2003 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE RPMS INCREASE AND THE TRANSMISSION MAKES NOISES WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 91,991 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

POWER STEERING FAILURE AND SOON AFTER ELECTRICAL SMELLING SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. UPON INSPECTION AT THE DEALERSHIP SOME OF THE WIRES HAD MELTED AND THE POWER STERRING MOTOR WAS BURNT OUT.

DRIVING NORMALLY, NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING. THE CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. PARKED CAR AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. LOOKED UNDER HOOD, NOTICED SMOKE GETTING WORSE, SO I DROVE THE CAR UP TO STREET LEVEL FROM GARAGE. LOOKED UNDER HOOD AND THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE STARTING AT THE LOWER REAR OF THE ENGINE. I WAS ABLE TO USE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS TO PUT OUT THE FIRE JUST AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. HAD CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE INITIAL DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THERE WAS A STUCK RELAY IN THE POWER STEERING UNIT, CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT. A WIRING HARNESS ON OR NEAR THE POWER STEERING UNIT WAS DAMAGED BY THE HEAT AND SHORTED SOME WIRING, CAUSING THE FIRE. THE FIRE WAS LOCALIZED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT THE DEALER. *JB

THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED ON MY 2003 MINI COOPER. IT WENT THROUGH STAGES OF OPERATION AND NON-OPERATION BEFORE FINALLY GOING OUT ALL TOGETHER. I WAS CHARGED $1,000 TO REPLACE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. IN APRIL OF 2007, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED TWICE AND HAS REMAINED LIT EVER SINCE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WHEN THE LIGHT FIRST ILLUMINATED. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE ABS HAS FAILED AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,500. UPDATED 09/10/07 *TR

TURNING FROM A LEFT HAND TURN LANE ON TO A SIDE STREET AS I HAVE DONE AT LEAST 4 TIMES A DAY FOR OVER 10 YEARS, I LOST ALL POWER AND THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN THE LOSS OF POWER, THE LOSS OF STEERING, AND THE LOSS OF BRAKES CAUSED ME TO RUN INTO THE CURB. THIS ACCIDENT RESULTED IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND ASSEMBLY BEING REPLACED. NOT LONG AFTER GETTING MY MINI COOPER S THE HESITATION OF THE ACCELERATOR WHEN STATING OFF IN FIRST GEAR BEGAN. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE REP AT THE MINI DEALERSHIP THAT THERE WAS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. I'VE HAD TOO MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF IT. GOING BACK AS FAR AS 2005 I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT MY STEERING AND THE NOISE IT MAKES. THE WHOLE STEERING UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES, YET IN 2009 I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH. THE POWER LOSS WAS ELECTRICAL EVEN THOUGH MY ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. THE FINAL OUTCOME WAS MINI REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. I'VE COMPLAINED TIME AND AGAIN YET WITH NO HELP UNLESS IT'S COMING OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. SINCE OWNING THIS MINI COOPER S I'VE SPENT NEARLY 6000.00 IN REPAIRS. BECAUSE OF THE INTERDEPENDENT NATURE OF THE ASC/DSC ON THE VEHICLES BRAKING, ELECTRONICS, AND EVEN STARTING ACCELERATION FROM A STOP; HAS THIS FEATURE BEEN PROPERLY STUDIED AS THE CULPRIT FOR THE MANY AND VARIED PROBLEMS THIS PARTICULAR CAR HAS? IN THE UK THERE IS A BLOG CALLED WATCHDOG THAT HAS 180 PEOPLE WHO POSTED BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND APRIL 2009 THAT ALL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING THAT I AND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. HOW CAN SUCH A SERIOUS PROBLEM GO UNRESOLVED FOR SO LONG. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THIS PROBLEM ALONE FALLS UNDER THE UNITED STATES CODE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY (TITLE 49, CHAPTER 301). *TR

THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE PUMP ITSELF FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSED AN UNSAFE CONDITION.*AK PHONE INTERVIEW UPDATE (3/23/07): MR. KIRK STARTED HIS VEHICLE AND FOUND THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. HE CHECKED AND FOUND WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE POWER STEERING UNIT. THE DEALER MECHANIC TOLD HIM THE POWER STEERING HARNESS WAS CORRODED AND SHORTED AS SEEN IN OTHER MINI COOPER THAT THEY SERVICED, AND THAT MR. KIRK WAS LUCKY THAT HIS VEHICLE DIDN'T CATCH FIRE.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD CRACK. *JB

THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING WHILE DRIVING. RESTARTING VEHICLE WOULD CORRECT PROBLEM ,DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT IS RE-OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY . DEALERSHIP PRESENTLY REPLACING FAULTY PUMP OUT OF WARRANTY . YOUTHFULL - INEXPERIENCED DRIVER WARNING TO ALL!!! *KB

MY 2003 MINI COOPER HAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE IT FELL TO PIECES AT 61,000 MILES AFTER IMPECCABLE ENGINE MAINTENANCE FOR NO APPARENT REASON THEN I FOUND ONLINE THAT MANY MINI OWNERS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AT THE SAME TIME APPROXIMATELY 4 YRS AFTER BUYING THE MINI SCAM THAT THEY SELL THIS FAULTY CAR JUST GLAD IT DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

SUDDEN UNEXPECTED FAILURE. CVT TRANSMISSION (AUTOMATIC) IN 2003 MINI COOPER. FIRST ONE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND TIME THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD SELL ME ANOTHER CAR. THE CAR SOLD FOR $22K NEW, TRANSMISSION COSTS $8500 TO REPLACE. SO THAT'S $17000 WORTH OF TRANSMISSIONS 4 YEARS (ITS BEEN SITTING FOR THE LAST YEAR WHILE I STILL HAVE TO MAKE PAYMENTS). I DON'T THINK THEIR IDEA OF BUYING ANOTHER CAR TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION WAS A GOOD IDEA. *TR

PARKED VEHICLE OUTSIDE GROCERY STORE. RETURNED AFTER <5 MINUTES TO FIND SMOKE POURING FROM THE HOOD. OPENED HOOD TO DETERMINE CAUSE AND SMELT ELECTRICAL SMOKE, AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE. DOUSED FLAMES USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM STORE, AND DISCONNECTED BATTERY. INITIAL DEALER INVESTIGATION INDICATES THAT THE DAMAGE WAS TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND WIRING HARNESS. HAD I NOT STOPPED FOR GROCERIES, I WOULD HAVE BEEN UNLIKELY TO NOTICE THE SMOKE/FIRE EARLY ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE LOSS OF THE VEHICLE. INSURANCE AND DEALER ROOT CAUSE INVESTIGATION IS STILL PENDING, BUT AFTER SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET (MOSTLY HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=73527) I FOUND AT LEAST 10 OTHER INSTANCES OF A FAULT IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP CAUSING FIRES. BMW IS OBVIOUSLY AWARE OF SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS, AS THEY MADE CHANGES TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND POWER STEERING FAN WIRING HARNESS IN 04 MODELS ON. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE IS A SYSTEMATIC PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON MINIS. NO FUSE BLEW, AND TO HAVE AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT RUN TO THE POINT WHERE IS COMBUSTS, WITHOUT ANY FUSE OR THERMAL FUSE PROTECTION SEEMS A GROSS DESIGN DEFICIENCY TO ME. *NM

TL*- THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH ON 12-28-06 WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, THE CAR THEN SPUN, AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL HEAD ON AND WENT INTO THE LEFT LANE. . THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AND A POLICE REPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED DURING THE CRASH BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT A THREE WAY INTERSECTION MY MINI SUDDENLY CUT OUT AND BLOCKED TRAFFIC IN ALL DIRECTIONS; SO MUCH SO THAT PEOPLE HAD TO STOP TRAFFIC AND CARS NEEDED TO BE BACKED UP TO GET MY CAR IN A SECURE PLACE. THIS WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS. INITIAL ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR WAS $1200 PARTS AND LABOR, BUT UPON MY COMPLAINT JUST LABOR WAS CHARGED ME - I FEEL NEITHER IS APPROPRIATE AS THIS IS A PRODUCT ISSUE, IN MY CASE A SAFETY ISSUE, AND I SHOULD BE REINSTATED TO MY PRE-HARNESS INCIDENCE AT THE PRODUCT OWNER'S EXPENSE. I FURTHER NOTICE THAT THERE IS A T.O. FOR THIS ITEM AND PART OF IT STATES ONLY REPLACE AT OWNER'S COMPLAINT - IN MY CASE THIS WAS ALMOST TOO LATE AS I WAS IN A VERY BUSY AREA WHEN MY CAR DIED AND SHUT DOWN THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC. *JB

