2006 MINI COOPER Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

EXECUTING A LEFT TURN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS ISSUE. DAMAGE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF CAR AGAINST CURB. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ON A RECALL!

WHILE PULLING UP TO A SIGNAL WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL DOWN, WE HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE CENTER OF THE CAR. THE REST OF THE DRIVE, THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT (6 SPEED MANUAL) INTO ANY GEAR. TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE LINKAGE WAS FINE. THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE THROW OUT BEARING HAD FAILED, REQUIRING A $2300 CLUTCH REPAIR. THAT SEEMS LIKE A VERY EXPENSIVE AND PREMATURE FAILURE. *TR

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR 2ND TIME. THE 1ST. WAS 08-11-10 @ 81,539 MILES.THE CONTROL UNIT FOR THE AIR BAG WAS REPLACED. PN: 65-77-184-432. COST FOR THE MODULE WAS $507.00. PART HAS A 2 YEAR WARRANTY FORM BMW. STARTED CAR FRIDAY MORNING TO GO TO WORK AND THE WARNING LIGHT CAME BACK ON. WILL TAKE BACK TO DEALER. PART SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 1 1/2 YEARS. THIS IS A EXPENSIVE PART AND LABOR WAS $400.00 THE LAST TIME IT WAS REPLACED. AM I THE ONLY ONE TO HAVE THIS AIR BAG PROBLEM. I DO NOT THINK THE AIR BAGS WILL WORK WITH THE LIGHT ON. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM TO ME. *TR

PURCHASED 2006 MINI COOPER S BRAND NEW AT A MINI DEALER IN BOSTON. THE VEHICLE HAS 108K HIGHWAY MILES. I HAD SERVICED THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER UNTIL WARRANTY RAN OUT AND TRANSITIONED TO A NATIONAL CAR CARE CHAIN. I BEGAN TO NOTICE THE VEHICLE SLIPPING BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR WHEN TRAVELING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC AND THEY INDICATED THAT I SHOULD BRING IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. DELIVERED THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT MY CVT TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE RE-MANUFACTURED. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP IS LEAKING AND FAILING. THE POWER STEERING FAN HAD SEIZED AND WAS LIKELY THE CAUSE OF THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE MINI DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME OVER 10K FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT ONLY DID NOT INQUIRE ABOUT POWER STEERING AND THERE WERE NO PROGRAMS FOR CUSTOMERS IN THIS SITUATION. THIS COST IS MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP WILL DO THE REPAIRS FOR 6K. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG STARTED HAVING INTERMITTENT FAILURES STARTING ABOUT 55,000 MILES AND LITTLE OVER THREE YEARS, SEVEN MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. FULL FAILURE OCCURRED AT 80,000. THE SEAT WAS NOT COMMONLY USED. THE CAR IS USED PRIMARILY TO COMMUTE TO AND FROM WORK BY ONE PERSON. *JS

POWER STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY UPON WARM ENGINE RE-START. THE SMELL OF OVERHEATING COMPONENTS IS IN THE PASSENGER CABIN. *JS

THE POWER STEERING WASN'T WORKING. IT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF, BACK ON AGAIN, AND MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM SIDE TO SIDE SLIGHTLY, THE POWER STEERING RE-ENGAGED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. EVERYTHING ELSE WITH THE CAR SEEMED TO BE RUNNING NORMAL. *JS

THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME MAKING DRIVING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. HAVING ONLY 12 MILES TO TRAVEL SHE DROVE HOME FIGHTING THE STEERING ALL THE WAY HOME WHEN SHE ARRIVED HOME I OPEN THE HOOD AND COULD SMELL AND SEE SMOKE FROM WHAT I HAVE DISCOVERED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL MELT DOWN ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE ENTIRE WIRING CONNECTORS ARE MELTED AND ASH AND UN USABLE. WE WERE LUCKY THE CAR DID NOT CATCH FIRE. HOWEVER THERE IS CLEAR EVIDENCE THE WIRES WERE ON FIRE. *TR