MINI Cooper S Clubman fire or smoke problems

Filed Oct 21, 2024 · Electrical · 127,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2010 Mini Cooper S Clubman. The contact stated that the vehicle would shut off while driving at various speeds without warning. The contact had to wait for several minutes after the failure before restarting the vehicle and resuming normal operation. The contact also stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the vehicle with white smoke coming from the engine. The contact pulled over and discovered that the plastic on the Body Control Module (BCM) had caused the engine to smoke. The contact also discovered that the ticking noise was coming from the fuel pump relay located inside the BCM. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the BCM was replaced. Despite the repair, the contact stated that multiple electrical features had failure in operating as needed. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there were no recalls on the VIN. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.

Filed Feb 24, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 46,504 miles · TX

Took in for oil change, burning smell, and rattling sound when engine cold. I was given a list after they had a few days of: material failure of oil pan gasket, oil filter housing leak, turbo oil feed line leak, material failure of thermostat housing, material failure of water pump, and material failure of timing chain, timing chain guides, tensioner. I ended with a total repair cost of $4,666.30. Two weeks later I again have a burning smell and the trim covering the turbo charger cracks. I am told this is normal and it is just out of the 5 year warranty on this even though I have an extended cosmetic warranty. In december the check engine light comes on but goes off after I call dealer. I am told if it is off, may just be emmisions error. On 2/20/2015, my oil pressure light goes on, dealer has no openings until 2/23/15. I take in and now it has more issues, stems and valves, which will be another $2k in repairs. It is still not due for oil change but I had requested one since I was there. It is low on oil due to valve and the engine issue. All of these issues are identical to a those vehicles with the tensioner,water pump, turbo feed line recall.....but yet I am told mine does not have the recall on it.

Filed Dec 15, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 40,000 miles · CA · fire

My vehicle was parked in my garage for approximately one hour, after driving it for three miles in the rain. The engine spontaneously caught on fire.

Filed Nov 16, 2014 · Engine · 100,017 miles · VA

Smoke began coming from hood vents, inspected and found oil leaking onto exhaust manifold and the turbo heat shield from the oil tube feeding the turbo where it was crimped together. I was close to home and continued, when the engine cooled I found that I could remove the oil line from the fitting just by touching it. I am surprised this thing didn't go up in flames! When I took it to the mini dealer they refused to repair the oil tubing leak unless I also committed to a new head cover at 2k. Mini denies any issues with the design or fittings.

Filed Feb 10, 2014 · Engine · 60,000 miles · AE

The problem first started as a noise when starting the engine in the cold. This "rattle" noise would continue until the engine got a bit warmer and then would go away. Everytime the engine started cold the noise would come back. I took my (now out of warranty) car to the mini dealership for inspection and repair and the tensioner was replace. Unfortunately the repair did not last long. Only 2 months later the noise returned. I am still living with this "rattle" noise hoping my car does not burst into flames while driving. I can not afford the (over $1000) quote for repairing the timing chain assembly at this time. I feel, after reading through many many complaints on the internet, that this should be a recall and all timing chains of these vehicles should be replace. There is no reason that a car with less than 75,000 should need a new timing chain! I have never used anyone but my local mini dealer to fix any issue with my car, I feel that mini has let me down. I will be looking into joining the class action lawsuit against mini.

Filed May 4, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 35,000 miles · MI · fire

I came home from work and parked the car in his normal parking space on the black top. I turned off the car, put the vehicle in gear with the parking brake and locked the door. A minute later, the vehicle was on fire. The fire dept report was unable to determine if there was a key left in the ignition.

Filed Jan 9, 2012 · Body · NC · fire

I parked my mini clubman s and went inside a fast food restaurant for only 10 minutes, when I returned to my mini, I was shocked to see smoke coming from under the hood. I released the hood latch and tried without success to open the hood. A nearby witness called out to me as he ran to assist with an extinguisher realizing my car was on fire. I immediately called 911 and stood helplessly watching as my 4-month old car was engulfed in flames within minutes. There were no previous warnings displayed...if my dog, who travels with me quite often had been in the car as I went inside, I cannot imagine how I would be feeling right now...losing the car was difficult, and now, I realize how fortunate I was not to lose more, considering the fact I parked the mini in my garage every night as I returned home from work. The fire is currently under investigation, so I cannot name the failed components as requested above, but I will update this information once the investigation is complete.

Filed Oct 18, 2011 · Electrical, Engine · 38,500 miles · OH · fire

After driving to work for 30 minutes, I parked my car. I thought I smelled something as I walked away, so I stopped an looked, but I did not see anything. Five minutes after walking into my building, someone told me my car was on fire. The first witness to see something (a co-worker) said he saw something on fire drop from the bottom of the car. When I ran outside, the car was putting off a significant amount of smoke. We tried to use a fire extinguisher, to no end, and within minutes we were seeing flames. Five minutes later, the front of the car was engulfed in fire. It was fast and hot. The fire department put it out, but it was a total loss. I have photo documentation of the event.

Filed Aug 1, 2010 · Engine · 23,000 miles · WA · fire

I parked my 2009 mini clubman after driving about 10 miles to the grocery store round trip and unloaded groceries, went back out to the car and it was smoking white smoke. Flames started shooting up from the engine over the windshield and it progressed from there. The smoke turned black all windows were blown out, front tires melted and blown and the car was declared an obvious total loss. It caught our home on fire and has caused more than $50,000 worth of damage. Please correct this problem.

Filed Feb 15, 2010 · Engine · 16,000 miles · NM · fire

My 2008 mini clubman s was parked at the post office, when someone came in to tell me my car was on fire. I ran outside to find smoke pouring from under the hood, and called the fire department. I ran back inside to get a fire extinguisher, and came back out to find flames coming out from under the hood, along with the smoke. I emptied the extinguisher, but the flames kept coming. By the time the fire department arrived, only five minutes later, the flames were 12 feet high, and the car was totaled. I have found reports of at least 30 other similar incidents of minis spontaneously combusting, but the manufacturer has, as far as I know, done nothing to correct the problem.