The contact owns a 2011 Mini Cooper Countryman. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, there was an abnormal burning odor inside and outside the vehicle. The vehicle then stalled. The vehicle was able to be restarted after several hours. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a cracked water pump, which caused the engine to overheat. The contact was informed that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11729444 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

The contact owns a 2011 Mini Cooper Countryman. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked in the driveway while both the contact and his wife were in another vehicle parked in the garage. The contact noticed white smoke coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that upon opening the hood of the vehicle, the contact noticed an electrical burning smell and fire. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher. The contact then noticed that a blue plug had melted and was smoking. A police report was not filed. There was no injury sustained. Upon investigating the failure online, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V008000(Engine and Engine Cooling). The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle remained at the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that he would receive a call back. The failure mileage was 111,019.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11686826 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

WE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN IN EARLY AUGUST 2011. HOWEVER, BY AUGUST 24,2011. WE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE GRINDING. WE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY AGREED THAT THE BRAKES WERE GRINDING AND CHANGED THE BACK BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS AND WE EVENTUALLY HAD TO GO BACK THE SECOND TIME BECAUSE THE GRINDING WAS STILL THERE; THEN THEY CHANGED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS & ROTORS. HOWEVER, THIS DID NOT HELP THE ISSUE. THE BRAKES CONTINUE TO HAVE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND WE WENT BACK THE THIRD TIME WITH THE DEALERSHIP OFFERING THAT THEY HAVE SOMEONE IN THE FACTORY VISITING THE SHOWROOM AND WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THE BRAKES AGAIN BUT AFTER THEIR THIRD INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO ASSIST FURTHER ON THIS ISSUE. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE CALIFORNIA STATE NEW VEHICLE BOARD WHO RECOMMENDED THAT WE MAKE A STATEMENT TO THE NHTSA. I FEEL THAT GRINDING BRAKES ARE A SAFETY CONCERN AND NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #10433891 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

REFERENCE MY CALL IN REPORT REF. # 10598125: THE "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT (LOCATED IN THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE) REMAINS ILLUMINATED AFTER THE SYSTEM DOES IT'S INITIAL CHECK AT START UP. IF ANYONE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE LIGHT GOES OUT. THE SYSTEM DID NOT OPERATE THIS WAY UNTIL THE CAR REACHED APPROXIMATELY 15,000 MILES. ORIGINALLY THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON FOR A FEW SECONDS AT START UP THEN GO OUT. AFTER CHECKING SEVERAL OWNER BLOGS ONLINE, I FOUND OUT THAT ALL OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN GETTING A DEFINITIVE EXPLANATION FROM THEIR DEALERS. SOME DEALERS REPAIRED THE ISSUE BY REPLACING THE SEAT PAN SENSOR OR REPAIRING THE UNDER SEAT CONNECTOR. SOME DEALERS HAVE SAID THE CONDITION IS NORMAL. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY DEALER, "SOUTH MINI OF MIAMI" AND WAS INITIALLY TOLD THERE WAS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM AND SCHEDULED THE CAR FOR TROUBLESHOOTING AND REPAIR. AFTER THE SCHEDULED SERVICE, I WAS TOLD THAT THE SYSTEM WAS CHECKED AND THAT ALL COMPONENTS WERE OPERATIONAL AND NOTHING WAS FAULTY. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE LIGHT REMAINING ON WITHOUT A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT WAS NORMAL. MY CONCERN IS THAT NONE OF THE USA MINI DEALERSHIPS CAN DEFINITIVELY EXPLAIN THE CORRECT OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM OR WHY IT SUDDENLY STARTED WORKING IN A DIFFERENT WAY. IT CAN'T BE CORRECT BOTH WAYS; IT WAS EITHER FAULTY FOR THE FIRST 15,000 MILES OR IT IS FAULTY NOW. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH SEVERAL MINI COOPERS AND SOME BMW MODELS. I BELIEVE FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED GIVEN THE POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE "SMART AIRBAG SYSTEM" . *TR

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #10629742 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF MECHANISM WONT OPERATE TO OPEN AND CLOSE AND EITHER STICK OPEN OR CLOSE OT NOT CLOSING PROPERLY CAUSING TO LEAK WATER OR NEED REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF TRACK, MOTOR OR CONTROLS MECHANISMS WHICH HAVE INCURRED USERS IN HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS EXPENDITURES AND THE MANUFACTURE DOESN'T ADMIT RESPONSIBILITY AND EVERY TIME THE ISSUE HAPPENS NEW LARGE BILLS HAVE TO BE PAID TO REPAIR THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF WHICH HAS BECOME AN ECONOMIC BURDEN TO MINI COOPER OWNERS FOR THIS MODEL OR THE ONES THAT OFFER THIS AMMENITY WORLDWIDE AND USA SPECIFICALLY.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #10971106 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

ON JULY 20, 2016 WHEN WE QUESTIONED REPAIR COSTS COVERED BY OUR 2011 MINI MAINTENANCE PROGRAM UPGRADE AGREEMENT, THE SHARPE COLLECTION MINI DEALERSHIP IN GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A PAPER COPY OF THE AGREEMENT. NOR DID THEY SUBSEQUENTLY EMAIL IT TO US AS REQUESTED. IN ADDITION, WE REQUESTED THE SAME DOCUMENTATION ON THE MINI USA WEBSITE AT MINIUSA.COM AND IT WAS NOT FORTHCOMING AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS. IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE DEALERSHIP BY LAW MUST KEEP ALL PAPERWORK OF THIS NATURE AVAILABLE TO CLIENTS FOR 7 YEARS.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #10897929 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov