MINI Cooper S hesitation problems

Filed Sep 6, 2018 · Transmission · NV

The 2013 cooper s we started having issues about a year ago, where the car hesitated to accelerate, as it is usually described in the service history. What happens in real driving situations is that when you cruise at around 2,000 RPM and then decide to accelerate the car loses the power, completely! So basically, when you're on the freeway or on a two-way road and decide to overtake another vehicle, the mini will not only not accelerate, but just completely lose power for a second or two. It is an obvious safety concern. At the beginning it wasn't too frequent, but recently it started doing it all the time, despite the fact that the mini service replaced fuel injectors, performed some cleaning and also suggested to me to use a fuel additive with each fuel up. None of those things helped, the issues progressively started to get worse. It all started when the odometer was somewhere between 75 and 80 thousand miles. The vehicle is currently at around 97,000 miles therefore slowly reaching its warranty end (100,000 and/or 6 years). During my recent service appointment at mini of reno I insisted on repairing the problem. I was told that at this stage mini of reno, nor mini USA know how to fix this problem and only thing they can try is attempt on cleaning the carbon build-up, which they quoted me $1386,86, making it clear at the same time, that this is just an attempt and they cannot guarantee that it will fix the problem. Contacting mini USA yielded no results, they didn't offer to fix or replace the vehicle.

Filed Jul 23, 2014 · Airbags, Electrical · 124,500 miles · CO

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mini cooper s. The contact noticed that the vehicle's air bag warning indicator was constantly illuminated and both front windows hesitated to roll up and down. Also, the air bag indicator would illuminate when the front seat belts were buckled or unbuckled. The dealer stated that there was a positive cable in the fuse box that malfunctioned. The contact was informed that the failure could destroy the electrical system, cause a fire, and keep the air bag from deploying in a crash. The seat belt buckles were repaired, but the failure recurred. The dealer also discovered that the cable was being stretched and the center switch pack case was separated, which could cause the windows to detach from the vehicle while driving high speeds. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 124,500.

Filed Sep 24, 2012 · Acceleration, Engine · 65,315 miles · NY

The vehicle began to feel like the transmission was slipping: hesitation, wheels skidding, rough acceleration and deceleration. The problem continues after 2 trips to mini cooper in which the car's computer was "reset" because no problems with the transmission were found. The problem described above persists, but there was also one episode where the car did not start and later turned off while driving on a congested nyc road.

Filed Jan 29, 2012 · Brakes, Engine · 28,639 miles · TX · crash

Turning from a left hand turn lane on to a side street as I have done at least 4 times a day for over 10 years, I lost all power and the ability to control the vehicle. In the middle of the turn the loss of power, the loss of steering, and the loss of brakes caused me to run into the curb. This accident resulted in the right front wheel and assembly being replaced. Not long after getting my mini cooper s the hesitation of the accelerator when stating off in first gear began. I was told by the service rep at the mini dealership that there was no fix for this problem. I've had too many near accidents because of it. Going back as far as 2005 I have complained about my steering and the noise it makes. The whole steering unit has been replaced 2 times, yet in 2009 I experienced a total loss of power while traveling at speeds of 65 MPH. The power loss was electrical even though my engine was still running. The final outcome was mini replaced the alternator and battery. I've complained time and again yet with no help unless it's coming out of my own pocket. Since owning this mini cooper s I've spent nearly 6000.00 in repairs. Because of the interdependent nature of the asc/dsc on the vehicles braking, electronics, and even starting acceleration from a stop; has this feature been properly studied as the culprit for the many and varied problems this particular car has? In the uk there is a blog called watchdog that has 180 people who posted between february and april 2009 that all had the same problem with the power steering that I and hundreds of others have reported. How can such a serious problem go unresolved for so long. There is no doubt that this problem alone falls under the united states code for motor vehicle safety (title 49, chapter 301).

