MINI Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. IN APRIL OF 2007, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED TWICE AND HAS REMAINED LIT EVER SINCE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WHEN THE LIGHT FIRST ILLUMINATED. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE ABS HAS FAILED AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,500. UPDATED 09/10/07 *TR

PURCHASED A 2007 MINI COOPER IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, AND THERE ARE TWO ISSUES THEY REFUSE TO LOOK AT OR FIX: 1. THE SPEEDOMETER REGISTERS 7% FASTER THAN THE ACTUAL SPEED. 2. THE ODOMETER REGISTERS 1% MORE THAN THE ACTUAL MILEAGE. THEY CLAIM BOTH OF THESE ARE WITHIN ACCEPTABLE LEVELS. *JB

I HAVE A 2006 MINI COOPER JOHN COOPER WROKS GP. THE DSC (DIRECTIONAL STABILITY CONTROL), LOW TIRE WARNING LIGHT, AND ABS (ANTI LOCK BRAKING) WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AS I TRAVELED ON THE INTERSTATE. NO INCIDENT OCCURRED TO CAUSE A FAILURE. THE ABS AND DSC SYSTEMS DO NOT WORK, OR WORK INAPPROPRIATELY. DISCUSSING THIS WITH OTHER MINI COOPER OWNERS WITH THE SO CALLED WORKS BRAKES, I FIND OUT IT IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM. *JB

SUDDEN AND INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE MAINTAINING CONTROL OF VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT SCHEDULED FOR REPAIR. *TR

WE HAVE A 2003 MINI COOPER S THAT SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE TODAY. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN I SMELLED SOMETHING AND THE POWER STEERING JUST QUIT WORKING. I CAME TO A STOP, THEN SMOKE CAME OUT FROM THE SIDE OF THE CAR. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND OPENED THE HOOD - THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE EXHAUST BY THE POWER STEERING PUMP. I WAS ABLE TO GET A BUCKET OF WATER AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. I GOT ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO SITES (SEE: HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/MINI.HTML HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=015B1E186260B0639D13CF8A7D6522DD&T=73527&PAGE=8 WHERE MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES. WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR A RECALL? I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY DEATHS, BUT SEVERAL REPORTS OF FIRES. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING 70 ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE POWER STEERING QUIT AND THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. I SEE WHERE AN INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED IN APRIL (PE07022), BUT PLEASE MOVE ON THIS. I AM VERY AFRAID THE NEXT PERSON WILL NOT BE SO LUCKY. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND DOUSED THE VEHICLE WITH A BUCKET OF WATER. THE DEALER AND THE POLICE WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE IS PARKED IN HIS GARAGE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED FROM THE NHTSA WEBSITE THAT THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY EIGHT OTHERS WHO HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THERE IS WARRANTY EXPIRED THAT COVERED THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAS A CVT TRANSMISSION AND, ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE, THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THIS SAME FAILURE. THE COMPUTER CHIP WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES AFTER STALLING ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS CONSTANTLY SHUTTING OFF AND STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 57,600. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY ALSO NEEDED REPLACING AFTER 41,000 MILES. THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPAIRS COST HER $7,000. UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED ON MY 2003 MINI COOPER. IT WENT THROUGH STAGES OF OPERATION AND NON-OPERATION BEFORE FINALLY GOING OUT ALL TOGETHER. I WAS CHARGED $1,000 TO REPLACE. *JB

2003 MINI COOPER S. BOTH WINDOWS ARE STUCK AND DO NOT WORK. HAD BOTH MOTORS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. WINDOWS HAVE FAILED AGAIN AND NOW THE CAR'S WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE RPMS INCREASE AND THE TRANSMISSION MAKES NOISES WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 91,991 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.