT IT NEVER HAPPENED. I CHECKED TO SEE IF LASER COULD REMOVE THE SCAR, BUT WAS TOLD IT WOULD NOT. BMW MUST REDESIGN AND/OR RECALL IN ORDER TO PROVIDE BETTER SAFETY. I EXPECT AND KNOW THE RISK OF BURN WITH A MOTORCYCLE, BUT NEVER EXPECT TO GET BURNED BY A CAR (MINI). *TR

POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILS REPEATEDLY. SOLUTION HAS BEEN TO STOP CAR AND RESTARTED ENGINE; SEEMS TO RESET PUMP ELECTRONICS. THIS INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE HAS HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIMES IN THE 3 YEARS WE'VE OWNED THE CAR AND CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF DRIVER IS NOT AWARE OF THE CHANGE IN STEERING ABILITY. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE PUMP I BELIEVE AND WITH ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I FEEL MINI/BMW SHOULD VIEW THIS AS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND COVER UNDER WARRANTY -- IT IS CLEARLY A DANGEROUS PART AND POOR DESIGN. *TR

THE COLD START RATTLE WAS/IS BEING CAUSED BY THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER (WHICH IS IN TURN POWERED BY AN OIL-PRESSURIZED PISTON). MORE SPECIFICALLY THE SOUND IS CAUSED WHEN THE TENSIONER PISTON DOESN'T EXTEND ALL THE WAY (OR AT ALL) WHICH THEN ALLOWS THE TIMING CHAIN TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE GUIDES ON THE ENGINE COVER. *TR

POWER STEERING OCCASIONALLY FAILS DURING LOW SPEED TURNS, E.G. U-TURN OR DRIVING IN PARKING LOTS. *TR

I EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO CENTER AFTER TURNING. FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED FIRST AT A VERY LOW SPEED. I DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER WHICH HAD REPLACED THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP 1,300 MILES EARLIER. THIS FAILURE WAS DETERMINED BY THE DEALER TO BE BINDING OF THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT AND IT WAS REPLACED. *TR

THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON IN MY MINI. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CABLE TENSIONER, BUT ON MODELS OF 2003 AND ABOVE. I AM WANTING YOU TO RECONSIDER THE YEAR OF THIS RECALL TO INCLUDE 2002. I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE REP CABE F SEAT SIDE AIRBAG, REP CABLE BEL TENSIONER, CABLE STRAP, CABLE CONNECTOR, SHRINKING HOSE AND CABLE STRAP WITH BRACKET FOR A COST OF 800. THE AFFECT OF THIS DEFECT IN THE CAR IS FOR THE CAR TO BE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE WEIGHT OF THE PASSENGER IN THE CAR IN ORDER TO DEPLOY THE AIRBAG PROPERLY. *TR

THE DUAL POWER SUNROOF IS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAPPENS VERY FREQUENTLY ON THE 2007 MODEL MINI'S AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE BY THE MANUFACTURER. TO FIX THE PROBLEM MINI IS CHARGING OVER $2500.00 TO CORRECT THIS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ITEM. *TR

ISSUES WITH AIRBAG LIGHT IN 2006 MINI COOPER S, WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT IF THEY ARE NOT SITTING JUST THE RIGHT WAY THE LIGHT WILL GO ON, WARNING US THE AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED, SOMETIMES THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL GO ON FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT WITH NOBODY IN THE SEAT. SOMETIMES THE SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON WITH NO ONE IN THE SEAT AS WELL. MOVING THE SEAT WILL SOMETIMES CORRECT THE ISSUE. COMPLAINTS TO MINI AND DEALER WERE ON DEAF EARS. [XXX] I COPIED AND PASTED THE COMPLAINT, BUT MY PROBLEM IS EXACTLY THE SAME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WITH HAND BRAKE ENGAGED. 5 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR ROLLED DOWN DRIVEWAY AND HIT A DITCH. REAR SUSPENSION WAS DAMAGED. THE HAND BRAKE WAS STILL ENGAGED. *TR