However, these also suffer from some of the most mechanical failures. With the 1 st Generation, you get an amazing style and lower cost. There are three generations to choose from, each with unique advantages and disadvantages. Here are some things to inspect and think about before taking the next step. If you aren’t careful, you could find yourself driving a lemon car. If you have your heart set on a Mini Cooper, you must perform some due diligence before turning over the cash. So far, the only major problem has been issues with the clutch, which is easily avoidable by choosing an automatic transmission instead. Either people have stopped buying these cars or the automaker is building them better. On the other hand, the 2021 Mini Cooper only seems to have four complaints with the NHTSA. It also tends to have loose timing chain issues, making it a hodgepodge of problems. Besides that, there are four recalls and two open investigations about the power steering failures. According to the NHTSA, it has more than 800 complaints. To help you out, we’ve chosen one of each to look at closer.įor example, the 2005 Mini Cooper S tends to be the least reliable. Many are either considered one of the worst or one of the best. If you plan to purchase a Mini Cooper, you want to research the models carefully. These problems are costly and a pain to deal with. After all, it’s only made from flimsy plastic.Īlong with the radiator support, the coolant hose can also suffer damage because of its location. If the car hits a curb, the radiator support in the front tends to break. Front Radiator Supportīecause the Mini Cooper sits lower than many other vehicles, curbs seem to be a problem. The only way to prevent this is to check the oil levels more frequently and top them off whenever needed. If there’s not enough oil, excessive friction occurs, which can lead to engine damage. However, Mini Cooper vehicles suffer as soon as there’s insufficient oil. Variable valve timing changes how the intake and exhaust valves work at varying engine speeds. If the pump has to be replaced, remember to add a new fan as well. To prevent this, you want to inspect the system often for leaks and performance problems. The electro-hydraulic power steering system fails because of a defective cooling fan. The main problems seem to be with the 2002-20 models. Mini Cooper vehicles have suffered from a recall because of the faulty power steering pump. Mini recommends having them replaced every 50,000 miles, which is just absurd. So many people had trouble that it’s now recommended to change these parts in the maintenance schedule. Yet, with first-generation Mini Coopers, the plastic thermostat housing and water pump have been a source of issues. In a normal vehicle, coolant leaks only happen after many miles of wear and tear. Coolant Leaks From Water Pump or Thermostat Housing However, even the average cost of replacing the timing chain is between $750 and $1,500. If the issue isn’t dealt with immediately, it can lead to expensive repairs. With the Mini Cooper, the timing chain seems to wear prematurely, leading to slack in the operation. The timing chain is responsible for connecting the crankshaft to the camshaft. The repair isn’t quite as expensive as with an automatic transmission but still costs, on average, between $1,500 and $2,000. While all Minis are at risk of this problem, it seems to be most prevalent in the 2022 to 2016 models. When the clutch wears out, it can cause extreme damage to the transmission. With a manual transmission, there’s a higher risk of clutch failure on Mini Cooper models. RELATED: 8 Symptoms Of A Bad Automatic Transmission (& Replacement Cost) 2. Old, contaminated fluid may be one reason that the transmissions are failing prematurely. What’s leading to the transmission issues? Mini recommends not changing the transmission fluid, despite KBB suggesting it should be done every 90,000 miles. Depending on how old the Mini is at the time, it might not even be worth the cost. On average, you may spend between $6,000 and $6,500 to have a new transmission installed. In fact, it doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it costs a pretty penny to fix. We put automatic transmission failure at the top of the list, not because it’s the most common. The Mini Cooper is further known for variable valve timing issues and front radiator support failure. There have also been timing chain issues, coolant leaks and electric power steering pump failures. Conclusion The Most Common Problems With Mini Cooperĭepending on the model, you may face automatic transmission failure or manual clutch failure.
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