MINI Clubman Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

My Mini Clubman All4, despite having clocked in a mere 33,000 miles in the past four years, has been plagued with issues concerning its air conditioning system. Initially, I sought assistance from the Mini of Morristown dealership in Morristown, NJ, where my vehicle has been serviced over the years. However, their service proved to be unsatisfactory. Despite reassurances that they had recharged the system and that there were no inherent issues, the problem persisted. Upon contacting them again, I was informed that further diagnostics would be subject to additional charges. Disconcerted, I reached out to Mini's customer service team, only to be met with a reaffirmation that there was little they could do. With no resolution in sight, I sought help from a local independent mechanic, who quickly identified the root cause - a compressor line rubbing against other components, leading to leakage – PART # F56 6453 9209722-04. This diagnosis and the ability to swiftly rectify it contrasts starkly with the inability of the authorized dealership to provide effective solutions. This issue may be indicative of a design flaw requiring a recall to prevent further mishaps that could endanger Mini owners. You are welcome to contact Mini of Morristown, NJ, for all service records associated with this issue. I urge you to take immediate action and rectify this situation, not just for my sake but for the sake of all Mini customers. I HAVE THE PART AND CAN SHIP IT. I ALREADY PROVIDED PICTURES OF THE WEAR IN MY EMAIL. The summer heat with the AC not working is surely a hazard. The issue was confirmed by the independent service center that diagnosed and fixed the problem. The manufacturer has been indifferent thus far. It is only now that I have raised a concern with the company's CEO's office. No warning lamps or messages appeared. The Mini team has been incompetent in addressing the issue.

The contact owns a 2018 Mini Cooper Clubman. The contact stated that the driver's side brake light was inoperable. The contact attempted to change bulbs and noticed the housing was melted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer four hours away and was informed that the brake lights were working as designed. The vehicle was not repaired as no diagnostic codes were found. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated the failure would continue to occur. The manufacturer was notified and referred the contact to the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.

Rear parking brake light in the bumper has caused a short and failed twice, after complete replacement of light assembly.

There is a defect in the vehicle that is associated with a pervasive design flaw, wherein a spring fails in the gearbox, preventing the car from showing as parked.

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Mini Clubman. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to the dealer for servicing, the dealer informed the contact that based on the Carfax history report, there was a mileage discrepancy; however, the contact did not have the Carfax information available. Additionally, the contact stated that an inspection form and a GAP waiver document also showed a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a used car dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 108,396 on August 31, 2023; however, the mileage was 108,640 on the inspection form dated July 1, 2023, and the mileage was 108,990 on the GAP waiver document dated August 31, 2023.

The contact owns a 2017 Mini Cooper Clubman. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a message was displayed that the rear brake light was not functioning. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the body domain controller needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V222000 (Exterior Lighting); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 48,000.

Component/System That Failed: The oil filter housing cracked, causing a coolant leak. This part was made of plastic, which appears to be a weak point in the design and should ideally be aluminum for durability. Unfortunately, I no longer have the failed part for inspection. Safety Risk: The coolant loss resulted in a sudden loss of heat in freezing temperatures, which could be dangerous for drivers and passengers in winter conditions. While the engine did not overheat, the loss of coolant could have eventually led to engine overheating and failure, posing a safety risk if left undetected. Problem Confirmation: The issue was confirmed by an independent service center, which verified that the plastic oil filter housing cracked, leading to a coolant leak. The technician noted that this type of failure should not occur at such low mileage and suggested that the part’s material may be a design flaw. Inspection by Manufacturer or Others: At this time, the vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. However, reports from other Mini owners suggest similar failures, indicating a potential widespread defect. Warning Signs Before Failure: There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure. The first noticeable sign was a loss of cabin heat in extremely cold weather. Upon checking, I discovered that the coolant level had dropped due to the leak.

Warning to apply parking brake and contact service. Apparently a common occurrence with automatic transmission with the failure of the gear selection switch.

Today I started my 2017 Mini Clubman and received a message about a transmission problem. The message showed a car icon and arrows at either end of the car pointed out. The message advised me to secure the car to prevent rolling. I confirmed that the parking brake was not inadvertently triggered and also confirmed that the parking brake is still functioning properly. The same message has appeared the next five times I started the car on a level surface.

I went into HGreg Nissan of Buena Park/Nissan of Buena Park on [XXX] to look at a car. When I got there, I asked to see the car that they had advertised. Once I signed the necessary paperwork, purchased a bumper-to-bumper warranty as told by the salesperson. I was also told that I would receive a full tank of gas, but I did not. I took that car the Mini Cooper dealership, for a diagnostic test, and was told that there was damage to the engine. The engine light came on, so I had to leave the car at the dealership. Once I purchased the car from the dealership, me as a person who does not understand how dealership processes paperwork and have purchased cars in the past, I have never experienced such blatant disregard for honesty, who deal in deception, and have no moral ethics than with this particular dealership, just for the sale of a car. I received a phone call from a Lady by the name of Alva on 06/28/24 from HGreg Nissan of Buena Park/Nissan of Buena Park which is more than 3 months after the purchase of this vehicle, and she advised me that I needed to come in so that they could do a smog check on the vehicle, and that they let the paperwork expire. This company never processed the necessary paperwork, to the DMV so that this car could be registered to me. This company did not have a smog check done because they knew that it would not pass because the engine light came on. Since that necessary paperwork has not been filed with the DMV the lender of this vehicle is now telling me that they will increase the interest because of this problem. According to CA Law Smog Certifications are required for all sales or title transfers of gasoline-powered vehicles that are four or more years old, and this company did not provide this information to the CA Department of Motor Vehicles. This dealership knew that the engine was faulty which is why they never performed a Smog Check the engine light came on 1 week after it was purchased. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)