2004 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. WHEN THIS WOULD OCCUR, THE CONTACT COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON IN HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

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

FAILED COMPONENT 1: LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS DIAGNOSED AT DEALERSHIP AS BAD AND OIL LEAK IS DUE TO FAULTY O RING. FAILED COMPONENT 2: POWER STEERING TOTAL FAILURE. DEALER STATED THIS WAS DUE TO POOR DESIGN OF STEERING PUMP FAN (POOR PLACEMENT OF THE FAN). DEALER STATED THERE WAS A POSSIBLE RECALL REGARDING POWER STEERING FAILURE DUE TO THIS POOR DESIGN POSSIBLY PENDING. WORK TO REPAIR THESE FAILED COMPONENTS HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED PENDING A DEALER RECALL. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE.

POWER STEERING FAILED, CAR WOULD NOT TURN. SECOND OCCASION 1/19/12 SAME THING AT 40MPH. AFTER CAR RESTS PROBLEM DISAPPEARS. ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN CAR AT ALL. *TR

@ APPROXIMATELY 85K MILES POWER STEERING FAILURE INTERMITTENTLY BECAME AN ISSUE ON 2004 MINI COOPER S. @ 95K MILES POWER STEERING BECAME COMPLETE FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 15-20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER. A DIAGNOSTIC HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,640.

THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2004 MINI COOPER BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING LAST YEAR. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO STEER AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE. IT MALFUNCTIONS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR, THE PUMP STOPS WORKING A FEW MINUTES OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER I START THE ENGINE. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION, BUT ONE COULD BE POSSIBLE, IF I WERE TO HAVE TO MAKE A SHARP TURN AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE. SINCE THIS PART IS A DEALER ONLY PART, IT IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD IT SINCE I WAS LAID OFF LAST YEAR. HELP! *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE DOES NOT RELEASE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. THIS STARTED WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2009. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME I TRY TO REMOVE THE SEATBELT. I HAVE TO JIGGLE THE BUCKLE TO GET IT TO RELEASE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM YET; THE DEALER WILL NOT WARRANTY THE BUCKLE. *TR

INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED SOON AFTER STARTING. THE CAR HAD BEEN OUTSIDE ON A COLD DAY, BUT NOT UNUSUAL (~20 DEGREES F). IT FUNCTIONED AGAIN WHEN RE-STARTED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY POWER STEERING PUMP DIED I COULD HARDLY CHANGE LANES ON THE FREEWAY, IT FELT LIKE MY STEERING WHEEL HAD LOCKED, TURNING IN ANY ANGLE WAS VERY HARD WORST THAN DRIVING A TRUCK, I KEPT A FIRM GRIP WITH ONE HAND WHILE TRYING TO CONTROL THE GEARS, MY ARMS, BACK, AND HAND IS STILL HURTING, HAD NO WARNING SIGNALS, IT WHEEL JUST LOCKED UP AND WAS VERY HARD TO MANAGED I WASNT ABLE TO HANDLE THE CAR DID NOT FEEL SAFE, DID NOT HAVE FULL CONTROL OF HANDLING THE STEERING THIS IS SERIOUS PROTENTIAL ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE RECALLS BUT NOT FOR MY VIN 2004. MY MINI IS NOW IN THE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE PUMP REPLACE AND THE FAN. THIS IS A DEADLY ISSUE AND MINI SHOULD RECALL AND PAY FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET WE SHOULD GET REFUNDS, SO FAR OUT OF POCKET IS OVER $1100.00, I HOPE THIS SEND A MESSAGE TO THE MANAUFACTURE THAT LIVES ARE AT STAKE HERE, GREAT CAR BUT NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT FULL CONTROL. I'M SO THANKFUL I DIDNT HAVE TO MOVE QUICKLY OUT OF THE WAY OR I WOULD NOT BE HERE TO REPORT THIS BAD EXPERIENCE I LOST A DAY OF WORK TRYING TO GET THIS RESOLVED AND THE COST OF A RENTAL CAR. *TR

APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO I WAS ON ORTEGA HIGHWAY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WITH MY CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT. AS I WAS MANEUVERING THE MINI ALONG THE CURVY ROAD THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. FORTUNATELY I HAD GOTTEN THROUGH THE WORST OF THE HAIR PINS AND WAS GOING SLOWER THAN THE SPEED LIMIT ETC. SUDDENLY THE STEERING BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN. MY HUSBAND WAS INFORMED BY A MECHANIC THAT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING FAN. WE HAD IT REPLACED AND IT SEEMED OKAY. ON NOVEMBER 26TH I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR GOING TO MY SISTERS I WENT TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN. I WAS FORTUNATE ONCE AGAIN AS THERE WAS NO ON COMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE IF THERE WAS I WOULD HAVE HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISION. THERE ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS FOR THIS ISSUE AND I HAD NEVER BEEN INFORMED OF POWER STEERING ISSUES BEING SO SUDDEN ON THIS VEHICLE. I BELIEVE A MASSIVE RECALL FOR THE 02-04 YEARS WOULD BE AN EXTREMELY GOOD IDEA. I GOGGLED THE ISSUE AND HAVE FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH THESE YEARS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. I HAVE A TRUCK OLDER THAN IT THAT HAS NEVER HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING REPLACED. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE IT NOW DUE TO FINANCIAL ISSUES. THE PUMP ALONE IS BETWEEN 400-500 DOLLARS. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE GET THEM TO RECALL THIS BEFORE SOMEONE DIES! OR IS THAT WHAT EVERYONE IS WAITING FOR?!? *TR

MY 2004 MINI COOPER S HAS 48,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT I CANNOT CHANGE GEARS WITHOUT GREAT DIFFICULTY. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS REPORTS ONLINE ABOUT POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE, BRAKE FAILURE AND A HOST OF SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE COOPER. I THINK THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE EVALUATED FOR SAFETY ISSUES. THANKS, KAREN *TR

SUPERCHARGER FAILED AT 60,950 MILES, RESULTING IN COMPLETE REBUILD OF UNIT. FAULTY GEAR AND LUBRICATION DESIGN. *TR

POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING, REPAIR COST APP. $ 2.000.-, NO HELP FROM MINI USA. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS PLACING ITEMS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, HIS CALF WAS BURNED BY THE EXTENDED TAIL PIPE. THE DRIVER HAS INCURRED MULTIPLE BURNS TO HIS CALF DUE TO THE EXTENDED TAIL PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE COMPENSATION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

TRANSMISSION GAVE WAY. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER WITH MOTOR MOUNT, ELECTRICAL, FLAT TIRE SENSORS ISSUES. CVT TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT RECOMMENDED. *TGW ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED; DEAD NO POWER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IS SITTING IN THE GARAGE UN-DRIVABLE BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE $8,000 TO REPLACE THE CVT TRANSMISSION. *JB

AS AN OWNER OF A 2004 COOPER S I WAS GREATLY DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THAT I NOW NEED TO REPLACE MY ELECTRIC STEERING PUMP AT ONLY 55K MILES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE PART "GOES REGULARLY" AND THAT "WE KEEP A BUNCH IN STOCK" AND THAT IT WILL COST ME $600 FOR A NEW ONE NOT INCLUDING LABOR. WITH THIS BIT OF INFORMATION, I BEGAN TO SEARCH MINI COOPER FANSITES AND BLOGS TO SEE HOW OFTEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS. I WASN'T SURPRISED TO FIND THAT MANY OF THE MEMBERS AND "FANS" OF THE CAR HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PUMP FAILURES, AND THAT THERE IS A GROWING NUMBER OF THOSE WHO ARE DISCUSSING THE FAILURE ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS IS BOTH A COSTLY FIX AS WELL AS A SAFETY PROBLEM. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF A STEERING PUMP IS QUITE DANGEROUS AND MAY CAUSE SOME DRIVERS TO LOSE CONTROL. I AM FORTUNATE THAT I NOTICED THE PROBLEM AND UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE FAILURE WAS, SO I PERSONALLY DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT, BUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE LESS CAR SAVVY, THEY MAY NOT NOTICE THE NOISE OF THE FAILURE THAT IS ABOUT TO OCCUR. *TR

POWER STEERING DROPPED OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN STEERING CONTROL BEFORE A COLLISION, BUT POWER STEERING NEVER CAME BACK ON. I FOUND OUT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD FAILED, PERHAPS BROUGHT ON BY A POWER STEERING FAN FAILURE. BOTH THE FAN AND PUMP WERE REPLACED. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR HAS FAILED ON MY 04 MINI COOPER S. UPON RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, I'VE FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHER MINI COOPER OWNERS HAVE THE SAN=ME RECURRENT ISSUE. MINI COOPER NEEDS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH A RECALL. *TR

PASSENGER WINDOW DOES NOT ROLL DOWN. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE. THE FIRST TIME, IT CORRECTED ITSELF AFTER A FEW DAYS. *TR

POWER WINDOW ON PASSENGER SIDE COMES DOWN ONLY SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WORK FOR WEEKS. STEERING IS MAKING NOISES. *TR

AT FIRST MY BATTERY DIED AFTER I CAME OUT OF WORK. I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY SINCE I DIDN'T LEAVE ANYTHING ON. SO I GOT THE BATTERY REPLACED FOR $200. RECENTLY THE STEERING HAS BEEN CUTTING OUT WHILE DRIVING. IF YOU PULL OFF INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURN OFF THE CAR YOU CAN STILL HEAR THE COOLING FAN GOING. AFTER APPROX 30 MIN THE POWER STEERING WILL RETURN TO NORMAL UNTIL IT OVERHEATS AGAIN. SO MY BATTERY WAS BEING DRAINED BY THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN. *TR

POWER STEERING IS NOT RELIABLE; SOMETIMES WORKS, AND SOMETIME DOES NOT. CONSEQUENTLY IT CAUSES DANGEROUS SITUATIONS PARTICULARLY IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. INITIALLY THE PROBLEM WAS BARELY NOTICEABLE. WHEN CONSULTED, MINI SERVICE STATED THAT THIS IS NOT A FAULT BUT A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE MINI. WITH TIME THE STEERING GOT PROGRESSIVELY LESS PREDICTABLE. AND, THE PROBLEM WAS RECTIFIED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER STEERING POMP. ONE YEAR LATER, THE UNPREDICTABLE LOSS OF POWER STEERING RETURNED AGAIN (SPORADICALLY), AND NOW COME (PERMANENT) FUTURE OF DRIVING. *TR

DRIVER SIDE DOOR OF MY 2004 MINI COOPER CAN ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE (I.E. I NEED TO LOWER THE WINDOW IN ORDER TO OPEN THE DOOR) MINI DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT GUARANTEE A FIX WILL LAST MORE THAN FEW WEEKS. *TR

MY 2004 MINI COOPERS TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 80K MILES WITH NO WARNING. LUCKILY I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY, WHERE I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE COST OF REPLACING THE TRANNY WAS $7,000. MINI USA WAS USELESS WHEN I PLEADED WITH THEM TO HELP ME. AFTER READING ABOUT ALL OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE CVT TRANS, I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE WAS NO RECALL. I WILL NEVER BUY A MINI AGAIN. I STILL OWE $11,000 ON THE CAR AND CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER. *TR

I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER S AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FAILED AFTER ONLY 4 YEARS AND 65,000 MILES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURE IS ACUTELY AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL OR WARRANTY THE ITEM. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER S - POWER STEERING FAN/PUMP FAILURE VIN# [XXX] MY POWER STEERING STOP WORKING COMPLETELY. THIS POWER STEERING WOULD GO "ON" AND "OFF: INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE PAST YEAR A HALF (4-7 TIMES A WEEK OVER THE LAST 8-10MONTHS). I'D PARK THE CAR WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE, NO POWER STEERING. THIS HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND NOW THE POWER STEERING HAS STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD!!I HAVE ONLY HAS THE CAR FOR 2 YEARS AND IT HAS 70K MILES. I BROUGHT THE INTERMITTENT FAILURES TO THE DEALERSHIPS ATTENTION NUMEROUS TIMES BUT THEY NEED TO "SEE IT HAPPENING" TO FIX IT. NOW THAT MY POWER STEERING HAS COMPLETELY FAILED, THEY NOW TOLD ME TO ITS THE POWER STEERING FAN/PUMP THAT HAS FAILED. I CAN NOT AFFORD THE REPAIRS AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH NO POWER STEERING FOR OVER 3 MONTHS. I SEE THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN DISCUSSED EVERYWHERE ONLINE & THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUSLY HUGE AND COMMON ISSUE FOR MY MODEL & YEAR MINI COOPER. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS PROCESS OF FILING A COMPLAINT WILL EVEN DO ANYTHING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, BUT IF SOMEONE IS READING THIS COMPLAINT, PLEASE HELP US. THANK YOU ** THE WEBSITE WOULD NOT ACCEPT MY VIN # AS VALID SO I WAS UNABLE TO ADD IT TO THE APPROPRIATE PLACE DURING THIS COMPLAINT FILING. *TR

MY POWER STEERING FAILS INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT NOTICE. EVENTUALLY A HIGH PITCHED WEEING SOUND WAS NOTICEABLE. THE SOUND EVENTUALLY STOPPED. WE TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR THE EVENING. THE NEXT MORNING THE BATTERY (ONLY 1 YEAR OLD) WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. AFTER GETTING THE BATTERY CHARGED AND FUNCTIONAL, I PROCEEDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND PHONE CALLING TO FIND OUT THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. COME TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM IS THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND IS SOMETHING THAT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED.

THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER HAS FAILED. I BELIEVE THAT THIS FAILURE MADE THE CAR DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE CAR IS A LOW-MILEAGE VEHICLE (43,000 MILES AT 4 YEARS) AND I BELIEVE THIS COMPONENT HAS FAILED PREMATURELY. I AM A MEMBER OF SEVERAL MINI ENTHUSIAST COMMUNITIES AND AM AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MINI. WWW.MINI2.COM HAS REPORTS OF AROUND 1 IN 4 VEHICLES HAVING THIS PUMP FAIL PREMATURELY. I BELIEVE AN INVESTIGATION IS IMPORTANT DUE TO MEMBER REPORTS OF FIRES STARTING UNDER THE HOOD. THE PART WAS REPLACE AT A MINI DEALERSHIP. *TR

FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AND LOCKED UP CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT 40MPH. NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AS I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE SLIDE. HOWEVER I HAVE SPOKEN TO BOTH DEALER AND MANUFACTURE AND THEY BOTH ADMIT THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THESE VEHICLES BOTH AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL ARE WEAK AND CAN CAUSE FAILURE AT ANY SPEED WHICH WILL RESULT IN LOCKUP OF THE FRONT TIRES. NUMEROUS REPORTS FROM OTHER MINI COOPER OWNERS SHOW THE SAME. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN THIS VEHICLE 3 YEARS AGO FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW IT NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN. THE ONLY REPAIR IS TO PUT A REBUILT UNIT IN PLACE WITH THE SAME WEAK GEARS. MINI NO LONGER WARRANTIES THE REPAIRS AS OF 2008 BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS. I GOT LUCKY BUT I CARRY MY 3YR OLD SON WITH ME MOST OF THE TIME AND THIS DOES NOT FEEL LIKE A SAFE VEHICLE CONSIDERING OUT OF NOWHERE WITH NO WARNING THIS FAILURE COULD OCCUR AGAIN. BOTH MINI USA, BMW HAVE BEEN VERY UNHELPFUL IN THE MATTER UNLESS I'M WILLING TO PAY OVER $1000 TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A MINI COOPER DEALER JUST TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. *TR

POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN EARLY 2008. LUCKILY THE CAR WAS PARKED WHEN THAT HAPPENED OR ELSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER SINCE MINI STEERING WHEEL IS ALREADY HEAVIER THAN OTHER CARS. HAD IT FIXED (REPLACED) AT THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD TO PAY AROUND $1000 SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE THAT THE STEERING POWER PUMP DIED THIS EARLY ONLY AFTER 4 YEARS. IT'S A RIPOFF FOR THE CONSUMERS. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT THIS. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE LOWER SHAFT STARTED TO HAVE ISSUES AS WELL. THEY STARTED TO MAKE CREAKING NOISES. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY QUOTED AT ALMOST $1000 TO REPLACE THE PARTS. THE STEERING COLUMN AND POWER PUMP SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY FOUR YEARS! *TR

I HAD DRIVEN 2004 MINI FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTE, THEN PARKED IT IN DRIVEWAY. WITHIN 15 MINUTES I LOOKED OVER TO SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I OPENED THE COMPARTMENT AND GOT HELP. WE PUSHED IT INTO A NEARBY FIELD AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPT. IF IT HAD STAYED IN THE DRIVE, IT WOULD HAVE ALSO IGNITED 2 CARS, THE HOUSE AND A BOAT. WHO KNOW ABOUT PEOPLE AND ANIMALS. I ALMOST GOT RUN OVER TRYING TO STOP THE MINI AS IT WAS PUSHED. AFTER THE CAR WAS OUT, WE HAD IT TOWED TO INSKIP AUTO IN WARWICK RI. JEOF SAID AT FIRST IT WAS A POWER STEERING HOSE THAT BURST AND GOT ON THE HOT EXHAUST...IGNITING. AFTER LOOKING AT IT FURTHER AND WITH METLIFE INSURANCE AGENT, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING FAN AND PUMP FAILURE. THIS OVERHEATED THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS, TO START THE ELECTRICAL FIRE. NEITHER THE INSURANCE NOR INSKIP FELT IT WAS COVERED BY THEM. I AM TO PAY $2,600. TODAY WHEN IT PICK IT UP. THIS COVERS LABOR, A POWER STEERING PUMP, FAN AND HARNESS. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET TO UPSETTING TO ME AND FIND AT LEAST 250 POSTED MINI'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MINI DOES NOT HAVE TO RECALL IT. ARE THEY WAITING FOR JUST AS MANY DEATHS? *TR

I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER S MODEL, WITH 39,000 MILES. THE CAR IS WELL CARED FOR. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 30,000 AND I BEGAN RECEIVING ANNOYING CALLS AND LETTERS FROM MINI TO PURCHASE AN ADDITIONAL EXTENDED WARRANTY. I DID NOT, BELIEVING THAT SIMPLY MAINTAINING MY CAR PROPERLY WOULD TAKE CARE OF ANY FUTURE ISSUES. I TRUSTED BMW/MINI THAT THEY WOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT IF SOME UNUSUAL FAILURE OR BREAKDOWN OCCURRED. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO MY POWER STEERING WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT. AT FIRST, ONLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND THEN IT STARTED OCCURRING WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. WE CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND ALL WAS WELL. TOOK IT IN TO MY MECHANIC AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE EXPLAINED THAT MINI HAD TOLD HIM "THEY" HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING A HIGH INSTANCES OF STEERING POWER PUMP FAILURES. HE ASKED IF THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS ON THE RECALL LIST. "THEY" TOLD HIM NO AND EXPLAINED THAT THE PUMP WAS ELECTRICAL AND NOT MANUALLY THEREFORE IT WAS CONSIDERED WEAR AND TEAR. CREVIER MINI, WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $1100.00 TO REPLACE THE PUMP! MY MECHANIC TOLD ME HE WOULD REPLACE IT FOR $880.00. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IN ORDER FOR HIM TO GET A POWER STEERING PUMP, HE NEEDED TO TURN MY OLD PUMP INTO THEM. CREVIER TOLD HIM THAT "THEY" WERE REBUIDLING THESE!.THEY COULD NOT KEEP ENOUGH OF THEM ON THE SHELVES. THIS IS A SCANDALOUS OUTRAGE, PARTICULARLY AFTER READING VARIOUS BLOGS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT I AM EXPERIENCING WITH MY MINI. I SHOULD CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY IN THAT MY CAR DID NOT CATCH FIRE, SINCE IT IS ALWAYS GARAGED, OR THAT I DID NOT KILL MYSELF OR HURT SOME INNOCENT PEOPLE BY THE PROBLEM OCCURRING ON A STEEP CURVEY GRADE WHILE DRIVING. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO, MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW STOPPED WORKING!! TOOK IT IN CREVIER WANTED $900 TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AGAIN STATED WEAR AND TEAR!! MY MECHANIC CHARGED ME $400.00. *TR

AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING PROBLEMS, THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY CAR FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE TRYING TO ENTER A REST STOP ON THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY. UPON BRINGING THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN HAD BEEN JAMMED, CAUSING THE PUMP TO OVERHEAT. I THEN RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND THAT SEVERAL MINI COOPER MODELS FROM 2002 TO 2006 HAD BEEN SUFFERING FROM THIS ISSUE, AND THAT THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING A SECOND TIME WAS TO INSTALL AN EXPENSIVE FAN GUARD ON THE NEW COOLING FAN. MORE RECENTLY, I FOUND OUT ABOUT NHTSA RESEARCH CONCERNING THE PROBLEM, AND WANTED TO SUBMIT THE EXPERIENCE I HAD WITH THE PROBLEM. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MOTOR HAS FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME. WINDOW IS STUCK CLOSED. THIS IS A CONCERN IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY AND CAUSES PROBLEMS WHEN CLOSING THE DOOR AS THE GLASS HITS THE LIP OF THE ROOF SINCE IT DOES NOT DROP AS DESIGNED. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 MINI COOPER WITH ABOUT 61000 MILES, AND HAVE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. IT WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION AS THE STEERING LOCKED AS I WAS DRIVING ON A LOS ANGELES FREEWAY AT A HIGH SPEED. THERE IS NO WARNING INDICATION, AND THERE IS DEFINITELY A POTENTIAL DANGER. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER WILL NOT COME DOWN. *TR

TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 57,000 MILES. WARRANTY JUST RAN OUT, QUOTED PRICE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION, CLUTCH, PRESSURE PLATE AND THROW OUT BEARING $7,000 MINIMUM. DEALER REFUSES TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER, HAD SEVERAL PROBLEM WITH FRONT EXCEL , HYDOROPLATES AND DANGEROUS CAR TO DRIVE. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER S - POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN FAILURE. POWER STEERING QUITS WORKING CAUSING INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT STEERING. SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE PUMP AND FAN AND THE EXPENSE OF THE OWNER, ME. I BELIEVE THIS PUMP AND FAN SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AND ALSO THAT THERE SHOULD BE A NATIONWIDE RECALL SINCE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MINI COOPER DRIVERS WITH THIS SAME ISSUES. *TR

VENT FAN IN MOTOR COMPARTMENT SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE CAUSING DAMAGE TO VARIOUS ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND SMOKE DAMAGE. *TR

POWER WINDOW FAILURE TO PROPERLY LIFT AND SEAL WHEN DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS ARE CLOSED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH CAUSING LIMITED STEERING CAPABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED AT THAT TIME. THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

I WAS PARKED ONE AFTER NOON LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD AND I HEARD A CRACKLING SOUND COMING FORM THE ABS PUMP. THERE WAS A SMALL PUFF OF SMOKE AND THEN THE SOUND STOPPED. AT THIS POINT I WENT ABOUT MY BUSINESS AND RETURNED TO MY 2004 MINI COOPER S AND THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WERE OUT. A FEW DAYS LATER I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE BMW DEALER AND AFTER A FEW TESTS THEY DETERMINED IT WAS JUST BAD FUSES. A WEEK HAS PAST AND I HAVE HAD NO OTHER PROBLEMS. *TR

MY 2004 MINI COOPER S LOST STEERING CONTROL APPROACHING A VERY DANGEROUS CORNER ON CALIFORNIA SR 330. IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL AND I NEARLY AVOIDED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, BUT WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE TURN AND THEN GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. SEARCHING ON THE WEB, I SEEN HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF STEERING FAILURE IN 2002 THROUGH 2006 MINI COOPERS. MY DEALER WAS KNEW ABOUT THE ISSUE AND REPLACED THE STEERING PUMP. MY MINI HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

COMPLETE AND INSTANTANEOUS POWER STEERING FAILURE. THERE IS PLENTY OF FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR AND THERE ARE NO BLOWN FUSES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 25 MPH AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER IT WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT ALL OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OVER THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 78,402.

2004 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE THREE TIMES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE NOT YET REPLACED NO CONSEQUENCES YET BEYOND FRIGHTENING. *TR