2007 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

IN EARLY JANUARY 2008, 5 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY CAR, IT STARTED TO SMELL STRONGLY LIKE GASOLINE INSIDE THE CABIN, AND I WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS A RISK OF FIRE. I PULLED OVER AND LET THE CAR SIT, AND RESTARTED IT, BUT THE SMELL RESUMED. I BROUGHT IT IN TO MINI OF SF, AND THEY FOUND A LEAK IN THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND LINE, AND REPLACED THE PARTS. THIS WAS THE FIRST OF FOUR REPLACEMENTS OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ON MY CAR. *TR

DURING COLD START VEHICLE MAKES LOUD METAL ON METAL SOUND PERSISTENT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. SOUND IS SIMILAR TO OLDER DIESEL ENGINE WITH RATTLING AND ROUGH SOUNDS. IN THE UK DEALERS HAVE BEEN RESPONSIVE TO THE ISSUE REPLACING THE CHAIN TENSIONER AND NOW IN SOME CASES THE ENGINE. DEALERS IN THE US DENY THE ISSUE AND PROVIDE NO REMEDY CALLING THE SOUND NORMAL. ISSUE IS CAUSING UNDUE ENGINE WEAR. *TR

2007 MINI COOPER S - MANUAL TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ALLOW GEARSHIFTS AND COULD ONLY BE DRIVEN IN FIRST GEAR. DEALERSHIP STATED CLUTCH CAME APART AFTER 8 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. DEALERSHIP REPLACED WITH REMANUFACTURED CLUTCH, FLYWHEEL, GEARBOX OIL AND CLIP UNDER WARRANTY. IN JULY OF 2009 I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING ROUGH AND THE CLUTCH WAS MAKING A SQUEAKING SOUND WHEN APPLIED. DEALERSHIP GOT A WORK ORDER FROM MINI USA TO REMOVE THE CLUTCH/TRANSMISSION. ON AUGUST 12, 2009 THE DEALERSHIP REMOVED THE CLUTCH/TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED THE PLASTIC PART CAUSING THE NOISE, BUT NOTICED THE FLYWHEEL HAD HEAT DAMAGE AND CRACKING AGAIN. THIS TIME THE DEALERSHIP AND MINI USA STATE THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY "WEAR AND TEAR" AND NOT COVERED UNDER THE MANUFACTURES WARRANTY DESPITE BEING COVERED 15K MILES EARLIER. CURRENT MILES ON VEHICLE ARE 31K WITH 19K REMAINING ON MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. *TR

CAR HAS BEEN OUTSIDE IN THE COLD WEATHER AND WHEN STARTED IT SOUNDS LIKE NOT FIRING CORRECTLY-BACKFIRING NOISES. ENGINE LIGHTS POP UP. MAINLY 1/2 ENGINE POWER LIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE. CAR REALLY ONLY HAS 1/2 ENGINE POWER. TOP SPEED IS 45MPH, DOWNHILL. CAR LURCHES AROUND, ENGINE REVS EVERY SECOND OR SO. 1ST TIME SHUT CAR OFF AND TURNED BACK ON THEN IT WAS FINE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. CAR SPENT NIGHT IN GARAGE, WAS FINE NEXT MORNING. THAT NIGHT SAME SYMPTOMS AT START UP BUT DIDN'T GO AWAY - HAD TO MAKE LONG COMMUTE HOME AT SLOW SPEEDS. CAR SPENT NIGHT INSIDE AGAIN AND WAS FINE IN THE MORNING. CALLED DEALER, CAR TOWED TO DEALER. SERVICE MANAGER KEPT USING ENGINE AND THROTTLE INTERCHANGEABLY - CAUSING GREAT CONCERN WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM IS CONDENSATION GETTING INTO IT AND FREEZING, BUT THEY REASSURED ME IT IS THE THROTTLE AND NOT THE ENGINE. DEALER SAID THEY PUT A SPECIAL LUB IN IT AND TO NOT DRIVE SHORT DRIVES-I NEVER DO, 24,000 MILES ON A 9 MONTH OLD CAR. 6 WEEKS LATER EXACT SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. CAR TO DEALER. LOANER CAR (2007 MINI COOPER S) DID EXACT SAME THING MY CAR WAS DOING. THE LOANER CAR DID COME OUT OF IT ABOUT 30 MILES INTO COMMUTE. COULD GET UP TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ALL LIGHTS WENT OFF EXCEPT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. SOMETHING SEEMED TO THAW OUT. WAS TOLD THE THROTTLE WAS FREEZING IN COLD TEMPS AND AFFECTING MANY MINI'S, BMW'S, AND JAG'S. DEALER CHANGED OIL IN MY CAR, 1 WEEK AFTER 1ST OIL CHANGE. DEALER SAID THEY ARE DOING INVESTIGATION BUT THAT I HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT FOR NOW. LOCAL MECHANIC SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SENSOR THAT TELLS THE COMPUTER HOW MUCH GAS TO SPRAY INTO THE CHAMBER IS FROZEN. PROBABLY MADE OF CHEAP MATERIALS, GETS HOT, MOISTURE CONDENSES AND FREEZES ON SENSOR CAUSING PROBLEMS BUT NOT SURE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE CAR GO THROUGH ONE OF IT'S "FITS". CAR HAS BEEN FINE FOR PAST 4 WEEKS. SOME PEOPLE AT DEALER ADMIT TO PROBLEM WHILE OTHERS WILL NOT, TELLING ME IT IS JUST MY CAR AND ONLY WHEN I HAVE IT. *TR

