2003 MINI COOPER Recalls, Complaints & Safety

The contact owns a 2003 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the steering wheel was difficult to turn in either direction. The contact stated that the steering wheel malfunctioned, making the steering wheel easy to turn, causing severe oversteer while making a turn in either direction. The contact stated that the failure was due to a faulty power steering pump, and installed as part of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (STEERING). The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that after turning off the vehicle, the power steering pump remained running, causing the battery to drain. The cause of the failure was not yet determined, and the vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 230,000.

68k miles on a 2003 mini cooper s and the power steering pump is whining. I feel as if this may be really early for it to be needing to be replaced.

The contact owns a 2003 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (Steering); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was firm, and the vehicle was difficult to maneuver. No warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure but failed to confirm if the parts were available for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to call the service center directly. The failure mileage was unavailable. Parts distribution disconnect.

No air or blower or heat to defog windshield. Water in driver-side foot well. Power steering intermittent fault. Engine continues running and panel gauge lights remain on with ignition off and key removed.

i Purchased the car in Dover Pa . INspection sticker had same milage as on car so i shoulda knew he slapped a sticker on . drove 150 miles dash lit ip like chrismas tree. 1st thing left window wont work , then left lock wont work had to lock from passenfger dide. then door wont open at all . have to get ou t passenger door . know that wont open have to put down passenger window pull handel to get out . car is possessed light work whren they want does all kinda crazt stuff . batter has problems . charge and still cant start it . and hatch locks so i cant get to battery. power steering leaking going bad . timing belt making noise . no power on hills .cracking noise in right front pulls to right had . hazard to me ive been locked inside three times could get out of car i coulda sat in heat and died or cold and froze . cant get out of car when it ts electric doors dont work . car sucks . this has been gradual thing these events from feb to may . now i just hate the car

My 2003 Mini Cooper was affected by the 2015 electrohydraulic steering assistance recall. Mini did the repair at 79, 322 miles in 2016. In November 2021, at 98, 000 miles, the car began having intermittent power steering loss. The power steering might disappear for under a minute, or it might return for mere seconds. There is no warning when the power steering goes out, so you have to assume that it is not going to respond with the electrohydraulic steering assistance feature operating. As of today, it has been completely offline for 3 days (although it did come back on for about 5 seconds yesterday). Without this feature operating properly, the car can be extremely difficult to steer.

While driving on I-81 to NY state, I experienced serious tire vibration followed by tire loss of air. All tires were checked for proper tire inflation before trip. The service center in which I ended up in said that the tire belts had separated and caused the rapid tire deflation.

While driving on I-81 to NY state, I experienced serious tire vibration followed by tire loss of air. All tires were checked for proper tire inflation before trip. After pulling off to the side of the road, I witnessed a large hole with metal fiber sticking through the tire tread. I believe the tread separation was the cause.

The contact owns a 2003 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph and making a right turn, the power steering malfunctioned and the steering wheel suddenly became difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the power steering pump and fan needed to be replaced and the intake and return power steering lines also were faulty and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA campaign number: 15V660000 (Steering). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.

IN MOTION.. THE POWER STEERING WHEEL FEELS TO HARD TO TURN OPERATE;I CHECK THE VIN# NUMBER AND APPEAR (1) RECALL FOR POWER STEERING INCOMPLETE;WE CALL AT BMW OF DALLAS AND THEY SETUP AN APOINMENT ON JANUARY,15,2020...WHEN I SHOW UP...THEY SAY MY CAR DON'T HAVE ANY RECALL;AND I SHOW IM THE OFFICIAL RECALL WITH MY VIN#...BMW RECALL & NHTSA RECALL AND THEY SAY THE CAR WARRANTY IS EXPIRED,I SAID I JUST NEED FIX THE RECALL ON MY CAR AND THEY WANNA CHARGE ME $180 DLLS JUST TO GET THE VEHICLE INSPECTED,IF THE CAR GOT SOMETHING WRONG THEY CHARGE ME THE COST...I DONT ACCEPT...MY CAR GOT THE RECALL AND THEY MAKE ME DRIVE 120 MILES WHIT THE CAR FOR NOTHING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE STEERING WAS ROUGH AND STIFF. THE CONTACT PERFORMED HIS OWN INSPECTION ON THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS LEAKING. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY BE INCLUDED IN AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MINI OF THE WOODLANDS (16675 I-45, CONROE, TX 77385, 936-344-1258) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE STEERING PUMP WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL MINI COOPER STEERING PUMP. THE DEALER OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE PUMP HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR 16 YR OLD DAUGHTER. STEERING WAS CUTTING OUT WHILE DRIVING TOOK CAR TO MINI OF DALLAS RECALL WAS DONE ON HARNESS, PUMP, COOLING FAN. NEXT WEEK NO STEERING AGAIN WHILE DRIVING TOOK CAR BACK. MINI STATED DRIVE BELT BROKE AND WAS REPAIRED FOR 260.00. 3 DAYS LATER WAS CALLED AT A 11:30 AT NIGHT MY DAUGHTER STATING THE STEERING HAD CUT OUT AGAIN. I DON'T WANT MY DAUGHTER IN THIS CAR OR ANYONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THIS CAR.

