MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10358816October 2, 2010
STEERING
RECENT NEWS REPORTS ALERTED ME ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION INTO MINI POWER STEERING FAILURES IN 2004-05 MINI COOPERS. I AM WRITING TO REPORT THAT A FEW YEARS AGO, I EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE IN MY 2002 MINI COOPER (AT ABOUT 70K) MAKING STEERING VERY DIFFICULT. BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WOULD COME AND GO, IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR MY REPAIR SHOP TO FIND THE ROOT CAUSE. EVENTUALLY, THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358837October 2, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING IN MY 2002 MINI COOPER FAILED. STEERING VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT WITH LITTLE ABILITY TO TURN VEHICLE. REPAIR REQUIRED A NEW ELEC. STG PUMP AND COOLING FAN ($602) PLUS LABOR OF $384 FOR A TOTAL OF $986. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358853October 2, 2010
STEERING
MINI COOPER (2004 WITH ~74K MILES) WITH INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. STEERING WHEEL WOULD RANDOMLY BECOME VERY STIFF WHEN TURNING AND THEN FREE UP UNEXPECTEDLY. WHEN THIS WOULD OCCUR, THE CAR WOULD UNDERSTEER (NOT TURNING AS FAR AS INTENDED) AND I WOULD FIND MYSELF REACTING BY TURNING HARDER, USUALLY RESULTING IN OVERSTEERING AND ERRATIC TURNS. IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS BINDING AND THEN LETTING GO BUT IT WASN'T PREDICTABLE OR REPEATABLE WITH CONSISTENCY. DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT 'POWER STEERING PUMP WAS CUTTING OUT. REPLACED THE FAULTY PS PUMP TO RESOLVE.' COST WAS $1009.94. ONE WEEK LATER, EXACTLY SAME CONDITION RETURNED. DEALERSHIP NOW DETERMINED 'FOUND STEERING SHAFT FROM STEERING WHEEL TO STEERING RACK TO BE SEIZED AND BINDING. REPLACED STEERING SHAFT AND ALIGNED STEERING WHEEL TO FRONT TIRES.' NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE; PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358863October 2, 2010
STEERING
UNEXPECTED AND INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. INTERMITTENT FAILURES FIRST STARTED AROUND 2008, THE FAILURES WOULD LAST FOR MINUTES TO HOURS LONG, DAYS, WEEKS, AND MONTHS WOULD GO BY BETWEEN FAILURES. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE CAUSE WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THE REPAIR WOULD COST ~$700 TO REPLACE. WHEN THE PUMP FAILS THE CAR IS *VERY* DIFFICULT TO STEER AT SLOW AND MODERATE SPEEDS. ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS A SURPRISE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NARROW, WINDY ROAD AND IT WAS A STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN THE LANE, AVOID HITTING ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND STAYING ON THE ROAD. THE PUMP WAS REPLACED AND AS OF THIS WRITING IS NEW ONE IS NOW INTERMITTENTLY FAILING. I JUST EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE WHEN TURNING FROM A STOP AND NARROWLY MISSED HITTING A CURB AS I STRUGGLED TO COMPLETE A TURN. THE PUMP FAILURE LASTED ABOUT 10 MINUTES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358563October 1, 2010
STEERING
MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE 2006, LESS THAN 40K MILES. I WAS DRIVING FOR MAYBE 6 MILES AND WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN I FELT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY AND THE CAR WAS MOVING VERY ODDLY SO I PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY TO CHECK WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE CAR. NOTICING THE SMOKE FORM THE HOOD BEFORE I GOT OUT THE CAR AND THOUGHT MY CAR WAS OVER HEATED. I THOUGHT I WOULD JUST CALL THE ROADSIDE SERVICE TO HELP. BUT WHAT HAD TOOK PLACE NEXT WAS SOMETHING I CAN ONLY IMAGINE FROM A MOVIE SET ....SMOKE..HEAVY SMOKE...FLAME FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND THEY WOULD NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE HOOD SO INSTEAD THEY CUT THE HOOD OPEN AND WAS ABLE TO PUT OFF THE FIRE. THE CAR WAS TOTAL. I JUST HAD THE SERVICE ONE MONTH AGO AT THE DEALER (REPLACE BATTERY, WHEEL ALIGNMENT, ROTATION TIRES AND 32 POINT INSPECTION)AND LIKE ALL THE PREVIOUS SERVICES WAS DONE AT THE DEALER. I DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY HAD HAPPEN TO THE CAR, MY INSURANCE CO CLAIMED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL BY BMW/MINI ON THE CAR SO THEY DON'T SEE THE POINT TO SPEND MONEY AND TIME TO CHECK INTO WHAT HAD CAUSED THE FIRE...BUT I WANTED TO KNOW AS A CAR OWNER AND A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE. I THINK I AM ENTITLE TO AND TO PREVENT THIS HAPPEN TO MORE MINI OWNER. PLEASE HELP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358565October 1, 2010
