2009 Mini Clubman Complaints

I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY HIGHWAY WHEN THE SMOKE STARTED POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE CAR STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING, OR SIGNAL LIGHTS APPEARING ON THE CONTROL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. I STOOD BACK, WATER FOR THE SMOKE TO CLEAR, AND TRIED TO RESTART BUT THE ENGINE WAS DEAD. I CALLED MY TOWING SERVICE AND HAD IT DELIVERED TO MY SERVICE GARAGE, MINI OF MAIN LINE, 130 MONTGOMERY AVENUE, BALA CYNWYD, PA. NO WARNING LIGHT EVER APPEARED, AND I WAS COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE CAR. THE GARAGE REPAIR ESTIMATE STATES THAT THE "WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT" FAILED. MY MINI COOPER MODEL IS NOT LISTED UNDER RECALL #12V008000, BUT THE CONSEQUENCE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THAT DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE: THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FAILED CAUSING THE ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT BOARD TO MALFUNCTION AND OVERHEAT.

THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF A STATE HIGHWAY WHILE GOING AT CRUISING SPEED OF 35MPH ON THE RIGHT MOST LATE, AND WITH ENGINE DEAD POWER STEERING BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE CAR TO THE SIDE. THE CAR WAS LITERALLY DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, WE HAD KIDS ON BOARD AND FOR A SMALL CAR, WE WERE REALLY THAT LUCKY PASSING CARS WERE ABLE TO SPOT US AND AVOID HITTING US. WHEN WE TOOK TOWED IT TO THE SHOP, THE ISSUE WAS THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD SNAPPED AND ALSO CRACKED THE ENGINE TOP COVER ON THE LEFT SIDE. ON SEARCHING THE INTERNET IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS THE "TIMING CHAIN, TENSIONER ISSUES" THAT BMW/MINI IS ALREADY AWARE OF HOWEVER THEY HAVE NOT YET DONE A RECALL. THERE WAS ALMOST NO WAY OF TELLING THERE WAS THIS PROBLEM BREWING WITH THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH NOW IN RETROSPECT THERE WERE A FEW TELL-TALE SIGNS, WHEN IT WAS COLD, WE HAD HEARD A RATTLE SOUND, WHICH WENT AWAY IMMEDIATELY. ALSO THE SAME DAY THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED WHEN STANDING AT A S...

INTERMITTENT STEERING LOSS WHILE DRIVING. MINI IS AWARE OF ISSUE... OFFERS NO FIX. LOW MILEAGE. FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING TURNING AND NOT TURNING. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR DASHBOARD WARNING OR MESSAGE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, IT APPEARS MINI IS AWARE AND VERY HIGH PETE STAGE OF OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME .... DEATHS HAVE BEEN REPORTED .

THE SOCKET THAT GOES IN THE BULB FOR THE HEADLIGHTS ARE BURNED ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS. THE BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND BECAUSE OF THE BURNED SOCKET THAT CONNECTS TO THE HEADLIGHT APPARENTLY IS UNABLE TO SEND A SIGNAL TO THE BULB AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS ACTIVE WITH NO PERSON IN THE SEAT, IT GO ON AND OFF EVERY TIME. I DESACTIVE BUT GO ON AGAIN. THE NO ACTIVE THE AIR BAG WHEN SOMEBODY IS IN THE SEAT AND GOES ON AND OFF.