MINI Cooper Convertible Complaints (2005)

96 consumer complaints on file.

#10454140April 4, 2012
STEERING
WAS TRAVELING AT NEIGHBORHOOD SPEED, TURNED INTO DRIVEWAY AND POWER ASSIST ON THE STEERING FAILED. HAD I BEEN AT SPEED THIS WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN HITTING A TREE NEXT TOT HE DRIVEWAY. THE CAR WAS ESSENTIALLY UNSTEERABLE WITHOUT TREMENDOUS FORCE, A CONDITION COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED. AFTER TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING IT, THE PROBLEM WAS NO LONGER THERE, SO OBVIOUSLY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM RECURRED ABOUT A MONTH LATER WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE AS I DID NOT NOTICE IT UNTIL DECELERATING TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAMP, IT AGAIN BECAME NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MANEUVER. AFTER TURNING IT OFF AND BACK ON, THE PROBLEM WAS GONE. THIS HAS RECURRED ON AND OFF EVER SINCE. A LOCAL BMW/MINI SPECIALIST MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS NOT AN INFREQUENT PROBLEM WITH 2005 MINI'S. HE INDICATED THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONS FINE EXCEPT FOR INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE IT TO FAIL. THE PROBLEM HAS NOW COME BACK AND IS VERY FREQUENT. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TROUBLESOME AT LOW SPEEDS, AND WHILE PARKING. I FEEL THERE IS SUFFICIENT INSTANCE OF THIS TO WARRANT A RECALL AS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH THE DESIGN OR ENGINEERING OF THE POWER STEERING IN FAR MORE CASES THAT JUST MY VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453158March 26, 2012
STEERING
POWER STEERING STARTED FAILING APPROX. 3000 MILE AGO, AT LOWER SPEEDS THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL. NEEDED TO RESTART THE CAR TO HAVE POWER WORK AGAIN. FINALLY THE POWER STEERING FAN WOULD STAY ON WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. TOOK THE CAR TO MINI DEALERSHIP, TECHNICIAN WAS APPROX. 30 FEET FROM CAR AND HE HAD A DIAGNOSIS . POWER STEERING PUMP HAD FAILED AND SO DID THE POWER STEERING FAN UNIT. SINCE THE CAR DID NOT PROPERLY SHUT DOWN I HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. I HAD CONTACTED MINI USA WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE COULD REPLICATE THE ISSUE OF THE POWER STEERING FAILING. THIS WENT NOWHERE FAST. WHEN PUMP AND FAN FINALLY AGAIN THEY STILL WOULD NOTHING FOR ME AND WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY ISSUES WITH THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449717February 29, 2012
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CAR LOST POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY LASTING DIFFERENT LENGTH OF TIMES. THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO MOVE. THIS OCCURRED AS I WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WITH NO WARNING ON A LEFT HAND TURN. MINI DIAGNOSTICS IDENTIFIED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND SAID IT WAS INFACT THE SAME ISSUE BEING INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA BUT DECLINED TO ASSIST IN REPAIRS.. $1200.00... STANDING ONLY BEHIND THE 30,000MI/3 YR WARRANTY EXPIRATION. PLEASE RECALL THE 2005 MINI FOR THIS ISSUE... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449016February 22, 2012
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILED ON LOW AND HIGH SPEED. HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO STOP,KEY OFF AND REKEY SEVERAL TIMES TO GET POWER STEERING TO RETURN. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES SINCE THE FIRST TIME. IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING AND WITH NO NOTICE. BY LOOKING AT THIS WEBSITE AND ONLINE FORUMS I SEE THIS IS A ONGOING CONCERN,AND THAT THIS CONCERN RESULTED IN A RECALL IN CANADA. I WOULD HOPE THAT NHTSA WOULD ADOPT THE SAME RECAL AS CANADA,AS THIS DEFECT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE CONSUMER. THE APPX COST OF A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE 1200.00 TO 2000.00 DOLLAR RANGE THAT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE CONSUMER SEEMS GROSSLY UNFAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445784January 29, 2012
POWER TRAIN
POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING. HAD TO REPLACE THE PUMP. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444602January 19, 2012
STEERING
AFTER IGNITING MY CAR, SOMETIMES POWER STEERING DOESN'T WORK. ALL I CAN DO AT THIS MOMENT IS THAT I TURN OFF AND RESTART MY CAR AGAIN. AND MOST OF TIMES IF I RESTART MY CAR, POWER STEERING WORKS FINE. ALSO POWER STEERING ONCE IN A WHILE STOPS TO WORK WHEN I DRIVE SLOWLY, E.G WHEN I DRIVE LOCAL. I HAVE TO RESTART MY CAR IN THIS CASE TOO. UNTIL A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, I FELT THIS PROBLEM ONLY HAPPENED WHEN I IGNITED MY CAR OR DROVE LOCAL, SO I THOUGHT THIS IS A MINOR ISSUE AS LONG AS I CAN RESTART MY CAR SAFELY. BUT THE MOST DANGEROUS MOMENT OCCURRED TWO DAYS AGO WHEN I WAS MAKING A TURN TO EXIT ON PARKWAY. SUDDENLY IT WAS VERY HARD TO CONTROL THE CAR ON HIGHWAY, AND I HAD TO STOP AT SIDE ROAD AND RESTART. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND HAD HIM EXAMINE IT YESTERDAY. HE SAID POWER STEERING WHEEL PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444328January 18, 2012
STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AND LOST STEERING ABILITY. THE RELAY FOR THE COOLING FAN REMAINED IN THE CLOSED POSITION CAUSING THE BATTERY TO FAIL. I HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND BATTERY. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442431January 4, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AFTER A SHORT TRIP, NOT RUNNING. I CAME OUT OF A STORE AND SAW SMOKE POURING OUT FROM ALL AROUND THE HOOD AREA. I RAISED THE HOOD AND THE SMOKE BEGAN TO SUBSIDE. SMELLED LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS WARNING OF ANY KIND. THE REPAIRS INCLUDE THE ALTERNATOR, POWER STEERING PUMP, RESERVOIR, POWER STEERING PUMP FAN. AT A TOTAL OUT OF POCKET OF $1900.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439737December 13, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER OR CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437744November 29, 2011
STEERING, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE POWER STEERING BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,776. UPDATED 01/18/12*LJ THE STATED SHE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING AS SHE ROUNDED A CURVE. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING FORCED HER OFF THE ROAD AND NEARLY INTO A DITCH. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST $1400 TO REPLACE THE STEERING PUMP. UPDATED 02/28/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437742November 29, 2011
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP, STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE SUDDENLY FAILED ON A TURN, NEARLY CAUSING ME TO GO INTO A DITCH. MY MINI DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS PROBABLY THE POWER STEERING PUMP & WOULD COST $1400 TO REPLACE. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET & FOUND THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE MINI COOPER & THAT AN INVESTIGATION WAS TAKING PLACE INTO THE DEFECTIVE PUMP & THAT A RECALL MIGHT BE FORTHCOMING. I CALLED MINI USA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT. THEIR REP TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ISSUE & THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO OFFER "GOODWILL" ASSISTANCE IN GETTING IT REPLACED IF I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER FOR VERIFICATION THAT IT WAS A PUMP FAILURE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO VERIFIED THAT THE PUMP NEEDED REPLACED. THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THIS HAD BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM & THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE COMPLAINTS MADE ABOUT THE PUMP GOING BAD. I CALLED MINI USA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE, SPOKE TO A SUPERVISOR WHO TOLD ME SHE'D GET BACK TO ME. A WEEK LATER, SHE CALLED & TOLD ME THAT MY REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN DENIED & THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT, IN LIGHT OF THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE POWER STEERING PUMP, BMW/MINI SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS REPLACEMENT. $1400 IS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE BAD IN THE FIRST PLACE. THERE ARE NO LOCAL MECHANICS WHO CAN TAKE REPAIR THIS SO MINI USA/BMW HAS US RIGHT WHERE THEY WANT US - POWERLESS TO FIGHT A BIG COMPANY & HELPLESS BECAUSE WE NEED OUR VEHICLES. I WOULD HAVE NEVER EXPECTED THIS TO HAPPEN ON A CAR WITH LESS THAN 45,000 MILES ON IT. SUDDENLY LOSING ONE'S POWER STEERING CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I ENCOURAGE NHTSA TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING PUMP DEFECT & ISSUE A RECALL TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE'S DRIVERS, PASSENGERS & ANYONE WHO COULD BE INJURED DUE TO SUDDEN LOSS OF ITS POWER STEERING. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436351November 18, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS WITH AND WITHOUT PASSENGERS SEATED IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A WIRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434001November 2, 2011
POWER TRAIN
AUTOMATIC CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 77,000 MILES. CAR STOPPED WHEN GOING DOWN INTERSTATE, PRESSING GAS, NOTHING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR SAFELY, TURNED IT OFF, RESTARTED IT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND EP (TRANSMISSION) WARNING LIGHT CAME ON.MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP SAYS MIN IS VERY AWARE OF THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, AND STOPPED PUTTING THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS IN, APPARENTLY IT WAS EXPERIMENTAL. CANNOT REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION, AND MINI ESTIMATES $7100 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, AND WILL ONLY GIVE ME $2500 ON IT AS A TRADE IN DUE TO THE KNOWN TRANSMISSION ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10424451September 9, 2011
STEERING
INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING, USUALLY WHEN MAKING A TURN - EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION - HAVE ALMOST HAD TWO ACCIDENTS WHEN STEERING WENT OUT. IT BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND AS OF MAY, 2011 THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY "OUT" - HOWEVER AS OF AUGUST 22, 2011 IT RETURNED TO FULL WORKING ORDER - AND LASTED FOR APPROX. 9 DAYS AND THEN STARTED TO POP IN AND OUT INTERMITTENTLY AFTER STARTING AND TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE. AS OF APPROX. SEPT. 8, 2011 THE POWER STEERING IS COMPLETELY OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10417740August 6, 2011
STEERING
2005 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING ABRUPTLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON A WINDING 2 LANE RURAL ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. HAD THIS BEEN A HEAVILY TRAVELED HIGHWAY, THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH DIFFERENT. WHEN IT HAPPENED, IT TOOK A LITTLE TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON AND I FOUND MYSELF IN THE ONCOMING LANE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO RECOVER. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10414777July 22, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. DOOR WOULD ONLY OPEN MANUALLY WITH A KEY FROM THE OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. I HAD TO ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10414776July 22, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
TRUNK DOOR OPENED WHILE DRIVING AROUND 50MPH. ITEMS IN TRUNK FLEW OUT. ANOTHER DRIVER PULLED UP ALONGSIDE ME TO NOTIFY ME OF THE SITUATION. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10403995June 1, 2011
STEERING, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE STEERING ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST. THE COST WOULD BE $1000 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER STATED THEY WOULD GIVE HER A RETURN CALL IF THEY REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. UPDATED 07/08/11*LJ THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. UPDATED 07/29/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10399027May 2, 2011
STEERING
MY POWER STEERING FAILED AS I WAS MAKING A TURN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND A LITTLE UNNERVING. I AM STRONG ENOUGH TO DRIVE THE CAR WITHOUT THE POWER ASSIST, BUT THIS IS NOT TRUE OF MY WIFE. IF THE PROBLEM WERE TO OCCUR WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING SHE MIGHT LOSE CONTROL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10389866March 11, 2011
STEERING
WHEN I GOT IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE TO COME TO WORK TODAY, I FOUND THAT I DIDN'T HAVE POWER STEERING. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES TO A GAS STATION AND FILLED UP THE TANK. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN, THE POWER STEERING WORKED PERFECTLY. AFTER I GOT TO WORK, I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAD EXPERIENCED THIS AND THERE WERE MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO HAD DEALT WITH THIS AND ACCORDING TO A FEW NEWS SOURCES, THIS COULD BE CLOSE TO A RECALL SITUATION. THE FIX FOR THIS IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE ACCORDING TO THE SITES THAT I VISITED, BUT THE SAFETY OF THE SITUATION IS THE OVER RIDING FACTOR. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH MY MOTHER OR WITH MY WIFE DRIVING, I'M NOT SURE IF THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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