2005 Mini Cooper S complaints

THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING: HESITATION, WHEELS SKIDDING, ROUGH ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES AFTER 2 TRIPS TO MINI COOPER IN WHICH THE CAR'S COMPUTER WAS "RESET" BECAUSE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION WERE FOUND. THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED ABOVE PERSISTS, BUT THERE WAS ALSO ONE EPISODE WHERE THE CAR DID NOT START AND LATER TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING ON A CONGESTED NYC ROAD. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL AREA, THE WHEEL OF THE CAR BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRIC HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING PUMP (EHPS) WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE FAN OF THE EHPS WAS NOT DISENGAGING WHEN THE CAR IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF, THEREFORE RUNNING DOWN THE BATTERY AND CAUSING THE EHPS TO NOT WORK CORRECTLY. THE NEXT DAY, WITH THE SAME EHPS, THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING FINE. *TR

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WEIGHT SENSOR STOP WORKING. AS A RESULT MY VEHICLE DISPLAYS A WARNING THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS ARE OFF. MY DRIVER SIDE FOG LIGHT HOUSING MELTED AND CRACK APART. I USED STOCK 55W HALOGEN BULBS. MY PASSENGER SIDE FOG LIGHT HOUSING HAS ALSO BEGUN TO MELT. MY POWER STEERING IS NOT LEAKING NOW. BUT IT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. *TR

I WAS EXITING THE INTERSTATE AND THE RAMP CURVED TO THE RIGHT, AS I BEGAN TO NEGOTIATE THE CURVE I NOTICED I HAD NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. I REACHED MY DESTINATION ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER AND HAD NO POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE AT ALL THE ENTIRE TIME. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT USE IT AGAIN UNTIL 9/3/12 AND THE STEERING APPEARED TO BE WORKING PROPERLY AGAIN. IN READING THE INVESTIGATIVE STUDY I NOTED THAT IT MAY BE DUE TO AN ERROR IN THE INTERNAL ELECTRONICS AND MAY ALSO RESULT IN A CONTINUOUS RUNNING OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP. LAST YEAR ALMOST TO THE DAY, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT HAYWIRE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STEER AND HAD WHAT SEEMED LIKE POWER SURGE AND AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF AND REMOVING THE KEY THE CAR CONTINUED TO MAKE A CLICKING SOUND AND THE WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN BY THEMSELVES. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO RESTART AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY,WHICH I DID, I NOW WONDER IF THAT WAS A RELATED INCIDENT. *TR

RIGHT AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME SUDDENLY VERY STIFF AS I WAS MAKING A STANDARD 90 TURN. I ALMOST HIT THE CAR NEXT TO ME BUT DIDN'T AS I MANAGED TO HIT THE BRAKES. I FINISHED THE CURVE ON THE VERY LAST LANE ON THE RIGHT. IF A CAR HAD BEEN ON MY WAY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A CRASH, FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NONE. MINI DIAGNOSED A POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. BROWSING ON THE WEB, I CAME ACROSS PAGES OF PEOPLE HAVING HAD THE SAME ISSUE FOR THIS YEAR'S MODEL (MINI COOPER S 2005). CANADIAN AUTHORITIES EVEN ORDERED A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT SAME FAILURE. I HAVE ALSO READ THAT NHTSA IS CURRENTLY STUDYING THIS ISSUE; COULD YOU PLEASE CONFIRM THIS IS TRUE ANY IDEA HOW LONG IS THE PROCESS TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT A RECALL WILL BE DECIDED IF A RECALL WAS DECIDED, WOULD WE GET REIMBURSE NOT MATTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE IN A MINI DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE ? THANK YOU *TR

MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I MANAGED TO AVOID HITTING THE CURB AND PULLED OVER AFTER COMPLETING THE TURN. IT FELT LIKE DRIVING WITH FOUR FLAT TIRES. AFTER RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN TWO DAYS LATER. IN BOTH CASES, THIS HAPPENED SHORTLY AFTER STARTING UP. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY TO SACRAMENTO, CA FROM ALAMEDA, CA, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, MY RED DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE ROOF-MOUNTED YELLOW PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT BOTH CAME ON. THE ROOF-MOUNTED YELLOW LIGHT THEN WENT OUT AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES, BUT THE RED DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS REMAINED ON EVERY TIME THE IGNITION WAS TURNED ON. *TR

