2010 Mini Cooper Problems & Complaints

The dealer refused to perform the required FRM recall inspection and denied the recall without providing any of the federally required documentation. I was forced to pay out‑of‑pocket for the FRM module replacement even though my VIN is listed under the safety recall. MINI of Murray stated my FRM “failed,” but admitted they never opened the module, which is required to determine internal moisture intrusion. • The Service Manager stated they based their denial on “carpet and headliner moisture,” which is not part of the FRM recall inspection procedure. • I requested the FRM inspection report, photos, and the MINI Corporate denial code. I received none of these. • MINI Corporate Recall Team confirmed they had no documentation from the dealer and incorrectly stated that the module does not need to be opened. • Without a completed inspection uploaded to MINI Corporate, a denial code cannot be generated. • I was charged for the FRM replacement part, even though the recall should cover the repair if the module is affected. • The dealer only offered to waive a $149 programming fee. Safety Concern: The dealer failed to follow required recall procedures, failed to document the inspection, and denied federally mandated recall coverage without evidence. This violates recall protocol and leaves the safety defect unresolved. The module was replaced at my expense.

The vehicle is experiencing repeated failure of the Footwell module (FRM), a known defect acknowledged by MINI/BMW. During the two years I have owned the vehicle, the FRM has required four separate reflashes due to recurring malfunctions. The failure causes loss of proper power window operation, including the passenger window reversing or rolling down unexpectedly, and loss or malfunction of other body electrical functions controlled by the FRM. Headlamps will not turn off, resulting in a dead battery and electrical/intermittent dash light surges. The FRM failed again after a software reflash, which is a documented trigger for FRM internal memory corruption. MINI/BMW issued and Extended Limited Warranty for FRM failure, acknowledging this defect; however, I received the official notice after the warranty period had already expired, leaving no opportunity to repair the defect while covered. This failure affects safe operation of the vehicle, including the inability to properly secure windows and maintain normal electrical functionality. The issue is not due to wear or misuse, but an internal electronic defect recognized by the manufacturer. The repeated nature of the failure and reliance on reflashing demonstrate the defect was never fully resolved. I am reporting this issue to document the repeated failures, late manufacturer notification, and ongoing safety-related electrical system issues. I purchased the vehicle with 86,000 miles. It now has 100,000, well below the criteria for the LW. In the 14,000 miles and two years I have owned and driven it, it has required four FRM reflashings. Had I known about the Extended Limited Warranty, I would have had BMW repair it under said warranty. That wasn't possible because I received notice of the known failure after the ELW expired.

Engine issues Engine leaks over heating seal gasket Timing bell Engine missed firing

Passenger Airbag sensor is off even when passenger is in the seat and airbag should be on.

On Thursday I was driving my 2010 Mini Cooper S with 75,000 miles on it and there was a total and sudden power outage on the high way. I was able to get to the breakdown lane and had it towed. My mini certified garage ran the computer on it and the car started right up. It was due for an inspection so we did an oil and filter and put on some new tires. No issues were found and car was running well. We picked it up on Friday and Saturday morning after a short drive I was parking and smoke started pouring out from behind the steering wheel. I ran inside a coffee shop for help and they asked if there were flames. I went back out and opened the car door and there was loud noise and the hood was in flames. The entire dash was melted, the hood had a hole burned in it and with the fire rescue interventions the car was a total loss. No one was injured.

The passenger airbag with seat belt icon is always indicating no one is in the seat or not buckled. The alert icon for the lighting is also on and we have replaced bulbs and still won’t work and the windows at times just randomly stops would have to unplug battery for it to reset for the windows only. I just bought this car and have registered since. Was told there was several recalls with the same issue I am experiencing. Please include my car for the proper recalls so I can have a safe reliable vehicle for my family.

The contact owned a 2010 Mini Cooper S Hartop. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH with the two sunroofs open, the vehicle caught fire. There were flames underneath the rear of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact opened the hood and threw baking soda on the flames but sustained burns to her hands and face, and medical attention was provided. The neighbors had used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. The airbags did not deploy. A police report was filed. There was no crash. The vehicle was previously taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the footwell control module. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. 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 vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. Parts distribution disconnect. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. The insurance deemed the vehicle a total loss.

In an attempt to resolve persistent rough running engine issue, mechanic discovered that the timing chain guides failed (broke apart) and that plastic pieces of the guides migrated into the engine oil system.

Engine stalling Oil pan leaks Caused the engine to shut down when slowing down or sitting in traffic on highway. No warning lights prior to incidents Only right after

COPY OF COMPLAINT sent to MINI USA today 9/2/24. (Removed my personal data -name, address, email, phone number): I have been waiting since JULY 2023 for notice of a fix for this DANGEROUS ISSUE of failed FOOTWELL MODULES that can CATCH ON FIRE! How is this either legal or humane? When I call, and I call regularly, to ask about any progress made in CORRECTING THE POTENTIALLY FATAL to the driver, problem, I'm asked to BE PATIENT...that a fix is being studied but none has become available. And, oh yes, always the "FOOTWELL FIRES are very very rare"...so I suppose if I have one and I DIE my heirs should take comfort in knowing that it was very very rare? Here's the bottom line. I spoke with a service manager at MINI OF LOVELAND and I will not divulge his name because he doesn't deserve to be reprimanded or hassled. I asked him if they were replacing ANY FOOTWELL MODULES BECAUSE OF THE RECALL. I was given the same BS about "working on creating a part that will fix it". Yeah, right. But here's the jewel in this conversation: When I asked what they'd do if my Footwell module failed for MECHANICAL REASONS he told me and I BELIEVE it's a fix that should be offered to all affected owners: "He told me that when FWMODULES in my make/model/year mini, fail (not catch fire but fail as they normally do - i.e. windows won't go up or down, OR turn signals and or/headlights won't work, etc. the fix for that also address the recall issue: REPLACE THE FOOTWELL WITH THE SAME PART with these modifications to address the corrosion/fire recall: They remove the old broken module. They clean out the entire footwell removing any signs of corrosion from the leaked in water. THEY PACK the module with material that will prevent moisture from seeping in. AND then they close it back up! AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER> I WANT THIS FIX! I deserve this fix as do other mini owners who are affected by this recall to prevent death or severe burns or both from failed footwell modules. THANKS

Airbag light is deployed when passenger is sitting in seat. Module under seat is not recognizing the passenger and airbags are turned off. This is a safety concern in likeliness of an accident the passenger could be injured.

The car showed a check vehicle light. Looks like a car being lifted up (red light). The windows do not move up or down, light switches do not work and the blinkers do not work. I was told by my mechanic it was the footwell module. I read there was a recall for this but my VIN wasn't on the list. Is it possible to check to see if it should have been on the list for the recall?

Footwell Control Module was recalled on 12 May 2023 NHTSA Recall Number 23V337. This item has been outstanding for almost a year and I am not able to repair it yet because a manufacturer remedy is not yet available. In rare cases corrosion could result in short circuit, thermal runaway and injury. Please compel the manufacturer to develop a remedy immediately.

