What 69 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Mini Cooper S Paceman

EXCESSIVE CARBON BUILD UP ON ENGINE INTAKE PORTS AT 35K MILES. CAR PURCHASED NEW, HAS OIL CHANGES BY DEALER EVERY 5K MILES, AND IS FILLED WITH 92 OCTANE GAS. LOTS OF PEOPLE POSTED ON INTERNET OVER LAST 7-8 YEARS THAT MINIS ARE PRONE TO THIS ISSUE AND BMW HASN'T RESOLVED IT. WHEN ASKED IF THIS SHOULD BE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, IF THIS WAS DRIVING OR FUEL ISSUES, DEALER SAID NONE OF THE ABOVE. YET RESOLVING THIS ISSUE IS ABOUT A $600-1000K REPAIR! THIS EITHER NEEDS TO BE A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN PUT OUT TO OWNERS/DEALERS. BMW NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THIS ISSUE.

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WHILE IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC CAR LUNGED WHILE ACCELERATING. WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP THEN LIFTED OFF BRAKE AND BEGAN TO FEED IN GAS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FROM FIRST TO SECOND (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) THE CAR LUNGED OR JUMPED FORWARD. THE ACTION WAS SO SEVERE MY FIRST ACTION AFTER HITTING BRAKES WAS TO CHECK REAR VIEW MIRROR THINKING I HAD BEEN REAR ENDED. CAR HAS 19700 MILES AND WENT INTO OTTOS MINI FOR EVALUATION AND REPAIR OF OTHER ISSUES AND WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION IS IN NORMAL WORKING ORDER. HOWEVER MY SERVICE ADVISER TOLD ME THAT SHE PERSONALLY HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES AND THAT ITS DUE TO TOO MUCH TECHNOLOGY IN THE CARS.

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I TOOK MY 2015 MINI IN FOR ITS LAST SERVICE BEFORE CONVERTING MY LEASE INTO A FINANCING DEAL AND PURCHASING CAR. I WAS INFORMED THERE WAS AN ENGINE RECALL DUE TO CRANKSHAFT BEARING PROBLEM. THEY HAVE KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR 2 YEARS YET NEVER INFORMED ME. MY DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE DONE HUNDREDS OF ENGINE REPLACEMENTS. WHY IS THIS NOT PUBLIC? I THINK BMWUSA IS HIDING THIS FROM THE PUBLIC! WHILE ITS NICE THEY REPLACE THE ENGINE, THIS IS GOING TO EFFECT MY RESALE VALUE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MINI COOPER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO UNLOCK THE TRUNK WITH KEY FOB, THE TRUNK FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE IN THE HOPE THAT IT WOULD UNLOCK THE TRUNK. WHEN THE CONTACT BEGAN TO WALK TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO ROLL DESPITE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEING ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL OVER A LARGE CURB AND LANDED INTO THE FOUNDATION OF A NEIGHBORING HOME. THE VEHICLE RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER AND UNDERCARRIAGE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BACK HOME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND DRIVE TRAIN WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

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I MADE A RIGHT TURN FROM THE MAIN STREET, INTO THE PARKING LOT OF A STRIP MALL, THEN AN IMMEDIATE LEFT TURN, AND ANOTHER RIGHT TURN INTO THE RIGHT ANGLE PARKING SLOT. ALL THE WHILE HAVING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES, I STARTED TO SHIFT INTO PARK, WHEN IT WAS IN THE RIGHT SPOT. THE MINI INSTEAD COMING TO A STOP, REVVED UP, JUMPED THE CURB AND HIT THE STORE IN THE FRONT. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES REALLY HARD, ALL THE TIME BUT THE BRAKE PEDALS WERE LOCKED UP. IT WOULD NOT MOVE UP OR DOWN. SAT HARD ON THE FLOOR! WHEN THE TOW TRUCK CAME, THE BRAKES WERE STILL LOCKED UP AND THE GEAR WAS IN PARK AND COULDN'T BE MOVED FROM THERE. THE SEAT BELTS COULDN'T BE RETRACTED EITHER. MINI ENGINEER CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND I CAN SAFELY DRIVE IT AFTER THE BODY IS REPAIRED. I AM HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME WITH THIS CONCLUSION. THE CAR'S BRAKES AND GEAR WERE LOCKED UP, AND HAD TO BE LIFTED ON A FLATBED AND TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP; I STILL MAINTAIN SOMETHING WITHIN THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED. *TR

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VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FOUR TIMES, SINCE PURCHASED IN MAY 2015 FOR BURNS TO LIGHT BULB AND SOCKET MELTING INTO HOUSING. MALFUNCTIONING ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS WHILE DRIVING CAR ON HIGHWAYS AND STREETS. TAILLIGHT IS ON THE LEFT SIDE, NOT FAR FROM GAS TANK. CAR IS UNSAFE DUE TO OVERHEATING, BURNS AND MELTING OF TAILLIGHT COMPONENTS AND PROXIMITY TO GAS TANK. *TR

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WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR ITS FIRST SERVICE I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A RECALL. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE ANY SUCH RECALL. I HAVE FOUND THIS ENTIRE EXPERIENCE TO BE VERY UNUSUAL.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO UTILIZE THE HORN, IT FAILED TO SOUND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN WOULD WORK ONLY IN CERTAIN AREAS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 22,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM THE MICRO FILTERS IN THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED MULTIPLE TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,670.