RECEIVED BLISTERING AND PERMANENT SCARING BURN FROM EXHAUST PIPE WHILE REMOVING CARGO FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. *TR

RECEIVED BLISTERING AND PERMANENT SCARING BURN FROM EXHAUST PIPE WHILE REMOVING CARGO FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. *TR

VEHICLE PRODUCES LOUD METALLIC SOUNDS FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE ON COLD START. MINI USA HAS REPEATEDLY STATED THIS IS OKAY, HOWEVER NOW AT 25000 MILES THE NOISE IS CONSTANT AND LOUD. READING DATA FROM OTHER MINI OWNERS THIS PROBLEM IS NOW EXTREMELY COMMON ON ALL MINI COOPERS WITH THE 1.6L PRODUCED AFTER 2007. MINI HAS QUIETLY REPLACED NUMEROUS BELT TENSIONERS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO ADMIT THIS IS A LARGE ISSUE OVER THE ENTIRE FLEET OF VEHICLES. ISSUE RESULTS IN A $3-4K LABOR BILL TO REPAIR. *TR

1. I WAS UNLOADING A FEW THINGS FROM THE BACK OF CAR. 2. THE FAILURE IS THAT THE STOCK MINI COOPER S TAILPIPE EXTEND BEYOND THE REAR BUMPER WHICH IS RIGHT WHERE YOU HAVE TO STAND TO ACCESS THE TRUNK. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT I GOT A BIG CIRCULAR BURN ON MY CALF WHEN I LEANED IN TO GRAB SOMETHING. 3. WHAT CAN I DO TO CORRECT THIS? IT'S A STOCK PART / DESIGN THAT'S NEVER BEEN RECALLED AND IS STILL FOR SALE. *JB

HOOD TEMPERATURE IS EXTREMELY HOT, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE HOOD SCOOP. MY FRIENDS HAVE BEEN REPORTING TEMPERATURES WELL ABOVE 200 DEGREES ON THEIR MINIS. THIS IS A CONTINUING, EVERYDAY PROBLEM. *JB

(1) A DEISE-LIKE RATTLING NOISE, NOT IN TIME WITH THE ENGINE, COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON START-UP. THE NOISE WOULD EVENTUALLY GO AWAY AS THE ENGINE WARMED UP. AS TIME PROGRESSED, THE NOISE GREW LOUDER AND TOOK LONGER TO SUBSIDE. VEHICLE WAS EVENTUALLY TURNED OVER TO THE DEALER FOR EVALUATION. (2) THE NOISE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FAILURE OF THE OIL-FED CAM CHAIN TENSIONER. THE PISTON WAS DETERMINED TO BE STARVED OF OIL, CAUSING THE CAM CHAIN TO CREATE A RATTLING NOISE INCREASING IN VOLUME AND DURATION. (3) PARTS WERE ORDERED TO FIX THE CAM CHAIN TENSIONER AND THE PISTON AND TENSIONER WERE REPLACED. THERE IS STILL SOME RATTLING ON START-UP, BUT THE NOISE HAS SIGNIFICANTLY DIMINISHED. SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS ONLINE HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR ISSUES AND IT APPEARS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CAM CHAIN TENSIONER IS A TEMPORARY FIX (WITH THE NOISE RETURNING SOME WEEKS LATER). FAILURE OF THE CAM CHAIN TENSIONER WILL LEAD TO ADDITIONAL WEAR ON THE CAM CHAIN EVENTUALLY DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE CASE, CAMS AND VALVES THEMSELVES. A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WILL OCCUR IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT ADDRESSED. *TR

GETS EXTREMELY HOT UNDER THE HOOD AND DEFORMS THE PLASTIC HOOD SCOOP. *TR

THE HOOD (RIGHT ABOVE THE HOOD SCOOP) ON MY R56 07 MINI COOPER S IS EXTREMELY HOT AFTER ANY DRIVING AT ALL. IT'S LITERALLY HOT ENOUGH TO MELT THE PLASTIC ON THE HOOD. THIS IS WELL OVER 200 DEGREES F AND IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD TO NOT ONLY MYSELF BUT ANY INDIVIDUAL PASSING BY THE CAR. I'M DEATHLY AFRAID THAT THIS WILL EITHER START A FIRE IN MY GARAGE OR CAUSE AN INDIVIDUAL TO ACCIDENTALLY BURN THEMSELVES ON THE HOOD OF MY CAR. I HAVE ALREADY BEEN BURNED FROM THIS ONCE BY PLACING MY HAND ON THE HOOD. *TR

CAR HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS APPLIED AFTER COMING TO A STOP OR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PASS OTHER VEHICLES. ESPECIALLY FREQUENT AT TURNS FROM A COMPLETE STOP EG TURNING INTO OR ACROSS MOVING TRAFFIC. THE CAR INITIALLY MOVES FORWARD AND THEN ALL FORWARD MOVEMENT STOPS. THE ENGINE DOES NOT APPEAR TO DIE THE RPM'S STAY CONSTANT BUT THE GAS PEDAL HAS NO EFFECT AND THE CAR SIMPLY ROLLS TO A STOP AT LOW SPEEDS OR SLOWS UP CONSIDERABLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THE RESULT IS THAT YOU ARE LEFT EITHER STRADDLED ACROSS A COUPLE OF LANES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC IF YOU TRIED TO TURN LEFT OR YOU ARE STALLING IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC TRAVELING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS YOU OR YOU ARE HUNG OUT TO DRY AT HIGHER SPEEDS IN THE WRONG LANE OF A TWO LANE HIGHWAY. IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY BUT IT DOES NOT HAPPEN CONSTANTLY. YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT ALL THE MINIS ARE THE SAME AND THAT , THAT IS JUST THE WAY THEY HANDLE. WELL IT DIDN'T HANDLE LIKE THAT WHEN I GOT IT AND IT ONLY HANDLES THAT WAY A FEW TIMES A DAY. *JB

MT CLIENT WAS REACHING INTO THE REAR OF A 2007 MINI COOPER BMW WHEN HER LEG MADE CONTACT WITH THE PROTRUDING MUFFLER THAT CAUSED A SEVERE BURN ON HER LEG. *TR

LOWER LEG SUSTAINED BURN RESULTING IN SCARING AS RESULT OF COMING INTO CONTACT WITH EDGE OF REAR EXHAUST PIPE(S). EXHAUST PIPES EXTEND TOO FAR BEYOND REAR BUMPER CREATING EXPOSURE TO A PERSON ACCESSING TRUNK. *TR

MINI COOPER S 07 MAKES A HORRIBLE RATTLE ON COLD START UP. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. CAR DIES. SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS NO OIL IN ENGINE. AFTER CAR IS WARMED UP NOISE GOES AWAY. DEALER HAS REPLACED NON RETURN OIL VALVE. DIDN'T WORK. CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER AT LEAST 6 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS MUST BE DAMAGING THE ENGINE. ONLY 13,300 MILES ON THE CAR. *TR

FOR ONE YEAR MY 2007 MINI COOPER S HAS HAD A DEFECT IN THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM AS IT DISABLES WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED AND THE VEHICLE IS EITHER STOPPED OR IN MOTION. *TR

THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG GOES OFF (THE INDICATOR LIGHT SIGNALS THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS OFF), WHEN A 105 POUND ADULT WOMAN IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I WAS TOLD BY MY LOCAL MINI COOPER DEALER THAT THE SEAT DOES NOT SENSE SOMEONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT UNLESS THEY ARE 115 LBS OR MORE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS DANGEROUS SINCE THERE ARE PLENTY OF ADULT FEMALES THAT WEIGH LESS THAN 115 LBS. I HAVE TAKEN THIS ISSUE TO MINI CORPORATE AND THEY REFERRED ME TO NHTSA. I SPOKE WITH AN AIRBAG REPRESENTATIVE AT NHTSA WHO TOLD ME THAT THE TESTING CONDITIONS FOR MINI COOPER 2007 WERE DONE WITH A 108 LB FEMALE. I AM FREQUENTLY THE PASSENGER IN THIS VEHICLE AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE KNOWING THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE OFF. IN THE EVENT THAT MY HUSBAND AND I ARE IN AN ACCIDENT REQUIRING AIRBAGS, THEY WILL NOT DEPLOY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

I PARKED MY CAR AFTER ARRIVING AT MY FRIENDS HOUSE, WHICH WAS APPROX. A TWO HOUR DRIVE. AFTER REACHING INSIDE OF THE HATCHBACK TO GRAB LUGGAGE OUT OF MY 2007 MINI COOPER 'S' I WAS BURNED ON MY LEG BY THE TAILPIPE. AFTER STEPPING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE MY LEG WAS RED IN TWO SPOTS (TWIN-PIPE) AND THEN BUBBLED IN THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS AND SCABBED. I NOTICED THAT THE TAIL PIPE EXTENDS BEYOND THE BODY OF THE CAR WHICH ALLOWS FOR EASY SKIN CONTACT WITH THE HOT PIPE. UPDATED 04-15-08 *BF UPDATED

THE CENTER PILLAR HEAT RISES TO AN EXTREMELY HIGH TEMPERATURE IN MY CAR. THIS HAPPENED IN THE SUMMER WHEN TEMPERATURES WERE VERY HOT.(100+) IT'S HOT ENOUGH TO STARTLE A DRIVER OR BURN THEM; THIS COULD CAUSE THEM TO REACT BY MOVING THEIR FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR IN AN UNPREDICTABLE WAY, WHICH IS QUITE A SAFETY HAZARD. IT BURNED MY RIGHT ANKLE. I'M WRITING NOW BECAUSE I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER THEN, PLUS I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS WEBSITE. NOW THERE ARE REPORTS OF MINI COOPER SS CATCHING ON FIRE. I AM CONCERNED. *TR

PASSENGER AIRBAG DEACTIVATES ITSELF WHILE AN ADULT PASSENGER IS RIDING IN CAR. THE CAR DOES THIS AT RANDOM. DEALERSHIP HAS CHECKED THE CAR AND SAYS THAT IT IS WORKING PROPERLY. *TR

THE TAILPIPES, WHEN HOT, APPARENTLY PROTRUDE ENOUGH TO CAUSE SEVERE BURNS TO THE LEG. MY 7 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER SUSTAINED A SERIOUS BURN THIS WAY WHEN GETTING SOMETHING OUT OF THE HATCHBACK. *TR

MY 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER RECEIVED A SERIOUS BURN ON HER LEG FROM THE EXHAUST OF MY MINI COOPER S. THE DOUBLE EXHAUST IS LOCATED IN THE CENTER BACK OF THE CAR AND EXTENDS PAST THE EDGE OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET ITEMS OUT OF THE TRUNK AREA WITHOUT TOUCHING THE EXHAUST. THE EXHAUST IN LOCATED IN THE EXACT LOCATION WHERE ONE STANDS TO RETRIEVE CARGO. I HAVE BURNED MY LEG TWICE UNLOADING GROCERIES. IT TAKES A CONSTANT EFFORT TO REMEMBER TO AVOID THE EXHAUST. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *JB ADD PICTURE *121108 CW UPDATED 12/11/08

UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE CAR'S CENTER PILLAR AREA (DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE GAS PEDAL) REACHES AVERAGE TEMPERATURES OF 115-120 DEGREES. I HAVE BURNED MYSELF ON THIS AREA WHILE WEARING SHORTS, LEAVING A RED WELT. I'VE ALSO JERKED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN THE HOT SURFACE CATCHES ME BY SURPRISE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WOULD REACH 200 DEGREES AFTER IT WAS PARKED. THE WASHER JETS THAT REST ON THE HOOD LEAKED WATER WHEN THE HOOD WAS HOT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EACH TIME AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE WAS NORMAL. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE HEAT WAS CAUSED BY THE TURBO CHARGER. THE SPEED PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE BEING PARKED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25. THE CONSUMER STATED THE HOOD WIPER JETS WEEP WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND THE TEMPERATURE RISES ABOVE 200 LEAVING SEMI PERMANENT MARKS ON THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 08/31/07 *TR

THE HOOD SCOOP OF MY CAR DEFORMS DUE TO EXTREME HEAT. *TR

I ARRIVED IN COUNTRY 2007 HAVE HAD PROBLEM WITH THE CK ENGINE LIGHT AND NOISE FROM THE ENGINE, THE LARGE CHECK ENGINE OVER STERING WHEEL BLK AND ENGINE LIGHT IN HECTOR METER ORANGE. IVE HAD IN SHOP MANY TIME FOR THIS PROBLEM LATEST WAS SEPT 2015 SAID TO CARBIN $1232.00 DECEMBER 2015 $599.00 DRIVING MINIUM THE ENGINE RUN WHEN THE CAR IS ENGINE IS OFF. ALSO PK UP HILL THE WILL MOVE WHEN THE EMG BKS OR UP AND GEIR IN NUTURAL.

PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR DOES NOT SENSE PASSENGER. LIGHT ILLUMINATES STATING PASSENGER AIRBAGS OFF. DEALER HAS REPLACED SENSOR SEAT MAT TWICE AND STILL DOES HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE LAST FIX THE MINI TECH SERVICE ADVISOR SENT HOME WITH ME ADDING A STATEMENT TO MY FILE THAT IF YOU ARE A CERTAIN SIZE/WEIGHT AND OR MOVE IN SEAT LIGHT COULD COME ON. I DO NOT MOVE AROUND IN SEAT AND I MY SIZE IS NOT THE ISSUE. IS CURRENTLY AT DEALER SINCE I HAD TO GO THROUGH BMW TO GET A REP TO LOOK AT. AS OF TODAY CAR IS NOT FIXED. THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THESE AS TOLD TO ME BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND PARTS MANAGER AT BMW AND MY FIRST SEAT MAT I HAD TO WAIT 3 MONTHS FOR BECAUSE OF BACKORDER AND AVAILABILITY SINCE SO MANY WERE WRONG. MY NUMBER IS LARGE IN THE # OF FAILURES CATEGORY SINCE EVERYTIME I GET IN THE CAR IT TAKES ABOUT 3 -6 FAILURES BEFORE I CAN TRIGGER IT TO WORK SINCE MAY 2007 WHICH IS WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. *TR

EXTREME HOOD TEMPERATURE DUE TO TURBO IN EXCESS OF 225 DEGREES F DUE TO EXTREME TEMPERATURES BURNS TO BODY PARTS UP TO 2ND DEGREE CAN OCCUR IF HOOD OF CAR IS TOUCHED. DAMAGE TO PLASTIC HOODSCOOP ON CAR...BASICALLY IT IS MELTING AND DEFORMING I REPLACED THE HOOD SCOOPE AND REFRAIN FROM TOUCHING THE HOOD FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER THE CAR IS SHUT OFF. THIS IS A PROBLEM IF I AM GOING TO HAVE WORK DONE ON THE CAR. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER US. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE REAR VIEW MIRROR BLOCKED HIS VIEW AND NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO NOTIFY THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REMOVE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR DUE TO CIRCUITS IN THE MIRROR THAT ARE USED TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5.