2009 MINI Clubman Complaint Log

The contact owned a 2009 Min Cooper Clubman. 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 contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, turned on, and unoccupied, there was black smoke coming from the interior of the vehicle. The contact stated the footwell control module located on the driver's side had caught on fire. The vehicle was extinguished by the Fire Department. The vehicle was destroyed as it was consumed by the fire. A fire report was filed, and a fire report number was provided; however, the cause for the failure was not yet determined. A police report was not filed due to the incident occurring on private property. No injuries were sustained. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not towed and remained at the incident location. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

I recently purchased a 2009 mini cooper clubman. Within three weeks of taking possession of the car, the airbag warning light activated. Upon a diagnostic test, it was determined that the passenger occupancy sensor was malfunctioning. After discussing this with the mini cooper dealer in my area and mini USA, it was acknowledged that this was a well known and documented issue. First generation mini coopers were afforded a safety recall to rectify this safety issue while second generation cars were given an extended warranty. Unfortunately, I am now driving a car outside of the extended warranty that was only offered to the original owner with a faulty airbag system for any passenger in my car. A recall MUST be issued for the second generation mini cooper to hold the company responsible for this faulty design. Owners of these cars are avoiding the $2500 repair bill by installing sensor bypass modules in order to clear the malfunctioning light warning. NHSTA is well aware of this problem as I have read hundreds of issues and concerns in mini cooper forums. Please address this problem as force the recall on the occupancy airbag sensor before a passenger is seriously injured or killed.

Recall on car and no remedy to fix it

I received a recall notice from MINI USA dated July 2023. The recall issue date is in May 2023. The notice states the Footwell Control Module (FRM) can become corroded and can increase the risk of fire or injury. The letter states they do not have a remedy available, but one is in development. That was over a year ago now and no further action has been relayed by MINI USA. All current information on the recall states it is still not something they can remedy as of today, October 30, 2024. The issue included in the recall seems dangerous and has prohibited me from driving the car since receiving the recall notice. Therefore, the car is not able to be used without fear of fire and/or injury. The notice states to file a complaint with the NHTSA if the issue is unable to be remedied within a reasonable period of time. I believe that 18 months is more than reasonable time to have a remedy for this issue and none is forthcoming at this time. Therefore, I am filing this complaint. I am including a sample of the letter that I received rather than the actual one that includes my personal information.

Following approximately 12 months of slow deterioration, the passenger-side airbag deployment system in this vehicle appears to have become continuously inoperative (red airbag failure annunciator continuously illuminated on instrument cluster in conjunction with continuous illumination of the amber "Passenger Airbag OFF" informational annunciator in the overhead console). Failure now occurs whether passenger seat is empty or occupied, although it previously only occurred when the seat was unoccupied and ambient temperatures were colder (below approximately 40 degrees F). I suspect that the passenger seat occupancy sensor mat is the failed system component due to the slow onset of the problem (continuous illumination of aforementioned annunciators was spurious at first, then intermittent, now continuous). Vehicle has not been submitted to a MINI dealer for diagnosis. However, MINI/BMW has already issued a recall on the passenger seat occupancy sensor mats in 2005-2008 model MINIs, setting the precedent that other model years could be similarly affected as well. Vehicle will not pass Texas state inspection with the airbag failure annunciator illuminated, and therefore cannot be registered. Recommend that MINI/BMW expand the sensor mat recall to include at least their 2009 model year vehicles as well.

The passenger-side airbag is not recognized when a passenger is in the vehicle. Mechanic says this is a known recall for Mini's and has repaired several but my model is not covered under the recall. There has not been an incident or accident to report at this time. I have reached out to Mini and asked them about the recall and they originally said they would fix it bc it was under recall. When I brought the car in they said they couldn't because the recall doesn't cover the R55 model. After months of going back and forth with them, they have concluded that they will only repair at their service cost of $1500.

