2005 MINI COOPER S Complaints

THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE IS KNOWN TO BE DEFECTIVE BY MINI USA. THE CAR IS UNDRIVABLE AND UNSAFE AS THE TRANSMISSION COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME, STRANDING THE DRIVER OR CAUSING A FIRE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING PUMP STOPPED WORKING THE FIRST TIME WHEN I STOPPED TO GET A SANDWICH. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR TO DRIVE OFF THE STEERING WAS VERY HEAVY. I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF ONCE AGAIN SO I COULD LOOK UNDER THE HOOD TO CHECK THINGS OUT BUT EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE SO I RESTARTED THE ENGINE TO TRY TO DRIVE OFF AGAIN AND THE STEERING STILL WAS VERY HEAVY. NO POWER ASSIST. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES SINCE, ONE TIME WHILE I WAS DRIVING. *TR

AROUND JUNE 2008 MY MINI COOPER S 2005 BEGAN EXHIBITING WHAT APPEARED TO BE A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENT SPEED WHILE DRIVING AT A CONSTANT RPM. I EXPERIENCED SLOW, OR SLUGGISH ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON SPORADICALLY. I TOOK MY MINI, WHICH WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY IN FOR SERVICE TO BMW/MINI OF SAN ANTONIO AND WAS REASSURED THAT I WAS EXPERIENCING NORMAL SHIFTING MECHANICS. THEY WERE ALSO UNABLE TO DETECT WHY THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON. I EXPERIENCED THESE IDIOSYNCRATIC ISSUES CONTINUOUSLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND BEGAN TO NOTICE THE CAR JUMPING HIGHER AND LOWER IN SPEED DURING ACCELERATION IN MORE REGULAR INTERVALS. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2010 THE ENGINE WOULD LURCH INTO GEAR, SECONDS AFTER FAILING TO CHANGE GEARS EFFECTIVELY. AT TIMES, THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY DROP OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING. I BEGAN TAKING MY CAR INTO A BMW/MINI CERTIFIED SHOP IN AUSTIN, TX. AFTER MUCH TIME, MONEY, AND TROUBLE, PLUS MANY VISITS TO THE MECHANIC, MY MINI COOPER'S CONDITION DETERIORATED COMPLETELY. WHILE IN BUSY TRAFFIC MY MINI LURCHED FORWARD AND STALLED COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE DRIVING BEFORE I COULD GET IT OFF THE BUSY ROADWAY. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY VEHICLES BEHIND MINE, THESE DRIVERS HAD TO MAKE EXTREME EVASIVE MANEUVERS IN ORDER NOT TO HIT ME, THE CAR IN FRONT OF THEM, OR BE REAR ENDED THEMSELVES. THIS UNSAFE AND HAZARDOUS INCIDENT ENDANGERED MY LIFE, AND WAS THE LAST FOR MY MINI, RESULTING IN COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN JULY 2011. I SOUGHT OPINIONS ON MY OPTIONS, SHOP QUOTES TO FIX MY VEHICLE, ALL AROUND $10,000. MY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED OR ALTERED, IT STANDS AS IT DID THE DAY OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. IT WAS TOWED FROM THE SHOP TO STORAGE. MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCE DOCUMENTED. WHY WAS THERE NO RECALL? CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS IN CALIFORNIA AND NEW JERSEY. *TR

THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER S FAILED, MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE CAR SAFELY IN TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO A SERVICE SHOP AND LATER DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I CALLED MINI, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE VIN NUMBER FOR MY CAR WAS NOT ONE COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS A MODEL YEAR 2005. THEY OFFERED NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WHATSOEVER TO HELP ME REPLACE THE PART. A NEW PART WAS QUOTED AS 1300 DOLLARS, AND THAT WAS ASIDE FROM THE LABOR. FOR COST REASONS, IT LOOKS LIKE I WILL HAVE TO INSTALL A REFURBISHED PART INSTEAD, WHICH GIVES ME CONCERNS ABOUT FUTURE FAILURES. *TR

