2003 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S PURCHASED NEW. HE STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE BATTERY CHARGING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT IMMEDIATLEY SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. HE PULLED OVER AND FOUND THERE WAS A FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED SHORTLY AFTER HOWEVER HE HAD ALREADY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS A RESULT OF A FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMP COOLING FAN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER HIS INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 88,000.THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TRANSMISSION FAILED ON 2003 MINI COOPER WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD AN INTERNAL DEFECT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,648.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT INTO THE DRIVE GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY, AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CVT TRANSMISSION, AT AN EXPENSE OF $ 8,300.00. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,000. UPDATED 10/21/09. *LJ THE REPAIR SHOP DISCOVERED THE CVT DRIVE BELT HAD SHREDDED WHICH SENT METAL THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION. THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE, THE ONLY OPTION WAS FULL TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. UPDATED 10/20/09

FAILED POWERING STEERING ASSIST PUMP. *TR

2003 MINI COOPER. 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. CAR TRANSMISSION FLEW APART WHILE DRIVING. *TW

MY CAR WILL SUDDENLY ONLY GO ABOUT 5 MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE THINKS HE HAS IT FIXED AND THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. NOW THEY ARE SAYING IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $8,400. THEY CAN'T REBUILD ONE, THEY CAN'T BUY A REBUILT ONE. THE CAR HAS LOW MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION SHOULDN'T BE GOING OUT. I BELIEVE MINI COOPERS HAVE A FLAWED TRANSMISSION AND THE COMPANY CONTINUES TO PUT MORE FLAWED TRANSMISSIONS INTO CARS AND WE THE CUSTOMERS ARE GETTING '!@#$%. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 MINI COOPER WITH AUTOMATIC CVT TRANSMISSION AND HAVE HAD RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH THE CVT SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF SERVICE VISITS, REPLACEMENT OF THE CVT IN 2007, AND THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE CVT AS INOPERABLE. I HAVE ALL INVOICES DETAILING WORK DONE. 10/9/02 - I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 MINI COOPER WITH AUTOMATIC CVT TRANSMISSION FROM BARON BMW IN MERRIAM, KS. 12/02 - MINI USA SENT ME LETTER RE: CHASSIS #TE13495 THAT SOME AUTOMATIC CVT TRANSMISSIONS HAD BEEN FILLED WITH THE INCORRECT TRANSMISSION OIL AND TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT FLUSHED AND REPLACED ASAP. 12/27/02 - BARON FLUSHED AND REPLACED FLUID. I ALSO COMPLAINED THAT THE CAR HAD DIED TWO TIMES AND RAN ROUGH. MILEAGE 1,760. 7/2/03-I TOOK MINI IN COMPLAINING "WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE CAR HAS A HARD LURCH" AND BARON'S INVOICE STATES "TEST DROVE CAR AND FOUND IT WAS VERY HARSH GOING INTO GEAR AND LURCHED WHEN IT WAS COLD". 2ND AUTO TRANS CONCERN WAS "CAR HAS ALMOST DIED AT LOW IDLES A FEW TIMES". BARON REPROGRAMMED THE CAR UNDER WARRANTY. MILEAGE 6,465. 7/23/07-CUSTOMER GOODWILL PROVIDED BY BARON MINI AND REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT NO COST ALTHOUGH WARRANTY WAS UP. MILEAGE 49,512. 9/11/07-I TOOK MINI IN AGAIN COMPLAINING OF ROUGH IDLE AND CAR WANTS TO DIE AT STOPS. MILEAGE 51,167. 8/13/09- MINI WAS HAVING A HARD TIME SHIFTING OUT OF 1ST GEAR. IT WOULD ONLY DRIVE 15-20 MPH AT UP TO 3,000 RPMS. I CALLED BARON AND WAS TOLD THE CURRENT TRANSMISSION HAD A TWO YEAR WARRANTY (WHICH MADE THIS COMPLAINT 2 YEARS AND A FEW WEEKS PAST WARRANTY) BUT IT WAS POSSIBLE MINI WOULD COVER REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. THEY DID NOT. BARON FLUSHED AND FILLED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SAID IT RUNS BETTER BUT IT IS NOT FIXED. THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING THE CVT AGAIN. I HAVE NOT HAD THE CVT REPLACED (FOR THE 2ND TIME). MILEAGE 75,558. *TR

