2006 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REVIEWED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM BEGAN TO FUNCTION AGAIN. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

I HAVE A 2006 MINI COOPER. RECENTLY, COMPLETE POWER TO THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN LOST WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE OVER THE PAST MONTH. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED ON A PAVED CITY STREET AT SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE POWER FAILURES OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REQUIRED TO BE BROUGHT TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE POWER TO THE VEHICLE COULD BE RESTORED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED MINI COOPER REPAIR CENTER (NIELLO MINI, SACRAMENTO, CA) ON 07/26/11. THE DEALERSHIP COULD FIND NO FAULTS WITH THE VEHICLE AND HAD US DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE LOT "AS IS" WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO BRING IT BACK IN FOR FURTHER TESTING IF THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. NEXT TIME COULD BE TOO LATE AS THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT TO OCCUR. *TR

OUR 2006 MINI COOPER HATCHBACK'S PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR STAYS ON WITH OR WITHOUT A PASSENGER. SOMETIMES WITH A PASSENGER, IT WILL GO ON AND OFF SPORADICALLY. IF THE LIGHT IS ON WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IT WOULD BE LOGICAL TO ASSUME THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WIDE-SPREAD AND DANGEROUS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT TURNED OFF. AT THE SAME TIME THE SEAT BELT LIGHT CAME ON. HAD BOTH CHECKED AND WHEN CAR WAS RETURNED BOTH LIGHTS WERE OUT. PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM WAS REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BOTTOM. NO PROBLEM NOTED FOR THE SEAT BELT LIGHT. 1/2 MILE FROM DEALER BOTH WARNING LIGHTS AGAIN TURNED ON AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT TURNED OFF. AT THIS POINT I AM NOT SURE IF THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE OR NOT.

THE PASSENGER'S SEAT MAT AIRBAG SENSOR HAS FAILED IN MY CAR AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS LIT AT ALL TIMES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW, THE FIRST TIME AT 28801 MILES AND NOW AGAIN AT 52300 MILES. I PAID $1200 FOR A FULL SEAT BOTTOM REPLACEMENT AT THE MINI DEALERSHIP TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND NOW, 3 YEARS LATER, THE NEW SEAT HAS FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER. BMW HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE FOR THEIR CARS FROM THE SAME YEAR WHICH USE THE SAME MALFUNCTIONING PARTS AND MINI NEEDS TO DO THE SAME FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE AND RECURRING KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE THAT CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR. I HAVE HAD 2 DIFFERENT MINI DEALERSHIPS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IN COUNTLESS 2005 AND 2006 MODEL YEAR MINIS, YET THERE IS NO OFFER TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE DESPITE THE FACT THAT I ALREADY HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET ONCE. *TR

