2011 MINI Cooper S ClubmanRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

“The contact owns a 2011 Mini Cooper S Clubman. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System). The contact stated that after washing the vehicle, the battery became drained. The battery was recharged; however, the interior lights and power windows became inoperable. The contact stated that the front headlights and taillights became stuck in the "ON" position. The contact stated the check engine warning light was occasionally illuminated. The contact disconnected the battery to prevent the failures. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but the contact received conflicting information each time. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several multiple occasions; however, the dealer stated that the contact needed to pay for a diagnostic fee before the recall repair could be performed. The dealer stated that the power window failure was not associated with the recall. The failure mileage was 152,000.”

“When I bought the car, John, a sales representative, promised me that he would have the car inspected by a mechanic before finalizing the paperwork, addressing issues with the tire pressure monitor, tail light sensor, and license plate light. However, the mechanic couldn't fix these issues, and Mike, the owner, directed me to his “personal mechanic” in San Bruno. After multiple reschedules from Mike, the car began to display an engine malfunction error. I informed Mike, and he advised me to mention the issue to the mechanic when I brought the car in. When I finally took the car to his mechanic, I was told that there were no errors, but the error lights needed to be reset at a different shop, as the mechanic didn’t have the required equipment. Despite this, the engine malfunction light remained on, and the car started to shake noticeably while driving. A few weeks later, while driving, the car began emitting white smoke from the hood. I texted Mike, asking why the issues weren’t fixed, and I had to tow the car to my house. He did not respond, so I called him days later. He told me to call back after New Year's to have the car fixed, even offering to tow it to…”

“THE PASSENGERS SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR IS NOT FUNCTIONING AND IT WON'T ALLOW ANY AIRBAG TO ACTIVATE. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON AND IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS, AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED.”