OUR MINI COOPER REPEATEDLY STALLED WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC RESULTING IN SEVERAL NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES. NO FAULT CODE OR CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT EVER APPEARED. UPON TAKING THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP, WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, THE PROBLEM AND OUR CONCERNS WERE DISMISSED WITHOUT REMEDY. FINALLY, AFTER BEING IN THE MOUNTAINS ON WINDY ROADS A CLICKING NOISE BEGAN. SINCE NO FAULT OR CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED, WE ASSUMED THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE TO BE FROM SOMETHING MINOR AND OPTED TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC, A FIVE MILE DRIVE. SHORTLY BEFORE ARRIVING TO THE MECHANIC, THE MINI UNEXPECTEDLY BECAME QUITE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY, UPON WHICH THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING ' REQUIRING THE CAR TO BE PUSHED TO THE MECHANIC. AGAIN, NO CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS A WARNING AND NO FAULT CODES WERE STORED. BMW'S MINI COOPER CVT TRANSMISSION POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD TO DRIVERS. RESEARCH INDICATES BMW IS AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION, WHICH EXPLAINS WHY BMW OPTED TO NO LONGER USE THE CVT TRANSMISSION IN LATER MODELS. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION TO KEEP MINI OWNERS & OTHER DRIVERS SAFE. OURS IS JUST ONE OF MANY SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WE'VE RECENTLY LEARNED OF WHILE RESEARCHING THE DISMAL TRACK RECORD OF BMW'S CVT TRANSMISSIONS IN EARLY MINI COOPERS. *TR

2003 MINI COOPER S WITH 67,000K MILES, POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AND CAUSED A SHORT CIRCUIT RESULTING IN A COMPLETE MELTDOWN. THE PUMP, HYDRAULIC LINES, COOLING FAN AND WIRING HARNESS WERE ALL BURNED OR MELTED. THERE WAS NO SYMPTOM OR INDICATION OF A FAILURE. CAR DROVE AND ACTED "NORMAL" PRIOR TO PARKING IT FOR THE DAY. WHEN I GOT BACK IN THE CAR, 8 HOURS LATER, NO POWER STEERING. IF IT HAD BEEN IN MY GARAGE WHEN THE SHORT/MELTDOWN OCCURRED, IT MAY HAVE CAUSED FIRE. MINIUSA BASICALLY SAID I WAS ON MY OWN DUE TO EXPIRATION OF MY WARRANTY. (60,000). *TR

TOOK 2003 MINI COOPER S TO PERFORMANCE DRIVING SCHOOL AND HAD POWER STEERING PUMP CATCH ON FIRE. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY 2003 MINI COOPER S STOPPED WORKING SUDDENLY ON THE FREEWAY. THERE WERE NO SIGNS INDICATING AN IMMINENT PROBLEM; IT JUST CUT ASSISTANCE TO STEERING AND FAILED COMPLETELY. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DIFFICULT, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO A MECHANIC TO GET A REPLACEMENT PS PUMP FOR $820. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE MINI BRAND SINCE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE REPORTING POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURES EVEN AT 40KMILES (IN MY CASE, THE CAR HAD 95KMILES WHEN THE PUMP FAILED). THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP DOES POSE A SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES EXTREMELY HEAVY AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. *TR

LOST POWER STEERING WITH BURNING SMELL AND LOTS OF SMOKE. AS EVIDENCED ON THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT, THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS BURNT. THE CAR COULD HAVE LOST ALL POWER. THE REPAIR BILL WAS $4097.91. I WAS WITHOUT A CAR FOR WEEKS WITH NO LOANER CAR OFFERED. NATIONAL MINI COOPER DENIED THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE. THERE IS NOW A PENDING RECALL. THE NEW PARTS MIGHT ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED.

TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH NO WARNING OR SYMPTOMS. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2003 MINI COOPER AND ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO, THE CLUTCH HYDRAULIC SYSTEM HAS SPRUNG A LEAK. UPON INSPECTION OF THE HYDRAULICS, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH CONTROL ROD WAS MOVING IN A FUNNY WAY. HE SAYS THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO DROP THE TRANSMISSION TO SEE THE ACTUAL PROBLEM AND THAT REMOVING THE TRANSMISSION ALONE WILL COST ME 1000.00 DOLLARS WHICH I DO NOT HAVE AT THE MOMENT. THE CAR ONLY HAS 67,000 MILES ON IT AND THE CLUTCH WENT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. ALSO, I AM TOLD THAT IF THE CLUTCH DOES NEED TO BE REPLACED, IT WILL COST ME 1800.00 DOLLARS, WHICH AGAIN, I DO NOT HAVE. *TR

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 MINI COOPER BLEW OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CAR HAD JUST ABOUT 37,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED AT THE DEALERS SHOP. *TR