I COMPLAINED WITH MINI COOPER BACK IN 2011 WHEN MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AND DEALERSHIP SAID THAT REPLACEMENT WILL BE DONE OUT OF POCKET. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY CAR AT RISK; MORE OFTEN THAT NOT, I DO NOT DRIVE MY CAR WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. FAST FORWARD TO 2015 WITH RECALL BUT UNABLE TO EXECUTE THE RECALL DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE WHAT THE CAUSE OF DELAY AND SINCE THE ORIGINAL PART WORKS ALBEIT BAD DURABILITY, FORCE MINI COOPER/BMW TO PERFORM STOP GAP REPAIRS WITH OLDER PARTS, BYPASS SENSOR OR CHANGE SOFTWARE CODE TO DISREGARD BAD SENSOR INPUT. THE BURDEN IS TOO GREAT FOR ME TO USE MY CAR WITH NO PASSENGER OR PASSENGER AT RISK. STOP GAP REPAIRS, INCLUDING CHANGING THE SOFTWARE CODE AND ELIMINATE SENSOR INPUT TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG CAN BE A TEMPORARY REPAIR. HOW HARD IS IT FOR BMWQ TO SHORT OR "FAKE" THE SENSOR SIGNAL, SO THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT DISABLE THE AIRBAG; HENCE IT WOULD DEPLOY WHEN THERE'S A PASSENGER ONBOARD. PUT A STICKER ON THE DASHBOARD THAT SAYS AIRBAGS ARE TEMPORARY ACTIVE AND CHILD SEATS NOT ALLOWED. MY SAFETY INSTINCT TELLS ME IT IS PREFERRED TO HAVE THE AIRBAG ACTIVE AND DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED. THE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL CHILD SEAT IS MOST LIKELY A VERY LOW NUMBER THAT MOST OWNERS WOULD PREFER TO HAVE AN ACTIVE AIRBAG. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THIS IS TAKING SO LONG, AND PUTTING THE OWNERS AT RISK WHEN THERE ARE STOP GAP MEASURES AVAILABLE. BYPASSING THE SENSOR AND HAVING THE AIRBAGS ACTIVE SEEMS TO BE THE MOST LOGICAL ONE EXCEPT NHTSA MAY BE THE PROBLEM FOR COMING UP WITH AUTO-SENSORS TO PREVENT CHILD SEAT ACTIVATION. NHTSA SHOULD MAKE A CHOICE AND DECIDE WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT, SAFETY OF THE PASSENGERS, OR HAVING TO GIVE BMW INSTRUCTION AND WAIVERS TO ALLOW STOP GAP AND NOT PUT ME AND MY PASSENGERS AT RISK.

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS. IT FIRST BEGAN LOCKING WHEN I TURNED IT ON. I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT SINCE IT UNLOCKED A MINUTE LATER. THEN A MONTH LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. IT STARTED TO HAPPEN ONCE A MONTH AND JUST LIKE THE FIRST TIME IT UNLOCKED. HOWEVER, AS OF LAST MONTH IT HAS JUST LOCKED AND WON'T UNLOCK. THE 2004 AND 2005 HAD RECALL ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I FEEL THAT 2006 HAS THE SAME ISSUE. IT SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED. HOW DO I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE NOT USED THE 2004 OR 2005 PART ON THE STEERING WHEEL? THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, AND IT CAN CAUSE MAJOR CAR ACCIDENTS. *TR

AIR BAG FAILURE LAMP LIGHT ON. 2006 JCW MINI COOPER. ON STARTUP, LAMPS ALL GO THROUGH STARTUP ILLUMINATION THEN GO DARK. AIRBAG FAILURE LAMP RELIGHTS 1 SECOND LATER AND REMAINS ON. NO INTERIOR WIRING DONE, CAR IS AS WAS RECEIVED NEW FROM DEALER. *TR

I HAD MY CAR FOR A WEEK AFTER GETTING IT BACK AFTER A VERY EXPENSIVE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT AND TRIED TO TURN ONTO THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE TURN AND I NARROWLY AVOIDED ENDING UP IN THE BAR DITCH. UPON, GETTING MY VEHICLE TO TOWN I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC. MY POWER STEERING HAS FAILED AND I WILL PROBABLY BE REPLACING THE WHOLE SYSTEM AT A THOUSAND DOLLARS OR MORE. AFTER PAYING 6500+ FOR A TRANSMISSION THAT WENT OUT THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN, YOU CAN IMAGINE MY DISAPPOINTMENT AND FRANKLY, MY DISGUST. I CALLED THE CLOSES MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP (ABOUT 400 MILES AWAY) THEY OFFERED NO HELPFUL INFORMATION AND NEGLECTED ANY MENTION OF THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS COMPONENT, THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION, AND THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED LAST FALL. I FOUND ALL THAT OUT THROUGH MY OWN RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET. OBVIOUSLY, I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THIS YET BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW I CAN. *TR

EXITING THE FREEWAY ENGINE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND I IMMEDIATELY LOST STEERING. TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO STEER IT TO SAFETY. SOME SMOKE COMING UNDERNEATH. LOCAL MECHANIC REPORTED THAT THE COOLING FAN FOR THE HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING HAD STOPPED AND EVERYTHING HAD OVER HEATED. MULTIPLE WIRES AND COMPONENTS COMPLETED MELTED. LOCAL MECHANIC DECLINED TO FIX AND TOLD US TO TAKE IT TO BMW/MINI TO FIX. THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE DEFECT AND WE ARE STILL TRYING TO GET IT REPAIRED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,800.

