Problem 1: clutch/transmission failed at 50,000 just after warranty. Unable to shift on highway, had to stay in low gear. Transmission was replaced. It failed a second time, was replaced at about 80,000. I believe it is failing again as the clutch is slipping in 1st and 2nd gears; MINICooper says they note no problem. Problem 2: timing chain. Parked, my car would not start easily; started on 3rd try. My car stalled, stopped on the highway as I was slowing down due to traffic. Restarted and continued. No engine light. Driving to MINIservice, car stalled coming in; had to coast in. Found to be timing chain, valvetronic eccentric shaft, perhaps parts falling into oil pan. $2800 in repairs. When I asked about law suits or recalls over the last 3 years because I've had major performance issues, MINICooper stated no known suits even though there were. I find that there have been suits, and I "missed the window" for the timing chain.

- Vancouver, WA, USA

Loud rattling noise when accelerating coming from the engine. When I come to a complete stop car has turned off, sometimes it cranks for a bit to start up. Also while driving losses power and car decelerates slows down and also pulls like if was out of gas. White smoke when you press on gas.

- Houston, TX, USA

2007 MINICooper sold to me with a bad timing chain, timing tensioner, cams and engine.

- Lowell, AR, USA

My car started to act funny. Almost sounding like it was suffocating. It would die about ten to fifteen times every morning before I would finally get the car started. It would shut off when I stopped at intersections. The only time it ran decent was when I was driving highways speeds for 20 minutes or more. I changed out filters, spark plugs, and fluids but none of it changed the way it was running. Come to find out it that the chain and chain tensioner had broken. This damage caused roughly $1000 to fix. Luckily I caught it in time before it did additional damages to the crank shaft. With low miles the mechanic even told me its a fault part and brakes easily. He has had to replace numerous american model minis in italy. My country code is 39 if you call.

- Apo, AE, USA

The contact owns a 2007 MINICooper S. the contact stated that transmission fluid would leak from the vehicle when driving various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where it was confirmed that the vehicle was leaking transmission fluid. The axle and seal for the transmission was replaced however the failure recurred. The vehicle was not further repaired. The contact also mentioned that the turbo oil feed line had to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 84000.

- Moscow Mills, MO, USA

Ran a diagnostic test and these warnings came up - 2D52 super knocking 2dcd fuel shut off due to super knocking cylinder 3 2968 inlet camshaft sensor 2B64 intake manifold, unmetered air based on all of these sound like my MINIcooper has bad fuel and/or serious carbon build, I've just purchased this car from a dealership and I am experiencing delays in acceleration, loss of forward propulsion.

- Jersey City, NJ, USA

I took my car into my local shop and had oil change, new battery, tires rotated and alignment.they could a noise from the engine and they checked it out. Call me to inform me that I had to take to the MINIcooper dealership because the timing chain needed to be replace. I called MINIcooper and spoke to [xxx] at the houston dealership momentum MINIShe informed me that the cost would be anywhere from 4000 to 10,000 dollars. I explained to her I had the car for 1 year and have any driven 6000 miles in a year. After doing research I noticed that other people where having the same issues with there MINII purchased this car with 39,126 miles on it and my daily drive to work is a quarter mile if that. Please help !!! information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Houston, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2007 MINICooper S. the contact stated that coolant was leaking from the vehicle. The contact also stated that the transmission mount was fractured. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was found that the coolant housing and the transmission mount needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.

- Willoughby, OH, USA

I purchased the vehicle as is from a small local lot January of 2013, everything checked out as perfect. I love the car. Was driving home from work and luckily I was about 10 miles from home and at the speed of 35 mph when it felt like it was stuck in a gear (car is automatic) then I noticed my check engine light came on. I remained at the speed of 35mph or lower because I didn't want to take any chances. Then my brake light came on which made me think I had brake issues. I parked it lifted the hood and it was extremely hot and you could hear the fans running extra hard. We took it to a local guy to look at it as he told us he just had a MINIin with same issue weeks before and aaa came to tow it to hendrick MINIin charlotte. They thought it was value stems and etc find out a few hours later not the case I need a whole new transmission. The car is a '07 with only 54K miles on it in perfect condition. Makes no sense. MINIBMW us has heard of my complaint and has told me there is nothing they will do to make it right. If you ask me from everything I've read online this needs to be a recall as everyone has had the same issue. This is very unsafe and I can't afford $9K to pay for a new transmission. I loved my MINIcooper but as it stands right now I'm car less and left making payments on a car I cannot even drive and it is sitting in the shop on hold for the time being. MINIBMW needs to realize all of the customers they are losing over this.

- Statesville, NC, USA

I bought my 2007 MINIused 1 month ago. When I went to test drive the car the engine would not start and there was a check engine light on. The dealer told me that they would have it fixed and call me back in for a test drive. I went back and when the car started it had a very slight rattle that eventually went away. Now in the month time that I have had the car it takes me 6 or 7 tries to get the engine to start, and when it runs it has the rattle that has plagued so many other MINIowners. Enough is enough. Action must be taken to correct the inadequacy of the inferior timing chain set up. The dealer has told me that it is a "normal" MINInoise and that I would have to get used to it. That is in a sense a "cop out" for a problem that is heavily known in the MINIcommunity and that BMW MINIis well aware of. This is a major mechanical defect in the car and BMW MINIneed to own up to repair with an updated and current corrective action or replace the engines for all the loyal MINIowners experiencing this very costly problem that could lead to total driveline failure. We paid for a good running reliable vehicle and are not getting what we paid for.

- Southbury, CT, USA

My car has a transmission problem. Have to replace it for $9000! it S MINICooper S 2007 only 29800 miles!! the dealer will not repines anything and the warranty is out!

