2007 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

MY FUEL RAIL WAS SIPPING WITH GASOLINE. WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A MINI DEALER, THEY CLAIMED THAT IT WAS A WEAR AND TEAR PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE FUEL RAIL WAS PLASTIC AND THE LEAK WAS AT THE SEAL BETWEEN THE PLASTIC PARTS. IF THE FUEL RAIL IS METAL AND IS SOLDERED, THIS PROBLEM WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. HAVING A FUEL RAIL THAT LEAKS COULD SEVERELY DAMAGE THE ENGINE AND CAUSE A FIRE. *TR

IN 2013 MY MINI STARTED TO OVERHEAT. I HAD THE FLUIDS CHECKED AND EVERYTHING WAS OK. I DROVE APPROX., 10 MILES AND THE CAR COMPLETELY OVERHEATED, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR SMOKED AND ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP (MINI NORTHWEST IN FIFE WA,) THEY SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND I NEEDED A NEW MOTOR AND COOLING SYSTEM. I PAID 7500$$ FOR A NEW ENGINE INSTALLED BY THE MINI DEALERSHIP IN JULY 2013 AT MY OWN EXPENSE. ON DEC, 23RD 2014 I DROVE MY MINI APPROX. 12 MILES AND PARKED THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CAR WAS NOT OVERHEATING, NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, 15 MINUTES LATER THE CAR HAD FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM THE HOOD. FIRE EXTINGUISHER WOULD NOT PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE CAR THEN MOVED APPROX. 5 FEET FORWARD UP AGAINST THE HOUSE AND BECAME COMPLETELY ENGULFED. THE TIRES BLEW UP THE SUNROOF BLEW UP AND THEN THE BACK WINDOW BLEW OUT. THE CAR IS A COMPLETE LOSS. MINI CLAIMS THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE, YET THERE ARE SEVERAL ARTICLES OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER CARS, INCLUDING A CLASS ACTION SUIT AND RECALLS. *JS

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG FAULT INDICATOR LIGHT HAS COME ON WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE, ILLUMINATING WHETHER THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT OR NOT. THE DEALER HAS DETERMINED IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1000+. BASED ON THE FORUMS ONLINE, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM, SO MUCH SO THAT MINI SHOULD CONSIDER A VOLUNTARY RECALL AND COVER THE REPAIRS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,500. UPDATED 7/10/15*CN UPDATED 07/16/15.*JB

THIS IS A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER FOR THE MINI COOPER WHICH IS KNOWN TO BE FAULTY. THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BEGIN RATTLING AND WAS INSPECTED AT A MINI DEALERSHIP. THEY STATED THAT IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MINI. REPAIR FOR THIS JOB IS 2000 USD. THIS IS A TREMENDOUS PRICE TAG.THIS CAN LEAD TO A VERY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE HIGHWAY HEADING TO WORK. IMAGINE GOING 65 ON THE HIGHWAY THE CHAIN SNAP. LOST POWER AND CONTROL OF THE CAR. NOT ONLY THE DRIVER IS AT RISK BUT OTHER AS WELL. WHAT IF IT CAUSE A FAMILY IN THE CAR AN ACCIDENT. LET'S SAY 3 CAR WERE INVOLVED FILLED WITH FAMILIES BUT ONE PERSON DIED. YOU ARE CAUSING A LIFETIME OF HEARTACHE FOR NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE FAULT IN YOUR ENGINE. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT PEOPLE LIVES ARE AT STAKE. IT'S BETTER THAT MINI SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. IS MONEY SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT TO MINI THAN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE. THE LIVES OF FAMILIES. IF FUTURE ACCIDENT CAN BE AVOIDED. IT MUST START NOW. DO THE RIGHT THING AND MAKE THIS RECALL HAPPEN. DON'T LET ME START ON CARBON BUILDUP. ENGINE DESIGN WASN'T TESTED THOROUGHLY. EVERYONE SHOULD BE GIVEN A COURTESY CLEAN EVERY 70000 MILES OR SO. ALREADY SHOW SIGN OF CARBON BUILDUP WITH 48K MILES. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR IS FAULTY. IT SHOWS AIRBAG OFF AND THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN IT BACK ON. I SEE RECALLS FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON MINI COOPER S AND CLUBMAN OF THE SAME YEAR, BUT NOT THE BASE MODEL THAT I HAVE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG FAULT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SAFETY SENSOR MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT IS REALLY UNFAIR FOR ME AS CONSUMER IF I HAVE TO REPAIR A FACTORY DEFECT BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL. *TR

ON 27-OCT-2014, WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT GAVE A MESSAGE ABOUT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND THE MESSAGE JUST SAID TO SLOW DOWN WHICH I DID. I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY SINCE IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE.IT WAS REAL SHAKY AND DIDN'T FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE. THEY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 3 DAYS AND CHECKED EVERYTHING FROM THE COILS, SPARK PLUGS, RAN A COMPRESSION TEST WHICH SHOWED THAT CYLINDER 3 WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH POWER, ETC. THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE NO LEAKS OR FLUIDS FOUND IN THAT AREA LIKE THEY HAD EXPECTED SINCE THAT WAS THE ONLY CYLINDER THAT WAS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY. I CONTACTED MINIUSA TO SEE IF THEY WOULD FIX THE VEHICLE OUT OF GOODWILL BECAUSE THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES/ENGINES (R56). NEEDLESS TO SAY, MINIUSA WOULD NOT FIX THE REPAIR NOR WOULD THEY RESPOND TO MY EMAILS. MINI OF CONCORD OFFERED TO COVER 25% OF THE COST LEAVING ME TO PAY $3600 OUT OF POCKET FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY KNOW IS FAULTY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

MY 2007 MINI PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD TO HAVE THE SEAT REPLACED BY THE DEALER DUE TO WEIGHT SENSOR FAILURE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. IT WAS A DEFECTIVE FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT WEIGHT HARNESS SENSOR FAILURE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. THE WHOLE SEAT HAD TO BE REPLACED AS A RESULT OF THE DEFECT. I NOW SEE THAT NHSTA/BMW IS RECALLING MINI COOPERS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT ACCORDING TO THE DEALER AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE HOT LINE REP MY MINI IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. IT SHOULD BE. I HAVE NOTE MANY MINI OWNER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM AND YEAR AS MY CAR ON LINE. THE CAR RARELY HAS A PASSENGER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE SAFETY AIR BAG HARNESS SHOULD NOT OF FAILED AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE USAGE. THE RECALL NOTICE AS PRESENTED IN AUTO BLOG FOLLOWS. MINI IS RECALLING 91,800 HATCHBACKS AND CONVERTIBLES DUE A POTENTIALLY MALFUNCTIONING SENSOR THAT MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

AIR BAG LIGHT TURNED ON. PERFORMED A FAULT SURVEY AND FOUND THERE IS 1 RELATED FAULT CODE IN THE MRS CONTROL UNIT. PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR, NOT CURRENTLY PRESENT, OCCURRED 12 TIMES. NEED TO REPLACE THE SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR AND RE PROGRAM THE MRS CONTROL UNIT. TOTAL REPLACEMENT COST: $1,164.47 CALLED MINI HEADQUARTERS AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO WARRANTY OR RECALL FOR MY SPECIFIC CAR. HOWEVER, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE 2005, 2006 MINI COOPER HAD A RECALL FOR THE SEAT SENSOR. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THE 2007 MODEL AS WELL.

REPORTING SERIOUS RECALLABLE SAFETY ISSUE WITH MINI COOPER AIR BAG SYSTEM! MY DEALER JUST CALLED TO TELL ME THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SEAT MUST BE REPLACED AT AT A COST OF OVER $2500. THERE IS A SHORT IN THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT SAFETY EQUIPMENT ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE FIXED UNDER A RECALL OR EXTENDED WARRANTY. "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" INDICATOR TURNS ON WHILE DRIVING AND REMAINS ON FOR THE DURATION OF THE DRIVE. PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED BY A PASSENGER WEIGHING APPROX 135 POUNDS WITH SEAT BELT PROPERLY FASTENED. THERE IS NO WAY TO MANUALLY TURN ON THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND BYPASS THE SEAT SENSOR. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE MINI COOPER AND IS DISCUSSED ON ONLINE ENTHUSIAST FORUMS, WITH MINI USA DEALERSHIP NOW CHARGING FROM $2500 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SEAT. MINI USA DEALERS STATE THAT THE ISSUE IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE SEAT SENSOR AND THE ENTIRE SEAT MUST BE REPLACED. FOR HOW LITTLE THE PASSENGER SEAT IS USED IN MY VEHICLE, IN MY OPINION THIS IS A DEFECT AND NOT A WEAR-AND-TEAR ISSUE. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR THAT HAD A VITAL SAFETY ISSUE ARISE SUCH AS THIS I ALSO NOTE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE FROM OTHER OWNERS. IT IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ON CONSUMER BLOGS. *TR

2007 MINI COOPER. WAS INFORMED THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF A CRACKED VALVE COVER WHICH WAS LEAKING. *TA

THE AIR BAG LIGHTS BEGAN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY ON MY 2007 MINI COOPER WITH 48,000 MILES. UPON MY MECHANIC SCANNING THE COMPUTER WE FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR IS OUT OF THE SEAT. THE ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION (COST: $1500). I GOOGLED "MINI COOPER AIR BAG LIGHT" ' AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ON MANY DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS. WHEN I CONTACTED MINI COOPER AND QUESTIONED WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ISSUED, THE PERSON TOLD ME THAT SINCE THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT STILL HAS THE SEAT BELT THAT THE AIR BAG MALFUNCTION IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN ASKED IF THE AIR BAGS WOULD DEPLOY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, HE ANSWERED THE QUESTION BY SAYING "WELL, THEY STILL HAVE THEIR SEAT BELT"'. IF THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT A SAFETY FEATURE OF THE CAR THEN WHY IS IT EQUIPPED WITH 8 AIR BAGS? PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AIR BAG MALFUNCTION BECAUSE AS A MINI COOPER OWNER, THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME, AS WELL AS THOUSANDS OF OTHER MINI COOPER OWNERS WHO HAVE TAKEN TO THE INTERNET TO EXPRESS THEIR FRUSTRATIONS. THANK YOU *TR

THE CAR STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN AS USUAL, HOWEVER, THE ENGINE DIDN'T START AGAIN. HOWEVER, IT'S ONLY 7 YEARS. I CALLED THE BMW SERVICE TO REPORT THE ISSUE. THEY REFUSED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM... I'D DONE SOME RESEARCHES ONLINE. AND, I'VE FOUND THAT MANY OTHER MINI'S OWNERS HAD FOUND THE SAME PROBLEMS. CAN GOVERNMENT DO SOMETHING TO PROTECT THE CUSTOMERS ? THANKS *TR

I WAS DRIVING ROUGHLY 30 MILES AND HOUR WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON ME IN A TURN. ALMOST HIT ONCOMING TRAFFIC PRIOR TO STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I DROVE IT TO A NEARBY PARKING LOT WHERE IT SAT FOR TWO WEEKS BEFORE A LOCAL MECHANIC COULD LOOK AT IT. I WAS QUOTED AT OVER $1,500 TO FIX THE PART BECAUSE THE WHOLE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING CONTROL BOX HAS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE WAY IT WAS MANUFACTURED. *TR

HELLO, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ISSUED FOR CERTAIN MINI COOPERS WITH FAULTY PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSORS. I AM WRITING TODAY BECAUSE I HAVE A 2007 MINI COOPER HARDTOP THAT HAS HAD A FAULTY PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR FOR OVER A YEAR, HOWEVER MY SPECIFIC CAR IS NOT YET INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE IT IS A HARDTOP, NOT A CONVERTIBLE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS WAS PRODUCED IN THE SAME TIME SPAN. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY HAVE NOT INCLUDED ALL OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. MY VIN NUMBER IS [XXX] THANK YOU! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

"PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" INDICATOR TURNS ON WHILE DRIVING AND REMAINS ON FOR THE DURATION OF THE DRIVE. PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED BY A PASSENGER WEIGHING APPROX 195 POUNDS WITH SEAT BELT PROPERLY FASTENED. THERE IS NO WAY TO MANUALLY TURN ON THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND BYPASS THE SEAT SENSOR. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE MINI COOPER AND IS DISCUSSED ON ONLINE ENTHUSIAST FORUMS, WITH MINI USA DEALERSHIPS CHARGING FROM $1,100 TO $1,400 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SEAT. MINI USA DEALERS STATE THAT THE ISSUE IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE SEAT SENSOR AND THE ENTIRE SEAT MUST BE REPLACED. FOR HOW LITTLE THE PASSENGER SEAT IS USED IN MY VEHICLE, IN MY OPINION THIS IS A DEFECT AND NOT A WEAR-AND-TEAR ISSUE. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

LOUD RATTLING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING COMING FROM THE ENGINE. WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP CAR HAS TURNED OFF, SOMETIMES IT CRANKS FOR A BIT TO START UP. ALSO WHILE DRIVING LOSSES POWER AND CAR DECELERATES SLOWS DOWN AND ALSO PULLS LIKE IF WAS OUT OF GAS. WHITE SMOKE WHEN YOU PRESS ON GAS.

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND STALL ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING. NO ENGINE LIGHT OR WARNING LIGHTS. VEHICLE STOPPED AND STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. NOT DRIVABLE. VERY DANGEROUS, NEARLY GOT HIT BY SEMI TRUCKS ON HIGHWAY AND OTHER VEHICLES. VERY UNSAFE. PROBLEM: NEEDED NEW CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL @ COST OF $3000 PLUS TOWING. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THAT THIS CAR HAS HAD CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. THE OTHER TIMES WERE CAUSED BY SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUES PERTAINING TO THE ENGINE. DEALER DENIED IT WAS TIMING CHAIN. THE MINI COOPER 2007 NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR LOST PARTIAL POWER AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND BEGAN FLASHING. I PULLED OVER TO THE ROADSIDE AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I LOOKED AT THE OWNER'S MANUAL TO SEE WHAT THE FLASHING ENGINE LIGHT INDICATES. NOTHING DEFINITIVE WAS STATED IN THE MANUAL, SO I STARTED THE ENGINE AND DROVE IT TO MY HOME ABOUT 10 MILES UNDER PARTIAL POWER. I CONTACTED A LOCAL GARAGE (MIENKE) AND LET THEM KNOW THE PROBLEM. THE GARAGE WAS ABOUT THREE MILES AWAY SO I DROVE IT TO THEM. THEY DIAGNOSED A LOSS OF COMPRESSION IN ONE OF THE VALVES THAT WOULD REQUIRE A VALVE JOB. I CONTACTED MINIUSA TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. THEY REQUESTED I TAKE IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT OCCURRED AND ASKED IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE THE APPROXIMATE 20 MILES TO THEIR LOCATION WITH A COMPROMISED ENGINE. THEY SAID IT WOULD BE OKAY AND BRING IT IN. THEY DIAGNOSED IT THE NEXT DAY WITH A FAILED TIMING CHAIN ($1800), VACUUM PUMP ($600) AND VALVE COVER ASSEMBLY ($385). I LET THEM KNOW THE TIMING CHAIN WAS ALREADY REPLACED BY A MINI DEALERSHIP AT 40781 MILES AND THEY SHOULD REPLACE IT AT NO COST AS THIS IS SUPPOSED TO LAST 100,000 MILES. THE DEALER WOULD NOT. I CONTACTED MINIUSA AGAIN TO REPORT THE ISSUE AND REQUEST TO HAVE THIS REPLACED AT NO COST. THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN BACK TO ME YET AND IT IS STILL PENDING THEIR DECISION. I BEGAN TO LOOK ONLINE FOR SIMILAR ISSUES AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE TIMING CHAIN. MINI/BMW IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT STILL DOES NOT COVER THIS RECURRING PROBLEM. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND UNKNOWING MINI OWNERS ARE SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO HAVE THEIR CARS PUT BACK ON THE ROAD. THERE IS ALSO A PENDING CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT IN NEW JERSEY FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR

AFTER BUYING THIS VEHICLE, DROVE ABOUT 30 OR SO MILES....WHILE SLOWING DOWN NOTICED THE CAR HAD SHUT OFF. NO WARNINGS, NO LIGHTS, NO NOISES....CAR WOULD NOT CRANK. LEFT ME STRANDED IN MIDDLE OF FOUR LANE HIGHWAY. TOWED THE VEHICLE TO MINI WHERE I WAS TOLD A VACUUM PUMP WENT OUT. DUE TO THIS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY (EXTENDED) NOW IM TOLD HAVE TO PAY 8000 FOR AN ENGINE. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE RESOLVED, THERE WAS NO WARNING AND FROM READING THE ONLINE NOTICES IT SEEMS TO BE A BIG ISSUE. MINI WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS. IT CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ME, AS IT GAVE NO WARNING WHEN ALL THIS OCCURRED. *TR

THIS IS A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER FOR THE MINI COOPER WHICH IS KNOWN TO BE FAULTY. THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BEGIN RATTLING AND WAS INSPECTED AT A MINI DEALERSHIP. THEY STATED THAT IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MINI. REPAIR FOR THIS JOB IS 3800 USD. THIS IS A TREMENDOUS PRICE TAG.THIS CAN LEAD TO A VERY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE HIGHWAY HEADING TO WORK. *TR

MY CAR STARTED TO ACT FUNNY. ALMOST SOUNDING LIKE IT WAS SUFFOCATING. IT WOULD DIE ABOUT TEN TO FIFTEEN TIMES EVERY MORNING BEFORE I WOULD FINALLY GET THE CAR STARTED. IT WOULD SHUT OFF WHEN I STOPPED AT INTERSECTIONS. THE ONLY TIME IT RAN DECENT WAS WHEN I WAS DRIVING HIGHWAYS SPEEDS FOR 20 MINUTES OR MORE. I CHANGED OUT FILTERS, SPARK PLUGS, AND FLUIDS BUT NONE OF IT CHANGED THE WAY IT WAS RUNNING. COME TO FIND OUT IT THAT THE CHAIN AND CHAIN TENSIONER HAD BROKEN. THIS DAMAGE CAUSED ROUGHLY $1000 TO FIX. LUCKILY I CAUGHT IT IN TIME BEFORE IT DID ADDITIONAL DAMAGES TO THE CRANK SHAFT. WITH LOW MILES THE MECHANIC EVEN TOLD ME ITS A FAULT PART AND BRAKES EASILY. HE HAS HAD TO REPLACE NUMEROUS AMERICAN MODEL MINIS IN ITALY. MY COUNTRY CODE IS 39 IF YOU CALL. *TR

THE VERY WELL KNOWN "TIMING CHAIN FAILURE". THE EVENT STARTED WITH RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE BAY ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, THEN THE BIG MESSY OIL LEAKED AND THE ENGINE WAS DRYING UP AND CHOKED (MADE A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION).LUCKILY, I WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY!! BMW DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR COST OF THIS FAULT DESIGN/ENGINEERING. *TR

AFTER CODES ARE CLEARED ON CAR, THERE IS NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS LONG AS NO PASSENGERS SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. ONCE A PASSENGER SITS IN THE SEAT, FOLLOWING THE CODE CLEARING, THEN THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED PERMANENTLY.

I HAVE OR HAD A MINI COOPER S 2007 I GET A LETTER FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT HAS A COST CHANGE WITHOUT AUXILIARY WATER PUMP ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT CAN CAUSE FIRE WE APPROACH THE SELLER FOR US TO FIX THIS PROBLEM 06/04/12 TUBE NO VALUE SINCE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT CHANGING RIMS AND TIRES RECOMMENDED PIPE COST $ 1100 DOLLARS, THE COOPER HAD 121,985 MILES, A YEAR AND HALF PIPE THERMOSTAT HOUSING PROBLEMS WILL COST $ 724.32 INSTEAD, CONTINUED TO ALL RECOMMENDATIONS BUT THE COOPER FIRE ON 03/24/14 AT 05:48 PM, IT WAS CHAOS LUCKILY WAS OUT OF THE GARAGE WHICH IS WHERE I USUALLY END UP SHUTTING KEPT THE FIREFIGHTERS MAKE INQUIRIES AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED EXCEPT THAT THE CAR WAS PARKED WITH ACTIVE SECURITIES SO STAY PRIMARILY FOR RESEARCH BY A SPECIALIZED INSURER TO INVESTIGATE, TWO MONTHS AND A LITTLE WORKSHOP TOOK THE CAUSE WAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITHOUT SPECIFYING THE ORIGIN, FINDING THESE CARS ARE BEAUTIFUL BUT HAVE TROUBLE AND THE AUTHORITIES ARE DEAF EARS BECAUSE MILLIONS ARE AT STAKE THAN HURT, THE CAR LOST COMPLETELY. WE STARTED TO INVESTIGATE WITH MY FAMILY ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY CASES IN COMMON BURN. *TR

WAS DRIVING CAR DOWNTOWN AT A SPEED ON AVERAGE OF 15 MPH. TRIP ONLY LASTED 15 MINUTES WHEN I PARKED AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM MY HOOD. SMOKE QUICKLY ESCALATED INTO A FIRE. CALLED 911 TO HAVE FIRE TRUCKS OUT. GRABBED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM A NEARBY BUSINESS TO TRY TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO EVEN WHILE SPRAYING DIRECTLY AT THE FLAMES. FIREMEN HAD TO PRY OPEN THE HOOD TO GET TO THE ENGINE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. CAR ENGINE WAS TOTALED. *TR

MY 2007 MINI COOPER ONLY 55K MILEAGE. AT LAST WEEK SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND STOPPED WHILE ON FREEWAY WHICH ALMOST HIT BY THE ANOTHER CAR AND MIGHT CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENT. AFTER THAT I SENT MY CAR TO LICENSED AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHOSE SAID THE STEERING WHEEL WAS FAILED AND NEED TO REPLACE IT AND COST AROUND $1400 OTHERWISE IT WILL CAUSED THE SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MY CAR BOUGHT AT ORIGINAL OWNER AT JULY 2013 AND I GOT A FULL CHECKUP REPORT FROM MINICOOPER SF THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AT ALL. I TRIED TO CONTACT WITH MINI COOPER SF BUT THEY SAID NO RECALL FOR THIS MODEL OF CAR SO I NEED PAY FOR IT BY MYSELF TO FIXING THE CAR. *TR

I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND ONLY HEARD A SPINNING SOUND. FIRST I THOUGHT THE TRANSMISSION OR STARTER WOULD NEED REPLACING BUT AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED IT IS THE TIMING CHAIN. UPON FURTHER REVIEW I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BELT HAD SHATTERED AND BENT THE VALVES, AND NOW THE PISTONS ARE BLOCKED AND A PLETHORA OF OTHER THINGS. THE TOTAL TO REPAIR THIS DOMINO EFFECT OF DAMAGE IS ABOVE $8,000 AND JUST THE CHAIN ALONE IS 1500 BUT I WAS INFORMED WOULD BE A GRAND MISTAKE BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT RUN. I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT WHO IS FINANCIALLY CHALLENGED AND AM NOW IN TOO DEEP TO EVEN TRY AND FLOAT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND A LITTLE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE AND POPPED THE HOOD TO FIND THE OIL FEED LINE TO THE TURBO HAD LEAKED OIL ALL OVER THE TURBO AND WAS BURNING OFF. I KNOW THE PROBLEM IS A FAULTY LINE THAT USES RUBBER WASHERS AND OVER TIME HEAT FROM THE TURBO CAUSES THEM TO FAIL. IN 2010 MINI PUT IN A HEAT SHIELD TO PROTECT THE LINE, ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED PROPERLY, TO MANY PRE 2010 COOPER S ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN 1.2 MILES FOR FIRST RUN OF THE DAY. TEMP WAS 48 F. CAR WAS IN DRIVE AT STOPLIGHT WHEN ENGINE ACCELERATED BEYOND MAX RPM. CAR LUNGED FORWARD INTO INTERSECTION AND A LOT OF EFFORT HAD TO BE APPLIED TO BRAKE TO KEED CAR FROM GOING ANY FURTHER. DRIVER GRABBED GEAR SHIFTER AND SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND HAVING SLIPPED INTO REVERSE. ENGINE RPM THEN SUBSIDED AND VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN 14 MILES WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENCE. *TR

RATTLE AND OIL LEAK. LOSS OF FULL ENGINE POWER WHEN RESTARTED. DEALER SAYS ITS A TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY ISSUE. *TR

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE SOUNDS AS IF PARTS ARE LOOSE IN THE ENGINE AREA. IT LESSENS UP AFTER THE ENGINE WARMS UP BUT IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. IT APPEARS IT MAY BE THE TIMING CHAIN/ TENSIONER. *TR

FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DETECTION MAT BECAME INOPERABLE AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES. MY CAR IS MFG 4 MONTHS OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL TIME FRAME YET THIS VERY SAME MFG DATE IS WELL WITHIN THE "CONVERTIBLE MODELS" RECALL DATE. I FEEL THE "NON-CONVERTIBLE MODELS" RECALL TIME FRAME SHOULD BE RE-EVALUATED BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY OF US WITH THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO MINI TO BE FIXED THEY TOLD ME THEY'VE SEEN MANY VEHICLES OUTSIDE OF THE OFFICIAL RECALL DATES WITH THIS PROBLEM.

SATURDAY NIGHT, DEC. 28, 2013. I GO DOWNTOWN WITH MY GIRLFRIEND. SHE HAS A BIG BAG SO WE LET THE PASSENGER SEAT UP TO PUT HER BAG IN THE BACK SEAT. AS SOON AS SHE SITS DOWN AND WE BEGIN TO DRIVE AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE ROOF AND PRE BELT TENSIONER GOES OFF. I CHECK THE SEAT AND SEAT BELT. NOTHING VISIBLY WRONG. MY GIRLFRIEND IS 5'4 120 LBS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND FIND OUT BMW WHO MAKES MINI COOPER KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM AND ISSUED A RECALL ON EARLIER YEARS BUT LATER YEARS NEED A RECALL AS WELL AS THIS IS ANGLING DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE ISSUE TO FIX. YOU CAN FIND PROBLEMS ALL OVER THE NET REGARDING THIS ISSUE. MAKE BMW-MINI COOPER FIX THIS ISSUE THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

2007 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FIRE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. *SMD THE FIRE OCCURRED WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND IS NOW BACK ON THE ROAD. *JB

THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES AND TENSIONER IN THE MINI COOPER ARE MADE FROM PLASTIC. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN CREATED BY MINI USA TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, BUT NO RECALL. AS I WAS DRIVING HOME, MAKING A TURN ACROSS A BUSY INTERSECTION, MY TENSIONER BROKE, WHICH CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAD TO GET OUT OF MY VEHICLE AND PUSH IT ACROSS THE INTERSECTION WHILE CARS WERE DRIVING BY. ALTHOUGH IT IS COMMON FOR VEHICLE ENGINES TO DIE OF DIFFERENT ISSUES, THIS IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED AND ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM FOR MINI COOPERS, BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH OF A PUBLIC OUTCRY FOR A RECALL. THE SITUATION IS DANGEROUS, AS IT CAN CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE WHICH CAN RESULT IN A COLLISION. THE REMEDY IS A REPLACEMENT OF A MANUFACTURER-ACKNOWLEDGED FAULTY PART. *TR

THE CAR LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT RUN AT IDLE SPEED. AFTER MUCH EFFORT, MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO THE ONLY DEALER IN THE STATE. AFTER TWO FAILED DIAGNOSTICS AND TWO "REPAIRS," THE DEALER SAYS I NOW NEED THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACED. THERE ARE KNOWN ISSUES ABOUT THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE TENSIONER. BMW AND DEALER DENY RESPONSIBILITY AND NOW WISH TO CHARGE AN ADDITIONAL $1500 TO REPAIR. *TR

TURBO OIL COOLING LINES LEAKING ENGINE OIL ON TO HOT TURBOCHARGER. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. MANY MINI COOPER S MODELS ARE HAVING THIS FAILURE. *TR

DRIVING MINI COOPER S WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST POWER TO THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE HWY. TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THE CAR HAS 91,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MINI ON 11/16/13 NOTIFYING ME OF POSSIBILITY OF FAULTY CHAIN TENSIONER, WHICH NEEDED TO BE "CHECKED FOR WEAR AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY," AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT AN AUTHORIZED MINI DEALER TO ARRANGE AN APPOINTMENT. NO INDICATION THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. TWO DAYS LATER (11/18/13), JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE, THEN THE RED ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SO I SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED FIRST TO THE IMPORT SHOP THAT NORMALLY SERVICES THE MINI THEN, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THAT MECHANIC ABOUT MINI'S RECALL LETTER, HAD IT TOWED TO A MINI DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT NOW SITS WAITING FOR DIAGNOSIS AND NEWS ABOUT WHAT ANY DAMAGE MIGHT COST TO REPAIR, WHETHER I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT, AND WHETHER I WILL BE REIMBURSED FOR TWO TOW CHARGES AND A CAR RENTAL. *TR