A PROBLEM DEVELOPED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY MINI COOPER "S" (2006). THE PROBLEM STARTED SOMEWHAT GRADUALLY, OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL DAYS TO A WEEK, DURING WHICH THE WHEEL BECAME MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN. MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR IN ANY SORT OF INCIDENT. IT HAS LESS THAN THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND MILES ON IT. I TOOK MY MINI TO AN AUTHORIZED MINI-COOPER REPAIR FACILITY WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE KNOCK (SP?) SENSOR AND STEERING MOTOR HAD FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THIS WAS AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $2,000.00 DOLLARS, HOWEVER IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUES TO BE SLUGGISH AND DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT WHATEVER IS WRONG WITH THE STEERING IS A DESIGN FLAW, AS NO CAR WITH LESS THAN THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND MILES ON IT SHOULD EXHIBIT SUCH A STRANGE AND CRITICAL FAILURE. *TR

2006 MINI CVT TRANSMISSION MADE A WEIRD NOISES AND STOPPED MOVING, JUST PRIOR TO THIS THERE WAS HESITATION IN ACCELERATION AND VERY LOUD NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH IN THE RAIN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE HYDRO-LOCKED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CONTACT DID NOT AGREE WITH THE DEALERS DIAGNOSIS AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. HE THEN SUGGESTED THAT THE DEALER FURTHER INSPECT THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED, AS THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

I WASDRIVING IN CT. WHEN MY CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. MY CAR WAS HAULED AWAY AND BMW (MINI COOPER) AND MINI OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY IN STAMFORD CT TRY TO CLAIM THAT THIS ENGINE WAS HYDROLOCKED. THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE WHEN IT WAS NOT RAINING TO MAKE THIS CLAIM. ENGINE COMPLETELY SEIZED. *TR

SUDDEN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. SEVERAL DAYS AFTER THE ORIGINAL BATTERY FAILED AND WAS REPLACED, THERE WAS A CONTINUING SOUND LIKE A FAN OR ELECTRIC MOTOR RUNNING CONSTANTLY. THIS NOISE CONTINUED UNTIL THE POWER STEERING CEASED COMPLETELY DURING A PARKING MANEUVER. AFTER THE STEERING FAILED THE PREVIOUSLY NOTED NOISE STOPPED.

PASSENGER SEAT OC-3 AIR BAG SENSOR FAILURE: I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SPORADICALLY SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BUT RECENTLY, I'VE BEEN GETTING BOTH THE YELLOW OVERHEAD AIRBAG OFF LIGHT (ABOVE THE REARVIEW MIRROR) AND THE RED WARNING LIGHT ON THE CENTER DASH TURN ON AND STAY ON. THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK NOW WHETHER THE SEAT IS OCCUPIED OR NOT. IT CAUSES THE SEATBELT ALARM TO GO OFF AND I HAVE TO BUCKLE AN EMPTY SEAT. MY MAIN CONCERN IS IT JEOPARDIZING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG FUNCTION. *TT

THE POWER STEERING FAILED 2 DAYS AGO ON MY 2006 MINI COOPER S WITH ONLY 36,600 MILES. IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE & YET BMW/MINI REFUSES TO ADDRESS IT. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT IT HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT & NOT ON MY DAILY HIGHWAY COMMUTE OR DURING MY RECENT VACATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND THE CHARGE CIRCUIT LIGHT CAME ON AND I SMELLED A HEATED ELECTRICAL SMELL. THE POWER STEERING HAD CUT OUT, SHORTLY AFTER, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE BEGAN TO RISE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, THEN BACK ON AND DROVE HOME. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, IT SEEMS THAT THIS MODEL MINI COOPER HAVE POWER STEERING PUMPS THAT FAIL AROUND 70,000 MILES. I DROVE TO MY JOB ON SUNDAY, AND THE CAR MADE THE ROUND TRIP, EXCEPT JUST BEFORE GETTING HOME, THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR TO A MECHANIC YET. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM OVER THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED HIM TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

2006 MINI COOPER S. MAKES HORRIBLE ENGINE NOISE AND UPON INVESTIGATION MINI FOUND THAT THE AC COMPRESSOR IS OUT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS ONLY 44K MILES AND HAS BEEN MINI MAINTAINED. THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS CLOSE TO 4K WHICH IS ABSURD FOR A PART THAT SHOULD LAST.I FOUND A MECHANIC ( NOT MINI) THAT CAN DO THE WORK FOR 2,800 BUT EVEN THAT IS TOO MUCH FOR A DEFECTIVE PART. MINI SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. NOW, WE CAN'T EVEN TURN ON THE FAN BECAUSE IT WILL TRIGGER A CHAIN REACTION OF PROBLEMS. *TR

TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 70MPH AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS UP, SPEEDS DROPS TO MAXIMUM 30MPH CREATING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. FIRST OCCURRENCE MARCH 2012 WAS DIAGNOSED AS FAILED "THROTTLE BODY", SECOND OCCURRENCE IN JULY 2012 WAS DIAGNOSED AS FAILED "WIRING HARNESS". *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO FOURTH GEAR TO INCREASE SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT AS THE CLUTCH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34, 4000. UPDATED 05/24/11*LJ

ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, 12 MARCH 2011, A LOUD, HIGH-PITCHED HUMMING OR WHINING, SERIOUS-SOUNDING NOISE DEVELOPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE LOUDNESS (AND/OR THE PITCH) OF THE NOISE WOULD CHANGE WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL. I CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL, WHICH WAS OK. THE NIGHT OF SUNDAY, 13 MARCH, I LEFT THE CAR AT ATLANTIC MOTORCAR SERVICES OF WISCASSET, MAINE 04578, WHICH SPECIALIZES IN MINI AND OTHER EUROPEAN VEHICLES. THE FOLLOWING MORNING I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT OUT. ATLANTIC FOUND "THE POWER STEERING PUMP (EPAS) IS DEFECTIVE". THEY REPLACED THE EPAS ASSEMBLY (PART # 32 41 6 778 425) AT A COST OF $1212.49; AND BLED, FLUSHED AND FILLED THE SYSTEM (PS SERVICE KITBG $99). THIS RESOLVED THE PROBLEM.

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. THE LIGHT WILL COME ON REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT A PASSENGER IS SEATED.

ON FEBRUARY 9, 2011, WE WERE INFORMED BY MINI SERVICE THAT THE SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND THAT IT WOULD COST US $1,245.00 PLUS TAX TO REPAIR AS IT IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY PACKAGE WHICH THEY SOLD US WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2007. MILEAGE OF VEHICLE AT THAT TIME WAS 46,810. THE LIGHT INDICATING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SENSOR OCCURRED MONTHS EARLIER, BUT WE DID NOT REALIZE THAT IT WAS INDICATIVE OF A SERIOUS PROBLEM AS SMALL CHILDREN DID SIT IN THAT SEAT FROM TIME TO TIME. ON MARCH 16, 2011, HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING PUMP ON VEHICLE FAILED. MILEAGE WAS 47,895.