- Sf, CA, USA

MINIcooper drivers around the U.S. and world have been reporting a strange knocking/rubbing noise coming from the engine compartment for the year 2007+ MINIcooper. From the misc dealer repair details it appears to be a issue with the timing chain and tensioner system. It also appears the without being fixed the car will eventually have a timing chain failure and possible motor destruction. On a good note BMW/MINIknow what the problem is however is failing to come up with or acknowledge a permanent solution. How many customers issues will it take before BMW/MINIwill issue a full recall?

- Portland, OR, USA

Car misfired and had backfired; check engine light came on. Took car right to dealer, they told us it is a known issue and doing nothing but charging customers for the repair. The timing chain and timing tensioner has a design flaw that is recognized but nothing done. If full failure on roadway can cause catastrophic issues to me and others.

- Atco, NJ, USA

Timing belt tensioner failed resulting in slack in the timing belt. Final result was the timing belt slack contacted plastic chain guards which broke off and lodged inside the engine. After being towed to MINIservice, they recommended replacing the entire engine. This is a safety issue because the critical timing chain failure led to premature engine failure. There was a strong smell of smoke and I had initial concern that the car was going to catch on fire. I was lucky that the incident did not occur while driving in traffic as I would have been stuck on the road without any power endangering myself and other drivers. MINIis well aware of the issue with the timing belt tensioner, but has failed to proactively address the issue. The service manager at MINIeven has a bag full of bent rods at his desk that he showed me and told me he has had multiple cars come in with the same issue.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

Timing chain failure causing $1800 damage. Was told it is a known issue and could've been replaced prior to the damage and saved time, money, and potential danger. Thankfully nothing happened to harm anyone. Knocking noise, smoke, engine light came on, running poorly. Has been fixed now.

- Rincon, GA, USA

I bought this 2007 MINICooper S pre owned about 1 month ago. This car had approx. 32000 miles on it when I purchased it. After driving the car for a few days I noticed a burning smell like rubber or plastic. I complained to the man who sold this car to me and he had the turbo water pump replaced through the recall due to overheating. Heat in the motor reaching more than 225 degrees can destroy many other parts on this car! now after the turbo water pump replacement the car continues to smell like burning plastic and he says it must take a while for the odor to leave the car. Two weeks later the car begins loosing power and acts like it has no clutch. I am an experienced driver and have owned many cars with manual gears. This car is now in the shop for repairs, a burned out clutch, and could even be transmission problems that are very premature and so many other people have had the same problem with this year make and model car. Why can't something be done to help those who were cheated by owning such a troublesome car. This car also had the timing chain replaced a very low mileage!

- Scottsboro, AL, USA

Timing chain failure. This is a known issue commonly referred to by MINIowners as "the death rattle". the dealer claims the issue is caused as a result of being 1.5 quarts low on oil. But dozens of other owners are reporting the same problem without being low on oil. I suspect the low oil level is a cover allowing the manufacturer to not take responsibility for the problem. No oil indicator light is triggered at that level. MINIis taking action on this issue but has stopped short of issuing a recall. As such, thousands of MINIowners risk serious damage to their engine at speed as a result of potential timing chain failure. Furthermore, most owners have had to pay for the repair (between $1,200 - $1,700) to prevent the timing chain failure. This is a defect. It requires corrective action by the manufacturer.

- St. Paul, MN, USA

Vehicle produces loud metallic sounds from the left side of the engine on cold start. MINIusa has repeatedly stated this is okay, however now at 25000 miles the noise is constant and loud. Reading data from other MINIowners this problem is now extremely common on all MINIcoopers with the 1.6L produced after 2007. MINIhas quietly replaced numerous belt tensioners to fix this problem but refuses to admit this is a large issue over the entire fleet of vehicles. Issue results in a $3-4K labor bill to repair.

- Honolulu, HI, USA

While driving in heavy traffic following extended highway speed, stopped at traffic light and engine died with no warning and would not restart. Car had to be towed a considerable distance to original dealership. Learned that the vacuum pump seized / locked up, causing a chain reaction of catastrophic results that totally destroyed engine. Car needs complete new engine at 74,000 miles (out of warranty)and MINIusa attitude is that such engine failure is not their responsibility even though this particular MINIwas impeccably maintained beyond MINIservcie requirements, but to no avail as engine blew at a very young 74,000 miles of age and there are repeated instances of same engine failure on internet BMW/MINIblogs. Note: This catastrophic damage follows last year's large out of warranty expense of replacing the entire electronic steering lock system as vehicle could not be driven safely and again MINIfelt no responsibility for equipment failure even though the problem was subsequently acknowledged by the fact that electronic steering lock is no longer installed in new MINIcoopers!

- White Stone, VA, USA

The engine began to make a large rattling noise and the check engine light eventually came on. I stopped the car and checked the oil to see if it was low and discovered that I was not able to get the dip stick back in. At this point I called a tow truck and took it to a local mechanic because there isn't a MINIdealer within 100 miles of my location. Turns out it was the timing chain tensioner which is a common problem for the Cooper S and MINIhas released three fixes and claim the latest tsb will fix the problem. My car has less than 40,000 miles and I had to spend $1,700 dollars for a $26 dollar part that was faulty to begin with. MINIknew they had a problem and tried to fix it but failed on two separate occasions there's no telling how long this new fix will hold up. Not to mention my car is still louder than it use to be before the problem and it sounds like a diesel engine at idle. This noise doesn't give me confidence that the latest fix will last and MINIneeds to seriously take a look at the problem and send out a recall before the timing chains start causing life threatening problems.

- Panama City Beach, FL, USA