2003 MINI COOPER CVT TRANSMISSION DIED @ 83000 MILES. I PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM NORTHWEST MINI IN TACOMA, WA ON 10-18-05 WITH 49000 MILES AND ONE YEAR LATER THE TRANNY IS TOAST. NW MINI WANTS $7200 TO REPLACE WITH SAME 'QUESTIONABLE CVT TRANSMISSION'. IRONIC THAT MINI HAS ABANDONED THE CVT TRANSMISSION FOR THE 2007 MODELS...THEY KNOW IT'S A DOG. I'M STUCK, WITH MANY OTHERS, HOLDING THE BILL! *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WERE ALSO REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL PAN LEAK. THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MOTORS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,900 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

THE POWER WINDOWS FAIL TO OPEN. DURING THE EVENT OF A CRASH WHERE THE WINDOW IS THE SOLE SOURCE OF EGRESS, THE ELECTRIC OPERATED WINDOW MAY NOT OPEN UNDER ITS OWN POWER. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. DEALER WILL NOT FIX. *NM

AFTER READING INTERNET FORUMS REGARDING THE MINI COOPER CARS. I LEARNED OF A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT STRUT TOWERS DEFORMING UNDER REGULAR DRIVING CONDITIONS. UPON INSPECTION OF MY OWN MINI COOPER BY MYSELF I FOUND THAT MY TOWERS WERE DISTORTED IN A MUSHROOMING OF THE TOP SHEET METAL . I FOUND ONLINE THE MANUFACTURER OF A MACHINED ALUMINUM PLATE THAT BOLTS ON TOP OF THE TOWER ADDING ADDITIONAL STRENGTH TO THE TOP OF THE TOWER. MY VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE CRACKS IN THE TOWER BUT OTHER PEOPLE ARE FINDING CRACKS AS WELL AS THE DISTORTION. I BELIEVE THAT IF THE TOWER WHERE TO CRACK COMPLETELY THAT THE FRONT STRUTS WOULD BE FORCED UP AND CAUSING THE CAR TO LOOSE THE ABILITY TO CONTROL STEERING. *NM

PARKING THE VEHICLE AFTER A 35 MI COMMUTE TO WORK WITH THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF THE ELECTRO HYDRAULIC STEERING PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN. THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THE PUMP OFF AND AVOID OVERHEATING WAS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED BY REPLACEMENT OF THE ELECTO HYDROLIC STEERING PUMP. OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW DOES NOT OPEN WHEN TOGGLE IS DEPRESSED, DUE TO MOTOR FAILURE INSIDE THE DOOR. THIS ELIMINATES A MEANS OF EMERGENCY IN SITUATIONS WHERE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN. IT ALSO REDUCES MEANS OF COMMUNICATION WITH PERSONS OUTSIDE THE CAR UNLESS DOOR IS OPENED --AGAIN A CONCERN IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, PARTICULARLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, OR IN A MOVING VEHICLE AS THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THEIR HANDS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND OPEN THE DOOR. WINDOW POWER FAILURES HAVE HAPPENED ONLY IN SUMMER SO FAR. OTHER SYMPTOMS INCLUDE WINDOW "STUTTERING" AS IT IS OPENED/CLOSED; WINDOW STICKING BRIEFLY BEFORE IT OPENS AND WINDOW TOP EDGE CATCHING EDGE OF CAR AS IT CLOSES SO THAT THE WINDOW DOESN'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY. --ALL ELECTRICAL ISSUES. ACTIONS TAKEN: THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM MANY MINI OWNERS HAVE, AND REPLACEMENT MOTORS APPEAR TO WORK TEMPORARILY THEN DEVELOP THE SAME SYMPTOMS. HOPEFULLY, WE WILL NOT BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE NEED TO USE THE WINDOW AS AN EMERGENCY EXIT BEFORE A DEPENDABLE MOTOR IS PRODUCED! QUESTION: DOES THE POWER WINDOW SYSTEM MEET THE NHTSA STANDARDS IN TITLE 49, PART 571.118? *JB