CAME HOME ON TUESDAY NIGHT FROM MY GIRLFRIENDS HOUSE THEN IN THE MORNING MY BATTERY WAS DEAD. AS CONFUSED AS I WAS SINCE I KNEW I DIDNT LEAAVE ANY LIGHTS OR ANYTHING ON WENT AHEAD AND DECIDED TO JUMP THE CAR AND AS SOON AS I CONNECTED THE CABLES I HEARD A NOISE ALMOST LIKE A FAN NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. I THEN PROCEEDED TO OPEN THE HOOD AND SEE OR TRY AND HEAR WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM. DECIDED TO LIFT THE CAR UP AND GET UNDERNEATH TO SEE WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM AND SURE ENOUGH IT WAS FROM INSIDE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. CHECKED FLUIDS AND WAS OK BUT FOR SOME ODD REASON THE PUMP JUST STAYS ON WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF SO TO PREVENT BATTERY DRAINAGE I HAVE TO DISCONNECT A BATTERY TERMINAL EVERY TIME I NEED TO USE THE CAR. IM REQUESTING THAT MINIUSA TAKE CARE OF THIS BEING THAT THERE IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY DAUGHTER'S CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE ABOUT THREE (3) WEEKS AGO WHILE SHE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, LUCKILY SHE THOUGHT ENOUGH AND TURNED THE CAR OFF SO THE DAMAGE WAS ONLY TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND WIRING HARNESS . ONCE WE DISCOVERED WHAT HAD CAUGHT FIRE WE DID RESEARCH ON HOW TO MAKE THE REPAIR(S) AND CAME ACROSS THE RECALL FOR 2005 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLES POWER STEERING PUMPS, THEY ARE RECALLING THEM BECAUSE THEY FAIL AND SOMETIMES CATCH FIRE. THE RECALL IS FOR CARS PRODUCED UNTIL FEBRUARY 2005 AND MINE, ACCORDING TO THE DOOR STICKER, WAS PRODUCED IN MARCH 2005 SO MINI WILL NOT MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY 'FIXED' THE ISSUE. ONCE WE GOT UNDER THE CAR AND PULLED THE POWER STEERING PUMP OFF YOU COULD CLEARLY SEE IT WAS BURNED, THE LARGER POWER STEERING PUMP CONNECTOR WAS COMPLETELY BURNED AND MELTED TOGETHER, WE COULDN'T EVEN REMOVE THE PUMP WITHOUT CUTTING THE WIRING HARNESS. WHEN WE GOT THE PUMP OFF YOU COULD SEE THE PUMP WAS BURNED ON THE INSIDE AS WELL SO APPARENTLY THERE IS STILL AN ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMPS FAILING AND CATCHING FIRE. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH MINI NORTH AMERICA AGAIN AND AGAIN THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE ISSUED BECAUSE WELL, THERE'S NOT AN ISSUE, AGAIN ACCORDING TO THEM. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS ISSUE SO I WILL RESEARCHING THAT AVENUE. *TR