SPONTANEOUS ENGINE BAY FIRE IN 2003 MINI COOPER WITH 60,000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN NORMALLY TO WORK, TURNED OFF, PARKED, LOCKED AND LEFT. UNATTENDED CAR CAUGHT FIRE SEVERAL MINUTES LATER. SEATTLE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO EMERGENCY CALL, BUT FIRE SELF-EXTINGUISHED WITHIN 10 MINUTES. SOOT COVERED ENGINE BAY AND ACRID SMOKE PERMEATED VEHICLE. INSPECTION REVEALED MELTED CONNECTION BETWEEN WIRING HARNESS AND POWER STEERING PUMP, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF PUMP, COOLING FAN, WIRING AND OTHER PARTS. INTERNET COMMUNITIES OF MINI OWNERS CONTAIN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF SUDDEN ENGINE BAY FIRES IN 2002 AND 2003 MINI COOPERS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL SHORTS LINKED TO FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMPS OR FANS. FREQUENTLY THESE FIRES OCCUR AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SWITCHED OFF. THEY ALWAYS RESULT IN MODERATE VEHICLE DAMAGE AND MAJOR REPAIR COSTS (MINE IS ESTIMATED @ $1,600). OCCASIONALLY THEY RESULT IN TOTAL VEHICLE LOSS AND / OR ADDITIONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE. HAD THIS FIRE OCCURRED IN MY HOME GARAGE AT NIGHT THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC; IF THIS KIND OF INCIDENT (SUDDEN POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE + ELECTRIC FIRE) WERE TO OCCUR ON A FREEWAY AT SPEED IT COULD EASILY RESULT IN FATALITIES. BMW / MINI USA HAS REPORTEDLY QUIETLY REIMBURSED INDIVIDUAL OWNERS WHO HAVE SUFFERED SPONTANEOUS FIRES, BUT HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE WIDESPREAD NATURE OF THE PROBLEM -- WHICH IS RIDICULOUS. AS I DISCOVERED WHILE RESEARCHING MY INCIDENT, IF YOU GOOGLE "MINI COOPER FIRE" OR "MINI POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE" YOU GET A RASH OF THESE REPORTS. APPARENTLY NHTSA INVESTIGATED MINI ENGINE BAY FIRES IN 2006-2008 AND DISMISSED THE PROBLEM, ALLUDING ONLY TO THE CHANCE OF SOME "LOCALIZED SMOLDERING." THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE -- MY MINI WAS BILLOWING ACRID BLACK SMOKE AND COULD EASILY HAVE BURNED OUT, TAKING OTHER CARS ON THE PARKING DECK WITH IT. SHOCKING THAT THIS MAJOR, DANGEROUS VEHICLE DEFECT HAS BEEN IGNORED. I AM ONE OF MANY VICTIMS. PLEASE REOPEN THIS INVESTIGATION INTO MINI FIRES. THANK YOU. *TR

BEGINNING IN APPROXIMATELY APRIL OF 2009, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN ON CONSTANTLY. ANYONE WHO IS INTELLIGENT ENOUGH TO USE ANY INTERNET SEARCH ENGINE CAN FIND HUNDREDS OF ACCOUNTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. DUE TO WHAT HAS BEEN INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED AS A WIRING PROBLEM IN THE SEAT SENSORS, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON AND CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO DEPLOY WITH IMPROPER FORCE. THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE WITH MINI OWNERS, AND SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS HAVE ALL ATTRIBUTED THE PROBLEM TO A WIRING HARNESS UNDERNEATH THE SEAT THAT BREAKS DUE TO MOVING THE SEAT BACK AND FORTH. UNLESS I'M MISSING PAGES FROM THE MANUAL, MOVING THE SEAT BACK AND FORTH IS A NORMAL FUNCTION, AND IT SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR IF SIMPLY MOVING THE SEAT BACK AND FORTH CAN RENDER THE AIRBAG SENSOR USELESS. MINI ACKNOWLEDGED THIS ISSUE IN 2006, AND STATED 'IN THE INTEREST OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, WE ARE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE VEHICLE FOR DEFECTS THAT MAY OCCUR, FOR THIS SPECIFIC AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ISSUE, ON YOUR VEHICLE FOR 10 YEARS / 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. UNDER TERMS OF THIS WARRANTY COVERAGE, MINI WILL COVER ALL NECESSARY REPAIR COSTS RELATED TO THIS ACTION.' I HAVE BEEN TOLD THREE TIMES BY MINI THAT THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO MY CAR. THEY CANNOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION AS TO WHY IT DOES NOT APPLY. THEY JUST TELL ME THAT MY CAR IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT CLEARLY FITS THE BILL. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE WIRING IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE, AND NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE A DEFECT CORRECTED. MINI WON'T EVEN PAY TO HAVE A TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. *TR

