2002 MINI COOPER Complaints

THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON 2002 MINI COOPER S HAS REPEATEDLY SEIZED UP WHEN DRIVING OVER A COURSE OF A FEW MONTHS AND NOW IT WONT TURN OFF WHEN THE CAR IS OFF SO THE BATTERY DRAINS OUT. *TR

JUST DRIVING ALONG AND CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER, AND THEN TRANSMISSION LET GO. ENGINE REVVED, BUT THE GEARS WERE GONE. NO FORWARD OR REVERSE. NOTHING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE STEERING COLUMN AND SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,392.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 90,000. UPDATED 09/24/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/24/10

METAL TABS CONNECTING GLASS SUNROOF TO SUNROOF GUIDES BROKE. THE METAL SPLIT POSSIBLY DUE TO METAL FATIGUE INDUCED BY VIBRATION. POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE TO LOSE SUNROOF IF IT WAS TO LOSE THE OTHER MOUNT. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT ON. CONTINUOUSLY ON. SEE NHTSA ACTION PE05053 SAME ISSUES AS PE05053, BUT DIFFERENT CABLES AND CONNECTORS IN THE SAME CIRCUIT ARE CAUSING THE SAME PROBLEM. BMW IS NOT COVERING THESE FAILURES UNDER WARRANTY AT THIS TIME. ENTIRE CIRCUIT NEEDS TO BE EVALUATED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. HE STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILURE OCCURRED NO MATTER THE SPEED AND HAS OCCURRED AT OTHER SPEED LEVELS. HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HIM PAYING A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPPROXIMATELY 67,500.

THE NEW MINIS FROM BMW, RANGING FROM 2002 - 2005, HAVE CHRONIC PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING FAILING WHILE DRIVING, MAKING THE CARS SUDDENLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. I'VE SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS VERY SAME THING. HERE'S A LINK TO A BBC STORY ABOUT IT. HTTP://WWW.BBC.CO.UK/BLOGS/WATCHDOG/2009/02/MINI_STEERING_SYSTEM_FAILURES.HTML. *TR

SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE MANUAL 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION CAUSING CAR TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP IN AN INTERSECTION, ENDANGERING THE DRIVER AND BLOCKING TRAFFIC. SOMETHING INTERNAL FAILS IN THE TRANSMISSION, CAR COMES TO T SUDDEN STOP, CANT BE PUSHED AS THE WHEELS LOCK UP AND MUST BE TOWED FROM THE ROAD. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON MESSAGE BOARDS ON THE WEB. TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED. *TR

1. NORMAL AROUND TOWN DRIVING. PASSENGER REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED ... STEEL FAILED UNDER STRESS ONE OF SEVERAL MANUFACTURE HOLES PUNCHED INTO THE MEMBER. 2. CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE. 3. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARM. BMW HAS SINCE RE-ENGINEERED THE CONTROL ARM. REPLACEMENT ARMS ARE MADE STRONGER. *** I CAN PROVIDE ONLINE FORUM POSTINGS FROM NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM AND MINI2.COM (US AND UK ONLINE FORUMS FOR MINI OWNERS) WHICH DEMONSTRATE THAT THIS MEMBER IS ROUTINELY BREAKING ON OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME VINTAGE. PHOTOS OF MY FAILURE AND THE FAILURES OF OTHERS AVAILABLE. MINI IS ROUTINELY DENYING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS VEHICLE SAFETY ITEM CITING IMPROPER DRIVING HABITS. *** *TR