MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10359651October 8, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING AND INTERMITTENT STEERING SYSTEM DEGRADATION PRIOR TO TOTAL FAILURE. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE 2005 MINI WHEN STEERING STARTED FAILING. PULLED OVER AND WAS TOWED TO GARAGE FOR REPAIRS. POOR DESIGN AND NO ACCOMMODATION FOR SYSTEM FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359662October 8, 2010
STEERING
I JUST BOUGHT A 2005 MINI COOPER WHICH IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION UPON BUYING. AFTER A WEEK, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON A TURN THAT I COULD BARELY MAKE. I COULDN'T MAKE ANY OF THE TURNS ALL THE WAY HOME! I THOUGHT MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE THE KEY WASN'T IN THE IGNITION RIGHT. I TOOK OUT THE KEY AND RE-STARTED MY CAR. IT WORKED AND THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON! WELL, A COUPLE DAYS LATER THIS ISSUE HAS NOW BECOME A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I WOULD MAKE A RIGHT TURN OFF A MAIN ROAD AND I WAS SHOCKED THAT MY CAR WOULDN'T TURN. TO MAKE THINGS EVEN WORSE, THERE WAS A SCHOOL BUS I ALMOST HIT! I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND TRY TO MAKE THIS IMPOSSIBLE TURN. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED EVERY TIME I HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR. ITS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT! IT GOES OUT ALL THE TIME AND I'M NOT ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR FOR SHORT DISTANCES. I HAVE BEEN KEEPING TRACK OF HOW MANY TIMES THIS HAS OCCURRED, I'M NOW AT 31 TIMES! MANY OF THOSE TIMES, I WAS VERY CLOSE TO HITTING MANY PEOPLE! I'M AM VERY LUCKY TO HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR DRIVEN OFF THE ROAD!! *TR UPDATED 08/17/11*BF UPDATED 1/27/2012 *LN *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359692October 8, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BECOME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359702October 8, 2010
STEERING
DRIVING HOME YESTERDAY, MY 2003 MINI COOPER S SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING AS I WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE. I HAD TO MUSCLE THE CAR BACK INTO MY LANE TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN THE LANE BESIDE ME. I WAS ABOUT HALF A MILE FROM HOME AND MADE IT THERE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT -- BUT TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS WAS DANGEROUSLY DIFFICULT. I CONTACTED THE MINI REPAIR SHOP THIS MORNING AND THEY SAID THAT THIS INTERMITTENT UNEXPECTED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL IS UNFORTUNATELY SOMEWHAT COMMON WITH MINIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359862October 8, 2010
STEERING
INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING (PS) FAILURE. APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES INTO A DRIVE, POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL (AT ANY SPEED), MAKING CAR EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL; A FRAIL PERSON COULD KILL SOMEONE. TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND ON AGAIN WOULD RESET POWER STEERING ASSIST. HAD TO REPLACE PS PUMP FAN AND PS PUMP (DAMAGED BY OVERHEATING), AT GREAT EXPENSE (>$1100), TO DRIVE SAFELY AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359558October 7, 2010
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A SIDE STREETS WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I COULDN'T STEER THE CAR AFTER STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD SUDDENLY GONE BACK ON MY 2004 MINICOOPER. II WAS AT A 4-WAY INTERSECTION AT THE TIME AND WAS NEARLY CRUSHED BY TWO OTHER CARS. AFTER GETTING THE CAR HOME I WROTE TO MINI'S CORPORATE TO SEE IF IT WOULD BE COVERED SINCE THERE HAD BEEN A LOT OF ONLINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PUMP, BUT THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT. INSTEAD I WAS FORCED TO SHELL OUT OVER $700 FOR IT (EXACT PRICE I WILL HAVE TO LOOK UP). I JUST READ ABOUT AN INVESTIGATION THAT THE NHTSA WAS DOING AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HEARD BY STORY. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 2004 FROM MINI OF PEABODY, MA. AND WILL TRY TO GET MY MONEY BACK, BUT SO FAR I HAVEN'T HAD ANY LUCK. [XXX]2004 MINICOOPER (NON "S" MODEL) HERE IS THE EMAIL THAT I SENT TO MINICOOPER ------------------------- I AM WRITING TO SEE IF MINI WILL COVER THE COST OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP THAT DIED YESTERDAY WITHOUT ANY ADVANCE WARNING IN MY 2004 MINI. THE CAR WAS FINE ALL DAY AND THEN AS I WENT TO TAKE A TURN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL AND ALMOST GOT CRUSHED BY OTHER CARS HEADING TOWARD ME. FROM THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE THIS IS A KNOWN FAILURE AND ONE THAT MINI SEEMS TO AVOID ABSORBING THE COST TO FIX / REPLACE. FROM WHAT I READ A RECALL WAS DONE IN BRITAIN, BUT NOT HERE IN THE U.S. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW MINI WILL HELP ME IN THIS SITUATION. I SURELY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR A NEW OR REFURBISHED POWER STEERING PUMP AND WITH THE HUGE RISK OF INJURY / AND OR DEATH THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE I WOULD HOPE THAT MINI CARES LESS ABOUT PROFITS AND MORE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS - AND COVERS THE COST TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE RESPOND BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. [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
#10359583October 7, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER BUT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 49,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359457October 6, 2010
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER TODAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AROUND SHARP TURNS AT SLOWER SPEEDS. I HAVE NOT YET CORRECTED THE FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359235October 5, 2010
STEERING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359284October 5, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECOME TIGHT AND WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359287October 5, 2010
STEERING
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE 2004 MINI COOPER S TO PICK UP OUR SON FROM SCHOOL. AFTER SHE RETRIEVED HIM, SHE WENT AROUND A CORNER AND THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING CAUSING HER TO CRASH INTO A CURB. SHE DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL AND THERE WAS NO WARNING OF A POSSIBLE FAILURE. I AM FEARFUL TO REPLACE THE PART AND CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON A VEHICLE I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE PUTTING MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN IN DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE NEW POWERING STEERING PUMP WILL FAIL IF REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359381October 5, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358986October 4, 2010
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,304. UPDATED 01/20/11 *BF THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED ON OCTOBER 15, 2010. UPDATED 03/28/11 UPDATED 03/28/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359054October 4, 2010
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT HER EXPENSE. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD LIKELY NED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359089October 4, 2010
STEERING
ON 5/26/10 LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING ON THE LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY. 141,000 MILES ON CAR. POWER STEERING ELECTRONIC PUMP REPLACEMENT COST $ 1005.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359115October 4, 2010
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY AND MORE EFFORT HAD TO BE EXERTED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359147October 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL YET THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE POLICE ARRIVED ON SCENE TO ASSIST, HOWEVER A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOT BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY BUT WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358906October 3, 2010
STEERING
MY 2002 MINI COOPER S HAD AN INCIDENT APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO WHEN I COMPLETELY LOST POWER STEERING WHILE GOING A LOW RATE OF SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO MUSCLE THE STEERING FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES UNTIL THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. THIS OCCURRED ONCE MORE BUT VERY BRIEFLY IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE SOME TIME LATER. I DID NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM EITHER TIME BUT I SAW A STORY IN USA TODAY ON MINI STEERING PROBLEMS (29 SEPT) AND INSTANTLY RECALLED MY PROBLEM. I AM CERTAIN IT IS RELATED TO THE MINI STEERING ISSUE NOW BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE NHTSA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358915October 3, 2010
STEERING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358933October 3, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILURE CAUSED HARD STEERING AND SUPREME SCARE. PRIOR INTERMITTENT ON/OFF OF POWER STEERING PUMP PREVIOUS WEEK. HAD TO REPLACE PUMP AND FAN MOTOR. OLD PUMP IS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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