IRONICALLY, I FIRST LOOKED AT THIS COMPLAINT SITE TWO DAYS AGO AS I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT ITS EXISTENCE FROM THE APRIL 2009 ISSUE OF CONSUMER REPORTS. I FELT GOOD THAT THE TWO MOST FREQUENTLY NAMED COMPLAINTS FOR MY MODEL AND YEAR HAD NOT OCCURRED. SO, TODAY THAT GOOD FEELING ENDED, AS ONE OF THE COMMON OCCURRENCES HAPPENED TO ME - A COINCIDENCE? OR THE MINI GODS REVENGE? TO CONTINUE: I NOTICED THAT AFTER I SHUT OFF THE CAR, SOMETHING WAS STILL RUNNING FOR A LONG TIME AFTERWARDS. OPENING THE HOOD, I REALIZED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE POWER STEERING PUMP THAT WAS NOT TURNING OFF, AND KNEW FROM READING THIS SITE, THAT IT WOULD LEAD TO BATTERY FAILURE AT A MINIMUM, AND A FIRE AT WORST CASE. SO, I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO THE DEALER - HERB CHAMBERS MINI OF BOSTON - AND LEFT IT FOR REPAIR. THE CALL I RECEIVED THIS AFTERNOON THAT IT WAS IN FACT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND THAT IT WOULD COST $1100 TO REPLACE WAS DEVASTATING. THE MINI HAS ABOUT 46,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS IS THE FIRST REAL REPAIR NECESSARY FOLLOWING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. GIVEN THAT THERE ALREADY ARE 8 OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE JUST ON THIS COMPLAINT FORUM, I WOULD EXPECT THAT MINI WOULD DO MORE ABOUT WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED ON A 2003 MINI COOPER S WITH 51,586 MILES. *TR

2003 MINI COOPER TRANSMISSION FAILURE. REPLACEMENT COST APPROX 7500.00 THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AND THERE IS A MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS. I BOUGHT MINE USED. NO DISCLOSURE OF IT DURING THE SALE. IT SHOULD BE AT LEAST BE FLAGGED FOR THE CONSUMERS PROTECTION. DEALERS, MANUFACTURES WILL NOT EVEN DISCUSS IT. IT IS A HORRIBLE SITUATION TO BE IN. *TR

2003 MINI COOPER S WITH POWER STEERING FAILURE. POWER STEERING GOES IN AND OUT. CAR RADIO TURNS ON WHEN CAR IS OFF AND NO KEY IS IN THE ENGINE, CAUSING BATTERY TO DRAIN. ONCE MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHEN I WAS LEAVING A PARKING AREA CAUSING ME TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED DAMAGES. I HAVE HOWEVER REPLACED THE ENGINE DUE TO FAULTY WIRING IN APROX 2009. A FUSE THAT RUNS EVERYTHING FOR COOLING BLEW AND GAVE ME NO WARNING THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. *TR

FAILURE OF 2003 MINI COOPER MANUAL TRANSMISSION. MY CAR HAS BEEN UNDER REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I FIRST NOTICED THE CAR LOSING POWER GOING UPHILL, THEN IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR. NEXT MORNING I WAS UNABLE TO GET INTO REVERSE, WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT AND SOME GEARS COULD NOT BE ENGAGED. AT A STOP LIGHT I BEGAN HEARING A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE, LIKE METAL IN A BLENDER, THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN GEAR, I HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF THE INTERSECTION. THE DEALER OFFERED NOTHING. MY PRIVATE MECHANIC FOUND METAL SHREDS THROUGHOUT THE TRANSMISSION. SAID A BEARING HAD COME LOOSE AND DESTROYED THE INTERIOR OF THE TRANSMISSION, ALL AT 65K MILES. HE ALSO SAID THE ENGINE COULD HAVE FAILED WHILE ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS AND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE ENDANGERING. ALSO THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT AT 30K MILES. BOTH VERY COSTLY REPAIRS AND THE TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP A VERY SERIOUS LIFE THREAT. THE REPLACEMENT COSTS FOR THE TRANSMISSION WERE $3K AND THAT WAS FROM A PRIVATE MECHANIC. ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS A PLETHORA OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND INFORMATION THAT MINI COOPER KNOWS ABOUT THIS. NEITHER THE LOCAL DEALER NOR CORPORATE OFFICE WOULD OFFER ANY HELP IN REPLACEMENT COSTS. *TR

MY 2003 MINI COOPER S HAS 41,000 MILES. ON 2/2/09, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND I HAD A TOUGH TIME KEEPING THE CAR IN CONTROL. I WENT HOME, RE-STARTED THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WAS FUNCTIONAL. I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR ON 2/5/09, THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND LINES WERE REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHEN THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE AT ANY VARIOUS SPEEDS SHE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY BEGIN TO MALFUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

