2006 MINI Cooper Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NICK ALEXANDER MINI (6201 ALAMEDA ST, LOS ANGELES, CA 90001) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP, ALTERNATOR, AND RADIATOR COOLING FAN FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,054.

NHTSA ID

11000470

Incident

Jun 17, 2017

Mileage

80,054 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED THE NEXT DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND WAS NOT REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE COOLING FAN ALSO FAILED TO FUNCTION, WHICH CAUSED THE RADIATOR TO BE REPLACED TWICE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT A DIFFERENT TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ID

10871032

Incident

Mar 20, 2016

Mileage

118,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. ALSO, WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR A SECOND AND DIMMED. THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE LOCATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING 54 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IT BEGAN TO SMOKE AND LEAK OIL. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ID

10845583

Incident

Mar 3, 2016

Mileage

52,000 mi

OUR CAR HAS ONLY 53,000 MILES ON IT. WE ARE INFORMED BY 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS THAT IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION TOTALING $10,000. WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THE CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR THIS VERY ISSUE THAT SETTLED LATE LAST YEAR. BMW/MINI KNEW ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION AND SAID NOTHING. OUR CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE NOW AND IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE. IT IS WORTHLESS ESSENTIALLY AFTER BEING MAINTAINED PER THEIR GUIDELINES. WHEN DRIVING IT LOST CONTROL AND WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEARS. WAS STUCK IN 4TH GEAR ONE TIME AND WAS HARD TO STOP. COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BUT WE WERE ABLE TO GET CONTROL.

NHTSA ID

10806624

Incident

Nov 23, 2015

Mileage

53,000 mi

70K AND ON MY THIRD SERPENTINE BELT ,BATTERY LIGHT GOES ON AND INCREDIBLY HARD TO STEER LEFT OR RIGHT AND CAR DIES. WHEN THE BELT SHREDS OR BREAKS THE CAR DIES AND ONLY MOVES AT BELOW 5 MPH ,ONLY WARNING IS A BATTERY LIGHT ... PEOPLE BUYING THIS CAR FOR TEENS DONT ! HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AT 30 K ... IF YOU BUY THIS CAR USED WITH LOW MILEAGE GET THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED . NOTE : TRANSMISSION CHECK REQUIRES THE ENGINE TO BE PULLED OUT AND WILL COST $500.00 OIL PAN CONSTANTLY LEAKS. IF VW IS BAD BMW /MINI COOPER IS WORSE AND GETTING AWAY WITH HIGHWAY ROBBERY . SEAT BELTS ALWAYS GETTING TWISTED AND REQUIRE THE NEED TO PUL OFF ROAD TO FIX BECAUSE THEY TIGHTEN AND WON'T RELEASE TENSION. LOOK INTO DRIVER AND PASSENGER LEATHER SEATS FALLING APART ... WAITING FOR SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG TO GO OFF BECAUSE OF POOR MATERIAL AND TEXTILE USE . IF IT'S RUBBER IT ROTS OR RATS EAT IT BECAUSE THEY CAN ENTER CAR ENGINE WITHOUT ISSUE. WITH THE CLASS ACTION SUITS ,SERVICE WARNINGS,AND RECALLS IT LOOKS LIKE MINI COOPER NEEDS A HARDER MORE INTENSE INVESTIGATION . IN REGARDS TO EXACT DATES I HAVE REPAIR BILLS ,CLASS ACTION INFO. REGARDING TRANSMISSION ...WORTHLESS AS I HAVE WRONG YEAR ,ALSO CAR IS ON A CONSTANT CYCLE OF MALFUNCTION ... BRAKE LIGHTS AND HEAD LIGHTS CONSTANTLY NEED BULB REPLACEMENT . PLEASE MAKE MINI COOPER RESPONSIBLE.

NHTSA ID

10787265

Incident

Mar 15, 2013

Mileage

30,000 mi

CAR SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE SITING IN THE GARAGE.

NHTSA ID

10721275

Incident

May 24, 2015

Mileage

72,000 mi

THE CAR WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF OUR TOWNHOME. THAT AFTERNOON, MY NEIGHBOR KNOCKED ON THE DOOR TO TELL ME THAT THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THAT SHE HAD HEARD A LOUD POP UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER CALLING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE FIREFIGHTERS CAUTIOUSLY RAISED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT SOMETHING HAD CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THEY TOLD ME TO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE, AND I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY, HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC WHO WORKS ON OUR AUTOMOBILES, AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY SENT A CLAIMS AGENT TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE. THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND NUMEROUS OTHER PARTS WERE DAMAGED. *LN *TR

