2002 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

2002 MINI COOPER S. POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE WITH 55K MILES ON THE HIGHWAY. CAUSED LOSS OF POWERSTEERING MAKING THE CAR DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. UPON STOPPING THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULDN'T GO OFF AND DRAINED THE CARS BATTERY. THIS IS A WELL PUBLICIZED PROBLEM ON THE WEB, YET MINI DENIES ANY FAULT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ENTERING A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE STEERING PUMP. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000. UPDATED 03/08/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND IF IT FAILED IN A TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD INEVITABLY STEER VERY WIDE FROM THE INTENDED COURSE. UPDATED 03/09/11. *JB

I DRIVE A 2002 MINI COOPER AND AT 9:50AM THIS MORNING I DROVE MY CAR ABOUT A MILE TO MY OPTOMETRIST APPOINTMENT AND ALL WAS WELL WITH MY POWER STEERING. I WAS THERE FOR 45 MINUTES, LEFT, AND GOT IN MY CAR PULLED OUT OF MY SPOT WITH NO TROUBLE AT ALL, BUT ABOUT 20 FEET AWAY FROM MY PARKING SPOT I WENT TO TURN ONTO A THOROUGHFARE ONLY TO FIND THAT MY POWER STEERING HAD FAILED. I HAD TO WRENCH THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MUCH STRENGTH TO AVOID TRAFFIC AND PULLED OVER. I CHECKED THE STEERING FLUID AND THERE IS PLENTY IN THERE. I BELIEVE IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM REMAINS CONSISTENT AFTER TURNING MY CAR ON AND OFF. I'VE CHECKED ONLINE TO FIND THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM IN THEIR 2002 MINI COOPERS AND YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE ON MY 2002 R50 MINI COOPER. THE POWER STEERING WOULD ACT UP THE PREVIOUS COUPLE OE WEEKS BY THEN RESUME AS IF EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THEN PRIOR TO FIRST OF THE YEAR, IT JUST WENT OUT TOTALLY. *TR

LOSS OF POWER STEERING 2002 MINI COOPER S. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENT WITHOUT WARNING. HE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN WOULD REMAIN ACTIVE WITHOUT POWER TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED NOR WAS THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,096. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 06/24/11 *BF UPDATED 06/30/11*JB

POWER STEERING FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF A CURVE IN THE ROAD, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND NEARLY CAUSING THE CAR TO GO INTO A DITCH. #20 THE CAR IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER WITHOUT THE POWER-ASSISTED STEERING. #20 MINI USA DENIES ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM, YET THERE ARE IN EXCESS OF 1,600 REPORTS ON ONE INTERNET FORUM ALONE. #20 THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS ISSUE, AND IN EUROPE BMW/MINI HAS ACTED, BUT IN THE USA THE COMPANY DENIES ANY AWARENESS. #20 THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE COST ME AND MY WIFE OUR LIVES IF I WERE A LESS SKILLED DRIVER WHO MANAGED TO FORCE THE CAR BACK ONTO THE ROAD.

MY 2002 MINI COOPER'S POWER STEERING FAILED SILENTLY AS I DROVE HOME FROM WORK A WEEK AGO, THOUGH WAS FINE AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR. SINCE THEN, IT HAS STARTED FAILING CONSISTENTLY. THIS LEADS TO VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA HOW HARD I WILL HAVE TO TURN ON THE WHEEL FOR ANY GIVEN TURN AND THUS MAKES ME HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE FOR HITTING A PEDESTRIAN OR ANOTHER CAR.. INVESTIGATIONS IMPLY THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP, WHICH COST $1000+. MY CAR HAS ROUGHLY 36,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. IT CAME ON A FEW MONTHS AGO AND STAYS ON. HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER BUT NO KNOWN CAUSE. *TR

I READ LAST WEEK ABOUT POSSIBLE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSOCIATED WITH 04-05 MINI MODELS. I HAVE AN 02 MINI COOPER S AND HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM APPROX 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 4 YEARS. WITH NO WARNING, THE POWER STEERING WILL SUDDENLY DISAPPEAR. I CAN STEER THE CAR, BUT ONLY WITH SIGNIFICANT EFFORT. MY MECHANIC CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT OF THIS. I'M NOT CERTAIN, BUT IT APPEARS THIS MIGHT HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THE ROAD IS WET. *TR

2002 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING FAILURE AFTER POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED. THE CAR HAD NO POWER STEERING WITHIN 700 MILES OF HAVING THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND PUMP FAN REPLACED AND NOW AM TOLD IT IS THE POWER STEERING PUMP CABLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHICH CAUSED DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING FLUID READING WAS AT THE CORRECT CAPACITY LEVEL. ALSO, HE MENTIONED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAN MOTOR COULD HAVE POSSIBLY OVERHEATED, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,500.

2002 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. PUMP HAD STOPPED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR PREVIOUSLY. NOW, PUMP CONTINUES TO RUN AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. *TR

POWER STEERING IN MY 2002 MINI COOPER FAILED. STEERING VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT WITH LITTLE ABILITY TO TURN VEHICLE. REPAIR REQUIRED A NEW ELEC. STG PUMP AND COOLING FAN ($602) PLUS LABOR OF $384 FOR A TOTAL OF $986. *TR

THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON 2002 MINI COOPER S HAS REPEATEDLY SEIZED UP WHEN DRIVING OVER A COURSE OF A FEW MONTHS AND NOW IT WONT TURN OFF WHEN THE CAR IS OFF SO THE BATTERY DRAINS OUT. *TR

INTERMEDIATE POWER STEERING FAILURE ON 2002 MINI COOPER S. AT FIRST POWER STEERING WOULD CUT IN AND OUT WHEN DRIVING UNTIL IT WENT DEAD COMPLETELY BUT SOMETIMES WILL RESUME FUNCTION WHEN YOU SHUT OFF CAR AND RESTART. STEERING IS VERY HARD WHEN THIS OCCURS. WEEKS PASSED WITH SAME SYMPTOMS THEN POWER STEERING PUMP WILL RUN CONSTANTLY EVEN WITH CAR SHUT OFF. TO STOP THE PUMP FROM DRAINING MY BATTERY I HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY OR REMOVE THE FUSE THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE POWERSTEERING PUMP. NOW THE CAR IS OPERABLE WITHOUT POWER STEERING BUT STEERING IS RATHER HARD. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST. JUST HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN DURING NORMAL DRIVING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE STEERING COLUMN AND SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,392.

JUST DRIVING ALONG AND CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER, AND THEN TRANSMISSION LET GO. ENGINE REVVED, BUT THE GEARS WERE GONE. NO FORWARD OR REVERSE. NOTHING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 90,000. UPDATED 09/24/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/24/10

PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING, IT WORK INTERMITTENT, ALMOST GOT TO A ACCIDENT. *TR

MY 2002 MINI COOPER S HAD AN INCIDENT APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO WHEN I COMPLETELY LOST POWER STEERING WHILE GOING A LOW RATE OF SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO MUSCLE THE STEERING FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES UNTIL THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. THIS OCCURRED ONCE MORE BUT VERY BRIEFLY IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE SOME TIME LATER. I DID NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM EITHER TIME BUT I SAW A STORY IN USA TODAY ON MINI STEERING PROBLEMS (29 SEPT) AND INSTANTLY RECALLED MY PROBLEM. I AM CERTAIN IT IS RELATED TO THE MINI STEERING ISSUE NOW BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE NHTSA. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. HE STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILURE OCCURRED NO MATTER THE SPEED AND HAS OCCURRED AT OTHER SPEED LEVELS. HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HIM PAYING A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPPROXIMATELY 67,500.

METAL TABS CONNECTING GLASS SUNROOF TO SUNROOF GUIDES BROKE. THE METAL SPLIT POSSIBLY DUE TO METAL FATIGUE INDUCED BY VIBRATION. POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE TO LOSE SUNROOF IF IT WAS TO LOSE THE OTHER MOUNT. *TR

SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE MANUAL 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION CAUSING CAR TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP IN AN INTERSECTION, ENDANGERING THE DRIVER AND BLOCKING TRAFFIC. SOMETHING INTERNAL FAILS IN THE TRANSMISSION, CAR COMES TO T SUDDEN STOP, CANT BE PUSHED AS THE WHEELS LOCK UP AND MUST BE TOWED FROM THE ROAD. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON MESSAGE BOARDS ON THE WEB. TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED. *TR

THE NEW MINIS FROM BMW, RANGING FROM 2002 - 2005, HAVE CHRONIC PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING FAILING WHILE DRIVING, MAKING THE CARS SUDDENLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. I'VE SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS VERY SAME THING. HERE'S A LINK TO A BBC STORY ABOUT IT. HTTP://WWW.BBC.CO.UK/BLOGS/WATCHDOG/2009/02/MINI_STEERING_SYSTEM_FAILURES.HTML. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT ON. CONTINUOUSLY ON. SEE NHTSA ACTION PE05053 SAME ISSUES AS PE05053, BUT DIFFERENT CABLES AND CONNECTORS IN THE SAME CIRCUIT ARE CAUSING THE SAME PROBLEM. BMW IS NOT COVERING THESE FAILURES UNDER WARRANTY AT THIS TIME. ENTIRE CIRCUIT NEEDS TO BE EVALUATED. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE CAUSED HARD STEERING AND SUPREME SCARE. PRIOR INTERMITTENT ON/OFF OF POWER STEERING PUMP PREVIOUS WEEK. HAD TO REPLACE PUMP AND FAN MOTOR. OLD PUMP IS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

1. NORMAL AROUND TOWN DRIVING. PASSENGER REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED ... STEEL FAILED UNDER STRESS ONE OF SEVERAL MANUFACTURE HOLES PUNCHED INTO THE MEMBER. 2. CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE. 3. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARM. BMW HAS SINCE RE-ENGINEERED THE CONTROL ARM. REPLACEMENT ARMS ARE MADE STRONGER. *** I CAN PROVIDE ONLINE FORUM POSTINGS FROM NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM AND MINI2.COM (US AND UK ONLINE FORUMS FOR MINI OWNERS) WHICH DEMONSTRATE THAT THIS MEMBER IS ROUTINELY BREAKING ON OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME VINTAGE. PHOTOS OF MY FAILURE AND THE FAILURES OF OTHERS AVAILABLE. MINI IS ROUTINELY DENYING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS VEHICLE SAFETY ITEM CITING IMPROPER DRIVING HABITS. *** *TR

2002 MINI COOPER. POWER STEERING QUIT (MY WIFE DRIVING AND BY HERSELF) IN A TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. NO INJURIES BUT VERY CLOSE. *TR

2002 MINI COOPER, POWER STEERING PUMP SHORTED OUT CAUSING A SMALL FIRE WHICH DESTROYED THE PUMP,FAN,WIRING HARNESS,POWER STEERING LINE. CAR HAD LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. COST OF REPAIR OVER 1200 DOLLARS. *TR

THE SECOND POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER S HAS FAILED. THE FIRST TIME WHEN IT HAPPENED I HAD LOSS OF STEERING WHILE DOING A LOW SPEED TURN AND HIT A CURB. *LN

2002 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED LEAVING CAR WITH VERY HEAVY STEERING. CAR TRAVELED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC BUT NO DAMAGE OR INJURY OCCURRED. I HAVE OLD PS PUMP AVAILABLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

I DROVE MY 2002 MINI COOPER APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES TO DROP OFF A FRIEND WHO WAS VISITING FROM OUT OF TOWN. I WAS HELPING MY FRIEND REMOVE HIS SUITCASE AND STANDING TO THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR OF THE CAR WHEN MY LEG MADE CONTACT WITH THE TAILPIPE CAUSING ABOUT A 2 INCH CRESCENT SHAPED BURN. THE TAILPIPE WAS HOT ENOUGH THAT MY SKIN STUCK TO THE PIPE - IT IS A PRETTY NASTY SECOND DEGREE BURN. *TR

1. DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, CAR STARTS OVER HEATING. 2. CONSTANT POWER STEERING FAILURE. HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. (3 YEAR SPAN) AND ALSO 2 TIMES FOR THE ORIGINAL OWNER. 3. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. OLD PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

I ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY 2002 MINI COOPER AND AT 80K MILES THE TRANSMISSION BLEW UP JUST BEFORE I WAS TO ENTER A VERY BUSY FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES, DOWNTOWN AREA. THERE WAS PLENTY OF OIL IN THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A FAULT OF MY CARE AFTER THE MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT UPON TOW IN. IT JUST STOPPED FAST AND SHORT WITH A HUGE JERK FORWARD AND EXPLOSIVE NOISE. THE MECHANIC SAID IT BLEW IN BIG CHUNKS. I COULDN'T MOVE IT FROM TRAFFIC IN NEUTRAL AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP. 80K IS EARLY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND I SEE MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THIS HAPPENED WITH EVEN LESS MILEAGE, 34K, 48K ...NO REPLACEMENTS AND SO MANY FAILURES LIKE THIS? MINI TURNS THEIR HEADS; WOULD NOT REPLACE OR EVEN TALK TO ME. PREVIOUSLY TOO THE POWER STEERING PUMP ALSO JUST STOPPED AND NO MOVEMENT ON THE WHEEL. SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP ONE TIME IN MOUNTAIN VIEW, I HAD AN OIL LEAK. AT THE TIME THE AMOUNT THEY WANTED ME TO PAY WAS HIGH, 700.00 OR SO (JUST AFTER WARRANTY ENDED). I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC. HE TOOK ME UNDER THE CAR AND SHOWED ME THERE WAS NOT A SPOT OF OIL UNDER THAT CAR IN ANY NOOK OR CRANNY. IN THINKING ABOUT THIS AFTER TRANSMISSION PROBLEM I REALIZE THESE THINGS ARE TELLING ME MINI KNOWS ABOUT THEIR MINI MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. ALSO WHEN THE NEW ($4350.00) TRANSMISSION WAS PURCHASED, LA, MINI TOLD THE MECHANIC THEY HAD 5 TRANSMISSIONS IN STOCK IN THEIR PARTS DEPARTMENT AT ALL TIMES BECAUSE THIS WAS SO COMMON. THAT'S PROOF THEY KNOW IT'S A PROBLEM. YET NO RECALL TO PEOPLE WITH THESE ISSUES AND THESE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING PROBLEMS. *TR

TRANSMISSION WHINING NOISE EVENTUALLY LEADING TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. MINI IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH CVT TRANSMISSIONS AND REFUSES TO ADMIT FAULT. VERY COMMON PROBLEM OCCURRING IN MOST 2002 VEHICLES WITH ONLY 40,000-60,000 MILES ON THEM. COST IS 7000 TO REPLACE. MINI DOES NOT OFFER REPAIR ON THIS PART. *TR

REAR HATCH HAS NO INSIDE RELEASE, ALTHOUGH SHOWN IN OWNER'S MANUAL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND CABIN LIGHTS WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD OFTEN BECOME LOCKED INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

2002 MINI COOPER C POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE WITH ONLY 50K MILES. *TR

PURCHASED A USED 2002 MINI COOPER ABOUT 3 1/2 YRS AGO W/ ABOUT 12K MILES. AT AROUND 15-17K MILES THE TRANSMISSION BASICALLY EXPLODED WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE TRANSMISSION. MINI REPLACED IT WITH I'M GUESSING A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR I ASKED THEM IF THEY WERE PUTTING IN A NEW CLUTCH AND THEY SAID NO, WHICH I FOUND STRANGE. NOW AT 60K MILES THE CLUTCH IS BASICALLY DONE. WHEN THE CAR IS COLD IT SHIFTS PRETTY NORMALLY, BUT AFTER 15-25 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE FIRST TWO GEARS BECOME HARD TO ENGAGE AND THEY SLIP. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST FIVE SPEED AND I'M SHOCKED THAT THIS CLUTCH IS DONE AFTER SUCH LITTLE MILEAGE. SHOULD THEY HAVE REPLACED THE CLUTCH WHEN THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION? I'M NOT A MECHANIC BUT TO LOSE A CLUTCH AT 60K MILES DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. MY DRIVING HABITS ARE PRETTY NORMAL. I'M NOT LIGHTING UP THE TIRES AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR RACING PEOPLE. THIS IS AN EVERYDAY CAR MOSTLY USED ON THE HIGHWAY. I'M BRINGING THE CAR IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT THE MINI SERVICE CENTER IN FREEPORT NY ON 12/29/08. ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH OVERHEATING ABOUT 4 MONTHS AFTER CAR WAS PURCHASED. AND AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS LIT. HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED ONCE OR TWICE. BUT THE LIGHT STILL STAYS LIT. *TR

