MajorCommonTransmission

Mini Countryman: 7-speed dual-clutch low-speed hesitation and lurch from a stop

7-speed dual-clutch low-speed hesitation and lurch from a stop is a common transmission fault on the Mini Countryman on the 2018–2023 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $250 to $7,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 15 documented faults on the Mini Countryman.

Vehicle: Mini Countryman
Only on: Cooper S / JCW
Years: 2018–2023
Fuel: petrol
Gearbox: dct
System: Transmission

This page covers the Mini Countryman as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Mini Countryman faults15 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Clutch yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

From 2018 the front-drive Cooper and Cooper S Countryman moved to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. It is known for lurching then hesitating when pulling away or creeping in stop-start traffic, and for slow or delayed shifts, which Consumer Reports described as power delays and hiccups at low speed. Much of this is calibration, and transmission software updates and clutch adaptations usually improve it, but a clutch pack or mechatronic unit that has been worn by heavy traffic use can judder and need expensive parts. There is no recall or extended warranty.

What you would notice

Surge then hesitation when pulling away from a stop
Shudder or judder when creeping in traffic or reversing up a slope
Delayed or sluggish shifts under acceleration
Transmission warning or limp mode

How to check it

Where to look. Gearbox at the left side of the engine bay, felt through the seat and pedal when pulling away

On the test drive include slow stop-start driving: pull away gently from a standstill several times, creep at walking pace, and reverse up a slight slope. Feel for a shudder through the seat, a lurch followed by a pause, or a clunk into gear. Try a firm take-off and a gentle one and note any slipping, flaring revs or delayed shifts. Check the dash for transmission warnings after the drive. Ask whether the transmission software has been updated and whether the clutches or mechatronic unit have been replaced. If a workshop inspection is possible: have a scan tool check the transmission controller for stored faults, software level and clutch adaptation values.

Parts involved: Clutch.

What it costs to put right

$250 to $7,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the transmission software been updated at a MINI or BMW workshop?”
“Has the car ever gone into limp mode or shown a transmission warning?”
“Has any clutch or mechatronic work been done on the gearbox?”

Now check the Mini Countryman you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Consumer Reports Mini Cooper Countryman road test - 7-speed dual-clutch power delays and hiccups at low speeds
YouCanic Most Common MINI Cooper Automatic Transmission Problems - 7-speed dual-clutch shift delays and TCU software updates
MotoringFile: MINI adds dual clutch transmission to Countryman and Clubman (2018)

Mini Countryman buyer questions

Is 7-speed dual-clutch low-speed hesitation and lurch from a stop serious on a Mini Countryman?

We rate it major and common on the Mini Countryman. From 2018 the front-drive Cooper and Cooper S Countryman moved to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. It is known for lurching then hesitating when pulling away or creeping in stop-start traffic, and for slow or delayed shifts, which Consumer Reports described as power delays and hiccups at low speed. Much of this is calibration, and transmission software updates and clutch adaptations usually improve it, but a clutch pack or mechatronic unit that has been worn by heavy traffic use can judder and need expensive parts. There is no recall or extended warranty.

How much does it cost to fix on a Mini Countryman?

$250 to $7,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Mini Countryman years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2018–2023 Mini Countryman. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.