2012 MINI Countryman Powertrain & Transmission Problems

timing chain failure which caused engine shut down. this is a known problem with other models. It was not recalled but BMW lost a class action lawsuit for the same problem in the same car, different years. They have not updated or repaired the issue. very expensive repair.

UPON ENTERING AN EXIT ONLY LINE ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE END OF A 400 MILE JOURNEY, TRAFFIC BACKED UP AND CAME TO A STOP IN THE EXIT ONLY LANE. WHEN TRAFFIC STARTED MOVING AGAIN, MY CAR WHICH HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM NEUTRAL INTO 1ST GEAR (OR ANY GEAR). I WAS STOPPED AND UNABLE TO MOVE WITH TRAFFIC MOVING 50-60 MPH BEHIND ME AND NEXT TO ME. CARS SLAMMED ON BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING ME AND ONE ALMOST HIT ME AFTER SLAMMING ON ITS BREAKS AND TURNING SIDEWAYS. IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST TERRIFYING EXPERIENCES I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. A STATE POLICE OFFICE PULLED UP BEHIND ME AFTER ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES AND WAS ABLE TO PUSH ME TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. THERE WAS A TERRIBLE BURNING SMELL AND CONSIDERABLE SMOKE FROM UNDER THE CAR WHICH INDICATED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHERE I LATER LEARNED THE CLUTCH MATERIAL HAD DISINTEGRATED ENTIRELY AND THE FLYWHEEL WAS CRAZED AND BURNED FROM THE EXTREME HEAT. BOTH THE CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE COST TO REPAIR THE CAR WAS OVER $4000. THE CAR HAD 78,067 MILES ON IT AND PRIOR TO THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH THERE WERE ONLY 2 INDICATIONS OF A POTENTIAL CLUTCH PROBLEM WHEN THE TACHOMETER FLUTTERED WHEN SHIFTING INTO HEAR AT ABOUT 300 MILES PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND THEN ABOUT 25 MILES PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, INDICATING TO ME THAT THE CLUTCH WAS STARTING TO SLIP. OTHER THAN THAT, THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR OTHER INDICATIONS OF A PROBLEM. THE CAR IS ROUTINELY SERVICED BY THE DEALER AND WHENEVER THERE IS ANY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. I DO NOT DRIVE CARS HARD. THIS CAR IS STILL ON ITS FIRST SET OF BRAKES AND ONLY ITS SECOND SET OF TIRES. I HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL SHIFT CARS FOR MANY YEARS AND KNOW THE SYMPTOMS OF A FAILING CLUTCH. I CONSIDER THE NEAR CATASTROPHE THAT I EXPERIENCED THE RESULT OF A MAJOR DEFECT IN EITHER THE CLUTCH OR THE WARNING MECHANISM.

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I WENT IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. I LIVE 2.5 HOURS FROM A MINI SERVICE CENTER. THE DIAGNOSTIC AT AUTOZONE JUST LISTED A BUNCH OF MISFIRES AND NOTHING ELSE. THAT EXPLAINED THE HARSH SOUNDING START AND SPUTTERING. AS DAYS HAVE GONE BY, CAR WILL LOSE POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, STRUGGLE UP HILLS, FAIL TO MAINTAIN SPEED LIMIT, AND STRUGGLE TO START IN THE MORNING. ALL THESE EVENTS HAVE OCCURRED LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER BEING SERVICED AT SEATTLE MINI. I'M SURE I'M UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT HAVING TO DRIVE 2.5 HOURS IF I CAN MAKE IT THERE, FOR SOMETHING THEY SEEM TO HAVE BEEN HAVING COMPLAINTS ABOUT. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR DIED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSFER CASE AND DRIVE SHAFT BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 14000 MILES ON A 2012 VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAKING A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE AND RUSTING OUT FROM THE AXLES BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THEY COULD FIT ME IN FOR AN APPOINTMENT. THE GRINDING CONTINUOUSLY GOT WORSE UNTIL WHEN THEY TOOK IN THE CAR TODAY REALIZED THE PROBLEM WAS MUCH WORSE THAN ANTICIPATED. IT SEEMS I AM NOT THE FIRST INDIVIDUAL TO HAVE SUCH A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AS WELL. *TR

ON A 2012 MINI COUNTRYMAN S ALL4 WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION, STARTING AT 15500 MILES ON THE CAR, BEGAN NOTICING ODD RESPONSE TO THE THROTTLE WHEN ACCELERATING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CLUTCH WOULD ENGAGE AND ENGINE INCREASE REVS (200-400 RPM) TO ACCELERATE WHILE NOT DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THIS WORSENED OVER THE NEXT 500 MILES UNTIL THE RPM DIFFERENCE WAS 2000-4000 RPM. FINALLY, THE CLUTCH GAVE COMPLETELY, WITH SMOKE BILLOWING FROM THE HOOD AND OBVIOUS SMELL OF BURNT PLATE, EVEN THOUGH I HAD NOT ENGAGED THE PEDAL WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY IN HIGH GEAR. AFTER ALLOWING THE CAR TO REST DURING THE DAY, I MANAGED TO GET MOVING FOR 1/4 MILE BEFORE STOPPING AT A LIGHT. UPON TAKEOFF, THE CAR SHUDDERED VIOLENTLY, AND THEN DISENGAGED FROM 1ST GEAR AND WOULD NOT RE-ENGAGE. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT. *TR

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, I HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY WITH MY 2012 COUNTRYMAN ALL4 S CLUTCH. THE CAR SIMPLY WILL NOT GO UP HILLS. LIVING IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST, THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN IN MULTIPLE SITUATIONS WHERE THE CAR WILL NOT ENGAGE, RESULTING IN STALLING AND A BURNING CLUTCH. I'VE HAD TO STOP AND MOTION FOR PEOPLE TO GO AROUND ME TO AVOID ROLLING BACK INTO THEM. I TOOK IT IN TWICE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. NOT SURPRISINGLY, AT 9,500 MILES, MY CLUTCH COMPLETELY BURNED OUT 200 MILES FROM HOME. AT FIRST, MINI SAID MY WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER AND TRIED TO CHARGE ME ~$3,000, BUT AFTER COMPLAINING, THEY AGREED TO COVER 75%. THEY TOLD ME THE NEW CLUTCH IS UPGRADED/IMPROVED; HOWEVER, I STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUES ON HILLS AND HAVE TO AVOID THEM, OR TAKE OUR OTHER CAR IF DRIVING INTO THE MOUNTAINS. THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AS CITED ON MULTIPLE AUTO REVIEW SITES. I RECENTLY ASKED MINI TO BUY-BACK MY COUNTRYMAN BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE CLUTCH PROBLEMS, AND BECAUSE IT'S TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ANYWHERE THERE IS A HILL (EVEN A SMALL ONE). THE ANSWER WAS SIMPLY "NO". I AM FRUSTRATED AND FED UP WITH THE LACK OF CONCERN BY MINI...THEY KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM AND ARE DOING NOTHING TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. I CANNOT KEEP THIS CAR, BUT CERTAINLY DO NOT WANT TO SELL TO AN UNSUSPECTING INDIVIDUAL. *TR