MY 2002 MINI COOPER ELECTROHYDRAULIC POWER STEERING (EHPS) PUMP WILL NOT SHUT OFF CAUSING ASSOCIATED WIRING TO BECOME DANGEROUSLY HOT (SMELLS LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE). THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MINI COOPER AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP MY MINI FROM CATCHING FIRE. *TR

RECENT NEWS REPORTS ALERTED ME ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION INTO MINI POWER STEERING FAILURES IN 2004-05 MINI COOPERS. I AM WRITING TO REPORT THAT A FEW YEARS AGO, I EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE IN MY 2002 MINI COOPER (AT ABOUT 70K) MAKING STEERING VERY DIFFICULT. BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WOULD COME AND GO, IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR MY REPAIR SHOP TO FIND THE ROOT CAUSE. EVENTUALLY, THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. *TR

DRIVER SIDE AND HEAD AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHEN A "BUMP" (PAVEMENT AT DIFFERENT HEIGHTS DURING REPAVING) IN THE ROAD WAS HIT BY THE VEHICLE. *TR

TRANSMISSION BEARINGS FAILURE AFTER 82,000 MILES. NO BEARINGS KIT REPLACEMENT OFFERED. *TR

ABRUPT FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM IN A 2002 MINI COOPER. *TR

DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS GET STUCK IN POSITION. POSITION FOR DRIVERS SEAT IS TOTALLY STRAIGHT UP. MY BROTHER REPAIRED BUT SEAT STILL DOES NOT POSITION CORRECTLY AS I MUST USE A PILLOW BEHIND ME IN ORDER TO DRIVE. THE SAME THING HAPPENS TO THE PASSENGER SEAT AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE PASSENGER SEAT BACK INTO POSITION AS THERE IS A "TRICK" POSTED ONLINE THAT INSTRUCTS HOW TO REPOSITION THE SEAT. YOU MUST SIT ON YOUR KNEES ON THE SEAT AND TRY TO MANEUVER BOTH SEAT CONTROLS AT THE SAME TIME TO UNLOCK THE POSITION. THIS TRICK DOES NOT ALWAYS RELEASE THE SEAT UNTIL TRIED MANY MANY TIMES DAYS APART. *TR

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OF MY 2002 MINI COOPER FAILED WHILE MY FRIEND WAS DRIVING MY CAR. SHE WAS ON A WINDING COASTAL ROAD AND THE CAR DIED ON A BLIND CURVE, PUTTING HER AT GREAT DANGER. FORTUNATELY NOBODY WAS HURT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE SAN FRANCISCO BMW DEALERSHIP, WHERE I WAS INFORMED I NEEDED A $8500 "REFURBISHED" TRANSMISSION, AS THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT EVEN MADE ANYMORE. RESEARCH ON LINE SHOWS THAT THIS BECOMING A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH "FIRST GENERATION" MINIS WITH THE "CVT" AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I DECLINED THE REPAIR AND SOLD THEM THE CARCASS OF MY CAR. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND BMW/MINI IS NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

2002 MINI COOPER S MODEL. AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. HAS BEEN REPAIRED MANY TIMES AND STILL STAYS ON, DEACTIVATING SAFETY FEATURES OF THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MINI. BMW NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL I FEEL FOR OUR SAFETY... *TR