Oil feed line going into turbo is leaking oil directly onto turbo. MINIuses a rubber O ring that is connected to a very hot turbo and O ring will fail on all MINIcoopers with a turbo. When this rubber O ring fails it will leak oil directly onto hot turbo and cause a fire. I think it's in the safety of all that this be looked into and recalled. I believe MINIcooper is very aware of the problem and is covering up the issue by installing a cheap heat shield on oil line but this is a bandaid fix at best.

- Fort Dodge , IA, USA

The MINImade a beeping noise / warning noise while driving. Stopped the car. It was very sluggish to start so I took it to my mechanic (not the MINIdealer in my town which has a horrible service department.) the diagnosis was a failing timing chain and everything associated with it. Replaced timing chain, chain tensioner, adjuster unit cam, guide rail, slide rail, crankshaft seal, gasket ring, valve cover gasket, drive belt, ignition coil, spark plugs... everything. This failure could gave been catastrophic without my immediate action to stop the car and take it to a mechanic. It was a $3,000 + fix.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

The car had a hard time getting up to 65mph. There was a lack of acceleration from a dead stop to cruising speed. The car had a water pump and radiator installed 4 months prior to my trouble. MINItold me that my timing belt tensioner had broke.I needed to have a new timing belt installed because it had stretched.it was no longer able to keep the timing correct.I asked why when they changed to water pump they didn't see the broken tensioner. They had no answer.

- Doylestown, PA, USA

So, I have one of many thousands of bad thermostat housings part #11537534521( cooling system). None of the parts houses have them in stock. MINIsaid that there are 17,000+ of them on backorder. 17,000! this appears to affect minis from 2007 through 2010. So, mine sits in the driveway for an indeterminable amount of time. Nobody actually knows when (if) they will be available. The part has been on backorder for a long time.there are guesses from September 12th to October 10th. Mostly just shots in the dark, so they can at least tell you something! these parts have been failing prematurely for 6 years, and now look at the mess. MINIis not exactly pro-active. Certainly our first and last MINII have contacted MINIand BMW to ask what their solution will be for all the affected customers. All they do is take my name and number and tell me that they will call back. They never do. I am hopeless with out a car that can not be fixed due to the manufacturer ( MINIno having replacing parts available. This is unacceptable. Please hold MINIand BMW accountable for that.

- Mission Viejo, CA, USA

I've been a loyal MINICooper customer for years now but recently my car suddenly stopped in the middle of the road. I got it towed, and they said my timing chain tensioner came off and literally sliced some part of the engine. There has been talks about a "recall, " but they have not made it official because it will cost them millions to do so. MINICooper did confirm that there were defected timing chains and I know some dealerships changed the timing chain for free because of this known defect. MINICooper did not inform me anything and now I have to either pay 5000 dollars to get a used engine or sell my car. I work full-time and now I don't have a car to drive to work.

- San Luis Obispo, CA, USA

I've been a loyal MINICooper for years now but recently my car suddenly stopped in the middle of the road. I got it towed, and they said my timing chain tensioner came off and literally sliced some part of the engine. There has been talks about the "recall, " but they have not made it official because it will cost them millions to do so. MINICooper did confirm that there were defected timing chains and I know some dealerships changed the timing chain for free because of this known defect. MINICooper did not inform me anything and now I have to either pay 5000 dollars to get a used engine or sell my car. I work full-time and now I don't have a car.

- San Luis Obispo, 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

The contact owns a 2007 MINICooper S. while driving approximately 45 mph, the engine warning indicator began to illuminate as a loud rattling noise emitting from the engine area. The vehicle suddenly stalled and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who was unable to duplicate the problem or determine the cause of failure. The malfunction continued to occur. Most recently the vehicle was taken to an independent auto shop and they stated the engine timing tensioner and the high pressure fuel pump would need to be replaced. The technician advised the vehicle be taken to a dealer for repair. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 36,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Sarasota, FL, 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

6/2011, vehicle began making loud rattling noise after starting up in the morning and during acceleration while driving. Took it to local MINIservice center and was told nothing was wrong with the car, noise was related to type of gas being used (if not chevron or shell, gas could cause noise is what I was told). 4/2011, noise began to get worse. Scheduled service appointment with same local service center for May 7th, 2012 (a month out for first appointment) as well as to address a recall issue related to recall campaign 12V-008 electric auxiliary water pump. Work not completed because on 4/13/12, check engine light came on while driving and then vehicle stalled out and would not restart. After local repair show diagnosed, failure was found to be with timing chain tensioner failing causing damage to engine. Solution=replacement of engine at a cost of $6,300. Mileage at time of failure was 62,218. Repairs not covered by MINIas vehicle is now out of warranty. Repairs not completed. Recall needs to be issued to have this common and known failure fixed.

- Emeryville, CA, USA

Vehicle serviced regularly for maintenance. Pre-incident zero warning via on-board sensors/indicator. Last maintenance performed at 52K. Vehicle had 56K miles at time of incident. Incident occurred in the morning: Timing chain snapped upon start up. Due to this failure the engine was destroyed requiring a complete engine replacement. A serious issue requiring a recall.

- Fullerton, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2007 MINICooper S. the contact stated that the timing chain damaged the engine, rendering it inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who inspected the engine and advised that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 54,000.

- San Leandro, CA, USA

On cold starts, it has become a documented issue that 07-11 "S" models have an issue with a horrible rattle upon starting. This can become a catastrophic failure for many people who have experienced this issue. This is due to a tensioning mechanism which allows too much travel in the timing chain. This can allow the chain to jump or break which can cause a complete engine failure. The fix involves replacement of the timing chain and a redesigned tensioner. BMW acknowledges this issue, but will not help out MINIowners even at a reduced rate. With just a short search on the internet, it is easy to find thousands of owners who have experienced this issue and are asking for help to resolve the issue, with no luck.

- Mishawaka, IN, USA

I brought my MINIin for the electrical water pump recall issue and I explained there was a ticking sound coming from the engine compartment and to please let me know if there were any issues. They called and said it was the timing chain and the cost was substantial. This is a large problem with this vehicle as I now know after seeing numerous complaints. Please have a recall issued for this problem and not have other owners have to pay for a service that is a known problem and very dangerous to occupants and other drivers since this can cause a major accident and the potential to harm more than the vehicle operator.

- Charlestown, MA, USA

Timing chain broke at 80000K after replacing tensioner at 60000K from oil leak. Also replaced water pump & thermostat due to car overheating. Now at 82000K have a burnt out valve. Big problems on my MINICooper S '07.

- Napa, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2007 MINIcopper S. the contact received notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 12V008000 (engine and engine cooling) and took the vehicle to the dealer for repairs the contact was advised that the parts needed for repair were on back order until April 13, 2012. The contact made an appointment for the that date, but continued to drive the vehicle. The vehicle later stalled without warning and towed to a MINIspecialist who determined that the electric auxiliary pump failed. The failure destroyed the engine. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but denied any assistance with repairs to the vehicle. The failure and the current mileage was 50,000.

- Merlin, OR, USA

The contact owns a 2007 MINICooper S. the contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. The dealer diagnosed the failure and determined that the timing chain was separated from the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but denied any assistance with repairs to the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and the current mileage was 34,481.

- Brandon, FL, USA

The contact owns a 2007 MINICooper S. while driving 15 mph, the contact noticed smoke coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact called the fire department who was able to extinguish the fire. The dealer serviced the vehicle under NHTSA campaign id number: 12V008000 (engine and engine cooling) one day prior to the failure. The remedy however, failed to prevent the vehicle fire. The manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. The current and the failure mileages were 59,000.

- Annandale, NJ, 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

The contact owns a 2007 MINICooper S. the contact stated that the vehicle would lose power abnormally and would sporadically stall. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that the spark plugs failed. The failure recurred and the contact discovered that the failure was caused by a failure with the timing chain assembly. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 65,000.

- Millbrook, AL, USA