Engine quits while driving causing an unsafe condition. The car stopped numerous times while on the freeway. It starts back up but stalls again later. There are no check engine lights and the local repair shop indicates that it may be a problem with the Footwell Computer Mudule and specifically the soldering on the Low Pressure Fuel Pump Relay causing it to intermittently fail.

- Santa Ana, CA, USA

I bought the car used 10 days ago, 3 days ago, the electrical indicator flashed, so I parked the car. I thought it was a glitch. It was very rainy. I woke up the next morning and it had spontaneously combusted on the inside driver's footwell, obvious flames had been on windows and whole car reeks of smoke. I cant even get inside of the car with the physical key. I could have been inside when the car caught fire. I work with children and just got the car... hadn't put a car seat in yet. To think that a physical key literally doesn't work and the car caught fire in teh electrical and is now (to my knowledge) totaled...makes me sick. BMW / MINI has yet to get get back to me, no one has inspected the car, it hasn't been moved....can't move. The dealership refuses to take responsibility. Obviously I'm distraught and thankful I wasn't in the car. I have read several articles about this exact thing happening to other BMW / MINI owners. Please help. I literally haven't even paid the taxes yet.

- Beacon, NY, USA

My wife was driving her 2010 MINICooper clubman on an interstate in Michigan in April 2018 going 70 mph when the engine just quit, losing all power. I was following her in a vehicle that I had just purchased so I pulled off the interstate behind her. There was not any indication of external liquids escaping the engine so after 15 minutes of examining the vehicle I started it back up and drove the 9 remaining miles to our home without further incident until I parked the vehicle in our garage, lifted the hood and steam was coming out of the oil cap when I opened it. I proceeded to have the vehicle towed to a foreign import repair shop where they gave me an estimate of $8,800 to replace the engine as they indicated the engine coolant had become mixed with the engine oil. Not being able to afford the $8,800 at that time I stored the MINIin our barn for a year. Not wanting just to junk the car after having it for only 6 months before the engine failed, I decided to have a foreign import car repair facility replace the engine at a cost of $7,300! after expressing my concern once in an email and then in a letter to the CEO of MINIusa, MINIsaid that the car was out of warranty and that they would do nothing for me. This is unacceptable. A car with 100,000 miles on it and having been well taken car of with a carfax to show that, should not have a total engine failure. Unfortunately I am not the only customer with this problem. Thousands and thousands of MINIcooper owners have experienced the same engine failure as I have. Looking at any MINIcooper forum or even on MINIusa's web site will show engine failures at an abnormal rate. The fact that MINIis sticking their head in the sand just saying the car is out of warranty is absurd. MINIneeds to be held accountable for the design flaws in their vehicles.

- South Haven, MI, USA

Timing chain and tensioner has had issues when the car has low miles. Replaced tensioner in 2014 and then again in 2017 (2017 - only 78,019 miles). Timing chain had to be replaced in 2017(again only 78,019 miles).

- Delaware, OH, USA

The MINICooper clubman has a defective timing chain tensioner that can cause severe damage to the engine and crashes. BMW has agreed to replace the chains in some models, but not others, leaving open the possibility of crashes related to the failure of this known problem. BMW has known about the defective part since 2008, when the company issued a technical service bulletin addressing the problem; however, following the notice, BMW failed to issue any recall or provide compensation for those who had already replaced their chains or engines. BMW's failure to notify drivers of this problem is a danger to the driving public.

- Washington, DC, USA

The contact owns a 2010 MINICooper clubman. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly shut completely off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the timing belt was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 64,000.

- Roachester, NY, USA

I was driving on the freeway when the oil light came on, I called the dealer within seconds and asked them if this was a concern. They said to drive it in it was probably just the oil level needing topped out. I continued for about a mile when the engine light came on. I pulled off at the next exit and called them back. The again said to bring it in. I walked around the car before proceeding and noted that the front wheel well, tire and wheel were all soaked with oil( passenger side). I called them back and requested a tow truck as when I started it up it made an exceptionally loud hammering noise. I I knew that the engine was going to let go if I continued. The dealer took the car in and called me a day or so later to inform that the timing chain broke a, flattening the valves, messing up the valves and engine block. The told me that it was approx 7,000miles out of warranty. I told them that I had an extended 100,000 service warranty sold to me by the dealer in charleston South Carolina. I was sold this by the "finance manager" and he made me believe that I was covered. The dealer where I live in dublin Ohio, has serviced the car for every required service since it was purchased. They are trying to get MINIto cover the repairs. I had informed them that the odometer always reads about 7 to 8 mph faster than my gps and that the warranty per their instruments would be shorted. The indicated that they would not cut me off in a close situation. The actual power train warranty is 50,000. I have never heard of a timing chain breaking with even a 100,000 miles on it. I have serviced the car at all appropriate intervals as noted in the service records and I pamper the car. I am 61 yrs old and have had many, many cars and do not drive irresponsibly. I believe that this is a known problem by BMW. The mid West auto group has always been exceptional and I have no problems w/them.

- Lewis Center, OH, USA