2002 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

THE SHIFT LINKAGE CAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I HAS UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. I LOOKED ON THE NHTSA SITE AND FOUND THAT THE CAR WAS RECALLED FOR THIS EXAC PROBLEM. I HAD ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT SUCH A RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THEY DENIED AND CONTINUE TO DENY THAT SUCH A RECALL EXISTS. AFTER I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, THEY CALLED TO HAVE ME PICK UP MY CAR. THEY THEN MENTIONED THAT THEY HAVE TO GET PARTS AND I WILL HAVE TO BRING THE CAR BACK. I INFORMED THAT I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR WITH A SAFTEY RELATED RECALL THAT WAS NOT FIXED. I AM FRUSTRATED THAT THE DEALER AND MANUFECTURER CONTINUE TO DENY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED AND TRY TO HAVE ME DRIVE THE UNREPAIRED VEHICLE. RCALL CAMPAIGN N. 02V-201 : SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH DIFFICULTY. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE POWER STEERING BECAME FUNCTIONAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.

2002 MINI COOPER S HAS HAD A SECOND AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILURE. WHEN ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM DETECT A FAILURE, THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DISABLED UNTIL TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE FIXED. LOOKING UNDER THE SEATS TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE COULD BE, DISCOVERED THE "FIX" PERFORMED BY THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE INTIAL FIX WAS TO COMPRESS THE PLUG TOGETHER WITH "WIRETIES" - NOT TO REPLACE THE PLUGS WITH A BETTER DESIGN. BOTH THE WORKMANSHIP OF THE REPAIR OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND THE SYSTEM ITSELF ARE FAULTY.

DT: CALLER BURNED VERY BADLY HER LEG BECAUSE THE TAIL PIPE STUCK OUT TOO FAR. TAIL PIPE DID NOT HAVE A GUARD OVER IT. THEY WERE LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE IN THE BACK INSTEAD ON THE SIDE OF THE BACK. DEALER SAID TO CALL MANUFACTURER, AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT VERY NICE . MANUFACTURER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. CALLER SHOWED A REPRESENTATIVE THE PROBLEM AND HE WANTED HER TO TELL THEM HOW TO FIX IT. THEY TOLD CALLER TO LEAVE GROCERIES IN THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT COOLED OFF.*AK

DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 BMW MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED STEERING FAILURE. THE STEERING WAS NOT OPERATING. . COULD DRIVE BUT COULD NOT STEER BECAUSE THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. THE STEERING SYSTEM WAS BROKE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO , AND THEY REPAIRED IT. CURRENTLY, THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPAIR CAR ANYMORE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE STEERING BECAME VERY HEAVY, HAD TO MUSCLE THE STEERING IN ORDER TO TURN THE CAR. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN COULD NOT STEER THE CAR, AND IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. DID HAVE ONE STEERING FAILURE BEFORE, AND HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING MECHANISM. CURRENTLY, HE COULD NOT STEER UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. *AK

8" CRACK IN FRONT WINDSHIELD. CRACK IS LOCATED ON LOWER RIGHT HAND (PASSENGER) SIDE OF VEHICLE THAT STARTS BELOW THE WINDSHIELD SEAL. THE GOES UP 3" THEN CURVES LEFT AND TRAVELS FOR 5". CRACK APPEARED AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A SECURE GARAGE FOR 3 DAYS, AND HAS GROWN ABOUT 1" A WEEK.

THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN ON 8 TIMES IN 3 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. (THE INCIDENT DATE I REPORT BELOW IS SIMPLY THE MOST RECENT OCCURENCE) EACH TIME REQUIRES A TRIP TO THE DEALER TO RESET THE SYSTEM. WHEN THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON THE VEHICLE'S AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DE-CTIVATED, AND THEREFORE THE SYSTEM RESET IS AN URGENT SAFETY ISSUE. OVER THE COURSE OF 3 YEARS, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED NUMEROUS SENSORS, WIRING HARNESS PIECES, AND SEVERAL OF THE AIRBAG UNITS (ESP. THE SEAT AIRBAGS). THIS IS REPORTED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST COMMON MINI COOPER FAILURES AND HAS PLAGUED THESE CARS FOR ALL MODEL YEARS IN PRODUCTION. THIS IS AN URGENT SAFETY DEFECT AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE NHSTA TAKE ACTION! (SORRY I DON'T KNOW MY VIN BY MEMORY AND CAN'T ACCESS MY REGISTRATION AT THE MOMENT...IF YOU REALLY NEED THIS, SIMPLY EMAIL ME AND I'LL GLADLY PROVIDE). *AK

2002 MINI COOPER [XXX]. CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST FOUR TIMES TO ADDRESS THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEING LIT, IN 44,000 MILES. VARIOUS HARNESSES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AND THE AIR BAG SENSOR ONCE. NOW, AT 44,500 MILES, THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN FOR A FIFTH TIME. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT FUNCTION WITH THE LIGHT LIT. I SUGGEST THAT MINIUSA BE FORCED TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL AS IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WHICH THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE FULLY ISOLATED.*AK *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

DT: THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT IF USING THE REMOTE TO LOCK THE DOORS AND IF ANYONE WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE HANDLES NOR THE DOOR LOCK WILL UNLOCK THE DOOR. CONSUMER HAS TO USE THE REMOTE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THIS WAS SOME TYPE OF COMPUTER DEFECT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND DEMONSTRATED TO THEM THE PROBLEM, AND THEY AGREED WITH THE CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY DEFECT. DEALERSHIP CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THIS WAS JUST THE WAY THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. *AK *TT *SC *JB

WENT OUT TO DINNER WITH MY PARENTS - GONE APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS - CAME BACK TO FIND THE CAR COMPLETELY BURNED. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED BY A NEIGHBOR. THERE WAS NO INDICATION AT ALL THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WHEN WE PARKED THE CAR. HAVE FOUND OTHER CASES (VIA THE INTERNET) IN THE UK THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. *JB

OUR MINI BURNED TO THE GROUND. IT HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 20 MILES AND WAS PARKED WHEN IT HAPPENED. AFTER A FORENSIC SPECIALIST WAS HIRED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ABS UNIT WAS AT FAULT. IN LATER MODELS, THE FUSE WAS CHANGED FROM A 30 AMP TO A 20 AMP. NO RECALL WAS EVER ISSUED AND BMW/MINI NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. SINCE THIS HAPPENED, AT LEAST 10-15 OTHER MINIS HAVE BURNED. OUR MINI WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB

AIR BAG FAILURE LIGHT. 2ND TIME IN 2 YEARS. WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR SEPARATED WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT MOVES ALL THE WAY BACKWARD. DEALER INSTALLED LONGER HARNESS.

MINI COOPER 2002 SUFFERED A STRESS CRACK OF THE WINDSHIELD THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. NO ROCKS OR CHIPS CAUSED THE CRACK. IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE'S 36,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY.*AK

AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON BECAUSE OFEXCESS WEAR ON THE WIRING UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. REPAIR HAS BEEN MADE THREE TIMES. A SIMPLE SOLUTION NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED. AUTO IS 2002 MINI COOPER MFD IN JUNE OF 2002. *AK

THE EXHAUST PIPE ON THE 2002 MINI COOPER S I HAVE IS CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE BACK OF THE BUMPER. THE CAR IS A HATCH BACK, AND I'VE RUINED A COUPLE PAIRS OF PANTS AND HAD MINOR BURNS FROM IT. I'M NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT ME, BUT I HAVE SMALL KIDS AND I WORRY ABOUT THEM. *TR

I JUST FOUND THIS WEB SITE AND AFTER READING THROUGH THE VARIOUS ISSUES OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THEIR MINI, I DECIDED I SHOULD ALSO GO AHEAD AND SHARE MY ISSUES AS WELL. BACK IN APRIL OF 2004, I WAS HIT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BY A HONDA ACCORD TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MILES AN HOUR AND MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I NEVER HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR AN AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THAT MATTER BUT IT'S A SCARY THOUGHT NOT HAVING YOUR AIRBAGS DEPLOY, ESPECIALLY AT SUCH A HIGH SPEED OF IMPACT. I USED TO BE IN LOVE WITH MINI'S BUT I HAVE BEEN SO "SOURED" BY THEM AS OF LATE WITH ALL OF THE ISSUES I HAVE BEEN HAVING. MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I CAN'T EVEN START MY CAR. *TR

