What 71 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Mini Cooper Countryman

THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, THERE WAS NO EVENT, THERE WAS NOTHING TO CAUSE THIS TO OCCUR. IT HAD BEEN PARKED OVERNIGHT IN AN OPEN AREA, AS IT WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE ONRAMP WHEN IT SOUNDED LIKE A WINDOW WAS OPEN, THEN ON THE HIGHWAY IT SOUNDED LIKE THERE WAS ICE CRUST COMING OFF OF THE BACK OF THE CAR, THEN THERE WAS A RUSH OF WIND - PULLED OVER AND SAW THE SHATTERED ROOF. THANKFULLY THE SUNSCREEN WAS CLOSED SO THE GLASS DIDN'T POUR ONTO ME.

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OUR 2013 MINICOOPER COUNTRYMAN S ALL 4 WITH 30,400 MILES ON, WAS CAUGHT ON FIRE ON NOVERBER-11-2017 IN DEDHAM MA. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE WHILE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. CAR DID NOT INDICATE ANY WARNINGS AND WE DIDN'T OBSERVE ANYTHING OUT OF ORDINARY. FIRE WAS PUT IN CHECK BY SPRINKLERS IN THE GARAGE AND DEDHAM CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT THE GARAGE ON LOCK DOWN UNTIL THEY TURN OFF THE FIRE AND THE GARAGE WAS SAFE TO ENTER. THE 3 STORIED OFFICE BUILDING WAS GIVEN A HOLIDAY AS THEY COULDN'T STAY IN THE BUILDING DUE TO SMOKE SMELL. WE HAVE OUR BABY CAR SEAT AND FEW OTHER BELONGINGS IN THE CAR, BUT ALL OF THEM WERE DAMAGED IN THE FIRE. WE HAVE INFORMED THE CAR DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD THIS CAR TO US AND THE MINI CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, BUT BOTH OF THEM DIDN'T SHARE OUR CONCERN FOR SAFETY. WE WISH THE NHTSA WOULD CONSIDER THIS MATTER SERIOUSLY AS IT COULD HAPPEN TO OTHER MINIS. THANK YOU

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE EPS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

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ENGINE LOST ALL POWER WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF 3 AND ALL ENGINE POWER WAS LOST WHILE GOING 60MPH. I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER OVER TO THE SHOULDER THROUGH TRAFFIC WITHOUT INCIDENT BUT WAS PRETTY SCARY. ENGINE WARNING SIGNS WERE FLASHING AND WAS TOLD TO SHUT OFF ENGINE IMMEDIATELY OR ELSE POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE WOULD OCCUR.

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I HAVE A 2013 COOPER S AND WANTED TO REPLACE THE BLADES TO SOMETHING WITH A BIT MORE QUALITY (THE FAR RIGHT SIDE OF THE PASSENGER BLADE DOES NOT CONTACT THE LOWER CORNER OF THE WINDSHIELD). AFTER 2 WEEKS USING NEW OEM WIPERS THEY LOSE THEIR FLEXIBILITY AND ARE LESS ABLE TO WIPE CLEANLY. MINI CHANGE DESIGN WIPER BLADE AND ONLY POOR QUALITY OEM BLADES AVAILABLE FOR REPLACEMENT, NO AUTOMARKET ALTERNATIVE. I HAVE CRITICAL SAFETY CONCERN ABOUT OEM MINI COOPER WIPERS

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THE METAL CLADDING ON THE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE DETACHED AND WHEN I GRABBED THE HANDLE TO GET INTO THE CAR THE METAL CUT INTO MY INDEX FINGER, REQUIRING 5 STITCHES TO CLOSE THE WOUND. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED IN MY SPACE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

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2013 MINI COOPER PACEMAN BASE AUTO. 05/30/2016- WE EXPERIENCE INSTANCES WHERE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE MAINTAINING SPEED AFTER RELEASING GAS PEDAL WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET, HIGHWAY, CITY STREET GOING DOWNHILL. DURATION OF THE PERIOD OF CONTINUED ACCELERATION MAINTAINING SPEED TYPICALLY LAST 1 TO 3 SECONDS. WE NOTED THAT THE OCCURRENCE OF THESE INSTANCES BEGAN RECENTLY AFTER ANNUAL SERVICE IN 05/2016. WE INQUIRED IF VEHICLE HAD RECENT SOFTWARE UPDATE. DEALER CANNOT DIAGNOSE ANY DEFECT. DEALER CITED ADAPTIVE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (ECU). DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE CITED THE SAME ISSUE WE ARE EXPERIENCING. DEALER RESET ECU UNIT. WE INQUIRED IF TRANSMISSION FLUID SERVICE WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. DEALER OFFERED TO PERFORM TRANSMISSION FLUID SERVICE AT OUR EXPENSE. NOTE VEHICLE STILL UNDER NEW CAR WARRANTY. DEALER ADVICE WHEN INSTANCE OF ACCELERATION OCCURS TO PRESS THE BRAKE. DEALER ADVISED US TO CHANGE DRIVING STYLE. WE CONFIRMED ALL REMEDIES AT DEALER LEVEL EXHAUSTED. WE CONTACTED MINI USA FOR ASSISTANCE AND INQUIRED IF TRANSMISSION FLUID SERVICE WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, REQUESTED MINI USA WORK WITH DEALER TO COVER EXPENSE. MINI USA CONTACTED DEALER. MINI USA DECLINED TO COVER TRANSMISSION FLUID SERVICE EXPENSE. MINI USA REFERRED US BACK TO DEALER SERVICE MANAGER FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE AND CLOSED INCIDENT. MINI USA OFFERED TO HAVE REGIONAL REP MEET WITH US WHEN AT DEALER IN 09/2016. WE ACCEPTED OFFER TO MEET. 09/14/2016 WE CONTACTED MINI USA ABOUT MEETING WITH REGIONAL REP. MINI USA HAD NO RECORD OF OFFER OR REQUEST. WE INFORMED MINI USA ALSO EXPERIENCING SAME ACCELERATION ISSUE IN 2013 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN BASE AUTOMATIC. ANNUAL SERVICE FOR THIS VEHICLE IN 05/2016. WE ASKED IF PROBLEM IS ECU SOFTWARE RELATED. FOR THE RECORD WE INFORMED MINI USA THAT THEY HAVE DEEMED VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE.

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VEHICLE DISPLAYS LOSS OF ACCELERATION FROM STOP TO TAKE OFF. THIS LOSS OF POWER CAN LAST UP TO SECONDS. THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE VEHICLE COULD BE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHILE THE LOSS OF POWER OCCURS. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO MINI 3 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THE COILS AND PLUGS WERE REPLACED. SECOND TIME THE ISSUE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED. THIRD TIME THE VEHICLE WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE CAR IS STILL DISPLAYING THE SAME ISSUE AND IS INTERMITTENT. AS OF THIS DATE, 6/18/2016, THE CAR LAST DISPLAYED THIS ISSUE ON 6/17/2016. I'VE CONTACTED MINI USA AND I AM AWAITING THERE REPLY.

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I DROVE AN AUTOMATIC 2013 CERTIFIED MINI COOPER OFF THE LOT WITH 33K PRIOR MILES. AFTER LESS THAN A WEEK, AND AFTER ONLY DRIVING A TOTAL OF 254 MILES, THE ACCELERATOR FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. I DID NOT LOOSE ALL POWER, THE GAS PEDAL JUST QUIT RESPONDING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. ALL OTHER SYSTEMS IN THE CAR SEEMED FULLY RESPONSIVE/OPERATIONAL WITH EXCEPTION TO THE ACCELERATOR. THE ENGINE DID NOT REV AND THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR EVEN WHEN IT WAS PUSHED FULLY DOWN. MY CAR WAS MANUALLY PUSHED OUT OF THE INTERSECTION/TRAFFIC WITH HELP BY THE PERSON BEHIND ME. AFTER SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I TURNED OFF THE CAR. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES I RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS OPERATIONAL. THE FOLLOWING DAY I DROVE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER WITHOUT INCIDENT. THEY RE-CHECKED THE CERTIFICATION ITEMS AND WERE NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEIR ERROR READERS DID NOT DETECT ANY CODES. PERPLEXED- THEY SENT THE INFORMATION TO THEIR TECHNICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. THE ENGINEERS CLAIM THAT IT IS A NEEDED SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT CAUSED THE ACCELERATOR FAILURE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE ENGINEERS ARE ASKING THAT THE MINI SERVICE DEPARTMENT UPDATE THE SOFTWARE AND DRIVE A BIT TO TEST THE VEHICLE. THE SITUATION THAT THE NEEDED SOFTWARE UPDATE CAUSED IS DANGEROUS. I HAVE SEEN POSTS FROM OTHER MINI COOPER DRIVERS WHO HAVE/ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE- YET THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR KNOWN SERVICE BULLETINS FOR THE HAZARDOUS PROBLEM. I DID NOTIFY MINI USA (CORPORATE) OF THE ACCELERATOR FAILURE. NOTES: THE CAR WAS VERY RECENTLY FULLY SERVICED/CERTIFIED WITH NO KNOW PROBLEMS, I HAD FUEL, I WAS IN DRIVE, THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN IN A RESIDENTIAL INTERSECTION, I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF ACCELERATING WHEN THE GAS PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND FURTHER- I WAS IMMOBILIZED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION.

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THE CUP HOLDER LEAKS IF THERE IS ANY FLUID SPILLED IN IT AND SHORTS OUT AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT THAT CONTROLS THE GEAR SHIFT KNOB. EVEN THE SMALLEST AMOUNT OF LIQUID CAN CAUSE THIS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS FRACTURED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE WINDSHIELD WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE AND WAS AT RISK OF COMPLETELY DETACHING. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COVERED IN THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

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THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 13 MONTHS THE REAR SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING FOR NO REASON. WE WERE DRIVING AROUND 45MPH AND IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT. THE SCREEN WAS CLOSED BUT GLASS SHARDS FELL THROUGH THE SCREEN ALL OVER OUR DOG AND THE BACK SEAT.

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I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 10/15/2015 WHICH I REAR ENDED A PICKUP TRUCK. I WAS GOING ROUGHLY 45-50 MPH WHEN THE TRUCK IN FRONT SLAMMED THEIR BRAKES WHICH CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO HIS REAR END OF THE TRUCK. THE FRONT OF THE CAR IS IN BAD SHAPE AND LUCKILY I WAS NOT INJURED. HOWEVER, THE AIRBAGS IN THE CAR DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH I FIND VERY DISTURBING.

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WE WERE DRIVING AROUND 70 MPH IN THE HOV LANE OF OUR HIGHWAY WITH OUR DOG IN THE BACK SEAT. A SUDDEN EXPLOSIVE NOISE (SOUNDED LIKE GUNFIRE) AND THE REAR SUNROOF EXPLODED ALL OVER OUR DOG AND REAR SEAT. *TR

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FROM INITIAL DELIVERY THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATES A SPEED THAT IS 8% OVER ACTUAL. I HAVE FILED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS WITH MINI TO GET THIS CORRECTED. THEY TELL ME THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE 2010 MODEL. IN ORDER TO ACCURATELY MONITOR MY SPEED, I USE AN APP ON MY IPHONE THAT USES GPS TO DISPLAY ACTUAL SPEED. WHEN USING THE IPHONE FOR THIS PURPOSE, I PLACE IT ON THE DASH. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE IPHONE CAN BE A DISTRACTION AND THUS A SAFETY HAZARD. I SUSPECT OTHER DRIVERS ARE USING THIS OR OTHER METHODS TO MONITOR THEIR ACTUAL SPEED. *TR

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CPSC: I1420055A. 2013 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER STATED THE CONTINENTAL TIRES ARE FAULTY AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *LN THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TWO TIRE FAILURES, WITHIN MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, AND THE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED AS SHE WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, WHEN THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE, SHE DISCOVERED A BUSTED SEAM ON BOTH FRONT TIRES, AND THREE GIANT BUBBLES ON THREE OF THE TIRES. *JB

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OUR BRAND NEW, 2014 MINI COUNTRYMAN WITH 100 MILES DEVELOPED A FRACTURE IN ITS WINDSHIELD WITH NO APPARENT OR OBSERVED CAUSE. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS DUE TO A DESIGN OR ENGINEERING DEFECT. THE FRACTURE IS LOCATED IN THE BOTTOM CORNER OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER-SIDE. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 8 INCHES LONG AND REACHES THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD RUN OUT OF FUEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THERE WAS ADEQUATE FUEL IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE FUEL PUMP. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF THE PART WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,500. THE DEALER REMOVED AND REPLACED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT, WHICH WAS DEFECTIVE. UPDATED 01/14/14

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I JUST BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2013 MINI COOPER LAST YEAR ON NOVEMBER 2012. SOMETIME DURING LAST WEEK SEPTEMBER 18, 2013, I DROVE HOME FROM WORK TURN OFF MY CAR BUT THE KEY WOULDN'T RELEASE. I HAVE TO PRESS MANY TIMES FOR IT TO RELEASE. THE NEXT DAY HEADING OUT TO WORK, START THE CAR BUT THE GEAR SHIFT GOT STUCK. IT WOULDN'T SHIFT TO REVERSE. I CALL THE DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE MINI DEALER CALLED TO NOTIFY THAT THEY WILL NEED TO STAY OVERNIGHT AS IF THEY SAID THEY ARE WAITING FOR ONE PART TO COME IN. THE NEXT DAY THE DEALER CALL ME TO ADVISED THAT COFFEE HAD LEAKED INTO THE GEAR SHIFTER AND CAUSE THE FAILURE. AND TOLD ME IT WILL CAUSE $1,500 FOR PARTS AND LABOR TO FIX IT. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE WARRANTY WON'T COVER IT, IT WILL COME OUT FROM MY POCKET. SO I TOLD THEM NOT TO DO ANYTHING, THAT I WILL COME AND PICK UP THE CAR. *JS

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THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE STOPPED WORKING. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC WINDOW WITH A ONE-TOUCH FEATURE. AT FIRST, THE ONE-TOUCH FEATURE STOPPED WORKING. THEN NOTHING WORKED TO GET THE WINDOW TO GO UP OR DOWN. UPON PRESSING THE BUTTON THAT CONTROLS THIS WINDOW, THE WINDOW DID NOTHING AND A FAINT CLICKING SOUND COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S DOOR/FOOTWELL AREA. I TOOK THIS CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT. THEY KEPT IT FOR 3 BUSINESS DAYS. THE WINDOW WORKED WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR AND CONTINUED TO WORK FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF. THEN THE WINDOW STOPPED WORKING ALTOGETHER. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP ON JULY 16, 2013. THE DEALERSHIP STILL HAS MY CAR, AND THE WINDOW HAS STILL NOT BEEN FIXED. *TR

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MINI NATIONAL AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT A LUG WRENCH IS NOT INCLUDED IN CARS MOUNTED WITH RUN-FLAT TIRES. THAT PUTS THE OWNER AT THE MERCY OF MINI'S ROAD-SIDE ASSISTANCE, WHICH DEPENDS ON CELLULAR SERVICE. IF THE OWNER CAN'T CONNECT WITH ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, THERE IS NO WAY TO REMOVE TIRES TO TAKE FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

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