THE CAR HAD A HARD TIME GETTING UP TO 65MPH . THERE WAS A LACK OF ACCELERATION FROM A DEAD STOP TO CRUISING SPEED. THE CAR HAD A WATER PUMP AND RADIATOR INSTALLED 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO MY TROUBLE. MINI TOLD ME THAT MY TIMING BELT TENSIONER HAD BROKE .I NEEDED TO HAVE A NEW TIMING BELT INSTALLED BECAUSE IT HAD STRETCHED .IT WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO KEEP THE TIMING CORRECT .I ASKED WHY WHEN THEY CHANGED TO WATER PUMP THEY DIDN'T SEE THE BROKEN TENSIONER. THEY HAD NO ANSWER . *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED OFF ROAD AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. HAPPENED ON FREEWAY. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER, HAD TO BE TOWED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, WHEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR INDICATORS, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I WAS STUCK IN A DANGEROUS PLACE, WITH HIGH-SPEED TRAFFIC FOR SOMETIME. THE DEALER WHO AS MY CAR SAYS: "THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS THE LOCKING UP OF THE VACUUM PUMP. CONSEQUENTLY THIS CAUSED THE BOLT ON THE EXHAUST CAM SHAFT SPROCKET TO SHEER OFF CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF TIME. THE PISTONS THEREFORE MADE CONTACT WITH BOTH INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVES, VERIFIED WITH BOROSCOPE INSPECTION, THUS BENDING THE VALVES AND CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE TO THE ENGINE. $6850.00 MINUS DISCOUNT TO REPLACE ENGINE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I HAVE HAD A LOT ISSUES WITH VARIOUS MINI ENGINE PARTS DETERIORATING, DESPITE FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDED REGULAR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES ' CLUTCH, FLY-WHEEL, THERMOSTAT, INTAKE SILENCER, SPARK PLUGS, TIMING CHAIN TWICE, WATERPUMP, RADIO HEAD UNIT, DRIVE BELT, HI-LO HORN, BOOT LATCH, BOOT CABLE, TO NAME A FEW. HOPEFULLY MINI WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE ISSUES. *TR

RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THESE WARNINGS CAME UP - 2D52 SUPER KNOCKING 2DCD FUEL SHUT OFF DUE TO SUPER KNOCKING CYLINDER 3 2968 INLET CAMSHAFT SENSOR 2B64 INTAKE MANIFOLD, UNMETERED AIR BASED ON ALL OF THESE SOUND LIKE MY MINI COOPER HAS BAD FUEL AND/OR SERIOUS CARBON BUILD, I'VE JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP AND I AM EXPERIENCING DELAYS IN ACCELERATION, LOSS OF FORWARD PROPULSION.

COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WHILE SURROUNDED BY SEMIS IN THE 3/4-MILE-LONG BIG WALKER MOUNTAIN TUNNEL WHILE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON I-77 (NEAR VIRGINIA EXIT 47). THANKFULLY THE ENGINE DIDN'T SEIZE AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF ONCE THROUGH THE TUNNEL. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, THE CAUSE WAS A CHECK VALVE IN THE VALVE COVER, WHICH MALFUNCTIONED IN A WAY THAT CREATED A VACUUM AND TRAPPED OIL IN THE TOP PART OF THE ENGINE. REPLACEMENT COVER HAD BEEN REDESIGNED TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM, SO IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE. *TR

MINI COOPER CALLED FOR RECALL LATELY TO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT AND THERMOSTAT HOUSING ON ALL MINICOOPER S TYPE MANUFACTURED ON THE YEAR 2007-2008. THEY USED EXACTLY THE SAME THERMOSTAT AND THERMOSTAT HOUSING IN ALL MINI COOPER NON- S TYPE AS WELL. I HAVE A MINI COOPER MANUFACTURED IN DEC. 2007 AND IT WAS RELEASED ON 2008. RIGHT NOW, IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT I NEED NEW THERMOSTAT AND THERMOSTAT HOUSING IN MY MINI COOPER BUT THE MINI COOPER DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS A NON-S TYPE ONE THAT WAS ALSO MANUFACTURED IN THE YEAR 2007-2008. THOSE NON-S TYPE MINI COOPERS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AS WELL. THEY USED COMPLETELY THE SAME PARTS WITH THE S-TYPE ONE. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT UP TO THE MINI COOPER RECALL DEPARTMENT ASAP. THEY SHOULD NOT GET AWAY WITH IT. THEY SHOULD RECALL THE NON-S TYPE AS WELL FOR THE YEAR 2007-2008. PLEASE HELP ME TO GET THIS CASE IN THE RIGHT DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP! HAPPY LABOR DAY! *JS