This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
BMW issued a Recall 15V-205 Safety Recall, to cover the Airbag sensor in the passenger seat of my vehicle, a 2006 Mini Cooper S. The failure error was in the airbag sensor in the passenger seat, and the system warned of potential hazard with the passenger airbag. My car had a recall fix in 2018 for this fault. Now some 4 years later the same fault has arisen in the same sensor and system. I returned to BMW Mini who carried out the previous recall to have this fixed again. They said that while their repairs and parts generally carry an 8-year warranty, they do not warrant Recall repairs. They wanted over $2,000 to fix this issue. As this is a repeat of the original fault, and the car has under 100,000 miles I believe it should be covered, as their repair and or part has again failed. The date below is when I took it for the recall and was refused the warrenty repair.
The contact owns a 2006 MINICooper. After the contact parked the vehicle, she was alerted to the odor of smoke during the night. The contact approached the vehicle, quickly disconnected the battery, and rolled the vehicle halfway down the driveway out of the garage. There was a tremendous amount of heat from the engine, but the vehicle cooled down. The fire department was not contacted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who stated that there was an electrical fire from the steering wheel pump and massive repairs were needed, which would total approximately $3,500. The manufacturer was called and stated there was no recall on the vehicle. The dealer was not contacted. The insurance company was contacted. The manufacturer offered to cover the $500 deductible for the mechanic to perform the repairs that the contact would have to pay for if they decide not to cover the claim. The failure mileage was 105,000.
The contact owns a 2006 MINICooper. While driving 70 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was towed to nick alexander MINI6201 alameda St, los angeles, ca 90001) where it was diagnosed that the power steering pump, alternator, and radiator cooling fan failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 80,054.
The contact owns a 2006 MINICooper. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 mph, there was a loss of power steering. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the power steering pump was replaced however the failure recurred the next day. The vehicle was taken back to the mechanic and unknown repairs were performed. In addition, the air bag warning indicator illuminated continuously. On a separate occasion, the alternator failed and was not replaced. The contact mentioned that the engine cooling fan also failed to function, which caused the radiator to be replaced twice. The engine was replaced at a different time. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.
The contact owns a 2006 MINICooper S. the contact stated that while in park, the vehicle failed to start. In addition, the contact stated that while reversing at a low speed, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The contact had to apply force to the steering wheel in order to steer the vehicle. Once in park, the vehicle failed to turn off with the key in the off position. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the power steering motor had failed and melted. The power steering motor, wires, battery, pump, fan, pressure hose and alternator were replaced. After repairs, the mechanic was unable to diagnose the vehicle using the diagnostic tool. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer who stated that the wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was aware of NHTSA campaign number: 15V660000 (steering) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000.
- Decatur, GA, USA
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The contact owns a 2006 MINICooper. While driving 60 mph, the vehicle lost power. Also, when making a left or right turn, the engine light illuminated for a second and dimmed. The failure recurred each time the vehicle was driven. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed, but the cause of the failure could not be located. The failure recurred. In addition, while driving 54 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact coasted the vehicle over to the side of the road and it began to smoke and leak oil. The dealer diagnosed that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 52,000.
The contact owns a 2006 MINICooper. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated continuously. The vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 15V20500 (air bags) but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Air bag sensor in the detection mat of the passenger's front seat does not recognize passenger. The air bag light for the passenger in the front panel is intermittent, putting at risk of not deploying the air bag during an accident. The light will come up even when I have a purse on the seat or with a full grown adult (over 150 pounds). I recently called 2 local MINIdealers in southern California (July 2015) regarding this and both stated the same: That they have not received the spare part required for this recall and cannnot perform until MINIprovides them with an authorization letter. Called immediately the MINIcustomer service line for recalls (1-866-825-1525) to find out when this will be solved since this has been on ongoing issue since mid 2014. MINIs customer service representative stated that we needed to wait until a new re-design of this sensor in the detection mat is available from them in order to provide this spare part to the dealers. In the meantime, we are putting at risk any passenger who will ride in our cars for an issue that has been known by MINIfor over a year!
I was driving on the road my I turned the ac on and about 20min of me riding in the vehicle me and my infant son my my vehicle started smoking under the hood heavy white smoke under the hood of the 2006 MINICooper S. my car began to loose power while engine bay still heavily smoking I managed to get car in a nearby dealership get my son and I out of the car I put water on the side of the engine that was burning to keep the rest of the car from burning up.the rest of the car I had to call my insurance company the car wont do anything at all the electric system or the wires burnt under the hood.
