2007 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

I PURCHASED CAR FROM A PRIVATE PARTY. THE REAR SEAT WAS REMOVED FOR A CUSTOM AUDIO SYSTEM. I HAVE THE SEATS BUT THEY NEVER GAVE ME THE REAR SEAT, SEAT BELTS. IS IT THE SELLERS' RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE THEM? YOU CAN IMAGINE, I FEEL CHEATED, AS I PLAN ON PULLING THE AUDIO AND RE-INSTALLING THE SEAT. *TR

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE COMMONLY REFERRED TO BY MINI OWNERS AS "THE DEATH RATTLE". THE DEALER CLAIMS THE ISSUE IS CAUSED AS A RESULT OF BEING 1.5 QUARTS LOW ON OIL. BUT DOZENS OF OTHER OWNERS ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM WITHOUT BEING LOW ON OIL. I SUSPECT THE LOW OIL LEVEL IS A COVER ALLOWING THE MANUFACTURER TO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. NO OIL INDICATOR LIGHT IS TRIGGERED AT THAT LEVEL. MINI IS TAKING ACTION ON THIS ISSUE BUT HAS STOPPED SHORT OF ISSUING A RECALL. AS SUCH, THOUSANDS OF MINI OWNERS RISK SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THEIR ENGINE AT SPEED AS A RESULT OF POTENTIAL TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. FURTHERMORE, MOST OWNERS HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR (BETWEEN $1,200 - $1,700) TO PREVENT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. THIS IS A DEFECT. IT REQUIRES CORRECTIVE ACTION BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

I ALMOST HAD A TIMING CHAIN/TENSIONER FAILURE. TOOK MY '07 MCS INTO THE MINI DEALER FOR ITS 4 YEAR SERVICE. THEY FOUND THAT THE 'TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER IS WEAK AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED' OR 'TENSIONER WORN AND CAUSING EXCESSIVE CHAIN SLACK AND CHAIN NOISE'. I BOUGHT MY MINI NEW, IT NOW HAS 35464 MILES AND THIS SHOULD FALL INTO THE CATEGORY AS 'UNUSUAL'. THIS SHOULD NOT BE A PART THAT WEARS OUT OR SUFFERS FAILURE WITH SO FEW MILES. AS I CHECKED OUT THIS FAILURE ON THE WEB I QUICKLY FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL BUT IS HAPPENING QUITE FREQUENTLY. I MISSED THIS BEING COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY BY 2 WEEKS. MY LOSE? MAYBE; MAYBE NOT, AT LEAST I DID NOT DESTROY THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT PAPERWORK THEY REPLACED THE CHAIN TENSIONER WITH AN UPDATED 551 TENSIONER, P/N: 11 31 7 607 551, @ $26.21 ($146 FOR INSTALLATION). IT APPEARS THAT MINI/BMW KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND REDESIGNED THE PART TO PREVENT PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE, HOPEFULLY. IF THIS IS TRUE WHY DON'T THEY RECALL THE CARS AND JUST TAKE CARE OF IT. HAD I HAD THE BAD LUCK OF DESTROYING THE ENGINE MY OPINION ON ALL THEIR PRODUCTS WOULD HAVE DRASTICALLY CHANGED. I ALSO OWN A '11 BMW 335XI. *TR

MY MINI COOPER SPONTANEOUS CAUGHT ON FIRE. THURSDAY 8/25/11 BEFORE ALL THIS HAPPEN, I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE. I STATED TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR([XXX]) THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVING RIGHT AND I'M SURE SOME SERVICES NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT (OIL CHANGE ETC....). MY SERVICE TECH ([XXX] VISTA MINI COCONUT CREEK) PUTS THE KEY INTO THE CARD READER NOPE NOTHING SHOWED UP YOU GOOD TO GO I EXIT WITH SOME DOUBT ON MY FACE NEVER THINKING TWICE, COULD BE MY MIND PLAYING CAR GAMES. I'M REALLY ADMIT ABOUT FUNNY NOISES, AND SINCE THE DEALER ISN'T FAR FROM MY JOB. I'D JUST STOP ON BY FOR A CHECK UP. I DO HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY SERVICE. SATURDAY 8/27/11 (10:30P) CAR SITTING FROM A SHORT DRIVE TO HAVE DINNER. CAME HOME (10PM) PARKED THE AND DIDN'T HEAR OR NOTICE ANYTHING. I USUALLY TAKE A QUICK WALK AROUND THE CAR. SUNDAY 8/28/11 (4:00P) POLICE CAME KNOCKING " ARE YOU THE OWNER OF A BLACK MINI COOPER " YOUR CAR WAS ON FIRE AND THE PLANTATION FIRE DEPT ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING OUT THE FIRE/FLAMES. AS I WALK OUT THE SHOCK OF MY CAR BURNING. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE FIREMEN. HE COULDN'T PIN POINT WHERE THE FIRE STARTED AND THE CAUSE UNKNOWN BUT HE SAID WHEN THEY STARTED TO HOSE IT DOWN IT LOOKED AS IF THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ANOTHER FIRE DEPT GUY SAID FROM THE LOOKS OF THIS INCIDENT, WHAT'S SEEMS TO CAUSE THIS WAS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. FLAMES WERE SHOOTING 8'FT IN THE AIR. THE CAR IS DAMAGED AND NOT REPAIRABLE,THERE'S NO ENGINE THERE'S NOTHING LEFT BESIDES THE SOME ASHE, MELTED METAL, THERE'S NO WINDSHIELD, THE HEADLINER IS COMPLETELY GONE, SIDE GLASS ARE BLOWN OUT. ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT IS MY BABY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR WHILE I WAS DRIVING. BMW YOU HAVE CAUSED SOME DAMAGE, LEAVING ME SECOND GUESS YOU INTEGRITY OF YOUR CRAFTSMANSHIP/FLAGSHIP AUTO. SOMEONE PLEASE CONTACT ME ABOUT THIS SITUATION. UPDATED09/07/11 *BF [XXX] *TR UPDATED 2/23/12 *CN