The driver's side footwell is continuously full of water for the past several years. During rain water runs inside the car, from somewhere behind the dash, into the driver's footwell. The Footwell Control Module (FRM) is in water and is actively corroding. The Footwell Control Module is an electronic control unit located behind an interior trim panel in the driver's footwell area. Mini/BMW has already found that this corrosion could potentially result in a short circuit, resulting in a potential thermal event which could increase the risk of fire or injury. For some reason this vehicle is not included in Recall Campaign No. 23V-337 for the very same issue. This vehicle has been erroneously excluded from all appropriate MINI recalls. This vehicle was not included in 09V-143 despite the fact that it has factory 15" wheels. This vehicle had an auxiliary water pump fail, 200 miles after the warranty expired, but was not included in 18V-248. It would seem as though it has been erroneously excluded from all recalls because it was custom ordered and imported by the dealer. I am the sole owner of this vehicle, I purchased it new, custom made and imported for me at a dealership in Las Vegas. This vehicle has never been included in any of the recalls despite being affected by all of them.

PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR HAS STOPPED WORKING DURING ALL STATES OF VEHICLE OPERATION. UPON STARTING THE CAR AND WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT TURNS ON REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. IF I WERE TO GET INTO A CRASH, MY PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG WILL NOT ACTIVATE, LEAVING THE PASSENGER IN THE CAR UNPROTECTED.

REPLACED THERMOSTAT, HEATER STOPPED WORKING, VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHAT SEEMS TO BE A FAULTY WATER PUMP OR THERMOSTAT, CAR SMOKED INTENSELY DROVE SHORT DISTANCE- THERMOSTAT MELTED- MOTOR BLEW. THIS VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED***

LOW OIL INDICATOR DOESN'T LIGHT UP UNTIL THE OIL LEVELS ARE CRITICALLY LOW. DEALER STATES THAT THEY'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN A LOT AND IT'S "NORMAL." COST ME OVER $4,000 TO FIX IT AT THE DEALER. 3RD DOOR (SUICIDE DOOR) LOCK MECHANISM STICKS/BREAKS DOWN. AFTER GETTING IT FIXED, THE LATCH ITSELF BROKE DOWN.

TAMARA RECALL

I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW. AFTER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY EXPIRED, I EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT. DUE TO THE HIGH COST TO REPAIR, AND THAT MINI HAD A RECALL ON THEIR 2008 MODELS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE, I CHOSE NOT TO REPAIR IT AND NOW HAVE 157,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I ASSUMED MINI WOULD EVENTUALLY INCLUDE THE 2009 MODELS IN THE RECALL. MINI HAS NOW SENT ME A LETTER OFFERING AN "EXTENDED WARRANTY" FOR THIS ISSUE ON MY CAR. HOWEVER, SINCE I ACTUALLY DRIVE MY CAR AND HAVE OVER 120,000 MILES, MINI WILL NOT REPAIR MY CAR UNDER THIS "EXTENDED WARRANTY." THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL. I SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED FOR A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE MY CAR HAS MORE MILES ON IT. I HAVE CONTACTED MINI, AND MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I SELDOM DRIVE THE CAR WITH PASSENGERS NOW AS I FEAR FOR THEIR SAFETY. MINI HAS LOST A CUSTOMER.

THE REAR SPLIT DOORS WON'T OPEN WHEN UNLOCKING USING THE KEY FOB. THERE IS NO MANUAL LATCH TO OPEN REAR DOORS FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS MY WIFE'S ONLY VEHICLE AND MY CONCERNS ARE AS FOLLOW. 1- WE CAN'T ACCESS THE SPARE TIRE AND EMERGENCY TOOLS SINCE THE DOORS DOESN'T OPEN. AND MY MAIN CONCERN IS 2- WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT/FIRE IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE ONLY EMERGENCY EXIT IS THROUGH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE UTILIZING THE REAR DOORS? DIFFERENT SCENARIO WHAT IF THE VEHICLE FALLS IN WATER AND THE ONLY WAY OUT IS TO OPEN THE REAR DOORS BUT THERE IS NO MANUAL LATCH TO EGRESS? I BELIEVE THAT MINI COOPER FAILED OR DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THIS MATTER. I CAN'T INCLUDE PICTURES BECAUSE I'LL BE SHOWING A SHUT DOOR.