WINDSHIELD ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER S HAS CRACKS IN 2 PLACES WHICH STARTED FROM THE EDGES OF THE WINDSHIELD. BOTH CRACKS APPEARED WHEN THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER SAYS THEY ARE "ROCK CHIPS" THOUGH THERE'S NO VISIBLE IMPACT. *AK

1. INTERIOR DOOR LATCH MECHANISM INOPERABLE IN FREEZING CONDITIONS - WILL NOT RELEASE (UNABLE TO EXIT CAR) - WAS ABLE TO ENTER CAR - CLOSED DOOR - COULD NOT EXIT. BAD SITUATION AS POWER WINDOWS WERE ALSO FROZEN SHUT. 2. WINDSHIELD CRACKS (2ND WINDSHIELD - SEE OTHER THREADS ON THIS KNOWN FAILURE) - OCCURRED WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVE ON PUBLIC STREET - STARTED AT BASE OF WINDSHIELD DRIVERS SIDE-UP 6"-THEN SHARPLY RIGHT-ACROSS WINDSHIELD TO PASSENGER A PILLAR. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED FUEL TANK EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, ENGINE FAILED. *AK

MY 2002 MINI COPPER HAS HAD THE AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NOW. REPAIRED WITH NEW WIRING HARNESS IN 11/03; NOW IN 1/04 BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AGAIN. DEALER VIA PHONE CANNOT TELL ME IF THE BAGS WORK PROPERLY UNTIL DIAGNOSED. I HAVE CHECKED WEB FORUMS FOR THIS VEHICLE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. I WOULD THINK NHTSA OR SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS TO DETERMINE IF THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *AK

MY WINDSHIELD SUSTAINED AN 8 INCH LONG CRACK ON THE LOWER CORNER DRIVER SIDE JUST ABOVE THE VIN NUMBER. THIS HAPPENED ONE COLD MORNING WHILE WARMING UP THE ENGINE AT THE DRIVEWAY. BMW DENIED WARRANTY COVERAGE BECAUSE OF A STONE PIT A SIZE OF A PEN DOT ALONG THE CRACKED AREA. I FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE SAME GENERAL LOCATION (ABOVE THE BIN NUMBER) AS A RESULT OF STRESS FROM THE FRAME. ATTACHED IS A SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION REGARDING CRACKED WINDSHIELDS ON MINI. HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/MODULES.PHP?. *CB

THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON I TOOK CAR IN AND TOOK THE CAR TO MINI DEALER. THE SIDE AIRBAG HARNESS IS BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACE.*AK

I HAVE A 2002 MINI COOPER, I PURCHASED NEW. I HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. MY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 20+ TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY STILL CAN NOT SEEM TO GET A PERMANENT FIX FOR THIS(NEXT APPOINTMENT JULY 9, 2009). *TR

I HAVE A JULY 2002 BUILD, MINI COOPER S .TO DATE I HAVE HAD 6 WINDSHIELDS INSTALLED.MOST HAVE SUFFERED STRESS RELATED FAILURE,BUT 2 STARTED AS MINIMAL ROCK STRIKES ,WHICH LATER RESULTED IN LONG (10- 14 INCH) CRACKS.GLASS IS SUB-STANDARD,TOO THIN ,AND TOO SOFT.I DEFINATELY FEAR FOR MY SAFETY AS LONG AS THIS GLASS ISN'T REDESIGNED.*AK

WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE AFTER TURNING THE HEATER ON WHILE VEHICLE WAS WARMING UP PARKED ON THE DRIVEWAY. DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY. *LA

-STALLING WHEN CHANGING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. HAS ALSO STALLED ONCE ON THE INTERSTATE. -RPM'S KEEP REVVING BETWEEN 3000 & 5000 WHEN I HIT 55-60 MPH. ONCE I PASS 60 MPH THE RPM'S DECREASE TO A REASONABLE LEVEL. THIS HAPPENS EVERYDAY WITHOUT FAIL. *LA

LARGE CRACK OCCURED IN THE WINDSHIELD. DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS CAUSED BY A STONE, AND NOT COVERED, AND INHERENT WITH THE DESIGN OF THE CAR (A MORE UPRIGHT WINDSHIELD THAN MANY OTHER CARS). I HAVE HEARD OF NUMEROUS SIMILAR HAPPENINGS.

