2003 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

ENGINE POWER LOSS STARTING OFF IN 1ST GEAR. WHEN STATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP IN 1ST GEAR THE CAR WILL HESITATE FOR APROX. 2-3 SECONDS BEFORE THE RPMS INCREASE. THERE IS NO COMBINATION OF CLUTCH AND THROTTLE THAT WILL ALLEVIATE THIS SITUATION. THE COMBINATION OF WARM TEMPERATURES AND RUNNING THE A/C CONTRIBUTE HEAVILY TO THE POWER LOSS. COLDER WEATHER DOES IMPROVE THIS POWER LOSS.*AK

MINI COOPER STALLED ON TWO SEPERATE OCCASIONS DURING LOW SPEED/STOP AND GO TRAFFIC

NUMEROUS WINDSHEILD CHIPS IN LESS THAN 12,000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WITH A WINDSHIELD THAT CHIPS SO EASILY. THE SMALLEST OF DEBRIS WILL RESULT IN A SIGNIFICANT CHIP. THE WINDSHEILD HAS TO BE TOO WEAK. HOW CAN THE WINDSHIELD PROTECT YOU WHEN IT IS SO WEAK. THE FIRST CHIP HAPPENED AT ABOUT 800 MILES ANOTHER AT ABOUT 8000 MILES AND THE LAST AT 11000 MILES. THE FIRST ONE WAS "REPAIRED" THE NEXT MORNING. BUT IT IS NOW SPIDERING.

STRESS CRACK ON WINSHIELD OF MY MINI COOPER, WHICH IS APPARENTLY HAPPENING QUITE OFTEN. *AK

WINDSHIELD CRACKED

PURCHASED NEW VEHICLE (DELIVERY DATE BELOW). VEHICLE HAS SERIOUS LURCH AND POWER LOSS IN 1ST GEAR, PARTICULARY W/ AC RUNNING. THIS POSES SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK AS NORMAL ACCELERATION IS NOT AVAILABLE. MAUFACTURER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED PROBEM STATING IT IS IN THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE--CLAIMS NO FIX TO DATE DESPITE REPEATED COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS FOR FIX.*AK

WINDSHIELD BULLSEYE PRODUCED BY VERY INSIGNIFICANT STONE FROM ROADWAY. WAS SHOCKED TO SEE DAMAGE RESULT FROM SUCH A MINOR IMPACT. APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS.*AK

MINI COOPER S HAS SEVERE HESITATION WHEN STARTING FROM A STANDING START. THE PROBLEM IS UNRELATED TO THROTTLE OR CLUTCH PEDAL POSITION. CAR BOGS FOR A FEW SECONDS (WHEN MAKING A LEFT AGAINST TRAFFIC IT FEELS LIKE AN ETERNITY) WHEN IN FIRST GEAR AT APPROXIMATELY 1800 RPM THEN RESUMES ACCELERATING. SERVICE ADVISOR AT DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT'S A "CHARACTERISTIC" OF THE CAR. REPRESENTATIVE AT MINI USA TOLD ME THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ARE WORKING ON A FIX. THE IS NO FIX AT THE PRESENT TIME AND NO ESTIMATE AS TO WHEN THERE WILL BE ONE. FOR THE TIME BEING, MINI OWNERS HAVE TO PRAY EACH TIME THEY ENTER AN INTERSECTION. *LA