AFTER MULTIPLE FRUSTRATING COMPLAINTS AND UNSUCCESSFUL SERVICE ATTEMPTS ON 8/17/11, 9/1/11, 9/6/11, 9/21/11 AND 9/28/11 FOR MY 2007 MINI COOPER S (PURCHASED ON 8/16/11) AT MAYORS AUTO MALL SAAB LOCATED AT 6001 NORTHERN BOULEVARD, WOODSIDE NY 11377 AND FAILING INSPECTION ON 9/1/12; I WAS FED UP AND BROUGHT MY VEHICLE DIRECTLY TO HASSEL BMW MINI OF FREEPORT LOCATED AT 100 CLEVELAND AVENUE, FREEPORT NY 11520 ON 10/31/11. AFTER A SERVICE BILL OF $3,546 (SERVICE) +$141.21 (EVALUATION FEE) = $3,688.03 FROM BMW MINI, THE PROBLEMS WERE STILL NOT RESOLVED. I THEN FILED A LEMON LAW CASE AGAINST MAYORS AUTO MALL AND WON ON. DESPITE WINNING THE CASE, MAYORS AUTO MALL REFUSED TO RETURN MY MONIES FOR THE PURCHASE PRICE OF VEHICLE. AFTER CONTACTING DMV WITH THE ISSUE AND HAVING THEM SUSPENDING THEIR BUSINESS LICENSE, MAYORS AUTO MALL FINALLY REFUNDED MY MONIES FOR VEHICLE PURCHASE BUT IT WAS EXCLUDING SERVICE BILLS OF $3,688.03 FROM BMW MINI SINCE LEMON LAW DID NOT COVER THIS AMOUNT. I AM FILING A COMPLAINT AGAINST BMW MINI AND WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT POSSIBLE REMEDIES FOR GETTING A REFUND SERVICES PAID TOWARDS A VEHICLE THAT I NO LONGER HAVE DUE TO LEMON LAW CASE AND AM OUT OF $3,688.03 FOR NO REASON. I UNDERSTAND BMW MINI IS CURRENTLY BEING SUED FOR THESE SAME ISSUES BY MANY CONSUMERS. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH ANY POSSIBLE INFORMATION YOU MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE REGARDING MY CASE. I AM IN AWE SHOCK THAT I AM STILL DEALING WITH THIS AND IT HAS BEEN 3 YEARS ALREADY SINCE I HAD TO RETURN THE CAR TO MAYORS AUTO MALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN WITH THIS MATTER AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION YOU ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER A RAIN STORM, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE HYDRO SEIZED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 42,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THERE WERE THREE VEHICLES PARKED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE CONTACTS VEHICLE THAT SUSTAINED DAMAGE. THE PARKING GARAGE WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ALSO SUSTAINED DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

Seat belt warning for passenger seat stays on despite buckling the seat belt. I suspect the air bag deployment is therefore not functioning.

TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER REPLACED JULY OF 2011 NOW AUG31,2012 LOUD NOISE TIMING CHAIN STRETCHED SO REPLACED & TENSIONER REPLACED AGAIN. *TR

IMPROPER IDLE. STALLING, DEISELING WHEN COLD STARTED. *TR

6/2011, VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING LOUD RATTLING NOISE AFTER STARTING UP IN THE MORNING AND DURING ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING. TOOK IT TO LOCAL MINI SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR, NOISE WAS RELATED TO TYPE OF GAS BEING USED (IF NOT CHEVRON OR SHELL, GAS COULD CAUSE NOISE IS WHAT I WAS TOLD). 4/2011, NOISE BEGAN TO GET WORSE. SCHEDULED SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH SAME LOCAL SERVICE CENTER FOR MAY 7TH, 2012 (A MONTH OUT FOR FIRST APPOINTMENT) AS WELL AS TO ADDRESS A RECALL ISSUE RELATED TO RECALL CAMPAIGN 12V-008 ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP. WORK NOT COMPLETED BECAUSE ON 4/13/12, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND THEN VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER LOCAL REPAIR SHOW DIAGNOSED, FAILURE WAS FOUND TO BE WITH TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILING CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE. SOLUTION=REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE AT A COST OF $6,300. MILEAGE AT TIME OF FAILURE WAS 62,218. REPAIRS NOT COVERED BY MINI AS VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. REPAIRS NOT COMPLETED. RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED TO HAVE THIS COMMON AND KNOWN FAILURE FIXED. *TR

2007 MINI COOPER S: COLD START RATTLE HAD BEEN AN ON-AGAIN, OFF-AGAIN PROBLEM, BUT SINCE I'D HAD THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER CHANGED WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, I DIDN'T MAKE THE CONNECTION. AT 81,000 MILES, I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE RED OIL LIGHT CAME ON. THIS WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. I STOPPED AT THE NEXT GAS STATION, GOT SOME SYNTHETIC OIL, AND PUT IN 2 QUARTS. I CONTINUED ON MY WAY, BUT THE OIL LIGHT HAD NOT GONE OFF. WITHIN ABOUT 1-2 MILES, AS I WAS ENTERING A HIGHWAY, THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A VERY LOUD RATTLING NOISE AND THEN STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. I CALLED MINI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, BUT AFTER ABOUT 15 MINS. ON THE PHONE, THEY FINALLY FIGURED OUT THAT THEY WERE NOT AUTHORIZED TO TOW OFF THIS INTERSTATE. I GOT AN AUTHORIZED TOWING CO. TO COME, AND I LET THEM TOW IT TO THEIR LOCAL GARAGE. THE NEXT DAY THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE HAD CEASED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FOLLOWING DAY I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO PRESTIGE MINI TO DETERMINE IF THIS WAS, IN FACT, WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY DIAGNOSED THE SAME THING, SAID THERE WAS NO WAY TO KNOW THE CAUSE, AND QUOTED ME $6400 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE (WHICH THEY ULTIMATELY BROUGHT DOWN TO $5600). AT 81K MILES, THERE IS NO REASON THIS ENGINE SHOULD HAVE CEASED. PLUS, I HAD NO WARNING THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR--NO "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT, NO "CHECK OIL" LIGHT UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. BASED ON WHAT I'VE READ, NOW ABOUT THE 2007 MINI, I AM CERTAIN THIS WAS DEFECT RELATED. HOW DO I PROVE THAT? I'M AT THE MERCY OF THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE, UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE, SINGLE OCCURRENCE. BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR AT THE LOCAL DEALER, WAITING FOR DIAGNOSIS OF PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START IN COLD WEATHER UNTIL AFTER THREE TO FOUR ATTEMPTS. THERE WERE ALSO NOTICED RATTLING NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE VACUUM PUMP, TIMING CHAINS AND THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP. EACH PART WAS REPLACED WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY MINI SINCE IT WAS NEW. IN NOV. OF 2010 THE CHAIN TENSIONER WAS FINALLY CHANGED AFTER MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE NOISE. ON MON.6-6-11 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CALLED THE DEALER & SET UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR THAT SAT 6-11. ON WED. 6-8 MY CAR DIED WITH NO WARNING. NO COMPUTER LIGHTS CAME ON. HAD TO TOW IT TO THE MINI DEALER ON SAT.6-11. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE VACUUM PUMP CAUSING MAJOR CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. MY ENGINE ONLY HAD A QUART OF OIL AND THAT WAS WHY IT WENT OUT. I HAD DOCUMENTATION OF MY OIL CHANGE. IT STILL HAD 3,000M TO GO BEFORE IT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. WAS ALSO CHECKED 2 WKS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT AND IT WAS FINE. I AM NOW NEEDING A NEW ENGINE AT A COST OF 6,087. THE REGIONAL TEAM AT MINI CUSTOMER SERVICE DECIDED THERE WOULD BE NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE I LET IT RUN OUT OF OIL, WHICH IS NOT TRUE. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO APPEAL PROCESS, THEIR DECISION WAS FINAL. MY CAR HAS 64K MILES ON IT. THE CHAIN TENSIONERS AND VACUUM PUMPS ARE KNOWN FAILURES BUT MINI REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. EASIER TO BLAME THE CONSUMER. A VEHICLE THAT COSTS NEARLY 30K DOLLARS SHOULD NOT HAVE AN ENGINE FAILURE AT 64K MILES. THERE ARE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS OUT THERE. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS CHECK THE WEB. MINI SHOULD STEP UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR CRASH WITH FATALITIES IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHICH I DO EVERY DAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 65,000.

