2002 Mini Cooper Problems & Complaints

I purchased the vehicle used with airbag light showing on the speedometer gauge cluster. Searched with vin for recalls but showed 0 unrepaired recalls. Tried clearing the light with my Launch CREADER BMW V2 scan tool. Light flashes a few times and goes away but immediately appears on the speedometer gauge cluster. This would happen everytime. Wires are intact with no signs of damages to all 3 wire connectors under the seat.

Driverside headlight assembly flickers everytime when you turn the key to position 1 with selector on off or auto. Flickers multiple times but doesn'tturn on unless I cycle the key on off until headlight does. This annoyance would reoccur the very next morning. Passenger headlight assembly doesn't have any issues.

The contact owns a 2002 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45-55 MPH, the steering wheel seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road. The contact restarted the vehicle and continued driving normally. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (STEERING). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 43,000.

Unoccupied passenger side airbags; all front & backseat bags deployed after passenger side tires hit pothole on road. Pieces of interior, including decorative plastic, interior light covers were projected across cabin & hit me. I had no idea what had happened. Car shut off shortly after incident. It was night, I was sitting in middle of my lane, unable to start Mini. Good samaritans helped push it into parking lot while waiting for assistance. After 15 minutes, car started and was driven home. I had slight injuries from being hit by hard material projectiled across cabin. Very thankful I was the only occupant because if a passenger had been in the seat, they would have most definitely sustained injuries. I had to cut the airbags out in order to have clear lines of sight before driving the following day. I’m fearful that the drivers side air bags may do this as well. I have owned this vehicle since 2004. Not aware of history prior to 2004;(accidents, original airbags?). only know it came from a Dealer in CA. (Possibly “Friendship” may be name of town or dealership). I have not had repairs made yet. I don’t drive this vehicle daily. There are no police reports since there was no need. No insurance claims since 2002 model. There were no malfunctions with the warning light prior to incident. However, the following day when I drove, the airbag indicator light came on for passenger side. I did not find a recall but not sure if I would for a 22 year old vehicle.

MY MINI COOPER NEEDS RECALL WORK DONE. I AM IN BILLINGS, MT AND 392 MILES FROM THE CLOSEST CERTIFIED PLACE TO GET IT REPAIRED. I CAN'T TRAVEL THAT FAR IN A 2002 VEHICLE WITH HIGH MILES DURING A PANDEMIC. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN AND HAVE ISSUES THAT DO NOT ALLOW ME TO TRAVEL THAT FAR. I AM STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT MAY HAVE A POTENTIAL STEERING ISSUE WITH NO WAY TO RESOLVE IT. I NOW CAN'T SELL THIS VEHICLE EITHER BECAUSE IT WOULD BE MORALLY WRONG TO PASS THIS PROBLEM ON TO A NEW OWNER. I CAN'T AFFORD THIS KIND OF SAFETY AND FINANCIAL PROBLEM. I NEED HELP TO GET THIS WORK DONE AND MINI COOPER CALLED ME AFTER MY INQUIRY AND SAID I AM BASICALLY OUT OF LUCK. THEY HAVE NO RESOLUTION FOR ME OR ANY OTHER MINI COOPER OWNERS THAT LIVE IN RURAL STATES AND ARE NOT NEAR A CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP. I NEED THIS REPAIRED AND AM HOPING YOU CAN HELP ME AND ALL THE OTHER MINI COOPER OWNERS IN THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE NUMBER THE MINI REPRESENTATIVE CALLED ME FROM WAS 800-831-1117.

SO I BOUGHT A 2002 MINI COOPER LESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND IT CURRENTLY HAS 74K MILES AND ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT AT THE GROCERY MY STEERING GOES COMPLETELY OUT WHILE I WAS TRYING TO TURN INTO MY SPOT AND RIPPED OFF A BLACK MOLDING THAT GOES OVER THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL AND A SIGNIFICANT DING AND SCRATCH.

THE VIN # OF MY 2002 MINI COOPER S WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE ELECTROHYDRAULIC STEERING FAILURE OF 2002 - 2005 MINI COOPER S BUT I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT ISSUE OUTLINED IN THIS RECALL. THE STEERING IS INCREDIBLY HARD TO TURN WHEN PARKED, AS WELL AS WHILE DRIVING. I NOTICED THAT THE RECALL HAD ABOUT 339 COMPLAINTS AND ROUGHLY 85,000 VEHICLES WERE RECALLED, SO MAYBE AT THE TIME NO ONE WITH A SIMILAR VIN AS ME COMPLAINED.

PURCHASED THIS CAR USED WITH LOW MILES. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE I NOTICED THE STEERING ON MY VEHICLE GOT A LITTLE HARDER TO STEER, DIDN'T THINK TO MUCH ABOUT IT. THEN THE RADIATOR FAN WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OFF. TOOK THE CAR IN TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS TO FIND THE PROBLEM. FOUND OUT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT CAUSING THE COOLANT RESERVOIR TO GO OUT. THIS COULD CAUSE EXTREME SAFETY HAZARDS WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE STEERING FREEZES!! I CONTACTED BMW AFTER HEARING THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD WE MISSED THE RECALL TIME FRAME. I HAVE LOW MILES, 60,000. THE RECALL EXPIRED IN 2017. WELL, MY CARE WAS NOT HAVING THE ISSUES. I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SELLING THE CAR AND HANDING THE PROBLEM TO ANOTHER CONSUMER. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED AS IT COULD BE AN UNPLEASANT RESULT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE CONTACT, A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. MAKING A WHINING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL ITSELF IS HARD TO TURN. NOT LEAKING ANY FLUIDS AND THE POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR IS FULL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AT 865-693-4553 AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE FROM THE SUN ROOF, WHICH CAUSED THE COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE TO GET MOIST AND NOT OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUN ROOF RUBBER CONNECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE MADE A LEFT TURN AND THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE GEAR SHIFTER CABLE DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V201000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. AFTER PLACING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE CONTACT SWITCHED GEARS INTO DRIVE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FORWARD, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT ADDED POWER STEERING FLUID AND MADE ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO STEER THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

AT 140,000 MILE: + AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER SAID THAT THE AIRBAG COMPUTER MODULE WILL COST $1,000 TO REPLACE. I SEE ON-LINE BLOGS AND NHTSA HAVE HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE AIR BAG DASH LIGHT COMING ON AND NHTSA IS STILL INVESTIGATING.

ABS DASH LIGHT AND BREAK LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON. IN ADDITION TO THE AIR BAG LIGHT THAT SUDDENLY CAME ON, THE DEALER SAID THE COMPUTER MODULE FOR THE ABS WILL COST $1,000 (IN ADDITION TO THE AIRBAG MODULE OF $1.000). I SEE ON INTERNET BLOGS AND NHTSA THAT THIS IS A COMMON INCIDENT TOTAL AIR BAG AND ABS COST WILL BE $2,000

THE DASH LOW TIRE AIR LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON; IT COMES ON AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUETS. I'VE CHECKED ALL TIRES AND THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE. I SEE THAT ON-LINE BLOGS THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD OVER HEATED CAUSING THE POWER STEERING FLUID TO EVAPORATE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT SINCE 2012 THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED FIVE SEPARATE TIMES AND RECENTLY WITH THE NEW REDESIGN PUMP BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME FAILURE OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE ELECTRONIC LEARNING MODULE AND THE PYRAMID WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECTS. THE GEAR LEVER, TRANSMISSION, BRAKE PEDAL, MOTOR, CLUTCH, FRONT AND REAR AXLES, AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR WERE ALL REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,457.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING) AND THE DEALER SCHEDULED A REPAIR APPOINTMENT. THE DEALER LATER CANCELED THE APPOINTMENT, STATING THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR REMEDY FOR MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A DATE THAT THE PART WOULD BE SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ...UPDATED 04/12/16 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ON MANUAL CONTROL AND AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS WARMED UP, THE STEERING WHEEL FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, A CLANKING NOSE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V66000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THAT A REMEDY WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000. VIN TOOLS CONFIRMS PARTS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE RIGHT, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE TURN. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE MANUFACTURER WHO INDICATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD NEED TO WAIT FOR A SECOND NOTIFICATION LETTER TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR MONTHS AS THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A TIME FRAME FOR THE PARTS TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND CAUSED EXTRA EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM AND WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,548.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO AVOID HITTING AN ANIMAL, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE ANIMAL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V66000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2011, SOON THERE AFTER THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, IT WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS RESET, I WAS ADVISED BY THE SHOP OWNER THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE OLDER MINI. HE ALSO ADVISED THAT IT IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, AS MINI USA BASICALLY THROWS ALL NEW PARTS AT IT AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE WITHOUT REALLY GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PROBLEM. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN IN JULY OF 2015, RIGHT AFTER I HAD RETURNED FROM VACATION, APPARENTLY THE PARKING VALET HAD SLID THE SEAT BACK AND MOST LIKELY STRETCHED THE AIR BAG SEAT HARNESS. THIS IS A PROVEN DEFECT WHICH MINI USA HAS FINALLY ADDRESSED WITH A RECALL OF 2005 TO 2008 MODELS ONLY. IT IS RELATED TO A FAULTY SEAT HARNESS THAT CANNOT DETECT WHETHER A PASSENGER IS IN THE RIGHT SEAT. IT IS ALSO BEEN SHOWN THAT IN MOST CASES THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT.

DRIVING CAR NORMALLY WHEN POWER STEERING WENT OUT CAUSING A GREAT DEAL OF LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, MAKING TURNING VERY DIFFICULT. ENDED UP SWERVING INTO OTHER LANE, FORTUNATELY NO CARS WERE IN THE LANE AT THE TIME. HAD TO RE-START VEHICLE TO GAIN STEERING BACK. HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE THIS DATE. MINI USA KEEP DODGING THE ISSUE FOR A FULL ON RECALL, INSTEAD EXTENDING THE WARRANTY, BUT MY VEHICLE MISSED THE WARRANTY BY 3 MONTHS SO THEY WILL NOT REPLACE WITHOUT A HEFTY AMOUNT OF MONEY INVOLVED.

THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE SEAT CUSHION HAS FAILED AND A WARNING LIGHT NOW PERMANENTLY SHOWS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG MAY NOT FUNCTION AS DESIGNED. UPDATED 11/25/15*LJ UPDATED 2/5/2016 *JS UPDATED 11/07/2017*CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVE SHIFT CABLE FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V201000 (POWER TRAIN). HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

POWER STEERING PUMP IS VERY LOUD WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. CAN BE VERY HARD TO TURN WHEEL AT TIMES AND SOMETIMES THE POWER STEERING HAS CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING. MINI HAS A RECALL BUT WONT FIX FOR ME. *JS

EVER SINCE BUYING THIS CAR USED IN JANUARY OF 2012, THE SRS WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN ON. THE CAR STORE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM DID CANCEL THE CODE WHEN WE DISCOVERED IT WAS ON AFTER PURCHASE. HOWEVER, THE CODE CAME BACK. WE BROUGHT IT TO BE FIXED, AND I BELIEVE SOMEONE ELIMINATED THE COUPLER UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT, WIRING THE SEAT TO THE ECU DIRECTLY, BY CRIMPING WIRES TOGETHER. STILL, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. IT HAS BEEN ON CONSTANTLY FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. I HAVE SOLDERED THE WIRES UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT TOGETHER, AS ONE CONNECTION SEEMED BROKEN, HOPING THIS WOULD ELIMINATE THE LIGHT. I BOUGHT A CODE READER TO RESET THE LIGHT, BUT THE CODES ONLY TEMPORARILY DISAPPEAR AND AFTER BLINKING A FEW TIMES THE LIGHT IS BACK ON. I DO NOT KNOW, NOR DO I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN KNOWING, WHETHER OR NOT THE AIR BAG WOULD DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. I HOPE NEVER TO FIND OUT, OF COURSE. BUT I DO KNOW THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEING ON IS A CONSISTENT AND PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH MINI COOPERS BUILT FROM 2002 - 2006. AND I KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL, NOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WOULD COVER WORK THAT APPARENTLY WILL COST AROUND $2,000 AT A DEALER REPAIR SHOP. WITH THE RECENT RECALL OF AIR BAGS MADE BY JAPANESE AIR BAG MAKER TAKATA, INCLUDING THOUSANDS OF BMWS MADE IN A SIMILAR TIME FRAME AS THE AIR BAGS IN MY MINI COOPER, I AM ALSO WONDERING IF THE MINI AIR BAGS ARE MADE BY TAKATA, AND SENSIBLY WORRY ABOUT THEIR SAFETY SHOULD THE IN FACT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED. BMW HAS RECALLED SOME OF THEIR OWN CARS FOR AIR BAG LIGHT ISSUES, INVOLVING SEAT SENSORS, BUT NOT ON THE MINI, EVEN THOUGH BOTH CARS USE IDENTICAL COMPONENTS. IT IS TIME FOR BMW TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF A SERIOUS PROBLEM THE AIR BAG SYSTEMS IN THEIR EARLY MINI COOPERS. I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU CAN FORCE THE ISSUE, AS THIS CERTAINLY IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH EXISTS/PERSISTS ON THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES SOLD IN THE US. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY MINI COOPER ON A MAJOR ROAD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC MY MINI COOPER EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER TO THE WHEELS (SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE). MY ONLY OPTION TO AVOID BEING REAR-ENDED WAS TO STEER THE CAR OFF THE ROAD ( WITH THE REMAINING FORWARD MOMENTUM INTO A FAST FOOD PARKING LOT IN ORDER TO AVOID BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. DESCRIPTION OF FAILED COMPONENT/AFFECTED PART: MINI COOPER'S CVT TRANSMISSION HAVE A KNOWN HISTORY OF SUDDEN FAILURE AT 80K-120K. BMW THE MANUFACTURER OF THE MINI HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION IN THEIR VEHICLE FOR YEARS, AND HAS NEVER INFORMED OWNERS OF THEIR VEHICLES OF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OR THE POTENTIAL RISK FOR ACCIDENTS, INJURY, OR DEATH THAT COULD RESULT FROM THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE MINI'S TRANSMISSION AND RESULTING TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. BMW HAS NEVER ISSUED A RECALL OR OFFER TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION UNDER THE VEHICLE WARRANTY. ADDITIONALLY, BMW HAS ISSUED SERVICE ADVISORIES TO THEIR SERVICE MANAGERS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR MINI COOPER'S CVT TRANSMISSION, BUT AS MENTIONED HAS NOT COMMUNICATED THIS PROBLEM TO MINI OWNERS. *TR

2002 MINI COOPER, MANUAL TRANSMISSION. LOW MILEAGE, ONLY 22,000 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING IS CITY TRAFFIC, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN I SHIFTED INTO 1ST AND LIFTED THE CLUTCH TRYING TO START FROM A RED LIGHT. THERE WAS A SMALL "SPUTTER" AND THEN THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THOUGHT THAT THE CLUTCH WAS OUT. THE REPAIR SHOP FOUND OUT THAT THE ENTIRE MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAD DISINTEGRATED. IT HAD TORN ITSELF APART OVER THE YEARS. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT HE WAS AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON FLAW WITH THE EARLY MINI COOPERS. THIS WAS A $2500 REPAIR. *TR

THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE SEAT CUSHION HAS FAILED AND A WARNING LIGHT NOW PERMANENTLY SHOWS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG MAY NOT FUNCTION AS DESIGNED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING EAST ON SHERIDAN DR. IN THE TOWN OF TONAWANDA, I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING. I WRESTLED WITH THE CAR FOR THE REST OF THE DAY, AND WHEN I GOT HOME, I HEARD THAT THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN WAS RUNNING CONTINUOUSLY, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF IN THE DRIVEWAY. I ASSUMED IT WOULD STOP EVENTUALLY, BUT WAS WRONG AND RETURNED TO A TOTALLY DEAD BATTERY. I CALLED THE DEALER, TOWNE MINI IN WILLIAMSVILLE, NY, AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE BOOKED TO JUNE 17TH, BUT THAT I COULD BRING IT IN. MIDWAY BETWEEN MY HOME AND TOWNE, WHILE ON THE 290, MY POWER STEERING RETURNED. WHEN I GOT TO TOWNE, THEY AS MUCH AS CALLED ME A LIAR, AND REFUSED TO REPLACE THE PUMP AND FAN. THEY DID HOWEVER, FIND $1300 WORTH OF OTHER WORK THAT "NEEDED" TO BE DONE TO PASS NYS INSPECTION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

