2007 Mini Cooper Convertible

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END SUSTAINED FIRE DAMAGE. PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, DEALER, OR INSURANCE COMPANY TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

I SCHEDULED 2 APPOINTMENTS WITH BRIAN HARRIS MINI. THEY HAD MY VEHICLE FOR AROUND 8 HOURS AND BOTH TIMES THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS BROKEN. NOW ALL OF MY AIRBAG LIGHTS ARE ON AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THE DRIVER AIRBAG IS FUNCTIONING. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL ME AS SOON AS ANOTHER PART CAME IN AND COME PICK UP MY VEHICLE SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO LEAVE IT THERE. I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM IN 2 WEEKS. I EVEN CONTACTED MINIUSA ABOUT THIS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MALFUNCTIONED AND THE GAUGES DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD CONNECTION MALFUNCTIONED, BUT IT DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000...UPDATED 11/03/14 *BF UPDATED 4/28/2015 *JS

THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR TURNS OFF THE AIR BAGS BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE MAT SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY WITH A PASSENGER. MINI HAS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX TO REPLACE THE SENSOR AT ABOUT $1200. HUNDREDS OF MINI OWNERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND MINI WILL NOT FIX IT. BMW ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE SAME PART. *TR

THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT IS ALSO ON EVEN IF THERE IS A PASSENGER SEATING. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART (POSSIBLY THE AIRBAG WEIGHT SENSOR) ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED IF THE AIRBAGS DO NOT DEPLOY. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM FOR THE 02-06 MODELS AND THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED FOR LATER MODELS. *TR

THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF LIGHT IS ALSO ON EVEN IF THERE IS A PASSENGER SEATING. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS HERE FOR THE SAME ISSUE, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHERE THE AIRBAG MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER WANTS $1,200 TO GET THIS FIXED. *TR

AT APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MILES, CAR MADE HOWLING TYPE NOISE WHEN REACHED APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND THE NOISE BECAME VERY NOTICEABLY ONCE IT REACHED 60+ MPH. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER AT SOUTH BAY MINI TWICE, BOTH TIME SOUTH BAY CLAIMED THAT IT WAS 'TIRE' NOISE. TOOK THE CAR TO LOS ANGELES DOWNTOWN DEALER, THEIR COMMENT WAS THE NOISE CAME FROM THE TRANSMISSION, ALTHOUGH THEY CAN NOT PINNED DOWN EXACTLY WHERE AS THE TRANSMISSION IS A CLOSED COMPARTMENT. EXTENDED WARRANTY (FIDELITY) REFUSED TO COVER COST OF REPLACEMENT AS THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY NEED THE DEALER TO TEAR APART TRANSMISSION COMPARTMENT AND IDENTIFY WHERE THE PROBLEM HAPPENED EXACTLY. DOWNTOWN DEALER REFUSED TO TEAR APART TRANSMISSION COMPARTMENT. CAR IS STILL HAVE NOT FAIL (AS OF 2011-10-28) BUT THE NOISE MAY (OR MAY NOT) CAUSE FAILURE AT ANYTIME GOING FORWARD. AS AN OWNER, I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR KNOWING THAT IT MAY FAIL CAN CAUSE CASUALTY TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. *TR