I WAS DRIVING ON A HOUSTON, TX FREEWAY GOING 60 MPH WHEN THE CAR TO THE LEFT OF ME SUDDENLY SWERVED DIRECTLY INTO MY DRIVER SIDE. THE OTHER CAR, WHICH WAS A HONDA PASSPORT SUV, HIT MY ENTIRE DRIVER SIDE FROM REAR BUMPER TO MY DOOR TO THE FRONT BUMPER. I WAS DRIVING A 2007 MINI COOPER. AT 60 MPH, MY SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY! THE IMPACT WAS DIRECT AND AT 60 MPH. SURELY THERE MUST BE SOME DEFECT WITH THE SIDE AIRBAGS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOT WHERE THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,200. UPDATED 07/08/11 *BF UPDATED 3/6/12 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED ANTI-FREEZE. THE DEALER ADDED ANTI-FREEZE TO THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE THERMOSTAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED SMALL FLAMES AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A BLANKET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE OIL RETURN LINE THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE TURBO CHARGER HAD BEGAN LEAKING OIL AND CAUSED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A SECOND TIME FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN THEN STATED THAT THE TURBO CHARGER AND THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TURBO CHARGER COULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING THE FIRE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT STALLING AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER WAS REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,800.

ENGINE MADE EXCESSIVE RATTLING ON COLD START UP. TOOK TO BMW AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, RAILS, AND CHAIN HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $2,031.97. AS I DROVE THE CAR OFF THE LOT I NOTED THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT FEEL NEARLY AS SMOOTH AS BEFORE AND WAS NOISIER. BROUGHT THE CAR IN TWICE FOR THEM TO FIX. ON THE SECOND TRIP TO DEALERSHIP, 7/18/11, THEY TOLD ME THE WATER PUMP NEEDED REPLACED. THEY CHARGED ME $980.04 THOUGH A TYPICAL CHARGE OF FOR THIS JOB WAS $1315.51. THE CAR TO THIS DAY AT >70,000 STILL DOES NOT FEEL SMOOTH AND CONTINUES TO SOUND LOUD. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS DUE TO THE "BAND AID FIX" APPROACH FOR THE TIMING CHAIN. I PRINTED OUT ALL THE COMPLAINTS FROM NHTSA DATABASE REGARDING THE NOISEY COLD START OF 2007 MINI COOPER S DUE TO TIMING CHAIN DEFECT, 33 OUT OF 110 (NOW 34). THIS IS A PATTERN OF DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING AND NOT A RANDON QUALITY PROBLEM THAT DESERVES A RECALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AT 67K MILES AND I HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO GET CHECKED AT THE DEALER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THAT THE TIMING CHAIN IS BEGINNING TO FAIL AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH A WATER PUMP LEAK. THE TIMING CHAIN IS A KNOWN FAILURE AND STILL HAS NO RECALL. *TR

MINI COOPER, 2007, 81000 MILES. WITH MINIMAL ADVANCE WARNING (A RATTLE THAT BEGAN WHEN CAR WAS STARTED THAT MORNING) TIMING CHAIN BROKE, LEADING TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. CAR WAS STOPPED AND BLOCKING TRAFFIC ON BUSY TWO LANE BRIDGE DURING MORNING COMMUTE UNTIL IT WAS TOWED AWAY. NO PREVIOUS ISSUES, WARNINGS EMERGED FROM THIS VEHICLE. WAS MAINTAINED REGULARLY AND BECAUSE OF NOISE ON START, I WAS INTENDING TO TAKE IT IN IMMEDIATELY. IN FACT, I WAS ON THE WAY TO THE GARAGE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. *TR

THE HEATER CORE IS PLACED NEXT TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN THE FOOT WELL. THE CAR DESIGN HAS THE HEATER CORE ON ALL THE TIME. THE ONLY INSULATION BETWEEN THE HEATER CORE AND THE FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS A PLASTIC COVER WHICH BECOMES TOO HOT TO TOUCH. *TR

TURBO OIL SUPPLY LINE FROM ENGINE TO TURBO LEAKING EXCESSIVE OIL REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN OF COMPRESSION FITTING LED TO PREMATURE FAILURE. CONTINUED OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITH THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE AND OR ENGINE TURBO FAILURE. *TR