Trailer brakes disconnected in 18k lb trailer while driving down mountain. This bulletin is the issue, should be a recall. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The FRM module on my 2010 MINI Cooper S failed in 2022. I was unable to access multiple functions on the vehicle, including interior and exterior lighting, window controls, and other operations that worked randomly during this time. I needed my car fully operational for work commuting so I had to find a replacement FRM, which I did from an OEM MINI parts website, [XXX] . The new FRM I purchased was matched to my vehicle's VIN and installed and programmed by my local MINI shop, Detroit Tuned [XXX] ) , in Clawson, MI. The total bill for this was over $800 (I have receipts for the purchase and the install). The recall notice from MINI/BMW came in 2023, and according to their website there is still no fix, which makes no sense since I bought an OEM replacement that was fitted to my car in 2022, as I noted here. How can a part that when fails can potentially cause vehicle fires ("thermal incident", per their recall notes) NOT be replaced immediately by the manufacturer? And how can MINI/BMW say they can't get the part when an OEM version is available online? The delay in this fix is unacceptable. My OEM replacement FRM works perfectly, but I am out the $800+ I spent to get it since MINI didn't then and still doesn't have them available, "officially". So if they ever get the part and replace my fully operational replacement for free, I am still out the money I spent in 2020 to make my car operationally safe. What can I do to get a refund from MINI/BMW? Thanks. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

On [XXX], mileage was 47,744 I took Mini for service, and told them that the front right headlight didn't work, they replaced the light bulb and they found out that the headlight was still inoperable, and internally shorted. They didn't want to include it in the extended warranty. The mini has electrical issues (FRM). The headlight wires are damaged inside the light housing and are bare-striped even if you change the light bulb when you hit a bump the wires touch the bulb short out. So my car was under the extended warranty when I took it to Braman Motors Miami for service but they failed to correct the problem. BMW of North America extended the warranty for 10 years /156,000 miles whichever occurs first, as determined by your vehicle's service date (original service date is 3/16/2010) extending the limited warranty for the Footwell Module (FRM) This problem is a known problem by BMW / Mini they currently have open recalls on the model, series, production date, and year. but since hardly anyone files complaints to NHTSA in Fla, this problem is ongoing. [XXX], under violation of federal law (The Safety Act) dealers can't sell, lease, or deliver any vehicle until recall repairs have been performed. But they overlook the problem at the dealership when the car is in the shop for service. I was given a multi-point inspection it passed 28 of them LOL, but the first one (Operation of all light and signals, (passed)...lol So how can this test pass? When I picked up the Mini nothing was working turn signals, the front right headlight, windows, hazard lights, fog lights. However, the dealer overlooks the safety recall and wants to charge the client an additional charge to diagnose the FRM. They gave me an estimate for $1,985.38 if I had approved the work that they said the Mini needed, but nothing to do with the recall (FRM) is this how BMW handles this safety recall? They don't care to solve the problem at any level dealer or manufacturer. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2010 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that she was unable to check for warning lights due to a previous failure of the instrument cluster. The contact was able to coast the vehicle over to the side of the road. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle and had the vehicle towed to the residence. The contact stated that the stall was an intermittent failure and occurred at various speeds. Additionally, the contact stated that there were various other electrical failures with the power windows. Additionally, the sunroof was unable to open or close as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle was also intermittently not able to turn off after turning the ignition key to the off position and remained running until the vehicle turned off independently. The contact drove the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 30,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2010 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing an electrical failure. The contact stated that the turn signals, the headlights, the power window switches, the gauges and other unknown components were inoperable. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle had locked independently. The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact that they needed to pay a fee for the repairs. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2010 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the power window switch had failed to operate as needed intermittently. Additionally, the contact stated that the gauges were inoperable. An unknown dealer was contacted and advised the contact to tow the vehicle to their location for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2010 Mini Cooper. 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 made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact recently stated that the vehicle failed to start without warning. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

My 2010 Mini Cooper convertible recently had an electrical failure. I lost power while driving and the power steering wouldn’t work. Once it started again the blinkers wouldn’t work and brake lights and radio worked intermittently. I took it to the mechanic and the diagnostic determined that the footwell module is bad. Unfortunately this part is apparently on back order so the part cannot be ordered. The car is not safe to drive nor is a solution available. I looked up recalls on Mini coopers. This current recall shows that the footwell module has been recalled on 2010 hardtop Mini Coopers: MINI Recall 23V-xxx: Footwell Module Attachments: BMW AG is conducting a Voluntary Safety Recall (effective May 11, 2023) on certain Model Year 2007 - 2014 MINI vehicles that were produced between November 16, 2006, and June 27, 2014. (Due to several contributing factors (environmental, certain US States’ wintertime road treatment, vehicle design configuration and age), over time, the Footwell module (FRM) could become susceptible to corrosion) It doesn’t make sense that the exact year Mini in hardtop has the recall. Clearly the footwell modules are a problem in convertibles as well. The wording of the recall says that winter conditions can contribute to the problem. My convertible resided in a winter area for 10 years. I believe that the Mini Cooper convertibles should be included in the recall.

Unknown. I’d just like to know how long Mini is allowed to work on a solution for the safety recall for the footwell control module that was issued last May. Given that they have known about problems with this module for years, it seems to me that they should have a solution ready to deploy by now. Thanks for your assistance.

The contact owns a 2010 Mini Cooper. 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 made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

My vehicle started smelling intensely like burning plastic which filled the compartment. I brought it immediately to the repair shop. I had it towed in. It was apparent something was on fire. When I got to the repair shop (not mini) the electrical components for the interior, turn signals and windows) had failed and smoldered. There were no warning lights. I was told that there was a recall for the Footwell Module and that this had caused the problem. I never received a letter for the recall. The car is registered in California but was first sold in New York and so it qualifies for the recall but when I look up my VIN it says no recalls. The part has failed, and they have told me they have no replacement part yet so my car is now sitting with a car cover with the windows rolled own because they cannot roll up without the Footwell Module. Mini says they have no solution. I had to buy a new car. This was not an easy expense for me as I have limited income due to a disability.

The contact's son owns a 2010 Mini Cooper Hardtop. The contact stated that the windows failed to roll down, and the turn signals and the headlights were inoperable. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics, where it was diagnosed that the footwell control module (FRM) was severely corroded. The contact later received NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer for a temporary repair and she would later receive reimbursement. The local dealer was contacted, and an appointment was scheduled for temporary repair; however, the manufacturer informed the contact that they would no longer provide reimbursement for any repairs completed prior to the safety recall because the vehicle was drivable despite the safety failures. The vehicle had not yet been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.

02/16/2023 i purchase mini cooper s from a private owner i paid cash 6,0000 for the car 2 months later my car broke down i had my car towed to a shop i was told that my motor mounts had no bolts or screws and that what cause my car to break down it also broke my intake and wheel bearings had to be replaced total cost 1,600.00 On 08/04/2023 my car breaks down i was told that my valve broke and two cylinders needed to be replace the mechanic also told me that my card did not have the miles that it showing on the odometer when i purchase my car odometer read 156,000 miles i was told my mechanic that my car has almost 300,000 miles and the memory brain on my car is ready it a 2006 but my vin number said 2010 im having to replace my engine on my car still in th shop at i already paid up front 4200

The contact owned a 2010 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he smelled a burning odor within the interior of the vehicle. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the road, and after visual inspection, he observed flames emanating from the footwell control module. The contact stated that bystanders assisted him in extinguishing the flames. No police or fire reports were filed. No warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic; instead, it was towed to the contact's residence, where it remains. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number 23V337000 (Electrical System), and the VIN was included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,000.

Passenger seat occupancy sensor failure. This is a very common fault in the R56 series Mini Cooper. The manufacture has not initiated a recall. There are vendors selling "bypass" kits which will cause unsafe air bag deployment in an infant is in the seat.

Lights come on & off for airbags and or seat belts - randomly - unknown as to why - or if they are working - sometimes stay on - for 2 weeks - then go off and not on for quite awhile (weeks) brought up as to -why? with no resolution except may need repair? Does not seem to make sense - no accidents or even close to an accident ever occurring- local driving - car maintained.

The contact owns a 2010 Mini Cooper Convertible. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger’s air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V205000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic and it was determined that the front passenger occupant detection sensor needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.

Passenger seat occupancy sensor has failed, rendering the airbag system permanently turned off until it is replaced. This is an issue that is so common that people are purchasing bypass units off of eBay to trick the computer into thinking the passenger is there. A quick google search will confirm this. It cannot be condoned that a company as large as BMW gets a free pass on refusing to fix this while companies on eBay profit on a device that is clearly not safe to use.

