What 10 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Mini Countryman

75000 miles, the clip on the cam shaft has failed and I need a new engine for the car not to stall at traffic lights. Regular maintenance. Service center confirmed. There is an engine light and now the vehicle is unsafe and unusable with low miles!

NHTSA ODI 11707265

I was stopped at a red light behind a line of cars. A toyota tundra going 45-60 mph rear ended me. This sent me into the car ahead of me and sandwiched me in between the two. It destroyed the front and back of my vehicle. The tundra's airbags went of, mine did not. Despite me taking most of the damage and force. The car is totaled.

NHTSA ODI 11695712

This car is a PHEV. I experienced a drivetrain malfunction warning noted on instrument display. Vehicle states it can continue to be driven “moderately” with reduced drivetrain output. This is similar to an incident recently in which the instrument cluster stopped working following a drivetrain warning on the instrument cluster. Dealer has not yet diagnosed this latest problem but for the previous issue states it is due to high voltage battery not being fully charged when driving but does not acknowledge any faults with the system.

NHTSA ODI 11573839

Water pump broke; car overheated and belt needs to be replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11527397

In July 2022, I kept getting a warning that the passenger restraint system is malfunctioning whenever somebody sits on the passenger seat. I brought my car to Mini of Austin and they had the system being reset but the warning came up again a few days later when somebody sat on my passenger seat. In August 2022, I brought my car back to Mini of Austin and a week later they told me that they had to replace the airbag sensor and it would take weeks since they had to order it from Germany. They told me they would let me know when the part arrived but they didn’t tell me that the part had arrived until I asked them in October 2022. I brought my car to Mini of Austin again to have the sensor replaced but after 10 days they told me the replacement that they got was faulty so they had to reorder the replacement and it would take weeks again. I’ve had my car back ever since and the problem got worse. I got the passenger restraint system malfunction warning even when nobody sits on the passenger seat. The seatbelt warning is also always on even when nobody sits there, so I have to buckle the seatbelt at the passenger seat even when nobody sits there in order for the car to not giving me noisy alarms telling me to buckle the seatbelt on the passenger seat when I’m driving on my own. Mini of Austin hasn’t charged me since the car is still under warranty. However, the warranty will end on November 26 2022 and they told me I would have to pay for the service and replacement if the issue comes up again after the warranty ends. I believe that my car is faulty and should have been recalled or at least have my warranty extended in case the issue comes up again not long after the warranty ends.

NHTSA ODI 11490912

Vehicle stalled 10/01/2022. Towed home and it started. Stalled again 10/07/2022 and had it towed to third party mechanic. Could not identify the problem. Took to another mechanic who is experienced in Mini Cooper BMW engines. Problem was condensation in the electric fuel pump control module caused corrosion. Had to be replaced. Could not identify where the condensation build up starts. Contacted Mini Cooper dealership in Charlotte NC. They stated no recalls. Contacted Mini Customer Relations. Car is under warranty but they will not reimburse because repair done at a 3rd party mechanic. Car has 37,648 miles.

NHTSA ODI 11489141

Phev Charging cord that came w vehicle from Grayson BMW dealership in Knoxville. Bought car used w 15339 miles during pandemic (site unseen via internet had shipped to Maryland). Cord that came w car is an official mini OEM charging cord (see attached pics- mini cord 61440003082- number etched on portable EV charger)Have had charging issues w cord brought to mini Towson 3* for cord issues- overheat I believe is the code error?? There was a known recall on bmw/mini cords for the 2018 vehicles

NHTSA ODI 11475232

WHILE DRIVING MY COUNTRYMAN ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 50 MPH, I MY STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY AND RANDOMLY JERKED TO THE RIGHT. THE JERK WAS SEVER ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE CAR TO SWERVE INTO THE NEXT LANE CUTTING OFF A CLOSE BY VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN MY LINE, AND THE ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN CAUSING MY CAR TO SWERVE AN ADDITIONAL TIME. THIS IS OF SERIOUS CONCERN FOR ALL DRIVERS THAT THIS HAPPENS TO AND I AM AFRAID THAT THIS WILL RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH. DURING THIS TIME THE ELWEATHER WAS DRY AND ABOUT 60F.THE ROAD WAS CLEAR OF DEBRIS, POTHOLES AND BUMPS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN WHICH THIS ISSUE OCCURRED FOR ME IN MY +1 YEAR OF OWNERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI 11364876

A BACKSEAT SPILL CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE TO COMPLETELY FAIL. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON A FRONTAGE ROAD, THE MINI JERKED STARTED SHAKING AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. A "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION" WARNING CAME UP. THE VEHICLE, ONCE STOPPED, BEGAN WORKING AGAIN WITH NO ELECTRIC WARNING. THE NEXT DAY, THE CAR WOULD START, DRIVE FOR 10 FEET, THEN STOP, WITH THE "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION" WARNING. WE TOWED THE CAR TO A MINI DEALER, WHO INFORMED US THAT A SPILLED DRINK IN THE BACKSEAT DESTROYED THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE. IT SEEMS COMPLETELY UNSAFE THAT A CHILD'S SPILL (MAYBE 1/4 OF A DRINK) COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE TO STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, BUT IN DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES, IT COULD HAVE--OR COULD HAVE LEFT US STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. (WE ALSO HAVE A MP4 VIDEO OF THE INSPECTION SHOWING THAT A SPILL IN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE TO FAIL, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHARE)

NHTSA ODI 11307202

I PURCHASED MY CAR FOR SCHOOL AND TO COMMUTE TO WORK FROM NEW JERSEY TO CONNECTICUT AND SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED MY CAR, I HAD NOT ONCE FELT SAFE IN MY OWN CAR. I TOWED MY CAR IN 3 TIMES (9/15/18, 4/8/19, AND 6/10/19) BECAUSE MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP AND FREEZE. IT WAS LIKE DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINES OFF. NON-DRIVEABLE INSTANCES WERE 3 TIMES. HOWEVER, THERE WERE MANY INSTANCES WHEN I WOULD BE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OVER 50MPH AND IF I HAD GONE OVER A SMALL POTHOLE OR I AM TURNING MY VEHICLE ON A CURVED AREA OR IF I AM DRIVING ON LOCAL ROADS AND I AM MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JERK AND LOCK FOR A BRIEF MOMENT AND THEN RELEASE. TO BE FRANK, IF I HAD NOT DRIVEN WITH BOTH HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL TIMES, I WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN NUMEROUS AUTO-ACCIDENTS THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES TO ME AND OTHER CIVILIANS ON THE ROAD. THERE WAS ANOTHER INCIDENT TWO DAYS AGO ON 6/26/19 (AFTER THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE MINI MANUFACTURERS TOLD ME MY CAR WAS FIXED FOR THE 3RD TIME) WHERE I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC AND WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY SO I HAD TO SLAM THE BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP. THEN I SAW NOTIFICATIONS (FRONT COLLISION MALFUNCTION AND BRAKE INTERVENTION NOT POSSIBLE). THIS WAS THE 4TH TIME I EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE AND IS NOW EVEN WORSE BECAUSE THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, AND THIS TIME THEY SHOULD NOT GET AWAY WITH THIS ISSUE. AFTER THE 3RD INCIDENT, I ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE TO THE MINI/BMW MANUFACTURER AND THEY ARE BEING RUDE AND INCONSIDERATE OF MY SITUATION. THIS VEHICLE IS A SAFETY THREAT TO ME AND MANY OTHER CIVILIANS ON THE ROAD. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME.

NHTSA ODI 11223100