2003 Mini Cooper complaints

THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. IT COMES FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE AND ALSO MADE THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY GO BAD. IT BECAMES VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. *JS

MY 2003 MINI COOPER (R50), WITH MANUAL SHIFT AND 83,567 MILES, WAS PARKED ON A CITY STREET WHEN A PASSERBY NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE AREA. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE TIME FROM THE CAR BEING PARKED UNTIL THE FLAMES WERE EXTINGUISHED IS ESTIMATED AT 10 TO 20 MINUTES. THE CAR WAS TOWED THE FOLLOWING MORNING TO A MINI DEALER SERVICE CENTER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE AUXILIARY POWER STEERING COOLING FAN HAD FAILED. THE OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE ESTIMATED TO NEED REPLACEMENT ARE THE POWER STEERING PUMP, ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, AUXILIARY WIRING HARNESS, POWER STEERING PUMP RESERVOIR HOSE AND POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE. AT THE TIME I WAS ON A TRIP OUT-OF-TOWN 600 MILES AWAY FROM HOME AND THE CAR IS STILL AT THE OUT-OF-TOWN DEALER. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT NO SIGNS OF ANYTHING SUSPECT WITH THE CAR WERE NOTICED. APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT THE BONNET OF THE CAR WAS OPENED AT A MILITARY ENTRANCE GATE VEHICLE INSPECTION AND NO SIGNS OF ANY ISSUES WERE NOTICED AT THAT TIME. TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE IS NO AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT IN THE AFFECTED AREA. I AM THE 2ND OWNER OF THE CAR HAVING PURCHASED IT AT 35,086 MILES MID-2007 FROM A LONG-TIME FRIEND WHO WAS THE FIRST OWNER. I MAINTAIN THE CAR AND KEEP ALL MAINTENANCE RECORDS. I BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL REPAIRS AND THE RETURN OF THE CAR TO MY HOME. I HAVE READ ABOUT RECALLS BY TRANSPORT CANADA FOR 2002-2005 MINI STEERING PUMPS WHICH WOULD INDICATE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED WITH EXTREME FORCE AS SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE INITIATED IN THE STEERING PUMP COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

WENT DOWN A DIRT RODE TO MEET A CLIENT. POWERSTEERING WAS WORKING. MET WITH CLIENT, GOT BACK IN THE CAR, AND THE POWERSTEERING WAS NO LONGER WORKING. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THIS CAR WHEN THERE IS NO POWERSTEERING. *TR

THE STEERING PUMP FAILED ON THE FREEWAY. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A FIRE HAD ERUPTED IN THE ENGINE AREA AND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH WAY SPEED CAR LOST STEERING ASSIST, INTERMITTENTLY CAME BAD THEN FAILED, I THEN SLOWED DOWN STEERING DID NOT CAME BACK, ONCE STOPPED LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD THE SMELL OF ELECTRICAL BURNING, EVEN WITH KEY OFF I COULD HEAR ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP STILL TRYING TO RUN, THE FIRE WAS FROM THE HEAVY BATTERY FEED WIRES INTO THE POWER STEERING PUMP THE COMPOSITE END OF PUMP MELTED, ONCE I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY THE SOURCE OF FIRE WAS REMOVED, I HAVE SPENT THE LAST 4 YEARS WORKING IN A GM DEALER SHIP, MASTER ASE TECH, I FEEL IF I WAS A TYPICAL CONSUMER AND HAD NOT KNOWN TO PULL BATTERY POWER THE OUT COME COULD HAD BEEN WORSE. *TR

CAR IMPACTED THE REAR END OF A JEEP AT LOW RATE OF SPEED (WAS BRAKING TO AVOID CRASH IN THE FRONT). UPON IMPACT THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. LUCKILY THE OCCUPANT OF THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF CAR. WITHIN MINUTES THE CAR WAS TOTALLY IN FLAMES. NO ONE WAS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED BUT IF THE OCCUPANT DID NOT GET OUT WHEN THEY DID THE OCCUPANT WOULD HAVE DIED DUE TO SMOKE OR FLAME INJURY.MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THIS LOW FRONT END IMPACT SHOULD NOT HAVE RESULTED IN IMMEDIATE FIRE AND LARGE FLAMES. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE CAR JUST AFTER THE OCCUPANT GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND ALSO PHOTOS OF THE CAR AFTER IT WAS TOWED BACK TO WRECKER YARD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COPPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED THE WIRING HARNESS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,600.

