2004 Mini Cooper S complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER TYPE S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY STOP FUNCTIONING WITHOUT WARNING; THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE WAS 8,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 143,000. UPDATED 01/04/11*LJ UPDATED 01/10/11*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WOULD MALFUNCTION WHICH ALMOST LED TO A CRASH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AND THE COOLING FAN REPLACED. SINCE THE REPAIRS, THE CONTACT HAD NOT NOTICED ANY POWER STEERING ISSUES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

MY 2004 MINI COOPER S, OF WHICH I AM THE SECOND OWNER HAS DEVELOPED PROGRESSIVELY WORSENING STEERING CHARACTERISTICS. MOST TIMES THE STEERING IS HARD AND TYPICALLY ITS HARDEST AT LOW SPEED. THE STEERING UNDER ACCELERATION IS NOTABLY OF GREAT CONCERN AS I HAVE EXPERIENCED ERRATIC AND UNPREDICTABLE SUDDEN PULLS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT WITHOUT ANY DRIVER INPUT. THE SERVICE HISTORY FOR THIS VEHICLE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE SUGGESTED SERVICE INTERVALS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME. *TR

ELECTRIC/HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AFTER ONLY 43,000 MILES ON THE CAR. IT STUCK IN THE "ON" POSITION EVEN WHEN KEY REMOVED FROM THE CAR, DRAINING MY BATTERY AND CAUSING A HEAT BUILDUP UNDER THE BONNET. 2004 MINI COOPER S. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ALONG A STREET ABOUT TO NEGOTIATE A TURN WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. HAD IT HAPPENED A FEW SECONDS LATER, I PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE TURN AND MAY HAVE CRASHED. *TR

MY 04 MINI S JUST HIT 90K AND RUNS GREAT UNTIL I WAS ON THE FREEWAY OVERPASS THE OTHER DAY. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT SUDDENLY ON A 55 MPH TURN AND ALMOST RAN ME RIGHT INTO THE SHOULDER BARRIER WHICH HAPPENS TO BE 50 FEET ABOVE THE LOWER FREEWAY. THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. MINI COOPER IS A GREAT CAR, BUT THIS POWER STEERING ISSUE IS A WELL KNOW ISSUE AMONGST THE COMMUNITY OF OWNERS AND MINI NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE AND HELP OWNERS WHO ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. ONCE YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT THE STEERING COMES BACK TO NORMAL. WHEN ITS HOT OUT THE STEERING SEEMS TO FAIL AND IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE CAR ONCE THIS HAPPENS WHICH WAS THE RESULT IN MY ABOVE EXPERIENCE. THIS POWER STEERING FAILURE IS WELL KNOW AND HAS MANY MANY ACCOUNTS OF FAILURES ON POPULAR MINI FORUMS. THE PART TO REPLACE THIS ISSUE A SINGLE POWER STEERING UNIT WHICH CAN BE BOUGHT FOR ABOUT $450 AND THE AVERAGE MECHANIC CAN REPLACE IT WITHIN AND HOUR OR SO. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING FAILURE AFTER <50,000 MILES VERY HARD TO STEER. HAD TO REPLACE THE PUMP. *TR

THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE GOING UP HILL ON A CURVY TWO LANE ROAD. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FORCED ME TO GO INTO THE OTHER LANE, WHERE FORTUNATELY NO CARS WERE PRESENT. IF I WAS GOING DOWN HILL ON THE SAME ROAD I WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY GONE AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE HILL OR OFF THE SIDE OF THE CLIFF IF NOT HITTING AN ON COMING CAR FIRST. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME OVER $1000 TO CHANGE THE ELECTRO/HYDRAULIC STEERING PUMP. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH MANY MINIS ACCORDING TO FORUM POSTS. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP IS FAILING. SO FAR NO MAJOR PROBLEMS BUT I HAVE HAD OTHER MINI OWNERS REPORT THIS SAME PROBLEM AND WORSE. I AM HAVING MY PUMP REPLACED THIS WEEKEND WITH THE HOPE OF AVOIDING ANY FURTHER ISSUES. HOPEFULLY THIS ONE WILL LAST A LONG TIME. *TR