I HAD ~40,000 MILES ON MY MINI COOPER LAST SUMMER. THE POWER STEERING JUST STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS MOTORING. I WENT TO TURN AND WHOA, NO POWER ASSIST. I'M ESTIMATING THE DATE THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. I CAN LOOK UP THE REPAIR ORDER IF THE CORRECT DATE IS IMPORTANT. I THINK THAT BECAUSE OF THE MANY PROBLEMS SOME OF US HAVE HAD, THERE IS A REASON WHY I HAVE READ THAT THE 2007 MINI IS GOING TO HAVE A DIFFERENT STEERING SYSTEM FROM THE ELECTRICAL-HYDRAULIC ONES WE NOW HAVE. I GUESS I WAS LUCKY BECAUSE WHEN IT FAILED ON MY 2003 MC, THERE WAS NO PROBLEM OTHER THAN THE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST. AND IT WAS REPAIRED WHILE STILL UNDER THE 50,000 MILE WARRANTY. IN THIS DAY AND AGE WHEN IT SEEMS MOST CARS LAST 150,000+ MILES WITH NO WORK BEYOND ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, IT MAKES ME WONDER WHY BMW/MINI CAN??T SEEM TO GET IT RIGHT. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY P/S PROBLEMS WITH MINIS. HERE IS A THREAD AND VOTING POLL ON THE PROBLEM... HTTP://WWW.MINI2.COM/FORUM/FAULTS-FIXES/49527-IMPORTANT-HAVE-YOU-HAD-POWER-STEERING-PUMP-FAILURE-PLEASE-VOTE-YES-NO.HTML HERE ARE SOME REAL HORROR STORIES INVOLVING FIRES. SOME FROM OTHER THINGS, BUT MANY FROM THE P/S PUMP. HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=73527&HIGHLIGHT=POWER+STEERING+FAILURE HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=68356&PAGE=3&HIGHLIGHT=OBITUARY THERE ARE MANY ADDITIONAL WEB PAGES WITH THREADS LIKE THE ABOVE, BUT THEY ARE ON THE MINIUSA.COM OWNERS LOUNGE WEB SITE WHERE YOU NEED AN ACCOUNT TO ACCESS THEM. *NM

AFTER CAR WAS SITTING FOR 4 HOURS THE POWER STEERING DID NOT WORK; I MUSCLED THE CAR HOME AND WHEN I STARTED IT TO TAKE TO MY MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY IT WAS WORKING AGAIN; I REVIEWED THIS ON LINE AND DISCOVERED THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS (MINI COOPER, 56,000 MILES, '03. *TR

2003 MINI COOPER WINDSHIELD FAILURE. SPONTANEOUS CRACK ALTHOUGH DEALER INSISTS IT WAS A PIN HOLE SIZED HOLE THAT CAUSED IT. REFUSED TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY. 2ND TIME IT'S HAPPENED AND WAS COVERED FIRST TIME UNDER WARRANTY. APPARENTLY HAPPENS VERY REGULARLY TO MINI AND AT $1078. COMPLETE...THIS JUST ISN'T RIGHT. *JB

FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS THE AIR CONDITIONING HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT. THE LIGHTS FOR THE FAN AND TEMPERATURE REMAIN ON BUT NO AIR BLOWS COLD OR HOT. SOMETIMES IT GOES BACK ON BY ITSELF AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING. SOMETIMES SLAPPING THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE MIDDLE COLUMN (WHERE THE CONTROLS AND RADIO ARE) MAKES IT COME BACK ON. AND SOMETIMES IT STAYS OFF FOR A DAY OR TWO BEFORE SPONTANEOUSLY COMING BACK TO LIFE. ITS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE A HARDCOVER BOOK WITH ME AT ALL TIMES TO DO THE SLAPPING. I LIVE IN AUSTIN AND THE CLOSEST DEALER IS IN SAN ANTONIO, NEARLY 90 MILES AWAY. THE TWO TIMES I DROVE THERE WITH THE PROBLEM, IT WORKED FOR THEM. I EVEN HAVE DOCUMENTATION FROM THE DEALER THE PROBLEM WAS AN ISSUE BACK WHEN THE CAR HAD 34,000 MILES. WE NEVER KNOW WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING WILL GO OUT. CONSIDERING THE TEMPERATURE IN AUSTIN HAS HIT 100 NEARLY 50 TIMES THIS SUMMER, DO YOU BLAME US FOR NOT WANTING TO DRIVE THE CAR. PLEASE OFFER US SUGGESTIONS TO HAVE MINI USA PAY FOR THIS. ITS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR 2 YEARS. THE 90 MINUTE DRIVE TO SAN ANTONIO IS HOT AND THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THE AC WILL MISBEHAVE ONCE WE GET THERE. GROUND BREAKING ON THE AUSTIN MINI DEALERSHIP IS ON HOLD SO WE'RE AT THE MERCY OF THE SAN ANTONIO DEALERSHIP. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE TRANSMISSION (CVT TRANSMISSION) FIRST FAILED AT AROUND 40,000 MILES AND THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO REPLACE IT UNDER THE WARRANTY. SINCE THEN EVERY FEW MONTHS THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL AND SO FAR IT'S BEEN THE 4TH TIME THAT THE DEALER TRIED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND STILL FAILS. IT SEEMS LIKE THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE FIXED ONCE AND FOR ALL, NOW MY CAR HAS 81,000 MILES ON IT AND I FEEL BAD TO SELL THE CAR KNOWING I AM JUST PASSING THE PROBLEM ON TO SOMEONE ELSE. I CAN HAVE IT FIXED AT NO CHARGE AS I AM COVERED BY WARRANTY HOWEVER IF I SELL IT, THE NEXT BUYER WILL NOT BE PROTECTED AND WILL FACE ENDLESS FIX AND MONEY TO WASTE, NOT TO MENTION THAT IT'S $8000 EACH TIME TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION. *TR

RUST IS DEVELOPING ON THE SHEET METAL ON BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE BODY FRAME COVERED BY THE RUBBER DOOR SEAL. THIS RUST IS IN AN AREA THAT IS UNPAINTED (BARE SHEET METAL). THE RUBBER DOOR SEAL TRAPS MOISTURE AGAINST THE STEEL. *NM

TL-CALLER OWNS A 2003 BMW MINI COOPER. CURRENT MILEAGE 104650. FAILURE MILEAGE 99330. WHILE GOING AROUND A TURN AT 40 MPH, IT BECAME HARD TO TURN THE CAR AND HE KNEW THAT THE POWER STEERING HAD FAILED AND HE DROVE THE CAR COME. HE PURCHASED THE REPLACEMENT PART FROM THE DEALER AND INSTALLED IT. WEATHER WAS DRY. TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30 DEGREES. KTF THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH FAILURES WERE AAT THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. WATER ENTERED THE CONNECTOR WHICH CAUSED CORROSION AND A THEN A SHORT. THE TERMINAL WOULD THEN BREK OFF CAUSING THE PUMP TO FAIL. UPDATED 06/08/07. *JB

2003 MINI COOPER S I DROVE TO WORK AS ON ANY OTHER DAY AND PULLED INTO MY USUAL PARKING SPOT. ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER MY CAR ALARM WENT OFF. WHEN I WENT OUTSIDE TO CHECK, ALL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WERE GOING NUTS - DOOR LOCKS, LIGHTS, THE ALARM, ETC. I SAW A LITTLE BIT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I POPPED THE HOOD AND BOOT, PULLED OUT MY FIRE EXTINGUISHER, BUT DIDN'T SEE FLAMES. I SMELLED ELECTRICAL FIRE, AND SAW A WHISP OF SMOKE BUT THAT WAS IT. I EMPTIED THE BOOT AND TRIED TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY (I HEARD SOMETHING 'WHIRRING' AND REALIZED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS OBVIOUSLY MALFUNCTIONING.) I COULDN'T DISCONNECT IT MANUALLY SO I LEFT IT AND CHECKED THE ENGINE BAY AGAIN. STILL NO FLAME, BUT MORE SMOKE. I RAN INSIDE AND ASKED A CO-WORKER TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEN GRABBED MY PHONE AND RAN BACK OUT. ANOTHER CO-WORKER CAME OUT WITH ME AND HELPED ME GET THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER WORKING; NOW WE COULD SEE SOME SMALL FLAMES COMING FROM BELOW THE AIRBOX. I USED UP THE EXTINGUISHER BUT THERE WAS STILL A LITTLE FIRE. FORTUNATELY IT WORKED ITSELF OUT... THEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP. THEY DISCONNECTED MY BATTERY AND HAD A LOOK. THEY SAID THAT USING THE EXTINGUISHER DEFINITELY KEPT IT FROM SPREADING. THEY FILED A REPORT BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT. THE DAMAGE STARTED WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP IGNITING. THE PUMP WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH SOME WIRING HARNESSES AND A FEW OTHER ASSORTED PARTS. THE ENGINE BAY WAS DETAILED TO GET ALL THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER 'GOO' OUT OF IT. THE CAR HAS BEEN FUNCTIONING NORMALLY FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW WITH THE NEW PARTS. MORE INFO HERE: HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=73527. *TR

BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2003 BRAND NEW AND HAD COMPLAINED TO THE SERVICE DEPT WHEN IN FOR REPAIRS THAT THE TRANSMISSION FELT ODD. IT WOULD JERK AT LOW SPEEDS, BETWEEN 5 AND 10. THEY SAID THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THE CVT AND IT SHOULD GO AWAY ONCE THE TRANSMISSION WAS ACCUSTOMED TO THE WAY I DRIVE. IN 2006 MY HUSBAND WAS GIVING BLOOD IN MANCHESTER, NH AND WHILE HE WAS DOING THAT I WENT TO THE MALL FOR A FEW HOURS. AS I WAS RETURNING TO PICK HIM UP I CAME TO A YELLOW LIGHT THAT I COULD NOT MAKE IT THROUGH. I STOPPED THE CAR, LIKE NORMAL NOT A HARD STOP, AND HEARD A CLANK NOISE ALMOST AS IF I HAD HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR TO GO AND NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN EXCEPT MY RPMS WOULD GO UP. I WAS ON A SLIGHT HILL AND BEGAN TO COAST BUT I WASN'T SURE IF I WAS COASTING OR IF THE CAR WAS JUST GOING REALLY SLOW, UNTIL I STARTED IN AN UPHILL AND THE CAR STOPPED. I TRIED TO TURN OF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON, CRAZY LOGIC THAT SOMETIMES DOES THE TRICK, AND THERE WAS NO CHANGE. I PUSHED THE CAR INTO A DRIVEWAY AS I WAS ON A 2 LANE ROAD AND BLOCKING TRAFFIC AND CALLED AAA TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO MINI OF PEABODY. WHEN THEY CALLED ON MONDAY THEY SAID THAT THE CVT HAD FAILED, THEY FOUND THE CHAIN AND LINKS IN THE OIL PAN AND THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I ASKED HOW MUCH THE REPLACEMENT WOULD BE AND THEY TOLD ME PARTS AND LABOR WOULD BE $7700. WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT I TALKED TO THE SA ABOUT THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEY'RE CVT'S AT 60K MILES. HE SAID HE WOULD TALK TO THE MANAGER AND CALL BACK. HE CALLED BACK AND SAID THAT HE TALKED TO THE MANAGER AND SPOKE WITH MINI USA AND THEY WOULD COME HALF THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT BRINGING IT TO $3850. I WENT TO PICK IT UP AND IT FELT LIKE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CAR. THERE IS NO JERKINESS AT SLOW SPEEDS SO I'M CONVINCED THAT I HAD A DUD TRANSMISSION ALL ALONG. *TR

FAILED CVT TRANSMISSION IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. CAR HAD TO BE PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS ENTIRE SYSTEM WAS LOCKED AND ENGINE DIED; COULD NOT MANUALLY MOVE SHIFT OUT OF DRIVE. MILEAGE WAS AROUND 12,000 ABOVE WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP QUOTED $7200 TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION - NO COVERAGE UNDER WARRANTY. I COULD NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR, SO TURNED THE CAR BACK TO MANUFACTURER AS A VOLUNTARY REPO. THIS WAS DEVASTATING. CAR WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION OTHERWISE. *TR