NHTSA ID

10545665

Incident

Sep 8, 2013

I WAS DRIVING IN MODERATE TRAFFIC (40MPH) WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY JERKED SO HARD IT FELT LIKE SOMEONE HIT ME FROM BEHIND. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, I WAS FEELING THE JERKINESS SLIGHTLY AND INTERMITTENTLY (FELT LIKE DOWNSHIFTING). AFTER READING PEOPLE'S COMPLAINTS IN MINI FORUMS, I'M STARTING TO THINK THIS COULD BE THE BEGINNING OF MY TRANSMISSION FAILURE. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT BUT IF THIS CONTINUES, THERE COULD BE SOME MAJOR INJURIES INVOLVED. ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO, MY MINI STARTED TO OVERHEAT. I GET MY CAR SERVICED REGULARLY SO I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW MY WATER LEVELS AND OIL LEVELS GOT SO LOW TO OVERHEAT MY CAR. AFTER READING UP ON THIS, OTHER MINI OWNERS FACED SIMILAR ISSUES. SO NOW, I AM REQUIRED TO CHECK WATER AND OIL LEVELS AT EVERY 1500 MILES TO AVOID OVERHEATING. A LITTLE HIGH MAINTENANCE? TELL ME ABOUT IT!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10531796

Incident

Jul 24, 2013

Mileage

62,300 mi

I HAVE AN '06 MINI COOPER AND NEVER HAD ANY ENGINE/TRANSMISSION ISSUES PRIOR TO TODAY. ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE WAS DONE BY THE MINI DEALER. TODAY LEAVING TO GO TO WORK, I STARTED THE CAR, PUT MY SEAT BELT ON, CHECKED THE MIRRORS, ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOWS, PUT THE CAR GEAR IN "D" AND STARTED MOVING FORWARD OUT A PARKING LOT, AND AFTER A FEW SECONDS WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR LOST ALL ACCELERATION AND CAME TO A STOP. THEN THE CAR WON'T REVERSE NOR MOVE FORWARD WHILE IN ANY GEAR. TOWED TO THE DEALER AND LATER WAS TOLD IT'S THE CVT TRANSMISSION AND IT WILL COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE CVT TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514390

Incident

May 30, 2013

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED AND STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHIFT INTO MANUAL MODE TO SHIFT THE GEARS UP AND DOWN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO THE COOLING SYSTEM EMITTING SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE AND CORROSION ON THE ENGINE ITSELF. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ID

10507482

Incident

Jan 16, 2013

Mileage

74,000 mi

WITHOUT ANY WARRANTING THE POWER STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN. THE CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE I JUST HAD DIAGNOSED TEST FOUR DAYS AGO ON THE CAR THE ONLY PROBLEM NOTED WAS THE THERMOSTAT. KNOW I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10490062

Incident

Dec 26, 2012

Mileage

96,488 mi

CAR LOST POWER AND STARTED RUNNING AND IDLING VERY ROUGH. SERVICE SHOP DISCOVERED THAT THE NYLON CAPS FOR THE HYDRAULIC LASH VALVES HAD DETERIORATED AND CRACKED AND IN SOME CASES HAD FALLEN COMPLETELY OFF HAVING A NEGATIVE AFFECT ON THE ENGINE COMPRESSION. THE ORIGINAL CAPS ARE BRIGHT YELLOW AND AFTER USE AND HEAT THEY TURN ORANGE/BROWN. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS SOME MINI'S HAVE STEEL LASH CAPS. SEEMS THAT A ENGINE COMPONENT SUSCEPTIBLE TO HEAT DAMAGE SHOULD NOT BE MADE OF NYLON/PLASTIC. THE CAR HAS A TOTAL OF 18 OF THESE LASH CAPS AND AT LEAST 12 ARE CLEARLY CRACKED. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE FROM MINI OR IN THE AFTERMARKET. MINI'S ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ROCKER ARMS WHICH IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR WHEN THE ONLY FAILURE IS SMALL NYLON CAPS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10485395

Incident

Nov 18, 2012

Mileage

92,000 mi

I WASDRIVING IN CT. WHEN MY CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. MY CAR WAS HAULED AWAY AND BMW (MINI COOPER) AND MINI OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY IN STAMFORD CT TRY TO CLAIM THAT THIS ENGINE WAS HYDROLOCKED. THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE WHEN IT WAS NOT RAINING TO MAKE THIS CLAIM. ENGINE COMPLETELY SEIZED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10432326

Incident

May 18, 2011

Mileage

46,996 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, A LOUD SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK PULLEY FAN BELT THAT CONTROLLED THE AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATER WAS LOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,039.