DRIVING NORMALLY WHEN SUDDENLY POWER STEERING FAILS COMPLETELY CAUSING INSTANT CONTROL ISSUES. POWER STEERING RETURNS INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

ON MY WAY UP DRIVEWAY I NOTICED A SHARP STINGING SENSATION IN THE LUMBAR OF MY BACK. FELT SORT OF LIKE AN "CONTINUOUS ELECTRIC SHOCK". I IMMEDIATELY ARCHED MY BACK AS A REACTION TO THE STING AND HAD TO STRAIGHTEN MY BACK IN ORDER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. WHEN STRAIGHTENING MY BACK I FELT SOMETHING HOT, VERY HOT THIS TIME LIKE SOMETHING THAT WAS ON FIRE. I COULD NOT LONGER CONTROL THE VEHICLE GRABBED FOR THE HANDLE OPENED THE DOOR AND ROLLED OUT ONTO THE DRIVEWAY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. THE VEHICLE BUCKED AND STALLED OUT. I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE INTERIOR AND NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WAS SMOLDERING AND THERE WAS A HOLE THE SIZE OF A QUARTER BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT IN THE LUMBAR. IT WAS A 100 DEGREE DAY SO I WASN'T USING THE SEAT HEATER, NONETHELESS IT WAS ON, MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSED A FIRE WHICH RESULTED IN ME JUMPING OUT OF THE MOVING VEHICLE. I ALSO READ ONLINE ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO ANOTHER 2004 MINI COOPER S "PASSENGER SEAT" AS WELL. *TR

ON A 2004 MINI COOPER S, INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP CAUSING EXTREME DIFFICULTY STEERING. CAR HAS 43,000 MILES. MANY SIMILAR CASES REPORTED IN ONLINE FORUMS. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) WHY HAS THE NHTSA ADMINISTRATION TAKEN NO ACTION AGAINST MINI AND BMW FOR THE KNOWN DEFECT IN POWER STEERING SYSTEMS. I AM WONDERING, AMID ALL THE TOYOTA CONTROVERSY AND RECALLS, ESPECIALLY NOW ABOUT THE BROKEN STEERING RODS, WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL, OR AT LEAST A PUBLIC WARNING OF SOME KIND ABOUT STEERING ISSUES ON THE MINI. THE POWER STEERING PUMP IN MINI'S OF ALL AGES AND MILEAGES ARE PRONE TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 MINI COOPER S ACROSS A SNOWY AND ICY MOUNTAIN PASS HERE IN WASHINGTON STATE. IT WAS QUITE A SURPRISING, FRIGHTENING, AND UNSAFE EXPERIENCE TO SAY THE LEAST. OTHERS HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS WITH YOU FOLKS, AS WELL AS THE COMPANY, BUT SO FAR AS I KNOW NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. IF INJURIES AND FATALITIES ARE THE CRITERIA, HOW WOULD ANYONE KNOW THE STEERING WAS AN ISSUE UNLESS THEY HAD EXPERIENCED THE TERROR OF LOSING STEERING AT SPEED? THIS ISSUE PROMPTED A RECALL IN GREAT BRITAIN. WHY NOT HERE. EVEN A CURSORY SEARCH OF THE INTERNET REVEALS THE DEPTH OF THE PROBLEM, YET NEITHER BMW NOR MINI HAVE TAKEN ANY STEPS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE HERE IN THE US. CAN YOU TELL ME WHY?? [XXX] *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON I-95N WHEN THE STEERING BECAME ALL TIGHT LIKE I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL. NO INDICATIOR LIGHTS CAME ON. I REACHED MY DESTINATION, SHUT THE CAR OFF FOR SEVERAL MIN, GOT IN STARTED IT UP AND IT WAS FINE. GOT BACK ON I-95S AND 5 MIN LATER THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LIKE IT WAS LOCKED UP I COULDN'T TURN IT. AGAIN NO WARNINGS!!!!! ARE YOU PEOPLE GOING TO WAIT TILL SOME ONE IS KILLED TO MAKE BMW FIX THIS!!!!!! I HAVE READ IT'S BEEIN GOING ON SINCE 2002 POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURES

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). I HAVE A 2004 MINI COOPER S (BMW) THAT I HAVE OWNED FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF BUT RECENTLY, PAST 3 MONTHS., I HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING QUIT SUDDENLY ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THANKFULLY I WAS NOT ON A HIGH SPEED ROAD AT ANY OF THOSE TIMES BECAUSE WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT IT I COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL AND I'M A 36 YR. OLD MALE WITH QUITE A BIT MORE STRENGTH THAN MY FIANCE WHO ALSO DRIVES THE CAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS FLAW WITH THE CAR AS I HAVE CHECKED WITH OTHER MINI COOPER OWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO EACH AND EVERYONE OF THEM HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING FAILING SUDDENLY. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THIS OCCURS AT HIGH SPEEDS OR DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED BY BMW SINCE I AM NOT THE ONLY MINI COOPER OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM. [XXX] *TR

WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, THE CENTER CONSOLE CONTROLS (HEAT, REAR DEFOGGER), THE HEADLIGHTS, FRONT/REAR WIPERS WILL NOT FUNCTION. WHEN CAR STARTS TO WARM UP, THOSE ITEMS WILL START WORKING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO EITHER SIDE. WHEN CAR IS FULLY WARMED UP, WILL WORK MOST OF THE TIME UNLESS YOU HIT A BUMP. MINI SHOP SAID IT WAS A BAD COMPUTER - $800 TO FIX. ENGINE HAD AN OIL PLAN LEAK 2 YEARS AGO RESULTING IN MAJOR LOSS OF OIL. FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN GETTING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM FIXED, MINI SHOP FOUND 3 OIL LEAKS. TOTAL COST TO FIX WAS $3200. NOT NECESSARY TO GET THE FIX BUT NEED TO WATCH THE OIL LEVELS. *TR

THE POWER STEERING PUMP SUDDENLY FAILED. THIS IS AN ELECTRIC-HYDRAULIC STEERING SYSTEM AND THE CAR IS NOT CONTROLLABLE WHEN THE PUMP FAILS. THE CAR HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILE. *TR

DOOR LOCK MECHANISM FREEZES AND TRAPS DRIVE AND OCCUPANTS INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ANYTIME THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING DOOR LOCKS FREEZE. UPON CONTACTING MINI THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY GET THIS COMPLAINT FREQUENTLY BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE A METHOD TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE DOES NOT RELEASE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. THIS STARTED WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2009. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME I TRY TO REMOVE THE SEATBELT. I HAVE TO JIGGLE THE BUCKLE TO GET IT TO RELEASE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM YET; THE DEALER WILL NOT WARRANTY THE BUCKLE. *TR

INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR

A YEAR AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR, THE FRONT DRIVER'S WINDOW'S AUTOMATIC MOTOR WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, THEN WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. THE DEALER FIXED IT SINCE IT HAPPENED TO BE UNDER FULL WARRANTY. TWO YEARS LATER, THE PASSENGER'S AUTOMATIC WINDOW MOTOR CEASED WORKING AT ALL. AT THE SAME TIME, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS MAKING A SCRATCHING SOUND AS IT WAS AUTOMATICALLY ROLLED UP /OR DOWN. I ONLY HAD A FEW MONTHS LEFT ON THE WARRANTY, AND THE DEALER WAS REQUIRED AGAIN TO REPLACE THE WINDOW MOTOR. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER MINI OWNERS THAT HAD TO REPLACE AT LEAST ONE WINDOW MOTOR AS WELL, BUT AT THEIR OWN COST SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD RUN OUT. IF THIS IS A INCESSANT AND OBVIOUS DEFECT BY MINI COOPER, IT SHOULD BE RECALLED OR ADDRESSED IN A FAIR CONSUMER MANNER. *TR

SUPERCHARGER FAILED AT 60,950 MILES, RESULTING IN COMPLETE REBUILD OF UNIT. FAULTY GEAR AND LUBRICATION DESIGN. *TR

MY 2004 MINI COOPER S HAS 48,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT I CANNOT CHANGE GEARS WITHOUT GREAT DIFFICULTY. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS REPORTS ONLINE ABOUT POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE, BRAKE FAILURE AND A HOST OF SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE COOPER. I THINK THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE EVALUATED FOR SAFETY ISSUES. THANKS, KAREN *TR

AS AN OWNER OF A 2004 COOPER S I WAS GREATLY DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THAT I NOW NEED TO REPLACE MY ELECTRIC STEERING PUMP AT ONLY 55K MILES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE PART "GOES REGULARLY" AND THAT "WE KEEP A BUNCH IN STOCK" AND THAT IT WILL COST ME $600 FOR A NEW ONE NOT INCLUDING LABOR. WITH THIS BIT OF INFORMATION, I BEGAN TO SEARCH MINI COOPER FANSITES AND BLOGS TO SEE HOW OFTEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS. I WASN'T SURPRISED TO FIND THAT MANY OF THE MEMBERS AND "FANS" OF THE CAR HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PUMP FAILURES, AND THAT THERE IS A GROWING NUMBER OF THOSE WHO ARE DISCUSSING THE FAILURE ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS IS BOTH A COSTLY FIX AS WELL AS A SAFETY PROBLEM. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF A STEERING PUMP IS QUITE DANGEROUS AND MAY CAUSE SOME DRIVERS TO LOSE CONTROL. I AM FORTUNATE THAT I NOTICED THE PROBLEM AND UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE FAILURE WAS, SO I PERSONALLY DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT, BUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE LESS CAR SAVVY, THEY MAY NOT NOTICE THE NOISE OF THE FAILURE THAT IS ABOUT TO OCCUR. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR HAS FAILED ON MY 04 MINI COOPER S. UPON RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, I'VE FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHER MINI COOPER OWNERS HAVE THE SAN=ME RECURRENT ISSUE. MINI COOPER NEEDS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH A RECALL. *TR

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

(1) ON THURSDAY, JULY 3RD, I ATTEMPTED TO MANIPULATE A 90 DEGREE RIGHTHAND TURN IN MY 2004 MINI COOPER S DURING MY VERY SHORT COMMUTE TO WORK AND DID SO ONLY WITH GREAT DIFFICULTLY. FROM THAT POINT FORWARD MY CAR TURNS NEITHER LEFT NOR RIGHT PROPERLY AND ONLY WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR NOISES OF ANY KIND TO ALERT ME TO THE PROBLEM. MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER, WHO IS A TRAINED MECHANIC, INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND IDENTIFIED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AS THE PROBLEM. I ALSO SPOKE WITH SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS HERB CHAMBERS BMW MINI OF BOSTON WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS EITHER A KNOWN AND/OR COMMON PROBLEM. THE PARTS DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT THE PUMP MANUFACTURER WHO MADE THE PUMP IN MY MINI IS NO LONGER MAKING PUMPS FOR MINI. (2) THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FAILED THEREFORE MY MINI IS RELYING ON THE RACK AND PINION TO TURN. THE MINI TURNS ONLY WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY AND REQUIRES TWO HANDS ON THE WHEEL AT ALL TIMES; THIS IS EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO DO WHILE NAVIGATING CORNERS AS I HAVE A STANDARD TRANSMISSION. THE MINI IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, SO I AM FORCED TO BORROW ANOTHER VEHICLE. (3) MY CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000 MILES ON IT AND MINI'S WARRANTY ONLY COVERS PROBLEMS UP THROUGH 50,000 MILES DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE PUMP IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND SAFETY HAZARD. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY THE DEALERSHIP TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. MY MINI REMAINS PARKED WHILE I AWAIT THE NEW POWER STEERING PUMP THAT I ORDERED AND PAID FOR. THE NEW PUMP IS MANUFACTURED BY A DIFFE

I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER S MODEL, WITH 39,000 MILES. THE CAR IS WELL CARED FOR. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 30,000 AND I BEGAN RECEIVING ANNOYING CALLS AND LETTERS FROM MINI TO PURCHASE AN ADDITIONAL EXTENDED WARRANTY. I DID NOT, BELIEVING THAT SIMPLY MAINTAINING MY CAR PROPERLY WOULD TAKE CARE OF ANY FUTURE ISSUES. I TRUSTED BMW/MINI THAT THEY WOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT IF SOME UNUSUAL FAILURE OR BREAKDOWN OCCURRED. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO MY POWER STEERING WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT. AT FIRST, ONLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND THEN IT STARTED OCCURRING WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. WE CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND ALL WAS WELL. TOOK IT IN TO MY MECHANIC AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE EXPLAINED THAT MINI HAD TOLD HIM "THEY" HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING A HIGH INSTANCES OF STEERING POWER PUMP FAILURES. HE ASKED IF THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS ON THE RECALL LIST. "THEY" TOLD HIM NO AND EXPLAINED THAT THE PUMP WAS ELECTRICAL AND NOT MANUALLY THEREFORE IT WAS CONSIDERED WEAR AND TEAR. CREVIER MINI, WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $1100.00 TO REPLACE THE PUMP! MY MECHANIC TOLD ME HE WOULD REPLACE IT FOR $880.00. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IN ORDER FOR HIM TO GET A POWER STEERING PUMP, HE NEEDED TO TURN MY OLD PUMP INTO THEM. CREVIER TOLD HIM THAT "THEY" WERE REBUIDLING THESE!.THEY COULD NOT KEEP ENOUGH OF THEM ON THE SHELVES. THIS IS A SCANDALOUS OUTRAGE, PARTICULARLY AFTER READING VARIOUS BLOGS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE EXA

DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MOTOR HAS FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME. WINDOW IS STUCK CLOSED. THIS IS A CONCERN IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY AND CAUSES PROBLEMS WHEN CLOSING THE DOOR AS THE GLASS HITS THE LIP OF THE ROOF SINCE IT DOES NOT DROP AS DESIGNED. *TR

POWER WINDOW FAILURE TO PROPERLY LIFT AND SEAL WHEN DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS ARE CLOSED. *TR

I WAS PARKED ONE AFTER NOON LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD AND I HEARD A CRACKLING SOUND COMING FORM THE ABS PUMP. THERE WAS A SMALL PUFF OF SMOKE AND THEN THE SOUND STOPPED. AT THIS POINT I WENT ABOUT MY BUSINESS AND RETURNED TO MY 2004 MINI COOPER S AND THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WERE OUT. A FEW DAYS LATER I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE BMW DEALER AND AFTER A FEW TESTS THEY DETERMINED IT WAS JUST BAD FUSES. A WEEK HAS PAST AND I HAVE HAD NO OTHER PROBLEMS. *TR

MY 2004 MINI COOPER S LOST STEERING CONTROL APPROACHING A VERY DANGEROUS CORNER ON CALIFORNIA SR 330. IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL AND I NEARLY AVOIDED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, BUT WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE TURN AND THEN GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. SEARCHING ON THE WEB, I SEEN HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF STEERING FAILURE IN 2002 THROUGH 2006 MINI COOPERS. MY DEALER WAS KNEW ABOUT THE ISSUE AND REPLACED THE STEERING PUMP. MY MINI HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

COMPLETE AND INSTANTANEOUS POWER STEERING FAILURE. THERE IS PLENTY OF FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR AND THERE ARE NO BLOWN FUSES. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE THREE TIMES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE NOT YET REPLACED NO CONSEQUENCES YET BEYOND FRIGHTENING. *TR

WHEEL BOLTS BROKE. PREVIOUSLY, I HAD THREE WHEEL BOLTS BREAK DURING REMOVAL. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DENIED WARRANTY CLAIM AS RESULT OF POT HOLE. RECENTLY, I HAD A WHEEL BOLT BREAK DURING INSTALLATION. WHILE USING A TORQUE WRENCH, THE BOLT BROKE BEFORE REACHING THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. THE WHEEL BOLTS ARE FRAGILE AND FAILURE IN SERVICE COULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF A WHEEL. *TR

DRIVING DOWN ROAD STARTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILS. I BARELY MANAGED TO KEEP CAR ON THE ROAD. UNBELIEVABLE DIFFICULT TO STEER AND CRUCIAL TURN. HAVE YET TO REPLACE PART AND UPON RESEARCH FIND MINI KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND PUT OUT A DUCT WORK AND IMPROVED PUMP. THEY HOWEVER HAVE NOT VOLUNTARILY RECALLED VEHICLES TO RETROFIT. *TR

1) NO SIGNIFICANT EVENT LEADING UP TO FAILURE 2) POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE, NO STEERING ABILITY IN VEHICLE 3) NO CORRECTION KNOWN FOR SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING. PARTS TO BE REPAIRED BELIEVED TO BE STEERING PUMP AND POTENTIAL STEERING RACK. *TR

THE STEERING FAILED ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER S WITH 84K MILE. THE POWER STEERING FAN FAILED CAUSING THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO BURN OUT. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NTO DRIVABLE AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE FORTUNATELY THE FAILURE OCCURED AFTER THE VEHICLE REACHED IT DESTINATION AND WAS PARKED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE LUG BOLTS SHEERED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE BY HAND ON MORE THAN ONE WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HUBS.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN 1 YEAR OF PURCHASE . ON MAY 24, 2006, WHILE DRIVING A SMALL OBJECT STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING A CRACK WHICH CAUSED THE FOURTH WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE TO MAKE THE WINDSHIELD CRACK SO EASILY. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED AND DETERMINED THE CRACKS WERE DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE OBJECT.

MY 2004 MINI COOPER S, DELIVERED IN JUNE OF '04, HAVING @ 20,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, IS NOW ON ITS THIRD WINDSHIELD ALL DUE TO STRESS CRACKS. THE CRACKS SEEM TO BE RELATED TO THERMAL INSTABILITY. I.E. COLD OUTSIDE/HOT INSIDE ETC. I PERSONALLY KNOW OF ONE 2003 MINI OWNER IN MA WHO HAS NOW HAD 6 WINDSHIELDS REPLACED SINCE PURCHASE. THE MINI COMMUNITY HAS DETERMINED THAT AFTERMARKET US MADE GLASS BY PPG DOES NOT HAVE THE PROPENSITY FOR SUCH FAILURES. I AM RELUCTANT TO CONTINUE GOING TO MY DEALER AS THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE FOREIGN MANUFACTURED OEM GLASS. ON THE OTHER HAND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WITH A NON OEM PRODUCT, OUT OF POCKET TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. FOR MUCH MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN REFER TO THE MINI COOPER OWNERS INTERNET WEB FORUM "NORTHAMERICANMOTORING .COM" THE DEFECT IS WIDE SPREAD FROM THE MINI'S INTRODUCTION IN '02 CONTINUING THROUGH TO '05 PRODUCTION MODELS. TO FIND THIS INFORMATION, GO TO "BENEATH THE BONNET" AND USE THE SEARCH FUNCTION IN THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER FOR "CRACKED GLASS". YOUR ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. FEEL FREE TO CALL ME IF I CAN BE OF HELP. SINCERELY, MARK WILLIAMS CFP *JB

MY 2004 MINI COOPER S HAD BEEN PARKED, UNTOUCHED, IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR 2 DAYS. I GOT IN IT LAST NIGHT AND FIRST THING I NOTICED WAS A VERTICLA CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD EXTENDING FROM THE TOP CHROME MOLDING 14" DOWN, PARALLEL TO AND 5" FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE LOCAL DEALER SAID THAT MINI HAD A PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD BREAKAGE IN THE PAST "BUT NOT NOW". AT HIS SUGGESTION, I RAN THE TIP OF A BALL-POINT PEN ALONG THE CRACK AND FOUND A "CHIP" AT THE TOP OF THE CRACK. THIS "CHIP" IS SMALLER THAN THE TIP OF THE BALL-POINT PEN. I'VE HAD MANY NEW AND USED CARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST CASE WHERE SUCH AN INSIGNIFICANT "CHIP" HAS PROPAGATED TO A TOTAL FAILURE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT WITHOUT EVEN BEING VISIBLE FIRST.

CRACKED WINDSHIELD ON A MINI. CRACK EXTENDS FROM RIGHT EDGE AND GOES TOWARDS CENTER AND THEN TURNS UP TOWARDS ROOF - CRACK ABOUT 12" LONG. NO STONE CHIP ANYWHERE ALONG CRACK.*AK

ON MARCH 5, 2005, A 2 INCH X 2 INCH L SHAPED CRACK WAS FIRST DEVELOPED AT THE MID BOTTOM SECTION OF THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE SHORT ARM OF THE L ORIGINATED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. ON THE NEXT DAY, AFTER PARKING INSIDE MY GARAGE OVERNIGHT, THE LONG ARM OF THE L PROPAGATED ANOTHER 2 INCHES. TODAY, WHILE DRIVING, THE CRACK FURTHER EXTENDED ANOTHER 1/4 INCH. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CRACK STARTED WITH NO OBVIOUS REASONS. THE ONLY SENSIBLE EXPLANATION IS DUE TO DESIGN OF THE BODY STRUTURE OR DEFECT FROM MINI COOPERS, AND SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSES STRESS TO THE WINDSHIELD. IT DOES NOT TAKE LONG TO LEARN FROM THE INTERNET MESSAGE BOARD THAT MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OR RECURRING INCIDENTS WERE ALSO REPORTED. ONE OF THE MESSAGE BOARD PARTICIPANT WHO INSTALLS WINDSHIELD FOR CAR SUGGESTED US TO FILE A COMPLAINT AT THIS SITE BECAUSE WINDSHIELD PROBLEM CAN BE FATAL BECAUSE OF THE FOLLOWINGS: 1. ACT AS A SUPPORT FOR THE ROOF. 2. ACT AS A BARRIER TO PREVENT PASSENGER FROM EJECTING OF THE CAR.. CAUSE AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONED.*AK I STRONGLY URGE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY.

FIRST OCCASION - WINDSHEILD CRACKED ADJACENT TO VIN # LOCATION. SEPERATED FROM VEHICLE BODY. DEALERSHIP REPLACED BUT TOOK 5 TO 6 WEEKS. EXCUSE WAS SUPPLIER CHANGED. SECOND OCCASION - ROCK CHIP ON INTERSATE. RESULT. SURFACE CHIP AND LAMINANT CRACK (1/4" TO 1/2" LONG). HAVE NOT REPLACED WINDSHIELD. WATCHING FOR ANY PROGRESSION IN SIZE. I'VE OWNED OTHER VEHICLES THAT HAD ROCKS AND SUCH COLLIDE WITH THE WINDSHIELD, BUT NONE THAT CRACKED SO EASILY.

OUR MINICOOPERS, 2004, RECEIVED A VERY SMALL CHIP. THE NEXT MORNING HALF OF OUR WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THIS CHIP. MY HUSBAND SPOKE WITH STEVE, A MINI REP IN HOUSTON, AND WAS TOLD THE WINDSHIELD HAD BE RECALLED DUE TO LARGE AMOUNTS OF STRESS ON THE WINDSHIELD. HE TOLD STEVE THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE CHIP IS SO SMALL LOCATED AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. WE WERE TOLD WITH THE CHIP THAT THE WARRENTY WAS VOIDED. WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. STEVE WENT ON TO TELL OF 5 DIFFERRENT STORIES OF MINI OWNERS HAVING TO REPLACE THEIR WINDSHIELD IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. IF YOU LOOK AT MINI CHAT ROOMS, IT IS FILLED WITH MANY PEOPLE HAVING TO REPLACE THEIR WINDSHIELD, SOMETIMES MULTIPLY TIMES. IT JUST DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT. SO MANY WINDSHIELD CRACKING DUE TO ROCK CHIPS. WE WOULD HAVE HAD THE CHIP TREATED, IF IT WEREN'T SO SMALL, SO A CRACK WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, BUT THERE WAS NO TIME, IT CRACKED OVERNIGHT. *AK

04 MINI COOPER S HAD A CRACK IN WINDSHIELD OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN (PROBABLY STRESS). HAD FIXED 2 WEEKS AGO UNDER WARRANTLY. NEW CRACK HAS DEVELOPED ALREADY. IN THE PROCESS OF RESOLVING CURRENT DEFECT. *AK THESE VEHICLES HAVE A DESIGN FLAW. YOU GUYS NEED TO ADD MINI TO THE LIST OF YOUR CARS. I AM GOING TO SELECT BMW BECAUSE BWM OWNS MINI.