I BOUGHT A NEW 2003 MINI COOPER WITH A 3 YEAR 36K WARRANTY 6/26/03. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND RECEIVING RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE THROUGH THE DEALER, THE CAR REQUIRED REPAIR OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHICH WAS FROZEN IN THE RECLINED POSITION. SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND 10,481 MILES AFTER A DEALER MAINTENANCE CHECK, THE BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR BEGAN FLASHING. I TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDED REPLACEMENT FOR $886.60. AT THE SAME SERVICE VISIT, I WAS TOLD THE FRONT STRUTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT TO THE TUNE OF $1600. MY MALE FRIENDS WHO ARE MECHANICALLY INCLINED AND/OR ENGINEERS SAID THAT ONE WOULD NEED TO BE DOING STUNTS IN A CAR TO NEED THAT KIND OF REPAIR AT 50,293 MILES. IT WAS NOT CLEAR WHY THE INDICATOR ONLY TELLS WHEN BRAKES ARE TOTALLY SHOT, OR WHY THE MOST RECENT SERVICE CHECK HAD NOT SHOWN WORN PADS AND DISKS. LATER, AT 53,007 MILES, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW FAILED AND THAT COST $497.51 TO REPLACE. AT 62,516 MILES THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM DIED WHICH COST $1173.58 TO REPLACE. THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK ON THE DRIVER?S SIDE DOES NOT WORK AND LORD KNOWS HOW MUCH THAT REPAIR WILL COST. NOW AT 69K, THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACEMENT. MY PRESENT MECHANIC (CHEAPER AND MORE RELIABLE THAN DEALERSHIP) SAYS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH WITH A REMANUFACTURED SYSTEM WILL BE >$4000. THIS IS AN OUTLANDISH AMOUNT OF REPAIR AND REPAIR COST FOR A $19,000 CAR WITH 70K MILEAGE. I HAVE HAD 2 PREVIOUS HONDAS THAT WERE CHEAPER THAN THE MINI AND NEVER NEEDED A CLUTCH OR TRANSMISSION. MY SON DROVE MY $14,000 '95 HONDA CIVIC UNTIL LAST MONTH AND IT HAD 200K MILES. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MINI, OR BMW FOR THAT MATTER, BASED ON THIS EXPERIENCE. I WILL BE SURE TO DISCOURAGE OTHERS FROM BUYING ONE. I HOPE A CLASS ACTION SUIT IS FORMED. *TR

MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CVT) BROKE WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN. CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED, DEALER SERVICE ONLY. MILEAGE WAS ONLY 54K. *TR

MY CAR'S RIGHT REAR CONTROL ARM HAD BROKEN IN HALF. THIS ARM PREVENTS THE TIRE FROM SWINGING SIDEWAYS. LUCKY FOR ME, I WAS GOING SLOWLY AT THE TIME. THE CONTROL ARM CONSISTS OF TWO 1/4" PIECES OF METAL WITH HOLES IN THEM AT EVENLY SPACED POINTS. BOTH OF THE METAL ARMS WERE BROKEN IN LINE WITH THE HOLES THAT WERE PART OF THE MANUFACTURED DESIGN. I PAID $1900 FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH UNIVERSAL UNDERWRITERS(NOW CALLED ZURICH) AT MINI OF CONCORD, CALIFORNIA. CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT IS LISTED AS COVERED. THEIR REASON FOR NOT COVERING IT IS BECAUSE IT HAS A SLIGHT BEND IN IT (I DON'T SEE IT) AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THAT IT EVENTUALLY BROKE. THE METAL THAT MAKES UP THIS ARM IS NO MORE THAN 1/4" THICK: POORLY MADE, ESPECIALLY WHEN COUPLED WITH THESE HOLES THAT ARE IN IT. THIS PART SHOULD BE MADE TO WITHSTAND IMPACT. TO ME IT IS OBVIOUS THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND I AM APPALLED THAT NEITHER THE DEALER OR THE INSURANCE COMPANY THAT I BOUGHT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM WILL PAY FOR IT. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD I BEEN ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I HAVE GONE FROM A MINI LOVER TO ONE WHO WILL SELL IT AFTER I'M ABLE TO AFFORD TO REPAIR IT. I AM CURRENTLY PRICE COMPARING IN PRIVATE REPAIR SHOPS. *TR