WE WERE EVENTUALLY ABLE TO SPEAK TO ANOTHER TECHNICIAN, HOWARD FULLER, AFTER EXTENSIVELY QUESTIONING MIKE WINTER. HOWARD FULLER HAD NOT READ ANY OF THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS (TSBS) ABOUT THE CAR AND IS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE NHTSA COMPLAINTS OR WITH ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FILED WITH MINI. AFTER TALKING TO HOWARD FULLER THE NEXT DAY, HE HAD PERFORMED SOME MINIMAL RESEARCH (READ THE NHTSA COMPLAINTS) AND STATED THAT OUR PROBLEM WAS NOT THE SAME AND HE REPEATED HIS INTERPRETATION OF WHAT HE THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS, WHICH WAS INCORRECT. WE CORRECTED MR. FULLER AND REDIRECTED HIM TO THE TSBS. HE TOLD US A MINI SPECIALIST WAS GOING TO COME IN TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, HE EXPRESSED DOUBT IN THE MINI SPECIALIST BEING ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. IN ANOTHER DISTURBING INCIDENT, MY HUSBAND CONTACTED CHICO MOTLEY, THE OPERATIONS DIRECTOR. MR. MOTLEY WAS ALSO HIGHLY COMBATIVE AND FIRST STATED THAT THE VIRGINIA LEMON LAW DID NOT APPLY TO BMWS! AFTER MY HUSBAND, WHO IS A 26-YEAR VETERAN OF THE FBI, CORRECTED HIM, MR. MOTLEY STATED THAT THE VIRGINIA LEMON LAW STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM AND BE SERVICED FOR IT 6 TIMES. MY HUSBAND AGAIN CORRECTED HIM, QUOTING VIRGINIA LAW THAT IT IS 3 TIMES. MR. MOTLEY STATED THAT HE MADE A MISTAKE BECAUSE HE ALSO MANAGES A DEALERSHIP IN DALLAS, WHERE HE STATED IT IS 6 TIMES (WHICH IS ALSO INCORRECT, IT IS 3 TIMES IN TEXAS AS WELL). HE MADE IT CLEAR TO MY HUSBAND THAT WHATEVER ACTION HIS SERVICE DEPARTMENT WOULD TAKE WOULD BE SATISFACTORY AND THAT NO OTHER OPTION WOULD BE CONSIDERED. IN NO INSTANCE DID HE EVER EXPRESS ANY CONCERN OVER OUR SAFETY OR THE NATURE OF THIS SERIOUS COMPLAINT.

THE CAR HAS MULTIPLE DAILY ENGINE STUMBLES AND HAS STALLED 3 TIMES SINCE OWNING THE NEW CAR FOR THE PAST 7 MONTHS. THE STALLS HAVE BEEN WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. *NLM

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 55 MPH ENGINE IS LOSING POWER AND WON'T PASS THE 20 MPH. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK

MY APRIL BUILD 2003 MINI COOPER S EXPERIENCES SUDDEN MOMENTARY ENGINE POWER LOSSES, CAUSING THE CAR TO VIOLENTY JERK DURING INITIAL ACCELERATION. FURTHERMORE, THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, LOSE ALL FORWARD MOMENTUM JUST WHEN I NEED IT MOST, AS IN PULLING OUT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. NO MATTER HOW MUCH THROTTLE IS ENGAGED, THE CAR BARELY CRAWLS FOWARD FOR UP TO 3 SECONDS, THEN FINALLY ROARS TO LIFE AND TAKES OFF. IT FEELS VERY MUCH LIKE TRYING TO ACCELERATE A CAR FROM A DEAD STOP IN 3RD GEAR, THOUGH THE CAR IS IN 1ST GEAR. THIS SITUATION IS DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO HAVE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY WITHIN BMWNA/MINIUSA. I, AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS, HAVE REPEATEDLY BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MINIUSA/BMWNA AND WE ARE ALWAYS TOLD THE SAME THING, THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON IT. IT HAS BEEN OVER 6 MONTHS SINCE THESE PROBLEMS FIRST BEGAN TO SURFACE. THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION FROM BMWNA/MINIUSA REGARDING THE ISSUE.*AK

MINI COOPER 2003 STOP DEAD AT THE THE INTERSECTION FOR THE THIRD TIME.THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK

WHEN THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF FROM A STOP, AT TIMES THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. *JB. LOST OF THROTTLE CONTROL, ENGINE BRAKING EFFECT IN FIRST GEAR SLOWS CAR RAPIDLY WHILE TRAFFIC IS BEARING DOWN*TS *JB

THE COMPUTER SYSTEM DOESN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING PROPERLY. MY CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC (THIS HAPPENED TWICE.) MY KEY-LESS ENTRY DOESN'T WORK. FINALLY, THE TIRE FAILURE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE TIRE PRESSURE CHANGES BUT IT DOESN'T LIGHT UP WHEN I HAD A FLAT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL. CONSUMER HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

MY 2003 MINI COOPER S STUMBLES AND BOGS DOWN WHEN STARTING IN FIRST GEAR. WHEN STARTING FROM A DEAD START AND LETTING CLUTCH OUT, THE CARS POWER CUTS OFF FOR A MOMENT AND THEN CUTS BACK IN. THIS WAS NOT A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR PRIOR TO MY DEALER UPGRADING THE SOFTWARE FOR THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. I'VE CONTACTED MINI USA (AKA BMW) AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE NO FIX FOR IT. I CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC AND THE CAR HESITATES BADLY.*AK

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOT THE AIR BAGS IN THE VEHICLE. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE SIDE AIR BAG IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DEPLOY WITH NO REASON. DEALER AND MANUFACTURE WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR ACTIVATED.

THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS BALD. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS NOT FROM ROUGH DRIVING. *NLM PH *JB

CRACKED WINDHSIELD ON MINI COOPER S. ONE OF PROBABLY THOUSANDS SUFFERED BY MIN OWNERS OWING TO THE GLASS BEING TOO THIN AND THE WINDSHIELD TOO UPRIGHT. THIS IA A DESIGN AND SAFETY ISSUE. MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED MONDAY APRIL 14. A SMALL STONE MAY HAVE HIT IT, BUT THE CRACK DID NO BEGIN UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING. RANDOM CRACKS DUE TO STONES AND ROCKS ARE TO BE EXPECTED FROM TIME TO TIME. BUT THE OCCURRENCE OF CRACKS ON THE MIJI COOPER S IS EPIDEMIC AND WIDELY KNOWN. THE COMPANY DENIES THIS IS A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING ISSUE, BUT THE FREQUENCY OF THESE CRACKS, ADMITTED BY THE MINI COOPER DEALER NETWORK, IS WIDELY KNOWN TO BR A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, AND THERE IS NO POLICY TO REMEDY IT, OTHER THAN HAVING THE WINDHSILED REPLACED AT A COST EXCEEDING $600. THESE CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE MEANT THAT HUNDRED IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OWNERS ROUTINELY ARE FORCED TO DRIVE THEIR CARS FOR LONG PERIODS WITH CRACKED WINDSHIELDS--A CLEAR SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

CRACKED WINDSHIELD THAT QUICKLY GREW TO SPAN ACROSS THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHEN DRIVING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INSTANT DECELERATION BELOW 1500 RPMS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS A 2003 MINI-COOPER CVT.*AK *TS *JB

MY 2003 MINI COOPER'S WINDSHIELD CRACKED SHORTLY AFTER I TOOK DELIVERY OF THE NEW CAR. IT WAS NEVER HIT BY A ROCK, AND MANY OTHER MINI COOPER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED STRESS FRACTURES CAUSED BY WEAK WINDSHIELD GLASS. *AK BMW/MINI-USA REFUSED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD UNDER WARRANTY

DRIVER'S SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW WOULD NOT OPEN FOR 18 HOURS. THIS OCCURRED AFTER A HEAVY RAIN STORM AND DID NOT CLEAR UNTIL AFTER A 20 MINUTE DRIVE THE FOLLOWING DAY. ATTEMPTS TO OPEN THE WINDOW THE DAY AND EVENING OF THE FAILURE WHILE PARKED AND DRIVING ALL FAILED. *CB

THERE WERE TWO CHIPS AND A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH OR LESS THE VEHICLE STALLED. *NLM

I HAVE A MINI COPPER S AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKS VERY EASY. I HAVE TALKED TO MINI USA, AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. BUT THIS HAS HAPPEN TO SO MANY MINI OWNER, I THINK THAT IT IS A MINI USA PROBLEM. CAUSE WHY WOULD SO MANY MINI WINDSHIELDS CRACK ALL THE TIME. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. THE VEHICLE THAT REAR ENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE PUSHED IT INTO THE VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED IN FRONT. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK THE REPAIR SHOP REPORTED THE SEAT BEING BROKEN. CONSUMER NOTED THE SEAT HIT THE BACK OF THE CALVES AND BRUISED THEM. HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, FRACTURED NOSE AND RECEIVED A CONCUSSION. VEHICLE TOTALED WITH FRONT END DAMAGE AND A CRACKED WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT AND WAS SITTING PRETTY FAR BACK. SHE MANAGED TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE SHE HIT IN THE REAR WAS ALSO TOWED. THAT VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE REAR. CONSUMER'S HOOD WAS PUSHED UP AND HEADLIGHT WAS DAMAGED. *PH

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY, CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE FROM THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDERS. TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE OUTISIDE WHEEL. FIRESTONE, P22575R16 STEELTEX.*AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SEPARATED TREAD WAS WRAPPED AROUND TAILPIPE AND DAMAGED WHEEL WELL. *YH

AT 65MPH REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD STARTED TO SEPARATE CAUSING A BLOWOUT OUT. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A VEHICLE CRASH. SIZE 22517R16, DOT UNKNOWN.*AK THE DOT OF THE TIRE IS VD1L1XD WITH A DATE CODE OF 368. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. *JG

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER, AND NOTICED THAT RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD HAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE STEELTEX, R4S #LT 225/7516M/S. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT.*AK DOT#VD1L1XD298. *SLC

WE HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT WITH TREAD SEPARATION, AND LEARNED FROM THE DOT NUMBERS THAT THE TIRES ON OUR MOTORHOME CAME FROM THE SAME PLANT THAT THE RECALLED TIRES HAVE COME FROM, AND WE ARE VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE TREAD SEPARATION THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, AND THAT IT MAY HAPPEN TO ANY OF THE OTHER TIRES. WE HAVE GOTTEN NO HELP FROM FIRESTONE OR FORD MOTOR COMPANY, ALL THAT THEY WILL SAY IS THAT THESE ARE NOT THE TIRES ON THE RECALL LIST. WELL, WE ARE WELL AWARE OF THAT, BUT, ARE THEY SAFE? IF THE WHOLE FACTORY WAS BEING SHODILY RUN, ARE MY TIRES SAFE?( DOT NUMBER: VDIL TIRE SIZE: 225/75R16 )

COURTESY COPY TO THE ADMINISTRATOR OF LETTER FROM KATHLEEN BIDDICK TO MINI USA RE STEERING PUMP SYSTEM OF MINI MODELS MANUFACTURED IN 2003 -2007. *NJ THE SUDDEN AND UNPREDICTABLE LOSS OF STEERING POWER IN A VEHICLE IS A THREAT TO ALL DRIVERS ESPECIALLY IN FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A REFUND OF $1,180.44 TO COVER THE REPAIR OF THE STEERING PUMP SYSTEM ON HER 2003 MINI COOPER. THE STEERING PUMP FAILED BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.*JB

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE WINDSHIELD. ALSO, STATED THAT THIS WILL BE THE THIRD WINDSHIELD. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT ROCKS WERE HITTING THE VEHICLE AND THAT WAS THE REASON WHY THERE WERE CRACKS ON THE WINDSHIELD.*AK

THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO REVERSE. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *JB

WHEN SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE HAD THE TENDENCY TO SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. THE DRIVER MUST WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. EACH TIME, THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED TO HAVE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *SCC *JB