WHILE DRIVING THE 2003 MINI, THE POWER STEERING FAILED MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. SINCE THE ORIGINAL INCIDENT, THE POWER STEERING WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. RESEARCH SHOWS THE LIKELY REASON FOR THE PROBLEM IS A POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. I AM ORDERING A NEW PUMP TO REPLACE THE FAILED PUMP. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH MINI FOR THIS YEAR MODEL. MINI SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR INCLUDING LABOR AS THE PUMP APPEARS TO HAVE HAD ISSUES SINCE 2002. *TR

MY CAR WOULD NOT START ONE MORNING. I INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY. AS SOON AS I CONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLE, SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE. THE SMOKE WAS ACRID, LIKE SMOKE FROM AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO SMOKE AS LONG AS THE BATTERY CABLES WERE CONNECTED. CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ENGINE FIRE,I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE SHOP DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP AND PUMP COOLING FAN WERE DEFECTIVE. THERE HAD BEEN NO PRIOR INDICATION THAT EITHER THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH EITHER THE POWER STEERING OR THE BATTERY. *TR

MY POWER STEERING FIRST FAILED AS I WENT INTO A TURN ON A HIGHWAY. IT SUDDENLY BECAME VERY HARD TO CONTROL THE CAR, BUT LUCKILY IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN IN TIME FOR ME TO COMPLETE THE TURN AND NOT CRASH. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC, WHO SAID IT COULD BE THE POWER STEERING, BUT TO WAIT AND SEE IF IT DOES IT AGAIN, AS THIS IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. THEN, TWO WEEKS LATER, THE POWER STEERING FAILED PERMANENTLY AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN AFTER WAITING AT A STOPLIGHT. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE WHEELS TO TURN AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT, BUT NOW I WILL HAVE A COSTLY REPAIR BILL. I AM FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT INJURED IN THESE INCIDENTS BECAUSE I VERY EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY. *KB

THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING WHILE DRIVING. RESTARTING VEHICLE WOULD CORRECT PROBLEM ,DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT IS RE-OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY . DEALERSHIP PRESENTLY REPLACING FAULTY PUMP OUT OF WARRANTY . YOUTHFULL - INEXPERIENCED DRIVER WARNING TO ALL!!! *KB

I WAS DRIVING THE MINI COOPER ON A BUSY ROAD WHEN THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. WE WERE LUCKY NOT TO HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT OR HIT A PEDESTRIAN. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE DESIGN. THE VEHICLE SHOULD NEVER BE THAT HARD TO CONTROL EVEN WHEN THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THESE PARTS SHOULD BE RECALLED. I WOULD NOT ALLOW ANY OF MY FAMILY TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THERE IS A CHANGE IN DESIGN TO THE PART. SIMPLY REPLACING THE POWER STEERING PUMP WITH A NEW OR REFURBISHED PART WITH A SIMILAR DESIGN WILL NOT MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE. *TR

BEGINNING IN APPROXIMATELY APRIL OF 2009, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN ON CONSTANTLY. ANYONE WHO IS INTELLIGENT ENOUGH TO USE ANY INTERNET SEARCH ENGINE CAN FIND HUNDREDS OF ACCOUNTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. DUE TO WHAT HAS BEEN INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED AS A WIRING PROBLEM IN THE SEAT SENSORS, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON AND CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO DEPLOY WITH IMPROPER FORCE. THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE WITH MINI OWNERS, AND SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS HAVE ALL ATTRIBUTED THE PROBLEM TO A WIRING HARNESS UNDERNEATH THE SEAT THAT BREAKS DUE TO MOVING THE SEAT BACK AND FORTH. UNLESS I'M MISSING PAGES FROM THE MANUAL, MOVING THE SEAT BACK AND FORTH IS A NORMAL FUNCTION, AND IT SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR IF SIMPLY MOVING THE SEAT BACK AND FORTH CAN RENDER THE AIRBAG SENSOR USELESS. MINI ACKNOWLEDGED THIS ISSUE IN 2006, AND STATED 'IN THE INTEREST OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, WE ARE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE VEHICLE FOR DEFECTS THAT MAY OCCUR, FOR THIS SPECIFIC AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ISSUE, ON YOUR VEHICLE FOR 10 YEARS / 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. UNDER TERMS OF THIS WARRANTY COVERAGE, MINI WILL COVER ALL NECESSARY REPAIR COSTS RELATED TO THIS ACTION.' I HAVE BEEN TOLD THREE TIMES BY MINI THAT THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO MY CAR. THEY CANNOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION AS TO WHY IT DOES NOT APPLY. THEY JUST TELL ME THAT MY CAR IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT CLEARLY FITS THE BILL. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE WIRING

POWER STEERING FAILURE. POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING,CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME UNRESPONSIVE TO NORMAL STEERING WHEEL OPERATION, RESULTING IN DRIVER HAVING TO TAKE UNEXPECTED AND SUDDEN STEERING CORRECTION TO AVOID RUNNING OFF THE ROAD OR COLLIDING WITH AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. *TR

2003 MINI COOPER, POWER STEERING PUMP JUST QUIT MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TOO DRIVE. WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON THING WITH THE MINI COOPER AND AFTER CHECKING ON LINE I SEE THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM! I THINK BMW NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND TAKE CARE OF THIS!!! AFTER ALL 800 DOLLARS FOR A NEW ONE IS A BIT MUCH!!! *KB

ON THE DATE OF INCIDENT I PARKED MY CAR IN A WELLS FARGO BANK PARKING LOT AFTER GOING TO THE GYM. UPON RETURNING TO MY CAR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD PARKED NEXT TO ME INFORMED ME THAT "YOUR CAR IS SMOKING" I LOOKED AND WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD TO INSPECT IT AND SAW WHITE SMOKE WHICH SMELLED ELECTRICAL. THE INDIVIDUAL WHO NOTICED SMOKE CAME OUT OF HER SUV TO HELP. SHE AND I LOOKED AND SHE INFORMED ME THAT SHE SAW A SMALL FLAME COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE. I SAW IT AND EXTINGUISHED IT WITH A BOTTLE OF WATER I HAD. I THEN HEARD AN ELECTRICAL SPINNING/HUMMING AS IF SOMETHING WAS STILL ELECTRICALLY CHARGED. THE SMOKE THEN BEGAN TO INTENSIFY AND GOT SO OUT OF CONTROL I WAS TEMPTED TO CALL 911 BUT THEN I THOUGHT TO DISCONNECT ANY POWER TO THE CAR BY DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY. THIS ACTION CUT ALL POWER TO THE CAR AND STOPPED THE SMOKE AND ELECTRICAL SPINNING/HUMMING. I CALLED AAA AND HAD MY CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. ON THE EVENING OF 12/23/2011 MY MECHANIC CALLED ME AND INFORMED ME THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP HAD FAILED AND ESTIMATED THE REPAIRS AT $1,046. ON 12/26/2011 MY CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME BY MY MECHANIC WHO SHOWED ME THE FAILED POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH MELTED OTHER WIRES AND COMPONENTS OF THE POWER STEERING MECHANISM. TOTAL OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES WAS $1,053. *TR

THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND PROCEEDED TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WITH NO WARNING, SOMETIMES AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED AND IN TURNS. THE POWER STEERING PUMP QUIT FOR GOOD APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER. I COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED - OR WORSE, HURT SOMEONE ELSE. THE MINI COOPER IS VERY HARD TO STEER WITHOUT POWER STEERING. I'M A STRONG WOMAN BUT IT TAKES SOME SERIOUS UPPER ARM STRENGTH AND CORE STRENGTH TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE MANUALLY. THE MOST DISTURBING PART IS THE LACK OF WARNING. THERE IS NO CLUE THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO LOSE POWER. THESE PARTS ARE PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE AND THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF MECHANICS WILLING TO WORK ON THESE CARS IN OUR AREA. I DON'T KNOW IF THE POWER STEERING FAN WAS AFFECTED, AS WELL, BUT I SUSPECT IT BROKE SOMEWHERE IN THAT TIME, TOO. I KNOW THERE ARE INCIDENTS OF THESE CARS CATCHING FIRE, AND THANKFULLY, WE HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THAT. PLEASE HELP. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS. *TR

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED BACK IN JUNE 27, 2007. I PARKED MY CAR AND THEN NOTICED THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. OPENED THE BONNET AND THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE FIRST ATTEMPT AT USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TEMPORARILY PUT OUT THE FIRE, BUT IT RE-IGNITED AND AT THIS POINT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT IT OUT SAFELY. THE BMW DEALER KEPT SAYING THERE WAS NEVER A FIRE, JUST SMOLDERING. THE "SMOLDERING" WAS THE CAUSE OF A STEERING PUMP FAILURE WHICH OVERHEATS, WHICH IN TURN DAMAGED THE LOOM (HARNESS, OR MAIN WIRING FOR THE VEHICLE), WHICH ALSO RUINED THE BATTERY. THE COST WAS OVER $1000 TO REPAIR THE "SMOLDERING" DAMAGES. PRIOR TO THE STEERING PUMP FAILURE, THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THERE WERE STEERING PROBLEMS, NOR ANY POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. CAR MILEAGE WAS AT 65,525 AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. *TR

WE HAVE A MINI COOPER COUPE 2003 WITH ONLY 30,000 MILES ON IT IN MINT CONDITION WHERE THE BELT FOR CVT TRANSMISSION DISINTEGRATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING LEAVING ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY AND PLACING ME AT RISK FOR INJURY. WE HAD PROVIDED GOOD MAINTENANCE FOR THE MINI BY CHANGING THE TRANSMISSION OIL WHEN WE FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT 8000.00 MILES AND THEN AT 15000 MILES WITH HIGH GRADE SYNTHETIC OIL AT $100.00. TRANSMISSION SHOP WORKING ON OUR CAR INQUIRED ABOUT PARTS FROM BMW AND WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT SELL PARTS FOR THAT TRANSMISSION AND IF YOU WANT IT FIXED YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW TRANSMISSION IN A BOX FOR $6,000.00. I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT AN OPTION IF THE TRANSMISSION IS ONLY GOING TO LAST 30,000 MILES. WHO CAN AFFORD SUCH A DISPOSABLE CAR? *TR

THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

UPON TURNING ON MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT, ONE PART OF MY BACK SEEMED TO BE GETTING EXTREMELY HOT. UPON TURNING AROUND, I SAW A SMALL HOLE HAD BEEN BURNED IN THE SEAT COVER AND WAS SMOLDERING AND SMOKING. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER. IT TOOK MANY MINUTES TO COOL DOWN AND STOP SMOKING. THANKFULLY THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. IF IT HAD BEEN IN MOTION, MY SAFETY WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN COMPRISED, AS I COULD HAVE SUSTAINED BURNS BEFORE PULLING THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DISTRACTION OF A BURNING SEAT IS ALSO NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD AS WELL. *TR

DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED TURNING RIGHT INTO PARKING GARAGE POWER STEERING FAILED AND ALMOST CAUSED VEHICLE TO CONTACT ANOTHER CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN THE PAST WEEK THAT THE POWER STEERING HAS RANDOMLY FAILED. TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED CAR AND STEERING STARTS WORKING CORRECTLY AGAIN. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH DOES NOT OPEN THE DOOR. I AM UNABLE TO EXIT MY CAR WITHOUT UNLOCKING THE DOORS FROM THE CENTRAL PANEL, ROLLING DOWN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND OPENING THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THIS IS CLEARLY NOT A BEST PRACTICE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE WHICH I WOULD LIKE MINI TO RECOGNIZE AS DANGEROUS. IF IT IS JUST A CABLE INSIDE THE DOOR THAT IS NEEDED, THE TOTAL COST FOR REPAIR WILL BE $233.00 (THE PART IS $17.00 THE REST IS FOR LABOR). *TR

IT STARTED WITH LOUD NOISES AND RPM JUMPS TO BETWEEN 5 AND 6 WHEN ACCELERATING. IT NOW MAKES UNBELIEVABLE SOUNDS WHEN TRYING TO GO BEYOND 50 MPH. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANICS AND HE TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE AND IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. BMW DOES NOT SELL PARTS. IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT $5400 AT LEAST FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 55000 MILES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. HE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY TIGHT INDICATING THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE ANY WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

WE PURCHASED A 2003 MINI COOPER JUST WEEKS AGO FROM A PRIVATE PARTY. ALMOST INSTANTLY THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING. LUCKILY SHE WASN'T IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE LA FREEWAY. WE WERE TOLD BY THE SERVICE CENTER THAT WE NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. WE PURCHASED THIS AND HAD IT INSTALLED FOR APPROX.$1200.00. HOWEVER THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP FAN STILL WOULD NOT SHUT OFF WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, SO THIS ISSUE WAS STILL NOT RESOLVED. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS REPAIR MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED AND SLOWED TO A STOP. LUCKILY MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE AND COULD PULL OVER ON TO THE SIDE OF THE BUSY FREEWAY.(STILL NO POWER STEERING WORKING)THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE MINI DEALER. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF $7150 APPROX. AND THIS IS BEFORE THEY CAN EVEN DIAGNOSE THE STEERING FAN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. FROM ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE ABOUT BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS, MINI NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY! WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, AS THE REPAIRS ARE MUCH MORE THAN THE CARS VALUE AND THE MINI SERVICE MANAGER STATES THAT THE NEW CVT TRANSMISSION ONLY HAS A 2 YEAR WARRANTY. IF THIS IS A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION, WHY SHOULD WE PAY FOR ANOTHER ONE. AS OF TODAY MY DAUGHTER HAS TO WALK/BUS TO SCHOOL AND THE MINI SITS.WE ARE INTERESTED IN THE CLASS ACTION SUIT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COPPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, A SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CONTINUED IN OPERATION BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SHOULDER AREA ON THE ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ENGAGED FORCEFULLY IN ODER TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETECTED A FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS A CLOSED INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA07011 (STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: PUMP) WHICH THE CONTACT BELIEVED TO BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,450.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD AN INTERNAL DEFECT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,648.

WHILE CRUISING 60MPH I WAS APPROACHING THE CURVED RAMP FROM I-26 TO THE COOPER RIVER BRIDGE IN CHARLESTON SC. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I HAD TO "MAN HANDLE" THE STEERING WHEEL TO ENTER THE LEFT CURVE. PART WAY THRU THE CURVE, THE POWER STEERING STARTED AGAIN AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN A SEVERE TURN TO THE LEFT. JUST ABOUT LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY SWERVED TO AVOID ME. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. STOPPED AT THE MINI DEALER IN CHARLESTON, SERVICE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO HELP. SPOKE WITH THE PARTS GUY AND WAS TOLD IT IS A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE MINI, THEY HAVE THEM IN STOCK AND MAY USUALLY GET ANOTHER DELIVERY EVERYDAY. I WOULD HOPE THAT THE MANUFACTURE STEP TO THE PLATE AND REMEDY THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION. *TR

I OWN A 2003 MINI COOPER AUTOMATIC AND I'VE ALREADY HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE COOLING FAN REPLACED TWICE, AND NOW, ONLY A YEAR LATER AFTER MY 2ND REPLACEMENT AND A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS LATER, IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR A THIRD TIME. THE CARE ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS COSTLY AND A SAFETY ISSUE FOR DRIVERS. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CAR BY MINI OR BMW. *TR

AFTER CAR WAS SITTING FOR 4 HOURS THE POWER STEERING DID NOT WORK; I MUSCLED THE CAR HOME AND WHEN I STARTED IT TO TAKE TO MY MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY IT WAS WORKING AGAIN; I REVIEWED THIS ON LINE AND DISCOVERED THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS (MINI COOPER, 56,000 MILES, '03. *TR

REPEATED POWER STEERING FAILURE. HAVE REPLACED PUMP (AS WELL AS BELTS, FLUIDS, ETC.) NEW PUMP FIXED PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS. NOW IT JUST STOPS WORKING AGAIN! NO COMPUTER CODE SHOWING PROBLEM. MAY WORK FINE ON START THEN JUST GO OUT A ANY POINT. MAY STAY OUT. MAY BE FINE AFTER RESTART. NO POWER STEERING WITHOUT NOTICE IS DANGEROUS! CAR HAS 90K MILES. SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM! THIS HAPPENS REPEATEDLY AT ALL SPEEDS, AT ALL DRIVING TIMES, AT MANY VARYING CIRCUMSTANCES (WET/DRY, HOT/NOT HOT, ENGINE COLD/ENGINE WARM, STRAIGHT ROADS/CURVY ROADS). DATE BELOW IS TODAY'S DATE, BUT THIS BEGAN HAPPENING 2 MONTHS AFTER BOUGHT CAR USED. DEALER HAS MADE NUMEROUS GOOD FAITH EFFORTS TO REPAIR, BUT THE PROBLEM KEEPS RETURNING. IT IS A DEFECT AND A DANGEROUS ONE!!!!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST AND THE WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 49,387. I STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT IN THE RIGHT LANE. I THEN ACCELERATED TO MAKE THE RIGHT TURN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THEN IT BARELY LET ME TURN IT TO DRIVE, AND PULL OVER. THE TOW TRUCK CAME AND TOOK IT TO MINI DEALER. IT COST 2240.00 TO FIX. THEY SAID IT WAS THE STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. UPDATED 10/07/2011 *LN *TR

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON MY 2003 MINI COOPER AT THE BEGINNING OF A 40 MINUTE DRIVE HOME. THE NEXT DAY, ALL WAS FINE AND CONTINUED TO BE SO UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON. BRIEFLY THIS AFTERNOON, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN, BUT RETURNED WHEN THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND TURNED BACK ON. HOWEVER, ONCE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AGAIN, THE FAN IN THE POWER STEERING COLUMN CONTINUED TO RUN FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS. THE CAR STARTED AND DROVE FINE, AND AGAIN UPON RETURNING HOME, THE FAN CONTINUED TO RUN. WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED BACK ON, THE POWER STEERING AGAIN DID NOT WORK, AND NOW THE FAN IS NOT RUNNING. I HAVE READ MESSAGE BOARDS DETAILING ALMOST THE SAME PHENOMENON AND DESCRIBING UPWARDS OF $1000 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THE MINI WAS JUST IN FOR IT'S 100,000 MILE SERVICE THREE WEEKS AGO AT THE COST OF $1700 AND NO MENTION WAS MADE OF ANY ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME RESISTANT. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED AS THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY THE DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,512.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL CAP WOULD NOT PROPERLY SEAL AND WAS CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE FUEL CAP, FUEL TANK NOZZLE, HOSE AND CONNECTOR WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 270,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/08/11*LJ UPDATED 3/02/2012 *LN

2003 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE TRANSMISSION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE LOS ANGELES FREEWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY AND SUDDENLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED AND VARIOUS REPAIR SHOPS STATED IT WOULD COST $ 9,3000 TO REPAIR BECAUSE MINI DIDN'T SELL THE CVT TRANSMISSION ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY WERE DEFECTIVE AND PRONE TO FAILURE. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE DONATED THE VEHICLE. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 82,500. UPDATED 06/13/11 *BF UPDATED 2/15/2012 *LN *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS FAULTY. THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS REPLACED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000. UPDATED 07/08/11*LJ