Transmission/timing chain issue/engine malfunctions

The airbag occupancy detection switch in the passenger seat is defective. This is occurring so often on Mini Coopers (R56 models from 2007-2013) that a passenger occupancy defeat switch is being openly sold and YouTube videos are available showing how to fit this device. This disables the occupancy detector switch, causing grave danger of death to infants or children seated in the passenger seat during a collision. MINI is currently charging nearly $1,000 to rectify this common fault. This defect has been confirmed multiple times by MINI, including on my vehicle on 7/8/2022. The component has been inspected by the manufacturer and confirmed to be defective. There were warning lights displayed on the central console, as well as on the driver tachometer every time the car is started. This warning cannot be defeated. This Youtube video (and many others…) have been posted more than 3 years ago about the issue, showing how to disable the warning. This one has over 74,000 views! https://youtu.be/gDlmtygUipM It is WELL overdue that you do something about this clear, present and deadly danger to children! Thank you.

The car consumes too much oil. This is not mentioned in the car manual. Without enough oil, the car's engine would seize up and stop functioning. Driving with low oil in the system can ruin the vehicle's engine, completely breaking the motor.

my passenger airbag lights have been on for months .. cannot remove also my car has been burning oil since i got it

The contact owns a 2010 Mini Cooper. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was a rattling sound heard with a burning odor detected. The vehicle stalled without warning. The check engine light warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The dealer performed an oil change and the check engine light was reset; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and diagnosed with engine failure after failing the smog test. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the Vin was not under recall. The failure mileage was 104,000.

While driving home one night the following items failed to work: Head lights; turn signals, front windows (so no hand signals); Hazard lights; interior lights; and speedometer dash light. This occurred shortly after a battery change. I am not sure if tail of brake lights function at this time. Driving the vehicle in this condition presents a unacceptable safety concern. During daily light hours I had already noticed the turn signal issue and just thought maybe a relay was bad and had not had time to investigate. Investigation revealed the failed part is the FOOTWELL MODULE, and that this is a KNOWN ISSUE by Mini Cooper. Rather than issue a recall and fix the parts, they offered an extended warranty that lasted 10 years (which expired 13 months ago for my car). As a safety issue, this should have been a recall for all vehicles, not a wait til people have a fail to fix. This issue affects newer models as well.

Some how from one day to another the Signal doesn’t works for any dirección, horn, high lighting doesn’t work, only works the posición light but doesn’t respond if I use the control to turn off or change the option.

I purchased a vehicle from a used car dealership and about two weeks after I purchased the vehicle I took it in to get the oil and all the fluids checked I washed the vehicle filled the tank up with gas and took it into them when I went to pick it up I noticed that there was some thing that appeared to be a programmer underneath the dash that was missing that was there before I took it to them as well as a little black box that was connected to the OBD two reader there was also missing carpet from the gas pedal was missing there were 200 more miles on my car than there were when I dropped it off so the whole tank of gas was gone down to 14 miles left when I I asked the service man where the performance chip was that they took out he told me that they didn’t take anything out and that there is no chip in the next time that I asked him he said that was I sure it wasn’t one of their tools and then the next time that I asked him he said to me that they don’t sell cars with modified parts on them not sure if he was trying to justify him stealing the chip out of the vehicle but the vehicleIs now overheating and with warped heads and running like crap so I am paying $400 a month for a vehicle that I cannot even drive. Also the vehicle has bad shocks. Sounds like crap the alignment is off it shakes going down the road feels like it is going to fall apart and there is a tear in the convertible top that was not there before I dropped it off with the service man also they needed it for two weeks for a job that was one hour for a serpentine belt that he claimed he had to wait three days for from Napa.

I have made several attempts to reach out to dealer. The check engine light came on the same day I purchased car. I brought the car back, the dealer said they would replace it, but couldn't do the work that day. They provided me with a false inspection report. They never followed up with me after several months had gone by and several phone calls had been made with them refusing to return my call. The car turns off on its on while driving. The brakes are also not good on the car. I had to get an oil change, wiping blades after a month of having the car. The AC fan is also not functioning. I would like to escalate this issue, because I am unable to pass my state inspection as well as feeling unsafe to drive a car that can turn off anytime on the road while driving. I waited to take to inspection because I was waiting on the dealer to communicate when they will replace the part. after several months of refusing to respond to my phone calls and emails. I have decided to report their intentional negligence. I also purchased a warranty. through this company EPOVO auto group. I have not received a follow document certifying my warranty purchase through them. Uncertain of legitimacy of this warranty as well. I have filed a complaint with BBB and Federal Trade Commission. I have not received a response. The following failed inspection codes: P0014, P0015, MIL Command.

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS INOPERATIVE ANYTIME THE ENGINE IS RUNNING WHETHER THE CAR IS MOVING OR STATIONARY. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DOES NOT WORK ON A CITY STREET, HIGHWAY OR WHILE TURNING. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER YEAR MINI COOPER'S BUT FOR SOME REASON NOT THIS YEAR EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE PLENTY OF ONLINE REFERENCES TO THIS PROBLEM IN ONLINE MINI COOPER CHAT ROOMS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS FAULT WITH THE MINI COOPER. POTENTIAL WITH DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. THE ISSUE WAS PRESENT WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR USED APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO. I CONTACTED MINI COOPER (1-866-825-1525) TO SEE IF THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. APPARENTLY THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PASSENGER SEATBELT MALFUNCTION AND HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

I HAVE A 2010 MINI COOPER HARDTOP. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM OF THE LAST THREE YEARS. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG ALERT GOES ON WHEN I HAVE A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT SAYING PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF. I'VE TAKEN IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY WILL NEED TO DISMANTLE THE SEAT TO SEE IF THE SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACE. I SEE THAT OTHER MODELS OF MINI COOPERS HAVE HAD RECALLS FOR THIS DEFECT IN SEAT SENSORS. MODELS IN YEARS BEFORE AND AFTER 2010. IT IS AN EXPENSIVE PROCEDURE, AND DANGEROUS IF I HAVE A PASSENGER.

WHILE DRIVING, CARS AROUND ME WERE BEEPING WHEN I SWITCHED LANES AFTER SIGNALING AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKES. I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED! COME TO FIND OUT ALL OF MY LIGHTING SYSTEMS WERE INOPERABLE. I HAD: *NO BRAKE LIGHTS *NO TURN SIGNALS *NO HAZARD LIGHTS *NO HEADLIGHTS *NO TAIL LIGHTS *WINDOWS WERE INOPERABLE. THE LIST GOES ON. THIS IS TERRIFYING TO HAVE HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, AND EVEN WORSE, I DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING UNTIL I HAD NEARLY BEEN HIT BY TWO DIFFERENT CARS. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN WORSE HAD IT FAILED AT NIGHT. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE FOOTWELL MODULE (AKA FRM) HAD FAILED. THIS HAPPENED AT ONLY 41,000 MILES. APPARENTLY THIS IS EXTREMELY COMMON AND A LONG-KNOWN DEFECT ON MINI COOPERS. IN MY OPINION THERE NEEDS TO BE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL ON ALL AFFECTED FRMS. I LEARNED THAT MINI ISSUED A "SILENT RECALL" OF EXTENDED WARRANTIES, FROM 4 YEARS TO 8 YEARS, AND NOW TO 10 YEARS/156,000 MILES. I AM OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY 6 MONTHS BY TIME, BUT WITHIN WARRANTY BY 115,000 MILES. I CONTACTED MINI USA TO REQUEST THAT THEY COVER THE PART REPAIR, AS THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART IN MY CAR'S MODEL AND YEAR AND A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE. THEY HAVE REFUSED, DESPITE ME GETTING IN TOUCH THREE TIMES. I ALSO NOTIFIED CUSTOMER RELATIONS AT MINI USA THAT I NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION ON THIS PART, OR ON ANY OTHER PART. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION OF RECALLS THAT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE, THOUGH THROUGH MY RECENT RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT SOME HAVE BEEN ISSUED. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH AS WELL AS DISCUSSIONS WITH MINI TECHS WILL REVEAL WIDESPREAD FRM FAILURE. MANY OTHER COMPLAINANTS ON THIS PAGE ARE REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE. HAS ANY INVESTIGATION TAKEN PLACE? IF NOT, I HOPE THERE WILL BE ONE.

THE SOUND OF THE MOTOR IS VERY VERY NOISE, AND SHAKES REALLY BAD AFTER YOU START THE CAR.

AIR BAG PASSENGER LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. WINDOWS DOWN GO UP OR DOWN. TURN SIGNALS DON'T WORK. AC STOP WORKING. IT BLOWS OUT HOT AIR IN THE FRONT. A LOUD THUD NOISE HAPPENS ONCE IN A WHILE FROM THE BACK. SOMETIMES WON'T START LIKE IF THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. SOMETIMES ENGINE WON'T TURN OFF AND WILL RUN WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I'VE ONLY HAD IT SINCE OCT 2019. *TR

THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR IS BROKEN. THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMWS AND MINI COOPERS. SOME MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED. BUT MANY HAVE NOT, INCLUDING MINE. THE SYMPTOM IS THAT SEAT BELT AND AIRBAG WARNINGS LIGHT UP.

AFTER RECEIVING ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR A BATTERY ISSUE I WAS DRIVING HOME AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT NIGHT WHEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTING OF MY DASHBOARD WENT OUT AND MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, TURN SIGNALS, FOG LIGHTS, HIGH BEAMS, AND WINDOWS CEASED TO FUNCTION. WHEN I MADE IT HOME I SCANNED MY VEHICLE VIA OBD2 AND A PLETHORA OF CODES HAD APPEARED ALMOST ALL RELATED TO SAFETY FEATURES SUCH AS LIGHTING, AIRBAGS,DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL, SUSPENSION, ABS, AND SPEED SENSING DEVICES. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF RESEARCH AND DIAGNOSTIC WORK I DETERMINED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE DRIVER SIDE FOOTWELL MODULE WHICH HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN TO BE A DEFECTIVE ITEM TO MINI/BMW SO MUCH SO THAT IT'S BEEN GIVEN A WARRANTY EXTENSION OF 10 YEARS/ 156,000 MILES THAT REMAINS ACTIVE, BUT ONLY TO ELIGIBLE VEHICLE WARRANTY HOLDERS. AFTER MY EXPERIENCE OF LOSING PRACTICALLY ALL VEHICLE LIGHTING WHICH INCLUDED BOTH TURN AND HAZARD SIGNALING ABILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS I IMPLORE THE NHTSA TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL ON THESE FAULTY FOOTWELL MODULES GIVEN THE EASE AND SUDDENNESS AT WHICH THEY CEASE TO FUNCTION FOR REASONS THAT RANGE FROM MOISTURE INTOLERANCE, ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PRACTICES, AND EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AS WAS MY PARTICULAR CASE. THE PROBLEM HAS ALREADY BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND I FEEL IT IS NOW TIME THAT THE GOVERNMENT ADDRESS THIS KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE IN ORDER TO PROTECT AMERICA'S ROADS AND HIGHWAYS AS WELL AS THE CITIZENRY AT LARGE.

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND SEAT BELL LIGHT REMAINS ON ENTIRE TIME. THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON 2009 AND EARLIER MODELS BUT NOT 2010'S, HOWEVER IT'S THE SAME ISSUE. I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE CAR HOWEVER THE ORIGINAL OWNER HAD THE REPLACED IN 2015 BUT NOW THE LIGHTS ARE BACK ON.

MINI COOPER TIMING CHAIN TENSONER DEFECT. I HAVE A R56 HARDTOP 2010 MINI COOPER. MY CAR STARTED HAVING ISSUES LIKE TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING. A RATTLING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD, ESPECIALLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. WHILE I WAS DRIVING I HEARD A LOUD SNAP NOISE AND MY CAR SHUT OFF. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER AFTER THAT AND WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOK THERE WAS A BROKEN VALVE COVER. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CAUSED MASSIVE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO MY CAR. THE MINI DEALERSHIP IN LAS VEGAS IS NOT HONORING THE LAWSUIT. NOT REALLY SURE HOW TO PROCEED. THEY WANT $3,500. IN REPAIRS. MY CAR IS ONLY AT 83,000MILES AND JUST PAID OFF. NOT SURE HOW TO PROCEED.

THE VEHICLE IS A STANDARD MODEL CONVERTIBLE, NOT AN "S" MODEL. TRUNK LATCH MALFUNCTION WHILE IN MOTION: TRUNK LATCH OPENS/DISENGAGES SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, WITH THE KEY INSERTED AND THE MOTOR RUNNING. THIS UNPREDICTABLE FAULT CAN OCCUR ANYWHERE, INCLUDING ON A FREEWAY. THE TRUNK LID CAN DROP TO FULL OPEN, EXPOSING ITEMS STORED IN TRUNK AS POSSIBLE DEBRIS-THREAT TO VEHICLES FOLLOWING. DRIVER OF VEHICLE IS PRESENTED WITH CHOICE BETWEEN RISKING STOPPING (FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE SHOULDER OF A FREEWAY) OR RISKING INCIDENT INVOLVING FOLLOWING VEHICLES. EVENTUALLY, TRUNK LATCH WILL CEASE ALL FUNCTION. REPLACEMENT COST IS APPROXIMATELY $300 PLUS LABOR. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW. THIS 2010 MODEL IS DRIVEN 2 OR 3 TIMES PER WEEK FOR RELATIVELY SHORT DISTANCES. IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN FEWER THAN 30,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THIS FAULT HAS OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS. ITEMS IN TRUNK HAVE SPILLED ONTO ROADWAY. DRIVER HAS HAD TO STOP AND SLAM THE TRUNK CLOSED. THE INCIDENTS LIKELY WOULD HAVE OCCURRED MANY MORE TIMES IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN DAILY AND FOR LONGER DISTANCES. TRUNK LATCH SYSTEM WAS REPLACED AND THE NEW LATCH SYSTEM BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING IN THE SAME MANNER WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF REPLACEMENT. DATE LISTED BELOW IS THE MOST RECENT DATE UPON WHICH THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.

2010 MINI COOPER S 2 DOOR, UP TO DATE WITH ALL MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE, CHANGED OIL EVERY 4,000 MILES. CAR SHOWROOM QUALITY. AT 81,000. MILES I SHUT IT OFF IN MY GARAGE AND LATER WENT TO START THE ENGINE, IT WAS DEAD AND WOULD NOT TURN OVER EVEN WITH A CHARGE. I HAD IT TOWED TO BRAMAN MOTORCARS, WPB, FL WHERE I PURCHASED IT NEW AND ORIGINAL OWNER AND WAS TOLD IT IS THE RETENTION CHAIN. BMW OF N. AMERICA HAD A CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR 2007 TO 2010 MINI COOPERS, SUIT CLOSED IN 2015 SAID MY VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE CLASS ACTION SUIT AND REFUSED TO FIX MY CAR. THEY WANT 11,000-13,000 TO FIX. I AM WITHIN THE YEARS THE SUIT WAS MENTIONED MY MILEAGE IS RIGHT AT THE POINT IT MAKES MENTION IN THE CLASS ACTION SUIT. MY VIN # IS NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE THEY ONLY PAID ON THE VIN NUMBERS THAT WERE IN THE SUIT. BMW OF N AMER. DID NOT ADD VIN# OF OTHER CARS THAT WERE NOT IN THE SUIT. I WAS NEVER CONTACTED AND DID NOT KNOW ABOUT MY CAR. I AM TOLD I CAN JUNK IT AND BUY A NEW CAR. I TOOK CARE OF MY CAR FOR EVERYTHING AND NOW MY CAR IS JUST GONE AND THEY ARE NOT WANTING TO HELP ME FIX IT. BMW OF N AMERICA DID NOT OFF ANY GOODWILL ON THE REPAIR NOR MAKE IT A RECALL ISSUE. THEY JUST SETTLED THE CASE FOR THE CARS KNOWN AT THAT TIME AND THE REST OF US CAN JUST GO POUND DIRT! I NOW AM WITHOUT A CAR OR TRANSPORTATION AND BRAMAN MOTORCARS TRIED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME WITH QUOTING ME HIGH PRICES ON A NEW CAR, THAT I CANNOT AFFORD. PLEASE HELP. NO ONE THAT KNOWS ME OR MY CAR CAN BELIEVE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR BECAUSE OF HOW WELL I TAKE CARE OF IT.