IVE PERSONALLY DRIVEN MY 2009 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN 11K MILES OF THE 34K IT HAS ON IT WITHOUT ANY ISSUE UNTIL ON JUNE 5TH, 2016 I PARKED IT NEAR MY WORK AND RETURNED TO IT THE NEXT MORNING.IT STARTED UP JUST FINE AND I JUST LET THE FIRST GEAR TAKE ME OUT OF THE PARKING GARAGE. THEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE ONCE ON THE ROAD AND NOTHING... NO POWER. I PUT THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND NOTHING. I PULLED OVER AND IT SOUNDED LIKE A LABORED, CLANKY, ROUGH IDLE. GOT IT TOWED TO A SHOP, DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED MAIN RELAY FAILURE AND SOMETHING ABOUT VALVETRONIC SERVOMOTOR AND LIMITATION AND PLAUSIBLE AIR MASS SENSOR ISSUE. MAIN RELAY PART REPLACED FOR $20.WORKED FINE AFTER THAT. EIGHTEEN DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. WENT HOME AND AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND SCARY POSSIBILITIES COULD HAPPEN WITH MY MINI RELATED TO THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEMS, AIR INTAKE, WATER PUMP AND TIMING CHAIN SENSOR WORST OF ALL. THINGS THAT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE IF FAILED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH OR IN AN INTERSECTION OR IN TRAFFIC! TO DATE, ILL BE RETURNING TO THE SHOP THAT HELPED MEET BAND AID THE PROBLEM, THEN TO MY REAL PROFESSIONAL TO HELP ME DIAGNOSE AND TREAT FURTHER POSSIBLE ISSUES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR THREE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY HIGHWAY WHEN THE SMOKE STARTED POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE CAR STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING, OR SIGNAL LIGHTS APPEARING ON THE CONTROL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. I STOOD BACK, WATER FOR THE SMOKE TO CLEAR, AND TRIED TO RESTART BUT THE ENGINE WAS DEAD. I CALLED MY TOWING SERVICE AND HAD IT DELIVERED TO MY SERVICE GARAGE, MINI OF MAIN LINE, 130 MONTGOMERY AVENUE, BALA CYNWYD, PA. NO WARNING LIGHT EVER APPEARED, AND I WAS COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE CAR. THE GARAGE REPAIR ESTIMATE STATES THAT THE "WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT" FAILED. MY MINI COOPER MODEL IS NOT LISTED UNDER RECALL #12V008000, BUT THE CONSEQUENCE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THAT DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE: THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FAILED CAUSING THE ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT BOARD TO MALFUNCTION AND OVERHEAT.

THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF A STATE HIGHWAY WHILE GOING AT CRUISING SPEED OF 35MPH ON THE RIGHT MOST LATE, AND WITH ENGINE DEAD POWER STEERING BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE CAR TO THE SIDE. THE CAR WAS LITERALLY DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, WE HAD KIDS ON BOARD AND FOR A SMALL CAR, WE WERE REALLY THAT LUCKY PASSING CARS WERE ABLE TO SPOT US AND AVOID HITTING US. WHEN WE TOOK TOWED IT TO THE SHOP, THE ISSUE WAS THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD SNAPPED AND ALSO CRACKED THE ENGINE TOP COVER ON THE LEFT SIDE. ON SEARCHING THE INTERNET IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS THE "TIMING CHAIN, TENSIONER ISSUES" THAT BMW/MINI IS ALREADY AWARE OF HOWEVER THEY HAVE NOT YET DONE A RECALL. THERE WAS ALMOST NO WAY OF TELLING THERE WAS THIS PROBLEM BREWING WITH THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH NOW IN RETROSPECT THERE WERE A FEW TELL-TALE SIGNS, WHEN IT WAS COLD, WE HAD HEARD A RATTLE SOUND, WHICH WENT AWAY IMMEDIATELY. ALSO THE SAME DAY THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED WHEN STANDING AT A SIGNAL, BUT STARTED UP AGAIN. NOW WE REALIZE THAT THESE SIGNS WERE RELATED TO THE PROBLEM THAT OTHER USERS HAD COMPLAINED TOO BEFORE THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE.

INTERMITTENT STEERING LOSS WHILE DRIVING. MINI IS AWARE OF ISSUE... OFFERS NO FIX. LOW MILEAGE. FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING TURNING AND NOT TURNING. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR DASHBOARD WARNING OR MESSAGE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, IT APPEARS MINI IS AWARE AND VERY HIGH PETE STAGE OF OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME .... DEATHS HAVE BEEN REPORTED .

