2011 Mini COOPER: complaints, problems and recalls

THE NEW MINI COOPER THAT I LEASED STARTED TO HAVE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS AROUND 6500 MILES. WHAT HAPPENS IS A HESITATION IN THE ACCELERATION OF THE MINI FROM A START OR AT LOW RPMS. FOR EXAMPLE WHEN YOU'RE AT A STOP AND YOU ARE TRYING TO CROSS TRAFFIC THE HESITATION OF THE ACCELERATION IS DANGEROUS IN TIMING THE VEHICLE TO CROSS TRAFFIC AND WHEN THE ACCELERATION CATCHES UP THE CAR JUMPS TO HIGH RPMS. THIS IS BEING REPORTED BECAUSE I TOOK THE COOPER INTO THE MINI OF ONTARIO SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG.

Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10420348 at NHTSA ↗

2011 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE BROKE DOWN WHILE TRAVELING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE FAILED WHICH CAUSED OIL TO LEAK UNDER THE HOOD. BMW REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE ON THE GROUNDS THE VEHICLE HAD AN OVER REV-MISSED SHIFT THAT WAS AN AFTER MARKET PART THE CONSUMER HAD INSTALLED. AN INSPECTION SHOWED A BORE SCOPE WAS USED TO VERIFY THAT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE CROWN OF ONE PISTON INDICATING THAT DURING THE OVER REV, A VALVE HAD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE PISTON. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10423458 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO PARK HOWEVER, THE GEAR WOULD NOT REMAIN SECURE AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIRS. IN ADDITION, THE OIL PUMP GASKET AND MAP THERMOSTAT WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE F…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,504 miles reported. Look up ODI 10424148 at NHTSA ↗

OUR COUNTRYMAN UNEXPECTEDLY RAN OUT OF GAS WHEN THE DIGITAL FUEL LEVEL DISPLAY STILL HAD TWO BARS ILLUMINATED AND THE ON BOARD COMPUTER INDICATED THERE WERE 57 MILES LEFT. WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING, WHICH IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK. THERE ARE MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES OF THIS ISSUE REPORTED HERE: HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/R60-COUNTRYMAN-TALK/215262-RAN-OUT-OF-GAS.HTML THE DIGITAL FUEL LEVEL GRAPH IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS CANDY CORNS SINCE ON THIS VEHICLE EACH SEGMENT LOOKS SIMILAR TO A CANDY CORN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10426560 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR LINK BECAME STUCK AS THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE FROM A DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT COFFEE HAD LEAKED INTO THE GEAR SHIFTER AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED ADVISED THAT BECAUSE THE CUP HOLDER WAS ABOVE THE GEAR SHIFTER, THE DESIGN WOULD ALLOW ANY SPILLED LIQUID TO EASILY ENTER THE SHIFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 03/23/12*LJ THE CO…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10444433 at NHTSA ↗

I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON 12/15/11 BECAUSE THE PASSANGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT TURNED ON WHEN A PASSANGER WAS SEATED. THE LIGHT TURNED ON AGAIN JAN 7, 2012. HERE ARE THE DEALER'S NOTES FROM THE 12/15/11 VISIT: SEAT MAT SENSOR OC3 RECODING CHECK FAULT MEMORY NO RELEATING FAULT STORED. COMPLETED TEST PLAN B6577 ACM4. CHECK CONNECTOR TO SENSOR OK. TEST PLAN CONCUDED TO RECODE OC3. UPDATED VEHICLE. D6577 0000 57 310. RETEST OK. AT THE SAME TIME THE CAR ALSO ALERTED TO A TIRE INFLATION ISSUE. HERE ARE THE DEALER'S NOTES REG…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,678 miles reported. Look up ODI 10444480 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE FROM A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT UNDER THE HOOD WITH A GARDEN HOSE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CONTACTED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457204 at NHTSA ↗

THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I FILED A COMPLAINT THE FIRST TIME IN 2012. HERE IS THE COMPLAINT THAN AND IT IS A REPEAT OF THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE CHECKED THE WEB AND OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME DESIGN PROBLEM I HAVE SPENT $1,100 ALREADY AND NOW AN REQUIRED TO PAY ANOTHER $1,400 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I WENT ON-LINE AND OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I WROTE THE DEALER AND MINI-COOPER/BMW ABOUT THIS AND RECEIVED A RUDE DENIAL. HERE IS THE ISSUE (#2): "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR LIN…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,543 miles reported. Look up ODI 10532865 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2023-05-11 (May 11, 2023)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2014 MINI Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Clubman John Cooper Works, and 2007-2013 MINI Hardtop 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, and John Cooper Works vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. The electronic control module in the driver's side footwell area may short-circuit, due to corrosion from water and road salt.

Consequence: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the sunroof drains, interior footwell area, and FRM and, depending upon the results of the inspection, certain components will be replaced. Owner notification letters were mailed May 13, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-866-825-1525.