MINI Complaints

GENERALLY, I LOVE THE MINI COOPER HAVING PURCHASED IT IN THE AFTER MARKET. HOWEVER, NOT LONG AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT, I HAD PROBLEMS FOR SEVERAL WEEKS WITH MY STEERING WHEEL SEIZING UP BUT AN INCIDENT IN FEBRUARY 2012 STICKS OUT MOST IN MY MIND SINCE I WAS ON I-95 IN THE RAIN AND COULD NOT ADEQUATELY STEER THE CAR TO TAKE AN EXIT. MY 11 YR OLD DAUGHTER WAS WITH ME AT THE TIME. I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND RESUME DRIVING. FINANCIALLY, I COULD NOT AFFORD TO TAKE THE CAR INTO THE DEALER BUT THE CONDITION AND WORK AROUND CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY FOR A FEW WEEKS WHEN I COULD AFFORD THE REPAIR. IN EARLY MAY 2012, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AND IT COST OVER $1300 TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE COOLING FAN ALSO NEEDED REPAIR FOR ANOTHER $720 -- I JUST DIDN'T HAVE IT. TODAY, MY 2-YR OLD BATTERY FAILED APPARENTLY DUE TO DRAINING FROM THE FAN. FOR NOW, I REPLACED THE BATTERY FOR $249. I WILL BE INCREMENTALLY GETTING REPAIRS DONE, HOWEVER, IN READING SOME PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCE WITH THE STEERING PUMP, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE MAY BE SOME RELEVANCE BETWEEN THE PUMP GOING BAD AND AN IMPACT ON THE FAN. I'D APPRECIATE ANY INSIGHTS YOU MAY HAVE ON THAT POSSIBILITY. I AM REPORTING THIS NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT FOR OTHERS WHO ALSO MAY BE IMPACTED BY THE PUMP DEFECT THAT I AM LEARNING IS SOMEWHAT COMMON. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE OUTCOME OF YOUR ENGINEERING ANALYSIS. THANK YOU. *TR

WATER PUMP/SUPER CHARGER FAIL CAUSE ENGINE OVERHEAT. HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP/SUPER CHARGE ASSEMBLY. *TR

COMPLETE POWER STEERING FAILURE. FAULTY/FAILED PUMP INTERNAL CONTROL CIRCUITRY. *TR

THE CAR HAS NEVER REGISTERED THE CORRECT MILES PER HOUR. THE SPEEDOMETER REPORTS HIGHER THAN ACTUAL MILES PER HOUR BY AS MUCH AS 10%. I'VE COMPLAINED MANY TIMES TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO GET USED TO IT. THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD FIX AND I WOULD HAVE TO BUY A NAVIGATION SYSTEM IF I WANTED TO KNOW HOW FAST I WAS REALLY GOING. I ASKED IF THEY AFFECTED MY ACTUAL MILEAGE AND THEY SAID NO, BUT I AM SUSPICIOUS TO THAT. DEALER IS DOWNTOWN MINI 350 LAKE DESTINY DRIVE, ORLANDO, FL. *TR

THE LATCHES ON THE REAR DOORS FAILED AND WOULD NOT LATCH SHUT. HAD TO TIED DOORS DOWN WITH ROPE IN ORDER TO GET HOME. I WAS FORTUNATE THE LATCHES FAILED WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND NOT WHILE I WAS DRIVING; COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. MINI HAS THIS AS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN BUT CHARGED ME $233 TO FIX. *TR

HAD JUST MADE MINOR ENGINE REPAIRS - HOSES - BELT - THERMOSTAT - WATER PUMP - OIL CHANGE - OIL FILTER - AIR FILTER - LESS THEN ONE WEEK - 30MP MAKING LEFT TURN - GRIPPING VERY HARD ON THE WHEEL TO FINISH THE TURN - NO POWER STEERING - TESTED FAN - FAN OK - PULLED STEERING PUMP OFF - WHAT DO I DO NOW - BUY PUMP - CALL DEALER - WAIT TO HERE FROM YOU *TR

WATER PUMP FOR TURBOCHARGER REPLACED IN MAY (RECALL) AND TURBOCHARGER WARRANTY EXTENDED VIA MINI OF AMERICA LETTER. TURBOCHARGER FAILED IN AUGUST, BUT MINI OF AUSTIN BLAMED FAILURE ON LACK OF OIL CHANGES. ALL OIL CHANGES PERFORMED BY THAT DEALERSHIP WHENEVER THE CAR TOLD US IT WAS DUE. CRAPPY RESPONSE FROM MINI OF AMERICA AS WELL. *TR

MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I MANAGED TO AVOID HITTING THE CURB AND PULLED OVER AFTER COMPLETING THE TURN. IT FELT LIKE DRIVING WITH FOUR FLAT TIRES. AFTER RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN TWO DAYS LATER. IN BOTH CASES, THIS HAPPENED SHORTLY AFTER STARTING UP. *TR

THE OIL SUPPLY AND RETURN LINE CONNECTIONS AT THE TURBO HAVE FAILED AND SPRAYED OIL ONTO A VERY HOT TURBO CAUSING A HIGH RISK OF FIRE. *TR

MINI COOPER TRANSMISSION FAIL. THE CAR DOES NOT GO BETWEEN 20 TO 50 MPH. IT HAS NO POWER AND THAT CAN BE DANGERS WHEN I AM GETTING INTO THE HIGHWAY AND CARS ARE GOING AT A HIGH SPEED. ON TOP OF IT MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR. LUCKY I GOT IT STARTED AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME. SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM THE CAR NEED TO BE RECALL AND GET IT FAXED BECAUSE SOMEONE CAN DIE. *TR