MINI Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT HEARD A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAKING NOISE WHILE MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 72,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2005 MINI COOPER SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. DUE TO DEFECT IN DESIGN POWER STEERING COOLING FAN FAILS, CAUSING PUMP TO OVERHEAT AND RELAY GETS FRIED. MINI REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM, AND FIX. COST FOR REPLACEMENT OF PUMP, FAN, LABOR IS $1300-$1400. VEHICLE HAS 59000 MILES. CURIOUSLY THEY HAVE REDESIGNED FAN WITH COVER TO PROTECT IT AND PUMP HAS ALSO BEEN REDESIGNED. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL. *TR

HI THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY MINI COOPER LOSING POWER STEERING , I HAVE LOST THE POWER STEERING FEW TIMES THIS WEEK AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE BMW NEAR MY AREA THEY TOLD ME ITS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MINI CARS FROM 2001 TO 2005 AS THE PSP ( POWER STEERING PUMP ) ON THE MODELS HAVE A FAULT AND YOU MAY LOSE THE STEERING POWER AT ANY TIME . I ALMOST HAD 2 ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS WEEK AND THEY ARE ASKING MY TO PAY 550 FOR A NEW PUMP . IF THEY HAVE A FAULTY PUMP AND THEY NOW IT CAN RISK LIVES THEY SHOULD RECALL IT OR OFFER TO FIX THIS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED . *TR

2008 MINI COOPER S. NO ENGINE MODIFICATION. LOUD KNOCKING NOISE ON START UP AND CONTINUES FOR ABOUT 5 MINS OF DRIVING AND THEN GOES AWAY. MILE IS UNDER 8900 MILES. *TR

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO MONTHS, I LOST POWER STEERING IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER. THE SECOND TIME HAPPENED AS I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE-84,OUTSIDE HARTFORD, IN CONNECTICUT. VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS! MY MECHANIC SAYS I HAVE A LEAK IN MY POWER STEERING ELECTRIC PUMP, AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR ALMOST $600 FOR A PUMP. HE SAYS THE MINI COOPERS HE'S WORKED ON ALL HAVE NEEDED THIS REPAIR. HOW CAN A COMMON POWER STEERING PROBLEM NOT BE DANGEROUS AND WARRANT A RECALL? *TRW

THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG WEIGHT SENSOR HAS GONE BAD AND AS A RESULT, HAS RENDERED THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 4K MILES AND THE LOCAL DEALER AND MINI USA HAVE BECOME NON-RESPONSIVE ABOUT FIXING AN OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT. THE REPLACEMENT PART PLUS LABOR AND FACTORY RESETTING WERE QUOTED AT $1900. SEARCHING OTHER ONLINE POSTINGS REVEALS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM NOT ONLY FOR MINI COOPERS BUT FOR PARENT COMPANY BMWS AS WELL. *TR

SEAT WARMER FAILED TO SHUT OFF AD BURNT A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND IN MY JACKET. MAY HAVE STARTED A FIRE IF I HAD NOT SHUT IT OFF. THIS CAR HAD BEEN IN FLA FOR MOST OF ITS YEARS AND ALSO HAD LOW MILEAGE - CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

MY 2004 MINI COOPER S SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING LOST ITS POWER STEERING. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE MECHANIC WHO SAID THE WHOLE STEERING WAS SHOT. THAT IS WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT MINI HAS HAD A LOT OF THESE FAILURES. IF I HAD BEEN ON A CURVE AND AT ANY FASTER SPEED I MAY HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT, AND NOW BMW WON'T EVEN FIX THE CAR! THIS IS NOT RIGHT ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAVE KNOWN THERE IS PROBLEM, WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE A FEW PEOPLE GETTING KILLED LIKE WITH THE TOYOTA BRAKE PROBLEM? MAKE THEM DO SOMETHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FIRE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING REMAINED ON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND CAUSED THE FIRE. THE POWER STEERING PUMP, WIRING HARNESS AND BATTERY WERE ALL REPLACED. THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

THE STEERING IS SO HARD AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO MOVE WHILE DRIVING, I HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR LAST FEW MONTH BUT EVERY TIME WHEN I TURN OFF/ON, THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY FOR A DAY OR TWO. SINCE LAST WEEK, IT BECOME PERMANENT. I SURF ON INTERNET AND CALL MINI CUSTOMER SERVICES, THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS ISSUE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION AND IF I FIXED THE PROBLEM AND IF THERE WILL BE A RECALL, THEY WILL COVER ONLY PARTS NOT LABOR. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AND UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING. *TR