I OWN A 2003 MINI COOPER. I AM EXPERIENCING UNEXPECTED POWER STEERING LOSS THAT IS CURRENTLY A TEMPORARY CONDITION. IT OFTEN OCCURS WHILE EXITING ONTO HWY 10/61 CLOVERLEAF IN WOODBURY, MINNNESOTA. ON A COUPLE OCCASIONS I HAVE NEARLY DRIVEN OFF OF THE ROADWAY DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. IT IS AN EXIT THAT IS TAKEN AT 45-50 MPH AND AN HILL DOWNWARD. WHEN IT OCCURS THE CAR VEERS HARD LEFT AS THE POWER STEERING FAILS. THE STEERING REQUIRES A HEAVY DRIVER INPUT IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED I WAS OFF THE ROADWAY BRIEFLY UNTIL I COULD MUSCLE IT BACK ONTO THE ROADWAY. A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE. I AM SURE IF THIS OCCURRED WITH MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER BEHIND THE WHEEL, AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ISSUE IS, SO I CONDUCTED AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS. SEEMS CLEARLY TO BE A PROBLEM THAT IS MORE AN ISSUE OF DESIGN THAT WEAR AND TEAR. WHAT SHOULD I DO? *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN FAILED AT 55,000 MILES. WHILE IT HAPPENED IN MY CASE WHILE I WAS TRYING TO PARK, IT COULD EASILY HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND CREATED A SERIOUS HAZARD.

THE CAR, A 2003 MINI COPPER, SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN WHILE I APPLIED BRAKE IN A EVENING TRAFFIC THAT WAS SLOWING DOWN NEAR A LIGHT/SIGNAL. IT FELT LIKE A STALL AND A LOSS OF POWER. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, AND ON CONFUSION, I TRIED TO ADJUST THE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE. AT THAT POINT, THE CAR'S POWER CAME BACK AND THE CAR ROLLED FORWARD AND HIT THE TRAILER HITCH OF THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME, CAUSING A 2' DENT AND CRACK ON THE FRONT BUMPER. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS A LOW-SPEED IMPACT AND DID NOT CAUSE ANY PERSONAL INJURY. SINCE THIS WAS AN UNUSUAL EXPERIENCE, I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER CHECKING THE WEB. THEY SUGGESTED CHECKING THE SOFTWARE VERSION ($90) AND A REVISION ($180). THE COST OF FIXING THE BUMPER WOULD BE MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED AS CAR WAS MOVING. NO APPARENT REASON FOR FAILURE. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL CAR WITHOUT THE STEERING. I WAS NOT GOING TOO FAST BUT IF IT HAD HAPPENED AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. STEERING REMAINED UNUSUABLE UNTIL CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND COOLED SLIGHTLY. WHEN I STARTED IT, IT WAS FINE. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR OR SO.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COPPER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE ON THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD WHINING NOISE. THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE LAST TIME THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN AND DRAINED THE BATTERY. THE CONTACT HAD TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO START IT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE THEN JERKED VIOLENTLY FOLLOWED BY AN INDEPENDENT RESET OF THE POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT BARELY MISSED CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER NOR WAS THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND HARNESS WAS MELTED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 5/24/11 *CN THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 06/10/11

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WAS STIFF AND IT WAS SOON EVIDENT THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS STARTING TO FAIL. THE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN. AFTER PULLING BACK INTO THE PARKING SPOT, SHUTTING THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING BECAME FUNCTIONAL. AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. POWER STEERING NOW APPEARS TO BE COMPLETELY NON-FUNCTIONING. COINCIDENTALLY, THIS CAR HAS ALREADY HAD A STEERING PUMP REPLACEMENT IN DECEMBER 2004 WITH 23070 MILES ON IT. THE FIRST POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE WAS GRADUAL, BUT ALARMING FOR SUCH A LOW-MILEAGE VEHICLE. THIS MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED WITH LESS THAN 48000 MILES ON THE NEW PUMP AND SUGGESTS A FAULTY PART/DESIGN WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE MORE SERIOUS INCIDENTS.