I PURCHASED MY '03 MINI COPPER S WITH 49K FROM A HONDA IN MECHANICSBURG, PA DEALER IN AUGUST. IN DECEMBER, I PURCHASED TIRES AND THEN WENT TO A SELF-SERVICE CARWASH AFTERWARD. WHEN I GOT HOME AND BEFORE I PUT IT IN THE GARAGE, I TOOK OUT THE HOSE AND WASHED OFF THE WHEELS AND UNDER THE CAR. DURING THE PROCESS THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS STEAM FROM THE WATER HITTING THE MANIFOLD. I PUT THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND LATER WHEN MY WIFE CAME HOME SHE COMMENTED ON THE SMOKE AND MIST IN THE GARAGE (IT WAS QUITE COLD THAT NIGHT.) THE NEXT DAY WHEN I PULLED THE CAR OUT, THE STEERING WAS VERY STIFF AND I ONLY DROVE IT OUT THE DRIVEWAY AND ON THE ROAD BEFORE I REALIZED THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY OUT. I DROVE IT ABOUT 15 MILES TO THE DEALER AFTER CHECKING FUSES AND DETERMINING THAT THE PROBLEM WAS BEYOND MY MECHANICAL SKILLS. THE POWER STEERING PUMP, FAN AND HARNESS WERE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE BATTERY (SHORTED OUT). INSURANCE ADJUSTERS FROM HONDACARE (EXTENDED WARRANTY), STATE FARM INSURANCE COMPANY (MY COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE) AND THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD CAUGHT FIRE. THEIR CONJECTURE WAS THAT I HAD PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH THE HOSE WHEN I SPRAYED UNDER THE CAR. HONDA CARE PAID $1999 FROM EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP, BATTERY, POWER STEERING HARNESS AND FAN. A TOTAL OF $2700 ADDITIONAL FROM STATE FARM COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE (HONDACARE EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER HARNESS, TOWING AND DIAGNOSTIC WORK FROM THE MINI DEALER IN MARYLAND, ETC BECAUSE THEY WERE THE RESULT OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE POWER STEERING PUMP FIRE); STATE FARM INSURANCE WAS EXCEPTIONAL AND COVERED THE DIFFERENCE WITH COMPREHENSIVE COVERED. THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE REPORTS INCLUDING PICTURES FROM ADJUSTERS AT HONDACARE AND FROM STATE FARM INSURANCE. *TR

I OWN A 2003 MINI COOPER WITH A CVT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS 80000 MILES ON IT AND THE CVT FAILED COMPLETELY. THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO GET A NEW REPLACEMENT WITH AN "UPDATED" 2005 MODEL WHICH I HAVE BEEN QUOTED FROM 2 PLACES $8000 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. THIS IS MY COMPLAINT. IF THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CVT WHY HAVE THEY NOT CONTACTED ME? PLEASE CONTACT IF YOU NEED FURTHER DETAILS. *TR

SEVEN MONTHS PREGNANT AND LOCKED INSIDE OF MY 2003 MINI COOPER S BECAUSE THE CABLES INSIDE THE DOOR FROZE. HUSBAND HAD TO PULL ME OUT OF THE CAR VIA THE DRIVER'S WINDOW BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY OUT. ABLE TO INITIALLY GET IN AND OUT OF CAR BUT WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, THE DOORS FROZE AND I WAS STUCK. TALKED TO MINI USA AND DEALERSHIP AND BOTH SAID NEVER HEARD OF IT EVEN THOUGH NUMEROUS BLOGS AND COMPLAINTS EXIST FOR MINI COOPER S MADE BEFORE 04/2004. VERY WORRIED IN CASE OF EMERGENCY AND ME AND MY UNBORN CHILD NEED TO GET OUT. ALSO HAVE HAD MY TWO AND FOUR YEAR OLD GIRLS IN THE CAR WITH ME. FORTUNATELY DIDN'T HAPPEN WHEN THEY WERE PRESENT. *TR

BATTERY FAILURE. BATTERY HAS FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME SINCE CAR BRAND NEW IN FEB, 2003. ON EACH OCCASION THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER HAVING GIVEN NO WARNING. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS IN 2005 AT 26,000 MI., THE SECOND IN 2007 AT 51,000 MI., THE THIRD IN 2008 AT 68,000 MI. EACH FAILED BATTERY WAS A MANUFACTURER'S BRAND (MINI). *TR

THE CVT FAILED IN MY 2003 MINI COOPER AT 67,000 MILES. THE REPAIR COST OFFERED BY DEALER STARTED AT 7400 THEN WHEN TOLD I HAD READ ABOUT NUMEROUS OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THE COST BECAME 5900. ALSO FOUND OUT THE COMPANY STOPPED USING THIS TRANSMISSION IN 07 MODELS DUE TO PROBLEMS. NEED RE-CALL AND OR REIMBURSEMENTS. *TR

MY 2003 MINI COOPER'S CVT TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO. THE MINI HAS 75K MILES (ALL HIGHWAY MILES). TOWED THE CAR TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP. HAD THE MODULAR UNIT REPLACED; HOWEVER THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE COST TO REPLACE IT IS TOO MUCH. IT COST THE TRUE VALUE OF THE CAR...OVER $8,000 TO REPLACE IT. BMW/MINI COOPER WILL NOT TAKE ANY PART OF RESPONSIBILITY TO THEIR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS ON THESE TYPES OF CARS. DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF REPAIRS THE BROKEN DOWN MINI IS BEING STORED IN A GARAGE BASICALLY ROTTING AWAY. *TR

2003 MINI COOPER TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. CAR JUST STOPPED WHILE GOING 60 MPH. MANUFACTURER/DEALER WOULD NOT COVER REPAIRS (85,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY). ESTIMATE TO REPLACE: $9,000. SOLD CAR AS IS AT AUCTION. *TR

DRIVING 55MPH ON HIGHWAY. CAR STARTS PULLING LEFT AND RIGHT AS IF CAUGHT IN A GROOVE. PULL OFF NEXT EXIT AND NOTICE I HAVE NO POWER STEERING AS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER AS CAR COMES TO A STOP. *TR

AIR BAG CHECK LIGHT IS ON. NO AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED, NO CRASH WAS INVOLVED. THIS IS ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE MINI COOPER WHICH SHOULD HAVE A RECALL. IF NOT REPAIRED AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. *TR

CVT TRANSMISSION ON 2003 MINI COPPER FAILED AT 87,000 MILES. THE COST TO REPLACE IS QUOTED BY THE DEALER AT $7400. COME TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE WITH THIS TRANSMISSION TO THE POINT THAT IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL ISSUE. *TR

2003 MINI COOPER, 66,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED. THE COST IS GOING TO BE 8,500.00. *TR

THE ONLY EVENTS LEADING TO THIS PROBLEM WERE NORMAL, EVERYDAY DRIVING AND ROUTINE, FACTORY RECOMMENDED SERVICE. THE FAILURE APPEARS TO HAVE INITIATED AT THE COOLING FAN FOR THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP. WHEN THE FAN SEIZES, THE PUMP OVERHEATS CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE PUMP ELECTRONICS. THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE PUMP TO RUN NONSTOP EVEN WITH THE IGNITION TURNED OFF AND THE KEY OUT. THIS IN TURN RUNS THE BATTERY DOWN AND CAN POSSIBLY LEAD TO A FIRE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, THE POWER STEERING PUMP COOLING FAN AS WELL AS THE BATTERY SINCE IT'S USABLE LIFE WAS DIMINISHED FROM THE EXCESSIVE DRAW. OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE AND NONE OF THIS WAS OFFERED AS A WARRANTY ITEM. *TR

ON 9/2/08 I BROUGHT MY 2003 MINI COOPER TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. I WAS HEARING A NOISE FROM THE FRONT THAT CLOCKED AT LOW SPEED. I THOUGHT IT WAS A BAD CV JOINT AND ASKED THE SERVICE WRITER TO VERIFY AND GIVE ME A ESTIMATE. WHEN THEY WERE DONE IT WAS DETERMINED THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE ESTIMATE WAS $7613.00 PLUS TAX. I DROVE HOME AND SPENT SOME TIME RESEARCHING THE CVT TRANSMISSION IN THE MINI COOPERS AND FOUND WHAT APPEARS TO BE A HIGH FAILURE RATE. A LOOK AT SEVERAL FORUMS FOR MINI'S SHOWS POSTINGS OF PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO MINE IN COOPER MODELS WITH MILEAGES FROM 34,000 TO 113,000 ALL WITH CVT TRANSMISSIONS. THE REPLACEMENT COSTS WERE SIMILAR TOO. THERE WERE MANY COMMENTS FROM FORUM USERS TO AVOID BUYING A USED MINI COOPER WITH A CVT, "AVOID IT LIKE THE PLAGUE" WAS ONE COMMENT. MINI NO LONGER USES THIS TRANSMISSION. MAYBE THE FAILURES MADE THEM LOOK TO ANOTHER SOURCE, I DO NOT KNOW. I ALSO CONTACTED A PERSON WHO IS GATHERING NAMES, 50 SO FAR, TO FILE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST MINI TO TRY AND RECOUP THE MONEY SPENT REPAIRING A FAULTY TRANSMISSION. THAT IS JUST 50 PEOPLE WHO KNEW HOW TO CONTACT HER TO BE ADDED TO THE LIST. AS OF RIGHT NOW THESE PEOPLE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR AN ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT THEM. THERE MUST BE MORE, AND 50 TRANSMISSIONS IS ALOT OF MONEY. IF A INVESTIGATION IS DONE BY THE NHTSA AND A RECALL IS INITIATED THEN MAYBE THESE PEOPLE CAN BE REIMBURSED BY MINI. I FIND IT UNUSUAL THAT A TRANSMISSION SHOULD FAIL IN A VEHICLE WITH 81,500 MILES AND MOST COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ HAVE A AVERAGE FAILURE MILEAGE AT 60,000. MINIS WARRANTY EXPIRES AT 50,000 MILES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE MINI DEALER HAS MADE A EFFORT TO SHARE THE EXPENSE WITH ME AND IN GOOD FAITH WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FOR 1/2 PRICE. AS OF THIS WRITING I HAVE NOT MADE A DECISION YET. THE VEHICLE HAS A TRADE-IN VALUE OF $10,000, SO SPENDING ALMOST $4000.00 TO REPAIR A OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PART IS CRAZY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING A 2003 MINI COOPER VEHICLE STEERING MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. AUTO BARELY MADE IT TO DEALERSHIP. DETERMINED TO BE A FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMP WITH ADJOINING PARTS. VEHICLE HAD 46,594 MILES AND MINI WOULD NOT COVER DEFECT EVEN THOUGH OTHER OWNERS COMPLAINED OF PROBLEM. REPAIR TO ME WAS $979.01 + 6% CONNECTICUT SALES TAX! *TR