ENGINE LOST POWER ON HIGHWAY. TIMING CHAIN LOOSENED, CAUSED SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE.

WHEN YOU TURN ON THE CAR THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF RANDOMLY ON MY DASHBOARD AND THE YELLOW PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING SIGNS ON THE TOP OF THE CAR ALSO COMING ON AND OFF, SOMETIMES IT DISAPPEAR WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. I CALLED MINI COOPER LOCAL DEALER, NO RECALL NOTED INCLUDING IN YOUR WEBSITE.

'DEATH RATTLE,' A RATTLING SOUND THAT COMES FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. 002D50 DME:SUPER KNOCKING 002D9C DME: KNOWCKSENSOR, SIGNAL CAR RUNS ROUGH FOUND SUPER KNOCKING PLAUSIBLITY FAULTS AND RATTLING FROM THE ENGINE. TIMING CHANIN IS FAULTY REPLACED TIMING CHAIN CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT TIMING CHAIN KIT CHAIN GUIDE BOLT SEAL CHAIN GUIDE BOLT SEAL TIMING RAIL BOLT CAMSHAFT BOLT CAMSHAFT BOLT SPARK PLUG ILZKBR7B-8D TIMING RAIL BOLT VALVE COVER GASKET SET BROKEN TIMING CHAIN GUIDE ==COMPLAINT== BROKEN TIMING CHAIN GUIDE IN OIL PAN ==CAUSE== CORRECTION: REMOVED OIL PAN, CLEANED CLOGGED OIL PUMP AND RESEALED OIL PAN CHEMICAL GASKET BMW OIL SERVICE COST OF ALL REPAIR IS LABOR$1450.00 PARTS$534.89 TAX$52.15 TOTAL$1922.04 PAID$1922.04

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. AFTER SAFELY PULLING THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BLUE RIDGE MOTOR WORK (2424 FORT HENRY DR., KINGSPORT, TN) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST DUE TO NO RECALLS BEING ATTRIBUTED TO THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000.

LATCH ON TRUNK UNLOCKS AND RELEASES THE TRUNK WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAN CAUSE THE CONTENTS OF THE TRUNK TO FALL ON TO THE ROAD ENDANGERING OTHER DRIVERS. THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ON THE MINI OWNER SITE

THE TIMING CHAIN IS FAILING AT 80,000. DEALER AND MINIUSA HAVE AGREED SHOULD LAST 4 LIFE OF THE ENGINE AT LEAST 120,000. . CAUSED OIL TO BURN OFF , WHICH CAUSED WEARING AND DAMAGE TO EXHAUST CAMSHAFT,SEAL , AND VANOS. TIME CHAIN FAILURE HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED ON OTHER MODELS AND CLASS ACTION SUIT HAS DETERMINED MINI IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FAILURE AND KNEW ABOUT FAILURE IN THE 2010 AS WELL AS FAR BACK AS 2008. MINI HAS REDUCED REPAIR COSTS FROM 4200$ TO 1400$ BUT ARE REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY THIS FAR FOR FULL REIMBURSEMENT. TIME CHAIN SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. VEHICLE WAS OPERATING WHEN TIME CHAIN BEGAN TO RATTLE

MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED IN TRAFFIC ON A CITY STREET WHEN I WAS DRIVING 40 MPH AND WOULD NOT RUN. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AT ALL. IT WAS VERY SCARY. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY WHO ADVISED THAT THE TENSIONER THAT SECURE THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND RUINED THE ENGINE. IN MAY, I HAD A WATER PUMP FAILURE THAT I HAD REPAIRED AND I UNDERSTAND THERE HAVE BEEN LAWSUITS ON BOTH, MINI TELLS ME MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THAT LAWSUIT THAT ONLY CONVERTIBLES WERE COVERED FOR THAT YEAR. THEY GAVE ME A NUMBER TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE PUMP. I STILL OWE $6K AND THE CAR IS TOAST. ;-(

CAR SHUT DOWN ENROUTE TO HOSPITAL. THERE WAS NO WARNING (AS CHARACTERIZED BY MANY OWNERS). I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A REPUTABLE REPAIR FACILITY. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER HAD DISINTEGRATED AND CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO "SLIP". THEY RAN A COMPRESSION TEST ON THE 4 CYLINDERS. TWO OF THE CYLINDERS HAVE 0 COMPRESSION AND THE OTHER TWO HAVE SERIOUSLY LOW READINGS. THEY TOLD ME THAT ANY ADDITIONAL DAMAGE IS INDETERMINATE. THE EXACT SEQUENCE OF EVENTS BEGINNING WITH THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED IN GREAT NUMBERS. THIS RESULTED IN RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM UP TO THE 2009 MODEL YEAR. WHY WASN'T THIS EXTENDED TO THE 2010 MODEL YEAR?

TIMING CHAIN ISSUES THAT WOULD MAKE CAR RANDOMLY RATTLE THEN JUST TURN OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC OR AT A STOP LIGHT. CAR WOULD SKIP GEARS AS WELL. OUR 2009 HAS THE SAME ISSUES AND MINI HAS TOLD US IT IS THE TIMING CHAIN AS WELL. WE SPENT OVER $1800 FIXING THIS ISSUE THAT APPARENTLY HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH OTHER MINI CARS.

PURCHASE PREVIOUSLY OWNED (BY 1 OWNER, LOW MILEAGE) 2010, MINI COOPER FROM DEALERSHIP 2 YEARS AGO. CURRENTLY HAS ONLY 70K MILES. LAST WEEK WHILE DRIVING, TIMING CHAIN FAILED SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSING $3100+ IN ESTIMATED DAMAGES. FIRST ISSUE I HAVE IS HOW DOES A TIMING BELT LAST ONLY 70K MILES ON A SUPPOSED HIGH-END, HIGH-PERFORMANCE VEHICLE LIKE MINI/BMW? EVERY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED (FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC) RECOMMENDS CHANGING TIMING BELT AROUND 100K MILES, SO THE THOUGHT OF CHANGING A TIMING CHAIN WAS FOR AT LEAST 20K MORE MILES NEVER CROSSED MY MIND. SECOND ISSUE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN AWARDED TO MINI COOPER OWNERS (SAME MAKE AND MODEL) ON OR ABOUT 2010 FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. HOWEVER, MINI COOPER CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND THE ONLY LOCAL MINI COOPER SERVICE CENTER IN SAN ANTONIO TEXAS HAS INFORMED ME THAT MY VIN # WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS SETTLEMENT...EVEN THOUGH THE CAUSE AND AFFECT OF THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE IS EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM MY MINI COOPER EXPERIENCED WITH ONLY 70K MILES. *TR

"PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT WITH THE SEAT BELT ON, AND VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS WAS EXPRESSED TO MINI, WHO HAS A RECALL FOR EXACTLY THIS PROBLEM ON EARLIER MODELS, AND MINI HAS EXPRESSED THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. I HAVE VIDEO OF THIS OCCURRING IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN WATCHING IT. *TR

WHILE ON A RECENT ROAD TRIP, PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LAMPS BEGAN TO COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. AT FIRST, THE SYSTEM SEEMED TO RESET WHEN THE ENGINE WAS SWITCHED OFF, BUT OVER THE COURSE OF 2 DAYS, IT STOPPED RESETTING AND THE WARNING LIGHTS, AS WELL AS THE WARNING TONES, WOULD JUST GO ON AND OFF SPONTANEOUSLY WITH THE SEAT OCCUPIED. NOW THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" INDICATOR LAMP ABOVE THE REARVIEW MIRROR, WARNING LAMP NEAR TACHOMETER (AREA 1 AS INDICATED BY MINI OWNER'S MANUAL), AND AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILURE LAMP (AREA 2) ARE CONTINUOUSLY LIT WHEN PASSENGER SEAT IS UNOCCUPIED. I HAVE NOT HAD THE SYSTEM CHECKED BY A MECHANIC YET; CURRENTLY, THE NEAREST MINI DEALERSHIP/SERVICE CENTER IS 202 MILES FROM ME. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON ISSUE REPORTED HERE AND ON SEVERAL ONLINE FORUMS. THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER ALSO FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED IN SPRING OF 2015.