MINI COOPER 2006 - POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. FEB 2ND WE HAD A MAJOR WINTER STORM IN KANSAS CITY , I WAS DRIVING LESS THAN 10 MILES /HR WITH ABOUT 2 FEET SNOW MY CAR STOPPED AT THE CURB NEXT TO APT. SINCE THEN MY STEERING WHICH IS SOMEWHAT MILDLY STIFF FOR YEARS(MY FRIENDS HAD PREVIOUSLY WONDERED IF I EVEN HAD POWER STEERING ) WAS VERY STIFF , AND MADE A SCRATCHING NOISE. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE MINI DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I HAD A MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE AT 56000MILES , AND MINE WAS THE SECOND CAR HE HAD TO CHANGE THE PUMP ON . IN AUG 2010 I WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT AND IN THE PAST WHENEVER I MENTIONED THE STEERING WHEEL - THEY SAID ITS FINE , NO PROBLEMS DETECTED . THIS TIME THEY TOLD ME THE FLUID WAS LOW , PROBABLY LEAKING . IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY I DREAD TO THINK WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES MIGHT HAVE BEEN , GIVEN FROM WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FROM THE CLASS ACTION SUIT THAT MINE IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AS I WAS LED TO BELIEVE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY PERSON WHO INSPECTED THE CAR ALSO STATED THIS WAS UNRELATED TO THE WINTERSTORM , AND LIKELY MECHANICAL ERROR. *TR

I BOUGHT MY MINI COOPER TWO MONTHS AGO. IT IS A 2006 MODEL. I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE NIGHT OF THURSDAY JANUARY 7TH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD CLUNK. I LIVE ON A CALICHE ROAD SO NATURALLY, I THOUGHT I HAD KICKED UP A ROCK OR CLUNK OF DIRT AND IT HIT THE BODY OF MY CAR. THE NEXT MORNING I HEADED OUT TO GO TO CLASS AND LESS THAN 5 MILES (I LIVE OUTSIDE OF TOWN 30 MILES, SO YES I DO A LOT OF DRIVING, BUT MY 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA HANDLED IT FOR OVER 2 YEARS AND WHEN I FIRST ACQUIRED IT HAD 145,000 MILES AND WHEN I FINISHED 198,000 AND WAS STILL RUNNING FINE) DOWN THE ROAD I BRAKED TO TURN ONTO A DIFFERENT ROAD AND AFTER COMPLETING THE TURN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL, THE ENGINE ROARED THE TACHOMETER SPRUNG UP, BUT THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE. THE MECHANIC I TOOK IT TO CONFIRMED THAT MY TRANSMISSION IS SHOT, NO DOUBT ABOUT, HOWEVER HE CANNOT TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT WITHOUT TAKING OUT MY TRANSMISSION AND LOOKING AT THE INSIDE AS THAT IS WHERE THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE ORIGINATES. IT IS AN INTERNAL DEFECT THAT CONSUMERS HAVE NO CONTROL OVER. *TR

2006 MINI COOPER S: POWER STEERING FAILURE INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF POWER STEERING--AT FIRST. VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. VERY DANGEROUS. NOW THERE IS NO POWER STEERING. I'VE NEVER HAD SUCH AN EXPERIENCE IN ANY AUTOMOBILE. I INVESTIGATED THIS EXPERIENCE ONLINE AND FIND A NUMBER OF SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. I'M VERY TROUBLED BY SUCH A FLAW IN THE ENGINEERING OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

THE CAR IS A 2006 MINI COOPER S COUPE. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 57,000 MILES. THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINS ON EVEN WITH A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT WHICH SHOWS THE AIRBAG IS NOT EMPLOYED. THE DEALER COST TO REPAIR WAS $900 AS QUOTED ON 1/3/11. THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. IT IS NOT CLEAR THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD FUNCTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 7 MPH THE LOW OIL PRESSURE SENSOR ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND THE CONTACT ADDED OIL TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP AND UPON RESTART THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A SMALL LEAK WITHIN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,500.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATING ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATING. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE FAILURE WAS MOST LIKELY DUE TO THE AIR BAG SENSOR FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000. UPDATED 12/14/11 *CN

