2007 Mini COOPER CONVERTIBLE: complaints, problems and recalls

AT APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MILES, CAR MADE HOWLING TYPE NOISE WHEN REACHED APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND THE NOISE BECAME VERY NOTICEABLY ONCE IT REACHED 60+ MPH. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER AT SOUTH BAY MINI TWICE, BOTH TIME SOUTH BAY CLAIMED THAT IT WAS 'TIRE' NOISE. TOOK THE CAR TO LOS ANGELES DOWNTOWN DEALER, THEIR COMMENT WAS THE NOISE CAME FROM THE TRANSMISSION, ALTHOUGH THEY CAN NOT PINNED DOWN EXACTLY WHERE AS THE TRANSMISSION IS A CLOSED COMPARTMENT. EXTENDED WARRANTY (FIDELITY) REFUSED TO COVER COST OF REPLACEMENT AS THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY NEED TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10433102 at NHTSA ↗

THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF LIGHT IS ALSO ON EVEN IF THERE IS A PASSENGER SEATING. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS HERE FOR THE SAME ISSUE, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHERE THE AIRBAG MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER WANTS $1,200 TO GET THIS FIXED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 84,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10524552 at NHTSA ↗

THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT IS ALSO ON EVEN IF THERE IS A PASSENGER SEATING. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART (POSSIBLY THE AIRBAG WEIGHT SENSOR) ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED IF THE AIRBAGS DO NOT DEPLOY. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM FOR THE 02-06 MODELS AND THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED FOR LATER MODELS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10595041 at NHTSA ↗

THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR TURNS OFF THE AIR BAGS BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE MAT SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY WITH A PASSENGER. MINI HAS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX TO REPLACE THE SENSOR AT ABOUT $1200. HUNDREDS OF MINI OWNERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND MINI WILL NOT FIX IT. BMW ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE SAME PART. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 50,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10595404 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MALFUNCTIONED AND THE GAUGES DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD CONNECTION MALFUNCTIONED, BUT IT DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000...UPDATED 11/03/14 *BF UPDATED 4/28/2015 *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10629050 at NHTSA ↗

I SCHEDULED 2 APPOINTMENTS WITH BRIAN HARRIS MINI. THEY HAD MY VEHICLE FOR AROUND 8 HOURS AND BOTH TIMES THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS BROKEN. NOW ALL OF MY AIRBAG LIGHTS ARE ON AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THE DRIVER AIRBAG IS FUNCTIONING. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL ME AS SOON AS ANOTHER PART CAME IN AND COME PICK UP MY VEHICLE SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO LEAVE IT THERE. I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM IN 2 WEEKS. I EVEN CONTACTED MINIUSA ABOUT THIS.

Owner-reported narrative. 44,444 miles reported. Look up ODI 11047141 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END SUSTAINED FIRE DAMAGE. PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, DEALER, OR INSURANCE COMPANY TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROX…

Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11053300 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2007-11-20 (November 20, 2007)

CERTAIN CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, 'TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS.' THE STANDARD REQUIRES THAT THE TIRE SIZE AND CORRESPONDING TIRE PRESSURE BE INDICATED ON THE LABEL AND THE LABEL DOES NOT CORRESPOND TO THE ACTUAL TIRES MOUNTED ON THE VEHICLE.

Consequence: INCORRECT TIRE PRESSURE CAN CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR AND TIRE DAMAGE WHICH COULD LEAD TO UNFAVORABLE DRIVING CONDITIONS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH NEW TIRE INFORMATION PLACARDS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. AT THE CUSTOMER'S OPTION, A DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MINI AT 1-866-275-6464.

Reported: 2015-04-06 (April 6, 2015)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2005-2006 MINI Cooper and Cooper S vehicles manufactured January 5, 2005, to November 28, 2006, and 2005-2008 MINI Cooper Convertible and Cooper S Convertible vehicles manufactured January 5, 2005, to July 31, 2008. Due to manufacturing, installation, and exposure issues, the front passenger seat occupant detection mat may not function properly and, as a result, the front passenger air bag may not deploy in a crash.

Consequence: An improperly functioning mat 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.

Remedy: MINI will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat occupant detection mat, free of charge. The recall began on October 12, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.