JUST DRIVING ALONG ON A STRAIGHT SMOOTH ROAD AT 40 MPH WHEN THE LOWER REAR CONTROL ARM BROKE CLEAN IN HALF NEARLY CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AS THE WHEEL ROTATED UP INTO THE FENDER WELL. SCOTTSDALE MINI INSISTS THAT THIS ARM SHOULD ONLY BREAK IF THE CAR WAS CRASHED AND THEREFORE THEY WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE NEVER HIT ANY SIGNIFICANT POTHOLES OR OTHER ROAD HAZARDS. THERE ARE MANY SIMILAR CASES OF THIS FAILURE REPORTED ON THE INTERNET BUT MINI IS APPARENTLY RELUCTANT TO CLASSIFY IT AS A DESIGN FLAW. *JB

ON 1/26/06 I TOOK MY CAR INTO TUFFY AUTO TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED, AT THE TIME THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE RIGHT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD A CRACK IN IT. AT THAT TIME I CALLED MINI AND TOLD THEM THAT MY RIGHT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS DAMAGED. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MINI THAT MY DRIVING WAS THE CAUSE OF THIS AND THAT IT WOULDN'T BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I THEN TOOK PICTURES OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WHILE IT WAS STILL ATTACHED TO MY CAR, THESE PICTURES SHOW THAT THERE WAS A SHEARING EFFECT ON THE REAR-MOST PART OF THE ARM AND THERE WAS NO BENDING ON THE ARM. I THEN HAD THE CAR TAKEN BY FLAT-BED TO MY MINI DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY ARE REPLACING THE LOWER AND UPPER CONTROL ARM. MY PICTURES REFUTE WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS BEING A DRIVERS FAULT AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO WARRANTY THE WORK.*JB

OWNER NOTICED CHANGE IN STEERING RESULTING IN HARD TURNING AND NO RETURN OF STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT ASSISTANCE AFTER TURNING VEHICLE. DEALER FOUND FAILURE OF LOWER STEERING SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT AND REPLACED LOWER STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY AND RETAINED OLD PART. VEHICLE WAS MANF. 2/2003 AND HAS 64482 MILES ON IT TO DATE.

1) GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM RIGHT REAR CORNER OF THE CAR WHILE BRAKING. 2) UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE PADS HAD WORN DOWN COMPLETELY ALTHOUGH THE LEFT REAR BRAKE PADS HAVE APPROXIMATELY 1/2 PAD REMAINING. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER FOR WARRANTY SERVICE. 3) VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT GLOBAL IMPORTS MINI IN ATLANTA AWAITING INSPECTION BY A SPECIAL BMW ENGINEER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THIS UNUSUAL WEAR OF BRAKE COMPONENTS. THE BRAKE CALIPERS THAT OPERATE THE BRAKE SYSTEM ARE SUSPECTED TO BE DEFECTIVE/FAULTY. THIS SAME PROBLEM ALSO OCCURRED ON THIS SAME VEHICLE ON MAY 8, 2004. AT THAT TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO SENT TO GLOBAL IMPORTS IN ATLANTA WHERE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR FOR THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR. HOWEVER, THE BRAKE CALIPERS WERE NOT INSPECTED OR REPLACED BY GLOBAL IMPORTS AT THIS TIME. BECAUSE THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE ON THE SAME VEHICLE, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE WITH A SUSPECT BRAKE SYSTEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT GLOBAL IMPORTS (ERIC PETERS) HAS STATED THAT HE BELIEVES THIS TYPE OF INCONSISTENT UNEVEN BRAKE WEAR IS CONSIDERED "NORMAL" PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN AT THE TIME OF RECENT OCCURRENCE ARE AVAILABLE TO SHOW A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE BRAKE PAD THICKNESS ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR THESE PHOTOGRAPHS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE ACCELERATOR BROKE FROM THE STOCK AND FLOPPED ABOUT LOOSELY. ALTHOUGH THE PEDAL DID NOT COMPLETELY SEPARATE, THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BY APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ANCHORED STOCK THAT HOLDS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SUSTAINED EXCESSIVE WEAR DUE TO ABUSE BY THE DRIVER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