THE WARNING FOR TH EPASSENGER AIRBAG COMES ON, THOUGH APPARENTLY NOTHING IS WROMG WITH IT. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMMON PROBLEM THAT MINI IS AWARE OFF, PUTS PEOPLE IN DANGER, BUT DOESNT DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE HARNESS UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SEAT, WHICH THEY QUOTE AT 1200 TO 1400 TO REPAIR THEIR ILL DESIGN AND FINAL PRODUCT

POWER STEERING FAILURE - INTERMITTENT AND DURING MOTION, MINI DEALERSHIP PROVIDED RECORDS THAT THE CLAIM WAS CLEARED WITH # AND MILEAGE, BUT THIS IS FALSE INFORMATION IF STILL COVERED BY NHTSA # 15V660000. ORIGINAL RECALL # THAT WAS ENTERED IN THE "REPAIR HISTORY" FROM MINI THAT NEVER OCCURRED IS M320215. THANK YOU

DRIVING NORMALLY ON CITY PAVED ROAD STARTED TO MAKE TURN ON SIDE STREET AND LOST TOTAL STEERING CONTROL AND WENT UP ON CURB JUST MISSING A PEDESTRIAN ON SIDEWALK.THIS VEHICLE HAS 79300 MILES.THE ELECTRIC HYDRAULIC PUMP COMPLETELY FAILED.MINI USA SAID THIS VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL YET JUST ABOUT EVERY MINI INPORTED TO USA HAS COMPLETE STEERING LOSE 2002-2003-2004-2005 AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE HIDING THIS FROM YOU AND THE PUBLIC WHO ARE STILL BUYING THESE USED CARS AND NOT KNOWING THE DANGEROUS PROBLEM THE MINI HAS AND FLAWED POWER STEERING PUMP DESIGN.THANK YOU.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MINI OF SAN DIEGO (5202 KEARNY MESA RD, SAN DIEGO, CA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS INTENDED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURED PART, WHICH MEANT THAT NO PARTS WERE REPLACED AS THE DEALER ORIGINALLY STATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY HAD NO RECORDS OF THE VEHICLE BEING SERVICED PER THE RECALL. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AGAIN AND STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS SERVICED IN MARCH OF 2017. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 164,000.

WHILE IN MOTION, CAR BEGAN TO BECOME JERKY WHILE EXCELERATING, THAN THE TRANSMISSION DISINGAGED. NO GEAR WOULD WORK THEREAFTER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT, THE NEIGHBORS NOTICED THAT IT CAUGHT FIRE AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND FILED A REPORT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE POLICE INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Fire

THE ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM EXPERIENCES TEMPORARY LOSS OF ASSISTANCE WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTING UP AND IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO PULL OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. HOWEVER, THE POWER STEERING RETURNS TO NORMAL AS SOON AS YOU BEGIN STREET OR HIGHWAY DRIVING. I TOOK MY CAR TO A MINI DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT MY PARTICULAR STEERING PUMP ISN'T COVERED IN THE WARRANTY ALTHOUGH I DID RECEIVE A LETTER INDICATING THAT IT SHOULD BE. I HAVE THE EXACT SAME ISSUES HAPPENING WITH MY VEHICLE THAT THE RECALL IS TALKING ABOUT.

WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM WHERE IT MEETS THE HOOD OF THE CAR. DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT GO DOWN. I ONLY HEAR A CLICKING SOUND. WATER PUMP, OIL PAN AND VALVE COVER GASKETS FAILED PREMATURELY. I CAN'T SHIFT THE CAR INTO FIRST GEAR WITHOUT MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS.

WHILE TRAVELING NORTH ON US 221 FROM BENT MOUNTAIN, VA TO ROANOKE VA MY HYDRALIC STEERING TOTALLY FAILED. AS I TRAVELLED A SHORT DISTANCE MY BRAKE LIGHT WARNING LIGHTS, ABS LIGHT, OTHER BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I LOOKED AT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GUAGE AND THE TEMP WAS NORMAL. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, RAISED THE HOOD, CHECKED THE FLUIDS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND REENTERED THE CAR. WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVERS SEAT I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION, LOOKED FORWARD AND NOTED THICK STEAM COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, EXITED THE CAR AND WHEN THE STEAM DISSIPATED I NOTED THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM FILLING/OVERFLOW TANK WAS SPLIT IN HALF DAMAGING A PROTECTING COVER ON THE FIREWALL AND SPRAYED A BUILDING WALL AND WINDOW WITH ENGINE COOLANT 10 FEET AWAY IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MARTIN'S GERMAN SERVICE IN CAVE SPRING, VA. BECAUSE THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP IN LOCATED IN NORTH CAROLINA 150 MILES AWAY. DUE TO SERVICE VOLUME THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EVALUATE THE PROBLEM UNTIL 24 MAY 2016.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT RESUMED DRIVING; HOWEVER, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE DEALER FAILED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE RECALL NOTIFICATION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,113.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. THE BATTERY AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. 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 MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

OUR 2003 MINI COOPER WAS DRIVEN IN OCTOBER 2015 IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR, IN BUMPER TO BUMPER SLOW TRAFFIC, UPHILL FOR ABOUT A MILE. WHEN WE SHUT THE CAR OFF AND GOT OUT OF IT, A FAN IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CONTINUED TO RUN. WE WENT BACK INTO THE CAR, STARTED IT AGAIN, THEN SHUT IF OFF FOR A SECOND TIME, AND THE FAN CONTINUED TO RUN. THE FAN RAN ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE STAGE 1 COOLING FAN HAS FAILED AND THAT THE STAGE 2 COOLING FAN WAS RUNNING TO COOL DOWN THE ENGINE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING) ; HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED LOSING POWER. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED WITH NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVIN HOME AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,353. ...UPDATED 04/26/16 *BF UPDATED 12/11/2017*JS

THE CAR WOULD NOT EASILY SHIFT GEARS. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT ALL OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION IS "SEALED", SO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CANNOT BE CHECKED OR CHANGED. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH. THE CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE A SEALED TRANSMISSION IF IT CAN DEVELOP A LEAK SO EASILY.

LOST POWER STEERING WITH BURNING SMELL AND LOTS OF SMOKE. AS EVIDENCED ON THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT, THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS BURNT. THE CAR COULD HAVE LOST ALL POWER. THE REPAIR BILL WAS $4097.91. I WAS WITHOUT A CAR FOR WEEKS WITH NO LOANER CAR OFFERED. NATIONAL MINI COOPER DENIED THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE. THERE IS NOW A PENDING RECALL. THE NEW PARTS MIGHT ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED.

Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V6600000 (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. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE RESULTS WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

POWER STEERING FAILED AND DIFFICULT TO STEER. POWER STEERING WOULD THEN CUT IN AND OUT. WARRANTY REPAIR BY MINI DEALER ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 REPLACED STEERING PUMP BUT POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND CHARGED $607.59 TO DO ALL NECESSARY REPAIRS FOR THE POWER STEERING TO WORK. THE LACK OF CONSISTENCY OF HAVING POWER ASSIST STEERING OR NOT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO AN ACCIDENT SINCE THERE IS NO WAY TO PREDICT THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO STEER THE CAR. THE NEEDED POWER STEERING REPAIRS WERE NOT FREE BUT COST $607.59.

WE WERE CHARGED $1300.00 TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN.

THE CAR STALLS(REDUCES SPEED 0-10MPH) IT MAY SHUT COMPLETELY DOWN AT TIMES THIS HAS BEEN THE SAME CONSISTENT PROBLEM SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE THE USED CAR DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN INFORMED OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE DOP AND FOR A MOMENT I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN SOLVED BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH WAS REPLACED BACK IN JULY-AUG 2013. THE MINI DEALER ALSO, THOUGHT THEY FOUND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM BUT CONSISTENTLY JUST CHARGED ME MONIES FOR PROBLEM THAT NEVER TURNED OUT TO BE THE SOURCE SO I STOPPED GOING TO THEM. I TRIED TO FILE A LEMON LAW SUIT BUT WAS TOLD I COULDN'T PURSUE BECAUSE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. SO LAWYER REF ME TO CONTACT THIS OFFICE AND FILE A CLAIM BECAUSE I'VE SPENT NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY AND NOTHING HAS BEEN FIXED I STILL FEEL UNSAFE AND SCARED FOR MY LIFE WHEN I DRIVE BUT I'M LIMITED IN MONEY TO KEEP TRYING TO FIND THE SOURCE THAT'S CAUSING THE PROBLEM. ONE THING NOTED THAT THE CAR ENGINE HAS BEEN REBUILT. ALSO, I'M PAYING A CAR NOTE . PLEASE IF THERE IS ANYWAY YOU CAN'T HELP I FEEL I WAS PREYED UPON AND TAKE. ADVANTAGE OF BECAUSE THE DEALER KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE AND WITHHELD IT.

Crash

THE VEHICLE FOR MONTHS WOULD MAKE A SMALL JUMP FORWARD WHEN PUTTING IN REVERSE. THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN IN DRIVE. THE CAR WOULD FEEL SPONGY IN DRIVE WHEN FIRST STARTING OFF IN THE MORNING AND AT FULL STOPS.

OUR 2003 MINI COOPER HAS ABOUT 120K MILES ON IT. IT WAS COMPLETELY FINE UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN THE POWER STEERING PUMP STARTED WHINING. SOMETIMES IT COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING AND WE HAD NO POWER STEERING, THANKFULLY THIS WAS WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED AND NOT WHILE DRIVING. TURNING THE WHEEL IS A LITTLE HARDER THAN USUAL, AND IF YOU TURN IT TOO MUCH, THE CAR BOGS DOWN AND THE REVS GO WAY DOWN. WE'VE TRIED FLUSHING AND REPLACING THE POWER STEERING FLUID, BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM TO HELP. WE'VE EVEN PUT IN SOME EXPENSIVE ADDITIVES THAT PROMISE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AND STOP THE NOISE, BUT IT DOESN'T WORK. WE DON'T FEEL SAFE KNOWING THAT OUR POWER STEERING MAY GO OUT AT ANY MOMENT. AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T APPRECIATE THE LOOKS WE GET WHEN WE DRIVE PAST PEOPLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO MOVE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

THE DASHBOARD AIRBAG WARNING LAMP IS ALWAYS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WANTS THOUSANDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH OTHER MODEL YEARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED. WE DON'T KNOW IF THE AIRBAG WILL OPERATE CORRECTLY IN AN EMERGENCY. *TR

THE LEFT REAR CONTROL ARM BROKE IN HALF. I NOTICED MY CAR WAS NOT REVERSING CORRECTLY AS IF THE REAR WHEEL WAS DRAGGING. I EXITED THE CAR AND ELEVATED IT WITH A FLOOR JACK TO FIND THE REAR CONTROL ARM ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BROKEN IN HALF. *TR

THIS MINI COOPER A 2003 W/130K MILES DRIVEN BY A YOUNG FEMALE. SHE HAD NO IDEA HER WHEEL WAS GOING TO FALL OFF THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT. SHE HAD CALLED FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND INTERMITTENT BATTERY FAILURE. IT WAS ASK THAT I DRIVE THE CAR AND LISTEN TO A POP COMING FROM THE WHEEL SECTION. THE POP WAS THE ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY MOVING FORWARDS AND BACK BUMPING THE WHEEL WELLS AS THE CAR WENT FORWARD. NEEDLESS TO SAY I DIDN'T DRIVE FAR NOR DID I ACCELERATE FASTER THAN 10 MPH. I TOLD THE PARENT OF THE DRIVER THAT THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE UNDER ANY CONDITION AND THAT IT NEEDED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING RUBBER WAS COMPLETELY GONE. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS A DEFECT. THIS PART IS A MOUNT AND IT'S HOLDING MANY COMPONENTS OF THIS CAR TOGETHER. IT IS NOTHING LIKE I HAVE SEEN BEFORE USED AS A MOUNT. I HAVE SEEN THE RUBBER WORN FROM THIS TYPE PART BUT THEY WERE NOT BEING USED AS A MOUNT. WHEN THE RUBBER ON THIS PART DETERIORATES IT CAUSES THE MOUNT TO BE UNSTABLE RESULTING IN THE WHOLE WHEEL ASSEMBLY MOVING LIKE A SWING FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS WHILE DRIVING. IN A TRAFFIC SITUATION THIS COULD BE DEVASTATING TO MORE THAN JUST THE DRIVER OF THIS CAR BUT ALSO TO THE CARS DRIVING NEAR IF THE WHEEL WERE TO COME OFF IN THEIR TRAFFIC. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE MINI COOPER WOULD IMMEDIATELY FAIL IN TRAFFIC WITH THE BRAKE CYLINDERS HITTING THE ROAD CAUSING FLYING SPARKS, IF REAR ENDED IT WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY FLIP. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SCENARIO. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED SECOND HAND AS ARE A LOT OF CARS. THIS IS NOT A PART ON ANYONE'S CHECK LIST AND NOT ONE YOU CONSIDER TO BE ONE OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BUT I AM NOT THE OWNER OF THIS CAR. I AM MERELY CONCERNED AT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE DETERIORATION OF THE RUBBER AND WHAT THOSE IMPLICATIONS MEAN TO THE OTHER PURPOSE THIS PART IS SUPPOSE TO PERFORM AND CAN'T WHEN THE RUBBER IS GONE. *TR

WHILE ADJUSTING THE TILT CONTROL ON MY MINI COOPER, I DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAD BECOME LOOSE. UPON INSPECTION, I DISCOVERED THAT TWO METAL BRACKETS USED TO SUPPORT THE STEERING COLUMN AND ATTENDANT ASSEMBLY HAD SHEERED OFF, APPARENTLY UNDER NORMAL USE. *TR