MINI Cooper Convertible Complaints (2005)

96 consumer complaints on file.

#10389694March 10, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK, STEERING
POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. POWER STEERING REPLACEMENT, TRUNK REPAIR AND DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR REPAIR. UPDATED 07/26/11 *BF *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386968March 9, 2011
STEERING
I HAD TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS OF LOSING POWER STEERING IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I WAS DRIVING AND MADE A RIGHT TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL FELT VERY HEAVY AND IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE THE TURN - COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED FOR ANY TURN ON THE WAY HOME. THE NEXT TIME I DROVE THE CAR, THE STEERING SEEMED FINE, AND CONTINUED TO SEEM FINE UNTIL YESTERDAY AFTERNOON (MARCH 8, 2011). ONCE AGAIN, I MADE A RIGHT TURN AND FOUND THAT I HAD NO POWER STEERING. I NEEDED TO STOP FOR GAS, SO AFTER SOME RATHER TRICKY MANEUVERS TO GET PARKED BY A GAS PUMP, AND SHUTTING THE CAR OFF, THE POWER STEERING SEEMED OK AGAIN. I HAVE SEEN WHERE THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS, SO I WANTED TO ADD MY INCIDENT TO YOUR DATABASE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380689February 3, 2011
STEERING
SAME ISSUE AS COMPLAINTS 10378962 AND 10380308, RELATED TO INVESTIGATION 10-038. POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379958February 2, 2011
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, THE STEERING BEING DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ON HER BEHALF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD SPEAK WITH THE REGIONAL MANAGER ON HER BEHALF AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379733January 31, 2011
STEERING, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED SUDDENLY AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE CAR. *TR UPDATED 08/24/11 *BF UPDATED 08/29/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379750January 31, 2011
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND THE CONTACT UNPLUGGED THE BATTERY, WHICH STOPPED THE LOUD NOISE THAT SHE WAS HEARING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,998.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379561January 29, 2011
STEERING
SUDDEN STEERING FAILURE. *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380308January 28, 2011
STEERING
SAME ISSUE AS COMPLAINT 10378962, RELATED TO INVESTIGATION 10-038. POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379459January 28, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ALL BEGAN TO POINT TO ZERO. THE VEHICLE THEN LOST POWER STEERING AND THE ENGINE RPMS BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE ERRATICALLY, AS WELL AS THE WARNING LIGHTS. THE AIR CONDITIONER ALSO SHUT OFF INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND AS HE EXITED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, POWER STEERING GASKET, PRESSURE HOSE AND GASKET, FAN AND MOTOR, VALVE COVER, ENGINE HARNESS, AND THERMOSTAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER REPAIRS BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT CATCH FIRE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,900.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378962January 20, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN CORNER. FAILURE CONTINUED FOR SEVERAL MILES/HOURS AND THEN BEGAN WORKING AGAIN AFTER A PERIOD OF INACTIVITY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376332January 12, 2011
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A RIGHT TURN FROM A VERY BUSY STREET WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN. I NEARLY CRASHED HEAD-ON INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THE STEERING WAS SO DIFFICULT, I PULLED A SHOULDER AND BACK MUSCLE JUST TRYING TO COMPLETE THE TURN. THE POWER STEERING WAS OUT FOR THE REST OF MY TRIP. SINCE THEN, THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY ON A DAILY BASIS AND COMES WITH NO WARNING. IT WILL DRIVE FOR SEVERAL MILES WITH NO PROBLEM AND THEN SUDDENLY STOP WORKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10370965December 16, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT HEARD A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAKING NOISE WHILE MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 72,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368312November 30, 2010
STEERING
I OWN A 2005 MINI COOPER. IT HAS A POWER STEERING PUMP FAN THAT HAS GONE OUT, AND IS CAUSING UNSAFE STEERING ISSUES. I UNDERSTAND NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10367917November 26, 2010
STEERING
MINI COOPER 2005 CALIFORNIA USA. LOSS OF POWER STEERING PROBLEM - CURRENTLY, INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING, EITHER FROM COLD-START, OR WHILE DRIVING ON SHORT OR LONG DISTANCES. CAN HAPPEN FOR ONLY A FEW SECONDS OR REMAIN FOR MINUTES. ONCE THE POWER LOSS IS REALIZED, IT IS POSSIBLE TO SWITCH ENGINE OFF THEN ON AGAIN TO REGAIN POWER - SOMETIMES - BUT PROBLEM CAN RETURN AFTER MINUTES OR HOURS. IT IS VERY SCARY TO BE DRIVING ON BUSY ROADS WHEN CORNERING IS REQUIRED, LACKING FAITH WHETHER ONE WILL BE ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE PATH OF OTHER ROAD-USERS... INTERNET SEARCHES SHOW OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS BUT DEALERS AND MANUFACTURERS ARE IGNORING OR SIDE-STEPPING THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366649November 18, 2010
STEERING
AFTER ABOUT 77,000 MILES ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER, I ENCOUNTERED SUDDEN AND INTERMITTENT DIFFICULTY WITH THE STEERING WHEREIN THE POWER STEERING WOULD ABRUPTLY FAIL. THE FIRST TWO INCIDENTS OCCURRED ~3-4 MONTHS AGO, BOTH DIRECTLY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE AND PULLING OUT OF PARKING. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENTS OCCURRED WITHIN THE PAST 6 WEEKS, RANDOMLY DURING THE FIRST 40 MILES OF MY COMMUTE. AFTER EACH INCIDENT, I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN FULL CONTROL OF THE STEERING BY PULLING OVER AND SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE AND THEN REENGAGING IT. THERE HAVE NOW BEEN A TOTAL OF 6 INCIDENTS. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT, A FEW DAYS AGO, OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A WINDING HIGHWAY AND WAS MAKING A TURN. WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED, IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CORRECT THE ANGLE/SPEED OF THE VEHICLE'S TURN AND A CRASH INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE SEEMED EXTREMELY LIKELY. AFTER CAUTIOUS BRAKING AND RELYING ON THE REMAINING MANUAL STEERING, USING VERY FIRM AND SWIFT HAND-OVER-HAND MOTION ON THE STEERING WHEEL, I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN SOME CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE'S WHEELS. THEN, ENGAGING THE VEHICLE'S HAZARD LIGHTS, I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO PULL OVER AT THE NEXT AVAILABLE HIGHWAY'S SHOULDER, BUT IT WAS AN EXTREME AWKWARD MANEUVER REQUIRING SOME OF THE DRIVERS OF VEHICLES AROUND ME TO ADJUST THEIR OWN SPEEDS AND TURNS. I HAVE SINCE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE CENTER AND AM AWAITING THE RESULTS OF THE VEHICLE INSPECTION IN RESPONSE TO MY COMPLAINTS. I DO NOT INTEND TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN UNTIL THE ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING IS COMPLETELY RESOLVED, FOR MY OWN SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHER DRIVERS. A CRASH IN THE FUTURE WOULD SEEM INEVITABLE, OTHERWISE, WITH INCONSISTENT POWER OVER THE STEERING DURING ANY COMMUTE THAT INVOLVES MANY WINDING TURNS. (IF THE POWER STEERING COULD BE COMPLETELY DISENGAGED, ALLOWING ONLY MANUAL STEERING, IT WOULD SEEM FAR SAFER THAN FOR IT TO RANDOMLY TURN OFF IN THE MIDST OF DRIVING). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365410November 11, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN WHEN THERE ISN'T A PASSENGER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE LIGHT INDICATES THE AIRBAG IS OFF. THE LIGHT ALSO STAYS ON IF THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. I AM NOT SURE IF THE AIRBAG WOULD WORK IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER INDICATED I NEEDED A NEW SEAT AT MY COST. TO ME THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT THAT BMW SHOULD FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362685October 27, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE - R52. THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK WELL. IT STARTED BEING PROBLEMATIC ABOUT A YEAR AGO RIGHT AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR. WHILE DRIVING THE POWERSTEERING GOES VERY STIFF. IT IS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING OFF A HIGHWAY WHILE THE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING, IT COMES BACK ON, AND I END UP OVERSTEERING OFF THE ROAD AND THEN BACK ON TO THE ROAD. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY DURING THE TIME I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR. I WAS TOLD BY MINI THAT THIS IS NOT A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT MY RESEARCH SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT THERE ARE 10'S OF THOUSANDS OF MINI OWNERS FROM 2002 TO 2006 WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. OTTOS MINI IN WEST CHESTER PA QUOTED ME OVER $1000 DO REPAIR IT...AND THEY DO NOT SEEM TO SEE THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM. I AM CONSIDERING BUYING THE NEW PARTS (FAN, MOTOR AND CIRCUIT BOARD) AND INSTALLING MY SELF. I JUST CANNOT SPEND 1000-1500 BUCKS TO FIX THIS. THE PARTS ARE ABOUT $500 BUCKS AND THE INSTALL HOPEFULLY IS PRETTY EASY FROM WHAT I HAVE READ. I HOPE THAT YOUR TESTING DOES PROVE THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BY A RECALL. IT APPEARS THAT THEY MADE A DESIGN CHANGE THAT HAS ELIMINATED THE PROBLEM IN THE 2006 OR 7 MODEL YEAR. THAT ALONE IS ENOUGH FOR ME TO BELIEVE THAT, WHILE I LOVE MY MINI, I AM DRIVING A TIME BOMB, THAT WILL CAUSE AND ACCIDENT DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING. PLEASE HELP ME. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10360494October 14, 2010
STEERING
TWICE, WHILE PARALLEL PARKING MY 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE, I LOST POWER STEERING. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY AND RESTORES WHEN I RESTART MY CAR. DEALER SAYS I NEED TO REPLACE MY POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359407October 6, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER WITH 28,000 MILES SOMETIMES FUNCTIONS AND OTHER TIMES DOES NOT-MOSTLY THOUGH IT DOES NOT FUNCTION. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE MARCH, 2010. ON RARE OCCASIONS, I WILL START THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WILL FUNCTION AS NORMAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358593October 1, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED IT BECAME EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 15000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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