2009 MINI Clubman

The contact owned a 2009 Min Cooper Clubman. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, turned on, and unoccupied, there was black smoke coming from the interior of the vehicle. The contact stated the footwell control module located on the driver's side had caught on fire. The vehicle was extinguished by the Fire Department. The vehicle was destroyed as it was consumed by the fire. A fire report was filed, and a fire report number was provided; however, the cause for the failure was not yet determined. A police report was not filed due to the incident occurring on private property. No injuries were sustained. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not towed and remained at the incident location. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

I recently purchased a 2009 mini cooper clubman. Within three weeks of taking possession of the car, the airbag warning light activated. Upon a diagnostic test, it was determined that the passenger occupancy sensor was malfunctioning. After discussing this with the mini cooper dealer in my area and mini USA, it was acknowledged that this was a well known and documented issue. First generation mini coopers were afforded a safety recall to rectify this safety issue while second generation cars were given an extended warranty. Unfortunately, I am now driving a car outside of the extended warranty that was only offered to the original owner with a faulty airbag system for any passenger in my car. A recall MUST be issued for the second generation mini cooper to hold the company responsible for this faulty design. Owners of these cars are avoiding the $2500 repair bill by installing sensor bypass modules in order to clear the malfunctioning light warning. NHSTA is well aware of this problem as I have read hundreds of issues and concerns in mini cooper forums. Please address this problem as force the recall on the occupancy airbag sensor before a passenger is seriously injured or killed.

Recall on car and no remedy to fix it

I received a recall notice from MINI USA dated July 2023. The recall issue date is in May 2023. The notice states the Footwell Control Module (FRM) can become corroded and can increase the risk of fire or injury. The letter states they do not have a remedy available, but one is in development. That was over a year ago now and no further action has been relayed by MINI USA. All current information on the recall states it is still not something they can remedy as of today, October 30, 2024. The issue included in the recall seems dangerous and has prohibited me from driving the car since receiving the recall notice. Therefore, the car is not able to be used without fear of fire and/or injury. The notice states to file a complaint with the NHTSA if the issue is unable to be remedied within a reasonable period of time. I believe that 18 months is more than reasonable time to have a remedy for this issue and none is forthcoming at this time. Therefore, I am filing this complaint. I am including a sample of the letter that I received rather than the actual one that includes my personal information.

Following approximately 12 months of slow deterioration, the passenger-side airbag deployment system in this vehicle appears to have become continuously inoperative (red airbag failure annunciator continuously illuminated on instrument cluster in conjunction with continuous illumination of the amber "Passenger Airbag OFF" informational annunciator in the overhead console). Failure now occurs whether passenger seat is empty or occupied, although it previously only occurred when the seat was unoccupied and ambient temperatures were colder (below approximately 40 degrees F). I suspect that the passenger seat occupancy sensor mat is the failed system component due to the slow onset of the problem (continuous illumination of aforementioned annunciators was spurious at first, then intermittent, now continuous). Vehicle has not been submitted to a MINI dealer for diagnosis. However, MINI/BMW has already issued a recall on the passenger seat occupancy sensor mats in 2005-2008 model MINIs, setting the precedent that other model years could be similarly affected as well. Vehicle will not pass Texas state inspection with the airbag failure annunciator illuminated, and therefore cannot be registered. Recommend that MINI/BMW expand the sensor mat recall to include at least their 2009 model year vehicles as well.

The passenger-side airbag is not recognized when a passenger is in the vehicle. Mechanic says this is a known recall for Mini's and has repaired several but my model is not covered under the recall. There has not been an incident or accident to report at this time. I have reached out to Mini and asked them about the recall and they originally said they would fix it bc it was under recall. When I brought the car in they said they couldn't because the recall doesn't cover the R55 model. After months of going back and forth with them, they have concluded that they will only repair at their service cost of $1500.

The driver's side footwell is continuously full of water for the past several years. During rain water runs inside the car, from somewhere behind the dash, into the driver's footwell. The Footwell Control Module (FRM) is in water and is actively corroding. The Footwell Control Module is an electronic control unit located behind an interior trim panel in the driver's footwell area. Mini/BMW has already found that this corrosion could potentially result in a short circuit, resulting in a potential thermal event which could increase the risk of fire or injury. For some reason this vehicle is not included in Recall Campaign No. 23V-337 for the very same issue. This vehicle has been erroneously excluded from all appropriate MINI recalls. This vehicle was not included in 09V-143 despite the fact that it has factory 15" wheels. This vehicle had an auxiliary water pump fail, 200 miles after the warranty expired, but was not included in 18V-248. It would seem as though it has been erroneously excluded from all recalls because it was custom ordered and imported by the dealer. I am the sole owner of this vehicle, I purchased it new, custom made and imported for me at a dealership in Las Vegas. This vehicle has never been included in any of the recalls despite being affected by all of them.

PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR HAS STOPPED WORKING DURING ALL STATES OF VEHICLE OPERATION. UPON STARTING THE CAR AND WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT TURNS ON REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. IF I WERE TO GET INTO A CRASH, MY PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG WILL NOT ACTIVATE, LEAVING THE PASSENGER IN THE CAR UNPROTECTED.

REPLACED THERMOSTAT, HEATER STOPPED WORKING, VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHAT SEEMS TO BE A FAULTY WATER PUMP OR THERMOSTAT, CAR SMOKED INTENSELY DROVE SHORT DISTANCE- THERMOSTAT MELTED- MOTOR BLEW. THIS VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED***

LOW OIL INDICATOR DOESN'T LIGHT UP UNTIL THE OIL LEVELS ARE CRITICALLY LOW. DEALER STATES THAT THEY'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN A LOT AND IT'S "NORMAL." COST ME OVER $4,000 TO FIX IT AT THE DEALER. 3RD DOOR (SUICIDE DOOR) LOCK MECHANISM STICKS/BREAKS DOWN. AFTER GETTING IT FIXED, THE LATCH ITSELF BROKE DOWN.

TAMARA RECALL

I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW. AFTER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY EXPIRED, I EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT. DUE TO THE HIGH COST TO REPAIR, AND THAT MINI HAD A RECALL ON THEIR 2008 MODELS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE, I CHOSE NOT TO REPAIR IT AND NOW HAVE 157,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I ASSUMED MINI WOULD EVENTUALLY INCLUDE THE 2009 MODELS IN THE RECALL. MINI HAS NOW SENT ME A LETTER OFFERING AN "EXTENDED WARRANTY" FOR THIS ISSUE ON MY CAR. HOWEVER, SINCE I ACTUALLY DRIVE MY CAR AND HAVE OVER 120,000 MILES, MINI WILL NOT REPAIR MY CAR UNDER THIS "EXTENDED WARRANTY." THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL. I SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED FOR A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE MY CAR HAS MORE MILES ON IT. I HAVE CONTACTED MINI, AND MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I SELDOM DRIVE THE CAR WITH PASSENGERS NOW AS I FEAR FOR THEIR SAFETY. MINI HAS LOST A CUSTOMER.

THE REAR SPLIT DOORS WON'T OPEN WHEN UNLOCKING USING THE KEY FOB. THERE IS NO MANUAL LATCH TO OPEN REAR DOORS FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS MY WIFE'S ONLY VEHICLE AND MY CONCERNS ARE AS FOLLOW. 1- WE CAN'T ACCESS THE SPARE TIRE AND EMERGENCY TOOLS SINCE THE DOORS DOESN'T OPEN. AND MY MAIN CONCERN IS 2- WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT/FIRE IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE ONLY EMERGENCY EXIT IS THROUGH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE UTILIZING THE REAR DOORS? DIFFERENT SCENARIO WHAT IF THE VEHICLE FALLS IN WATER AND THE ONLY WAY OUT IS TO OPEN THE REAR DOORS BUT THERE IS NO MANUAL LATCH TO EGRESS? I BELIEVE THAT MINI COOPER FAILED OR DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THIS MATTER. I CAN'T INCLUDE PICTURES BECAUSE I'LL BE SHOWING A SHUT DOOR.