THE FIRST TIME MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT I WAS AT A STOP SIGN. I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND HAD DIFFICULTY MAKING THE TURN. THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN ANOTHER TIME WHEN I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO TURN. I WAS FORTUNATE THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND. TODAY, 8/20/2012 IS THE MOST RECENT DAY THAT IT WENT OUT. I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN I NOTICED IT WAS OUT. I HAVE FIGURED OUT THAT IF I TURN OFF MY CAR IT COMES BACK ON. LUCKILY I HAD TO STOP BEFORE GETTING ONTO THE FREEWAY SO I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL MY CAR AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR

THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. IT HAS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY SINCE THEN.

THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AT 66K MILES - AS I AM RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I CAN SEE THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURES WITH THEIR MINI COOPER AND BMW HAS NOT BEEN WILLING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THE COST TO US WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $10,000 TO REPAIR. *TR

THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR HAS FAILED. THIS CAUSES THE AIRBAGS TO BE UNARMED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE. I HAVE CONTACTED MINI ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY COVERED THE REPAIR ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, BUT NOT MINE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND IT SHOULD BE COVERED ON ALL VEHICLES THAT IT HAS OCCURRED ON, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. THE REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE, AND SHOULD BE COVERED. *TR

WHILE PROCEEDING DOWN A NORMAL DRY ROAD I MANUALLY SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION (USING MANUAL MODE ON THE CVT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) FROM 3RD GEAR TO 4TH GEAR. THE SHIFT NORMALLY WOULD BE SMOOTH HOWEVER ON THIS OCCURRENCE THE ENGINE IDLED EXTREMELY HIGH AND THE GEAR KICKED IN AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS WITH A LOUD BANGING SOUND WHEN THE GEAR FINALLY TOOK HOLD. THE CAR BEHAVED ITSELF FOR A WHILE BUT THIS EVENT STARTED HAPPENING MORE AND MORE UNTIL IT BECAME A REGULAR OCCURRENCE. MOST OF THE TIME THERE WAS NO LOUD NOISE BUT THE 4TH GEAR WOULD NOT CATCH AND I ADJUSTED MY DRIVING SO THAT I WOULD SHIFT FROM 3RD GEAR TO 5TH GEAR AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID THE OVER REVVING. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP. THEY LOOKED IT OVER AND ADVISED ME THAT THERE WAS NO WAY OF REPAIRING THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT ENTIRELY. I AM CURRENTLY WORKING TO LOCATE A NEW TRANSMISSION AS DURING THE LAST OCCURRENCE (JULY 21, 2012) THE CAR DID NOT GO INTO 4TH GEAR AND I WAS STUCK ON A HIGHWAY WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO MOVE, I.E. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR. AFTER PULLING OVER TO SAFETY I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR UP TO 3RD GEAR AND RETURN HOME. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY UNUSABLE. I AM NOT WORKING WITH THE MANUFACTURER / DEALER AS PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN ME THAT THEY ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND FINANCIAL GAIN IS THERE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE. IN ADDITION ALL THE INTERNET BLOGS THAT I HAVE REVIEWED, AND JOINED / COMMENTED ON HAS SHOWN ME THAT BMW / MINI DOES NOT WORK W

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT POWER STEERING FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, WHICH HAD BECOME INOPERABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,916 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,960.