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATES SYSTEM IS EITHER OFF OR INOPERATIVE - IT DOES NOT MATTER IF SOMEONE IS SITTING ON THE SEAT OR NOT. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. AFTER REVIEWING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON MINI FORUMS, IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM IS COMMON AND DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SENSOR UNDER THE SEAT COVER. SINCE I RARELY CARRY PASSENGERS, THIS CONDITION IS DEFINITELY NOT DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR. AS IT STANDS, I HAVE NO WAY TO ASCERTAIN IF THE AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT SITUATION. THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO ANYONE RIDING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR EVEN THE DRIVER. A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE OR EVEN AN OLDER VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS TYPE OF SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP. COMPLETE FAILURE WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE. *TR

PASSENGER AIRBAG PROBLEM INDICATOR IS ON. THE CAR ONLY HAS 54811 MILES. THE DEALER CHARGED $118.37 TO CHECK. THEY STATED A SEAT SENSOR PAD WAS BAD AND WOULD COST $1,200. TO REPLACE. THEY INDICATED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WOULD STILL DEPLOY. I CONTACTED MINI USA TO FILE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE I THOUGHT AT THIS MILEAGE AND SAFETY ISSUE THE REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED AS WARRANTY (RECALL). THEY DENIED THE REQUEST AND ALSO INDICATED THE SYSTEM WOULD STILL DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. AFTER READING SEVERAL BLOGS, EVERYONE SEEMS TO INDICATE THE BAGS WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON ON MINI COOPERS. I READ SEVERAL OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE REPAIRED MULTIPLE TIMES. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR. *TR

I PURCHASED AT 2006 MINI COOPER AUTOMATIC IN JULY 2010. OCTOBER 2010 I HAD THE KIDS IN MY CAR, KEY IN MY HAND, CAR TURNED OFF AND IN PARK. THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS, DRAGGING ME AND I HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO GET THE CAR TO STOP ROLLING AND NOT ROLL INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC. I WAS WORRIED MY KIDS WOULD BE HIT. MINI USA CLAIMED NOTHING WAS WRONG. NOW I AM TOLD MY BACK BRAKES ARE WORN, I AM SCARED THEY DID NOT LOOK AT MY VEHICLE PROPERLY, DID NOT TAKE ME SERIOUSLY AND AM SCARED MY CAR WILL ROLL AGAIN. I ALWAYS PARK MY CAR AND PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE I NEVER LEAVE IT JUST IN PARK. I NEED SOMEONE TO MAKE SURE THESE CARS AND MY CAR IS TRULY SAFE. MINI USA AND THE DEALER THAT CERTIFIED MY CAR HAVE BOTH FAILED TO TAKE THIS DANGEROUS MANNER SERIOUSLY. I COULD OF BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT AND MY CHILDREN KILLED BY ON COMING TRAFFIC. *TR

AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT DEFECTIVE.THIS SENSOR TURNS OFF PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING BEFORE DRIVING.MINI WILL NOT CORRECT THE SAFETY ISSUE ON VEHICLES OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG WEIGHT SENSOR HAS GONE BAD AND AS A RESULT, HAS RENDERED THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 4K MILES AND THE LOCAL DEALER AND MINI USA HAVE BECOME NON-RESPONSIVE ABOUT FIXING AN OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT. THE REPLACEMENT PART PLUS LABOR AND FACTORY RESETTING WERE QUOTED AT $1900. SEARCHING OTHER ONLINE POSTINGS REVEALS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM NOT ONLY FOR MINI COOPERS BUT FOR PARENT COMPANY BMWS AS WELL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CLUTCH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH AND FLY WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE COSTS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47, 000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2006 BMW MINI COOPER, 2 DOOR. CAR SUDDENLY LOSES POWER, SHUDDERS AND ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. OCCURS RANDOMLY. HAS OCCURRED 6 TIMES SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASED, MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE SEPTEMBER 2010. EACH TIME CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. EACH TIME DEALER SAID IT WAS FIXED. DEALER DOES NOT SHARE ENGINEERING INFORMATION; SO, I CANNOT DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT WAS DONE. DEALER HAD TO GET MINI COOPER ENGINEERS FOR CONSULTATION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. REPAIR ORDERS MENTION A PART CALLED THE VANOS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. SUDDEN LOSE OF POWER APPEARS TO ME TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR. MINI COOPER OF NORTH AMERICA HAS SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM FOR THEM TO REMEDY. *TR

I OWN A 2006 MINI COOPER AND RECENTLY, AT 62,000 MILES HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE CYLINDERS LOSING COMPRESSION. I WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO CARBON BUILD-UP WHICH "PITTED" THE VALVES AS A RESULT OF ETHANOL IN GASOLINE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS IS BECOMING A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH MINI COOPERS BECAUSE THE CAR CAN NOT HANDLE THE GASOLINE WITH ETHANOL, AS THEY ARE INTENDED TO BE RUN ON PURE GAS. SO DUE TO THE ETHANOL MIXTURE, THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE. SHOULDN'T THESE CARS SOLD HERE IN THE UNITED STATES BE ABLE TO RUN ON THE GASOLINE THAT IS AVAILABLE HERE? I HAVE USED HIGH-OCTANE PREMIUM GAS ONLY IN MY CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD DONE NOTHING WRONG, YET WAS STILL FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE REPAIR. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE PURCHASED THROUGH THE DEALER AND HAVE FOLLOWED THE MINI MANUAL IN TERMS OF FUEL TO USE. THEY TOLD ME THEY ARE SEEING THIS PROBLEM MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY IN THE MINI. IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THIS IS A VEHICLE PROBLEM AND PERHAPS DESERVES A RECALL. IS THIS SOMETHING YOU CAN HELP ME WITH? THEY CLEANED, MACHINED AND TESTED THE CYLINDERS AND REPLACED THE VALVES AT A COST TO ME OF $4800. THANK YOU. *TR

I PURCHASED A REBUILT LEFT HALF SHAFT FROM BESTSOURCE AUTO PARTS ON LINE FOR A 2006 MINI COOPER S. THE RE-BUILDER NAME ON THE BOX WAS FEQ. THE OUTER CV JOINT HOUSING EXPLODED INTO PCS AFTER ABOUT 3000 MILES. I WAS LUCKY IT HAPPENED DRIVING OFF FROM A STOP. IF IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY THE DAMAGE WOULD HAVE HUGE AND THE CAR MAY HAVE GONE OUT OF CONTROL. THIS FAILURE SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. THE THICK STEEL HOUSING EXPLODED THEN RELEASING THE HALF SHAFT TO FLY IN A BIG ARC.SINCE I WAS DRIVING OFF FROM A A STOP IT WAS A LOUD BANG AND THEN CLANGING OF THE HALF SHAFT SMACKING THE WHEEL ETC. I WAS LUCKY BUT SOMEONE ELSE MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. I WAS IN LAS VEGAS SO I TOOK THE CAR TO DESERT MINI AND THEY SAW IT FIRST HAND, I TOOK PHOTO'S I CAN SEND TO YOU. BESTSOURCE TELLS ME FEQ IS A QUALITY RATING "FIRST EQUIPMENT QUALITY" AND THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THEM EITHER. FEQ HAS A SIMPLE ONE PAGE WEBSITE WITH NO CONTACT INFORMATION. I UNDERSTAND METALLURGY, THIS PART WAS FLAWED. YOU CAN TELL BY THE WAY THE BRAKE LOOKS.. DESERT MINI KEPT THE PART AND SENT IT BACK TO BMW LAST WEEK. WE CAN TRACK IT DOWN I AM SURE OF IT. I HAVE TRIED TO FIND THE VENDOR BUT NO LUCK. THIS IS WRONG. THEY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS AND THEY SHOULD COVER MY REPLACEMENT EXPENSE. THE EXPENSE IS NOT AS IMPORTANT TO ME AS SAFETY TO OTHERS RIGHT NOW. THE PHOTOS I HAVE WILL MAKE ANY OF YOUR SAFETY ENGINEERS CONCERNED. *TR

