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.
The contact owns a 2007 MINICooper S convertible. The contact stated that after a rain storm, the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the diagnostic test indicated that the engine hydro seized. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 42,000. The VIN was unknown.
2007 MINICooper S: cold start rattle had been an on-again, off-again problem, but since I'd had the timing chain tensioner changed while the car was still under warranty, I didn't make the connection. At 81,000 miles, I was driving when the red oil light came on. This was the first and only indication of a problem. I stopped at the next gas station, got some synthetic oil, and put in 2 quarts. I continued on my way, but the oil light had not gone off. Within about 1-2 miles, as I was entering a highway, the car began making a very loud rattling noise and then stalled. I was able to get to the shoulder. I called MINIroadside assistance, but after about 15 mins. On the phone, they finally figured out that they were not authorized to tow off this interstate. I got an authorized towing co. To come, and I let them tow it to their local garage. The next day they told me that the engine had ceased and would need to be replaced. The following day I had the car towed to prestige MINIto determine if this was, in fact, what had happened. They diagnosed the same thing, said there was no way to know the cause, and quoted me $6400 to replace the engine (which they ultimately brought down to $5600). At 81K miles, there is no reason this engine should have ceased. Plus, I had no warning that there was something wrong with the car--no "check engine" light, no "check oil" light until it was too late. Based on what I've read, now about the 2007 MINII am certain this was defect related. How do I prove that? I'm at the mercy of the dealership.
MINICooper, 2007, 81000 miles. With minimal advance warning (a rattle that began when car was started that morning) timing chain broke, leading to catastrophic engine failure. Car was stopped and blocking traffic on busy two lane bridge during morning commute until it was towed away. No previous issues, warnings emerged from this vehicle. Was maintained regularly and because of noise on start, I was intending to take it in immediately. In fact, I was on the way to the garage when the failure occurred.
Have had problems with my MINIsince it was new. In Nov. Of 2010 the chain tensioner was finally changed after many complaints of the noise. On mon.6-6-11 my check engine light came on. Called the dealer & set up an appointment for that sat 6-11. On wed. 6-8 my car died with no warning. No computer lights came on. Had to tow it to the MINIdealer on sat.6-11. They told me it was the vacuum pump causing major catastrophic engine failure. My engine only had a quart of oil and that was why it went out. I had documentation of my oil change. It still had 3,000M to go before it needed to be changed. Was also checked 2 wks before this incident and it was fine. I am now needing a new engine at a cost of 6,087. The regional team at MINIcustomer service decided there would be no assistance because I let it run out of oil, which is not true. They said there was no appeal process, their decision was final. My car has 64K miles on it. The chain tensioners and vacuum pumps are known failures but MINIrefuses to acknowledge that there is a problem. Easier to blame the consumer. A vehicle that costs nearly 30K dollars should not have an engine failure at 64K miles. There are countless complaints out there. All you need to do is check the web. MINIshould step up and do the right thing. This could have caused a major crash with fatalities if I had been traveling on the interstate highway which I do every day.
The contact owns a 2007 MINICooper S. the contact stated that the vehicle would not start in cold weather until after three to four attempts. There were also noticed rattling noises coming from the engine while driving at various speeds. On another occasion, the vehicle stalled while driving 70 mph without any warning. The vehicle was then inspected by a dealer and they advised her that she needed to replace the vacuum pump, timing chains and the high pressure pump. Each part was replaced within one year of the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000. The VIN was unavailable.
- Mount Claire , NJ, USA
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2007 MINICooper S, timing chain broke at 64K miles. There are countless complaints of this problem all over the web, we need to force MINIto issue a recall. Vehicle was properly maintained prior to failure. This is a chain, not a belt. More information about similar complaints can be found here: www.minicooperspeed.com/MINIcooper-cold-start-knocking-noise-issue-2007/.
The contact owns a 2007 MINICooper S. while driving approximately 40 mph, the engine warning indicator illuminated and an extremely loud noise sounded from the engine. The contact continued driving, and the engine performed as though it were attempting to stall. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they diagnosed that the timing chain failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.
On 10/27/2010 I was driving on 595 West (stop and go traffic) came to a stop, my car stalls and dies. It will not restart. Vehicle was towed to lauderdale MINIdealership in fort lauderdale. After inspection I was informed the vacuum pump locked up and jammed engine several times causing a catastrophic engine failure. Engine was replaced. Cost- over $6000. MINIusa refused to compensate unless their is a future recall.
2007 MINICooper S has had loud knocking noise, sounding like rocks in a washing machine, for weeks now. This has happened twice in the past, with the repairs falling under the warranty period and done at no cost of course. Car is now out of warranty, taking it in this week for diagnoses and repairs. This will be at least the second time this part needs to be replaced, although I think it might be the third time as once it was done as part of a larger repair being performed on the engine. Car acts sluggish, jumpy, and sounds like a diesel truck. This happens every time the car is started up and continues for the first few miles driven, at which point is subsides a bit. As I said, it has been replaced at least once in the past, and this week will be replaced again.
The check engine light has come on at 55K miles and I have brought the vehicle in to get checked at the dealer. The service department reports that the timing chain is beginning to fail and needs to be replaced, along with a water pump leak. The timing chain is a known failure and still has no recall.
Driving on the interstate, I approach my exit and as I come to a stop on the exit ramp, the car stalls and dies. Car will not restart. Vehicle is towed to the closest dealership. After inspection at the dealership, I am told the vacuum pump has failed causing catastrophic engine failure. Suggested repair is engine replacement.
R56 mcs MINI2007 - bought used in Sept 09 had the "cold start rattle" but didn't know what it was at the time. Engine light came on at 38,000 dealer replaced timing chain. On the way home vacuum pump seized causing damage to the values. Dealer sent pictures to MINIand the decision was made to replace the engine with a new one.
2007 MINICooper S. after 26000 miles I have a what appears to be a rattling engine when starting the engine from a cold start (sitting overnight). So this happens every morning. I live in Florida with relatively warm temperatures. I took it to the dealer and they claim the diesel engine sound coming out of the car is normal. I didn't by the car this way. I have found various forums and youtube videos of this problem. Please help.
2007 MINICooper S spontaneously caught fire while turned off and parked in my garage. I had traveled less than two miles when I parked the car. Fire started under the hood and completely totaled the car by the time the fire department arrived and put it out.
Very noisy clatter when starting engine when cold. Engine sounds like a diesel when cold. Goes away after a couple of minutes. Dealer says its normal "?" problem occurs every morning.
Engine exhibits harsh noise during startup 50% of the time after minimum of 8 hr shutdown or if parked nose low. The issue is a defective timing chain tensioner which the dealer won't replace because 1) they haven't received an effective repair kit from BMW or 2) try to explain it away with the excuse that this timing chain metal-on-metal rattle is "normal." An increasing world-wide number of vehicles of this make, model, and engine have experienced catastrophic low mileage engine failures because of dealer inaction and subsequent timing chain failure.
Car clunks while going over rough roads. As per diagnosis from MINIdealership, the "transmission motor mount is too small and does not dampen shock from road bumps or acceleration torque" and was replaced.
On 2007 MINICooper S, purchased new 12-2007, experiencing warped/melted/deformed scoops on bonnet(hood) due to extreme heat issue from turbo, scoop originally had zero cutouts, my cooper has 3 cutouts in scoop made by mfg, opening not large enough or fan does not run long enough to cool down the bonnet scoop or fan does not run at all, fan runs about 30% of the time only & warping occurs on the bonnet scoop which is painted plastic. If the bonnet scoop was metal, this would not be an issue. Heat can reach 235 degrees. Have been opening hood when re-parking in the garage to allow to vent/cool down. Opening hood not always possible, obviously, when parking not at home. Would like MINIBMW) to address this problem, needs to replace the painted to match hood scoop, addressing with BMW 12-19-2008.
Cold start rumble/rattle/clatter from engine. Intermittent and sporadic sound from engine bay upon start up primarily during winter months, sound disaptes and goes away as car warms. The sound is very rough clatter, sounding like metal on metal - oil starvation on start up? I have serious concerns on long term damage and compromise of the normal life of motor - in other words getting screwed outside of warranty. This is not a single incident, but an ongoing condition.
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- Brightwaters, NY, USA