WINDSHIELDS ARE FAILING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ON MINI COOPER AUTOMOBILES. I AM CURRENTLY ON MY 3RD WINDSHIELD IN AS MANY MONTHS - STRESS CRACKS APPEARED FROM THE ROOF PILLARS IN BOTH CASES. WE NEED A RESOLUTION TO THIS - EITHER BETTER GLASS OR STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS.*AK

INTERMITTENT COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER FOR 2-3 SECONDS WHEN STARTING FROM STANDSTILL.OCCURS UNDER VARIOUS CLIMATIC CONDITIONS AND EITHER WITH COLD OR WARM ENGINE.EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC FROM A SIDE STREET OR INTERSECTION.*AK

MY 2002 MINI COOPER S HAS SOME ENGINE MANAGEMENT ISSUES THAT HAVE RESULTED IN SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS IN TRAFFIC SITUATIONS THAT I FEEL ARE UNSAFE, AND HAVE YET TO BE RESOLVED OR DEFINITELY ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE MOST SEVERE ISSUE IS A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AFTER ACCELERATION ON CLEAN DRY PAVEMENT. LOSS OF POWER IS USUALLY IN 1ST GEAR AN CAN LAST SEVERAL SECONDS. I BELEIVE THIS TO BE A PROBLEM NOT UNIQUE TO MY VEHICLE.*AK

THERE IS A COMPLETE POWER FAILURE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS INCLUDING 55 MPH. THIS DEFECT OR CONDITION CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. WHEN IT HAPPENED ON RT. 66 IN ARLINGTON VA AT 9:30 PM, IT CAUSED A NEAR-COLLISION WITH SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES TRAVELING ON THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT, NOISE, OR OTHER INDICATION THAT THE ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO TURN OFF.*AK

CRACKED WINSHIELD IN TWO DIFFERENT PLACES. OCCURRED ABOUT 10 MINUTES APART WHILE DRIVING IN SLOW TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 100 DEGREES. *AK

I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIN/WEAK WINDSHIELDS IN MY MINI COOPER S. I AM ON MY THIRD WINDSHIELD IN LESS THAN A YEAR. THE GLASS IS INCREDIBLY THIN AND CRACKS WITH THE SLIGHTEST IMPACT. I CONSIDER THIS UNSAFE. IN ADDITION I KNOW OF MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *NLM

WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON, CAR STALLS OR STUMBLES WHILE STARTING MOVEMENT IN FIRST GEAR. THIS CAUSES MERGES, LEFT TURNS TO GET DANGEROUS. HOT WEATHER INCREASES THE OCCURRENCE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA REPURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *AK *CB *NLM

THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2002 MINI COOPER S CRACKED WHILE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT. IT WAS FINE IN THE MORNING BUT THERE WAS AN 8" CRACK WHEN I HOPPED IN FOR THE DRIVE HOME. I'M GUESSING THE HEAT (90 DEGREES F, WINDOWS UP, SUN REFLECTOR ON DASH) CAUSED A CONTAMINANT WITHIN THE WINDOW TO CAUSE STRESS, WHICH IN TURN BECAME A CRACK. JUDGING FROM THE MINI COOPER MESSAGE BOARDS ON THE INTERNET, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF WINDSHIELDS CRACKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON, AND MINI USA HAS ISSUED A BULLETIN TO IT'S DEALERS TO WARN THEM OF DEFECTIVE FACTORY WINDSHIELD INSTALLATIONS. [TIS MESSAGE NUMBER: SI M51 02 03 SUBJECT: WINDSHIELD STRESS CRACK SURVEY SITUATION: THE PRODUCTION PROCESS FOR INSTALLATION OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS IMPROVED IN APRIL 2002, AND THESE IMPROVEMENTS RESULTED IN A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF STRESS CRACKED WINDSHIELDS.] *JB

WINSHIELD CRACK FROM BIRD SAP!*AK

BROKEN WINDSHIELD 2002 MINI COOPER S. *NLM

WE OWN A MINI COOPER S. LIKE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE NOT YET FILED A COMPLAINT, WE HAD A CRACKED WINDSHIELD FOR NO APPARANT REASON. THE WINDSHIELD SEEMS TO BE VERY THIN AND SOFT. AND VERY SUCCEPTABLE TO CRACKS AND ROCK CHIPS, PITTING FOR LACK OF ANOTHER WORD.

WINDSHIELD CRACK. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS REPORTING SIMILAR CRACKS IN THEIR WINDSHIELDS. MINI HAS STATED THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE GLASS CRACKING DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION IN PREVIOUS BUILDS AND CURRENTLY HAVE A SURVEY FOR THE DEALERS TO PERFORM AN INSPECTION ON ANY WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS CONDUCTED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS SURVEY IS EXPLAINED IN THIS BULLETIN SI M 51 02 03. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEY ONLY INSPECT THOSE WINDSHIELDS THAT DO NOT HAVE EVIDENCE OF STONE DAMAGE. ON THE ATTACHED WEB SITES YOU WILL SEE AN OVER ABUNDANCE OF CRACKED WINDSHIELD POSTS THAT THE DEALERS ARE CALLING STONE DAMAGE RELATED. THEREBY INSURING THAT THESE WINDSHIELDS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THEIR DATA AND ALSO THAT THEY ARE NOT REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE NO CHIPS BUT A LARGE NUMBER OF MARKS FROM DEBRIS HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. I CALL THEM STRIKE MARKS. THE EASIEST WAY TO DESCRIBE THE DAMAGE IS THAT IT IS SIMILAR TO A GLASS ETCHING PROCEDURE. THE LOCATION WHERE THE DEBRIS HAS STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD IS SLIGHTLY DISCOLORED, YET NO GLASS IS MISSING. IN MY OPINION THIS IS THE RESULT OF TWO ITEMS: THE WINDSHIELD IS VERY STEEP AND THE GLASS IN THE WINDSHIELD IS SUBSTANDARD; TOO SOFT AND TOO THIN. MINI USES THEIR WINDSHIELD AS A STRUCTURAL MEMBER IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE VEHICLE AND THEREFORE IT IS UNDER CONSTANT STRESS. I DO NOT THINK THESE STRIKE MARKS ARE SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE A STRESS CRACK PER SE, BUT IF THAT WERE SO (AS MINI ARGUES), THEN MY RESPONSE IS: THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT JUST TOO SOFT, IT IS TOO WEAK. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF STRIKE MARKS ON A WINDSHIELD IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT A CRACK THAT MIGHT APPEAR FOR REASONS UNRELATED TO CHIPPING WILL EITHER CROSS A STRIKE MARK, OR WILL RUN ACROSS THE NEAREST STRIKE MARK. THESE STRIKE MARKS ARE A WEAKENED AREA AND WILL ATTRACT A CRACK. *JB THE FOLLOWING URLS ARE PROVIDED FOR YOUR ATTENTION: HTTP://MINICOOPERONLINE.COM HTTP://WWW.MINI2.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&THREADID=21475 HTTPS://OL.MINIUSA.COM/OEMAINLOGIN.ASP

THE VEHICLES REAR HATCH IS ELECTRONIC AND IF THE VEHICLES BATTERY DIED THERE WOULD BE NOT WAY TO INTO THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

STRESS FRACTURE OF WINDSHIELD ABSENT SPECIFIC IMPACT FROM OUTSIDE SOURCE. NUMEROUS POSTS ON INTERNET FORUMS, INCLUDING THE MANUFACTURER SPONSORED MINI OWNER'S SITE REVEAL AN INCREASING NUMBER OF WINDSHIELDS DEVELOPING APPARENT STRESS FRACTURES. MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND THAT OF OTHERS IS THAT THE WINDSHIELD OF THE MINI HAS A PROPENSITY TO CRACK UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. DEALERS OFTEN DENY WARRANTY CLAIMS, POINTING TO THE SMALLEST OF IMPERFECTIONS AS "IMPACT SITES" AND PASSING REPLACEMENT COSTS ON TO OWNER'S COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE. THIS, DESPITE NO HISTORY OF SPECIFIC IMPACTS WITH ANY OBJECTS WHILE DRIVING. AGAIN IN MY PARTICULAR CASE, THE FRACTURE APPEARED OVERNIGHT WHILE THE CAR WAS GARAGED. *NLM

WINDSHIELD CREAKING, CRACKLING. REPLACED TWICE BY DEALER DUE TO WIND LEAKAGE. WINDSHIELD IS TOO THIN AND PITS WAY TOO EASILY. WIFE IS AFRAID OF SAFETY BECAUSE OF THE NOTORIOUSLY HIGH INCIDENCE OF SPONTANEOUS CRACKING WINDSHIELDS. MINI USA CONTINUES TO DENY ANY PROBLEMS, BUT INFORMAL SURVEYS OF DEALERS INDICATE THOUSANDS OF REPLACEMENTS ALREADY, AND THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN ON SALE FOR 16 MONTHS. GLASS IS TOO THIN AND BRITTLE. GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO INTERCEDE AND FORCE MINI USA TO REPLACE WITH THICKER, SAFE WINDSHIELDS.*AK

CAR STALLS RANDOMLY WHEN COMMING TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENS ON ON MANUEL TRANSMISSION. WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH IT REVS DOWN AND IDOLS LOW AND STALLS WHEN APPROAHING A STOP. AFTER AN INITAL STALL POWER IS REDUCED AND IS SLUGGISH WHEN THE GAS IS DEPRESSED.*AK

MINI COOPER S 2002 HAD A CRACK START AND GROW UNTIL IT SPANNED THE WINDSHIELD. HAD TWO SUBSEQUENT ROCK CHIPS THAT GREW INTO MASSIVE CRACKS. THE WINDOW SEEMS TO CRACK TOO EASILY. *AK

2003 MINI COOPER CVT. VEHICLE STALLS IN TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. BOGGS DOWN, LUNGES UPON ACCELERATION. POWER FAILURE. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ON DASH WARN OF PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ON THREE OCCASIONS FOR SAME PROBLEMS. BOGGS DOWN AND LUNGES CORRECTED BY REPROGRAMMING ON FIRST SERVICE. AFTER FIRST SERVICE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN IN TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. RETURNED TO SERVICE DEPT. WHO WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE STALLING AFTER 400 MILES OF TEST DRIVING IT. CONTACTED MINI DIVISION OF BMW OF AMERICA. THEY SENT TECHNICAL SPECIALIST WHO CHECKED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, NO APPARENT CAUSE. MINI REPRESENTATIVE IS CURRENTLY HAVING ELECTRICAL HARNESS REPLACED. VEHICLE OUT OF SERVICE FOR 6 WEEKS AND COUNTING. MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. *NLM

I NEED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE WINDSHIELD ON THE MINI COOPER 2002. ONE WEEK AFTER I GOT MY CAR, I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN A CHIP APPEARED. I NEVER SAW OR HEARD ANYTHING HIT IT. I HAVE SINCE GOTTEN ABOUT 10 CHIPS IN MY WINDSHIELD. EVER SINCE I GOT THE CAR, MY WINDSHIELD HAS CREAKED AND MADE A LOT OF NOISE AS IF IT WERE SHIFTING AROUND. THIS SCARES ME SO MUCH! THEN, I HAD AN APPOINTMENT THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON TO GET ONE CHIP FIXED WHEN THE WINDSHIELD CREAKED LOUDLY AND A CRACK WENT RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE. I HONESTLY AM AFRAID SOMETIMES THAT MY WINDSHIELD IS GOING TO FLY RIGHT OFF OF MY CAR!

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *JB

THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER S DEVELOPED TWO CRACKS IN IT'S WINDSHIELD. I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN SEPT OF 2002. THE FIRST CRACK DEVELOPED AFTER OWNING THE CAR ABOUT 4 MONTHS AND MINI USA WOULD NOT REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. NOW A SECOND CRACK HAS DEVELOPED 3 MONTHS LATER. *TT