Filed Feb 28, 2011 · Engine · 27,000 miles · CA

1. Hesitation during acceleration; this may be due to carbon build up. Car will lurch and stumble when trying to accelerate. This could be a dangerous problem when changing lanes or getting up to speed when merging. 2. Timing chain rattle during cold start. Car sounds like the timing chain is hitting metal when cold. Dealer claims this is normal, but the metal on metal noise sounds like it could cause excess play to develop and possibly cause engine failure.

Filed Feb 9, 2011 · Engine · 64,000 miles · AL

Engine rattle at start up, engine will not maintain idle when ambient temperature too cold (as high as 20 deg f but more common as temperature drops) and can even die. Engine hesitation and stumble while accelerating and while maintaining highway speeds, regardless of engine and ambient temperature. Lack of engine power. Car may seem to be running fine but when accelerating the engine will stumble and hesitate, much like a missing cylinder, this causes the car to accelerate slower than expected regardless of throttle position. This can create an unsafe condition. Seems to be most pronounced at part throttle between 2000 and 3000 RPM but is still present at higher speeds and more throttle opening. Can also make the car stumble very badly when starting from a stop, causing the car to move forward a few feet very slowly before accelerating at a somewhat normal pace. This effect is similar to letting out the clutch too soon but happens even if rpms are brought up to 2000+RPM and the clutch is slowly let out.

Filed Jan 5, 2011 · Fuel system · 44,071 miles · FL

The vehicle is constantly sputtering and loosing power. It hesitates on taking off and the performance is down significantly from when it was originally purchased. I have brought the car to the dealers several times and the stated that this was due to the fact that I was using poor quality gas. Since then I have changed to premium gas and the problems still persist. I finally brought the car to a renowned mini mechanic and he explained to me that this is a recurring problem with the fuel pump.

Filed Mar 12, 2010 · Engine · 26,000 miles · NJ

The car has been at the dealer every other week for the last 6 weeks. On cold starts the car would run rough, hesitate almost stall and the heat wasn't working unless you were driving or had your foot on the gas. Then the check engine light came on brought it to the dealer they replaced the timing chain changed the oil and bled the coolant. A few days later it stalled on a cold start and the heat still wasn't working. The dealer this time found excessive carbon in engine and a leak at water pump. Computer did not throughout a code for either. Dealer opened a case at the manufacture. 2 weeks later I brought it back when the windows would go half way down and the door would unlock. Dealer reset the windows and I went to pick it up to find the windows half way down and the doors unlocked. Dealer replaced the motor. 2 weeks later my battery light when on. On the way to the dealer the car died. Dealer said there was an oil leak the LED to the alternator belt slipping off and my battery didn't charge and now is dead. I won't get it back until sometime next week. This car only has 26,000 miles on it.

Filed Mar 19, 2006 · Transmission · 41,900 miles · NY

One morning driving about 100 MPH going up to ct I pay a toll take off the car hesitates in first gear then goes ok about a 2 miles from the toll I am doing about 100 MPH and switch to the right lane and the car just stop giving me power so I go to change to 5th gear no luck so I let the car roll to the shoulder call mini roadside and they tow to nearest dealer to my house. The dealer has my car for a total of 8 days and tell me the l/front axle will not stay in the transmission. Then the dealer say that its not covered@ first then tells me that will cover it a day later after the mini specialist take a look @ it and say we will cover it this time as a favor. Now it is ten days later and the same thing has happen again this time I have to pay for towing and I cant wait to have a talk with the dealer. I will keep u guys posted.

Filed Nov 21, 2003 · Engine · 8 miles · NY

Mini cooper s has severe hesitation when starting from a standing start. The problem is unrelated to throttle or clutch pedal position. Car bogs for a few seconds (when making a left against traffic it feels like an eternity) when in first gear at approximately 1800 RPM then resumes accelerating. Service advisor at dealership told me it's a "characteristic" of the car. Representative at mini USA told me they are aware of the problem and are working on a fix. The is no fix at the present time and no estimate as to when there will be one. For the time being, mini owners have to pray each time they enter an intersection.