I HAVE 2002 MINI COOPER ORIGINAL OWNER AND I HAD WINDSHELD, TRANSMISSION REPLACED. MAIN ISSUE I STILL HAVE IS STREERING LOOSE POWER. I GOT A LETTER FROM MINI SAID IT EXTENDED WARRANTY NOT A RECALL. MINI CO. NEVER RECALL ANY ISSUES. CALL DEALER FOR THIS STREERING PROBLEM BUT MY 2002 MINI IS NOT UNDER THIS CAMPAIGN. I HAVE THAT STREERING LOOSE POWER MIDDLE OF DRIVING BUT THIS IS NOT EVEN RECALL? I HAVE TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSE FEE FOR EXTENSION WARRANTY PER DEALER. MINI/BMW WILL NOT RECALL THIS ISSUE UNTIL DRIVERS GET SERIOUSLY HURT. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE HEATED SEAT MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED A HOLE INTO THE LEATHERETTE UPHOLSTERY AND MY WIFES SWEATER. SHE WAS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEN IT OCCURRED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR FIRE A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

I WAS EXITING FROM 35TH STREET IN NEWPORT NEWS, VA ONTO THE WARWICK BLVD OFF RAMP IN TRAFFIC, COASTING WITH THE BRAKES AT ABOUT 5 MPH, WHEN I WAS REAR ENDED BY A NAVY OPERATED FLAT NOSE SCHOOL BUS, WHICH FORCED MY VEHICLE INTO A LATE MODEL CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. MY AIR BAGS (FRONT AND SIDE) DID NOT DEPLOY, AND WHEN I CAME TO REST MY SEAT BACK HAD RECLINED AGAINST MY CHILD'S CAR SEAT (CHILD WAS NOT IN VEHICLE). THE RIGHT REAR UNIBODY WAS CREASED DUE TO THE IMPACT FROM THE BUS. I SUFFERED NECK, BACK, AND SPINE TRAUMA. THE DRIVER OF THE TRAILBLAZER COMPLAINED OF NECK PAIN AT THE SCENE. LOCAL NEWPORT NEWS FIRE AND RESCUE UNITS ARRIVED ON SCENE, AS WELL AS A VIRGINIA STATE TROOPER. THE TROOPER HANDLED THE ACCIDENT. *TR

THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED IN MY 2002 MINI COOPER FOR THE SECOND TIME. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS IN 2011 AND I GOT A NEW PUMP AND HAD IT PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED. TODAY, 08/26/2013 MY SECOND POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. I DO NOT HAVE THE TIME OR THE MONEY TO KEEP REPLACING A PART THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SHIFT LINKAGE HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V201000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WE HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING AND FAN GO OUT ABOUT 3 TIMES ON THIS CAR. WE HAVE OWNED IT NEW FROM 2002. THERE WAS A RECALL AND WE ONLY RECEIVED $525 DOLLARS WHEN WE SPEND OVER $2000. WHY WOULD WE NOT RECEIVE A FULL REFUND AS WE HAD THE WORK DONE ALWAYS AT THE MINI DEALER AND WE HAD TWO RECEIPTS FROM THE DEALER SHOWING THE DEFECT. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE WARRANTY IS NOT INCREASED TO 13 YEARS AND 150000 MILES. WHEN THE DEFECT HAPPENS THE CAR GETS NOISY FROM THE PUMP AND WHEN IT FAILS THE STEERING BECOMES SLUGGISH. WHY WOULD THEY BE ALLOWED TO ONLY REIMBURSE PART OF THE AMOUNT WHEN THIS IS SUCH A BIG ISSUE. $2000 FOR STEERING REPAIRS ON A $27,000 DOLLAR CAR SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED. *TR

THE CAR HAS GONE BACK TO A MINI DEALER 4 TIMES SINCE WE'VE OWNED THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON. LITTLE DID WE REALIZE WHEN WE TOOK IT ON A TRIP TO FLORIDA, THE WHOLE SYSTEM WAS SHUT DOWN. TOOK IT TO A MINI DEALER IN FLA. ON FEB. 15, 2012.....$2126.04 LATER. DROVE IT HOME TO HAVE THE LIGHT GO ON AGAIN , TOOK IT TO MINI OF BEDFORD, NH ON 5/28/13, PICKED IT UP ON 6/4/2013.....$1527.09 LATER. DROVE IT HOME ON 6/4/2013, ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHT GO BACK ON APPROX 6/10/2013. AAA HAD TO USE A RAMP TRUCK TO BRING IT BACK TO BEDFORD, NH.....BECAUSE THE DRIVERS SEAT TIPPED OVER BACKWARDS WHILE DRIVING & ALMOST CAUSED A SERIOUS COLLISION. ALSO THERE IS A NEW PROBLEM WITH STEERING WHEEL. BOTH LATER ISSUES OCCURRED AFTER THEY HAD TORN IT APART IN DEALERSHIP & KEPT IT FOR A WEEK "FIXING THE PROBLEM". NOW IT SITS AT MINI OF BEDFORD..& THEY ARE TELLING US ANOTHER AIRBAG SENSOR HAS TO BE REPLACED...IT NEED A NEW SEAT....AND THEY'RE NOT SURE ABOUT THE STEERING WHEEL, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T TEST UNTIL THEY PUT IN A NEW SEAT. EVERYTHING IS ON HOLD AT THE MOMENT...#1 WE CAN'T KEEP PAYING FOR SHODDY WORKMANSHIP...#2 WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR. HAVE BEEN READING SOME WEBSITES & SEE STORIES SIMILAR TO THIS AIR BAG PROBLEM. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. STEERING BECAME VERY TIGHT AND HEAVY. ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT NO CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE WAS IDENTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

I WAS ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY POWER STEERING FAILED AND I NEARLY CRASHED WHILE TRYING TO CHANGE LANES AND EXIT THE FREEWAY. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING THROUGH CITY TRAFFIC AND THE POWER STEERING CEASED TO OPERATE. STEERING BECAME IMMEDIATELY VERY HEAVY. PULLED INTO PARKING LOT, LOOKED UNDER HOOD, LOOKED UNDER CAR FOR FLUIDS, BELTS, ETC., AND FOUND NOTHING VISIBLE. GOT BACK INTO CAR, STARTED IT UP AND IT BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN, AS NORMAL. TWO WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, POWER STEERING AGAIN FAILED ABRUPTLY. POWER STEERING PUMP IS SCHEDULED TO BE CHECKED/REPLACED TODAY AT DEALERSHIP TODAY. THIS COULD BE A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. HAD I BEEN IN A CURVE AT THIS SPEED, I'M NOT SURE I COULD HAVE MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE CAR. *TR

POWER STEERING FROZE UP CAR COULD NOT BE STEERED IN ANY DIRECTION. *TR

I WAS TRYING TO GET ONTO AN OFF RAMP AND WHEN I WAS INTO THE TURN I ALMOST RAN INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER BECAUSE THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE STEERING WHEEL ALWAYS LOCKS UP SOMETIMES IT WITH A FEW MILES AND OTHERS IT IS GOOD UNTIL IT LOCKS UP. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

AFTER A SHORT TRIP, I HAD JUST PARKED THE MINI. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS OUTDOORS AND WITHIN 50FT OF MY TOOL CHEST. ON TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND REMOVING THE KEY, I NOTICED AN UNUSUAL NOISE; THE [ELECTRIC] POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN. A FEW SECONDS LATER, SMOKE APPEARED. I RACED TO MY TOOL DRAWER, GRABBING THE FIRST SUITABLE TOOL, CHANNEL LOCK PLIERS, AND PROCEEDED TO HASTILY DISCONNECT ONE OF THE BATTERY TERMINALS. SMOKE WAS HEAVY AT THAT POINT. DISCONNECTING POWER PREVENTED FURTHER DAMAGE, AND WAS FORTUNATELY DONE IN TIME, BEFORE THE WIRING HARNESS WAS INCINERATED, OR THE SITUATION BECAME A SELF-SUSTAINING CONFLAGRATION. APPARENTLY, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A 100A FUSE PRESENT, THE FAULT PROTECTION ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP CIRCUIT IS INADEQUATE. I REMOVED THE POWER WIRE TO THE PUMP, TO ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN, WITH HEAVY [NON-ASSISTED] STEERING, PENDING SERVICE. SINCE THE OUTCOME IS NOT SO BAD, WHY SHOULD I COMPLAIN? CONSIDER IF THE VEHICLE WERE PARKED INDOORS, AND/OR IF THE SAME EVENT WERE TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE WITH LESS ELECTRICAL APTITUDE. I DON'T EXPECT ACCESSORIES TO LAST FOREVER; THE VEHICLE IS 11 YEARS OLD WITH 123K MILES. I DO OBJECT TO THE FAILURE MODE, IN WHICH THE POWER STEERING PUMP CIRCUIT BECOMES AN INCENDIARY DEVICE... *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING, UNABLE TO STEER CAR. AFTER SOME TIME, POWER RESUMED INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE AND DRAINED BATTERY (RECENTLY REPLACED). CAR WILL NOT START, AND CAN NOT ACCESS PASSENGER OR TRUNK DOOR DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURE. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING NEARLY HIT THE OUTER BARRIER BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF FORCE REQUIRED TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. I FEEL IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR WRECK. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY PREVALENT PROBLEM WITH THE MINI COOPER. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING CANADA HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING PUMPS. WOULD LIKE TO LOG A COMPLAINT TO SEE IF WE CAN GET MINI USA TO TAKE SOME ACTION. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILS- CAR LOSES ALL POWER ASSISTED STEERING PUPM CONTINUES TO RUN AFTER ENGINE SHUT OFF, POSSIBLE FIRE RESULT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE HOWEVER, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO MOVE OUT OF REVERSE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE WAS DETACHED FROM THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V201000 (POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS INELIGIBLE FOR RECALL REPAIRS. THE PART WAS ORDERED AND THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR REPAIRS WHEN THE PART BECAME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,200. ....UPDATED 12/20/12 *BF UPDATED 12/27/2012*JS

I TURNED THE SEAT HEATER ON AND IT MELTED A HOLE IN THE LEATHER SEAT AND THE FOAM PADDING STARTED TO BURN. *TR

MY POWER STEERING FAN CONTINUES TO RUN EVEN AFTER THE CARE IS TURNED OFF. IT COMPLETELY DRAINED MY BATTERY SO I REPLACED THE BATTERY. TWO WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND I LEARNED THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN ARE DEFECTIVE. ALSO INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AND NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE BUT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING HAD BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,065.

I TOOK MY 2002 MINI COOPER S IN FOR A VIRGINIA STATE SAFETY INSPECTION AND IT FAILED THE INSPECTION BECAUSE THE SRS AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND THAT THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER AND WIRING TO THE SEAT BELT AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WERE FAULTY. THE DEALER IS CHARGING ME $1,000 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN THAT THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION PE05053 RESULTING IN BMW ACKNOWLEDGING THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE FAULTY WIRING AND SEAT BELT TENSIONER. AND IT STATES THAT THE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE IS HIGH ENOUGH TO ILLUMINATE THE AIRBAG LIGHT BUT DOES NOT EXCEED A LIMIT TO SET THE AIRBAG OFF. MY PROBLEM IS IF THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED I CANNOT PASS VIRGINIA'S STRICT SAFETY INSPECTION AND IF IT IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY BMW WHY ARE THEY NOT RECALLING ALL VEHICLES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE HAS 81,000 MILES ON IT WAY UNDER THE 150,0000 MILE WARRANTY AND I AM RIGHT AT THE TEN YEAR MARK.BMW TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL AND THAT THERE IS ONLY A BULLETIN TELLING THE MECHANICS THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE TO BE AWARE OF. BMW WOULD NOT REPAIR THIS UNDER A WARRANTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 20 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66,000.

FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMP CAUSING A LOSS OF COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. 80,000+ INCIDENTS REPORTED WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL OF VEHICLE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF VEHICLE MANUFACTURER. THE PUMP HAS SINCE BEEN RE-MANUFACTURED TO FIX THE ISSUES BUT MINI OF NORTH AMERICA REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE SERIOUS SAFETY ASPECT OF THEIR FAILING PART. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE STEERING RACK, POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE FAN MIGHT HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 102,000.

POWER STEERING WENT OUT AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS, AFTER 3+ HOURS OF DRIVING. AFTER COOLING DOWN FOR AN HOUR, POWER STEERING CAME BACK, BUT ONLY LASTED 5 MIN., AND WAS OUT FOR ANOTHER DAY. COMES AND GOES, DEPENDING ON HOW HOT THE WEATHER/ENGINE IS, BUT STAYS OUT LONGER AND ONLY WORKS FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME NOW. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY AS CANADA HAS SOON! *TR

THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON IN MY MINI. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CABLE TENSIONER, BUT ON MODELS OF 2003 AND ABOVE. I AM WANTING YOU TO RECONSIDER THE YEAR OF THIS RECALL TO INCLUDE 2002. I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE REP CABE F SEAT SIDE AIRBAG, REP CABLE BEL TENSIONER, CABLE STRAP, CABLE CONNECTOR, SHRINKING HOSE AND CABLE STRAP WITH BRACKET FOR A COST OF 800. THE AFFECT OF THIS DEFECT IN THE CAR IS FOR THE CAR TO BE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE WEIGHT OF THE PASSENGER IN THE CAR IN ORDER TO DEPLOY THE AIRBAG PROPERLY. *TR

MY WIFE HAS BEEN COMPLAINING OF INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER ASSIST. I DRIVE HER CAR VERY LITTLE HOWEVER I RECENTLY HAD THE PROBLEM HAPPEN TO ME. ONE OF MY HOBBIES IS SPORT CAR RACING (MOST RECENTLY AT SUMMIT POINT RACEWAY IN WV) SO I DO EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED HOWEVER IT IS SO INTERMITTENT IT IS OFTEN FORGOTTEN. IT WILL BE FINE FOR WEEKS THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THOUSANDS OF REPORTS IN THE UK AND CANADA ISSUED A RECALL. YOU DON'T LOSE YOUR STEERING JUST THE ASSIST. NEXT TIME YOU ARE ALONE ON A BACK ROAD WITH A CURVE TURN YOUR CAR OFF AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT THE DESCRIBED PROBLEM FEELS LIKE. LETS NOT HAVE A SERIOUS INCIDENT BEFORE BMW RESOLVES THIS ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. *TR

POWER ASSIST PUMP FAILURE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND LOST THE POWER STEERING. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I GOT HOME PARKED THE CAR AND LET IT GO. THE NEXT MORNING IT WAS FINE. HOWEVER, THIS MORNING, 6/8/2012, IT HAPPENED AGAIN AS I WAS TURNING IN AN INTERSECTION. FORTUNATELY FOR ME THERE WEREN'T MANY CARS ON THE ROAD, AS IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN EVEN A SEMI-BUSY INTERSECTION, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN TROUBLE. *JS

WHILE DRIVING STEERING BECAME STIFF. ALMOST UNABLE TO TURN WHEEL WHEN I SLOWED TO PARK. AFTER TURNING CAR OFF AND BACK ON, PROBLEM RESOLVED. STILL HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE PER DAY USUALLY WHILE SLOWING OR DOWNSHIFTING. ALWAYS RESOLVES AFTER RESTARTING CAR. *TT

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED AFTER PASSENGER SEAT WAS MOVED. LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP STOPPED FUNCTIONING MAKING CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN LACEY WA. SMOKE STARTED ISSUING FROM THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SMOKE WAS ISSUING FORTH. AFTER 5 MINUTES, I SPOTTED FLAMES. I HAD A SMALL FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT IT WAS INSUFFICIENT TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. A PASSING MOTORIST ARRIVED WITH A LARGER EXTINGUISHER AND PUT OUT THE FLAMES. AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER INFORMED ME THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR

WHILE ON A SHORT VACATION OUT OF TOWN, CLOSE TO 230 MILES FROM MY HOME, MY COOPER S' POWER STEERING FAILED AND ALMOST CAUSE ME AN ACCIDENT. I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE FLUID AND SAW THAT THERE WERE NO VISIBLE LEAKS PRESENT. AFTER MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR A RENTAL VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING STARTED WORKING CORRECTLY AGAIN. BECAUSE OF THAT I PROCEEDED TO RETURN HOME AND THE STEERING DID NOT FAIL FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP. DURING MARCH OF 2012, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN, DURING A COMMUTE HOME FROM WORK ON FRIDAY, MAY 3RD. TO THIS DAY, I HAVE NO BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD ADDITIONAL REPAIRS OR DIAGNOSTICS, BECAUSE OF THE MONTHLY PAYMENTS, INSURANCE, FUEL AND PREVIOUS ISSUES OF REPAIRS UNDER 75,000 MILES INCLUDING THE HEAD GASKET, AND HEATER CORE. REGARDLESS OF THE POLICIES THAT BMW/MINI AND THE NHTSA HAVE CONCERNING USED VEHICLES, AND WARRANTIES, ABSOLUTELY NO VEHICLE PRODUCED BY AN INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN COMPANY OR BUSINESS SHOULD BE PRODUCING SUCH UNRELIABLE, UNSAFE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS MOTOR VEHICLES AND NOT TAKE IMMEDIATE RESPONSIBILITY TO ISOLATE AND TERMINATE THE ISSUE RATHER THAN IGNORE AND DENY RESPONSIBILITY FOR POORLY MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS. *TR

COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE DURING OVERTAKING ON TWO LANE ROAD. STEERING REQUIRED AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF EFFORT. BARELY MANAGED TO MOVE BACK TO RIGHT HAND LAND BEFORE GETTING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. POWER STEERING DID NOT RECOVER FOR ANOTHER 2.5 MINS OF DRIVING. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, TURNED CAR OFF, ON AGAIN, POWER STEERING RETURNED. ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP NOW RUNS CONTINUOUSLY EVEN WHEN KEY IS TURNED OFF. INDICATIVE OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP CONTROLLER FAILURE. I CONTINUE TO HAVE CONCERNS THAT POWER STEERING MAY CUT OUT AT ANY TIME AGAIN, AND THAT IF THE PUMP CONTINUES RUNNING CONSTANTLY EVEN WHEN THE KEY IS REMOVED IT MAY START A FIRE AT SOME POINT. I HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE NEGATIVE TERMINAL OF THE BATTERY TO PREVENT THE PUMP FROM RUNNING CONTINUOUSLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED IN A JERKING MOTION AND BEGAN TO DOWN-SHIFT INTO ANOTHER GEAR CONTINUOUSLY. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR AND EP CODE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO INTERNAL DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,416.

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE MINI DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT WAS FAULTY...THAT THE "MRS CONTROL UNIT SHORTED". SINCE THIS IS A PIECE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT, AND SINCE IT IS NOT A MECHANICAL DEVICE THAT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO WEAR, I BELIEVE THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THIS UNIT AT NO CHARGE...AND/OR AN ALERT SHOULD GO TO OTHER MINI OWNERS. I HAVE SINCE HAD THE CONTROL UNIT REPLACED (AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE) BECAUSE I FELT UNSAFE DRIVING WITHOUT AIRBAGS. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN. LUCKILY THE CAR WAS AT LOW SPEED AT THE TIME AND I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A SAFE STOP BY USING BRUTE FORCE TO STEER THE CAR. POWER STEERING THAN REAPPEARED INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, FINALLY FAILING COMPLETELY. MECHANIC SAYS POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MINIS. COST WILL BE OVER $1200 TO REPAIR. IT APPEARS THE ISSUE IS ALREADY BEING INVESTIGATED BY BMW, YET THEY HAVE TAKEN NO ACTION TO RECALL OR FIX. *TR

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A POWER STEERING FAILURE ON MY PREGNANT WIFE'S 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CAR ONLY HAS 61K MILES ON IT. SHE WAS DRIVING LAST NIGHT, IN THE RAIN, AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUR AS SHE WAS ON A FREEWAY TRANSITION RAMP AT A SPEED OF 40-50 MPH. SHE ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST HIT THE SIDE RAILS. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS ABLE TO AVOID CRASHING. THE POWER STEERING PUMP STARTED TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AFTER THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM AND MINI/BMW NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR DIES.

WHEN I LEFT MY HOME I TURNED ON THE HEATED SEATS. AS I TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY A HALF MILE I FELT LIKE BOTTOM SEAT WAS EXCEPTIONALLY HOT AND TURNED THE BOTTOM OFF . SHORTLY THEREAFTER I SMELLED SMOKE AND FOUND THAT A HOLE HAD BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT BEHIND MY BACK. THERE WAS SMOKE, A HOLE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A SILVER DOLLAR AND MY COAT HAD BEEN BURNED . MY COAT DID NOT CATCH FIRE BUT HAS A PERMANENT BLACK BURN MARK. *TR

LOSS OF POWER WHEN GOING 60 MPH IN THE HIGH SPEED LEFT LANE OF FOUR LANE HIGHWAY. CAR WENT INTO "LIMP MODE" AND UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. CAR WOULD ONLY GO 5 TO 10 MPH WITH LARGE TRUCK BEHIND AND BEARING DOWN ON ME. EML AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS ON DASH. WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A CONSTRUCTION LANE THAT HAPPENED TO BE RIGHT THERE. OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET CAR OUT OF THE WAY. CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED. FAULT CODES LIST THROTTLE BODY AND WIRING HARNESS AS PROBLEMS AND RECOMMENDATION IS TO REPLACE BOTH. FROM MY RESEARCH, THE PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN AND RELATES TO POOR CONNECTOR BETWEEN THROTTLE BODY AND WIRING HARNESS. MINI HAS SINCE REDESIGNED THE ANGLE OF THIS CONNECTOR TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. SUCH A LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. SHOULD BE RECALL ITEM. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE--THE POWER STEERING IN MY MINI COOPER S 2002 BEGAN "CUTTING OUT" AND BECAME MORE FREQUENT OVER A FEW DAYS. THE "CUTTING OUT" HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING AND IS POTENTIALLY QUITE DANGEROUS AS THE VEHICLE BECOMES ALMOST UNMANAGEABLE WHEN MAKING A TURN. THIS MAKES DRIVING THE VEHICLE VERY UNSAFE. UPON RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY OCCUR WITH MOST MINI COOPERS EVEN THROUGH FAIRLY RECENT YEARS OF MANUFACTURE AND OFTEN AT FAIRLY LOW MILEAGE ACCUMULATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN WHILE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2008 AND HAVE HAD VERY FEW ISSUES. THIS MONTH (NOVEMBER 2011) THE CVT (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) WENT OUT. ONLY REPAIR APPARENTLY IS "REPLACEMENT" - RECEIVING QUOTES BETWEEN 7K AND 9K FROM THE DEALER AND AAMCO. NOW FINDING OUT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL MINI COOPER CVT'S. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. REPAIR COST NOW EXCEEDS CAR'S VALUE. WON'T DO IT. FOOL ME ONCE... SHAME ON YOU. *TR

THIS CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE AT VERY IN OPPORTUNE TIMES, BEFORE THIS LATEST TIME (AGAIN TO THE SHOP) IT NEARLY GOT ME T-BONED IN AN INTERSECTION, THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR ENGINE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT WITH THE WIRING HARNESS-I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE COVERED IN A RECALL FOR A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE. THIS OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. MOST RECENTLY, LAST WEEK, IT WAS OUT FOR 3 DAYS AND THEN IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN. *TR

THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN DRIVING. IT BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. IT WAS AS THOUGH THE CAR STEERING BECAME LOCKED. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE A POLICE CAR STOP TO ASSIST ME TO MOVE ME TO A SAFE SPOT ON THE STREET. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2002 MINI COOPER S ALMOST A MONTH AGO AND LOST THE POWER TO STEER MY CAR IN A TURN AT ALMOST 50 MPH. IF TOYOTA WOULD HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM I'M SURE SOME ONE WOULD BE IN JAIL OR MAYBE YOU WOULD HERE IT ON THE NEWS. THIS IS MY THIRD MINI IN 6 YEARS AND I NEVER HEARD A PEEP ABOUT THIS SCAREY PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ARE GOVERNMENT FOR MAKING THE ROADS SO SAFE. AT LEAST THEY ARE TAKING THE EFFORT TO STOP THOSE PESKY KIDS AND THERE TEXTING. THANKS AGAIN! *TT

I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY WHEN MY BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT WENT ON; I LOST POWER STEERING AND SAW A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE MINI DEALERSHIP HAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE FAILED, AND SUBSEQUENTLY BURNED THE WIRING HARNESS. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL REPORTS OF FAULTY MANUFACTURING IN REGARD TO THIS PART FROM BBC IN UK, AS WELL AS ON MANY FORUMS, IN PARTICULAR NORTH AMERICAN MOTORING. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. IT CAME ON A FEW MONTHS AGO AND STAYS ON. HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER BUT NO KNOWN CAUSE. *TR

DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS GET STUCK IN POSITION. POSITION FOR DRIVERS SEAT IS TOTALLY STRAIGHT UP. MY BROTHER REPAIRED BUT SEAT STILL DOES NOT POSITION CORRECTLY AS I MUST USE A PILLOW BEHIND ME IN ORDER TO DRIVE. THE SAME THING HAPPENS TO THE PASSENGER SEAT AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE PASSENGER SEAT BACK INTO POSITION AS THERE IS A "TRICK" POSTED ONLINE THAT INSTRUCTS HOW TO REPOSITION THE SEAT. YOU MUST SIT ON YOUR KNEES ON THE SEAT AND TRY TO MANEUVER BOTH SEAT CONTROLS AT THE SAME TIME TO UNLOCK THE POSITION. THIS TRICK DOES NOT ALWAYS RELEASE THE SEAT UNTIL TRIED MANY MANY TIMES DAYS APART. *TR

THE POWER STEERING FAILS WITH NO WARNING. THE CAR BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. IT MAY LAST JUST A FEW MINUTES OR MUCH LONGER - HOUR OR SO. USUALLY DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN JUST STARTING THE CAR BUT NO OTHER KNOWN PATTERN. IT HAPPENS 1 TO 2 TIMES A MONTH OR MORE. *TR

HEARD OF POWERSTEERING ISSUE BUT STILL PURCHASED CAR. DRIVING TO WORK SMELLED BURNING AND LOST POWERSTEERING, IF THIS HAPPENS TO A WOMAN DRIVING AROUND A ROTARY AND KILLS SOMEONE WILL YOU WAIT FOR 50 PEOPLE TO GET KILLED BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. THIS IS COMPLETE INADEQUATE RESEARCH ON YOUR PART FORD RECALLS DUE TO ELECTRICALSHORT OF THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE AND CRUISE CONTROL CUT PRESSURE SWITCH HAD TO BURN DOWN HOUSES WHEN THEY HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ISSUE WHICH NO RECALL TILL MONTHS AFTER THEY KNEW IT WAS A FAULT. BY THE WAY I AM A MECHANIC ASE CERTIFIED OWN A SHOP IN WAKEFIELD [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

AFTER AN APPARENT SHORT OUT OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM A FIRE OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER TWO TO FIVE MINUTE LATER THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY GONE, CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL AS WELL AS KEYS CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT BOTH GAVE THEIR CONCLUSION OF THE CAR BEING ABSOLUTELY TOTALED. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR STOPPED AND OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ABLE TO EVACUATE THE VEHICLE. *TR

THERE HAVE BEEN THREE INSTANCES WHEN MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON ME...I COULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT HAD I NOT BEEN IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA DURING THOSE TIMES. *TR

DRIVING TO WORK 4 MILE TRIP POWER STEERING RANDOMLY STOPS WORKING ALMOST LOCKING UP THE STEERING WHEEL. TRIED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD A FULL GROWN MAN STRUGGLES TO BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL ABOUT A QUARTER OF A TURN. SHUT OFF CAR WAIT TO START BACK UP. POWER STEERING STILL DEAD CALL TOW TRUCK AND HAVE IT HAULED TO REPAIR SHOP. TOLD POWER STEERING PUMP HAS DIED AND NEEDS REPLACED ALONG WITH POWER STEERING PUMP FAN. *KB

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE GOING DOWN A MULTI-STORY PARKING LOT. VERY SCARY. CAR CORRECTED ITSELF. LATER THAT DAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN. CALLED MY MECHANIC (A MINI MECHANIC) AND WAS TOLD THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WITH 2002-2005 MINI COOPERS. WILL NEED TO REPLACE PUMP AND FAN WHICH WILL COST ME $1200 INC. LABOR. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MINI USA IS VERY AWARE OF. THEY RELEASED A CAR WITH KNOWN PROBLEMS (INC. CVT TRANSMISSION ISSUES) HOW CAN THEY DO THIS? SO FAR O ONE HAS BEEN KILLED (THAT WE KNOW OF) BUT I KNOW IT WILL HAPPEN ONE DAY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE. *TR

ON 13 JUNE 2011 A POWER STEERING FAN SHORTED ON MY DAUHTERS 2002 MINI COOPER S CAUSING THE RADIATOR FAN TO STOP. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO OVERHEAT. ON 14 JUNE 2011 CAR WAS REPAIRED BY A MINI COOPER DEALER AFTER BEING TOWED. PARTS REPLACED ARE FAN HOUSING WITH FAN, FAN WITH PROTECTING GRILLE, WIRING SET FOR POWER SUPPLY, CABLE STRAP. POWER STEERING FAN SEIZED CAUSING COOLING FANS NOT TO WORK. DEALER REPLACED WIRING HARNESS (UPDATED) TO KEEP POWER STEERING FAN AND COOLING FANS SEPERATE (AS TOLD BY SERVICE REP). OLD PARTS WHERE NOT KEPT. THIS HAPPENED ONCE. *TT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED AND HAD TO BE HELD WITH FORCE WITH BOTH HANDS IN ORDER TO TURN IT, OR KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE FAILURE WAS NOT RECALLED, AND THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILES WERE 114,000. UPDATED 07/20/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO MAKE A HUMMING SOUND IN WHICH THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS RUNNING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OFF, WHICH CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DIE. UPDATED 08/01/11

I WAS DRIVING FROM EAST LOS ANGELES TO WEST LOS ANGELES (PLAYA DEL RAY) ON THE 105 WEST HGWY WHEN THE CARS TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THIS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY IN LA DURING RUSH HOUR. I HAD TO SLOWLY MOVE OVER TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY UNTIL I COULD FIND AN AREA WITH A SHOULDER. I BARELY MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER AND COULD HAVE DIED FROM ONE OF THE CARS SPEEDING PAST ME. LUCKILY I MADE IT. I CALLED AAA AND THEY BROUGHT A TOW TRUCK WHICH TOWED THE CAR INTO A SHOP WHICH STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE THING WHICH WOULD COST $7,000 MINIMUM. I CALLED MULTIPLE OTHER DEALERS AND SHOPS, WHOM ALL GAVE THE SAME ESTIMATE. I DONATED IT TO MY LOCAL NPR STATION BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO PAY THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE A FAULTY TRANSMISSION, WITH ANOTHER FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *TR

DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING....MADE IT HOME...CHECKED ALL FLUID LEVELS...ALL OKAY....GOT BACK IN THE VEHICLE THE NEXT MORNING TO TAKE TO SERVICE STATION AND POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN...GARAGE COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM...SCARED TO DRIVE IT NOW FOR FEAR OF LOSS OF STEERING AGAIN! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENT WITHOUT WARNING. HE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN WOULD REMAIN ACTIVE WITHOUT POWER TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED NOR WAS THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,096. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 06/24/11 *BF UPDATED 06/30/11*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURRED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000. UPDATED 07/08/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY AT RANDOM TIMES. UPDATED 07/18/11

POWER SYSTEM ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER WENT OUT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE. AND VERY DANGEROUS AND COSTLY. BMW HAD BETTER DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I ALMOST CREAMED A COP... *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND CABIN LIGHTS WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD OFTEN BECOME LOCKED INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPERS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP WHERE THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE FUSE THAT CONTROLLED THE POWER STEERING CHARGING SYSTEM HAD BLOWN. THE COMPONENT WAS REPLACED AT A THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. UPDAT ED 06/03/11 *BF UPDATED 08/08/11

POWER STEERING PUMP IN 2002 MINI COOPER FAILED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND RUN, CAUSED ME TO DRIFT INTO THE ONCOMING LANE, ALMOST HITTING THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR

I ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY 2002 MINI COOPER AND AT 80K MILES THE TRANSMISSION BLEW UP JUST BEFORE I WAS TO ENTER A VERY BUSY FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES, DOWNTOWN AREA. THERE WAS PLENTY OF OIL IN THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A FAULT OF MY CARE AFTER THE MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT UPON TOW IN. IT JUST STOPPED FAST AND SHORT WITH A HUGE JERK FORWARD AND EXPLOSIVE NOISE. THE MECHANIC SAID IT BLEW IN BIG CHUNKS. I COULDN'T MOVE IT FROM TRAFFIC IN NEUTRAL AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP. 80K IS EARLY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND I SEE MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THIS HAPPENED WITH EVEN LESS MILEAGE, 34K, 48K ...NO REPLACEMENTS AND SO MANY FAILURES LIKE THIS? MINI TURNS THEIR HEADS; WOULD NOT REPLACE OR EVEN TALK TO ME. PREVIOUSLY TOO THE POWER STEERING PUMP ALSO JUST STOPPED AND NO MOVEMENT ON THE WHEEL. SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP ONE TIME IN MOUNTAIN VIEW, I HAD AN OIL LEAK. AT THE TIME THE AMOUNT THEY WANTED ME TO PAY WAS HIGH, 700.00 OR SO (JUST AFTER WARRANTY ENDED). I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC. HE TOOK ME UNDER THE CAR AND SHOWED ME THERE WAS NOT A SPOT OF OIL UNDER THAT CAR IN ANY NOOK OR CRANNY. IN THINKING ABOUT THIS AFTER TRANSMISSION PROBLEM I REALIZE THESE THINGS ARE TELLING ME MINI KNOWS ABOUT THEIR MINI MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. ALSO WHEN THE NEW ($4350.00) TRANSMISSION WAS PURCHASED, LA, MINI TOLD THE MECHANIC THEY HAD 5 TRANSMISSIONS IN STOCK IN THEIR PARTS DEPARTMENT AT ALL TIMES BECAUSE THIS WAS SO COMMON. THAT'S PROOF THEY KNOW IT'S A PROBLEM. YET NO RECALL TO PEOPLE WITH THESE ISSUES AND THESE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING PROBLEMS. *TR

PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING, IT WORK INTERMITTENT, ALMOST GOT TO A ACCIDENT. *TR

A FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN. AT SOME POINT THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT THE FAN SEIZED AND THE RESULTING ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE IN THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS CAUSED THE WIRING HARNESS TO HEAT TO A POINT OF MELTING SOME OF THE PLASTIC WIRE INSULATION ALLOWING FOR DIRECT WIRE TO WIRE CONTACT AND RESULTED IN AN ELECTRICAL FIRE BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE RESULTING FIRE COMPLETELY DISABLED THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND REQUIRES AT MINIMUM THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE MAIN WIRING HARNESS. EVENT DESCRIPTION AFTER A SHORT DRIVE (LESS THAN 2 MILES ON A COLD ENGINE) THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF SMOKE WAS SEEN RISING FROM THE VEHICLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPON RAISING THE HOOD, FLAMES WERE SEEN BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT REFLECTING OFF BOTH FIRE WALLS. 2 FIRE EXTINGUISHERS WERE REQUIRED TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES AFTER THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED. TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE TO FIRE WAS PREVENTED BY THE OWNERS ACTIONS.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,426. UPDATED 05/03/11*LJ UPDATED 05/16/11

AFTER PICKING MY SISTER UP FROM THE TRAIN STATION I NOTICED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. STEERING IS NOW VERY DIFFICULT AROUND CORNERS AND IN CITY DRIVING. NO REPAIRS MADE YET. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2002 MINI COOPER AND WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STERERING QUIT WORKING. I CONTACTED A MINI REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS ELECTRIC AND IT'S RELAY OR OR ONE FOR IT'S COOLING FAN MIGHT HAVE FAILED. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT IS VERY COMMON AND WOULD COST OVER $1000. TO FIX IT. HAD I BEEN IN THE WRONG MODE OF DRIVING THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE KILLED ME. *TR

THE SECOND POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER S HAS FAILED. THE FIRST TIME WHEN IT HAPPENED I HAD LOSS OF STEERING WHILE DOING A LOW SPEED TURN AND HIT A CURB. *LN

2002 MINI COOPER S. POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE WITH 55K MILES ON THE HIGHWAY. CAUSED LOSS OF POWERSTEERING MAKING THE CAR DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. UPON STOPPING THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULDN'T GO OFF AND DRAINED THE CARS BATTERY. THIS IS A WELL PUBLICIZED PROBLEM ON THE WEB, YET MINI DENIES ANY FAULT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ENTERING A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE STEERING PUMP. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000. UPDATED 03/08/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND IF IT FAILED IN A TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD INEVITABLY STEER VERY WIDE FROM THE INTENDED COURSE. UPDATED 03/09/11. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER F. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG AND ATTENTION TO HARNESS. THEY ALSO, ADVISED HER TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THEIR WAS A RECALL FOR THIS SPECIFIC FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 3/28/11 *CN UPDATED 12/20/11 *CN

POWER STEERING FAILURE ON MY 2002 R50 MINI COOPER. THE POWER STEERING WOULD ACT UP THE PREVIOUS COUPLE OE WEEKS BY THEN RESUME AS IF EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THEN PRIOR TO FIRST OF THE YEAR, IT JUST WENT OUT TOTALLY. *TR

I DRIVE A 2002 MINI COOPER AND AT 9:50AM THIS MORNING I DROVE MY CAR ABOUT A MILE TO MY OPTOMETRIST APPOINTMENT AND ALL WAS WELL WITH MY POWER STEERING. I WAS THERE FOR 45 MINUTES, LEFT, AND GOT IN MY CAR PULLED OUT OF MY SPOT WITH NO TROUBLE AT ALL, BUT ABOUT 20 FEET AWAY FROM MY PARKING SPOT I WENT TO TURN ONTO A THOROUGHFARE ONLY TO FIND THAT MY POWER STEERING HAD FAILED. I HAD TO WRENCH THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MUCH STRENGTH TO AVOID TRAFFIC AND PULLED OVER. I CHECKED THE STEERING FLUID AND THERE IS PLENTY IN THERE. I BELIEVE IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM REMAINS CONSISTENT AFTER TURNING MY CAR ON AND OFF. I'VE CHECKED ONLINE TO FIND THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM IN THEIR 2002 MINI COOPERS AND YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF A CURVE IN THE ROAD, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND NEARLY CAUSING THE CAR TO GO INTO A DITCH. #20 THE CAR IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER WITHOUT THE POWER-ASSISTED STEERING. #20 MINI USA DENIES ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM, YET THERE ARE IN EXCESS OF 1,600 REPORTS ON ONE INTERNET FORUM ALONE. #20 THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS ISSUE, AND IN EUROPE BMW/MINI HAS ACTED, BUT IN THE USA THE COMPANY DENIES ANY AWARENESS. #20 THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE COST ME AND MY WIFE OUR LIVES IF I WERE A LESS SKILLED DRIVER WHO MANAGED TO FORCE THE CAR BACK ONTO THE ROAD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS RESET. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN 28 MILES OF DRIVING. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT FUNCTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,000.

LOSS OF POWER STEERING 2002 MINI COOPER S. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH DIFFICULTY. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE POWER STEERING BECAME FUNCTIONAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.

MY 2002 MINI COOPER'S POWER STEERING FAILED SILENTLY AS I DROVE HOME FROM WORK A WEEK AGO, THOUGH WAS FINE AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR. SINCE THEN, IT HAS STARTED FAILING CONSISTENTLY. THIS LEADS TO VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA HOW HARD I WILL HAVE TO TURN ON THE WHEEL FOR ANY GIVEN TURN AND THUS MAKES ME HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE FOR HITTING A PEDESTRIAN OR ANOTHER CAR.. INVESTIGATIONS IMPLY THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP, WHICH COST $1000+. MY CAR HAS ROUGHLY 36,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

2002 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING FAILURE AFTER POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED. THE CAR HAD NO POWER STEERING WITHIN 700 MILES OF HAVING THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND PUMP FAN REPLACED AND NOW AM TOLD IT IS THE POWER STEERING PUMP CABLE. *TR

INTERMEDIATE POWER STEERING FAILURE ON 2002 MINI COOPER S. AT FIRST POWER STEERING WOULD CUT IN AND OUT WHEN DRIVING UNTIL IT WENT DEAD COMPLETELY BUT SOMETIMES WILL RESUME FUNCTION WHEN YOU SHUT OFF CAR AND RESTART. STEERING IS VERY HARD WHEN THIS OCCURS. WEEKS PASSED WITH SAME SYMPTOMS THEN POWER STEERING PUMP WILL RUN CONSTANTLY EVEN WITH CAR SHUT OFF. TO STOP THE PUMP FROM DRAINING MY BATTERY I HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY OR REMOVE THE FUSE THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE POWERSTEERING PUMP. NOW THE CAR IS OPERABLE WITHOUT POWER STEERING BUT STEERING IS RATHER HARD. *TR

I READ LAST WEEK ABOUT POSSIBLE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSOCIATED WITH 04-05 MINI MODELS. I HAVE AN 02 MINI COOPER S AND HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM APPROX 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 4 YEARS. WITH NO WARNING, THE POWER STEERING WILL SUDDENLY DISAPPEAR. I CAN STEER THE CAR, BUT ONLY WITH SIGNIFICANT EFFORT. MY MECHANIC CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT OF THIS. I'M NOT CERTAIN, BUT IT APPEARS THIS MIGHT HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THE ROAD IS WET. *TR

MY 2002 MINI COOPER S HAD AN INCIDENT APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO WHEN I COMPLETELY LOST POWER STEERING WHILE GOING A LOW RATE OF SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO MUSCLE THE STEERING FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES UNTIL THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. THIS OCCURRED ONCE MORE BUT VERY BRIEFLY IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE SOME TIME LATER. I DID NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM EITHER TIME BUT I SAW A STORY IN USA TODAY ON MINI STEERING PROBLEMS (29 SEPT) AND INSTANTLY RECALLED MY PROBLEM. I AM CERTAIN IT IS RELATED TO THE MINI STEERING ISSUE NOW BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE NHTSA. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE CAUSED HARD STEERING AND SUPREME SCARE. PRIOR INTERMITTENT ON/OFF OF POWER STEERING PUMP PREVIOUS WEEK. HAD TO REPLACE PUMP AND FAN MOTOR. OLD PUMP IS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

RECENT NEWS REPORTS ALERTED ME ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION INTO MINI POWER STEERING FAILURES IN 2004-05 MINI COOPERS. I AM WRITING TO REPORT THAT A FEW YEARS AGO, I EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE IN MY 2002 MINI COOPER (AT ABOUT 70K) MAKING STEERING VERY DIFFICULT. BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WOULD COME AND GO, IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR MY REPAIR SHOP TO FIND THE ROOT CAUSE. EVENTUALLY, THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. *TR

POWER STEERING IN MY 2002 MINI COOPER FAILED. STEERING VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT WITH LITTLE ABILITY TO TURN VEHICLE. REPAIR REQUIRED A NEW ELEC. STG PUMP AND COOLING FAN ($602) PLUS LABOR OF $384 FOR A TOTAL OF $986. *TR

1. DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, CAR STARTS OVER HEATING. 2. CONSTANT POWER STEERING FAILURE. HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. (3 YEAR SPAN) AND ALSO 2 TIMES FOR THE ORIGINAL OWNER. 3. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. OLD PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHICH CAUSED DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING FLUID READING WAS AT THE CORRECT CAPACITY LEVEL. ALSO, HE MENTIONED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAN MOTOR COULD HAVE POSSIBLY OVERHEATED, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,500.

2002 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED LEAVING CAR WITH VERY HEAVY STEERING. CAR TRAVELED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC BUT NO DAMAGE OR INJURY OCCURRED. I HAVE OLD PS PUMP AVAILABLE. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST. JUST HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN DURING NORMAL DRIVING. *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 POWER STEERING PUMP ON 2002 MINI COOPER S HAS REPEATEDLY SEIZED UP WHEN DRIVING OVER A COURSE OF A FEW MONTHS AND NOW IT WONT TURN OFF WHEN THE CAR IS OFF SO THE BATTERY DRAINS OUT. *TR

JUST DRIVING ALONG AND CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER, AND THEN TRANSMISSION LET GO. ENGINE REVVED, BUT THE GEARS WERE GONE. NO FORWARD OR REVERSE. NOTHING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE STEERING COLUMN AND SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,392.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 90,000. UPDATED 09/24/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/24/10

METAL TABS CONNECTING GLASS SUNROOF TO SUNROOF GUIDES BROKE. THE METAL SPLIT POSSIBLY DUE TO METAL FATIGUE INDUCED BY VIBRATION. POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE TO LOSE SUNROOF IF IT WAS TO LOSE THE OTHER MOUNT. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT ON. CONTINUOUSLY ON. SEE NHTSA ACTION PE05053 SAME ISSUES AS PE05053, BUT DIFFERENT CABLES AND CONNECTORS IN THE SAME CIRCUIT ARE CAUSING THE SAME PROBLEM. BMW IS NOT COVERING THESE FAILURES UNDER WARRANTY AT THIS TIME. ENTIRE CIRCUIT NEEDS TO BE EVALUATED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. HE STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILURE OCCURRED NO MATTER THE SPEED AND HAS OCCURRED AT OTHER SPEED LEVELS. HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HIM PAYING A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPPROXIMATELY 67,500.

THE NEW MINIS FROM BMW, RANGING FROM 2002 - 2005, HAVE CHRONIC PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING FAILING WHILE DRIVING, MAKING THE CARS SUDDENLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. I'VE SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS VERY SAME THING. HERE'S A LINK TO A BBC STORY ABOUT IT. HTTP://WWW.BBC.CO.UK/BLOGS/WATCHDOG/2009/02/MINI_STEERING_SYSTEM_FAILURES.HTML. *TR

SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE MANUAL 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION CAUSING CAR TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP IN AN INTERSECTION, ENDANGERING THE DRIVER AND BLOCKING TRAFFIC. SOMETHING INTERNAL FAILS IN THE TRANSMISSION, CAR COMES TO T SUDDEN STOP, CANT BE PUSHED AS THE WHEELS LOCK UP AND MUST BE TOWED FROM THE ROAD. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON MESSAGE BOARDS ON THE WEB. TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED. *TR

1. NORMAL AROUND TOWN DRIVING. PASSENGER REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED ... STEEL FAILED UNDER STRESS ONE OF SEVERAL MANUFACTURE HOLES PUNCHED INTO THE MEMBER. 2. CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE. 3. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARM. BMW HAS SINCE RE-ENGINEERED THE CONTROL ARM. REPLACEMENT ARMS ARE MADE STRONGER. *** I CAN PROVIDE ONLINE FORUM POSTINGS FROM NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM AND MINI2.COM (US AND UK ONLINE FORUMS FOR MINI OWNERS) WHICH DEMONSTRATE THAT THIS MEMBER IS ROUTINELY BREAKING ON OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME VINTAGE. PHOTOS OF MY FAILURE AND THE FAILURES OF OTHERS AVAILABLE. MINI IS ROUTINELY DENYING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS VEHICLE SAFETY ITEM CITING IMPROPER DRIVING HABITS. *** *TR

2002 MINI COOPER, POWER STEERING PUMP SHORTED OUT CAUSING A SMALL FIRE WHICH DESTROYED THE PUMP,FAN,WIRING HARNESS,POWER STEERING LINE. CAR HAD LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. COST OF REPAIR OVER 1200 DOLLARS. *TR

2002 MINI COOPER. POWER STEERING QUIT (MY WIFE DRIVING AND BY HERSELF) IN A TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. NO INJURIES BUT VERY CLOSE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

I HAVE A 2002 MINI COOPER, I PURCHASED NEW. I HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. MY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 20+ TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY STILL CAN NOT SEEM TO GET A PERMANENT FIX FOR THIS(NEXT APPOINTMENT JULY 9, 2009). *TR

I DROVE MY 2002 MINI COOPER APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES TO DROP OFF A FRIEND WHO WAS VISITING FROM OUT OF TOWN. I WAS HELPING MY FRIEND REMOVE HIS SUITCASE AND STANDING TO THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR OF THE CAR WHEN MY LEG MADE CONTACT WITH THE TAILPIPE CAUSING ABOUT A 2 INCH CRESCENT SHAPED BURN. THE TAILPIPE WAS HOT ENOUGH THAT MY SKIN STUCK TO THE PIPE - IT IS A PRETTY NASTY SECOND DEGREE BURN. *TR

2002 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING HYDRAULIC ASSIST FAILS WITHOUT WARNING MAKING CAR DIFFICULT TO STEER. FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT AND MAY OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY OR ON SURFACE ROADS. IN EITHER CASE THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. *TR

TRANSMISSION WHINING NOISE EVENTUALLY LEADING TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. MINI IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH CVT TRANSMISSIONS AND REFUSES TO ADMIT FAULT. VERY COMMON PROBLEM OCCURRING IN MOST 2002 VEHICLES WITH ONLY 40,000-60,000 MILES ON THEM. COST IS 7000 TO REPLACE. MINI DOES NOT OFFER REPAIR ON THIS PART. *TR

REAR HATCH HAS NO INSIDE RELEASE, ALTHOUGH SHOWN IN OWNER'S MANUAL. *TR

TRANSMISSION BEARINGS FAILURE AFTER 82,000 MILES. NO BEARINGS KIT REPLACEMENT OFFERED. *TR

2002 MINI COOPER C POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE WITH ONLY 50K MILES. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC WINDOW DOES NOT WORK; WILL BE REPLACING WINDOW MOTOR. *TR

PURCHASED A USED 2002 MINI COOPER ABOUT 3 1/2 YRS AGO W/ ABOUT 12K MILES. AT AROUND 15-17K MILES THE TRANSMISSION BASICALLY EXPLODED WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE TRANSMISSION. MINI REPLACED IT WITH I'M GUESSING A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR I ASKED THEM IF THEY WERE PUTTING IN A NEW CLUTCH AND THEY SAID NO, WHICH I FOUND STRANGE. NOW AT 60K MILES THE CLUTCH IS BASICALLY DONE. WHEN THE CAR IS COLD IT SHIFTS PRETTY NORMALLY, BUT AFTER 15-25 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE FIRST TWO GEARS BECOME HARD TO ENGAGE AND THEY SLIP. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST FIVE SPEED AND I'M SHOCKED THAT THIS CLUTCH IS DONE AFTER SUCH LITTLE MILEAGE. SHOULD THEY HAVE REPLACED THE CLUTCH WHEN THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION? I'M NOT A MECHANIC BUT TO LOSE A CLUTCH AT 60K MILES DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. MY DRIVING HABITS ARE PRETTY NORMAL. I'M NOT LIGHTING UP THE TIRES AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR RACING PEOPLE. THIS IS AN EVERYDAY CAR MOSTLY USED ON THE HIGHWAY. I'M BRINGING THE CAR IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT THE MINI SERVICE CENTER IN FREEPORT NY ON 12/29/08. ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH OVERHEATING ABOUT 4 MONTHS AFTER CAR WAS PURCHASED. AND AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS LIT. HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED ONCE OR TWICE. BUT THE LIGHT STILL STAYS LIT. *TR

MY 2002 MINI COOPER ELECTROHYDRAULIC POWER STEERING (EHPS) PUMP WILL NOT SHUT OFF CAUSING ASSOCIATED WIRING TO BECOME DANGEROUSLY HOT (SMELLS LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE). THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MINI COOPER AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP MY MINI FROM CATCHING FIRE. *TR

DRIVER SIDE AND HEAD AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHEN A "BUMP" (PAVEMENT AT DIFFERENT HEIGHTS DURING REPAVING) IN THE ROAD WAS HIT BY THE VEHICLE. *TR

ABRUPT FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM IN A 2002 MINI COOPER. *TR

BACK IN FEB 2008 THE STEERING ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER JUST WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING. I WAS LEFT WITHOUT POWER STEERING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 101 FREEWAY, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS! I FIXED THE PROBLEM, WHICH WAS VERY EXPENSIVE AS IT WAS THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM THAT FAILED AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH MINI, I NEVER HEARD BACK BUT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR. RECENTLY, SEPTEMBER 2008 THE TRANSMISSION IN THAT SAME CAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND FEEL IT MAY BE A LEMON. MINI IS UNWILLING TO HELP ME AS MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I FEEL AS THOUGH THESE PROBLEMS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY AS THERE IS NO PRIOR WARNING AND I AM CONCERNED FOR ALL PRESENT AND FUTURE MINI COOPER DRIVERS. *TR

CLUTCH AND CABLES FAIL AT 100 000KM. RATTLING NOISE AT START UP. VERY LOUD HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING. TRANSMISSION GONE AT 103 000KM. *TR

THE WARRANTY ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER RAN OUT AT 50K MILES. AT 53K MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION FROM MINI. THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $4,200. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING THE SAME FATE BECAUSE MINI WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OF MY 2002 MINI COOPER FAILED WHILE MY FRIEND WAS DRIVING MY CAR. SHE WAS ON A WINDING COASTAL ROAD AND THE CAR DIED ON A BLIND CURVE, PUTTING HER AT GREAT DANGER. FORTUNATELY NOBODY WAS HURT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE SAN FRANCISCO BMW DEALERSHIP, WHERE I WAS INFORMED I NEEDED A $8500 "REFURBISHED" TRANSMISSION, AS THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT EVEN MADE ANYMORE. RESEARCH ON LINE SHOWS THAT THIS BECOMING A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH "FIRST GENERATION" MINIS WITH THE "CVT" AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I DECLINED THE REPAIR AND SOLD THEM THE CARCASS OF MY CAR. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND BMW/MINI IS NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 MINI ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH AND I FELT A SUDDEN JOLTING AND SENSED A BACKWARD FORCE IMPEDING IT FROM GOING FORWARD. LUCKILY, IT WAS NIGHT TIME AND THERE WEREN'T MANY CARS, BECAUSE MY MINI STOPPED GOING FORWARD AND WAS MERELY RUNNING ON MOMENTUM. THE CAR GOT WORSE AND STARTED MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND FROM WHERE THE TRANSMISSION SITS AND THE CAR CONTINUED JOLTING NOT GOING FORWARD AS I BARELY HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER. AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND CHECKING THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE BY APPEARANCE (NO OIL LEAK, NO BLOWN GASKET, ETC), I RESTARTED THE CAR FINE, BUT THE CAR NEVER AGAIN ENGAGED INTO GEAR UNTIL I SPENT A WHOPPING $7,000 TO FIX IT. I WOULD SHIFT INTO D AND THE ENGINE WOULD REV, BUT THE CAR STAYED INERT. THE TRANSMISSION IS A CLOSED SYSTEM AND WHEN NO HARM IS DONE TO IT AND NO FLUID IS NOT LEAKING, TRANSMISSIONS SHOULDN'T POSE ANY PROBLEMS AT CONSIDERABLY LOW MILES (99K). I STARTED RESEARCHING ON THE POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND SURE ENOUGH, THERE WAS A LONG LIST OF COMPLAINTS ON THE FAULTY DESIGN. NEXT, I HAD TO SHOP FOR MECHANICS. ALL THE EXPERIENCED MINI MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT BMW OFFERED NO REPLACEMENT PARTS BECAUSE OF A PATENT THE INVENTOR HAD ON THE CVT DESIGN. I HAD TO HAVE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BECAUSE THERE WERE NO OPTIONS BMW LEFT FOR THE CONSUMER. IT WAS EITHER YOU PAY $7,000 OR YOUR MINI WILL BE SCRAPPED AND NEVER RUN AGAIN. MY MECHANIC WAS NICE ENOUGH TO CHOP OPEN THE TRANSMISSION AND SAW THAT IT WAS JUST A METAL BELT THAT DRIVES THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS BROKEN. A SIMPLE BELT THAT PROBABLY COSTS NO MORE THAN $200 COULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND A WHOLE LOT OF CONSUMER MONEY COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED IF THE PART WAS AVAILABLE TO THE US- NOT TO MENTION THE WHOLE ORDEAL WOULDN'T BE THERE IF BMW HAD DESIGNED A RELIABLE TRANSMISSION IN THE FIRST PLACE, (IE USE A REGULAR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INSTEAD OF A CVT WHEN THE CVT HAS NOT BE FULLY TESTED FOR ITS RELIABILITY). *TR

I HAVE A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CAR?S ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM HAS ONGOING ISSUES, PARTICULARLY THE COOLANT EXPANSION TANK. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE COOLANT EXPANSION TANK THREE TIMES WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES. THIS MEANS MY CAR IS NOW ON ITS FOURTH COOLANT EXPANSION TANK. HERE IS A SHORT SUMMARY OF THE COOLANT EXPANSION TANKS THAT MY CAR HAS HAD: DATE TANK INSTALLEDDATE TANK FAILED/REPLACEDCAR MILEAGE WHEN REPLACED WHEN CAR WAS BUILTJUNE 19, 200414,130 JUNE 19, 2004OCTOBER 23, 200417,528 OCTOBER 23, 2004OCTOBER 24, 200750,143 OCTOBER 24, 2007NOT YETNOT YET THE RADIATOR ALSO FAILED AT 50,143 MILES, WHICH IS AN EVENT I AM ALSO NOT PLEASED WITH. ADDITIONALLY, IT NOW APPEARS--AS OF SEPTEMBER 2008--THAT I MAY HAVE ANOTHER COOLING SYSTEM ISSUE. I WILL BE CALLING MY MECHANIC SOON TO CHECK INTO IT. ALL OF THESE FAILURES OF THE COOLANT EXPANSION TANK TOOK UP SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF MY TIME IN TAKING MY CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEN GOING TO RETRIEVE IT AFTER THE REPAIR. AND IN ONE CASE LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF A VERY BUSY CALIFORNIA FREEWAY AT RUSH HOUR. ADDITIONALLY, I FEAR THAT THE MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE EXPANSION TANK HAVE STRESSED THE OTHER PARTS OF THE ENGINE'S COOLING SYSTEM (AS EVIDENCED BY THE RADIATOR FAILURE AND THE NEED TO REPLACE ANOTHER COOLANT PART). THE LOCAL MINI COOPER DEALER REPLACED THE FIRST TWO EXPANSION TANKS UNDER WARRANTY AND DECLINED TO REPLACE THE THIRD EXPANSION TANK. AFTER I COMPLAINED--AND AFTER SIX MONTHS OF FOLLOW-UP CALLS AND LETTERS--THEY FINALLY REIMBURSED ME FOR THE COST OF THE THIRD EXPANSION TANK. IN ALL INSTANCES, MINI DECLINED TO LET ME KEEP THE OLD PART--EVEN THOUGH I ASKED EACH TIME. *TR

BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MOTOR FAILURE (WITH WINDOW IN UP POSITION). PROBLEM WAS INTERMEDIATE OVER THE PAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS WITH FAILURE TWO OR THREE TIMES A YEAR. CURRENTLY DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW HAS NOT WORKED FOR WEEKS. *TR

MY MINI COOPER S 2002. MY POWER STEERING LOCKED UP MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. VERY DANGEROUS AND THE FAN KEPT RUNNING WHEN OFF WHICH DRAINED THE BATTERY. IT IS NOT DRIVABLE NOW. *TR

I AM THE SECOND OWNER (BOTH OLDER LADIES), OF A 2002 AUTOMATIC MINI COOPER WITH 46,000 MILES. YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THE TRANNY FAILED. IT DOWNSHIFTED OR SOMETHING AND THE EP WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, WHICH MEANS TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND I WAS TWO FEET AWAY FROM BEING REAR ENDED! I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. AFTER RESEARCHING ON LINE, I HAVE READ GREAT AMOUNTS OF CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. IT IS DANGEROUS AND VERY COSTLY ACCORDING TO THE FIGURES I'VE READ OF PEOPLE WHOSE HAD THEIRS FIXED OR REPLACED. THESE CARS WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS NEEDS TO BE ANNOUNCED TO THE PUBLIC FOR SAFETY REASONS ALONE NOT EVEN TO MENTION THE COST! SINCERELY, BONNIE QUINN *TR

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

TRANSMISSION BLEW AT 34 THOUSAND MILES. *TR

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IN THE VEHICLE GOES ON, AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG, NOW THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON. *TR

WITH ONLY 24000 TOTAL MILES ON THE 2002 MINI COOPER-S ALL 4 BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE FAILING, WORN BEYOND LIMITS AND REQUIRED REPLACING. NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY DUE TO VEHICLE BEING OLDER THAN 3 YEARS AT THE TIME. *TR

CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER 32,000 MILES, NEEDING COSTLY REPLACEMENT. *TR

I RECENTLY HAD A 60K SERVICE ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER. A COUPLE DAYS LATER I DROVE FROM MONTEREY, CA TO LOS ANGELES, CA AND MY CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. ALL OF A SUDDEN OUT OF THE BLUE, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE 101 FREEWAY AND COULD NOT TURN MY CAR. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY TOLD ME MY POWER STEERING PUMP HAD BROKE. $1,000 LATER THE PART OF REPLACED. LUCKILY I WAS SAFE, AS WAS THE PASSENGER IN MY CAR. BUT WHAT IF I HAD BEEN ON A VERY CURY, BUSY HIGHWAY? I COULD HAVE DRIVEN OFF A CLIFF! THIS IS NOT A PART THAT SHOULD SIMPLY WEAR OUT OR BREAK, WE ARE TALKING PEOPLE'S LIVES! I LOVE MY MINI AND AM A PROUD MINI OWNER AND DRIVER BUT AFTER THIS I DON'T THINK I WILL EVER BUY ANOTHER MINI OR BMW. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 MINI COOPER. I HAD DRIVEN 1/4 MILE AND THOUGHT I HEARD SOMETHING CRACK OR SPARK UNDER THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THEN I SAW SMOKE, PULLED OVER, GOT OUT, AND THE WHOLE CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES. *TR

WHEN ACCELERATING OUT OF A TOLL BOOTH, THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER JUST AS I CHANGED LANES IN FRONT OF LARGE TRUCK. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS A PULL-OUT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD. IF I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO QUICKLY PULL OVER, THE TRUCK WOULD HAVE LIKELY COLLIDED WITH MY CAR. TURNING OF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING IT TEMPORARILY CLEARED THE PROBLEM. IT WOULD REOCCUR WHENEVER I USED FULL THROTTLE AND THE ENGINE HIT 5000 RPM. THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BY A STICKY SUPER-CHARGER BYPASS VALVE. IT IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM, SO MUCH SO THAT THE DEALER ALWAYS HAVE THE PARTS IN STOCK. LOOSING ALL ENGINE POWER IS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS - BMW SHOULD FIX THIS. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP IS NOISY ALL THE TIME. I AM AFRAID THIS MAY LEAD TO FAILURE OF MY ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE . THE CAR IS A 2002 MINI. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER S, 62,000 MILES, FAILS INTERMITTENTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING AN INSTANT AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER ASSISTED STEERING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND CAN CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH SHOULD LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. FURTHER RESEARCH OF ONLINE FORUMS (MINI2.COM, NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM, ROADFLY.COM) INDICATES THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AFFECTING MANY MINI OWNERS, AND POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE HAS ALSO BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE ENGINE BAY FIRES. *CN

I HAVE A 2002 MINI COOPER WITH 52K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION HAS WENT OUT TWICE IN THE PAST 2 YEARS THE FIRST TIME AT 31K MILES. THE CLUTCH HAS ALSO WENT OUT AS WELL AS THE SUNROOF MOTOR, LEFT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WITH A HOST OF SENSORS, GAUGES ETC... PARTS ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET AND SERVICE ON A 24K CAR (WHEN NEW) IS AS MUCH AS MY 70K BMW 7 SERIES.*CN

MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER RENDERING THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $6000+ TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO AND THEY JUST RESET THE CODE AND IT WORKED FINE. THEY SAID IF THEY TRIED RESETTING THE CODE AGAIN, THE CAR MAY JUST DIE ON ME WHILE DRIVING. *TR

I JUST FOUND THIS WEB SITE AND AFTER READING THROUGH THE VARIOUS ISSUES OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THEIR MINI, I DECIDED I SHOULD ALSO GO AHEAD AND SHARE MY ISSUES AS WELL. BACK IN APRIL OF 2004, I WAS HIT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BY A HONDA ACCORD TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MILES AN HOUR AND MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I NEVER HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR AN AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THAT MATTER BUT IT'S A SCARY THOUGHT NOT HAVING YOUR AIRBAGS DEPLOY, ESPECIALLY AT SUCH A HIGH SPEED OF IMPACT. I USED TO BE IN LOVE WITH MINI'S BUT I HAVE BEEN SO "SOURED" BY THEM AS OF LATE WITH ALL OF THE ISSUES I HAVE BEEN HAVING. MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I CAN'T EVEN START MY CAR. *TR

CONSTANT GRINDING NOISE COMING FRONT MY FRONT BRAKES. HAD SENSORS REPLACED, FRONT AND REAR BRAKES REPLACED AND THE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED AS WELL. STILL MAKING THE NOISE AND CAUSING EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE. FEELS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 MINI COOPER WITH A CVT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. THE CARE HAS ABOUT 61,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED COSTING ME AT LEAST $6,000. *TR

2002 MINI COOPER WITH <55,000 MILES (SAME OWNER) THE SHIFT CABLE DETACHED FROM THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE WHILE I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE GEARS. GEAR CHANGES ARE NO LONGER POSSIBLE AND THE TRANSMISSION REMAINS IN THE LAST GEAR SELECTED! PRIOR TO THIS -BUT WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, ALL THE WINDOW MOTORS DIED SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE FAN BELT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, THE ENGINE CONTINUALLY OVERHEATED (DESPITE REPEATED SERVICE BY BMW), THE HORN FUSE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF (UNTIL IT BLEW), AND THE TRANSMITION IS SLOWLY DYING. 1) THE FAN BELT WOULD NOT TURN OFF -CONTINUOUSLY, DRAINING THE BATTERY. 2) TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED 3) THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING 4) THE POWER WINDOWS *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, HE COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. NOW I READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MINI. *TR

SIGNIFICANT AND REPEATED ELECTRICAL FAILURES CAUSED THE CAR TO RANDOMLY SWITCH INTO EML MODE, REDUCING ENGINE OUTPUT CRITICALLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH POWER TO REMOVE THE CAR FROM THE ROAD SAFELY. AFTER SEVERAL INEFFECTUAL REPAIRS, THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED. SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CAR WAS PARKED, EMERGENCY BRAKE SET, MANUAL TRANSMISSION SET IN FIRST GEAR. UNATTENDED, TURNED OFF WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE CAR MOVED ITSELF SEVERAL FEET, HITTING ANOTHER CAR, BURNING OUT THE STARTER AND DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE CAR WAS MOVED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE STARTER WAS REPLACED. OVERNIGHT, WITH THE CAR PARKING INSIDE THE LOCKED SHOP, THE CAR MOVED ITSELF ACROSS THE SHOP. MECHANICS ARE NOW INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM. *TR

TOOK MY CAR IN FOR WINDING SOUND COMING FROM MOTOR. DIAGNOSED AS THE ALTERNATOR...THEY REPLACED IT AND SOUND WAS STILL PRESENT ...MISDIAGNOSED AND WAS ACTUALLY THE SUPERCHARGER, BUT WHILE THEY WERE CHECKING IT OUT INITIALLY THE POWER STEERING PUMP STAYED ON...WHICH DIDN'T HAPPEN TO ME UNTIL THEY HAD IT. AFTER CHANGING THE ALTERNATOR POWER STEERING PUMP NO LONGER STAYED ON PER THE DEALER. HAD IT HOME 3 DAYS TO WAKE UP ONE MORNING HEARING THE PUMP ON AND I GO TO START MY CAR AND IN DRAINED MY BATTERY. HAD TO JUMP THE CAR AND THEN DISCONNECT THE CABLE TO KEEP FROM THE PS PUMP CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING. THE CAR IS AT THE DEALER GETTING A NEW PUMP $975 PLUS TAX, RESEARCHED MINI OWNER WEBSITE AND FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE ALSO THAT SOME CARS ACTUALLY CAUGHT FIRE FROM A FAILURE OF THE PUMP. RESEARCHED MORE ON NORTH AMERICAN MOTORING . THERE WAS A LONG LIST OF PEOPLE WHO HAD THE EXACT EXPERIENCE. SURE WOULD BE AWFUL FOR THE PUMP TO GO OUT WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY AND NOT ABLE TO STEER CORRECTLY. SURPRISED IT HASN'T CAUSED AN ACCIDENT/DEATH YET. *TR

WE PURCHASED OUR 2002 MINI ON 10/10/06, W/55,059 MILES ON IT. 9 DAYS LATER THE CLUTCH WENT OUT, NOT COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WE PURCHASED. WE TOWED IT BACK TO MINI SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE DEPT WHO INSISTED THAT WE WORE OUT THE CLUTCH AND IT WAS OUR PROBLEM, WEAR AND TEAR, ETC. ? AFTER 9 DAYS! UNBELIEVABLE! THEY OFFERED TO PAY HALF, BUT WE FELT THIS WAS COMPLETELY UNFAIR. WE THEN HAD TO BATTLE WITH THE SERVICE DEPT AND THEY EVENTUALLY CALLED MINI USA WHO AGREED TO PAY THE OTHER HALF TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH. A FEW MONTHS LATER OUR MINI WAS DUE FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE (INSPECTION 2, $390), WHICH WE HAD DON ON 2/6/07, WITH NO NOTABLE PROBLEMS. THEN ON 9/14/07, AT 67,829 MILES, THE CLUTCH WENT OUT AGAIN! TWICE IN UNDER ONE YEAR! WE HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES FOR OVER 15 YEARS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH, LET ALONE TWICE IN ONE YEAR! OF COURSE IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND THE DEALERSHIP IS INSISTING THAT IT IS OUR FAULT THAT WE BURNT OUT THE CLUTCH, WHICH IS ABSURD. WE WOULD HAVE TO GRIND THE GEARS EVERY TIME WE SHIFT IN ORDER TO BURN OUT A BRAND NEW CLUTCH WITHIN ONE YEAR. MINI USA IS TAKING THE WORD OF THE SERVICE MANAGER AND WILL NOT HELP US. WE ARE NOT SURE IF THIS IS RELATED TO THE RECALL (MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY), HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP/SERVICE DEPT DENIES THAT SUCH A RECALL EXISTS. WHEN SEARCHING GOOGLE WE FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME OR VERY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OF CLUTCHES GOING OUT IN UNUSUALLY SHORT PERIODS OF DRIVING TIME. EACH TIME THE DEALERSHIP BLAMES THE DRIVER AND DENIES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. OUR MINI IS SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT NOW AS WE RESEARCH AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO RESOLVE THIS SITUATION FAIRLY. AT THIS POINT, WE JUST WANT TO GET IT REPAIRED AND SELL IT. ALTHOUGH, I FEEL BAD SELLING THIS CAR TO ANYONE, SINCE IT CLEARLY HAS MECHANICAL DEFECTS. *JB

THE EXHAUST PIPE ON THE 2002 MINI COOPER S I HAVE IS CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE BACK OF THE BUMPER. THE CAR IS A HATCH BACK, AND I'VE RUINED A COUPLE PAIRS OF PANTS AND HAD MINOR BURNS FROM IT. I'M NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT ME, BUT I HAVE SMALL KIDS AND I WORRY ABOUT THEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT A BUMP COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DROVE ROUGHLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. AS OF SEPTEMBER 6, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V201000 (POWER TRAIN: MANUAL TRANSMISSION: FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY). THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

I RECENTLY WAS DRIVING HOME FROM SACRAMENTO WHEN MY CAR STOPPED DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY.... LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE AND CALL FOR HELP... THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING AND THE RPM'S WERE GOING UP, BUT WOULD NOT DRIVE OR REVERSE. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAD JUST HAD THE SECOND INSPECTION SERVICE ON THE CAR ON 4/10/2007 AT THE COST OF $850. THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVING FUNNY, NO LIGHTS HAD COME ON, NOTHING WAS ABNORMAL. AAA TOOK MY CAR TO MINI OF SACRAMENTO DEALER WHERE I HAD TO LEAVE IT OVER NIGHT (THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS NO LONGER OPEN) AND CHECK MYSELF INTO A HOTEL. I CALLED THE NEXT MORNING AND THEY SAID BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE AN APPOINTMENT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT AROUND 5:00 PM. I WAS CALLED LATER THAT DAY AND TOLD THE CAR NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND IT WILL COST $7,500... THE CAR HAS ROUGHLY 59,000 MILES ON IT. *TR UPDATED 02-21-08 *BF

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, AS WELL AS PIECES OF BURNING PLASTIC FALLING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. HE THEN NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND TRIED TO CONTAIN THE FIRE HOWEVER, THE FIRE CONTINUED TO SPREAD INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SHIFT CABLE COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND PREVENTING THE CONTACT FROM SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALTY SHOP AND THEY RECONNECTED THE SHIFT CABLE. BMW STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 02V201000 (POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY). THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,750.

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

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN THE 2002 MINI COOPER THE CAR HAD ABOUT 70,000 MILLES ON IT AND I NOTICED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOING UP, AND ASSUMED MY CAR WAS JUST OVERHEATING. I PULLED INTO A SERVICE STATION AND PUT SOME WATER IN THE COOLANT RESERVOIRAND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE RETURNED TO NORMAL, SO I CONTINUED TO DRIVE. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES I NOTICED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED AGAIN. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A PARKING LOT. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD, I SAW FLAMES. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AT THE SCENE TH E CAR WAS TOO FAR GONE TO SAVE. I CONTACTED MINI REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THEY ASKED FOR MY VIN, APPROXIMATE MILEAGE, AND CONTACT INFORMATION. I SENT THEM THIS INFORMATION, BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. *AK

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN IF THE VEHICLE WAS LOCKED WITH THE REMOTE. THE DEALER WAS CALLED AND AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR WAS GIVEN OVER THE PHONE. THE COMPONENT THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 18,500.

SEVERAL, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED MORE THEN TEN DIFFERENT TIMES, EACH TIME IT WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER (WESTCHESTER BMW/WESTCHESTER MINI) THE LAST FIX WAS AFTER THE NORMAL WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND REQUIRED MUCH FUSS TO GET IT REPAIRED FOR FREE. THE POWER STEERING PUMP SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE RADIATOR FAN WAS REPLACED TWO TIMES BY ME (CAR OUT OF WARRANTY) EVEN THOUGH I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER WHEN THE CAR WAS STILL QUITE NEW ABOUT THE FREQUENCY OF THE FAN MOTOR'S STARTING AND STOPPING WHICH WILL SEVERELY SHORTEN THE LIFE OF ANY ELECTRIC MOTOR. THE WINDSHIELD STRESS CRACKED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS REPAIRED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPED MOTOR HAS JUST FAILED DURING AN INCREDIBLE RAINSTORM. *JB

OUR MINI BURNED TO THE GROUND. IT HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 20 MILES AND WAS PARKED WHEN IT HAPPENED. AFTER A FORENSIC SPECIALIST WAS HIRED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ABS UNIT WAS AT FAULT. IN LATER MODELS, THE FUSE WAS CHANGED FROM A 30 AMP TO A 20 AMP. NO RECALL WAS EVER ISSUED AND BMW/MINI NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. SINCE THIS HAPPENED, AT LEAST 10-15 OTHER MINIS HAVE BURNED. OUR MINI WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB

DURING A 10-MINUTE COMMUTE TO WORK, MY RIGHT REAR CONTINENTAL CONTITOURING CONTACT CH95 (GRAND TOURING ALL-SEASON) 175/65HR15, PURCHASED AND INSTALLED ON 6/29/06, FAILED. THE TREAD PORTION SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE SIDES. THE SIDES REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE WHEEL RIM. THE TREAD, MINUS THE TIRE SIDES, SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL AND WAS FOUND OTHERWISE INTACT ON THE ROADSIDE BEHIND MY DISABLED VEHICLE. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED AND NO DAMAGE OR PHYSICAL INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. A CALL TO THE RETAILER (THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TIRES AND CAR WERE PURCHASED) RESULTED IN A RESPONSE SUGGESTING THAT SOME ROAD HAZARD CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE AND THAT WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED COMING UNDER THE TIRE WARRANTY. UPON SEEING THE FAILED TIRE, THE NC STATE TROOPER AND EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TECHNICIAN DISAGREED, FEELING THAT THE TIRE MIGHT BE DEFECTIVE. *JB

I PURCHASED A PRE-OWNED MINI COOPER WITH 34,000 MILES ON IT. 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE, I NOTICED A "STUDDER/HESITATION" ON TAKE OFF FROM A DEAD STOP IN FIRST GEAR. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC TO DEMONSTRATE THE PROBLEM. ON THE TEST DRIVE, THE CAR MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND ALL GEARS FAILED. THE CLUTCH AND GEAR SHIFT FELT NORMAL, BUT NO GEAR WOULD ENGAGE. THE CAR WAS ROLLING BACKWARDS DOWN A HILL INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL MINI DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. AT THAT POINT THE CAR HAD 35,000 MILES ON IT. BECAUSE IT WAS 4 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY, MINI REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I FOUND NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THE MIDLAND TRANSMISSIONS BEING REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY CAR RECEIVED THE NEWER GETRAG TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE MIDLANDS WERE DISCONTINUED IN 2004 IN FAVOR OF THE MORE RELIABLE GETRAG TRANSMISSIONS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH VERY LITTLE WARNING. IT WAS A DANGEROUS AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THAT RESULTED IN A CAR THAT SUDDENLY WOULD NOT MOVE IN TRAFFIC. *JB

POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILURE ON MINI COOPER. 1 - WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT, AT TIMES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. 2 - ONCE HOME WHILE PARKING THE CAR, SMOKE STARTED TO BILLOW OUR FROM UNDER THE HOOD. TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, SMOKE CONTINUED TO BILLOW AND GET THICKER, OPENED THE HOOD, HEARD A SIZZLING SOUND AND NOTICED THAT SOME OF THE WIRES WERE MELTING. IMMEDIATELY DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, THE SMOKE STARTED TO DISSAPATE, THE NOISE STOPPED ETC. 3 - THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. ACCORDING TO THE TOW OPERATOR, BASED UPON THE CONDIDTION OF THE WIRING HARNESS, IF THE BATTERY HAD NOT BE DISCONNECTED QUICKLY, THE CAR WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE DEALER INFORMED US THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP MOTOR HAD FAILED AND THAT MINI WOULD REPLACE THE PARTS AT NO CHARGE, BUT LABOR WOULD BE AT OUR COST. TOTAL PARTS WERE APPROXIMATLEY $1,000.00 WITH LABOR TOTALING ABOUT $400.00. THE CAR IS NOW FIXED AND OPERATING PROPERLY. *NM

THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER S AUTO CRACKED SUDDENLY (WITH A POP) WHILE I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE FREEWAY, WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE--NO IMPACT SITE ON THE CRACK. THE CRACK ORIGINATES IN THE LOW/MIDDLE AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD, GOES UP ABOUT 2 INCHES, THEN SNEAKS TO THE PASSENGER SIDE ABOUT 5 INCHES. *JB

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS WIPER MOTOR FAILURE. I NOTICED THAT THE WIPER MOTOR WAS EXPOSED DIRECTLY TO THE WEATHER AND MOISTURE BECAUSE IT IS LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE COWL INTAKE AND I FELT THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. IT'S EXPOSED TO RAIN, SNOW, AND WINTER ROAD SALT SPRAY - EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT BEING DRIVEN. I OBTAINED THE REPLACEMENT PART AND NOTICED THAT IT HAD A PLASTIC SHIELD INSTALLED TO PROTECT THE MOTOR INDICATING THE MANUFACTURER DOES KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HAS IMPLEMENTED CORRECTIVE ACTION. WHEN I CONTACTED BMW, THEY CLAIMED TO BE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. BMW INSISTS ON CHARGING FOR THE REPAIR ($465.00) AND HAS NOT YET RECOGNIZED THE FACT THAT THERE IS A SAFETY DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE IS ALSO A HIGH LIKELIHOOD THAT THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES THAT COULD EXPERIENCE THE SAME FAILURE RESULTING IN LOSS OF LIFE. *NM

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. REPLACEMENT WAS REQUIRED AT 48,000 MILES. VIEWING THE MINI OWNERS WEBSITE REVEALED MANY SIMILAR SITUATIONS WHERE THE PUMP REQUIRED REPLACEMENT ON MANY 2002-2004 MODELS. THIS COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES. *NM

2002 MINI COOPER CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 68,000 MILES. NM

THIS IS A FOLLOW-ON TO INVESTIGATION PE05053 ORIGINALLY OPENED ON 09/27/2005. I TOO HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ON MY MY 2002 MINI COOPER. THE INCIDENTS OF INTERMITTENT AIRBAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATION STARTED ON 12 FEB 06 AND HAVE CONTINUED SINCE THAT TIME. THE LAMP ILLUMINATION IS INTERMITTENT AND NOT STEADY. SINCE I LIVE 220+ MILES FROM THE NEAREST BMW/MINI DEALER I HAVE NOT BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE OR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. NO CONSEQUENCES OTHER THAN THE MINOR ANNOYANCE OF THE ILLUMINATED LIGHT ON HAVE OCCURRED, ALTHOUGH I AM CONCERNED THAT ONE OR MORE AIRBAGS MAY NOT INFLATE IN CASE OF IMPACT OR CRASH. *JB

TWO-CAR CRASH AT AN INTERSECTION - AIRBAGS IN 2002 MINI COOPER S FAILED TO DEPLOY. CAR 1 (2002 MINI COOPER S) WAS DRIVING WEST ON TOTTEN POND RD. IN WALTHAM, MA AT APPROX. 30 MPH, APPROACHING GREEN LIGHT AT INTERSECTION OF TOTTEN POND RD/WINTER ST AND WYMAN ST. CAR 2 (2001 CHEVY VAN) WAS TRAVELING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION ON SAME ROAD (MPH UNKNOWN - APPROXIMATED AT 25 MPH) AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN ONTO WYMAN ST. IN FRONT OF CAR 1, STRIKING CAR 1 IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE QUARTER PANEL AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENTIRE DRIVER'S SIDE OF CAR1 (FRONT AND REAR QUARTER PANELS, DRIVER'S DOOR AND TIRES). I WAS THE OCCUPANT OF CAR 1 AND BECAUSE I WAS NOT WEARING A SET BELT, I WAS THROWN INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND WINDOW, SHATTERING THE WINDOW COMPLETELY WITH MY HEAD AND WAS THEN THROWN INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT AFTER IMPACT. NONE OF THE SIX AIRBAGS IN THE 2002 MINI COOPER S DEPLOYED. AT A MINIMUM, FROM THE ANGLE OF THE ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT AIRBAG AND DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED FROM THE IMPACT. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE AND SUSTAINED MINOR HEAD INJURIES (MINOR CONCUSSION), MINOR CUTS TO MY HANDS AND BRUISING TO MY LEFT LEG. THE 2002 MINI COOPER S WAS UNDRIVEABLE AND WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE OF THE CRASH. INSURANCE COMPANY CLAIM HAS BEEN FILED WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY (LIBERTY MUTUAL) AND THE DRIVER OF CAR 2'S INSURANCE COMPANY (AMICA MUTUAL) WILL BE NOTIFIED. A POLICE REPORT IS ON FILE WITH THE WALTHAM POLICE DEPT. IN WALTHAM, MA. IT IS UNKNOWN WHAT WILL BE DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, UNTIL THE INSURANCE CLAIM IS PROCESSED. *JB

AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS LIT. WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, I HAD THE DEALER (FLOW MINI, WINSTON-SALEM, NC) "RESET" IT ON AT LEAST TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. SERVICE EMPLOYEE TOLD ME THE LIT LIGHT WOULD NOT AFFECT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT/SAFETY. WITHIN DAYS (MILES) OF "RESETTING" IT, THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF WITHOUT TAKING IT TO THE DEALER. *JB

(1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE - NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, CAR DRIVEN 40K+ MILES (2) FAILURE & CONSEQUENCE - BOTH BEARINGS IN THE STEERING COLUMN BEGAN TO FAIL. DETAILS NOT EXACTLY AVAILABLE SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INSPECT THEM, BUT BEARINGS WOULD GRIND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER TOLD ME THAT THESE WOULD NOT IMPACT DRIVING SAFETY, IF NOT, WHAT IS THEIR PURPOSE? (3) CORRECTIVE ACTION - DEALER REPLACED BOTH BEARINGS SINCE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY (50K MILES). I INQUIRED WITH DEALER IF MINI HAS EITHER IMPROVED THE DESIGN OF THE REPLACEMENT BEARINGS OR IF THE ORIGINAL BEARINGS HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. DEALER STATED THAT NEITHER WAS THE CASE AND THAT IT ISN'T/WOULDN'T BE UNUSUAL FOR STEERING BEARINGS TO FAIL AFTER 40K MILES, WHICH BY TODAY'S STANDARDS IS COMPLETELY FALSE!. *JB

THE SHIFT LINKAGE CAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I HAS UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. I LOOKED ON THE NHTSA SITE AND FOUND THAT THE CAR WAS RECALLED FOR THIS EXAC PROBLEM. I HAD ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT SUCH A RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THEY DENIED AND CONTINUE TO DENY THAT SUCH A RECALL EXISTS. AFTER I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, THEY CALLED TO HAVE ME PICK UP MY CAR. THEY THEN MENTIONED THAT THEY HAVE TO GET PARTS AND I WILL HAVE TO BRING THE CAR BACK. I INFORMED THAT I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR WITH A SAFTEY RELATED RECALL THAT WAS NOT FIXED. I AM FRUSTRATED THAT THE DEALER AND MANUFECTURER CONTINUE TO DENY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED AND TRY TO HAVE ME DRIVE THE UNREPAIRED VEHICLE. RCALL CAMPAIGN N. 02V-201 : SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 BMW MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED STEERING FAILURE. THE STEERING WAS NOT OPERATING. . COULD DRIVE BUT COULD NOT STEER BECAUSE THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. THE STEERING SYSTEM WAS BROKE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO , AND THEY REPAIRED IT. CURRENTLY, THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPAIR CAR ANYMORE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE STEERING BECAME VERY HEAVY, HAD TO MUSCLE THE STEERING IN ORDER TO TURN THE CAR. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN COULD NOT STEER THE CAR, AND IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. DID HAVE ONE STEERING FAILURE BEFORE, AND HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING MECHANISM. CURRENTLY, HE COULD NOT STEER UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. *AK

DT: CALLER BURNED VERY BADLY HER LEG BECAUSE THE TAIL PIPE STUCK OUT TOO FAR. TAIL PIPE DID NOT HAVE A GUARD OVER IT. THEY WERE LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE IN THE BACK INSTEAD ON THE SIDE OF THE BACK. DEALER SAID TO CALL MANUFACTURER, AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT VERY NICE . MANUFACTURER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. CALLER SHOWED A REPRESENTATIVE THE PROBLEM AND HE WANTED HER TO TELL THEM HOW TO FIX IT. THEY TOLD CALLER TO LEAVE GROCERIES IN THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT COOLED OFF.*AK

2002 MINI COOPER S HAS HAD A SECOND AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILURE. WHEN ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM DETECT A FAILURE, THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DISABLED UNTIL TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE FIXED. LOOKING UNDER THE SEATS TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE COULD BE, DISCOVERED THE "FIX" PERFORMED BY THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE INTIAL FIX WAS TO COMPRESS THE PLUG TOGETHER WITH "WIRETIES" - NOT TO REPLACE THE PLUGS WITH A BETTER DESIGN. BOTH THE WORKMANSHIP OF THE REPAIR OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND THE SYSTEM ITSELF ARE FAULTY.

DT: THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT IF USING THE REMOTE TO LOCK THE DOORS AND IF ANYONE WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE HANDLES NOR THE DOOR LOCK WILL UNLOCK THE DOOR. CONSUMER HAS TO USE THE REMOTE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THIS WAS SOME TYPE OF COMPUTER DEFECT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND DEMONSTRATED TO THEM THE PROBLEM, AND THEY AGREED WITH THE CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY DEFECT. DEALERSHIP CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THIS WAS JUST THE WAY THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. *AK *TT *SC *JB

8" CRACK IN FRONT WINDSHIELD. CRACK IS LOCATED ON LOWER RIGHT HAND (PASSENGER) SIDE OF VEHICLE THAT STARTS BELOW THE WINDSHIELD SEAL. THE GOES UP 3" THEN CURVES LEFT AND TRAVELS FOR 5". CRACK APPEARED AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A SECURE GARAGE FOR 3 DAYS, AND HAS GROWN ABOUT 1" A WEEK.

THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN ON 8 TIMES IN 3 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. (THE INCIDENT DATE I REPORT BELOW IS SIMPLY THE MOST RECENT OCCURENCE) EACH TIME REQUIRES A TRIP TO THE DEALER TO RESET THE SYSTEM. WHEN THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON THE VEHICLE'S AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DE-CTIVATED, AND THEREFORE THE SYSTEM RESET IS AN URGENT SAFETY ISSUE. OVER THE COURSE OF 3 YEARS, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED NUMEROUS SENSORS, WIRING HARNESS PIECES, AND SEVERAL OF THE AIRBAG UNITS (ESP. THE SEAT AIRBAGS). THIS IS REPORTED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST COMMON MINI COOPER FAILURES AND HAS PLAGUED THESE CARS FOR ALL MODEL YEARS IN PRODUCTION. THIS IS AN URGENT SAFETY DEFECT AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE NHSTA TAKE ACTION! (SORRY I DON'T KNOW MY VIN BY MEMORY AND CAN'T ACCESS MY REGISTRATION AT THE MOMENT...IF YOU REALLY NEED THIS, SIMPLY EMAIL ME AND I'LL GLADLY PROVIDE). *AK

2002 MINI COOPER [XXX]. CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST FOUR TIMES TO ADDRESS THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEING LIT, IN 44,000 MILES. VARIOUS HARNESSES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AND THE AIR BAG SENSOR ONCE. NOW, AT 44,500 MILES, THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN FOR A FIFTH TIME. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT FUNCTION WITH THE LIGHT LIT. I SUGGEST THAT MINIUSA BE FORCED TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL AS IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WHICH THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE FULLY ISOLATED.*AK *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

WENT OUT TO DINNER WITH MY PARENTS - GONE APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS - CAME BACK TO FIND THE CAR COMPLETELY BURNED. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED BY A NEIGHBOR. THERE WAS NO INDICATION AT ALL THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WHEN WE PARKED THE CAR. HAVE FOUND OTHER CASES (VIA THE INTERNET) IN THE UK THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. *JB

AIR BAG FAILURE LIGHT. 2ND TIME IN 2 YEARS. WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR SEPARATED WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT MOVES ALL THE WAY BACKWARD. DEALER INSTALLED LONGER HARNESS.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN 50-55 MPH, PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL GEAR TO COAST BEFORE SLOWING DOWN, WENT TO GEAR DOWN , AND VEHICLE WILL BRAKE BUT NOT CHANGE GEARS. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN RECALL 02V201000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE. BUT, THE CONSUMER WASN'T INFORMED NOR NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL UNTIL RECENTLY.*AK

MINI COOPER 2002 SUFFERED A STRESS CRACK OF THE WINDSHIELD THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. NO ROCKS OR CHIPS CAUSED THE CRACK. IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE'S 36,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY.*AK

AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON BECAUSE OFEXCESS WEAR ON THE WIRING UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. REPAIR HAS BEEN MADE THREE TIMES. A SIMPLE SOLUTION NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED. AUTO IS 2002 MINI COOPER MFD IN JUNE OF 2002. *AK

THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON I TOOK CAR IN AND TOOK THE CAR TO MINI DEALER. THE SIDE AIRBAG HARNESS IS BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACE.*AK

I HAVE A JULY 2002 BUILD, MINI COOPER S .TO DATE I HAVE HAD 6 WINDSHIELDS INSTALLED.MOST HAVE SUFFERED STRESS RELATED FAILURE,BUT 2 STARTED AS MINIMAL ROCK STRIKES ,WHICH LATER RESULTED IN LONG (10- 14 INCH) CRACKS.GLASS IS SUB-STANDARD,TOO THIN ,AND TOO SOFT.I DEFINATELY FEAR FOR MY SAFETY AS LONG AS THIS GLASS ISN'T REDESIGNED.*AK

WINDSHIELD ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER S HAS CRACKS IN 2 PLACES WHICH STARTED FROM THE EDGES OF THE WINDSHIELD. BOTH CRACKS APPEARED WHEN THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER SAYS THEY ARE "ROCK CHIPS" THOUGH THERE'S NO VISIBLE IMPACT. *AK

1. INTERIOR DOOR LATCH MECHANISM INOPERABLE IN FREEZING CONDITIONS - WILL NOT RELEASE (UNABLE TO EXIT CAR) - WAS ABLE TO ENTER CAR - CLOSED DOOR - COULD NOT EXIT. BAD SITUATION AS POWER WINDOWS WERE ALSO FROZEN SHUT. 2. WINDSHIELD CRACKS (2ND WINDSHIELD - SEE OTHER THREADS ON THIS KNOWN FAILURE) - OCCURRED WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVE ON PUBLIC STREET - STARTED AT BASE OF WINDSHIELD DRIVERS SIDE-UP 6"-THEN SHARPLY RIGHT-ACROSS WINDSHIELD TO PASSENGER A PILLAR. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED FUEL TANK EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, ENGINE FAILED. *AK

THE CONSUMER ACCIDENTALLY LOCKED THE VEHICLE WITH THE REMOTE KEY WHILE OCCUPANTS WERE STILL IN THE VEHICLE. THE OCCUPANTS COULD NOT MANUALLY UNLOCK ANY OF THE DOORS TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOT A REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

MY WINDSHIELD SUSTAINED AN 8 INCH LONG CRACK ON THE LOWER CORNER DRIVER SIDE JUST ABOVE THE VIN NUMBER. THIS HAPPENED ONE COLD MORNING WHILE WARMING UP THE ENGINE AT THE DRIVEWAY. BMW DENIED WARRANTY COVERAGE BECAUSE OF A STONE PIT A SIZE OF A PEN DOT ALONG THE CRACKED AREA. I FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE SAME GENERAL LOCATION (ABOVE THE BIN NUMBER) AS A RESULT OF STRESS FROM THE FRAME. ATTACHED IS A SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION REGARDING CRACKED WINDSHIELDS ON MINI. HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/MODULES.PHP?. *CB

MY 2002 MINI COPPER HAS HAD THE AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NOW. REPAIRED WITH NEW WIRING HARNESS IN 11/03; NOW IN 1/04 BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AGAIN. DEALER VIA PHONE CANNOT TELL ME IF THE BAGS WORK PROPERLY UNTIL DIAGNOSED. I HAVE CHECKED WEB FORUMS FOR THIS VEHICLE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. I WOULD THINK NHTSA OR SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS TO DETERMINE IF THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *AK

WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE AFTER TURNING THE HEATER ON WHILE VEHICLE WAS WARMING UP PARKED ON THE DRIVEWAY. DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY. *LA

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON, WHICH INDICATED THAT AIR BAGS WERE INOPERATIVE. DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED WITHIN 2000 MILES.*AK

-STALLING WHEN CHANGING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. HAS ALSO STALLED ONCE ON THE INTERSTATE. -RPM'S KEEP REVVING BETWEEN 3000 & 5000 WHEN I HIT 55-60 MPH. ONCE I PASS 60 MPH THE RPM'S DECREASE TO A REASONABLE LEVEL. THIS HAPPENS EVERYDAY WITHOUT FAIL. *LA

WINDSHIELDS ARE FAILING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ON MINI COOPER AUTOMOBILES. I AM CURRENTLY ON MY 3RD WINDSHIELD IN AS MANY MONTHS - STRESS CRACKS APPEARED FROM THE ROOF PILLARS IN BOTH CASES. WE NEED A RESOLUTION TO THIS - EITHER BETTER GLASS OR STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS.*AK

INTERMITTENT COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER FOR 2-3 SECONDS WHEN STARTING FROM STANDSTILL.OCCURS UNDER VARIOUS CLIMATIC CONDITIONS AND EITHER WITH COLD OR WARM ENGINE.EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC FROM A SIDE STREET OR INTERSECTION.*AK

MY 2002 MINI COOPER S HAS SOME ENGINE MANAGEMENT ISSUES THAT HAVE RESULTED IN SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS IN TRAFFIC SITUATIONS THAT I FEEL ARE UNSAFE, AND HAVE YET TO BE RESOLVED OR DEFINITELY ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE MOST SEVERE ISSUE IS A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AFTER ACCELERATION ON CLEAN DRY PAVEMENT. LOSS OF POWER IS USUALLY IN 1ST GEAR AN CAN LAST SEVERAL SECONDS. I BELEIVE THIS TO BE A PROBLEM NOT UNIQUE TO MY VEHICLE.*AK

THERE IS A COMPLETE POWER FAILURE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS INCLUDING 55 MPH. THIS DEFECT OR CONDITION CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. WHEN IT HAPPENED ON RT. 66 IN ARLINGTON VA AT 9:30 PM, IT CAUSED A NEAR-COLLISION WITH SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES TRAVELING ON THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT, NOISE, OR OTHER INDICATION THAT THE ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO TURN OFF.*AK

WINDSHIELD CREAKING, CRACKLING. REPLACED TWICE BY DEALER DUE TO WIND LEAKAGE. WINDSHIELD IS TOO THIN AND PITS WAY TOO EASILY. WIFE IS AFRAID OF SAFETY BECAUSE OF THE NOTORIOUSLY HIGH INCIDENCE OF SPONTANEOUS CRACKING WINDSHIELDS. MINI USA CONTINUES TO DENY ANY PROBLEMS, BUT INFORMAL SURVEYS OF DEALERS INDICATE THOUSANDS OF REPLACEMENTS ALREADY, AND THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN ON SALE FOR 16 MONTHS. GLASS IS TOO THIN AND BRITTLE. GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO INTERCEDE AND FORCE MINI USA TO REPLACE WITH THICKER, SAFE WINDSHIELDS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA REPURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *AK *CB *NLM

WINSHIELD CRACK FROM BIRD SAP!*AK

STRESS CRACKED WINDSHIELD IN 2002 MINI COOPER S.*AK

CRACKED WINSHIELD IN TWO DIFFERENT PLACES. OCCURRED ABOUT 10 MINUTES APART WHILE DRIVING IN SLOW TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 100 DEGREES. *AK

WE OWN A MINI COOPER S. LIKE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE NOT YET FILED A COMPLAINT, WE HAD A CRACKED WINDSHIELD FOR NO APPARANT REASON. THE WINDSHIELD SEEMS TO BE VERY THIN AND SOFT. AND VERY SUCCEPTABLE TO CRACKS AND ROCK CHIPS, PITTING FOR LACK OF ANOTHER WORD.

WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON, CAR STALLS OR STUMBLES WHILE STARTING MOVEMENT IN FIRST GEAR. THIS CAUSES MERGES, LEFT TURNS TO GET DANGEROUS. HOT WEATHER INCREASES THE OCCURRENCE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

STOPPED AT LIGHT WHEN I HEARD A SMALL CRACK NO OTHER VEHICLES OR TRAFFIC AROUND UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND A SMALL STAR LIKE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH BEFORE CRACK COULD BE FIXED WINDSHIELD WAS CHIPPED BY ROAD DEBRIS IN TWO SEPARATE PLACES AND ON TWO SEPARATE DAYS. WINDSHIELD GLASS SEEMS TO BE VERY WEAK.*AK

BROKEN WINDSHIELD 2002 MINI COOPER S. *NLM

I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIN/WEAK WINDSHIELDS IN MY MINI COOPER S. I AM ON MY THIRD WINDSHIELD IN LESS THAN A YEAR. THE GLASS IS INCREDIBLY THIN AND CRACKS WITH THE SLIGHTEST IMPACT. I CONSIDER THIS UNSAFE. IN ADDITION I KNOW OF MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *NLM

WINDSHIELD PITS FROM SAND VERY EASILY. WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM DRIVER'S SIDE TO MIDDLE OF WINDOW WHILE BACKING OUT OF FLAT DRIVEWAY. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BY DEALER. TWO MONTHS LATER, SMALL AMOUNT OF BLOWING SAND PITS WINDSHIELD AGAIN. 2002 MINI COOPER. *NLM

CAR STALLS RANDOMLY WHEN COMMING TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENS ON ON MANUEL TRANSMISSION. WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH IT REVS DOWN AND IDOLS LOW AND STALLS WHEN APPROAHING A STOP. AFTER AN INITAL STALL POWER IS REDUCED AND IS SLUGGISH WHEN THE GAS IS DEPRESSED.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

MY MINI COOPER HAS DEVELOPED A HUGE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER SAID THE CRACK WAS STARTED BY A CHIP FROM ROAD DEBRIS, HOWEVER CRACKED WINDSHIELDS ARE A WELL KNOW PROBLEM WITH THE MINI. MANY MINI OWNERS HAVE REPLACED THEIR WINDSHIELDS 3 OR 4 TIMES. BEFORE I BUY A NEW WINDSHIELD I WOULD LIKE ASSURANCES FROM MINI USA THAT THE REPLACEMENT WON'T PROMPTLY CRACK, AS HAS HAPPENED WITH MANY OTHER OWNERS. *NLM

MINI COOPER S 2002 HAD A CRACK START AND GROW UNTIL IT SPANNED THE WINDSHIELD. HAD TWO SUBSEQUENT ROCK CHIPS THAT GREW INTO MASSIVE CRACKS. THE WINDOW SEEMS TO CRACK TOO EASILY. *AK

THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER S DEVELOPED TWO CRACKS IN IT'S WINDSHIELD. I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN SEPT OF 2002. THE FIRST CRACK DEVELOPED AFTER OWNING THE CAR ABOUT 4 MONTHS AND MINI USA WOULD NOT REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. NOW A SECOND CRACK HAS DEVELOPED 3 MONTHS LATER. *TT

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE WE BROUGHT THE CAR HOME. MINI HAS ATTEMPTED FIX THE PROBLEMS UNSUCCESSFULLY 8 TIMES, CULMINATING WITH THE DEALER GETTING INTO A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT WHILE TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *NLM

I NEED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE WINDSHIELD ON THE MINI COOPER 2002. ONE WEEK AFTER I GOT MY CAR, I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN A CHIP APPEARED. I NEVER SAW OR HEARD ANYTHING HIT IT. I HAVE SINCE GOTTEN ABOUT 10 CHIPS IN MY WINDSHIELD. EVER SINCE I GOT THE CAR, MY WINDSHIELD HAS CREAKED AND MADE A LOT OF NOISE AS IF IT WERE SHIFTING AROUND. THIS SCARES ME SO MUCH! THEN, I HAD AN APPOINTMENT THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON TO GET ONE CHIP FIXED WHEN THE WINDSHIELD CREAKED LOUDLY AND A CRACK WENT RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE. I HONESTLY AM AFRAID SOMETIMES THAT MY WINDSHIELD IS GOING TO FLY RIGHT OFF OF MY CAR!

STRESS FRACTURE OF WINDSHIELD ABSENT SPECIFIC IMPACT FROM OUTSIDE SOURCE. NUMEROUS POSTS ON INTERNET FORUMS, INCLUDING THE MANUFACTURER SPONSORED MINI OWNER'S SITE REVEAL AN INCREASING NUMBER OF WINDSHIELDS DEVELOPING APPARENT STRESS FRACTURES. MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND THAT OF OTHERS IS THAT THE WINDSHIELD OF THE MINI HAS A PROPENSITY TO CRACK UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. DEALERS OFTEN DENY WARRANTY CLAIMS, POINTING TO THE SMALLEST OF IMPERFECTIONS AS "IMPACT SITES" AND PASSING REPLACEMENT COSTS ON TO OWNER'S COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE. THIS, DESPITE NO HISTORY OF SPECIFIC IMPACTS WITH ANY OBJECTS WHILE DRIVING. AGAIN IN MY PARTICULAR CASE, THE FRACTURE APPEARED OVERNIGHT WHILE THE CAR WAS GARAGED. *NLM

I OWN A MINI COOPERS 2002. I HAD A CRACKED WINDSHIELD IN JANUARY OF 2003. I AM SURE THIS WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MY DEALER SAW OTHERWISE. MINI USA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS FLAW IN THEIR DESIGN. MY REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FOR SUCH A DEFECT. *JB

THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2002 MINI COOPER S CRACKED WHILE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT. IT WAS FINE IN THE MORNING BUT THERE WAS AN 8" CRACK WHEN I HOPPED IN FOR THE DRIVE HOME. I'M GUESSING THE HEAT (90 DEGREES F, WINDOWS UP, SUN REFLECTOR ON DASH) CAUSED A CONTAMINANT WITHIN THE WINDOW TO CAUSE STRESS, WHICH IN TURN BECAME A CRACK. JUDGING FROM THE MINI COOPER MESSAGE BOARDS ON THE INTERNET, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF WINDSHIELDS CRACKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON, AND MINI USA HAS ISSUED A BULLETIN TO IT'S DEALERS TO WARN THEM OF DEFECTIVE FACTORY WINDSHIELD INSTALLATIONS. [TIS MESSAGE NUMBER: SI M51 02 03 SUBJECT: WINDSHIELD STRESS CRACK SURVEY SITUATION: THE PRODUCTION PROCESS FOR INSTALLATION OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS IMPROVED IN APRIL 2002, AND THESE IMPROVEMENTS RESULTED IN A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF STRESS CRACKED WINDSHIELDS.] *JB

WINDSHIELD CRACK. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS REPORTING SIMILAR CRACKS IN THEIR WINDSHIELDS. MINI HAS STATED THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE GLASS CRACKING DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION IN PREVIOUS BUILDS AND CURRENTLY HAVE A SURVEY FOR THE DEALERS TO PERFORM AN INSPECTION ON ANY WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS CONDUCTED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS SURVEY IS EXPLAINED IN THIS BULLETIN SI M 51 02 03. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEY ONLY INSPECT THOSE WINDSHIELDS THAT DO NOT HAVE EVIDENCE OF STONE DAMAGE. ON THE ATTACHED WEB SITES YOU WILL SEE AN OVER ABUNDANCE OF CRACKED WINDSHIELD POSTS THAT THE DEALERS ARE CALLING STONE DAMAGE RELATED. THEREBY INSURING THAT THESE WINDSHIELDS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THEIR DATA AND ALSO THAT THEY ARE NOT REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE NO CHIPS BUT A LARGE NUMBER OF MARKS FROM DEBRIS HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. I CALL THEM STRIKE MARKS. THE EASIEST WAY TO DESCRIBE THE DAMAGE IS THAT IT IS SIMILAR TO A GLASS ETCHING PROCEDURE. THE LOCATION WHERE THE DEBRIS HAS STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD IS SLIGHTLY DISCOLORED, YET NO GLASS IS MISSING. IN MY OPINION THIS IS THE RESULT OF TWO ITEMS: THE WINDSHIELD IS VERY STEEP AND THE GLASS IN THE WINDSHIELD IS SUBSTANDARD; TOO SOFT AND TOO THIN. MINI USES THEIR WINDSHIELD AS A STRUCTURAL MEMBER IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE VEHICLE AND THEREFORE IT IS UNDER CONSTANT STRESS. I DO NOT THINK THESE STRIKE MARKS ARE SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE A STRESS CRACK PER SE, BUT IF THAT WERE SO (AS MINI ARGUES), THEN MY RESPONSE IS: THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT JUST TOO SOFT, IT IS TOO WEAK. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF STRIKE MARKS ON A WINDSHIELD IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT A CRACK THAT MIGHT APPEAR FOR REASONS UNRELATED TO CHIPPING WILL EITHER CROSS A STRIKE MARK, OR WILL RUN ACROSS THE NEAREST STRIKE MARK. THESE STRIKE MARKS ARE A WEAKENED AREA AND WILL ATTRACT A CRACK. *JB THE FOLLOWING URLS ARE PROVIDED FOR YOUR ATTENTION: HTTP://MINICOOPERONLINE.COM HTTP://WWW.MINI2.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&THREADID=21475 HTTPS://OL.MINIUSA.COM/OEMAINLOGIN.ASP

2003 MINI COOPER CVT. VEHICLE STALLS IN TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. BOGGS DOWN, LUNGES UPON ACCELERATION. POWER FAILURE. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ON DASH WARN OF PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ON THREE OCCASIONS FOR SAME PROBLEMS. BOGGS DOWN AND LUNGES CORRECTED BY REPROGRAMMING ON FIRST SERVICE. AFTER FIRST SERVICE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN IN TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. RETURNED TO SERVICE DEPT. WHO WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE STALLING AFTER 400 MILES OF TEST DRIVING IT. CONTACTED MINI DIVISION OF BMW OF AMERICA. THEY SENT TECHNICAL SPECIALIST WHO CHECKED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, NO APPARENT CAUSE. MINI REPRESENTATIVE IS CURRENTLY HAVING ELECTRICAL HARNESS REPLACED. VEHICLE OUT OF SERVICE FOR 6 WEEKS AND COUNTING. MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. *NLM

THE VEHICLES REAR HATCH IS ELECTRONIC AND IF THE VEHICLES BATTERY DIED THERE WOULD BE NOT WAY TO INTO THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

WILDLY STUMBLES WHILE AUTO IS STOPPED. IT IS INTERMITTENT THERE IS ON CONSISTENCY TO THIS PROBLEM. *JB

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *JB

THE HEAD LIGHT FAILED TWICE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE MODULE AND THEN THE COMPUTER CHIP. *JB

THE DOOR LOCKS ACTIVATED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN EXAMINED BY THE DEALER TWICE, HOWEVER THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *JB

THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY. *JB

CAR ALMOST STALLS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP. ACCELERATION RATES VARY AND SOMETIMES ARE DANGEROUSLY SLOW CAR LUNGES WHEN TRYING TO MOVE SMALL DISTANCES

I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 MINI COOPER, IT IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN THREE SEPARATE OCCASION TOTALLYING 54 DAYS, THE LAST TIME THAT IT WAS IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IT WAS 40 DAYS. THEY FINALLY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED, BUT IT TOOK THEM THAT LONG TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM THAT I WANTED TO BE COMPENSATED ONLY FOR THE DAYS THE CAR WAS AT THEIR SHOP, ALSO I INFORMED THEM THAT IF THE MINI HAS TO BE TAKEN TO THE SHOP AGAIN, THAT WILL FORCE ME TO ENFORCE THE LEMON LAW. MELISSA STEFFY, THE GENERAL MANAGER, SAID FOR ME TO SEND HER THE LETTER AND SHE WIL SEE WHAT SHE CAN DO, BUT THAT IT WAS UNLIKELY THAT THEY WOULD COMPENSATE FOR ANYTHING. I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR BECAUSE I PURCHASED THE CAR TO USE IT, NOT FOR THEM TO HAVE IT IN THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD ASSIST ME WITH THIS MATTER. THANKS LEYDA RAMOS FOR EDID BATISTA : LRMIA@AOL.COM

VEHICLE WILL HESTITATE TO ACCELERATE AND INTERMITTENTLY LY STALL WHILE DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER.CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK