MINI Complaints

FULL-GROWN ADULT PASSENGERS (WEIGHING IN EXCESS OF 120 POUNDS) SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CAUSES THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, WHICH STATES, "PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG DISABLED". *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 60 MPH, THE WHEEL AND TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AT THIS TIME. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COST FOR THE REPAIR WOULD RANGE FROM $3,000 - $5,000. THE AFFECTED COMPONENTS WERE THE STEERING, BRAKES, SUSPENSION, AND SHOCKS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,000.

2002 MINI COOPER S MODEL. AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. HAS BEEN REPAIRED MANY TIMES AND STILL STAYS ON, DEACTIVATING SAFETY FEATURES OF THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MINI. BMW NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL I FEEL FOR OUR SAFETY... *TR

COMPLETE AND INSTANT POWER STEERING FAILURE WITH NO WARNING OF ANY KIND. REQUIRED CONSIDERABLE ARM STRENGTH TO CONTROL VEHICLE. *TR

PURCHASED 2003 MINI COOPER IN 3/03 AT MINI STERLING IN VA. MOVED TO PA, SERVICING CAR UNDER WARRANTY AT THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, OTTO'S MINI IN WEST CHESTER (50 MI AWAY). MINOR ISSUES CORRECTED UNDER WARRANTY, WHICH EXPIRED IN LATE 2005. IN JULY 2007, AT 78,000 MILES, WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL EXPRESSWAY CAR SUDDENLY LOST ABILITY TO DRIVE IN GEAR AND I PULLED OVER (LUCKILY SAFE - TRAFFIC WAS MOVING AT 60-70 MPH). ENGINE RAN BUT CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. ALL SIGNS POINTED TO MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. CAR TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP IN YORK (NEAREST RECOMMENDED SHOP) WHO CONFIRMED TRANSMISSION ISSUE. CALLED MINI OF TOWSON (NEAREST DEALER) FOR QUOTE ON REPLACING TRANSMISSION - IT WAS $7800! CAR WAS ONLY WORTH $12,000-$13,000 AT THAT TIME - REPAIR WAS OVER 50% OF CAR VALUE. LOCAL SHOP TRIED FIX IT WITH REBUILT TRANSMISSION. TURNED INTO 7 MONTH NIGHTMARE AS MULTIPLE REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS DIDN'T WORK DUE TO COMPUTER CODE ISSUES, SO CAR TOWED TO MINI OF TOWSON TWICE TO SEE IF THEY COULD CORRECT ISSUES, BUT EACH TIME DEALER ONLY OFFERED TO FIX WITH NEW TRANSMISSION FROM THEM AT $7800. TRIED TRADING CAR TO THEM FOR NEW MINI, BUT THEY ONLY OFFERED ME $4000 FOR THE CAR, SAYING THEIR COST TO FIX WAS STILL $6000. LOCAL SHOP FINALLY GAVE UP, REFUNDING MY DEPOSIT AND RETURNING CAR WITH REBUILT TRANSMISSION THAT WILL ONLY DRIVES IN LOW GEAR AT 20 MPH. NOW HAVE MINI IN MY GARAGE (WITH BALANCE ON CAR LOAN) THAT SHOULD BE WORTH $10,000 BUT IS UNUSABLE. MINI IS REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS DESIGN FLAW (NEW CARS HAVE DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION), WHICH IS UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED, AS THEY SAY. NETSCAPE SHOULD ORDER RECALL OF THESE CARS AND REPAIR AT MINE'S COST. I HAVE INFORMED MY CONGRESSMAN BROTHER ABOUT THIS ISSUE (HE SITS ON HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE) - HE IS AWAITING WORD ON HOW NETSCAPE AND MINI RESPOND TO MY COMPLAINT (OBVIOUSLY SHARED MY MANY OTHERS). THANK YOU. *TR