UPON RETURNING HOME AND PARKING MY MINI IN THE GARAGE I SMELLED SOMTHING STRANGE. MY WIFE AND I UNLOADED GROCERIES FROM THE CAR I NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR. WE QUICKLY ROLLED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AND OPENED THE HOOD, I NOTICED THE CONNECTION ON TOP OF THE AUX WATER PUMP BURNING. THE FIRE SUBSIDED ON ITS OWN. *TR

MY MINT CONDITION 2007 MINI COOPER S WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE ON 3/31/11. I HAD JUST DRIVEN IT 4.5 MILES TO WORK, PARKED IT, WHEN APPROXIMATELY 12-15 MINUTES LATER I WAS ALERTED BY THE COMPANY SECURITY DEPARTMENT THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE TOWNSHIP POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE ALREADY ON THE SCENE PUTTING OUT THE BLAZE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL AND STARTED IN THE ENGINE. MY PRISTINE CAR WITHOUT A SCRATCH OR DENT ON IT, HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 15,000 MILES -- AND IT WAS DESTROYED. THE CAR HAD BEEN FAITHFULLY MAINTAINED AND I BELIEVED IT TO BE IN PERFECT RUNNING CONDITION. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT AND NO OTHER CARS WERE DAMAGED. BUT WHAT IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE? I WAS SHOCKED TO READ ONLINE THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE SHARED SIMILAR EXPERIENCES AND THAT YOU CAN FIND NUMEROUS VIDEO CLIPS ON YOU-TUBE SHOWING MINIS ON FIRE. WHAT IS BMW DOING ABOUT THIS? UPDATED 08/17/11*BF UPDATED 02/02/2012 *LN *TR

THE FOLLOWING IS MY COMPLETE ACCOUNT OF THE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED WITH MY 2007 MINI COOPERS . ' MARCH 12TH TO MARCH 16TH TRIP TO MYRTLE BEACH AND BACK TO MY HOUSE IS APPROXIMATELY 490 MILES. THE CAR'S PERFORMANCE WAS WITHOUT INCIDENT ON THIS TRIP. THE VEHICLES ON-BOARD COMPUTER PROVIDES NO INDICATION OF ENGINE PROBLEMS. ' FRIDAY MARCH 18TH DEPARTED HOME FOR UNIVERSAL STUDIOS. TRIP TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS IS APPROXIMATELY 222 MILES. THE CAR'S PERFORMANCE WAS WITHOUT INCIDENT AND ON-BOARD COMPUTER PROVIDES NO INDICATION OF ENGINE PROBLEMS. ' SATURDAY MARCH 19TH LEFT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FOR RESIDENCE. AT JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA I PULLED INTO RIVER CITY MARKETPLACE. UP TO THIS POINT IN THE TRIP THE VEHICLE HAS TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 162 MILES FROM UNIVERSAL STUDIOS TO RIVER CITY MARKETPLACE. THE CAR'S PERFORMANCE WAS WITHOUT INCIDENT AND THE VEHICLE'S ON-BOARD COMPUTER PROVIDED NO INDICATION OF ENGINE PROBLEMS. AS I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT I HEARD A LOUD BANGING SOUND AND THEN THE CAR STOPPED. THE CAR ON-BOARD SYSTEM SHOWED NO EMERGENCY INDICATOR WARNINGS WHATSOEVER ON THE TRIP FROM UNIVERSAL STUDIOS TO RIVER CITY MARKETPLACE UP UNTIL THE TIME THE CAR STOPPED. I NOTICED NO OIL LEAKS BENEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS WAITING TO BE TOWED. ON MONDAY MARCH 21ST I SPOKE WITH MY MINI COOPER SERVICE ADVISER,TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE CONDITION OF MY VEHICLE. IN SUMMARIZING OUR CONVERSATION THE ADVISER STATED THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN INITIALLY INDICATED MY VEHICLE ENGINE HAD BEEN 'RUN DRY' OF ENGINE OIL AND IF THIS WAS THE CASE MY VEHICLE WARRANTY WOULD NOT BE HONORED BY THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS ASTOUNDED AT HEARING THIS INFORMATION AND THE SERVICE TECH THIS COULD NOT BE POSSIBLE BECAUSE I HAD CHECKED THE FLUID LEVEL ON MARCH 11TH AND THE DIPSTICK CLEARLY SHOWED "FULL". THERE HAD BEEN NO ON-BOARD COMPUTER NOTIFICATION OF ANY ENGINE OIL CONDITION. THE SERVICE TECH STATED THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT CONTAIN THIS FEATURE WHEN MY VEHICLE MANUAL CLEARLY INDICATES SUCH A FEATURE. *TR

EXTREMELY LOUD ENGINE NOISE DURING A COLD START. THE ROOT CAUSE IS THE FAILURE OF TIMING BELT TENSIONER. THE ONLY RECOURSE IS TO REPLACE THE TENSIONER AND ADJUST OR REPLACE THE BELT/CHAIN. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT. *TR

CAR HAS TIMING CHAIN NOISE ON COLD START-UP AND IF LEFT UNREPAIRED, IT WILL RESULT IN TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AND ENGINE DESTRUCTION. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM ON 2007 AND LATER MINI COOPER S. DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR OUT OF WARRANTY AND, EVEN IF REPAIRED, THE PROBLEM WILL RETURN. THERE ARE CASES OF MULTIPLE ENGINE FAILURES TO SAME CAR. CAR ALSO USES 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 2,000 MILES. *TR

2007 MINI COOPER S, TIMING CHAIN BROKE AT 64K MILES. THERE ARE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM ALL OVER THE WEB, WE NEED TO FORCE MINI TO ISSUE A RECALL. VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED PRIOR TO FAILURE. THIS IS A CHAIN, NOT A BELT. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SIMILAR COMPLAINTS CAN BE FOUND HERE: HTTP://WWW.MINICOOPERSPEED.COM/MINI-COOPER-COLD-START-KNOCKING-NOISE-ISSUE-2007/. *TR

THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THIS OCCURS RANDOMLY (MINE HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN TWICE IN THE LAST MONTH). VEHICLE WILL NOT START FOR SEVERAL DAYS THEN APPARENTLY ALL OF A SUDDEN WILL START AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER AFTER THE FIRST TIME BUT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE CONDITION, SO NOTHING WAS DONE. NO CODES WERE STORED IN THE COMPUTER. THIS SECOND TIME IT HAS NOT STARTED FOR THE LAST 4 DAYS. ENGINE WILL CRANK, I PULLED A SPARKPLUG AND PUT IT IN THE IGNITION COIL AND IT WOULD FIRE, BUT THE ENGINE WILL NOT START, LIKE IT ISN'T GETTING FUEL. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF YOU NEED TO RELY ON YOUR CAR TO BE SOMEWHERE. IF IT WONT START I AM WORRIED THAT IT COULD ALSO DIE WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD, WHICH WOULD BE A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, ALTHOUGH IT HAS NOT DONE THIS, ITS JUST A CONCERN. I DO NOT EXPECT A CAR THAT IS ONLY A LITTLE OVER 3 YEARS OLD TO NOT START. I HAVE CONTACTED MINI USA BUT THEY ARE HESITANT TO RECOMMEND ANYTHING OTHER THAN TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AGAIN. *TR

2007 MINI COOPER S ENGINE RATTLES LOUDLY FOR THE FIRST 30 SECONDS TO 2 MIN. AFTER STARTUP IN COLD WEATHER. CAUSED BY CAM TENSION ISSUES. MIN HAS WORKED ON IT NUMEROUS TIMES. IT IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY BUT STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. I HAPPENS ON AN ALMOST DAILY BASIS ON COLD DAYS. *TR

2007 MINI COOPER 52860 MILES HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR WITH SAME PROBLEM A LOUD CLANKING NOISE DURING STARTUP AND THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THEY HAVE CHANGED EVERYTHING BUT I STILL HAVE TH ISSUE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT SHOP OTHER THAN THE DEALER AND HE SAID I SHOULDN'T BE DRIVING THE CAR THAT IT HAS SERIOUS FLAW IN THE TIMING BELT AND THE ENGINE COULD MALFUNCTION AT ANY TIME. I CALLED MINI AND THEY SADI THEY WOULD TRY TO FIX THE CAR AGAIN SINCE ITS WAS STILL UNDER WARRENTLY. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND I HAVE SEEN THOUSANDS OF POSTS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. WHEN I TALKED OT THE DEALER ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF POSTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE HE SAID THEY HAVE SERVERAL MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH MINS 2007,2008.2009 AND 2010 SO THEY HAD TO CHANGE THE ENGINE. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR THE SIXTH TIME THIS YEAR I TOLD MINI I WAS SCARRED TO DRIVE BECAUSE IF THE THE ENGINE STOPS WHILE I AM DRIVING IT I WILL BE DANGEROURS. THE ARE GOING TO REPLACE THE TIMING AGAIN HE DID SUGGEST I GET A 2011 MINI SINCE THE ENGINE WAS CHANGED. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

AT APPROXIMATELY 67,000 MILES, THE ENGINE DEVELOPED A KNOCKING SOUND WHICH WOULD LAST FROM A COLD START FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES. AFTER TWO WEEKS, THE ENGINE FAILED ENTIRELY. THE MECHANIC REPORTED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN RETENSIONER HAD BROKEN AND CAUSED ANOTHER COMPONENT TO FALL INTO THE ENGINE WHERE IT DID FURTHER DAMAGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER SPORT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE CHECK OIL WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE TIMING CHAIN LOOSENED AND CAUSED ALL THE PISTONS TO MISFIRE AND DAMAGE THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

ENGINE RATTLE AT START UP, ENGINE WILL NOT MAINTAIN IDLE WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE TOO COLD (AS HIGH AS 20 DEG F BUT MORE COMMON AS TEMPERATURE DROPS) AND CAN EVEN DIE. ENGINE HESITATION AND STUMBLE WHILE ACCELERATING AND WHILE MAINTAINING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, REGARDLESS OF ENGINE AND AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. LACK OF ENGINE POWER. CAR MAY SEEM TO BE RUNNING FINE BUT WHEN ACCELERATING THE ENGINE WILL STUMBLE AND HESITATE, MUCH LIKE A MISSING CYLINDER, THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO ACCELERATE SLOWER THAN EXPECTED REGARDLESS OF THROTTLE POSITION. THIS CAN CREATE AN UNSAFE CONDITION. SEEMS TO BE MOST PRONOUNCED AT PART THROTTLE BETWEEN 2000 AND 3000 RPM BUT IS STILL PRESENT AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND MORE THROTTLE OPENING. CAN ALSO MAKE THE CAR STUMBLE VERY BADLY WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP, CAUSING THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD A FEW FEET VERY SLOWLY BEFORE ACCELERATING AT A SOMEWHAT NORMAL PACE. THIS EFFECT IS SIMILAR TO LETTING OUT THE CLUTCH TOO SOON BUT HAPPENS EVEN IF RPMS ARE BROUGHT UP TO 2000+RPM AND THE CLUTCH IS SLOWLY LET OUT. *TR

AS A BACKGROUND, ON NOVEMBER 25, 2011, I DELIVERED THE CAR, A 2007 MINI COOPER S TO A MINI DEALERSHIP WHERE I ALWAYS HAVE IT SERVICED. THE REASON I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE WAS DUE TO THE OVERHEATING LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT BEING TRIGGERED WHILE DRIVING. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, THE SERVICE ADVISOR ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS IN COMPLETE WORKING ORDER AND THE REPAIRS MADE THE CAR AS GOOD AS NEW. ON THAT NOVEMBER 25TH, VISIT, I HAD PAID $1,817.40 FOR A NEW WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, SPARK PLUGS, AND WATER PIPE REPLACEMENT DESPITE THE FACT THEY ARE COMMONLY 100,000-MILE SERVICES. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 41,000 MILES. 10 DAYS AFTER MY CAR WAS SERVICED, THE SAME OVERHEATING LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. IN RESPONSE TO THIS REPEATED ISSUE, ON DECEMBER 11, 2011, I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR WHO TOLD ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP. DURING THIS SECOND VISIT, I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP IN ORDER TO ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THE OVERHEATING ISSUE FOR A SECOND TIME. DURING THIS SECOND VISIT, THE MINI DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND FLUSHED THE RADIATOR SEVERAL TIMES, AGAIN, IN AN ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THE OVERHEATING ISSUE. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, THE SERVICE CONSULTANT ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS IN COMPLETE WORKING ORDER AND THE REPAIRS MADE THE CAR AS GOOD AS NEW. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAVE BEEN ASSURED THAT THIS CAR WAS IN PROPER WORKING ORDER. NOW, FOR THE THIRD TIME IN THE PAST 24 DAYS, THE OVERHEATING LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT HAS CAME ON AGAIN WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON DECEMBER 18, 2011. FRUSTRATED, AT THE LEAST, I PROMPTLY RETURNED THE CAR FOR FURTHER SERVICE BY YOUR DEALERSHIP. I WAS SHOCKED WHEN THE SERVICE ADVISOR CONTACTED ME ON DECEMBER 21, 2011 TO INFORM ME THAT AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS REQUIRED. THE CAR HAS FEWER THAN 41,000 MILES AND HAS ONLY EVER BEEN SERVICED BY LICENSED MINI DEALERSHIPS. *TR

MINI COOPER ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK SYSTEM CRITICAL MALFUNCTION - CAR WITH ONLY 57,000 MILES RECEIVES CRITICAL MESSAGE ON NAVIGATION SCREEN TELLIING DRIVER "TO DRIVE TO A SAFE LOCATION AND TURN OFF IGNITION AND BE AWARE THAT CAR IS UNLIKELY TO BE ABLE TO BE RESTARTED." DRIVER IS LEFT TO COPE WITH THIS CRITICAL SITUATION AND REPAIR EVEN THOUGH MINI COOPER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE EXISTENCE OF THIS CRITICAL PROBLEM BY DISCONTINUING THE INSTALLATION OF THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK ON ITS LATER MODELS AS THEY COULD NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. MINI REFUSES TO RECALL EARLIER MODELS AND WILL NOT REIMBURSE OWNER FOR COSTLY REPAIR ONCE CRITICAL MALFUNCTION OCCURS. WEB REPORTS HAVE ALERTED DRIVERS THAT STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED WHILE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN MAKING EARLILER MODELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BUT MINI HAS DISPLAYED A COMPLETE LACK OF CONCERN FOR SAFETY OF ITS CUSTOMERS. *TR

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT COMES ON WHEN AN ADULT IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. IT OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. MINI SAYS IT CANNOT FIX IT BECAUSE THE COMPUTER HAS NO ERRORS STORED. *TR

07/MINI/COOPER HARDTOP/2DR CPE S/ 51,810 MILES. TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER COLLAPSED AND CAUSED TIMING CHAIN TO STRETCH AND DAMAGE GUIDE RAILS. REPLACED TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY AND REPROGRAMMED VEHICLE. *TR

MINI COOPER COLD START KNOCKING NOISE ISSUE. *TR

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AT 55K MILES AND I HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO GET CHECKED AT THE DEALER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THAT THE TIMING CHAIN IS BEGINNING TO FAIL AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH A WATER PUMP LEAK. THE TIMING CHAIN IS A KNOWN FAILURE AND STILL HAS NO RECALL. *TR

THE VEHICLE IS CONSTANTLY SPUTTERING AND LOOSING POWER. IT HESITATES ON TAKING OFF AND THE PERFORMANCE IS DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY FROM WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERS SEVERAL TIMES AND THE STATED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS USING POOR QUALITY GAS. SINCE THEN I HAVE CHANGED TO PREMIUM GAS AND THE PROBLEMS STILL PERSIST. I FINALLY BROUGHT THE CAR TO A RENOWNED MINI MECHANIC AND HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP. *TR

ON 10/27/2010 I WAS DRIVING ON 595 WEST (STOP AND GO TRAFFIC) CAME TO A STOP, MY CAR STALLS AND DIES. IT WILL NOT RESTART. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LAUDERDALE MINI DEALERSHIP IN FORT LAUDERDALE. AFTER INSPECTION I WAS INFORMED THE VACUUM PUMP LOCKED UP AND JAMMED ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. ENGINE WAS REPLACED. COST- OVER $6000.00. MINI USA REFUSED TO COMPENSATE UNLESS THEIR IS A FUTURE RECALL. *TR

RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WARNING CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER SAYS CLOCK SPRING FAILED COST 1300 TO REPAIR NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR A RECALL AND THE CAR AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IF NOT REPAIRED. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED MY 2005 TRUCK FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH THE AIR BAGS IS THIS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE FOR BMW / MINI PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CLUTCH BEGAN TO SLIP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO POWER MOVING TO THE REAR WHEELS. BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE SOUNDED FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING, AND THE ENGINE PERFORMED AS THOUGH IT WERE ATTEMPTING TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,000.

2007 MINI COOPER S HAS HAD LOUD KNOCKING NOISE, SOUNDING LIKE ROCKS IN A WASHING MACHINE, FOR WEEKS NOW. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE PAST, WITH THE REPAIRS FALLING UNDER THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND DONE AT NO COST OF COURSE. CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY, TAKING IT IN THIS WEEK FOR DIAGNOSES AND REPAIRS. THIS WILL BE AT LEAST THE SECOND TIME THIS PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, ALTHOUGH I THINK IT MIGHT BE THE THIRD TIME AS ONCE IT WAS DONE AS PART OF A LARGER REPAIR BEING PERFORMED ON THE ENGINE. CAR ACTS SLUGGISH, JUMPY, AND SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL TRUCK. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED UP AND CONTINUES FOR THE FIRST FEW MILES DRIVEN, AT WHICH POINT IS SUBSIDES A BIT. AS I SAID, IT HAS BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE IN THE PAST, AND THIS WEEK WILL BE REPLACED AGAIN.

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, I APPROACH MY EXIT AND AS I COME TO A STOP ON THE EXIT RAMP, THE CAR STALLS AND DIES. CAR WILL NOT RESTART. VEHICLE IS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP. AFTER INSPECTION AT THE DEALERSHIP, I AM TOLD THE VACUUM PUMP HAS FAILED CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. SUGGESTED REPAIR IS ENGINE REPLACEMENT. *TR