EARLIER IN THE DAY I TOOK THE CAR ON A DAY TRIP TO LAKE TAHOE DRIVING A COMBINATION OF INTERSTATE AND MOUNTAIN PASS ROAD. 3 HOURS LATER, MY WIFE HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO RUN AN ERRAND AND CAME HOME AND PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE COMPLETELY OFF AND LOCKED. 10-15 MINUTES LATER WE HEAR THE CAR ALARM GOING OFF. WE OPENED THE DOOR TO THE GARAGE AND SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WAS HIGH PITCHED WINING ALSO. WHEN I OPENED UP THE DOOR THE PUT IN NEUTRAL, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANELS WERE ALL ON WITH NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION. OPENED THE GARAGE AND MOVED THE CAR TO THE DRIVEWAY AND AWAY FROM THE HOUSE. CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND I USED AN EXTINGUISHER UNDERNEATH WHERE ORANGE GLOW WAS VISIBLE. THE GLOW OF THE FLAMES WERE TOWARD THE BACK PART OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND LOW. SAW NO VISIBLE FLAMES IN THE MAIN COMPARTMENT WHEN THE HOOD WAS POPPED OPEN WHEN FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP THEY USED A GARDEN HOSE TO COOL ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SUGGESTED TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY WHICH I DID. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MINI DEALER IN RENO, NV. *TR UPDATED 8/8/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE PARTS THAT SEEMED TO HAVE CAUSED AND WERE DAMAGED IN THE INCIDENT WERE THE POWER STEERING PUMP, POWER STEERING COOLING FAN, AND ELECTRICAL HARNESS ALL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF A 2005 MINI COOPER S. UPDATED 08/14/2012 *JS

DEFECTIVE CVT TRANSMISSION! THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WAS NO FAULT OF OURS THAT WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, BUT DUE TO THE WAY THIS TRANSMISSION WAS DESIGNED!!!!!!!! *TR

POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILS REPEATEDLY. SOLUTION HAS BEEN TO STOP CAR AND RESTARTED ENGINE; SEEMS TO RESET PUMP ELECTRONICS. THIS INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE HAS HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIMES IN THE 3 YEARS WE'VE OWNED THE CAR AND CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF DRIVER IS NOT AWARE OF THE CHANGE IN STEERING ABILITY. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE PUMP I BELIEVE AND WITH ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I FEEL MINI/BMW SHOULD VIEW THIS AS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND COVER UNDER WARRANTY -- IT IS CLEARLY A DANGEROUS PART AND POOR DESIGN. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON DUE TO FAULTY OC SENSORS, AND FAULTY OC SENSOR CONNECTORS. MINI USA REFUSED EXTENDED WARRANTY ON SENSOR, OR RECALL WHILE PASSENGER SAFETY IS IN JEOPARDY. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE ENGINE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR PAD WAS FAULTY AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM IN WHICH THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE DEALER AS A WARRANTY ISSUE AS I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE CURRENT SITUATION BUT DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR AN EXPENSIVE SAFETY RELATED DEFECT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND STILL HAVE IT. PART FAILED IS A SEAT SENSOR. DEALER WANTS CLOSE TO $2K TO REPLACE IT, BUT IT FAILED A LONG, LONG, LONG TIME AGO. I WOULD THINK IT SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 2 OR 3 YEARS. CAN FIND TONS OF THE SAME PROBLEMS AT HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/STOCK-PROBLEMS-ISSUES-9-2.HTML *JB

SINCE I HAD THE CAR IN 2009 I HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING THAT IT HAS A FAILURE. BMW NO RESPONSE FOR THIS ITS A PUMP THAT ITS NOT DESIGN CORRECTLY. LOST OF MINIS HAS THIS PROBLEMS. HARD TO STEER AND ALMOST GOT INTO A CRASH. *TT

INITIALLY WE WERE PARKED WITH A LARGE ADULT WHO WEIGHS ~200LBS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. SHIFTING AROUND AND UNBUCKLING-REBUCKLING SEATBELT CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO GO OFF FOR A BIT. WE BEGAN TO DRIVE ANYWAY, THE TERRAIN WAS MOUNTAINOUS, AND EVENTUALLY THE LIGHTS WENT OFF. THAT NIGHT. IN THE FOLLOWING WEEKS AND MONTHS, IT WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, SOMETIMES UPON GETTING SEATED AND STARTING TO DRIVE, OTHER TIMES ONCE WE WERE IN MOTION, VERY UNPREDICTABLE. THE PROBLEM SOMETIMES RESOLVED BY SHIFTING HIS WEIGHT OR FUSSING WITH THE SEATBELT TO GET THE LIGHTS OFF, BUT FOR THE PAST MONTH IT HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM. *TR