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IN NOV-2014 MY SON WAS DRIVING OUR '05 MINI COOPER DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 55MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING STOPPED WORKING. HE WAS BARELY ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND GET IT TO THE SIDE OF INTERSTATE. HE WAS 17 YRS OLD AND IT WAS VERY HARD FOR HIM TO STEER IT AND GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. HE WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENED. WE THEN GOT THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP (NOT THE LOCAL MINI SHOP, SINCE THEIR LABOR RATE WAS TOO HIGH), WE HAD TO PAY $1,201.75 TO REPAIR THE STEERING. AFTER RECEIVING A LETTER REGARDING THE STEERING RECALL FROM MINI CORPORATE IN EARLY 2016, WE WERE TOLD TO CALL/GO TO THE LOCAL MINI DEALER AND THEY WOULD HANDLE THE CLAIM. AFTER SEVERAL CALLS, EMAILS, AND A PERSONAL VISIT TO THE KNOXVILLE, TN MINI COOPER DEALER, I HAVE GOT NOWHERE. THEY REFUSE TO HANDLE THE CLAIM (ONCE TELLING ME THAT IT HAD BEEN SUBMITTED TO MINI CORPORATE, BUT THEN IT TURNS OUT THEY ADMITTED THAT IT NEVER WAS SUBMITTED)... THEN MOST RECENTLY BASICALLY THEY TOLD ME TO LEAVE THEM ALONE. THEY WILL NOT GIVE ME PROOF THAT THE CLAIM WAS SUBMITTED (WHICH I AM GUESSING IT HAS NOT BEEN), AND NOW THEY WILL NOT ANSWER MY EMAILS. CAROL HWANG AT KNOXVILLE MINI HAS BEEN VERY RUDE AND UNCOOPERATIVE. THEY REFUSE TO GIVE ME A CONTACT AT CORPORATE, AS I'VE REQUESTED, TO CONFIRM THE CLAIM HAS BEEN SUBMITTED AND TO FOLLOW UP ON GETTING REIMBURSED FOR THIS REPAIR RELATED TO THE RECALL. WHEN I CALLED CORPORATE MINI, THEY SAID I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE LOCAL MINI SHOP. LOCAL MINI SHOP IN KNOXVILLE SAYS CORPORATE WILL HANDLE THE CLAIM. SO I AM GETTING NOTHING BUT A RUN-ROUND. THIS INCIDENT WAS VERY SCARY FOR US! MY SON COULD'VE BEEN KILLED WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT. HE WAS TERRIFIED AND THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO GET HIT AND CRUSHED BY A SEMI TRUCK. THE WHOLE THING WAS AWFUL. NOW ALL I WANT TO DO IS GET REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR, BUT I CANNOT GET MINI COOPER TO COOPERATE. PLEASE HELP.

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THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT STANDING WATER FROM THE CUP HOLDER HAD SPILLED DOWN INTO THE SHIFTER CONTROL BOX AND RUINED THE ASSEMBLY. FURTHERMORE, BECAUSE THIS WAS DEEMED TO BE 'EXTERNAL FORCES' THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WILL COST ME OVER $1100.00 TO FIX IT . I COULDN'T IMAGINE THAT I HAVE HAD 'STANDING WATER' IN MY CUPHOLDER, AND THAT THIS WATER COULD HAVE SOMEHOW DAMAGED A SHIFTER CONTROL BOX THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SEALED INT THE FIRST PLACE. WITH FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MINI AS THE CUP HOLDERS HAVE TWO SCREWS IN THE BOTTOM THAT ALLOW FOR LEAKAGE DIRECTLY INTO THE SHIFTER CONTROL BOX THAT IS PLACED DIRECTLY UNDER IT. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE MINI; 1. THE CUP HOLDER LEAKS, 2. THE SHIFTER CONTROL BOX IS LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDER THIS POTENTIAL LEAK, AND 3. THE SHIFTER CONTROL BOX IS NOT SEALED. I SPOKE WITH BOTH MY SERVICE MANAGER AT MINI OF MURRY IN SALT LAKE CITY AS WELL AS TWO CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES (1866- ASK-MINI) WHO INFORMED ME THAT THERE WOULD BE NO RESOLUTION WITH THIS MATTER AND THAT I WOULD INDEED HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIR. MY MINI HAS LESS THAN 16,000 MILES ON IT, AND I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED WITH THE DESIGN FLAW OF THIS CAR. CLEARLY IF THERE IS A LEAK IN A CUP (FROM THE TEETH OF THE CUPHOLDER!) THAT COULD DAMAGE THE SHIFTER CONTROL, THIS COULD LEAD TO A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE DRIVING.

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I PURCHASED MY MINI COUNTRYMAN ON FEBRUARY 14, 2015 FROM THE LOCAL MINI DEALERSHIP. AT APPROX. 1447MILES, 7 MONTH INTO OWNERSHIP, I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WHEN TURNING ON THE CAR (THE CAR WAS STATIONARY) THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON FOR BRAKES, ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL AND REMAINED ON UNTIL CAR WAS TURNED OF REPEATEDLY OR DIVEN FOR A MILE AND THEN TURNED OF. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS ON: 10/02/2015 NO FAULTS IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS FOUND AND I WAS ASKED TO RETURN WHEN IT REOCCURS. 12/03/15 A FAULT MEMORY AND FAULTY R/F WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WAS DIAGNOSED, SENSOR WAS NOT IN STOCK. 12/04/15 I RETURNED WITH MY CAR TO HAVE THE FAULTY WHEEL SPEED SENSOR EXCHANGED. 12/05/15 TO 12/10/15 FAULTY RELUCTER WHEEL ON THE R/F WHEEL HUB, WHEEL SPEED SENSOR READINGS OFF, SIGNAL SCOPED AND R/F WHEEL HUB REPLACED. 12/28/15 AND ONGOING. ON 1/05/2016 MINI USA HAS GIVEN ME VERBAL ASSURANCE THAT I WILL GET THE CAR REPLACED WITH A NEW MINI OF MY CHOOSING.

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MY 2015 MINI COOPER 4 DOOR HARDTOP WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. I STARTED IT BUT HAD NOT PUT IT INTO GEAR YET. I OPENED THE DOOR AND GOT OUT (CAR DIDN'T BUDGE) AND AS I WALKED BACK TOWARDS THE REAR, THE CAR LURCHED OUT OF PARK AND REVERSED WHICH CAUSED IT TO PIN ME IN BETWEEN THE CAR AND THE GARAGE BEAM AS IT CONTINUED TO ROLL QUICKLY BACKWARDS AS IF SOMEONE WAS ACCELERATING. WHEN CONTACTING MINI, THEY HAD ONE OF THEIR INSPECTORS COME (NO DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED TO ME). I WAS CALLED (AGAIN NO DOCUMENTATION) AND TOLD THAT THE ENGINEER FOUND NO FAULT IN THE TRANSMISSION OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THAT THIS WAS NOT A DEFECT. THEY HAVE SINCE BEEN UNRESPONSIVE WITH PROVIDING DOCUMENTATION, HAVEN'T BEEN ALE TO ACQUIRE PARTS TO FIX MY DAMAGED VEHICLE AND REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH SELLING A CAR THAT CAN KILL PEOPLE AND TO NOT HAVE PARTS FOR 4 MONTHS! I HAD MY CAR FOR A TOTAL OF 2 MONTHS TOTAL DRIVE TIME. IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 4 MONTHS WITH NO RESOLUTION IN SIGHT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND THE DRIVER SIDE CARPET WAS EXTREMELY WET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DRAINED THE TUBE LEADING FROM THE AIR CONDITION UNIT, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500.

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CPSC: MINI COOPER: CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD DISENGAGE. *SS THE CONSUMER STATED DISCOVERED WHEN USING THE CLUTCH AND DOWN SHIFTING THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE. THE FIRST TIME HE TRIED THE CRUISE CONTROL, WHILE DOWN SHIFTING THE VEHICLE MAINTAINED SPEED AND SHOT FORWARD INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN. *JB

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COMING UP TO AN INTERSECTION, THE CAR STARTED TO SLOW NORMALLY. THEN THE ABS KICKED IN AND THE CAR DID THE SHUDDER LIKE WHEN THE ABS IS ACTIVE. THEN THE ABS TURNED OFF AND THE BRAKES WENT SPONGY. THE CAR ROLLED INTO THE INTERSECTION THROUGH THE STOP SIGN. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES. WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO MINI OF AUSTIN IN TEXAS. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. NO CODES WERE THROWN. MY WIFE TOO THE CAR BACK, AND DRIVE BACK TO SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. SHE EXPERIENCED SUBSEQUENT IDENTICAL BRAKE FAILURES. WE TOOK THE CAR INTO MINI OF MURRAY. THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR A MONTH, AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. CORPORATE MINI WILL NOT AUTHORIZE ANY PART REPLACEMENT AT ALL. THEY WANT US TO TAKE THE CAR BACK. I DON'T FEEL THAT IS A SMART OR SAFE IDEA.

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CPSC:

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ROARING NOISE FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN MAKING A TURN OR DRIVING OVER BUMPS AND DIPS IN THE ROAD, THE TIRES LOST TRACTION WITH THE ROAD AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SKIP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED AS A SUSPENSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REALIGNED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000. UPDATED 09/09/15*LJ UPDATED 11/27/2017*CN

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AIR CONDITION EMITS STRONG ODORS

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