STEERING
1. POWER STEERING FAILED AND STEERING BECAME EXCESSIVELY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL ESPECIALLY IN LOW SPEED TURNS SOMETIMES COULDN'T MAKE THE TURNS IN TIME. 2. SEVERAL TIMES. PARKED THE CAR 3. WAITING FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO HELP WITH REPLACING DEFECTIVE PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358572October 1, 2010
STEERING
SUDDEN TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING ON A 2004 MINI COOPER S IN A PARKING AT LOW SPEED. CAR WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO DRIVE BACK TO DEALER DUE TO HIGH GRIP THE CAR HAS. DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP FOR POWER ASSISTED GEAR. COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS IN A CORNER. MILEAGE 20,257. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358579October 1, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING LOCK ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358610October 1, 2010
STEERING
MY CAR STARTED TO MAKE A WHIRRING SOUND, I WASN'T SURE WHAT IT WAS SO MY DAD HAD A LOOK AND WASN'T SURE. THE NEXT DAY I WAS DRIVING ALONG A 60MPH ROAD AND AS I WENT TO TURN A SHARP CORNER MY POWER STEERING FAILED. I HAD TO MANUALLY PULL THE CAR ROUND THE CORNER WITH ALL MY STRENGTH SO AS NOT TO HIT THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT THEN KEPT FAILING INTERMITTENTLY FOR THE REST OF THE DRIVE HOME. I TYPED MINI POWER STEERING INTO GOOGLE WHEN I GOT HOME AND FOUND PAGE AFTER PAGE OF PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEMS JUST LIKE MINE. I RANG MINI AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN CHELTENHAM WHICH I DID. I LEFT THE CAR WITH THEM AND THE NEXT DAY THEY GOT BACK TO ME TO SAY IT DEFINITELY WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP. I ASKED IT THEY WOULD FIX THIS AS IT WAS A DANGEROUS FAULT WITH THE CAR. THEY SAID THEY WOULD SPEAK TO MINI ONE AND GET BACK TO ME. I EVENTUALLY HEARD BACK FROM THEM AND THE ANSWER WAS NO, THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT AS I DIDN'T BUY THE CAR FROM A MINI DEALERSHIP. I WAS UNHAPPY WITH THIS DECISION AS IT WAS CLEARLY A DANGEROUS MANUFACTURING FAULT SO WENT INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN CHELTENHAM TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE FACE TO FACE. I SPOKE TO THE MANAGER THERE AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THINGS, THAT I DIDN'T BUY IT FROM A MINI DEALERSHIP, IT WAS OVER 5 YEARS OLD AND OVER 30000 MILES ON THE CLOCK. IT WAS A PRISTINE 2004 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE WITH 35000 MILES ON THE CLOCK. HAD ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED WITH MINI AND I HAD ONLY OWNED THE CAR 3 MONTHS. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ME 800 TO FIX IT. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS AND TOLD THEM HOW UNHAPPY I WAS AND THEY OFFERED ME HALF OFF THE LABOR TAKING THE PRICE TO 590 APPROX. I WAS STILL UNHAPPY SO THEY OFFERED TO RING MINI ONE AGAIN AND PUT MY CASE FORWARD. 2 DAYS LATER WE GOT A CALL AND THE ANSWER WAS AGAIN NO. I THEN FOUND A COMPANY ONLINE WHO RESTORE FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMPS WITH A 2 YEAR WARRANTY FOR A FRACTION OF THE PRICE SO WENT WITH THAT. IT WAS FIXED IN JUNE AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS SINCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358619October 1, 2010
STEERING
MINI COOPER POWER STEERING PROBLEMS (2007 AND 2008 MODELS) - I NOTICED THE REPORTS ON POWER STEERING. I HAVE LEASED 2 MINIS AND FOUND THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO PARALLEL PARK IN NEW YORK CITY. WHEN TRYING TO FIT INTO A SMALL SPACE--WHICH REQUIRES LOTS OF TWISTS, TURNS OF THE STEERING WHEEL REPEATEDLY UNTIL CAR IS SQUEEZED IN--THE POWER STEERING ON BOTH YEARS OF BOTH CARS THAT I HAD--AND THE 2007 I TEST DROVE AT THE DEALER--ALL POPPED OUT. IT SEEMS THAT REPEATED TURNING MAKES THE POWER STEERING TURN OFF. IF YOU WAIT A FEW SECONDS ONCE IT STARTS GETTING HARDER TO TURN, THEN IT WILL LOOSEN UP AGAIN. I ONLY HAD THIS PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO PARK--SO NOT A DANGEROUS SITUATION, JUST ANNOYING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358714October 1, 2010
