I was driving home today and noticed that I couldn't change stations on the stereo. The controls on the steering wheel and on the radio did not work. I also couldn't turn the radio off.

Then the radio display started to fade in and out. Eventually I heard a pop from the speakers and the radio died. Now I can't turn it on.

As I continued to drive I saw that the read out on the climate control started to go bright and dim. Then the climate control would turn off and back on. It keeps going through this cycle.

I have an appointment to bring in the car tomorrow morning.

Anybody else experience a similar issue?

 

Please let us know what you find out. It's good to file problems and solutions in our collective memory!

 

Well...when I started the car this morning everything was fine. I brought it into the dealer anyway to have them look at it. I also recorded the problem (radio won't turn on, dimming climate control, climate control turning off/on) from last night and showed them the video.

They couldn't find anything wrong and no fault codes were thrown.

They only thing I can do is monitor it and let them know if it happens again.

 

I have had the sat radio lock onto one station before, and no matter what preset I hit it doesn't change. This has happened 4 or 5 times. I turn off the car. Remove the fob....re-insert and restart, and everything is fine.

I think sometimes the computer just needs a reboot. Just one more thing that makes a MINI a MINI.

 

I've had the same thing happen

 

was it freezing outside when this happened? My wife's nav screen freezes sometimes when it's 0 degrees out.

 

+1

I thought it was strange when mine did this. It has happened several times.

 

It was in the 30s outside, but I had been driving for about 1/2 hour so the car was warm. It's been colder out and I never encountered this.

I heard about the sat issue, but I wasn't using sat. The odd thing was that the climate control started acting up after this happened. When I got home I stopped and started my car a couple of times (removing key fob) and it didn't fix the problem.

However, I let the car sit over night and the issue was resolved?!

I'll just chalk it up to gremlins. At least I got two trim pieces replaced while it was with the dealer.

 

Happened again this morning. Drove straight to the dealer so that they can see what's happening. Radio wouldn't turn off even with the key removed, then after a few minutes we heard a "pop" noise and it went dead. Climate control cycling its brightness and turning off/on.

Hopefully they can identify what's wrong.

Got a Countryman with connected/Nav for a loaner. When using the turn signal it doesn't make any sound. Does anybody know how to activate the sound for the turn signal?

 

Any updates from the dealer?

 

They said they need to replace my radio. Hopefully will be done sometime this week.

 

Same thing happened to my radio as well last week. Radio went completely out, turned back on and stayed on even with key out and car locked. When turning the car back on the radio then went completely out and never turned back on. The seat belt dinger also went out. Took two days for the dealer to diagnose what was wrong with it. They kept fixing it and as soon as they test drove it, the radio would keep going out. They said it was a radio programming internal failure. They replaced my radio and updated all software.

 

Issues in first 5 months of ownership:

-SAT Radio Preset/Tuning Lock on Channel 002
-Passenger Seat Heat Button Malfunction
-Rear-View Mirror Glass Vibration @ 65-67 MPH
-Driver's Side Rear-View Mirror Folding Issue (Glass Gets Tweaked)
-Bluetooth Stopped Working
-Bluetooth Didn't Recognize Any Devices
-Radio Powers On/Off at Will During Driving

Sticker price is slightly North of $33K.

Had the satellite radio preset lock/tune thing happen multiple times. Dealer couldn't replicate. Next, the Bluetooth would recognize the phone, show signal strength, but I couldn't initiate a call. I could answer with the phone button on the steering wheel, and hang up, but the voice button wouldn't work. Took it back to the dealer and mentioned the SAT radio thing again. They replaced the radio. When I went to pick it up and tested the BT, it didn't recognize any phone to pair. Dealer checked again; this time the software for the BT was completely wiped out. They contacted MINI and had them remotely check it and re-install.

After getting it back, on the way home, the radio completely powered off (display and everything) and then came back on in 5-7 seconds. Nothing triggered it (i.e. bumps, harsh turning, etc.). I chalked it up to the new radio maybe resetting itself for some oddball reason.

A week later, Mini Customer Care calls me while I'm driving to make sure that all my issues have been resolved. Using the Bluetooth, I told them that they (Mini Engineering) hasn't had a fix for the Vibr-O-Matic rear view mirror yet, and that the radio turned off and on autonomously. While on BT with her, the radio clicked off during the call, losing the BT, but keeping her on my phone. When the radio came back on, the BT restored with her still on the line. That's when she told me to schedule an appointment.

Two days before the appointment, the radio did it again. Currently, an engineer from Mini is at the dealership investigating the problem.

If it wasn't for Mini, I wouldn't have driven some of the nicest 2013 BMWs as loaners for the better part of 3 weeks when the loaner time is added up. I'd expect this poor quality in a sub-compact from KIA; not Mini. Remember this when you read about the lackluster reliability ratings. I certainly didn't. Lesson learned.

Another lesson; be sure to take video the issues if you can. It helps prove your sanity when the technician says that they cannot replicate the issue.

Interestingly, I have two independent surveys that were sent asking me about my experience with my new vehicle. I'll be sure to fill it out honestly.