I STARTED THE CAR COLD BEFORE HEADING OUT AND THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY OUT. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN, ALTHOUGH NOT WITH THE FULL ASSIST. SINCE THIS TIME, EVERY TIME I START UP THE CAR, I HAVE A VARYING DEGREE OF ASSIST FOR THE FIRST COUPLE MINUTES OF DRIVING IT. *JS

POWER STEERING CUTS OUT INTERMITTENTLY. POWER STEERING COMES BACK AFTER RESTARTING VEHICLE. THEN FAILS LATER AGAIN. *TR

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE I WAS IN A TURN AT 30 MPH. STEERING BECAME VERY HEAVY AND NEARLY CAUSED THE CAR TO LEAVE THE ROAD DUE TO GREATLY INCREASED REQUIRED STEERING EFFORT. SHUT CAR OFF AND CHECKED FLUID LEVEL. FLUID LEVEL FOUND TO BE FULL. RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM WHEN I GOT HOME AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE WITH MINI'S. ADDITIONALLY, TRANSPORT CANADA HAS ISSUED A RECALL ALREADY ON THESE POWER STEERING PUMPS DUE TO CONTINUED FAILURES. *TR

MY 2005 MINI COOPER S OUT OF NO WHERE BURIED THE NEEDLE ON THE THERMOSTAT AND WAS COMPLETELY OVERHEATED. UNABLE TO DRIVE ANY FURTHER AS I SMELT SMOKE AND POSSIBLY A SWEET SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND HAVE NOW SEEN THAT THIS IS AN ITEM THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED ON ALL MINI COOPERS S FROM 2006 TO 2011, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE 2005 DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME PUMP ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BOARD ETC. AS THOSE AND I FEEL THAT MY CAR SHOULD BE ALSO RECALLED FOR THIS ITEM. OBVIOUSLY, I CAN NOT DRIVE IT AND THE PRICE IS OUTRAGEOUS TO FIX IT. *TR

THE CAR HAD BEEN PERFORMING NORMALLY AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE IT WAS SUDDENLY EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. AFTER COMING OUT OF THE STORE THE CAR RESUMED STEERING CORRECTLY. THEN A FEW DAYS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED-IT WAS TERRIBLY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE VEHICLE. I CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO SUGGESTED CHECKING THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL. I WAS UNABLE TO FIND IN MY OWNERS MANUAL WHERE THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR WAS LOCATED. THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE FLUID THE FOLLOWING WEEK AND FOUND THE LEVEL TO BE NORMAL. HE INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING IN OTHER CARS OF MY TYPE. I ENDED UP HAVING TO HAVE EVERYTHING REPLACED-PUMP, FAN AND RESERVOIR AT A COST FOR PARTS ALONE AT $1033. I FEEL THAT IF THIS PROBLEM WAS KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURING COMPANY THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALLED ITEM FOR SAFETY SAKE. THE RECALL EXTENDED ONLY TO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2004. MY VEHICLE WAS MADE IN FEBRUARY 2005. *TR

VEHICLE FIRE 5/2/2012. CAR PARKED FOR 4 HRS. RETURNED TO CAR & DROVE IT <50 YARDS FOR ~2 MINUTES (MOVED IT FROM STREET TO PARKING LOT). TURNED IT OFF AND WENT IN STORE. RETURNED ~4 MINUTES LATER, NOTICED SMOKE/EXHAUST SMELL; PRESUMED IT WAS ADJACENT CAR. UNLOCKED CAR. CAR WOULD'T START (NO LIGHTS/ELECTRICAL AT ALL). I THEN NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD. OPENED HOOD THEN NOTICED FLAME/FIRE INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WENT IN STORE, GOT FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND PUT FIRE OUT. INVOICE WAS >$3500 FROM MINI DEALER. THE DEALER'S ASSESSMENT: "VERIFIED POWER STEERING PUMP HAS OVERHEATED TO THE POINT WHERE IT HAS BURNED UP INTERNALLY AS WELL AS EXTERNALLY (MELTING ALL THREE CONNECTORS AND THE WIRING LEADING TO THEM). INSPECTED POWER STEERING COOLING FAN AND VERIFIED COOLING FAN IS SEIZING UP WHICH VERY LIKELY LED TO THE OVERHEATING AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP. REMOVED ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUSE BOX TO EXAMINE MEGAFUSE POWERING THE POWER STEERING PUMP, FUSE IS INTACT AND DID NOT BURN UP. INSPECTED POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE AND IT APPEARS THE RUBBER SECTION OF THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE LINE WAS SUBJECTED TO THE HEAT/MELTING OF THE MAIN POWER CONNECTOR (IT'S IN VERY CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE CONNECTOR) AND IT APPEARS THE HOSE HAS TAKEN A LEVEL OF DAMAGE FROM THE HEAT. RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT OF POWER STEERING PUMP, THE WIRING SECTION/CONNECTOR PIGTAIL FROM THE FUSE BOX (THIS IS THE MAIN POWER CONNECTOR), THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS (CONTAINS TWO OTHER ELECTRICAL CONNECTO

ENGINE COOLING FAN LOW SPEED STAGE FAILURE. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL OF COOLING FAN FOR THE SAME MODEL UP TO MODEL YEAR 2004. BUT MY 2005 MINI COOPER S HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THUS, IT IS APPROPRIATE TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE MODEL YEAR 2005. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS IN THE POWER STEERING WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING WITH CAUTION AT A REDUCED SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WAS CURRENTLY THERE AN OPEN INVESTIGATION ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA11005 (STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: PUMP). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT, ILLUMINATES 3-4 SECONDS AFTER ENGINE START, ALONG WITH THE RED AIR BAG FAILURE LIGHT, ON THE MAIN SPEEDOMETER. THIS OCCURS, WHETHER THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT, OR NOT, DUE TO THIS SAFETY DEFECT. MINI COOPER DEALERS, DENY THIS IS A PROBLEM, HOWEVER, I HAVE FOUND OVER 40 OTHER COMPLAINTS REGISTERED ON THIS EXACT DEFECT !!! MAJOR REPAIR COST FROM THE DEALER, TO CHANGE THE WHOLE BOTTOM SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY, WHICH INCLUDES THE DEFECTIVE AIR BAG SENSOR, THAT SEPARATES FROM THE SEAT CUSHION, AFTER A SHORT TIME! *JS

BOTH AIRBAG WARNIG LIGHTS COME ON WHEN SOMEONE SITS IN FRONT PASS SEAT. WHEN THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG STATUS LAMP" IS ON THAT MEANS NO ONE IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT WHILE IT'S ON AND THERE IS AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY B/C THE CAR THINKS SOMEONE ISN'T IN THE SEAT. *JS

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHTS REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN IGNITION IS POWERED. SEAT CAN BE EITHER OCCUPIED OR UNOCCUPIED. INITIAL PROBLEM INTERMITTENT, WITHIN 1 MONTH PROBLEM CONSTANT, BOTH AIRBAG LIGHTS REMAIN ON. THERE ARE (2) AIRBAG LIGHTS IN THIS VEHICLE, ONE RED LAMP THAT IS IN THE DASH, THE SECOND A YELLOW LAMP LOCATED NEAR THE INSIDE CENTER REAR VIEW MIRROR. FEEDBACK APPEARS THAT THE ISSUE IS THE AIRBAG SENSOR LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM AFTER STUDYING SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS COMMENTED ON A MINI OWNERS WEBSITE. THIS IS ALSO A KNOWN PROBLEM OCCURRING ON BMW VEHICLES THAT IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *JS

I HAD RETURNED HOME TO CALIFORNIA AFTER LIVING IN HAWAII FOR A FEW MONTHS. I GOT IN MY CAR, DROVE IT FOR A FEW DAYS, ONLY TO FIND THAT WHILE ON ONE OF THOSE DRIVES MY AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. NOT ONE PERSON HAD DRIVEN MY CAR SINCE I HAD BEEN GONE. I TOOK MY CAR INTO BMW AND AFTER PAYING $180 FOR JUST A DIAGNOSTIC FEE, I AM NOW TOLD THAT MY "PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR MAT SENSOR" HAS GONE BAD AND WILL NEED REPLACING FOR $1,600. THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE MY ENTIRE SEAT FOR THIS. BMW HAS, SUPPOSEDLY, RECOGNIZED THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE IN OTHER BMW MODELS ON THE PASSENGER FLOOR SIDE AND IS INDEED A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND HAS RECALLED BMWS ACCORDINGLY. HOWEVER, WITH THE MINIS, THEY HAVE NOT FESSED UP TO THIS BEING A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND THE DEALER NOW WANTS $1,600 FROM ME. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY ZERO MOTIVATION TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT DID NOT BREAK UNDER MY WATCH, AND SOMETHING THAT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. MY CAR WAS SITTING IN A GARAGE UNDER A CAR COVER FOR 3 MONTHS, AND THERE IS NO WAY WITH JUST 50,000 MILES ON MY CAR THAT THIS SHOULD BE HAPPENING. BECAUSE I REFUSE TO GIVE THEM $1,600, MY PASSENGERS ARE NOW AT RISK FOR AN AIRBAG EITHER A) GOING OFF WHEN NOT SUPPOSED TO, OR B) NOT WORKING AT ALL. I PAY TOP DOLLAR FOR THIS CAR AND IT IS AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE THAT BMW WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ABOVE ALL. I AM REALLY HOPING THAT SOMEONE WILL NOT HAVE TO LOSE THEIR LIFE OVER THIS FAULTY AIRBAG THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE CUSTOMERS PAY FOR. I EXP

AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON DUE TO FAULTY OC SENSORS, AND FAULTY OC SENSOR CONNECTORS. MINI USA REFUSES EXTENDED WARRANTY ON SENSOR, OR RECALL WHILE PASSENGER SAFETY IS IN JEOPARDY. *TR

LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER S. ALL OF A SUDDEN, HAVE NO POWER STEERING. VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE. THANK GOD I WAS NOT IN A PLACE THAT THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I NOTE THAT I CAN TURN OFF THE MOTOR, THEN TURN IT BACK ON AND THE STEERING IS OK FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN GOES OUT AGAIN. I LOVE MY MINI COOPER, BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT NOW, IF I CAN'T COUNT ON THE STEERING TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY. *TR

PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR/MAT FAILED CAUSING AIRBAG "OFF" WARNING LIGHT AND POSSIBLY (CONFLICTING INFO FROM PUBLICLY-AVAILABLE SOURCES) TURNING OFF PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG TRIGGERING FUNCTION. THE COST OF REPLACING THIS COMPONENT IS SUCH A LARGE PORTION OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM PURCHASE PRICE AND THE FACT THAT IT MAY ALSO BE ESSENTIAL FOR THE SYSTEM'S PROPER FUNCTIONING, MAKE IT SEEM REASONABLE THAT IT SHOULD BE WARRANTIED FOR THE LIFE OF THE (AIRBAG) SYSTEM ITSELF, OR A "FIX" ENGINEERED AND INSTALLED AT NO COST TO A VEHICLE OWNER. *TR

ON DATE OF INCIDENT, WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP (BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE). I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR INTO A SPOT AND CALLED FOR TOW ASSISTANCE. THE REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED AS A POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE AND HAD TO REPLACE THAT AND OTHER AFFILIATED COMPONENTS (COOLING FAN, ETC.). APPROXIMATELY 4 DAYS BEFORE THE FAILURE, THE POWER STEERING FAN WAS UNCHARACTERISTICALLY WHINNY, BUT WENT AWAY AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND WAS NOT HEARD AGAIN BEFORE THE FAILURE. *TR

THE CAR HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THE TRANSITION FROM POWER STEERING ASSIST TO MANUAL STEERING. I HOPE THIS ASSISTS THE INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE. *TR

PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR FAILED. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 62,000 MILES DUE TO FAILURE. *TR

OVER HEATING CONSTANTLY NO TECHNICAL PERSON KNOWS OF A REMEDY. OVERFLOW TANK BLOWS OUT WHEN CAR OVERHEATS CONSTANTLY .THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM SINCE THE BEGINNING NO MATTER WHAT YEAR THE CAR WAS BUILT AND NEVER REMEDIED. WHY NOT A RECALL? NOT KNOWING WHAT OTHER DAMAGE THIS CAUSES TO THE ENGINE. THIS HAS TO BE A RECALL FOR THE COMPANY TO FIX IT IS A HIT AND MISS FIX??? THIS IS A COSTLY PROCESS AND EVEN IN THE FORUMS ON MINI IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE. FRONT END FAILS ALL AT THE SAME TIME. (CONTROL ARMS, CV JOINTS) STEERING BECOMES HARD TO CONTROL. MINI HELP *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY ONE AND A HALF YEARS LATER WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AGAIN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ON BOTH OCCASIONS AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,800. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER STATED ONE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 01-SEP-2009 WITH 37800 FAILURE MILEAGE AND AGAIN ON 16-FEB-2012 AT 53827 UPDATED 06/07/12 *JS

WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE 95 WHEN POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. PULLED OFF ROAD, CHECKED FLUID LEVELS AND COULDN'T FIND ANY OBVIOUS PROBLEMS. POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON WHEN RESTARTED CAR. POWER STEERING STAYED ON FOR REST OF DRIVE, BUT HAS GONE OUT SEVERAL TIMES SINCE. ALWAYS COMES BACK IF TURN OFF CAR AND RESTART. *TR

VEHICLE DARTING AROUND ON ROAD LIKE STEERING STOPS THEN STARTS BACK UP,ACCELERATION DARTS LEFT , DECELERATION DARTS RIGHT. *TR

THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT DOES NOT CORRECTLY DETECT A PERSON SITTING IN IT. WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT, THE AIRBAG SENSOR STAYS "OFF". *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. THE FAILURES HAVE BEEN OFF AND ON SINCE THEN. FAILURE IS USUALLY DURING IN TOWN DRIVING. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKS UP AND CAN'T BE TURNED. ON TOP OF THAT, IT'S COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS TAKING A RIGHT TURN OUT OF A ROUNDABOUT, WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN COMPLETELY. FORTUNATELY, I WAS GOING SLOW ENOUGH THAT I COULD BRAKE SO THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A CAR WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT. IT WAS EXTREMELY SCARY. *TR

VERY DISAPPOINTED TO FIND OUT THAT A VEHICLE I HAVE TAKEN EXCEPTIONAL CARE OF TO AVOID COSTLY REPAIRS HAS ALSO HAD THE OCCUPANCY MAT GO BAD OUT OF THE BLUE.... I WASN'T EVEN DRIVING THE CAR! I HELD OUT HOPE THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND WAS TOLD OFF THE RECORD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLAINTS HE RECEIVES AND IN HIS OPINION HAS COST MINI A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF REPEAT BUSINESS. IT IS VERY HARD TO SWALLOW THE $1400 REPAIR WHEN IT IS EVIDENT THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURES PROBLEM WHICH WILL COST SOMEONE THEIR LIFE ONE DAY; MAYBE THEN THEY WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX THEIR PROBLEMS. LIKE TOYOTA; IT TOOK PEOPLE DYING FOR THEM TO ADDRESS THE ACCELERATOR PROBLEM. SAD, VERY SAD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE . THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT THE SPEEDS OF 30 MPH, WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN ON WHEN THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,020.

AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY LOST POWER (NO NOISE OR OTHER INDICATIONS). THE WHEEL BECAME EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT TO TURN. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD, BUT THE STEERING WOULD NOT HAVE RESPONDED TO A SMALLER/WEAKER DRIVER. *TR

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS THE SENSOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT IS BAD. BMW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND ISSUED A 10 YEAR 150,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND RECALL FOR APPROXIMATELY 150,000 VEHICLES OVER MODEL YEARS 2004 - 2006. FOR SOME REASON THEY REFUSE TO INCLUDE THE 2005 MINI COOPER S IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WANT ~$2,000 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SEAT BOTTOM FOR THE DEFECTIVE SENSOR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE CAUSED BY A KNOWN AND ADMITTED DEFECTIVE PART. MINI SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SENSOR UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AS THEIR PARENT COMPANY BMW HAS DONE FOR VARIOUS MODELS AFFECTED BY THE SAME DEFECT. *TR