I WAS ON MY WAY BACK TO WORK FROM LUNCH IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER S AND MY POWER STEERING SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF A CURVE! I FORTUNATELY MANAGED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND LIMP TO THE PARKING LOT TO PULL OVER. THEN, I TURNED THE CAR OFF TO GET OUT, AND DISCOVERED MY POWER STEERING PUMP WAS STILL RUNNING EVEN WITH THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF!? I WAS AFRAID THAT THIS WOULD CAUSE A MELTDOWN OR FIRE, SO I QUICKLY CALLED A MINI DEALER TO ASK HOW TO SHUT THE PUMP OFF. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED! THE BATTERY HAD TO REMAIN DISCONNECTED WHILE THE CAR WAS OFF OR THE PUMP WOULD RUN CONTINUOUSLY. I DID NOT FEEL THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AT THIS POINT. MY POWER STEERING WAS NOW UNPREDICTABLY INTERMITTENT WHEN THE CAR WAS RUNNING. THE POWER STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY FAIL AND THEN SUDDENLY COME BACK ON, CAUSING A JERK-AND-SWERVE REACTION IN THE STEERING WHEEL FOR ME WHILE DRIVING. SO I CALLED MINI USA TO REPORT THE PROBLEM, AND I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A MINI DEALER. THE MINI DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE KNOWN POWER STEERING FAILURE COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND ASSOCIATED PUMP COOLING FAN FOR MODEL YEARS 2002-2005 FOR UP TO 13 YEARS/150,000 MILES. BUT MINI USA DENIED COVERAGE DESPITE MY CAR ONLY HAVING APPROX 70,000 MILES, CLAIMING THAT THEY STOPPED COVERAGE AFTER FEB 2005 BECAUSE THE NEWLY DESIGNED REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE INSTALLED AFTER FEB 2005. MY CAR WAS BUILT IN MAY 2005 AND WAS PROVEN BY THE MINI DEALER TO HAVE THE ORIGINAL FAULTY POWER STEERING PARTS, NOT THE NEWLY DESIGNED PARTS. I AM REPORTING THIS AS A KNOWN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD INSTEAD BE A SAFETY RECALL, RATHER THAN THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT MINI USA DOES NOT PROPERLY ADVERTISE OR HONOR, SO THAT ALL MINI OWNERS WILL GET THEIR STEERING CHECKED BEFORE ANYTHING BAD HAPPENS. *TR

IN AN OFFSET FRONTAL ACCIDENT, BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EVEN WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT UNOCCUPIED. BASED UPON INFORMATION PROVIDED ABOUT THIS VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT RELATED TO THE OPERATION OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM. THE DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE SUFFERED A SERIOUS SECOND DEGREE BURN APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER TO THE INSIDE OF THE RIGHT WRIST. THE LONG SLEEVE SWEATER DRIVER WAS WEARING HAD A LARGE HOLE BURNED THRU IT IN THE LOCATION OF THE BURN TO THE WRIST. THIS BURN WAS CAUSED BY THE AIR BAG HOT GAS DISCHARGE. HANDS WERE BETWEEN THE 9 & 10 AND 2 & 3 O'CLOCK POSITIONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. DRIVER WAS SITTING CORRECTLY POSITIONED RELATIVE TO STEERING WHEEL AND WAS PROPERLY WEARING THE SEAT BELT. *TR

WHEN MY MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE ONLY HAD AROUND 85,000 MILE ON SPEEDOMETER MY TRANSMISSION WOULD SUDDENLY HAVE DIFFICULTY GOING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR AND STALL WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED BY CARS BEHIND ME NOT EXPECTING ME TO STALL. UPON RESEARCHING WEB THERE ARE MANY SAME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MODEL VEHICLE. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. MINI USA DID NOT AGREE TO FIX THE VEHICLE. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A RECALL BEFORE SOME ONE IS KILLED. *TR

LAST DECEMBER MY STEERING WENT OUT ON MY CAR. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT A POSSIBLE CLASS ACTION SUIT WAS IN THE PROCESS. I CALLED MINI NORTH AMERICA TO DISCUSS MY FINDINGS AND TO SEE IF A RECALL WAS IN THE WORKS. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT STATED SHE WASN'T AWARE OF ANY. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALER AND HAD TO HAVE 4,000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. WATER PUMP, SUPER CHARGER AND SEVERAL BEARINGS. I THEN GET A LETTER IN EARLY JUNE OF 2013 STATING THAT A RECALL WAS IN THE WORKS AND TO SEND ALL MY INFORMATION IN FOR POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT I QUALIFY AND THAT A CHECK WAS GOING TO BE CUT AND SENT OUT BY THE END OF JUNE OR EARLY AUGUST. WHEN THE CHECK DIDN'T ARRIVE, I CONTINUED TO CALL MINI NORTH AMERICA AND I KEEP GETTING THE RUN AROUND. I WAS TOLD IT WAS GOING TO BE LATE SEPTEMBER OR EARLY OCTOBER. I JUST CALLED AGAIN TODAY AND NOW I'M TOLD IT WILL BE CUT BEFORE THE NEW YEAR. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE PUT SOMEONE'S HAND ON THE FIRE AND GET THIS RESOLVED? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR