What 14 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Mini Jcw Countryman

Spontaneous engine fire of 2015 Mini Cooper S Countryman while parked and not used for 48 hours prior. The fire department guessed it was an electrical issue. It was put out with water and a fire extinguisher but the engine was severely damaged, melted plastic everywhere, electrical wiring burned completely and more. The engine appears unfixable, the front window was cracked by the heat and the hood with paint was burnt.

NHTSA ODI 11644910

The car starts but within a few second, the dashboard starts flashing with all of the warning lights and sounds. The speedometer and RPM needles move up and down frantically. I can drive the car, but I cannot tell at what speed I am going and if I put a turning signal I am not always able to stop it from flashing. Mini service found that the fuse box part # Main Fuse Box – Mini (61-35-9-813-622) that control the electric component of the car is defective. They also told me that the part is in back order worldwide for 11 months and they cannot get it for me, but they can place an order for it. I found out from MINI directly that there are 400 of that part in back order. My car is now in my driveway for the last two months and still no news about receiving the part. My registration is due for renewal in November, and it will not pass safety inspection, and I will end up with a lemon in my driveway. I still have a loan with Mini and I cannot even sell my car to pay for the remainder of that loan.

NHTSA ODI 11617665

The vehicle shifts between reverse, neutral and drive without the automatic shift knob being pressed. This is an absolute safety issues, since it can shift at speed, causing a major accident. This is an ongoing issue. But don’t see a recall for it. I’ve contacted Mini of San Francisco.

NHTSA ODI 11617049

The vanos solenoid failed in the 2015 Mini Cooper, and immediately after the Alternator failed. My safety was put at risk in multiple ways: 1 - The engine was in a non-drivable state 2 - Significant smell gasoline was coming from the car 3 - Car had to be towed to a shop to determine what failed 4 - The shop fixed the vanos solenoid The problem was confirmed by the independent service center. When the vanos solenoid failed, the Check Engine and Oil lights came on. By the time the lights came on however, the vehicle was undrivable. When the alternator failed, the battery light came on. Repair of the vanos solenoid was $279.44 Towing to the shop was $155.00

NHTSA ODI 11581600

Second failure of the FRM electrical board on the drivers side (part # 61356827070) within a year. I have only owned the vehicle for 14 months. Mini dealer advised this is known problem - water entering the vehicle causing corrosion and malfunction of the FRM board. I was advised there IS a recall for this problem on several other Mini Cooper models but not for the Countryman S (vehicle I own). Estimate for repair is $1939 for the FRM board including labor AND $3,000 for the "water test" to determine where the leak is coming from. My son was driving the vehicle when electrical problem started. Driver window went down and could not be raised, turn signals would not operate and headlights could not be operated then went on and could not be turned (even when the key was removed) off which killed the battery. Vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle is currently at the Mini dealer in Latham NY until we can figure out what to do. Certified Dealer technician confirmed FRM board malfunction advising it could not be repaired and had to be replaced. There was no indication or warning lights prior to the board malfunction.

NHTSA ODI 11569589

The contact owns a 2015 Mini Cooper S Countryman. The contact stated that the front driver's side door failed to latch securely. The contact had to hold the door closed while driving to the destination. The contact stated that the front driver's side door latch had previously been replaced five years prior to the failure; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front driver's side door cable and latch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 83,905.

NHTSA ODI 11556437

Our 2015 Mini Cooper countryman spontaneously combusted. It started with a cruise control warning and then a notice that the care was drivable but to take it to a dealership. The car’s engine began smoking and shortly after stopping the car became engulfed in smoke and then combusted. The car was completely damaged by the fire. The car has been towed to Crossroads Towing and Recovery Services in Ft. Collins, CO.

NHTSA ODI 11531494

I opened door in freezing conditions and the door refused to open. Then once I got it opened it would not shut or remain latched with an pressure. Problems have been identified by rusted cables from door latch to door handle. These devices should have the ability to hold a load once it’s latched, especially in rear where children can do kid things.

NHTSA ODI 11493907

IT'S NOT ABOUT SAFETY ISSUE BUT A DEFECT THAT COOLANT LEAK HAPPENED BETWEEN THE ENGINE BLOCK AND OIL FILTER HOUSING AT A CAR OF LOW MILEAGE RUN ( LESS THAN 30000 MILES, CLOSE TO 5 YRS). TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT, OWNER HAD TO PAY $1515 AT A MINI DEALER SERVICE.

NHTSA ODI 11280701

2015 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN PURCHASED NEW FROM FACTORY. HAVE HAD REGULAR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE SINCE PURCHASE. AROUND 48,000 MILES STARTED HEARING RATTLE NOISE FROM FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. NOISE ONLY NOTICEABLE AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN CLUTCH UNDER LOAD. GOT WORSE OVER TIME, SO TOOK IT TO DEALER AND WORKED WITH MECHANIC TO IDENTIFY ENGINE. THEY CHECKED MOTOR MOUNTS WHICH APPEARED FINE, BUT WHEN THEY REMOVED THEM, MOUNTS WERE FOUND TO BE FAILED. BOTH MOTOR MOUNTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS QUITE UNACCEPTABLE CONSIDERING I HAVE KEPT THE CAR IN THE GARAGE, I DON'T DRIVE IT LIKE I STOLE IT, AND I KEEP UP ON ALL THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE.

NHTSA ODI 11269631

PURCHASED MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN S NEW FROM FACTORY. RECENTLY HAD SEVERAL ELEMENTS OF THE CAR FAIL AT AROUND 50,000 MILES. THE TRUNK LATCH WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT UNLOCK OR JAM AND NOT CLOSE. TRUNK LATCH EVENTUALLY FAILED TO THE POINT WHERE THE TRUNK HATCH COULD NOT BE OPENED. REAR WIPER MOTOR WOULD MAKE ODD CHIRPING NOISES OCCASIONALLY, ALONG WITH THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR WOULD MAKE A SHUTTERING NOISE WHEN CLOSING. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRUNK LATCH ACTUATOR. IN ADDITION, THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR WIPER MOTOR AND THE SIDE DRIVER'S MIRROR. CONSIDERING I HAVE HAD THIS CAR NEW FROM THE FACTORY, IT HAS BEEN STORED IN THE GARAGE WHEN NOT IN USE, AND THAT I TAKE IT IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES EVERY 5K MILES, I HAVE A BOOK WITH SEVERAL PAGES OF REPAIRS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE ON THIS CAR THAT STARTED AT 2500 MILES. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY CAR, OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE ALREADY PAID OVER $6,000 IN REPAIRS FOR A CAR THAT IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. THIS IS REALLY UNACCEPTABLE! I DON'T ABUSE MY VEHICLES AND CONSIDERING THE PRICE OF THIS CAR, I EXPECTED MORE.

NHTSA ODI 11269632

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MINI COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR MECHANISMS DID NOT LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MINI OF DUTCHES COUNTY (1162 US 9,, WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY 12590) AND WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *BF PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECTIFIED TO CONSUMERS SATISFACTION.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11206249

2015 MINI COUNTRYMAN WITH 48980 MILES CLUTCH FAILED WHILE IT WAS IN MOTION TURNING FROM A 50 MPH ZONE TO A SIDE STREET. DEALER COVERED IT EXCEPT $173 DUE TO EXTENDED SERVICE MAINTENANCE PLAN. IT ALSO COST $155 LOCAL SERVICE SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER REPLACED FLYWHEEL, CLUTCH AND PRESSURE PLATES, SHIFT FORK AND PEDAL RETAINING PIN AND CLUTCH RELEASE FORK. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A LIFE THREATENING CONDITION IF THE RIGHT TURN WAS NOT MADE IN THE LOWER SPEED ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 11173670

THIS CAR ENGINE INCONSISTENTLY DIES, USUALLY IN FIRST OR SECOND GEAR, SOMETIMES WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED (E.G. AT A RED LIGHT) AND SOMETIMES WHEN IT IS SLOWING DOWN (E.G. PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT), OR ACCELERATING (E.G. TAKING OFF FROM A RED LIGHT OR PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT). IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER'S 3 TIMES AND THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM--THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 4,000 MILES AND STARTED DOING THIS SOON AFTER PURCHASED. I HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION FROM THE 3 TRIPS TO THE SERVICE DEPT. BUT AM NOT SENDING THEM AT THIS TIME. HAS HAPPENED WITH 3 DIFFERENT PEOPLE DRIVING THE CAR. HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 25 TIMES. (LAST TIME LISTED BELOW). SPEED VARIES BUT USUALLY LESS THAN 30 MPH--NEVER ON THE HIGHWAY SO FAR. I HAVE DOCUMENTED DATES, MILEAGE, AND WHERE IT HAPPENED STARTING IN NOVEMBER--CAR WAS PURCHASED IN AUGUST, 2015. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10862681