FAULTY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR FOR AIRBAG. WEIGHT SENSOR FAILS TO DISTINGUISH WHEN SOMEONE IS OR IS NOT IN THE SEAT, CAUSING THE AIRBAG FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER CONSTANTLY READ "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF."

TENSIONER BROKE CAUSING TIMING CHAIN SHEARED THE CAMSHAFT GEAR AND DESTROYED ENGINE...HAD CAR 7 MONTHS...BOUGHT USED AT TOYOTA OF NICHOLASVILLE IN NICHOLASVILLE KY

THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDE RAIL, CHAIN TENSIONERS,SLIKE RAIL FRICTION WHEEL ETC ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED AND IT ONLY HAS 13000 MILES I KNOW THAT BMW IS BEING SUED AND HABBERSTAD SAID THAT WE WOULD BE INFORMED OF THE SUIT IF OUR VEHICLE IS PART OF THE SUIT. PLEASE HELP US WITH THIS MATTER.

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY, EVEN WHEN AN ADULT PASSENGER IS SEATED THERE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND SEE THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR EARLIER MODEL COOPER AND COOPER S MODELS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS THAT ARE LISTED IN THAT RECALL, AND ACCORDING TO THIS SITE SO HAVE 2009 COOPER OWNERS. THIS RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED ACCORDINGLY.

THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING. WE TOWED IT TO A MECHANIC AND THE ENGINE BROKE DOWN. IT APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY MANY OTHERS AND A CLASS ACTION SUIT IS IN THE WORKS. I DON'T HAVE THE $5000 TO REPAIR IT. I'D LIKE FOR MINI/BMW TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO 7 YEARS AND COVER THIS REPAIR SINCE IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE.

PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR WILL NOT RESET AND LIGHT IS ON CONTINUOUSLY. DON'T KNOW IF SYSTEM IS WORKING OR NOT.. NO FIX AVAILABLE AND NO PARTS AVAILABLE ANYWHERE. DEALER SAYS, TRY IN A MONTH. FROM WHAT I READ EARLIER MODELS WERE RECALLED DO TO THIS DEFECT. WHY NOT ALL OF THEM. NO ONE CAN TELL ME THAT THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE.

I WAS DRIVING ON I 280 EAST AND NEWAR EXIT 8B THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED. THERE WAS LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY TIGHT. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY A TRACTOR. I GOT OUT OF THE EXIT (EXIT 7) AND GOT MYSELF TOWED. THE MECHANIC THINKS IT IS THE TIMING BELT THAT IS BROKEN.

THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT IN THIS VEHICLE FAILED. AFTER GETTING IT REPLACED AT THE DEALER I LEARNED LATER THERE IS A RECALL (THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED). I ALSO LEARNED THAT THE THERMOSTAT MAY HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THE FEDERAL EMISSIONS WARRANTY (THE DEALER SAID IT WASN'T BECAUSE THE LIGHT WASN'T ON).

MISS FUNCTION WITH HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, EVERY MORNING I HAVE PROBLEMS TO START UP MY MINI. LOSS OF POWER RESULT FROM THIS MISS FUNCTION WHICH REPRESENT A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON A HIGHWAY BY NOT HAVING THE POWER TO REACT TO ANY SITUATION. I TOOKED TO LOCAL DEALER AND THEY GAVE ME A LIST OF POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING TO CHANGE THE HIGH PRESURE FUEL PUMP. NOW I HAD BEEN SEARCHING FOR OTHER OWNERS IF THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND I DID FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL BLOGS TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I AM CONCERN ABOUT MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILY SAFETY WHEN THEY DRIVE WITH ME. PLEAES CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED MORE DETAILS ON THIS ISSUE. [XXX] I DO NOT UNDERS STAND WHY MINI/BMW CONTINUES NOT ACCEPTING THIS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, HOPE NO BODY GET HURT AS A RESULT. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR FOR A 300 MILES TRIP, NEVER HAD AN ISSUE BEFORE. AFTER STOPPING IN SAN ANTONIO THE FANS KEPT RUNNING FOR AT LEAST 15MIN. STOPPED AT A CONVEINIENCE STORE AND TOPPED OFF COOLANT WHICH WASNT MISSING ANY AND CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND ADDED ONE QUART OF OIL. TAKING ON THE TRIP TO AUSTIN TX, THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE AT 70MPH WHEN MY LOW OIL LIGHT CAME ON. TEN SECONDS LATER PULLED TO THE SIDE AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE ENGINE. LESS THAN A MINUTE LATER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND FIRE STARTED BLAZING THROUGHOUT THE CAR BURNING ALL OUR BELONGINGS.

ON THURSDAY,JULY 30, 2015 MY HUSBAND WAS HEADED TO WORK. HE WAS REAR ENDED WHILE HE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SEVERE WHIPLASH AND HAS SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR THE PERSON WHO HIT MY HUSBAND ADMITTED FAULT IMMEDIATELY. TWO VEHICLE INSPECTIONS WERE DONE BY AN ADJUSTER. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING A MINI COOPER AND HE WAS REAR ENDED. THE ADJUSTER INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A STEEL PLATE. HENCE, THE IMPACT TO THE BACK OF HIS VEHICLE MAY HAVE BEEN MUCH GREATER. AFTER SPEAKING WITH AN ADVISOR AT THE CONCORD, CA MINI COOPER DEALER, I LEARNED THAT THE STEEL PLATE IN THE MINI COOPER IS STANDARD AND A REQUIRED SAFETY FEATURE. THE MINI COOPER WAS PURCHASED FROM CARMAX.COM ( CARMAX IN FAIRFIELD, CA ). MY CONCERN AND QUESTION IS WHETHER ON NOT CARMAX KNEW THIS AND DO THEY GENERALLY SELL USED VEHICLES THAT DO NOT MEET STANDARD SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED CARMAX ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU. *TR

OUR 2010 MINI COOPER DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR HAS MALFUNCTIONED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THIS CAR (PREVIOUS WAS THE PASSENGER SIDE). IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN MINI'S. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS POSSIBLY DEADLY CONDITION IF WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT AS RESCUE/MEDICAL PERSONNEL COULD NOT GET US OUT OF THE DOOR. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO HAVE BMW/MINI OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM AND HAVE A SECOND, MECHANICAL, WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR.