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CVT) FAILED. IT WILL COST $8000 (MINI/BMW DEALER QUOTE) TO REPLACE. I NOTICED THERE WERE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET MANY RECOMMENDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. *TR

ON AUG. 9, 2008, I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING ON MY 2003 MINI COOPER WAS EXTREMELY TIGHT WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. AS I DROVE IT, IT LOOSENED UP. THE NEXT DAY, AUG. 10, THE SITUATION WORSENED--EVERY TIME THE CAR WAS STOPPED, THEN STARTED, THE STEERING TIGHTENED. THERE WAS NO LOOSENING UP AT ALL. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A LOCAL PEP BOYS TO SEE IF ANYTHING COULD BE DONE. THEY DIAGNOSED A POSSIBLE PSP FAILURE. THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING AS ONLY MINI HAS THE SCHEMATICS FOR THIS REPAIR. I CALLED THE MINI DEALERSHIP IN PEABODY, MA FIRST THING MONDAY AND GOT AN APPT. FOR TODAY, AUG. 14. SINCE I HAVE NO OTHER VEHICLE, I HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR WHEN NECESSARY. SOMETIMES THE STEERING WAS FINE. OTHER TIMES, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FAULTY PSP TODAY. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED A COMPLETE FAILURE. I'VE OWNED SEVERAL CARS WITH MORE MILEAGE ON THEM THAN THIS ONE (IT CURRENTLY HAS 60K AND IS FIVE YEARS OLD) AND NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY PSP PROBLEMS, NEVER MIND AN OUTRIGHT FAILURE. *TR

2003 MINI COOPER. POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. IT WORKS, THEN STOPS. . CUTS OUT MOSTLY DURING TURNS. DANGEROUS! TOLD BY MINI DEALER THAT NO RECALL WAS INVOLVED. PARTS AND LABOR WAS OVER $1200.00 TO REPAIR. NEW POWER STEERING PUMP LASTED 2 YEARS BEFORE SAME EXACT PROBLEM OCCURRED. *TW

THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY MINI COOPER CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 60 MPH, THE WHEEL AND TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AT THIS TIME. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COST FOR THE REPAIR WOULD RANGE FROM $3,000 - $5,000. THE AFFECTED COMPONENTS WERE THE STEERING, BRAKES, SUSPENSION, AND SHOCKS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,000.

COMPLETE AND INSTANT POWER STEERING FAILURE WITH NO WARNING OF ANY KIND. REQUIRED CONSIDERABLE ARM STRENGTH TO CONTROL VEHICLE. *TR

CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS FOR 2003 MINI COOPER S. CONSUMER STATES THAT HER SON WAS KILLED WHILE DRIVING HIS MINI COOPER S BACK IN JULY 2008. *NJ THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD HER SON LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED RECALL 03V086000 AND WANTED TO KNOW COULD THE RECALL HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTING FACTORY. *JB

I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING BLOGS ABOUT MINI COOPERS GOING ON FIRE SINCE I OWNED ONE, AND I NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME. WELL, I HAD JUST GOTTEN BACK HOME FROM SCHOOL WHEN I SMELL SOMETHING LIKE WIRING BURNING IN MY CAR, SO I KILLED THE ENGINE AND OPENED THE HOOD. POWER STEERING STILL RUNNING AND SMOKING, SO I CALLED MY DAD TO HELP ME. HE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND STOPPED THE EPS PUMP FROM BEING CONSUMED ON FIRE. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING, THE BMW-MINI FIRM SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND NOT LET THEIR CLIENTS SUFFER THE AFTERMATH. THIS IS SURELY A RECALL, NO ONE HAS DIED YET, THANKS GOD, BUT LET'S BE SERIOUS FOLKS. SINCE NEW PUMP AT DEALER IS $650.00 CALLED JUNK YARDS AND PART IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE AND IF AVAILABLE JUNK YARDS CHARGE VERY CLOSE TO A NEW ONE FOR A USED ONE. I WAS NOT ABLE TO ACQUIRE ONE ON MY STUDENT STATUS, SO I DON'T HAVE A VEHICLE TO GET TO SCHOOL; DAD HAS TO DROP ME OFF FOR NOW. *TR