MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10358326September 29, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING POWER. HE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED; AFTER THE RESTART, THE STEERING CAPABILITIES RETURNED. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND BECAME WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358335September 29, 2010
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 MINI COOPER S WITH 67,000K MILES, POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AND CAUSED A SHORT CIRCUIT RESULTING IN A COMPLETE MELTDOWN. THE PUMP, HYDRAULIC LINES, COOLING FAN AND WIRING HARNESS WERE ALL BURNED OR MELTED. THERE WAS NO SYMPTOM OR INDICATION OF A FAILURE. CAR DROVE AND ACTED "NORMAL" PRIOR TO PARKING IT FOR THE DAY. WHEN I GOT BACK IN THE CAR, 8 HOURS LATER, NO POWER STEERING. IF IT HAD BEEN IN MY GARAGE WHEN THE SHORT/MELTDOWN OCCURRED, IT MAY HAVE CAUSED FIRE. MINIUSA BASICALLY SAID I WAS ON MY OWN DUE TO EXPIRATION OF MY WARRANTY. (60,000). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358346September 29, 2010
STEERING
2005 MINI COOPER INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING STARTED AT 55,000 MILES. DURING RIGHT HAND TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 30MI/HR HAD NEAR HEAD ON COLLISION WITH THE CAR IN THE LEFT HAND LANE DO TO THE UNEXPECTED POWER STEERING OUTAGE. REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY (5,000 MILES OVER) COST ESTIMATE AT $1,200. CAR IS SAFER WITHOUT POWER STEERING. PREDICTABLE, BUT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358350September 29, 2010
STEERING
TEMPORARY LOSS OF STEERING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358358September 29, 2010
STEERING
WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED I WAS APPROACHING A CORNER FOR A TURN AND WITHOUT WARNING THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. ANOTHER CAR WAS AT THE CORNER AND I ALMOST HIT IT BECAUSE I WASN'T EXPECTING TO HAVE TO MANUALLY FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN THE CAR. THERE IS NO SET TIME OR LENGTH OF DRIVE FOR THE POWER STEERING TO JUST QUIT. NOW EVEN GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD I CAN SOMETIMES FEEL THE STEERING STIFFEN UP SO I WILL MAKE A TURN TO CHECK AND SURE ENOUGH NO POWER STEERING. SOMETIMES WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN THE CAR WILL FEEL LIKE IT JUMPS A LITTLE SIDEWAYS AND I'M NOT SURE IF ITS THE POWER STEERING TRYING TO ENGAGE OR WHAT. I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO REPLACE THE PUMP YET BUT I TRY NOT TO DRIVE IT AS OFTEN TO DECREASE THE CHANCES OF HITTING SOMETHING OR THE POWER STEERING PUMP GOING OUT ALL OF THE WAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358360September 29, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2004 MINI COOPER AND I TOO HAVE HAD MY POWER STEERING FAIL ON CURVES WHILE DRIVING THIS HAPPENS A LOT WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL ON SHARP CURVES AND PARK. IT COSTS ABOUT 850 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AT THE DEALER AND I AM UNEMPLOYED AT THE MOMENT AND CANNOT AFFORD THIS COST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358177September 29, 2010
STEERING
2006 MINI COOPER S JCW GP FIRST TIME IN 2008 JUST NOTICED FAN WOULD COME ON MORE OFTEN AND POWER STEERING WHINED LOUDER. DEALER AT MAIN LINE MINI REPLACED. SECOND TIME IN 2010 STEERING WHEEL FELT LIKE IT LOST POWER BUT REGAINED DURING OCCASIONAL TURNS. DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS DUE TO AFTERMARKET PARTS (CAMBER PLATES) BUT THEN REPLACED IT ANYWAYS CAUSE MAIN MECHANIC DROVE IT AND NOTICED PLAY IN STEERING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358184September 29, 2010
STEERING
MY POWER STEERING IS GOING OUT. UPON MY OWN INVESTIGATION I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. SHOULD SUCH A VITAL PIECE TO HAVING CONTROL OF THE CAR BE A PROBLEM? NO. COST OF REPAIR IS $1,070 AS QUOTED FROM MY DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358186September 29, 2010
STEERING
MY 2005 MINI COOPER LOST POWERSTEERING FUNCTIONALITY DURING A SHORT INTERSTATE DRIVE (INDIANA INTERSTATE 65 FROM EXIT 64 TO EXIT 68) ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2010 AT 11:20AM. PARKING LOT MANEUVERING AND INTERSTATE ON-RAMP DRIVING WAS NORMAL, INTERSTATE OFF-RAMP AND SUBSEQUENT IN-TOWN DRIVING WAS WITH NO POWERSTEERING ASSIST, AND THEREFORE REQUIRED A GREAT DEAL OF FORCE TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING PUMP COOLING FAN WAS LATER DETERMINED TO HAVE COMPLETELY SEIZED, PRESUMABLY CAUSING THERMAL SHUTDOWN OF THE POWERSTEERING PUMP. MY ANALYSIS OF THE FAILURE OF THE COOLING FAN LEADS ME TO CONCLUDE THAT THE SPAL BRAND FAN USED WAS IMPROPERLY APPLIED TO THE APPLICATION. THE DESIGN AND PLACEMENT OF THE FAN INTO THE MINI CAUSES WATER AND FOREIGN MATERIAL TO POOL INTO THE BLADE HOUSING AND CAUSE CORROSION OF THE STEEL FAN MOTOR HOUSING AND EVENTUAL SEAL DAMAGE RESULTING IN MOTOR FAILURE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES: THE ONLINE MESSAGE BOARDS SHOW NUMEROUS SIMILAR FAILURES. I AM WAITING ON A NEW COOLING FAN TO ARRIVE TO FIX THE FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358199September 29, 2010
