70 of the
2,181 complaints filed about the Mini Cooper S
are about the glass, mirrors and wipers —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2003.
70
Complaints
3%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers complaints by model year
The contact owns a 2024 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that a brake pad failure message was illuminated on the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed the brake fluid service issue. The brake fluid flush was completed, and a complimentary oil change was provided. Two days after doing so, approximately two days later, the Oil Light illuminated, advising to add a quart of oil. The vehicle was returned and inspected. It was assumed the cap was not on tight enough. The air conditioner failed shortly after. The vehicle was returned, and it was diagnosed that the AC motor had failed. The motor was replaced, and 2 days later, the Oil Light advising for 1 quart of oil illuminated again. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed an oil leak but had not identified where. They added 2 quarts of oil and advised returning to the dealer. The dealer confirmed an oil leak and provided the contact with a loaner. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the issues. The failure mileage was 12,625.
NHTSA complaint #11737574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed that a rock had hit the driver's side of the windshield due to construction work on a local highway. The contact stated that the passenger's side of the windshield was also hit by a rock while driving. The contact stated that the driver's side of the windshield sustained a minor fracture; however, the passenger's side of the windshield was severely damaged. An unknown dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,485. The VIN was not available.
NHTSA complaint #11679180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR ISSUE, I HAVE SEEN THIS REPORTED IN OTHER MINI COOPERS THAT WERE RECALLED BUT MY SPECIFIC MODEL WAS NOT. I WANT TO BE SURE ALL APPLICABLE VEHICLES ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND OTHER MINI OWNERS. I HAVE NO AIRBAG FUNCTION RIGHT NOW AND BOTH MY DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHTS ARE ON. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR AT THE LEAST.
NHTSA complaint #11377693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN SITTING IN DRIVERS SEAT ( I AM 5FT. 1 IN TALL) AND THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS OPEN, I CAN NOT SEE THROUGH THE REAR VIEW MIRA BECAUSE THE CONVERTIBLE TOP FOLDED IS BLOCKING MY VISION. MY SEAT IS AT HIGHEST POSITION. JUST AS POINT OF REFERENCE I HAD A 2012 MINI CONV. AND THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM. BECAUSE OF THIS I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND GET ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH COST ME IN EXCESS OF $5000 AS MY 3 DAY OLD CAR WAS CONSIDERED USED WITH 91 MILES ON IT. MY HUSBAND WHO IS 5'9" TALL TRIED IT AND HAD SOME VISIBILITY BUT VERY LIMITED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS THING AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED BY MINI. EITHER THE MECHANISM OR THE FABRIC USED HAS TO BE CHANGED TO ALLOW THE TOP TO RETRACT OUT OF SIGHT. THIS DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU ARE MOVING OR STANDING STILL, AND COULD CAUSE THE DRIVE TO EASILY HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SEE WHAT IS BEHIND THEM.
NHTSA complaint #11290057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2005 MINI COOPER S WAS TRAVELING 50MPH WHEN IT HIT ICY BRIDGE SPUN AROUND AND ROLLED 3 TIMES DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEATBELT AND PASSENGER WAS NOT AND GOT EJECTED AND DIED.NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HWY 299.*DT
NHTSA complaint #11155233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED AND BOTH FRONT WINDOWS HESITATED TO ROLL UP AND DOWN. ALSO, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE BUCKLED OR UNBUCKLED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A POSITIVE CABLE IN THE FUSE BOX THAT MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD DESTROY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSE A FIRE, AND KEEP THE AIR BAG FROM DEPLOYING IN A CRASH. THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE CABLE WAS BEING STRETCHED AND THE CENTER SWITCH PACK CASE WAS SEPARATED, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE WINDOWS TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,500.
NHTSA complaint #10615824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING HOME FROM DEALERSHIP AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. I THOUGHT I WAS JUST UNLUCKY AND A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD. NOW I THINK THERE WAS NOT A ROCK INVOLVED. DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD.
NHTSA complaint #10606507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE DUAL POWER SUNROOF IS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAPPENS VERY FREQUENTLY ON THE 2007 MODEL MINI'S AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE BY THE MANUFACTURER. TO FIX THE PROBLEM MINI IS CHARGING OVER $2500.00 TO CORRECT THIS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ITEM.
NHTSA complaint #10465420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE HAD PREVIOUS ISSUES WITH THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF, I HAD TO GET IT REPLACED. THEN I HAD ISSUES WITH THE CHAIN AND CHAIN TENSIONER AND HAD TO GET THAT REPLACED TOO. NOW THE STEERING HAS FAILED ON ME, I CAN'T START THE CAR OR EVEN MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. MY STEERING IS LOCKED NOW; I HAD THE CAR RUNNING, EVERYTHING SEEMED TO RUN FINE AND THE STEERING WORKED FINE. ONCE I SHUT THE CAR OFF I COULDN'T START THE CAR BACK UP AND MY STEERING LOCKED UP. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED HOME. I WISH BMW WOULD DO SOME KIND OF A RECALL ON THIS CAR SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY SO MUCH MONEY OUT OF OUR OWN POCKETS!
NHTSA complaint #10440928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PLETHORA OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. HEATED SEATS ARE A MAJOR CONCERN. THEY GO ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES, SEEM HAUNTED. SOMETIMES, THEY GET SO HOT THEY LEAVE BURN MARKS IN MY LEGS. I AM AFRAID OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE HEATED SEATS GET SO HOT, THEY LEFT BURN MARKS IN MY SEAT. AISIN 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPPED WITH "LIFETIME" FLUID, BEGINS SLIPPING GEARS AT 70K THE SUPERCHARGER HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE "DESIGN" OF THE SUPERCHARGER IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED, I WAS FORCED BY BMWUSA TO PURCHASE A REMANUFACTURED SUPERCHARGER. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A "COMMON PROBLEM" I HAVE ALSO FOUND OUT FROM FORUMS SUCH AS NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT BMW DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT ITS AT FAULT FOR HOWEVER THEY ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THE WIDESPREAD HAPPENINGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE AVAILABILITY OF NEW SUPERCHARGERS IS VERY LOW BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, HENCE ME PURCHASING A REMFGD ONE. REAR WIPER MOTOR FAILED AT 40K QUOTED HUNDREDS TO REPLACE, NOT WORTH IT!!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10440113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2008 MINI COOPER S. THE VEHICLE HAD A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL AND ENGINE FAILURE WITH NO NOTICE. WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 287 IN NJ WITH ABSOLUTELY NO NOTICE THE CAR LOST TOTAL POWER. EVERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH, ALL GAUGES DROPPED TO ZERO, NO POWER WHATSOEVER FROM THE ENGINE, NO WAY TO OPEN WINDOWS OR DOOR LOCKS AS THEIR WAS A COMPLETE AND TOTAL ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THIS VEHICLE - THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO NOTICE. ONE MOMENT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY AND THE NEXT I HAD COMPLETE AND TOTAL MECHANICAL, ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL FAILURE RENDERING THE CAR DISABLED AND WITHOUT POWER IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF INTERSTATE 287 SOUTH IN MORRISTOWN NJ. VEHICLE BROUGHT TO MINI DEALER; VEHICLE THERE FOR ALMOST 2 WEEKS-SUPPOSEDLY "FIXED". THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED A SECOND TIME WITHIN 100 MILES OF THAT FIRST SERVICE. VEHICLE BROUGHT TO MINI DEALER AGAIN. HAPPENED A THIRD TIME FOR THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHILE HE DROVE THE CAR HOME FROM PRINCETON TO PA. VEHICLE WAS AT MINI FOR ANOTHER 2 AND ONE HALF WEEKS. NOW THEY SAY IT IS FIXED AND I DO NOT FEEL CONFIDENT THEY ARE CORRECT. THIS PROBLEM IS WITHOUT WARNING AND LEAVES THE VEHICLE PERMANENTLY DISABLED IN A TOTAL AND COMPLETE WAY THAT CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH FOR THE OCCUPANTS. MINI CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS ABHORRENT. THEY WOULD NOT RETURN CALLS AND STALLED TIME AND AGAIN WHEN ASKED TO REPURCHASE THIS VEHICLE WHICH IS CLEARLY UNSAFE. THEY WILL DO NOTHING. THE NHTSA MUST INVESTIGATE. THE ONLY PART THEY TELL ME IS WRONG IS THE FOOTWELL MODULE BUT WILL BE NO MORE SPECIFIC. MINI MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS DEFECT AND FAILURE; THIS IS OF VERY SERIOUS NATURE. AGAIN, THE CAR COMPLETELY FAILS-EVERYTHING-ENGINE, ELECTRICAL, ALL POWER YOU CAN NOT OPEN DOOR LOCKS, WINDOWS OR THE REAR HATCH. THE ENGINE LOSSES ALL POWER. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.
NHTSA complaint #10350222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2003 MINI COOPER S. MY WIPER MOTOR DIED IN A HEAVY RAINSTORM, OR SO I THOUGHT. DRIVING WITHOUT THE WIPERS IN HILO, HI WHERE I LIVE WITH 140" A YEAR OF RAIN CAN BE DEADLY WHEN WIPERS DON'T WORK. IT IS A WELL DOCUMENTED DEFECT AFFECTING ALL ORIGINAL 02-06 MINIS. SEE HERE FOR DETAILS. I REPAIRED MINE SIMPLY BY GROUNDING THE WIPER MOTOR TO ANYWHERE ELSE ON THE CAR. I HAD TO DRIVE 3 WEEKS WITHOUT WIPERS BEFORE I COULD FIX THIS. DEALERS CHARGE $600 TO FIX IT AND IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND THE MOTOR IS NOT ACTUALLY DEAD. IT IS A POOR, AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY DESIGN. I GUESS I COULD HAVE SPENT A COUPLE THOUSAND RENTING A CAR FOR THAT TIME, OR JUST SPENT $600 RIGHT AWAY AND ANOTHER $500 ON THE CAR TO GET IT FIXED. I TOOK MY CHANCES, SO WILL MANY OTHERS. THERE WERE PLENTY OF TIMES I COULDN'T SEE WELL AND HOPED FOR THE BEST. HERE IS THE SITE WITH LOTS OF INFO ABOUT IT. HTTP://WWW.MINI2.COM/FORUM/FIRST-GENERATION-FAULTS-FIXES/141234-WIPER-MOTOR-FAILURE-2.HTML HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/1ST-GEAR/83170-MY-WINDSHIELD-WIPER-MOTOR-DIED-IN-A-STORM-AT-NIGHT.HTML.
NHTSA complaint #10322758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DEFECT INITIALLY OCCURRED AT NIGHT TIME IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC: DASH-LIGHTS WENT OUT, TURN INDICATOR NOT FUNCTIONAL, HEATER BLOWER STOPPED WORKING (CAUSING FOGGING OF WINDSHIELD/WINDOWS), AIR BAG LIGHTS WENT ON, SEAT BELT LIGHT ON CONSEQUENTLY HAD TO PULL ON THE SIDE OF ROAD (LIMITED VISIBILITY, NO SPEED INDICATOR, COULD NOT OPERATE VEHICLE SAFELY). A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS AT IGNITION CYCLING PARTIALLY RESTORED FUNCTIONALITY. AFTER INITIAL DEFECT, PROBLEM COULD BE REPRODUCED INTERMITTENTLY (ALL/SOME OF THE COMPONENT LISTED ABOVE FAILED DURING COURSE OF NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE). VEHICLE INSPECTED BY MINI/BMW DEALER, ROOT CAUSE: INTERFERENCE ON K-BUS OF ONE OF THE AUDIO COMPONENT, RESULTING IN FAILURE/MALFUNCTION OF OTHER COMPONENTS ON THE BUS. ULTIMATELY COMPONENT (MINI I-POD INTERFACE) HAD TO BE REMOVED -- PART IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. REQUEST TO HAVE REPAIRS COVERED WAS REJECTED BY MINI/BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS ON GROUNDS THERE WAS NO RECALL (VEHICLE IS 5 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY --- 41K MILES).
NHTSA complaint #10319435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY COMPLAINT IS NOT ABOUT AN ACCIDENT BUT RATHER AN UNSAFE CONDITION IN MY RELATIVELY NEW MINI COOPER. THE SIZE AND POSITION OF MY INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR SIGNIFICANTLY OBSCURES THE VIEW OF THE ROAD ON RIGHT HAND TURNS (ESPECIALLY ON EXIT RAMPS). I THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE CORRECTED.
NHTSA complaint #10312953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEVERAL WEEKS AGO I FOUND A CRACK IN WINDSHIELD OF 2007 MINI COOPER S ON PASSENGER SIDE BELOW WIPER. I HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AND CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME ON SEPT. 10TH. ON SEPT. 16 I FOUND ANOTHER CRACK IN THE NEW GLASS IN APPROXIMATELY SAME SPOT! AFTER LOOKING ON INTERNET I FOUND THAT STRESS CRACKING OF THE WINDSHIELD IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. ANYWAY, THE DEALER CLAIMS IT IS AN IMPACT CRACK AND ONLY A COINCIDENCE THAT IT OCCURRED IN SAME SPOT! AFTER ARGUING THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AT THEIR COST--AS A COURTESY. I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING HITTING THE WINDSHIELD AND EVEN IF A SMALL PEBBLE HIT--THE WINDSHIELD SHOULD NOT CRACK SO EASILY.
NHTSA complaint #10242724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR HAS FAILED ON MY 04 MINI COOPER S. UPON RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, I'VE FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHER MINI COOPER OWNERS HAVE THE SAN=ME RECURRENT ISSUE. MINI COOPER NEEDS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10241220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MOTOR HAS FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME. WINDOW IS STUCK CLOSED. THIS IS A CONCERN IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY AND CAUSES PROBLEMS WHEN CLOSING THE DOOR AS THE GLASS HITS THE LIP OF THE ROOF SINCE IT DOES NOT DROP AS DESIGNED.
NHTSA complaint #10224581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE DRIVER'S SIDE (POWER) WINDOW OF MY 2003 MINI COOPER S (50K MI) FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY WHILE IN AN UP POSITION. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PROVES INCONVENIENT, TO SAY THE LEAST, PARTICULARLY WHEN ENTERING/EXITING PARKING GARAGES AND TOLL BOOTH STATIONS. MY MECHANIC WILL REPLACE THE MOTOR AND REGULATOR FOR $600. GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF GROUSING I'VE SEEN ON THIS SUBJECT, I SHOULD THINK THAT BMW SHOULD STAND BY ITS PRODUCT.
NHTSA complaint #10209746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.