IVE PERSONALLY DRIVEN MY 2009 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN 11K MILES OF THE 34K IT HAS ON IT WITHOUT ANY ISSUE UNTIL ON JUNE 5TH, 2016 I PARKED IT NEAR MY WORK AND RETURNED TO IT THE NEXT MORNING.IT STARTED UP JUST FINE AND I JUST LET THE FIRST GEAR TAKE ME OUT OF THE PARKING GARAGE. THEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE ONCE ON THE ROAD AND NOTHING... NO POWER. I PUT THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND NOTHING. I PULLED OVER AND IT SOUNDED LIKE A LABORED, CLANKY, ROUGH IDLE. GOT IT TOWED TO A SHOP, DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED MAIN RELAY FAILURE AND SOMETHING ABOUT VALVETRONIC SERVOMOTOR AND LIMITATION AND PLAUSIBLE AIR MASS SENSOR ISSUE. MAIN RELAY PART REPLACED FOR $20.WORKED FINE AFTER THAT. EIGHTEEN DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. WENT HOME AND AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND SCARY POSSIBILITIES COULD HAPPEN WITH MY MINI RELATED TO THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEMS, AIR INTAKE, WATER PUMP AND TIMING CHAIN SENSOR WORST OF ALL. THINGS THAT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE IF FAILED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH OR IN AN INTERSECTION OR IN TRAFFIC! TO DATE, ILL BE RETURNING TO THE SHOP THAT HELPED MEET BAND AID THE PROBLEM, THEN TO MY REAL PROFESSIONAL TO HELP ME DIAGNOSE AND TREAT FURTHER POSSIBLE ISSUES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR THREE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY HIGHWAY WHEN THE SMOKE STARTED POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE CAR STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING, OR SIGNAL LIGHTS APPEARING ON THE CONTROL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. I STOOD BACK, WATER FOR THE SMOKE TO CLEAR, AND TRIED TO RESTART BUT THE ENGINE WAS DEAD. I CALLED MY TOWING SERVICE AND HAD IT DELIVERED TO MY SERVICE GARAGE, MINI OF MAIN LINE, 130 MONTGOMERY AVENUE, BALA CYNWYD, PA. NO WARNING LIGHT EVER APPEARED, AND I WAS COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE CAR. THE GARAGE REPAIR ESTIMATE STATES THAT THE "WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT" FAILED. MY MINI COOPER MODEL IS NOT LISTED UNDER RECALL #12V008000, BUT THE CONSEQUENCE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THAT DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE: THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FAILED CAUSING THE ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT BOARD TO MALFUNCTION AND OVERHEAT.

THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF A STATE HIGHWAY WHILE GOING AT CRUISING SPEED OF 35MPH ON THE RIGHT MOST LATE, AND WITH ENGINE DEAD POWER STEERING BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE CAR TO THE SIDE. THE CAR WAS LITERALLY DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, WE HAD KIDS ON BOARD AND FOR A SMALL CAR, WE WERE REALLY THAT LUCKY PASSING CARS WERE ABLE TO SPOT US AND AVOID HITTING US. WHEN WE TOOK TOWED IT TO THE SHOP, THE ISSUE WAS THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD SNAPPED AND ALSO CRACKED THE ENGINE TOP COVER ON THE LEFT SIDE. ON SEARCHING THE INTERNET IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS THE "TIMING CHAIN, TENSIONER ISSUES" THAT BMW/MINI IS ALREADY AWARE OF HOWEVER THEY HAVE NOT YET DONE A RECALL. THERE WAS ALMOST NO WAY OF TELLING THERE WAS THIS PROBLEM BREWING WITH THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH NOW IN RETROSPECT THERE WERE A FEW TELL-TALE SIGNS, WHEN IT WAS COLD, WE HAD HEARD A RATTLE SOUND, WHICH WENT AWAY IMMEDIATELY. ALSO THE SAME DAY THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED WHEN STANDING AT A SIGNAL, BUT STARTED UP AGAIN. NOW WE REALIZE THAT THESE SIGNS WERE RELATED TO THE PROBLEM THAT OTHER USERS HAD COMPLAINED TOO BEFORE THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE.

INTERMITTENT STEERING LOSS WHILE DRIVING. MINI IS AWARE OF ISSUE... OFFERS NO FIX. LOW MILEAGE. FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING TURNING AND NOT TURNING. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR DASHBOARD WARNING OR MESSAGE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, IT APPEARS MINI IS AWARE AND VERY HIGH PETE STAGE OF OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME .... DEATHS HAVE BEEN REPORTED .

THE SOCKET THAT GOES IN THE BULB FOR THE HEADLIGHTS ARE BURNED ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS. THE BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND BECAUSE OF THE BURNED SOCKET THAT CONNECTS TO THE HEADLIGHT APPARENTLY IS UNABLE TO SEND A SIGNAL TO THE BULB AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

MY SON HAS A 2009 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2008 MINI COOPERS BUT NOT THE 2009 THE CODE FOR THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS THE SAME AS THE 2008 CODE I AM WONDERING WHY THE 2009 MINI IS NOT RECALLED ALSO