PURCHASED 2002 MINI COOPER IN 3/03 AT MINI STERLING IN VA. MOVED TO PA, SERVICING CAR UNDER WARRANTY AT THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, OTTO'S MINI IN WEST CHESTER (50 MI AWAY). MINOR ISSUES CORRECTED UNDER WARRANTY, WHICH EXPIRED IN LATE 2005. IN JULY 2007, AT 78,000 MILES, WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL EXPRESSWAY CAR SUDDENLY LOST ABILITY TO DRIVE IN GEAR AND I PULLED OVER (LUCKILY SAFE - TRAFFIC WAS MOVING AT 60-70 MPH). ENGINE RAN BUT CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. ALL SIGNS POINTED TO MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. CAR TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP IN YORK (NEAREST RECOMMENDED SHOP) WHO CONFIRMED TRANSMISSION ISSUE. CALLED MINI OF TOWSON (NEAREST DEALER) FOR QUOTE ON REPLACING TRANSMISSION - IT WAS $7800! CAR WAS ONLY WORTH $12,000-$13,000 AT THAT TIME - REPAIR WAS OVER 50% OF CAR VALUE. LOCAL SHOP TRIED FIX IT WITH REBUILT TRANSMISSION. TURNED INTO 7 MONTH NIGHTMARE AS MULTIPLE REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS DIDN'T WORK DUE TO COMPUTER CODE ISSUES, SO CAR TOWED TO MINI OF TOWSON TWICE TO SEE IF THEY COULD CORRECT ISSUES, BUT EACH TIME DEALER ONLY OFFERED TO FIX WITH NEW TRANSMISSION FROM THEM AT $7800. TRIED TRADING CAR TO THEM FOR NEW MINI, BUT THEY ONLY OFFERED ME $4000 FOR THE CAR, SAYING THEIR COST TO FIX WAS STILL $6000. LOCAL SHOP FINALLY GAVE UP, REFUNDING MY DEPOSIT AND RETURNING CAR WITH REBUILT TRANSMISSION THAT WILL ONLY DRIVES IN LOW GEAR AT 20 MPH. NOW HAVE MINI IN MY GARAGE (WITH BALANCE ON CAR LOAN) THAT SHOULD BE WORTH $10,000 BUT IS UNUSABLE. MINI IS REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS DESIGN FLAW (NEW CARS HAVE DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION), WHICH IS UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED, AS THEY SAY. NTSB SHOULD ORDER RECALL OF THESE CARS AND REPAIR AT MINI'S COST. I HAVE INFORMED MY CONGRESSMAN BROTHER ABOUT THIS ISSUE (HE SITS ON HOUSE TRANSPIRATION COMMITTEE) - HE IS AWAITING WORD ON HOW NTSB AND MINI RESPOND TO MY COMPLAINT (OBVIOUSLY SHARED MY MANY OTHERS). THANK YOU. *TR

2003 MINI COOPER, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. DEALERS STATES IT WOULD COST SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPLACE AND FIX. WITH THE CAR ONLY WORTH DOUBLE THAN THAT IT IS AN SHAMEFUL ACT ON MINI FOR DOING THIS TO CUSTOMERS. SOUNDS OF RATTLING AND TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, DEALER STATES IT IS A REGULAR PROBLEM WITH THE COOPER BUT THERE IS NO RECALL OF ANY SORT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH ALWAYS EMITTED AN ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC. THE ENGINE GRADUALLY REVVED WITHIN A 48 HOUR PERIOD. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CLUTCH FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED AT THE ESTIMATED COST OF $3,300. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 5,000.

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED IN MARCH 2008. LUCKILY IN MASSACHUSETTS THEY HAVE A LAW REQUIRING WARRANTIES FOR ALL USED CARS FOR X NUMBER OF MILES/MONTHS DEPENDING ON MILEAGE AT TIME OF SALE AND ALL THAT. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE MUFFLER RE-WELDED INTO PLACE WHERE ITS MOUNTS FAILED. THE ONLY REASON IT DIDN'T FALL OFF IS BECAUSE MINI INCLUDED A SAFETY "CATCH" BAR FOR WHEN/IF THIS HAPPENS. BUT MY BIG PROBLEM NOW IS THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS GONE OUT; IT HAPPENED VERY SUDDENLY. THE REPAIR COULD BE DONE OUTSIDE OF THE DEALERSHIP BUT I'M AFRAID TO TAKE A GERMAN MADE MACHINE OF THIS QUALITY TO A CHOP-SHOP AND HOPE THEY CAN GET IT DONE. I CALLED A VW DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY SAID THEY WERE UNSURE THEY KNEW HOW TO DO THE REPAIR. *SHIVER* MINI IN BOSTON WANTS $900-1000.00 TO DO THE REPAIR AS THE PART IS ABOUT $800 AND THE TIME INVOLVED WILL BE ABOUT 2 HOURS AT $125 PER HOUR. PRAY FOR ME, PLEASE! *TR

I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER S AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FAILED AFTER ONLY 4 YEARS AND 65,000 MILES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURE IS ACUTELY AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL OR WARRANTY THE ITEM. *TR