MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10358076September 28, 2010
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED SUDDENLY WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 51,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358096September 28, 2010
STEERING
2002 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED LEAVING CAR WITH VERY HEAVY STEERING. CAR TRAVELED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC BUT NO DAMAGE OR INJURY OCCURRED. I HAVE OLD PS PUMP AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358103September 28, 2010
STEERING
DRIVING VEHICLE NORMALLY, POWER ASSIST FOR THE STEERING FAILS CAUSING GREATLY INCREASED EFFORT TO STEER. THIS IS ADDRESSED IN PE10038 BUT THE MODEL YEARS AFFECTED SHOULD INCLUDE 2002 AND 2003 AS THE ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEMS WERE THE SAME. I HAVE NOT YET ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE ANY PARTS, ONLY HAVE CONFIRMED FLUID IS FULL AND BOTH COOLING FANS OPERATE. CYCLING THE IGNITION KEY BRIEFLY TO THE OFF POSITION WILL CAUSE POWER ASSIST TO RESUME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358108September 28, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER TYPE S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY STOP FUNCTIONING WITHOUT WARNING; THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE WAS 8,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 143,000. UPDATED 01/04/11*LJ UPDATED 01/10/11*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358119September 28, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WOULD MALFUNCTION WHICH ALMOST LED TO A CRASH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AND THE COOLING FAN REPLACED. SINCE THE REPAIRS, THE CONTACT HAD NOT NOTICED ANY POWER STEERING ISSUES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358120September 28, 2010
STEERING
MY 2004 MINI COOPER S, OF WHICH I AM THE SECOND OWNER HAS DEVELOPED PROGRESSIVELY WORSENING STEERING CHARACTERISTICS. MOST TIMES THE STEERING IS HARD AND TYPICALLY ITS HARDEST AT LOW SPEED. THE STEERING UNDER ACCELERATION IS NOTABLY OF GREAT CONCERN AS I HAVE EXPERIENCED ERRATIC AND UNPREDICTABLE SUDDEN PULLS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT WITHOUT ANY DRIVER INPUT. THE SERVICE HISTORY FOR THIS VEHICLE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE SUGGESTED SERVICE INTERVALS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358143September 28, 2010
STEERING
I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER. I STARTED THE CAR LAST WEEK AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS MAKING A VERY HIGH PITCHED SQUEALING NOISE. I DECIDED TO DRIVE ANOTHER CAR THAT DAY BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO BRING IT TO A MECHANIC. THE NEXT DAY I STARTED THE CAR AND THE PUMP CAME UP TO SPEED VERY SLOWLY AND THEN STOPPED MAKING NOISE ALTOGETHER. THE POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKS. I DON'T THINK I CAN SAFELY DRIVE IT TO THE MECHANIC AND THE CAR HAS SAT IN THE DRIVEWAY SINCE. THE CAR IS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY PERIOD SO I WOULD BE LOOKING AT THE EXPENSE OF TOWING AND PARTS AND LABOR BEFORE I CAN USE IT AGAIN. I JUST SAW THE REPORT ON CNBC AND WAS WONDERING IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BEFORE I CONTACT A GARAGE. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358142September 28, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST. JUST HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN DURING NORMAL DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358154September 28, 2010
STEERING
ELECTRIC/HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AFTER ONLY 43,000 MILES ON THE CAR. IT STUCK IN THE "ON" POSITION EVEN WHEN KEY REMOVED FROM THE CAR, DRAINING MY BATTERY AND CAUSING A HEAT BUILDUP UNDER THE BONNET. 2004 MINI COOPER S. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358158September 28, 2010
STEERING
MY 2003 MINI COOPER S HAD A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT APROX 60 MPH ON AN EXPRESSWAY NEAR BUFFALO, NY. THE PUMP WAS REPLACED BY ME AT A COST OF APROX $800.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358170September 28, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY OVER SNOQUALMIE PASS. SINCE IT IS A WINDY ROAD, STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358166September 28, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSAXLE ON THE MINI COOPER FAILED. UNIT CONTAINS SEALED BEARINGS (SO I'M TOLD), THAT ARE NOT SERVICEABLE. THEREFORE, I HAD TO BUY A COMPLETE NEW UNIT AT A COST OF $3,000 ()INCLUDED $900 LABOR). I UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON FAILURE FOR MINIS, AND THAT MINI AND BMW ARE REFUSING TO WORK WITH CONSUMERS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE APPARENTLY CHANGED THE DESIGN, RECOGNIZING THE POOR DESIGN OF THE ORIGINAL UNIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358165September 28, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STEERING
ELECTRIC FAN THAT COOLS THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON OUR 2005 MINI COOPER FAILED. OUR MECHANIC SAYS HAD WE DRIVEN VERY FAR, OUR POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD HAVE FAILED. HE TELLS US THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MINIS, AND A FULL 50% OF HIS MINI CUSTOMERS HAVE EXPERIENCE FAN FAILURE, PUMP FAILURE, OR BOTH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358169September 28, 2010
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING ALONG A STREET ABOUT TO NEGOTIATE A TURN WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. HAD IT HAPPENED A FEW SECONDS LATER, I PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE TURN AND MAY HAVE CRASHED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358171September 28, 2010
