MINI Complaints

2002 MINI COOPER [XXX]. CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST FOUR TIMES TO ADDRESS THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEING LIT, IN 44,000 MILES. VARIOUS HARNESSES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AND THE AIR BAG SENSOR ONCE. NOW, AT 44,500 MILES, THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN FOR A FIFTH TIME. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT FUNCTION WITH THE LIGHT LIT. I SUGGEST THAT MINIUSA BE FORCED TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL AS IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WHICH THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE FULLY ISOLATED.*AK *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ON MARCH 5, 2005, A 2 INCH X 2 INCH L SHAPED CRACK WAS FIRST DEVELOPED AT THE MID BOTTOM SECTION OF THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE SHORT ARM OF THE L ORIGINATED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. ON THE NEXT DAY, AFTER PARKING INSIDE MY GARAGE OVERNIGHT, THE LONG ARM OF THE L PROPAGATED ANOTHER 2 INCHES. TODAY, WHILE DRIVING, THE CRACK FURTHER EXTENDED ANOTHER 1/4 INCH. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CRACK STARTED WITH NO OBVIOUS REASONS. THE ONLY SENSIBLE EXPLANATION IS DUE TO DESIGN OF THE BODY STRUTURE OR DEFECT FROM MINI COOPERS, AND SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSES STRESS TO THE WINDSHIELD. IT DOES NOT TAKE LONG TO LEARN FROM THE INTERNET MESSAGE BOARD THAT MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OR RECURRING INCIDENTS WERE ALSO REPORTED. ONE OF THE MESSAGE BOARD PARTICIPANT WHO INSTALLS WINDSHIELD FOR CAR SUGGESTED US TO FILE A COMPLAINT AT THIS SITE BECAUSE WINDSHIELD PROBLEM CAN BE FATAL BECAUSE OF THE FOLLOWINGS: 1. ACT AS A SUPPORT FOR THE ROOF. 2. ACT AS A BARRIER TO PREVENT PASSENGER FROM EJECTING OF THE CAR.. CAUSE AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONED.*AK I STRONGLY URGE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY.

WENT OUT TO DINNER WITH MY PARENTS - GONE APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS - CAME BACK TO FIND THE CAR COMPLETELY BURNED. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED BY A NEIGHBOR. THERE WAS NO INDICATION AT ALL THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WHEN WE PARKED THE CAR. HAVE FOUND OTHER CASES (VIA THE INTERNET) IN THE UK THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. *JB

THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR CHECK UP, AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD CERTAIN SPOTS THAT COULD NOT TOLERATE ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IF THE WINDSHIELD BREAKS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN.*AK

COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE INTERNAL CONTROLLER AREA NETWORK, RESULTING IN BLOWN ELECTRONICS, SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, DSC LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT. CAUSE WAS APPARENTLY A FAULTY RADIO. HOWEVER, A REPLACEMENT RADIO FAILED WHEN INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, BRINGING MORE CONTROLLER AREA NETWORK PROBLEMS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH A FIRE STARTED IN THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND PUT OUT THE FIRE OUT. THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON WHICH INDICATES THE AIRBAG IS NOT FUNCTIONING. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES ALREADY TO HAVE THIS FIXED. WILL BE TAKING IT IN FOR THE FOURTH TIME TOMORROW. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN, THEY TOLD ME THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE THIRD TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS AGAIN TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I'M CURIOUS WHAT THEY WILL SAY THIS TIME. MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME AIRBAG LIGHT PROBLEM ON THE MINI CHAT ROOMS. THE SCARY THING IS THAT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON, EITHER ONE OR BOTH OF MY AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.*AK

AIR BAG FAILURE LIGHT. 2ND TIME IN 2 YEARS. WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR SEPARATED WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT MOVES ALL THE WAY BACKWARD. DEALER INSTALLED LONGER HARNESS.

VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES STALL WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE HAS THE LATEST VERSION OF ENGINE CONTROLLER SOFTWARE THAT HAS CORRECTIONS FOR STALLING. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW WILL LOCK UP AND NOT MOVE, MOTOR AND REGULATOR REPLACED AGAIN. *AK