2004 MINI COOPER Complaints

POWER STEERING SUDDENLY CUT OUT DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS IN DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP SAFELY, BUT THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT HAD IT OCCURRED ON A CURVING ROAD. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE FAILED, AND WAS REPLACED BY THE CONSUMER, FOR A REPAIR COST OF CLOSE TO $700. THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS NOT SUPPOSED TO FAIL THIS EARLY IN THE LIFETIME OF A VEHICLE.

DRIVER SIDE DOOR OF MY 2004 MINI COOPER CAN ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE (I.E. I NEED TO LOWER THE WINDOW IN ORDER TO OPEN THE DOOR) MINI DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT GUARANTEE A FIX WILL LAST MORE THAN FEW WEEKS. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER- 50K MILES- POWER STEERING FAN / MOTOR FAILURE LEADING TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, HEAT/FIRE DAMAGE RESULTING IN INABILITY TO TURN OFF ENGINE. *TR

MY 2004 MINI COOPERS TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 80K MILES WITH NO WARNING. LUCKILY I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY, WHERE I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE COST OF REPLACING THE TRANNY WAS $7,000. MINI USA WAS USELESS WHEN I PLEADED WITH THEM TO HELP ME. AFTER READING ABOUT ALL OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE CVT TRANS, I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE WAS NO RECALL. I WILL NEVER BUY A MINI AGAIN. I STILL OWE $11,000 ON THE CAR AND CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER. *TR

PURCHASED A 2004 MINI COOPER A YEAR AGO, WITH A MILEAGE OF 17,000 MILES. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 4,000 MILES, THE CAR BROKE DOWN AND WAS SENT TO LOCAL MINI DEALER TO GET IT FIXED. CONTINUOUS VARIABLE TRANSMISSION WAS DIAGNOSED WRECKED, AND DEALER OFFERED A REPLACEMENT (ONLY SOLUTION) WITH A RE-FURBISHED CVT TRANSMISSION FOR $9800. AFTER NEGOTIATION, I HAD MINI COVER THE PARTS AND I PAID LABOR. BUT I HAVE SEEN ON SO MANY FORUMS THAT ALL CVT TRANSMISSIONS ARE FAILING SO I WONDER WHY THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS. MY CVT FAILED WHEN THE CAR HAD 21,000 MILES! *TR

OUR 2004 MINI COOPER (CVT) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS ONLY 74,000 MILE ON IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BUMP ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 71,000.

2004 MINI COOPER NON S , TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO A MIDLAND TRANSMISSION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. SHE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR SPRING LEAF CRACKED. THE REAR SPRING LEAF WAS REPLACED AT THE COST OF $860. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER, THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 07/08/09. *LJ UPDATED 07/08/09.*JB

THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE DOES NOT RELEASE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. THIS STARTED WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2009. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME I TRY TO REMOVE THE SEATBELT. I HAVE TO JIGGLE THE BUCKLE TO GET IT TO RELEASE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM YET; THE DEALER WILL NOT WARRANTY THE BUCKLE. *TR