KNOCKING, TIMING. OVER 2 THOUSAND SIGNATURES OF OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2010 MINI COOPER HARDTOP IN OCTOBER OF 2010 WITH 2,446 MILES ON IT. THIS CAR CAME FROM A MINI DEALERSHIP. I HAVE DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS WITHOUT ONE MECHANICAL ISSUE. TODAY I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 41,000 MILES ON THE CAR. ON THE EVENING OF FEBRUARY 16, 2015, I STARTED MY CAR TO LEAVE MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AND A LOW OIL INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHED. LIVING IN A COLD WEATHER CLIMATE, I THOUGHT THE ENGINE NEEDED TIME TO WARM UP. AFTER LETTING THE CAR WARM UP, I ATTEMPTED TO LEAVE THE PARKING LOT AND THE CAR FAILED AS I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A TURN ONTO A MAIN ROAD. MY HUSBAND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL MINI SPECIALIST WHERE WE WERE TOLD THE CAR WAS EXTREMELY LOW ON OIL DUE AN INTERNAL LEAK COMING FROM THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER SEAL. WE WERE TOLD THE LEAK HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A WHILE; HOWEVER, THE FIRST INDICATION OF LOW OIL WAS ONLY MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR FAILED. THE CAR HAD BEEN TO A LOCAL MINI DEALERSHIP FOR REGULAR SERVICE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. IN ADDITION THE MECHANIC FOUND COOLANT IN THE CYLINDERS AND IS UNSURE OF HOW THIS OCCURRED. THE MECHANIC FEELS IT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK OR CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. ADDITIONAL TESTING WOULD NEED TO BE DONE ON THESE PARTS TO CONFIRM. AT THIS TIME, MY HUSBAND AND I ARE BEING TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO REPLACED ON A CAR THAT ONLY HAD 40,000 MILES ON IT. THE ESTIMATED COST WE RECEIVED WAS $10,315. THIS IS A TOUGH PILL TO SWALLOW CONSIDERING IT IS A "YOUNG CAR," IN OUR MINDS. WITH ALL OF THE ISSUES FOUND BY THE MECHANIC IT SEEMS AS IF THIS CAR HAD A FAULTY ENGINE FROM THE START. I HAVE CONTACTED MINI USA REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND HOPE THEY STAND BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES. *TR

WE PURCHASED A USED 2010 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE FROM SCHWARTZ MAZDA IN, SHREWSBURY, NJ ON DEC. 27, 2014. AFTER TWO SEPARATE MINI COOPER DEALER SERVICE DEPTS CONFIRMED THAT THE TIME CHAIN WAS BEYOND SPECIFICATION BY 6 MM AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, WE GOT NO WHERE OR SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION WITH THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN. WE FEEL THAT OUR SAFETY IS AT RISK AND SHOULD BE FIXED, AS EXPRESSED IN THE LIMITED WARRANTY OF THE VEHICLE GIVEN BY SCHWARTZ MAZDA. *TR

I HAVE A RELATIVELY NEW MINI COOPER (2010 HATCHBACK) WITH 51,000 MILES. RECENTLY, I STARTED HEARING A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPON DOING A SEARCH ONLINE, I CAME ACROSS HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCE THE SAME EXACT ISSUE - KNOW AS THE DEATH RATTLE, THE TENSIONER AND TIMING CHAIN COMES APART (A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT) AND CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO EITHER STALL WHILE IN MOTION AND CAUSE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE - AS THE CHAIN IS METAL. THE ISSUE HAS RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT ATTENTION AND EXTREME FRUSTRATION - LEADING MINI TO TRY TO SILENTLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE ON A ONE-OFF BASIS RATHER THAN ISSUING A VOLUNTARY RECALL. FOR CUSTOMERS WHO COMPLAIN (EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY), MINI HAS BEEN PAYING FOR HAVING THE TIMING CHAIN/TENSIONER FIXED. FOR THE HAPLESS CONSUMERS THAT DO NOT KNOW, EITHER THEY PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE FIXED OR FIND THEMSELVES IN AN ACCIDENT. MINI COOPER IS ALLOWING A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT TO CONTINUE UNADDRESSED AND FOR THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS WHO HAVE A RELATIVELY NEW VEHICLE COULD BE SUBJECT TO EXTREME RISK - IF THE TIMING CHAIN/TENSIONER FAILS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS REDDITT POST - PLEASE SEE THIS REDDIT POST: HTTP://WWW.REDDIT.COM/R/MINI/COMMENTS/2RVH26/MINI_DEATH_RATTLE/ - WHICH EXPLAINS HOW MINI HAS BEEN PAYING FOR CERTAIN REPAIRS TO SILENT THE CUSTOMERS WHO COMPLAIN THE MOST. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE - IF MINI IS PAYING FOR REPAIRS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY, THEY CLEARLY ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM/DEFECT BUT ONLY ARE RESOLVING THIS ON AN AD HOC BASIS - WHY SHOULD OWNERS WHO DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS "FIX" BE SUBJECT TO DRIVING A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE VEHICLE? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE REAR HATCH DOOR BECAME AJAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

RADIO NOT WORKING, FIRST THE CD PLAYER STOPPED WORKING APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH PREVIOUSLY. THEN THE RADIO STARTED TO GO IN AND OUT OF SERVICE. SOMETIMES WORKING AND THEN NOT WORKING. IT HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN, THE REPLACEMENT COST IS 1000.00. WHEN THE INCIDENT FIRST STARTED WAS AT ABOUT 41,000 MILES AND WHEN I TOOK IT IN WAS 45,000 MILES. *TR

MINI COOPER 2010. STARTING/STALLING ISSUES. CAR DOESN'T START. IT HAPPENED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AS WELL. CAR HAS BEEN TOWED 1 AND BROUGHT TO PRESTIGE MINI IN NJ (CAR DEALER) FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES. AFTER REPLACING BATTERY AND AN ENGINE SENSOR, THE PROBLEM PERSIST. THE CAR WILL BE TOWED AGAIN TODAY (JAN 30, 2014) FOR FURTHER COSTLY REPAIRS. I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE ON THIS CAR BUT EVEN WITH THAT, THE COST OF REPAIRS AND TOWING ARE NOT COVERED. THIS IS A VERY POOR, UNRELIABLE CAR (MINI COOPER 2010). RESPONSIVENESS FROM PRESTIGE MINI IS ALSO VERY POOR. SERVICE MANAGER DOESN'T RESPOND TO CALLS OR RETURN VOICE MAILS. VERY POOR SERVICE. *TR

ENGINE SEEMED TO BE LACKING POWER INTERMITTENTLY DRIVING TO WORK. FELT SOMETHING WAS WRONG, BUT NO INDICATOR LIGHTS DISPLAYED SO I CONTINUED DRIVING. NOTICED HEATER BEGAN BLOWING COLD AIR, YELLOW WARNING LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING ENGINE WAS BEGINNING TO OVERHEAT. WITHIN 10 SECONDS, RED WARNING LIGHT REPLACED THE FIRST LIGHT (ENGINE OVERHEATING!). CONTINUED ON UNTIL I COULD SAFELY STOP. CALLED WRECKER TO TAKE TO REPAIR SHOP. FOUND COOLANT & OIL HAD EXPLODED FROM ENGINE WITH VISIBLE CRACK IN THE PLASTIC HOUSING. THANKFULLY, CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. MINI DEALERSHIP HONORED THE WARRANTY. STATED THE VACUUM PUMP HAD FAILED CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE ENTIRE ENGINE. ENGINE IS BEING REPLACED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO OPERATE NORMALLY AND WITHOUT WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,347.

ENGINE NOISE DUE TO TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER DEFECT. IF THE CHAIN OR TENSIONER FAIL COMPLETELY THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL IN MOVING TRAFFIC OR CREATE A ROADSIDE HAZARD. *TR

I HAD JUST PARKED IN OUR GARAGE AND GOT OUT TO GET ITEMS OUT OF THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. MY LEG TOUCHED THE TAIL PIPE OF THE CAR AND THERE WAS IN INSTANT BURN TO THE CALF OF MY LEG. IT ONLY TOOK ONE SECOND. IT WAS THE SIZE OF A QUARTER AND SKIN WAS BURNED OFF INSTANTLY. IT IS QUITE PAINFUL. I TOOK A PICTURE OF THE INJURY AND I ALSO TOOK A PICTURE OF THE TAIL PIPE TO SHOW THAT IT STICKS OUT BEYOND THE BUMPER. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A POOR DESIGN IN REGARDS TO SAFETY. *TR

I RECENTLY HAD MY FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS CHANGED ON MY MINI COOPER IN MARCH OF 2013. WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS MY CAR'S WARNING SENSORS FOR THE BRAKES HAS GONE OFF AGAIN. AFTER CYCLING THRU IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR BRAKES NOW NEEDED CHANGING. I RECENTLY TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO MY SERVICE SHOP WHO GENERALLY DOES MY REPAIR WORK AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT MY LEFT REAR BRAKES WERE FINE - NO MAJOR PAD WEAR OR ROTOR DAMAGE - HOWEVER THE RIGHT SIDE CALIPER WAS WORKING OVERTIME AND HAD WORN DOWN THE REAR INSIDE BRAKE PAD COMPLETEY WHICH IS WHY THE WARNING BRAKE SENSOR WAS ACTIVATED. MY VEHICLE HAS SOMEWHERE AROUND 48250 MILES & STILL UNDER THE 4YR/50000 MILE WARRANTY. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE CALIPERS AT THIS STAGE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO GLOBAL IMPORTS (SATURDAY 5/25/13) TO ASK THAT VEHICLE BE PUT ON LIFT TO INSPECT & WAS TOLD AFTER ONLY LOOKING UP MY VIN INFO IN THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT IT WAS LIKELY TIME TO REPLACE BRAKES AND HOW MUCH IT WOULD COSTS. I ASKED TO HAVE VEHICLE LOOKED AT TWICE - WHICH THE SERVICE REP WOULD NOT HAVE VEHICLE LOOKED AT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY BMW/MINI. I DO NOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE HARD AND MOST MILES ARE IN THE CITY GOING TO & FROM WORK AND HOME. SOME HIGHWAY MILES, WHEN TRAVELING. SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE FROM GLOBAL IMPORTS ATLANTA IN MAY 2010 - THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I'M WONDERING IF I WAS SOLD A LEMON. I'M BEING TOLD BY MY BRAKE SERVICE GUY THAT JUST TO REPAIR THE RIGHT SIDE (BRAKES, ROTORS, CALIPER & SENSOR) IT WILL COST ME AROUND $650.00 TO FIX. I DONT KNOW IF THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL MINI'S AT THIS MILEAGE OR JUST MINE - I DOUBT WHETHER GLOBAL WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT AT LEAST MY CONCERNS ARE DOCUMENTED FOR FUTURE MINI OWNER WHO MIGHT RUN INTO SIMILIAR ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED BURNS TO THEIR LEGS FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE WHILE PLACING AN ITEM IN THE TRUNK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,732.

THE AIRBAG "OFF" LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MINI COOPER S HATCH BACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WOULD OFTEN RESIST STARTING ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE EVERY TIME THE STALLING FAILURE OCCURRED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE INSTRUMENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO EXCESSIVE CARBON BUILDUP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000. UPDATED 03/14/12 *BF THE TIMING CHAIN WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 04/18/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 MINI COOPER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A BROWN SPOT ON THE HOOD AND FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE FIRE ALSO SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND DECLARED DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

MY DAUGHTER GOT OUT THE PASSENGER DOOR AND WALKED AROUND TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE TO GET GROCERY BAGS FROM INSIDE OF THE TRUNK AREA OF THE HATCHBACK. AS SHE LEANED FORWARD TO GRAB BAGS FROM INSIDE OF THE HATCHBACK AREA WHICH WAS OPENED BY MYSELF SHE SUDDENLY WAS TAKEN BACK BY A STINGING FEELING ON HER LOWER LEG. AS SHE STARTED TO SCREAM I ASKED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. SHE TOLD BE THAT HER LEG FELT LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE. AS I LOOKED DOWN I SAW A CRESCENT SHAPED DARK RED AREA ON HER LOWER LEG THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE TAIL PIPE THAT PROTRUDES SLIGHTLY FROM THE BUMPER. SHE DEVELOPED A BURN ON HER LOWER LEG THAT NOT ONLY HURT BUT SHE IS AFRAID SHE WILL LEAVE A SCAR. THIS SHOULD BE CORRECTED IN SOME MANNER TO PREVENT ANYONE FROM SUFFERING FROM BURNS EITHER USING A HEAT RESISTANT METAL OR A SHORTER TAILPIPE. ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL OR WRITE [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *KB

THE TAILPIPE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE EXTENDS BEYOND THE REAR BUMPER. MY LOWER LEG INADVERTENTLY MADE CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST AND, AS A RESULT, I SUFFERED A SERIOUS "C"-SHAPED BURN. THE INJURY HAS REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. *TR IT APPEARS THAT THE MANUFACTURER RECALLED A PRIOR YEAR'S MODEL FOR THE IDENTICAL AND/OR SIGNIFICANTLY SIMILAR ISSUE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLE IS A SISTER AND/OR CLONE OF THE VEHICLE THAT WAS RECALLED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HOOD SCOOP WAS DESIGNED WITH DEFECTIVE MATERIAL AND CAUSED IT TO MELT DUE TO THE HOT CLIMATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE HOOD BONNET SCOOP WAS REPLACED WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE MATERIAL AS THE PRIOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD WARRANTY THE DEFECTIVE HOOD BONNET SCOOP FOR A LIFE TIME YET, IF THE SCOOP SHOULD FAIL AGAIN, IT WOULD BE REPLACED WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE BONNET SCOOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,496.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF, SHE COULD HEAR A LOUD AND ABNORMAL KNOCKING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE NOISE WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE FOR THE VEHICLE YET THE DEALER REPAIRED THE FUEL FILTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT.

2010 MINICOOPER. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING A STRESS CRACK THAT DEVELOPED ON THE WINDSHIELD UNRELATED TO ANY IMPACT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRACK WAS A STRAIGHT LINE, NOT CONSISTENT WITH AN IMPACT WHICH LEAVES A SPIDER LIKE CRACK. *JB

COLD / WARM START KNOCKING NOISE NOTHING DONE BY GLOBAL IMPORTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL YET THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE POLICE ARRIVED ON SCENE TO ASSIST, HOWEVER A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOT BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY BUT WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE 2006, LESS THAN 40K MILES. I WAS DRIVING FOR MAYBE 6 MILES AND WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN I FELT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY AND THE CAR WAS MOVING VERY ODDLY SO I PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY TO CHECK WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE CAR. NOTICING THE SMOKE FORM THE HOOD BEFORE I GOT OUT THE CAR AND THOUGHT MY CAR WAS OVER HEATED. I THOUGHT I WOULD JUST CALL THE ROADSIDE SERVICE TO HELP. BUT WHAT HAD TOOK PLACE NEXT WAS SOMETHING I CAN ONLY IMAGINE FROM A MOVIE SET ....SMOKE..HEAVY SMOKE...FLAME FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND THEY WOULD NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE HOOD SO INSTEAD THEY CUT THE HOOD OPEN AND WAS ABLE TO PUT OFF THE FIRE. THE CAR WAS TOTAL. I JUST HAD THE SERVICE ONE MONTH AGO AT THE DEALER (REPLACE BATTERY, WHEEL ALIGNMENT, ROTATION TIRES AND 32 POINT INSPECTION)AND LIKE ALL THE PREVIOUS SERVICES WAS DONE AT THE DEALER. I DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY HAD HAPPEN TO THE CAR, MY INSURANCE CO CLAIMED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL BY BMW/MINI ON THE CAR SO THEY DON'T SEE THE POINT TO SPEND MONEY AND TIME TO CHECK INTO WHAT HAD CAUSED THE FIRE...BUT I WANTED TO KNOW AS A CAR OWNER AND A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE. I THINK I AM ENTITLE TO AND TO PREVENT THIS HAPPEN TO MORE MINI OWNER. PLEASE HELP! *TR

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED AND UNATTENDED FOR OVER 7 HOURS. IT WAS REPORTED TO THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT UNDER REPORT NUMBER 10-140-031. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ADVISED IT WAS MECHANICAL DEFECT. *TR

COMPLETE CLUTCH FAILURE WITH ONLY 3700 MILES ON CARL IT WAS REPLACED BY DEALER BUT "NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY" DEALER CLAIMS EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR IN CAR THAT IS NOT ABUSED. *TR