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.
2007 MINICooper S. consumer writes in regards to defective power steering hoses and oil pan gaskets. The consumer stated the steering hose and oil pan gasket failed at the same time.
The check engine light has come on at 67K miles and I have brought the vehicle in to get checked at the dealer. The service department reports that the timing chain is beginning to fail and needs to be replaced, along with a water pump leak. The timing chain is a known failure and still has no recall.
Extremely loud engine noise during a cold start. The root cause is the failure of timing belt tensioner. The only recourse is to replace the tensioner and adjust or replace the belt/chain. This is a known defect.
The following is my complete account of the events that occurred with my 2007 MINIcoopers. ' March 12th to March 16th trip to myrtle beach and back to my house is approximately 490 miles. The car's performance was without incident on this trip. The vehicles on-board computer provides no indication of engine problems. ' Friday March 18th departed home for universal studios. Trip to universal studios is approximately 222 miles. The car's performance was without incident and on-board computer provides no indication of engine problems. ' Saturday March 19th left universal studios for residence. At jacksonville, Florida I pulled into river city marketplace. Up to this point in the trip the vehicle has traveled approximately 162 miles from universal studios to river city marketplace. The car's performance was without incident and the vehicle's on-board computer provided no indication of engine problems. As I pulled into the parking lot I heard a loud banging sound and then the car stopped. The car on-board system showed no emergency indicator warnings whatsoever on the trip from universal studios to river city marketplace up until the time the car stopped. I noticed no oil leaks beneath the vehicle while it was waiting to be towed. On Monday March 21st I spoke with my MINIcooper service adviser, to inquire about the condition of my vehicle. In summarizing our conversation the adviser stated the service technician initially indicated my vehicle engine had been 'run dry' of engine oil and if this was the case my vehicle warranty would not be honored by the dealership. I was astounded at hearing this information and the service tech this could not be possible because I had checked the fluid level on March 11th and the dipstick clearly showed "full". there had been no on-board computer notification of any engine oil condition. The service tech stated this vehicle does not contain this feature when my vehicle manual clearly indicates such a feature.
The contact owns a 2007 MINIcooper sport. The contact was driving approximately 65 mph when the check oil warning lamp illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop who diagnosed that the timing chain tensioner fractured. As a result, the timing chain loosened and caused all the pistons to misfire and damage the engine. The manufacturer was contacted who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was out of warranty. The VIN was not available and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 82,000.
- Rockaway , NJ, USA
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Engine rattle at start up, engine will not maintain idle when ambient temperature too cold (as high as 20 deg F but more common as temperature drops) and can even die. Engine hesitation and stumble while accelerating and while maintaining highway speeds, regardless of engine and ambient temperature. Lack of engine power. Car may seem to be running fine but when accelerating the engine will stumble and hesitate, much like a missing cylinder, this causes the car to accelerate slower than expected regardless of throttle position. This can create an unsafe condition. Seems to be most pronounced at part throttle between 2000 and 3000 RPM but is still present at higher speeds and more throttle opening. Can also make the car stumble very badly when starting from a stop, causing the car to move forward a few feet very slowly before accelerating at a somewhat normal pace. This effect is similar to letting out the clutch too soon but happens even if rpms are brought up to 2000+RPM and the clutch is slowly let out.
2007 MINICooper S engine rattles loudly for the first 30 seconds to 2 min. After startup in cold weather. Caused by cam tension issues. Min has worked on it numerous times. It is now out of warranty but still having problems. I happens on an almost daily basis on cold days.
At approximately 67,000 miles, the engine developed a knocking sound which would last from a cold start for approximately 5 minutes. After two weeks, the engine failed entirely. The mechanic reported that the timing chain retensioner had broken and caused another component to fall into the engine where it did further damage.
Upon starting my engine every morning there is a large clattering noise coming from the passenger side of the engine compartment. It seems to be an issue with the timing belt tensioner as the part does not get enough oil in it as it drains out after sitting for a few hours. If the part is not replaced or fixed the timing chain will eventually break and ruin my engine. My car is out of warranty and this is a factory issue that BMW/MINIrefuse to acknowledge or fix.
Engine exhibits hash noise during startup 50% of the time after minimum of 8 hr shutdown at below freezing temperatures. The issue is a defective timing chain tensioner which the dealer won't replace because 1) they can't reproduce the startup noise or 2) this is "normal." Other vehicles of this make, model, and engine have experienced catastrophic engine failures because of dealer inaction and subsequent timing chain failure.
Engine noise on cold starts. My car has made diesel like noises on cold start up for the past year. At first the dealer said it was normal. Upon insisting they advised of a bleeding procedure and then of a faulty timing chain tensioner. After 7 months they finally replaced the tensioner (they had to hear it before they could repair it). The dealer had it for a week and said it was all fixed. The noise came back three days later. I took it in a second time and they got BMW engineer to look at it. They replaced a check valve that was supposed to trap oil in the vanos system and said once again it was fixed. The noise was back three days later. I took it back to the dealer and they were not able to duplicate the noise. I have been in touch with MINIof North America and they have asked me to keep a log as to how I drive and when it happens with temperature. The engine has oil and water on demand rather than all the time like regular engines. Starting this up with no oil in the head is bound to cause damage.
Cold start chatter. Very nasty diesel engine sound upon startup when engine is cold. Sound lasts for up to 1 minute if I start driving right away, or 5 minutes if I let it sit idle. Occurs between 800 and 3000 RPM. Reproducible every time the engine is cold (ie, has not been used recently).
New 2007 MINICooper S does not stay running in cold weather when started. The car has to be revved above 1000rpm's for 2 minutes to keep car running. So far original computer has been reprogrammed, a new computer installed since the reprogram didn't work and new hoses placed thinking there is an icing issue. Car was at service center for 1 month, told everything was fixed and tested, started car two days later and it did exactly the same thing all over again, it does not stay running when cold.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Saint Charles, MO, USA