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. COST IS OVER 1000.00 DOLLARS TO REPAIR. IF NOT REPAIRED AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. *JB

WHILE PULLING INTO THE PARKING GARAGE AT WORK, THE REAR OF MY MINI COOPER S MADE A NOISE. THE CONTROL ARM ON THE RIGHT, REAR SUSPENSION BROKE. WHEN LOOKING UNDER THE REAR, THE CONTROL ARM WAS IN TWO PIECES, BROKEN IN THE MIDDLE. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER AND I WILL BE REQUESTING THE PART BACK. *JB

FAILURE OF STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF ASSEMBLY 3X. FAILURE RESULTED IN MORE DIFFICULTY TURNING STEERING WHEEL AND CREAKING NOISE EMITTING FROM UNDERSIDE OF CAR. DEALER STATED THERE WAS A TSB ON THIS ISSUE. 1ST INSTANCE 7/8/04 @32,297 MILES, 2ND INSTANCE 3/2/05 @48,551 MILES, 3RD INSTANCE 7/25/05 @59,112 MILES. ALL FAILURES OCCURRED BETWEEN JULY 2004 AND JULY 2005. OLD PART KEPT BY DEALERSHIP.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON THREE OCCASIONS, THE MAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE WARNING LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MINI OF BIRMINGHAM LOCATED AT 2001 TOM WILLIAMS WAY, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35210, 205-267-4505. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,200. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE PART MAY ALSO BE AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL JUNKYARD. THE MAT SENSOR WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT SHOULD BE REPLACED WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON WHICH INDICATES THE AIRBAG IS NOT FUNCTIONING. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES ALREADY TO HAVE THIS FIXED. WILL BE TAKING IT IN FOR THE FOURTH TIME TOMORROW. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN, THEY TOLD ME THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE THIRD TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS AGAIN TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I'M CURIOUS WHAT THEY WILL SAY THIS TIME. MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME AIRBAG LIGHT PROBLEM ON THE MINI CHAT ROOMS. THE SCARY THING IS THAT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON, EITHER ONE OR BOTH OF MY AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.*AK

THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR CHECK UP, AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD CERTAIN SPOTS THAT COULD NOT TOLERATE ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IF THE WINDSHIELD BREAKS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN.*AK

COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE INTERNAL CONTROLLER AREA NETWORK, RESULTING IN BLOWN ELECTRONICS, SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, DSC LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT. CAUSE WAS APPARENTLY A FAULTY RADIO. HOWEVER, A REPLACEMENT RADIO FAILED WHEN INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, BRINGING MORE CONTROLLER AREA NETWORK PROBLEMS.*AK

AIR BAG LIGHTS COME ON WHILE DRIVING.*AK

DYNAMIC STABILTY CONTROL, ABS AND FLAT TIRE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITENTLY WHEN STARTING VEHICLE AND DO NOT GO AWAY UNLESS VEHICLE IS RESTARTED. DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL MODULE FAULT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH A FIRE STARTED IN THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND PUT OUT THE FIRE OUT. THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES STALL WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE HAS THE LATEST VERSION OF ENGINE CONTROLLER SOFTWARE THAT HAS CORRECTIONS FOR STALLING. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

DRIVING HOME THE CAR STALLED AND CAUGHT FIRE. *BF MINI USA EXPERTS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ROOT OF THE FIRE. *SC THE CONSUMER SPOKE TO 2 OTHER DIFFERENT CAR EXPERTS WHO WERE POSITIVE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE FUEL LINE THAT CONTINUED TO PUMP FUEL ALL OVER THE ENGINE PARTS. *JB

DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW WILL LOCK UP AND NOT MOVE, MOTOR AND REGULATOR REPLACED AGAIN. *AK

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT BEING STRUCK BY OBJECT.*AK

RE; FIRE IN MINI COOPER. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FIRE IMMEDIATELY BURNED THROUGH THE INSIDE OF THE NEW VEHICLE AND ENGULFED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WITH FLAMES. EXPERTS TELL THE CONSUMER THAT THE FIRE IS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE FUEL LINE THAT CONTINUED TO PUMP FUEL ALL OVER THE CAR AND ENGINE PARTS. *TC