THE SOCKET THAT GOES IN THE BULB FOR THE HEADLIGHTS ARE BURNED ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS. THE BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND BECAUSE OF THE BURNED SOCKET THAT CONNECTS TO THE HEADLIGHT APPARENTLY IS UNABLE TO SEND A SIGNAL TO THE BULB AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

MY SON HAS A 2009 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2008 MINI COOPERS BUT NOT THE 2009 THE CODE FOR THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS THE SAME AS THE 2008 CODE I AM WONDERING WHY THE 2009 MINI IS NOT RECALLED ALSO

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS ACTIVE WITH NO PERSON IN THE SEAT, IT GO ON AND OFF EVERY TIME. I DESACTIVE BUT GO ON AGAIN. THE NO ACTIVE THE AIR BAG WHEN SOMEBODY IS IN THE SEAT AND GOES ON AND OFF.

AIR BAG NOT ACTIVE / NO PASSENGER LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. IT WILL RANDOMLY TURN ON AND OFF. SAME COMPLAINT AS THE 2008 RECALL. *TR

CAR STARTED MAKING RATTLING NOISE ON START UP, DROVE IT TO MINI, THEY SAY MY TIMING CHAIN IS STRETCHED AND HOUSING BROKEN, AROUND $2500, TO REPAIR. READING ONLINE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, EVEN THE BASIS OF A LAWSUIT AND I FEEL IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. *TR

AFTER HEARING A RATTLING WHILE IDLING AT A STOP SIGN AND THEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THERE WAS A TERRIBLE NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. MY HUSBAND PUSHED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OPENED THE HOOD. IT APPEARED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BUSTED OUT OF THE TOP OF THE ENGINE COVER. WE WERE VERY CONCERNED AS THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH HE HAD JUST EXITED. WE HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE IN THE MINI AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT COME TO A RESOLUTION, AS OUR MECHANIC IS ADVISING US THAT THE COST OF REPAIR WILL BE UPWARDS FOR $6,000 AND MINI IS NOT COVERING COST OF REPAIR. WE ARE WONDERING IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES. WE HAVE READ THAT THEIR IS AN ACTIVE CLASS ACTION SUITE, AS WELL. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN USING EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE HANDLE. THE DOOR LOCK BUTTON DOES GO UP AND DOWN BUT DOES NOT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE DOOR OPENING. THIS IS THE THIRD MINI DOOR WE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE WITH (WE OWN TWO MINI'S, UNFORTUNATELY). THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT MINI SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE AND FIX BUT THEY CONTINUE TO IGNORE GOING ON FOR AT LEAST 12 MODEL YEARS. WHEN WILL IT BE FIXED, WHEN SOMEONE DIES? *TR

MY CAR OVERHEATED AFTER DRIVING ONLY 15 MILES ON THE HIGHWAY. THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON (RED- STOP LET THE ENGINE COOL DOWN) THEN WENT OFF THEN CAME BACK ON (ORANGE- CONTINUE ON YOUR JOURNEY; LET ENGINE COOL DOWN SOON). BY THE TIME I LOCATED THE SYMBOL TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS I WAS AT MY EXIT. THE CAR SPUTTERED AND STALLED ON THE OFF RAMP AND I COULD SEE BLACK SMOKE AND SMELL BURNING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PUSHED THE CAR OFF THE ROAD AND CALLED FOR HELP. THERE APPEARED TO BE NO OIL OR WATER IN THE CAR AND I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I JUST HAD IT SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP 28 DAYS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED AS I HAD AN INCIDENT WITH MY KEY FOB NOT RELEASING AND WAS CONCERNED THIS MIGHT BE AN INDICATION OF A BIGGER PROBLEM. THE FOB FINALLY RELEASED AFTER 40 MINUTES OF SITTING IN A PARKING LOT! THEY PERFORMED A COMPLETE INSPECTION AND CHANGED THE OIL, AIR FILERS, BRAKE FLUID AND GAVE THE CAR A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH FOR $400 AND 28 DAYS LATER I HAVE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND THEY QUOTED ME $9000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE! I SAW SEVERAL POSTS OF SIMILAR ISSUES ON MINI BLOG SITES AND FELT COMPELLED TO FILE A COMPLAINT. I HAVE A BASE MODEL AND NOT AN "S" WHICH WAS PART OF A MINI RECALL FOR ELECTRICAL/WATER PUMP ISSUES. IF THERE IS A CONSISTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHERE THE THERMOSTAT FAILS OR WATER PUMP FAILS ON THE BASE MODEL THEN MINI SHOULD ADDRESS IT. *TR