Engine cranked but did not start. Aaa flatbed to MINIof allentown. Received call from dealer possible water damage to electrical, continuing diagnosis. Vehicle frm failure.
Parked my car with a valet. Returned in an hour. It would not start. There was a smell as if something had burned. They jump started my car. As I began to drive the power steering was out. Immediately drove it to my car repair shop. By the time that I had traveled the 2 miles, the engine was heavily smoking. My car repair shop says that the power steering pump electrically malfunctioned - internal failure of the power steering pump.
The passenger seat air bag light came on and will not go off. I was advised by an authorized MINIcopper mechanic that the passenger seat air bag sensor is bad. It's my understanding that MINIcooper usa is not owning up to their responsibility to recall and repair what could possibly be a life safety problem. The leather seat is practically new and there's no excuse for this faulty air bag sensor seat/equipment. There was a recall for BMW's with the same issue. It's very disappointing.
Airbag passenger seat sensor is bad $1500 to repair and no guarantee it will work correctly in the future. Why hasn't this been recalled"?? BMW who owns MINIcooper recalled this sensor for their cars but why not the coopers? I'm so angry that they could care less about my families safety. Automobiles are required to have airbag systems but they aren't required to work properly?"
I bought my daughter a 2006 MINICooper S a little over a year ago. Today I decided to drive it to work here at fort hood, Texas. A little over an hour after I got to work I decided to go get breakfast so when I walked out of my office I heard a car alarm going off and when I rounded the corner I saw my daughter's car billowing smoke! I ran inside to get help and was able to find tools to disconnect the battery. I raised the hood and was meet with a lot of heat, smoke and a strong odor of burnt plastic. The car wasn't running and like I stated, had been sitting for over an hour. After conducting research online I found out MINIusa had recalled several MINIcoopers for the power steering pump that had the same exact symptoms. After calling the closest dealership, an hour away, and MINIusa I was told that my car was not part of this recall and I am left to pay for this repair myself. The dealership quoted me a cost of $1000 to replace the power steering pump. During my online research I have found many other MINIowners with the same year model that had the same problem. It seems that MINIusa isn't wanting to fully cover the repairs. I am glad I wasn't driving down the highway when this happened!
Passenger seat air bag warning indicator shows air bag disabled intermittently, even when seat is occupied by full sized adult (over 140 pounds). This means my passenger is at risk of severe injury in case of crash, as the air bag is disabled. In addition to the above, the light is off and on intermittently even when the seat is not occupied. Ditto if a 5 pound lunch box is on the seat. BMW/MINIrefuses to correct this significant safety defect in minis, even though they are making free repairs for the same problem in many bmws of similar years, and have even made an warranty extension of many years and unlimited miles for affected bmws.
Passenger seat occupancy sensor illuminates at all times indicating no passenger even when passenger is present, thereby preventing the airbag from deploying in an accident. This incident is extremely widespread and found on countless blogs on the internet. At this point, people are completely disabling the system through a device found online just to turn the light off - meanwhile putting their passengers at risk. BMW (manufacturer of MINIhas recalled the same item on numerous BMW's and extended the warranty on those parts due to the inherent safety concerns. How this has not been recalled yet or looked past for the MINIis completely baffling. Somebody appears to not be doing their job! so along with the other multiple posts on this particular site, I would like to add mine and request please that somebody look into this safety issue that is repeatedly costing MINIcustomers large sums of money or their safety. This is ridiculous. Thank you.
From my research, the 2006 MINIhas a faulty passenger occupancy sensor in the passenger seat bottom requiring a replacement at a cost of over $1000. Since 2006 was the first year for this requirement, I believe they did not properly test the device before releasing them into production as I have researched and read on many failures of this device. I cannot determine conclusively if the airbag will or will not deploy in this situation and MINIwill be liable in a situation if it does not deploy the airbag properly with a passenger seated. This is a situation that needs to be remedied through a recall. MINIextended their airbag system warranty on the 2002 - 2005 models to 10 years or 150,000 miles and should do the same for the 2006+ models.
I was driving on the freeway at 70mph in far left lane and the car just shut off. The brake and steering wheel got stiff and would not work right. The area of the freeway was crowded due to construction and it was impossible to get to the side. The car behind me was entirely to close and im surprised I was not hit.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Pearland, TX, USA