STEERING
MY 04 MINI S JUST HIT 90K AND RUNS GREAT UNTIL I WAS ON THE FREEWAY OVERPASS THE OTHER DAY. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT SUDDENLY ON A 55 MPH TURN AND ALMOST RAN ME RIGHT INTO THE SHOULDER BARRIER WHICH HAPPENS TO BE 50 FEET ABOVE THE LOWER FREEWAY. THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. MINI COOPER IS A GREAT CAR, BUT THIS POWER STEERING ISSUE IS A WELL KNOW ISSUE AMONGST THE COMMUNITY OF OWNERS AND MINI NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE AND HELP OWNERS WHO ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. ONCE YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT THE STEERING COMES BACK TO NORMAL. WHEN ITS HOT OUT THE STEERING SEEMS TO FAIL AND IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE CAR ONCE THIS HAPPENS WHICH WAS THE RESULT IN MY ABOVE EXPERIENCE. THIS POWER STEERING FAILURE IS WELL KNOW AND HAS MANY MANY ACCOUNTS OF FAILURES ON POPULAR MINI FORUMS. THE PART TO REPLACE THIS ISSUE A SINGLE POWER STEERING UNIT WHICH CAN BE BOUGHT FOR ABOUT $450 AND THE AVERAGE MECHANIC CAN REPLACE IT WITHIN AND HOUR OR SO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357851September 27, 2010
STEERING
2005 MINI COOPER S (BMW) POWER STEERING UNIT FAILURE - VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357656September 26, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2005 MINI COOPER PASSENGER LIGHT COMES ON WITH OR WITHOUT ANY PASSENGER SITTING. HOWEVER, AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE GOES AWAY. WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND STARTED AGAIN, THE PASSENGER LIGHT STAYS ON AGAIN. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. I HAVE SEEN OTHER RECALLS FOR DIFFERENT YEARS, WHY 2005 IS NOT A RECALL? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357728September 26, 2010
STEERING
AFTER PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND GOING INSIDE THE HOUSE FOR A FEW MINUTES - WE NOTICED A VERY CHEMICAL/PLASTIC SMELL. WE QUICKLY FOUND IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE, ONLY TO FIND OUR 2006 MINI S SPEWING BLACK SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WAS A FIRE, FOUND TO BE CAUSED BY THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN FAILING, AND CAUSING THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO OVERHEAT AND START ON FIRE. I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS BLOGS AND COMPLAINT PAGES ON THIS PROBLEM. I HAVEN'T THE MONEY TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM AT THIS TIME, AND SO THE CAR STILL SITS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM THE MANUFACTURER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR, EVEN AFTER WARRANTY. "PREVENTIVELY REPLACING" THE PARTS IS ALSO A RIDICULOUS THING TO EXPECT VEHICLE OWNERS TO DO. UPDATED 10/13/10*BF PICTURES RECEIVED. UPDATED IVOQ 10/21/10*JB *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357741September 26, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED AND UNATTENDED FOR OVER 7 HOURS. IT WAS REPORTED TO THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT UNDER REPORT NUMBER 10-140-031. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ADVISED IT WAS MECHANICAL DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356081September 17, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE UPPER RIGHT HINGE ON THE REAR HATCHDOOR OF MY 2003 MINI SHEARED IN HALF CAUSING THE DOOR TO SPRING OFF AND ALMOST HIT ME ON THE HEAD. IT ALSO POSES THE RISK OF THE REAR HATCH DOOR FLYING OFF WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION POSING A HAZARD TO OTHER DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS. BMW CHARGED ME $700 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE HINGE AND REFUSED TO ADMIT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECTIVE DESIGN. WHEN I CHECKED ON THE INTERNET IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A KNOW HAZARDOUS DEFECT. THE FOLLOWING ARE EMAILS EXCHANGED BY ME WITH BMW WHICH QUOTE SOME OF THE INTERNET THREADS ON THIS ISSUE. SEE E.G. HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/STOCK-PROBLEMS-ISSUES/86679-PLEASE-LUBE-REAR-HATCH-HINGES-2.HTML AND HTTP://WWW.MINICOOPERFORUMS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=2245. MOREOVER, THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR MINI AT THE DEALERSHIP ADMITTED TO ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. EMAIL: THE ISSUE IS NOT THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE PART BUT OF A DESIGN DEFECT AND SAFETY FLAW. HINGES ON THE HATCH LID SHOULD NOT BREAK OFF ENDANGERING OWNERS UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. THE LID ALMOST FELL ON MY HEAD. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND MY DEALER CONFIRMED IT. ARE YOU GOING TO WAIT FOR A LAWSUIT. MOREOVER, A $700 PRICE TAG TO REPLACE A $30 DOLLAR HINGE IS OUTRAGEOUS. THESE HINGES SHOULD NOT FAIL WITH NORMAL USE AND THAT IS ALL IT HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TOO. IF YOU LOOK ON THE INTERNET YOU WILL SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND MY GUESS IS THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED THEM AS WELL. THIS HAS COMPLETELY RUINED THE MINI EXPERIENCE FOR ME AND I WILL NOT BE A REPEAT OWNER WITH THAT ATTITUDE. PLEASE READ THEM. AS YOU CAN SEE YOU HAVE A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW THAT YOU ARE IGNORING AND PASSING ON TO THE CUSTOMERS. IF I DO NOT RECEIVE SOME SATISFACTION WITH THIS I WILL FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. ON AUGUST 28, 2010. THE REAR HATCH DOOR OF MY MINI FELL OFF WHEN BEING OPENED BECAUSE THE HINGE BROKE IN HALF. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS BUT FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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