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND TRYING TO MAKE A TURN, THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL OCCASIONALLY. HE WOULD CONTINUE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MUCH DIFFICULTY. THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE UNTIL THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000. UPDATED 01/06/11 *BF UPDATED 03/30/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358723October 1, 2010
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND TURNED OFF. UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINED VERY STIFF. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CONTROL MODULE ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358742October 1, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER S. LAST YEAR THE POWER STEERING PUMP RANDOMLY STOPPED WORKING ON MY WAY TO SCHOOL. I DID NOT CRASH OR ANYTHING BUT IT WAS VERY HARD TO STEER MY CAR. I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE PUMP BECAUSE HONESTLY I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO AND I BELIEVE THE PUMP COSTS NEARLY $1000. THE PUMP ON MY CAR STILL WORKS FINE MOST OF THE TIME. NOW EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE ON SHARP CORNERS THE PUMP WILL GIVE OUT AND IF I PULL OVER, SHUT THE CAR OFF, AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON THE PUMP WILL WORK AGAIN. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY EITHER A DEFECT WITH THE PUMP ITSELF OR THE ELECTRONICS WHICH RUN THE PUMP. THE FACT THAT SHUTTING MY CAR OFF AND TURNING IT BACK ON MAKES ME THINK IT IS MOSTLY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, POSSIBLY INSIDE THE PUMP ITSELF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358759October 1, 2010
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE TRAVELING 15 MPH AND MAKING A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75000. UPDATED 01/11/2011*LJ UPDATED 02/28/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358775October 1, 2010
STEERING
STEERING ON MY MINI COOPER 2005 FAILED THIS MORNING, RESULTING IN A NEAR ACCIDENT IN A PARKING GARAGE. IT FELT LIKE THE POWER STEERING WAS FAILING. IT CAME BACK BRIEFLY ON THE WAY TO THE REPAIR SHOP, BUT THE TECH CONFIRMED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. IT IS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED, BUT IT IS LIKELY THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358776October 1, 2010
STEERING
ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2010 2004 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON SAN FRANCISCO/OAKLAND BAY BRIDGE. ABLE TO SAFELY EXIT BRIDGE AND HAD CAR TOWED TO AUTO SHOP IN BERKELEY, CA WHERE THEY "PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TIME CHECK FOR NO POWER STEERING. FOUND PUMP COMING ON, NO PRESSURE TO SYSTEM". THEY REMOVED AND REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP INCLUDING BLEEDING THE SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358376September 30, 2010
STEERING
I WANT TO REPORT PROBLEM WITH STEERING COMPONENTS IN MY 2004 MINI COOPER S (BASED ON ARTICLE IN USA TODAY). IN JULY OF THIS YEAR, 2010, MY STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. I STOPPED, CALLED MY DEALERSHIP, HAD THE CAR TOWED IN. THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR. THIS WEEK, SEPT. 2010, I HEARD A STRANGE SOUND. TOOK IT BACK IN, THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING FAN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358381September 30, 2010
STEERING
MY 2005 MINI COOPER S HAS HAD THE POWER STEERING GO OUT SEVERAL TIMES. THIS HAPPENS WITH NO WARNING AND HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. AS I WAS CHANGING LANES ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL AND ALMOST WENT INTO A CONCRETE WALL. IT ALSO WENT OUT WHILE ON A TRIP IN THE MOUNTAINS, I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT GOING OFF THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN ROAD. THIS POWER STEERING PUMP ALSO HAS STAYED RUNNING AND KILLED MY BATTERY LEAVING ME TO FIND A JUMP. THE ISSUE IS THAT IT TURNS OFF AND ON AT RANDOM TIMES AND WITH NO WARNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358399September 30, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO MOVE OUT A PARKING LOT, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED UP. THE REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358417September 30, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE GOT IN THE VEHICLE AND STARTED IT, THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. SHE PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT. HOWEVER, THE POWER STEERING WAS STILL NON-FUNCTIONAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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