2009 MINI Cooper S Clubman Problems

I am writing to formally request reimbursement for a timing chain replacement performed on my vehicle, which was the subject of a specific safety recall issued by BMW. The timing chain defect in this vehicle represents a severe safety hazard, as a failure can cause an immediate and total engine stall while the vehicle is in motion. This loss of power in traffic creates an 100% avoidable risk of collision. Despite BMW recognizing this defect through a prior reimbursement program, they are refusing to compensate for a safety-critical repair on a low-mileage vehicle (58,XXX miles) simply based on the car's age. At the time of repair, the vehicle had approximately 58,XXX miles. Although the vehicle is older, it was in storage for several years because the previous owner was unaware of the recall and lacked the financial means to address it. Despite the period of storage, the car remained in excellent condition, with the timing chain being the only mechanical requirement at the time. The repair was completed by a local independent shop and paid for out-of-pocket. While BMW has recently honored a different recall for an electronics panel on this same VIN, my request for timing chain reimbursement was denied based on the vehicle's age. I believe this denial is inconsistent, as the safety defect identified in the recall existed regardless of the car's age or storage history. I am seeking compensation for the parts and labor costs associated with this safety-critical repair

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER S CLUBMAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT'S SON HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO BMW OF HUDSON VALLEY (2068 SOUTH RD, POUGHKEEPSIE, NY 12601) WHERE THE DIAGNOSIS WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO PAY 50% TOWARDS THE PART. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE APPROXIMATELY 70MPH, SUDDENLY VEHICLE BEGAN RUMBLING. IMMEDIATELY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE MOTOR KEPT RUNNING BUT WITH A CONTINUOUS RUMBLING AND ACCELERATOR WAS COMPLETELY INACTIVE. CAR WILL START BUT NO POWER OUTPUT, PRESSING ON THE GAS IS FUTILE.

TOOK IN FOR OIL CHANGE, BURNING SMELL, AND RATTLING SOUND WHEN ENGINE COLD. I WAS GIVEN A LIST AFTER THEY HAD A FEW DAYS OF: MATERIAL FAILURE OF OIL PAN GASKET, OIL FILTER HOUSING LEAK, TURBO OIL FEED LINE LEAK, MATERIAL FAILURE OF THERMOSTAT HOUSING, MATERIAL FAILURE OF WATER PUMP, AND MATERIAL FAILURE OF TIMING CHAIN, TIMING CHAIN GUIDES, TENSIONER. I ENDED WITH A TOTAL REPAIR COST OF $4,666.30. TWO WEEKS LATER I AGAIN HAVE A BURNING SMELL AND THE TRIM COVERING THE TURBO CHARGER CRACKS. I AM TOLD THIS IS NORMAL AND IT IS JUST OUT OF THE 5 YEAR WARRANTY ON THIS EVEN THOUGH I HAVE AN EXTENDED COSMETIC WARRANTY. IN DECEMBER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON BUT GOES OFF AFTER I CALL DEALER. I AM TOLD IF IT IS OFF, MAY JUST BE EMMISIONS ERROR. ON 2/20/2015, MY OIL PRESSURE LIGHT GOES ON, DEALER HAS NO OPENINGS UNTIL 2/23/15. I TAKE IN AND NOW IT HAS MORE ISSUES, STEMS AND VALVES, WHICH WILL BE ANOTHER $2K IN REPAIRS. IT IS STILL NOT DUE FOR OIL CHANGE BUT I HAD REQUESTED ONE SINCE I WAS THERE. IT IS LOW ON OIL DUE TO VALVE AND THE ENGINE ISSUE. ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE IDENTICAL TO A THOSE VEHICLES WITH THE TENSIONER,WATER PUMP, TURBO FEED LINE RECALL.....BUT YET I AM TOLD MINE DOES NOT HAVE THE RECALL ON IT. *JS

The contact owns a 2009 Mini Cooper S Clubman. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contacted became aware of a failure with the electrical system. The contact stated that the instrument panel failed to display as needed, and the turn signals failed to function properly. The contact also stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle failed to turn off, causing the battery to become drained. 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2009 Mini Cooper S 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 contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted. The contact stated that the footwell area was very warm to the touch. The failure mileage was not available. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR FAILURE RESULTS IN THE AIRBAG FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE BEING DISABLED WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION/DRIVING REGARDLESS OF WHETHER A PERSON IS SITTING IN THE SEAT (AN ADULT WILL BE SITTING IN THE SEAT AND THE AIRBAG WILL CONTINUE TO BE DISABLED AS THE CAR IS DRIVEN AROUND). THE LACK OF AIRBAG FOR THE PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FAULTY SENSOR IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK THAT WILL LIKELY RESULT IN THE DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM MINI HAD ON OTHER MODELS OF ITS CARS WHICH RESULTED IN A RECALL.

THE PASSENGERS SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR IN MY 2009 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN S IS NOT FUNCTIONING AND IT WON'T ALLOW ANY AIRBAG TO ACTIVATE. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON AND IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND I WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR WITH NO WORKING AIRBAGS. IT STARTED WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE ON 8/14 AND REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER.

REPORTED BRAKE LIGHT ON TO MINI DEALER IN SACRAMENTO CA. SERVICE STATED THE BRAKES WERE OK, LIGHT JUST NEEDED TO BE RESET. LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON FIVE MORE TIMES. EACH TIME, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE SERVICE CONSULTANTS RESET THE LIGHT. DECEMBER 2011 AT 37,000 MILES REPORTED BRAKE LIGHT ON AGAIN. DEALER CHECKED AND REPORTED THAT I NEEDED BRAKES, UNFORTUNATELY, NO LONGER COVERED UNDER 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. WHEN I POINTED OUT THAT I HAD REPORTED THE BRAKE PROBLEM ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, STARTING WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY, SERVICE MANAGER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE, PLACING BLAME ON BMW'S POLICY AND ADDING THAT DEALERS ARE LOOSING MONEY BECAUSE BMW WON'T COVER WARRANTY REPAIR. I WORKED MY UP THROUGH THE DEALER MANAGEMENT, AND FINALLY A MANGER AGREED TO PICK UP THE COST OF THE NEW BRAKES, ALBEIT, QUITE RUDELY, EVEN RAISING HIS VOICE STATING, "WILL THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY NOW?" THIS WAS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. I UNKNOWINGLY DROVE THE CAR FOR THREE MONTHS AND APPROXIMATELY 5,000 MILES NEEDING BRAKES. DEALER CLEARLY WAITED UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRED TO EVEN LOOK AT THE BRAKES. *JS

I PARKED MY 2009 MINI CLUBMAN S ON A MODERATE HILL. AFTER 10 TO 15 MINUTES, WITH THE PARKING BRAKE FULLY ENGAGED AND THE CAR IN FIRST GEAR (STANDARD TRANSMISSION), THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARD DOWN THE HILL, STRUCK A CAR PARKED BEHIND IT, THEN PROCEEDED TO ROLL INTO A BUSY 3-LANE HIGHWAY. IF I HAD NOT BEEN STANDING 100 YARDS AWAY WITH A GROUP OF RUNNING MATES (WAITING ON A LATE ARRIVER), THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AS IT WAS, WE HEARD THE INITIAL COLLISION, SAW THE VEHICLE ROLLING INTO TRAFFIC, AND WERE ABLE TO STOP TRAFFIC AND THEN PHYSICALLY STOP THE LOCKED CAR IN THE INTERSECTION BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO RETRIEVE THE KEY AND OPEN THE DOOR AND APPLY THE BRAKES. ON THE ADVICE OF MY INSURER, I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MY MINI DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. MY DEALER WAS INCREDULOUS DESPITE MY FINDING OTHER REPORTS ONLINE OF VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL OCCURRENCES. *TR

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE APPROXIMATELY 70MPH, SUDDENLY VEHICLE BEGAN RUMBLING. IMMEDIATELY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE MOTOR KEPT RUNNING BUT WITH A CONTINUOUS RUMBLING AND ACCELERATOR WAS COMPLETELY INACTIVE. CAR WILL START BUT NO POWER OUTPUT, PRESSING ON THE GAS IS FUTILE.

GROWLING- RUBBING NOISE AUDIBLE AT LOW SPEEDS. AIR CONDITIONING HOSE HAD COME LOOSE AND WAS "BURNING" ON OTHER ENGINE PARTS. DEALER SERVICE STATED THIS WAS A VERY UNUSUAL CASE. CAR HAD BEEN IN FOR TENSOR CHAIN REPLACEMENT FIVE DAYS EARLIER. *JS

THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IS FROZEN, IT CANNOT BE OPENED, FROM MINI FORUMS I HAVE SEEN WHERE THIS IS A SERIOUS ONGOING PROBLEM. NOW THE BACK BARN DOOR IS FROZEN SHUT. THE LOCKS ARE OBVIOUSLY BROKEN, YET THE DEALERSHIP EXPECTS THAT WE WILL COVER THIS OUT OF POCKET TO THE TUNE OF $1800. OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE PROBLEMS. *TR

PASSENGER AIRBAG/SEATBELT WARNING LIGHTS AND TONES ARE CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THIS IS NOT ONLY AN ANNOYING PROBLEM IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE PASSENGER SAFETY EQUIPMENT IS NON-FUNCTIONAL. THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT FOR THIS MODEL/YEAR AND RESOLUTION IS A COSTLY DEALER FIX WITH PARTS PRESENTLY BACKORDERED.

MY 2009 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN S WILL NOT ACCELERATE WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL IF I AM COASTING. THERE IS AN INITIAL DELAY, THEN THE ENGINE SPEEDS UP BUT THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE. SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN TRYING TO CHANGE LANES OR MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE DEALER SAYS THE CAR OPERATES AS DESIGNED... *TR

THIS HAPPENED TWICE, THE FIRST TIME IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTEE. I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT AND HIT A POTHOLE. I NOTICED THAT MY LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT WAS POINTED AT THE ROAD. WHEN I GOT HOME I NOTICED THAT THE HOLE ASSEMBLY INSIDE HAD BEEN DISENGAGED AND IS POINTED DOWN. THERE IS NO WAY TO ADJUST IT AND SINCE I WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTEE I DECIDED TO OPEN THE UNIT. I FOUND THAT THE SMALL PLASTIC PART THAT HOLDS THE INNER LIGHT ASSEMBLY FROM FALLING PULLED APART. I WOULD THINK THAT THIS MUST BE TESTED AND THEREFORE I MUST HAVE A DEFECTIVE UNIT. I CONTACTED MINI WHO SENT ME TO THE DEALER AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT. IT HAS BEEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND I HAVE NO RESOLUTION. IF THIS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE I THINK THERE MUST BE OTHER UNITS THAT HAVE FAILED THIS WAY. IS THIS CAUSE FOR A RECALL? *TR