MY 2006 MINI COOPER S HAS A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR, THAT I WAS QUOTED 16,000$TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS THE EXACT SAME PART THAT BMW RECALLED IN 2008. BMW RECALLED AROUND 150,000 VEHICLES IN NORTH AMERICA TO FIX A POSSIBLE DEFECT THAT MAY KEEP THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG FROM OPENING IN A CRASH, THE RECALLED CARS INCLUDE 2006 3-SERIES, 2004-06 5-SERIES AND 2004-06 X3 VEHICLES. MINI USES THIS SAME RECALLED PART(MINI BEING MADE BY BMW), YET HAS NOT RECALLED THE PART. I KNOW MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS PART REPLACED AT THERE OWN EXPENSE SEVERAL TIMES. IT IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

AFTER PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND GOING INSIDE THE HOUSE FOR A FEW MINUTES - WE NOTICED A VERY CHEMICAL/PLASTIC SMELL. WE QUICKLY FOUND IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE, ONLY TO FIND OUR 2006 MINI S SPEWING BLACK SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WAS A FIRE, FOUND TO BE CAUSED BY THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN FAILING, AND CAUSING THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO OVERHEAT AND START ON FIRE. I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS BLOGS AND COMPLAINT PAGES ON THIS PROBLEM. I HAVEN'T THE MONEY TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM AT THIS TIME, AND SO THE CAR STILL SITS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM THE MANUFACTURER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR, EVEN AFTER WARRANTY. "PREVENTIVELY REPLACING" THE PARTS IS ALSO A RIDICULOUS THING TO EXPECT VEHICLE OWNERS TO DO. UPDATED 10/13/10*BF PICTURES RECEIVED. UPDATED IVOQ 10/21/10*JB *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS REACHING OVER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN THE TRUNK WHEN HER LEG WAS BURNED BY THE MUFFLER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR ROUTINE INSPECTION. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE BRACKETS WHICH HELD THE MUFFLER IN PLACE HAD RUSTED, ALLOWING THE MUFFLER TO HANG. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS EMISSIONS WITHOUT REPAIRING THE MUFFLER. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE MUFFLER BRACKETS REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHTS REMAIN ON. *TR

POWER STEERING FAN ABOUT TO FAIL, WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE TO PREVENT POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC MADE THE ASSESSMENT AND ADVISED THE REPAIR. THIS IS KNOWN ISSUE IN 2004-2006+ MINIS AND AM REPORTING TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE ENOUGH DATA POINTS AND CONSUMER REPORTS OF THE INCIDENCE. *TR

2006 MINI COOPER, FAULTY WIRING ON PASSENGER SEAT MATE SENSOR, THE WIRING HARNESS THAT COMES OUT OF THE FLOOR AND CONNECTS TO THE SENSOR MATE IN THE SEAT IS TO SHORT AND BECOMES DAMAGED WHEN YOU SLIDE THE SEAT BACK. THIS CAUSES AN ERROR IN THE AIR BAG SYSTEM MAKING IT THINKS THERE IS A SMALL CHILD OR NO ONE IN THE SEAT AND TURN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF. THIS IS A PROBLEM WHEN THERE IS AN ADULT IN THE SEAT, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL NOT PROTECT THEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL, BEING THAT THE REPAIR CAN COST UP TO $1000.00 IF THE SEAT MAT SENSOR IS DAMAGED. THE COST MAY CAUSE OWNERS NOT TO REPAIR IT. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED FROM THIS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALTHOUGH A PASSENGER (WHO WEIGHED OVER 200 LBS) WAS SEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSOR MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 153,600.