MINI Complaints

I WAS TRAVEL AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH, WHEN MY VEHICLE LOST POWER IMMEDIATELY DOWN TO 15 MPH. THE ENGINE DID NOT SHUT OFF, BUT I COULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 15 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC FLOW WAS SPACED SO I COULD SAFELY PULL OVER. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THIS MALFUNCTION WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS SAID TO GONE INTO "LIMP MODE". THE ELECTRONIC BELT WAS REPLACED THAT APPARENTLY CONTROLS THE VEHICLE FUNCTION AT A COST OF $3400.00. *TR

I NOTICED A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AREA. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED. *TR

I STARTED MY CAR AFTER IT HAD BEEN SITTING PARKED FOR A FEW DAYS, TO FIND THAT MY POWER STEERING HAD COMPLETELY FAILED. THE CAR WAS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE - BUT I HAD TO MOVE IT TO AVOID IT BEING TOWED. WHILE ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, THIS UNPREDICTABLE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC HAD I BEEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, OR IN A DENSELY POPULATED AREA REQUIRING QUICK STEERING REACTIONS. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ENDEMIC PROBLEM. SEE THIS THREAD ON THE MINI NORTH AMERICAN MOTORING DISCUSSION PAGES: HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/STOCK-PROBLEMS-ISSUES/74213-THE-GREAT-POWER-STEERING-PUMP-FAILURE-PROBLEMS-THREAD-22.HTML. *TR

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, I APPROACH MY EXIT AND AS I COME TO A STOP ON THE EXIT RAMP, THE CAR STALLS AND DIES. CAR WILL NOT RESTART. VEHICLE IS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP. AFTER INSPECTION AT THE DEALERSHIP, I AM TOLD THE VACUUM PUMP HAS FAILED CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. SUGGESTED REPAIR IS ENGINE REPLACEMENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING FUNCTION. THE CONTACT STATED IN ORDER FOR THE POWER STEERING TO FUNCTION PROPERLY THE VEHICLE HAD TO COOL DOWN AND THAT COULD TAKE HOURS. THE VEHICLE ALSO BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOT OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING HER YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL AND THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM AND WOULD LIKE FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 01/20/11 *BF UPDATED 03/28/11

COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN WARM CAR IS STARTED. NOT A PROBLEM WHEN CAR IS COLD. REQUIRES APPROXIMATELY 1.5 HOURS FOR CAR TO COOL BEFORE CAR CAN BE STARTED AND SAFELY DRIVEN WITH POWER STEERING RESTORED. WILL BE REPLACING WITH OEM POWER STEERING PUMP. NEW PUMP IS APPROX $600 AND LABOR IS APPROX $150 AT INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. DEALER ESTIMATE IS APPROX $1300. OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WILL NOT DRIVE CAR DUE TO FEAR THAT POWER STEERING WILL BE LOST WHILE DRIVING THOUGH THIS HAS NOT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. *TR

I HAVE A MINI COOPER 2009 WHICH TODAY MARKS A YEAR OF PURCHASE, FOR ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS HAS BEEN LEADING THE WARRANTY SERVICE DUE TO FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAG PASSENGER AND THE CAR TURNS OFF WHILE USING. UNFORTUNATELY TO GET THE CAR TO SERVICE NEVER CAN DIAGNOSE THE FAULT. *TR

ON 2005 MINI COOPER S WITH 13,000 MILES THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. MINI DIAGNOSED REASON AS FAILURE OF THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE $1100 REPAIR. MINI WILL NOT FIX BECAUSE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. MINI DID NOT STATE WHETHER THE AIRBAG WILL OR WILL NOT FUNCTION. PASSENGER SEAT HAS RARELY BEEN USED. MINI DENIES RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

2002 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. PUMP HAD STOPPED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR PREVIOUSLY. NOW, PUMP CONTINUES TO RUN AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. *TR

THE WALL NEXT TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS EXTREMELY HOT TO THE POINT IT CAN BURN YOUR FOOT. THIS IS CAUSED BY THE AC HEATER COMPONENTS WHEN DRIVING AND RUNNING THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE MINI COOPER DEALER DOES NOT HAVE A FIX. THE ONLY FIX THEY HAD WAS A TWO INCH INSULATED TUBE FOR THE COIL PIPE. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE NO OTHER SOLUTION. I HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO BURN MYSELF. *TR