STEERING
2005 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING GOES OUT TYPICALLY WITHIN THE 1ST HOUR OF DRIVING. THE POWER STEERING FAILURE IS NOT CONSISTENT, BUT I FIND IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN IN HOT WEATHER WHEN I HAVE THE A/C ON "AUTO" OR FULL BLAST. (???) THE A/C ALSO AFFECTS THE RADIO RECEPTION, SO PERHAPS IT DRAINS TOO MUCH POWER. AT TIMES I NEED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DRIVE AS IF I HAVE MANUAL STEERING. I TURN OFF THE ENGINE, LET IT REST FOR 30 SECONDS THEN START IT UP AGAIN. THE POWER STEERING GOES BACK TO NORMAL. WE HAVE NOT TAKEN THE MINI IN FOR SERVICE, AS IT IS NOT CONSISTENT AND WE DO NOT LIKE THE DEALERSHIP AS THEY SEEM TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR AUTOMOTIVE IGNORANCE AND CHARGE AN ARM AND A LEG. *TR UPDATED 08/17/11*BF UPDATED 1/27/2012 *LN *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358208September 29, 2010
STEERING
COMPLETE FAILURE OF POWER STEERING PUMP WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN ALMOST COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING. POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED ONLY TO HAVE THE REMANUFACTURED UNIT FAIL 12 MONTHS LATER. UPON INVESTIGATION IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR 2002-2006 MINI COOPERS. HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS PUMP DESIGN IS POOR AND PRONE TO FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358203September 29, 2010
STEERING
2004 MINI COOPER: POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND THAN IT WAS JUST GONE. ON SUNDAY 9-26-10 STARTED THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED FINE, UNTIL I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 70MPH AND IT WENT OUT AGAIN FOR GOOD.. DONE NOTHING YET TO FIX IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358219September 29, 2010
STEERING
ON SEPT. 19, 2010, MY 2005 MINI COOPER S HAD BEEN PARKED IN A GARAGE FOR ABOUT 10 HOURS. WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE, I FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL AND I HAD TO REALLY MUSCLE IT TO DRIVE IT. I'D NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT BEFORE. BECAUSE I HAD TO GET TO WHERE I WAS GOING, I DROVE IT VERY CAREFULLY. AFTER ABOUT FORTY MINUTES, I STOPPED AT A SERVICE AREA TO USE THE RESTROOM. WHEN I CAME BACK OUT AND STARTED MY CAR UP, THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. SINCE THEN, I'VE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH IT. I HAD PLANNED ON MENTIONING THIS TO MY MECHANIC WHEN I GO IN TO HAVE MY BRAKES DONE IN THE NEXT WEEK. BUT THEN MY HUSBAND FORWARDED ME A NEWS STORY ABOUT THE POWER STEERING ISSUE AND I FIGURED THAT I SHOULD REPORT MINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358221September 29, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE MOVED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000. UPDATED 02/08/11*LJ UPDATED 04/21/11
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10358214September 29, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED SUDDENLY. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS THEN REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358209September 29, 2010
STEERING
LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358211September 29, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING, REPAIR COST APP. $ 2.000.-, NO HELP FROM MINI USA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358222September 29, 2010
STEERING
1. DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, CAR STARTS OVER HEATING. 2. CONSTANT POWER STEERING FAILURE. HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. (3 YEAR SPAN) AND ALSO 2 TIMES FOR THE ORIGINAL OWNER. 3. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. OLD PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358078September 28, 2010
STEERING
LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358073September 28, 2010
STEERING
DEAR NHTSA, OUR COMPLAINT MATCHES THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION BEING CONDUCTED REGARDING THE INTERMITTENT POWER-LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP OF THE 2004-5 MINI COOPER WE OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER. OUR POWER STEERING LOSS BEGAN FEB '10 AND DESCRIBED AS UNEXPECTED AND INTERMITTENTLY-OCCURRING TOTAL LOSS-OF-ASSIST TO STEERING. THIS WAS RECTIFIED BY A PURCHASE OF A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP FROM MINI COOPER (ELMSFORD, NY) AND PURCHASE OF LABOR (INSTALLATION) FROM STRAUB AUTO REPAIR (HASTINGS ON HUDSON, NY) DURING THAT MONTH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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