NHTSA ID

10421044

Incident

Aug 18, 2011

Mileage

31,039 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH IN THE RAIN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE HYDRO-LOCKED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CONTACT DID NOT AGREE WITH THE DEALERS DIAGNOSIS AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. HE THEN SUGGESTED THAT THE DEALER FURTHER INSPECT THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED, AS THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ID

10407606

Incident

May 18, 2011

Mileage

46,000 mi

2006 BMW MINI COOPER, 2 DOOR. CAR SUDDENLY LOSES POWER, SHUDDERS AND ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. OCCURS RANDOMLY. HAS OCCURRED 6 TIMES SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASED, MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE SEPTEMBER 2010. EACH TIME CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. EACH TIME DEALER SAID IT WAS FIXED. DEALER DOES NOT SHARE ENGINEERING INFORMATION; SO, I CANNOT DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT WAS DONE. DEALER HAD TO GET MINI COOPER ENGINEERS FOR CONSULTATION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. REPAIR ORDERS MENTION A PART CALLED THE VANOS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. SUDDEN LOSE OF POWER APPEARS TO ME TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR. MINI COOPER OF NORTH AMERICA HAS SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM FOR THEM TO REMEDY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10359381

Incident

Sep 26, 2010

Mileage

47,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS REACHING OVER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN THE TRUNK WHEN HER LEG WAS BURNED BY THE MUFFLER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR ROUTINE INSPECTION. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE BRACKETS WHICH HELD THE MUFFLER IN PLACE HAD RUSTED, ALLOWING THE MUFFLER TO HANG. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS EMISSIONS WITHOUT REPAIRING THE MUFFLER. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE MUFFLER BRACKETS REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10350635

Incident

Aug 10, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

1/10/2010, I MY HEATER WAS BLOWING COLD AIR AND MY ENGINE TEMP INDICATOR WAS JUMPING AROUND. I CALLED MINI OF TOWSON AND TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE. I REMINDED THEM THAT BOTH AIR BAG AND FLAT TIRE INDICATORS HAD BEEN FLICKERING ON AND OFF SINCE THE LAST TIME I CAME IN ON JUNE OF 2009 AND THAT AS OF A FEW WEEKS AGO THEY HAD BOTH REMAINED ON. AT THAT TIME, NO ONE TOOK MY INQUIRY SERIOUSLY AND I WAS TOLD THE LIGHTS WERE COMING ON AS A RESULT OF THE PAST REQUIRED ENGINE WORK FOR THE COOLING SYSTEM AND ENGINE, AND A SLOW LEAK IN ONE OF MY TIRES, WHICH I WAS INSTRUCTED TOO MONITOR BY FILLING-UP WHEN LOW AND TO IGNORE. I WAS INFORMED RECENTLY THAT I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR ($1000). I HAVE READ MANY OF POSTS ON THE MINIUSA WEBSITE THAT SAY THIS AS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MINI'S BEING WIRED INCORRECTLY FORM THE MANUFACTURER; SOMETHING THAT COULD BE AVOIDED WITH EARLY DETECTION BY THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF THE INITIAL FAULTY INDICATOR LIGHTING. I WAS ALSO TOLD MY WATER PUMP IS NOW LEAKING COOLANT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ($900); SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN TOLD MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE EARLIER MANUFACTURING DEFECTS I HAD. ALSO, I AM ENROLLED IN THEIR TIRE AND RIM PROTECTION WARRANTY THAT STATES ANY TIRES OR RIMS THAT ARE DAMAGED BY NAILS, POT HOLES, ETC ARE REPLACED FOR FREE. THEY HAVE PATCHED 4 OF MY TIRES FOR NAIL DAMAGE; 3 OUT OF THE 4 TIRES CONTINUE TO LEAK AND I FEEL SHOULD BE REPLACED. LASTLY, MY MINI APPRAISED $6,500 BY THIS DEALER. I ASKED HOW MUCH THE VALUE INCREASES IF I COMPLETELY SERVICE THE CAR AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD INCREASE THE VALUE OF SERVICES RENDERED ($3,100) A TOTAL EST.VALUE OF $9,600. WHEN ASKED WHY MY MINI HAD DEPRECIATED SO MUCH I WAS TOLD BECAUSE OF THE CARS EXTENSIVE SERVICE RECORD. SHE SAID BECAUSE OF THE DEPLORABLE SERVICE RECORD, MY CAR COULD NOT BE KEPT BY THE MINI DEALER AND THAT IT HAD TO BE SOLD AT WHOLESALE BECAUSE THE CAR IS CONSIDERED FAULTY. SHE SAID MY MINI WAS NOT SAFE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER RESELL STANDARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10299564

Incident

Jan 11, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO LOSE POWER; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT MANAGED TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND DROVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10267660

Incident

May 1, 2009

Mileage

130,000 mi