REAR DOOR SPRUNG OPEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. STOPPED BUT DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THERE WAS A NOTED SERVICE BULLETIN ON PROBLEM BUT NOT A RECALL. I HAD TO INCUR FULL REPLACEMENT COST OF DEFECTIVE DOOR LATCH $315. *JS

BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REGULAR SERVICE. SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WAS LEAKING AND COMING LOOSE. TOLD ME IT WAS GOING TO BE 1500 DOLLARS TO REPLACE . I WAS READING ONLINE THAT THOUSAND OF VEHICLES LIKE THIS ONE HAVE HAD THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER BROKEN AND HAVE A RATTLE NOISE AND ENGINE VALVES COMPLETELY BREAK. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE A RECALL, IT SEEMS THAT TOO MANY VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED BY THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

THE MANUFACTURER'S PROVIDED DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR MAT SLIDES UP OVER BOTH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR CAUSING UNINTENTIONAL BRAKING AND/OR ACCELERATION. I EMAILED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, BUT SO FAR NO RESPONSE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE CLOSED THE DOOR, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT QUICKLY ENOUGH AND CAUSED THE DOOR TO SEIZE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000....UPDATED 07-10-13 *BF

LOUD RATTLE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON COLD START UP. LOSS OF POWER ON ACCELERATION. BROUGHT TO DEALER AND DIAGNOSED AS BROKEN TIMING CHAIN GUIDES WITH REPAIR COST OF $2,300. HAVE PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY, SO REPAIR IS COVERED. HOWEVER, THIS IS A HIGHLY REPORTED ISSUE AND SHOULD BE DEALT WITH IN A RECALL OF ALL AFFECTED ENGINES. *TR

HAD CAR IN DEALER SHOP FOR REPAIR OF FAULTY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER/GUIDE (SEE SEPARATE COMPLAINT). WAS TOLD ALSO HAD A LEAK IN TURBOCHARGE OIL INLET LINE THAT WILL COST OVER $1,000 OUT OF POCKET TO REPAIR. THIS IS CLEARLY A COMMONLY REPORTED ISSUE AND A FIRE SAFETY HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH IN A RECALL. *TR

THE LATCHES ON THE REAR DOORS FAILED AND WOULD NOT LATCH SHUT. HAD TO TIED DOORS DOWN WITH ROPE IN ORDER TO GET HOME. I WAS FORTUNATE THE LATCHES FAILED WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND NOT WHILE I WAS DRIVING; COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. MINI HAS THIS AS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN BUT CHARGED ME $233 TO FIX. *TR

AFTER COMPLAINING REPEATEDLY TO THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT A RATTLING NOISE FROM OUR VEHICLE ENGINE AT START UP, THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND HAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED OUR ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER REPEATEDLY CLAIMED THE NOISE WAS "NORMAL" ENGINE NOISE AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. NOW THAT NOT ONLY IS THE TIMING CHAIN BROKEN, BUT THE ENGINE HAS BEEN DESTROYED FROM THE SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE. THERE IS A PETITION ONLINE (CURRENTLY OVER 800 SIGNATURES) FROM MINI OWNERS CLAIMING TO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AT LOW MILEAGE AND SIMILAR EXPERIENCES DEALING WITH MINI OF NORTH AMERICA IGNORING THE ISSUE. HTTP://WWW.MINICOOPERSPEED.COM/MINI-COOPER-COLD-START-KNOCKING-NOISE-ISSUE-2007/. *TR

DESPITE PERFORMING REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND COMPLAINING ABOUT OUR TIMING CHAIN MAKING A NOISE FROM THE FIRST MONTH, MINI NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM ALWAYS INSISTING THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL OR THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. EVENTUALLY OUR TIMING CHAIN JUMPED THE RAILS AND DESTROYED OUR ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE AND MINI USA DECLINED TO FIX THE ISSUE. ONLY ONCE DID THEY TRY TO FIX IT BY REPLACING THE TENSIONER. THE PART THEY USED WAS AN OLDER DISCONTINUED PART. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE AND SO THE TIMING CHAIN CONTINUED TO RATTLE AND THEN DESTROYED THE ENGINE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2009 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE CLOSING THE REAR HATCH DOOR THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BURNS ON HER LEGS CAUSED BY THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE EXHAUST PIPE EXTENDS OUT FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH HE BELIEVED WAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,130. BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE EXHAUST PIPE EXTENDS OUT BEYOND THE REAR BUMPER AND IT IS SHING THERE IS CONSIDERABLE RISK THAT A CHILD LEFT UNATTENDED NEAR THE VEHICLE COULD EXPERIENCE THE SAME TYPE OF BURNS. UPDATED 10/03/2011 *LN *TR

ON MY 2009 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. OUR TEENAGER WAS PRIACTICING PARALLEL PARKING FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES ON A HOT DAY. AFTER IT FAILED, WE TURNED OFF THE CAR. TWO HOURS LATER WHEN WE RESTARTED THE CAR IT WAS FUNCTIONING AGAIN. THE DEALER, SAYS THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING UNLESS THEY CAN REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, WHICH THEY HAVE NOT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) T

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR HAS BEEN GOING OFF INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY EVEN WHEN SOMEONE OF NORMAL ADULT SIZE (160LBS) IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I HAVE CONTACTED MINI AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT UNLESS I PAY FOR THE COSTLY REPAIR, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN SLOWLY RECALLING OTHER MODELS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE IMPROPERLY FUNCTIONING MAT IN MY MINI COOPER CLUBMAN MAY CAUSE THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG TO BE INACTIVE WHEN THE SEAT IS OCCUPIED, AND IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE PASSENGER'S RISK OF INJURY. THIS IS CLEARLY DUE TO A DESIGN, MANUFACTURING, INSTALLATION, AND/OR EXPOSURE ISSUES, THAT CAUSES THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT NOT TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AND, AS A RESULT, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. THIS NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED AND NOT WAIT UNTIL MORE PEOPLE ARE HURT BY BMW'S REFUSAL TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM IN ALL VEHICLES THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THEY ARE WAITING FOR MORE DEATHS, INJURIES AND/OR COMPLAINTS BEFORE THEY FINALLY RESOLVE THEIR PROBLEM AT THEIR COST IN ALL CARS. WHAT CHANGE HAVE THEY EMPLOYED AFTER 2008 TO THIS DESIGN, MANUFACTURING AND INSTALLATION PROCESS IN THEIR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSORS THAT MAKES THEM ISOLATE ONLY SOME REPAIRS ON SOME MINIS? NONE! AT LEAST NONE THAT HAVE WORKED AS I HAVE A 2009 MINI COPPER CLUBMAN WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM, SO CLEARLY THEY HAVEN'T RESOLVED IT AND SHOULD NOT LIMIT THEIR RECALL TO 2005-2006 MINI COOPERS AND COOPER S, NOR JUST CONVERTIBLE MINI COOPERS BETWEEN 2005-2008 MODELS. 2009 MINI COOPER CLUBMANS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM, YET BMW TELLS ITS CUTOMERS WITH WARRANTIES TO PAY FOR IT THEMSELVES! BAD BUSINESS. HOPE SOMEONE SUES THEM, BUT PROBABLY NOT UNTIL SOMEONE DIES. AT LEAST THIS PUTS THEM ON NOTICE SO THEY CAN BE SUED MORE EASILY. I HAVE CHILDREN...SHAME ON YOU BMW!

THE CAR HAS NEVER REGISTERED THE CORRECT MILES PER HOUR. THE SPEEDOMETER REPORTS HIGHER THAN ACTUAL MILES PER HOUR BY AS MUCH AS 10%. I'VE COMPLAINED MANY TIMES TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO GET USED TO IT. THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD FIX AND I WOULD HAVE TO BUY A NAVIGATION SYSTEM IF I WANTED TO KNOW HOW FAST I WAS REALLY GOING. I ASKED IF THEY AFFECTED MY ACTUAL MILEAGE AND THEY SAID NO, BUT I AM SUSPICIOUS TO THAT. DEALER IS DOWNTOWN MINI 350 LAKE DESTINY DRIVE, ORLANDO, FL. *TR