2004 Mini Cooper complaints

OUR 2004 MINI COOPER (CVT) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS ONLY 74,000 MILE ON IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BUMP ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 71,000.

2004 MINI COOPER NON S , TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO A MIDLAND TRANSMISSION. *TR

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS PLACING ITEMS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, HIS CALF WAS BURNED BY THE EXTENDED TAIL PIPE. THE DRIVER HAS INCURRED MULTIPLE BURNS TO HIS CALF DUE TO THE EXTENDED TAIL PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE COMPENSATION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

TRANSMISSION GAVE WAY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 15-20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER. A DIAGNOSTIC HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,640.

POWER STEERING FAILED SOON AFTER STARTING. THE CAR HAD BEEN OUTSIDE ON A COLD DAY, BUT NOT UNUSUAL (~20 DEGREES F). IT FUNCTIONED AGAIN WHEN RE-STARTED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY POWER STEERING PUMP DIED I COULD HARDLY CHANGE LANES ON THE FREEWAY, IT FELT LIKE MY STEERING WHEEL HAD LOCKED, TURNING IN ANY ANGLE WAS VERY HARD WORST THAN DRIVING A TRUCK, I KEPT A FIRM GRIP WITH ONE HAND WHILE TRYING TO CONTROL THE GEARS, MY ARMS, BACK, AND HAND IS STILL HURTING, HAD NO WARNING SIGNALS, IT WHEEL JUST LOCKED UP AND WAS VERY HARD TO MANAGED I WASNT ABLE TO HANDLE THE CAR DID NOT FEEL SAFE, DID NOT HAVE FULL CONTROL OF HANDLING THE STEERING THIS IS SERIOUS PROTENTIAL ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE RECALLS BUT NOT FOR MY VIN 2004. MY MINI IS NOW IN THE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE PUMP REPLACE AND THE FAN. THIS IS A DEADLY ISSUE AND MINI SHOULD RECALL AND PAY FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET WE SHOULD GET REFUNDS, SO FAR OUT OF POCKET IS OVER $1100.00, I HOPE THIS SEND A MESSAGE TO THE MANAUFACTURE THAT LIVES ARE AT STAKE HERE, GREAT CAR BUT NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT FULL CONTROL. I'M SO THANKFUL I DIDNT HAVE TO MOVE QUICKLY OUT OF THE WAY OR I WOULD NOT BE HERE TO REPORT THIS BAD EXPERIENCE I LOST A DAY OF WORK TRYING TO GET THIS RESOLVED AND THE COST OF A RENTAL CAR. *TR

APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO I WAS ON ORTEGA HIGHWAY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WITH MY CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT. AS I WAS MANEUVERING THE MINI ALONG THE CURVY ROAD THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. FORTUNATELY I HAD GOTTEN THROUGH THE WORST OF THE HAIR PINS AND WAS GOING SLOWER THAN THE SPEED LIMIT ETC. SUDDENLY THE STEERING BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN. MY HUSBAND WAS INFORMED BY A MECHANIC THAT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING FAN. WE HAD IT REPLACED AND IT SEEMED OKAY. ON NOVEMBER 26TH I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR GOING TO MY SISTERS I WENT TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN. I WAS FORTUNATE ONCE AGAIN AS THERE WAS NO ON COMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE IF THERE WAS I WOULD HAVE HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISION. THERE ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS FOR THIS ISSUE AND I HAD NEVER BEEN INFORMED OF POWER STEERING ISSUES BEING SO SUDDEN ON THIS VEHICLE. I BELIEVE A MASSIVE RECALL FOR THE 02-04 YEARS WOULD BE AN EXTREMELY GOOD IDEA. I GOGGLED THE ISSUE AND HAVE FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH THESE YEARS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. I HAVE A TRUCK OLDER THAN IT THAT HAS NEVER HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING REPLACED. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE IT NOW DUE TO FINANCIAL ISSUES. THE PUMP ALONE IS BETWEEN 400-500 DOLLARS. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE GET THEM TO RECALL THIS BEFORE SOMEONE DIES! OR IS THAT WHAT EVERYONE IS WAITING FOR?!? *TR

I BOUGHT A USED 2004 MINI COOPER LAST YEAR. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS ON A CURVY ROAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD GET VERY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL, ESPECIALLY IN A SHARP CURVE. WITH NO DEALERSHIPS WITHIN 150 MILES I PUT UP WITH IT. NOW IT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME AND CANNOT BE DISCONNECTED WITHOUT TAKING THE BATTERY CABLE OFF THE BATTERY. IT RUINED 2 BATTERIES BEFORE I REALIZED IT WAS STAYING ON 24 HOURS A DAY. I BOUGHT THE REPAIR BOOK AND WIRING DIAGRAM CD'S TO FIND IT IS STRAIGHT WIRED FROM BATTERY TO INSIDE THE PUMP WHICH GLOWS BRIGHT RED AFTER RUNNING A FEW HOURS. IF I HAD ANY TYPE OF OIL LEAK, IT WOULD CATCH ON FIRE. I CONTACTED A REPAIR CENTER IN ATLANTA GA AND THEY CAN CHANGE IT OUT FOR ABOUT $1000+ FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE OPEN FACED FAN THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE IN THE PUMP. IT FAILED THE EXACT MONTH MY WARRANTY WAS OVER AND THEY SAID SORRY CHARLIE. CANNOT CURRENTLY PAY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED SO IT HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY YARD FOR ALMOST A YEAR. *TR

POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN EARLY 2008. LUCKILY THE CAR WAS PARKED WHEN THAT HAPPENED OR ELSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER SINCE MINI STEERING WHEEL IS ALREADY HEAVIER THAN OTHER CARS. HAD IT FIXED (REPLACED) AT THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD TO PAY AROUND $1000 SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE THAT THE STEERING POWER PUMP DIED THIS EARLY ONLY AFTER 4 YEARS. IT'S A RIPOFF FOR THE CONSUMERS. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT THIS. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE LOWER SHAFT STARTED TO HAVE ISSUES AS WELL. THEY STARTED TO MAKE CREAKING NOISES. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY QUOTED AT ALMOST $1000 TO REPLACE THE PARTS. THE STEERING COLUMN AND POWER PUMP SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY FOUR YEARS! *TR

PASSENGER WINDOW DOES NOT ROLL DOWN. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE. THE FIRST TIME, IT CORRECTED ITSELF AFTER A FEW DAYS. *TR

AT FIRST MY BATTERY DIED AFTER I CAME OUT OF WORK. I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY SINCE I DIDN'T LEAVE ANYTHING ON. SO I GOT THE BATTERY REPLACED FOR $200. RECENTLY THE STEERING HAS BEEN CUTTING OUT WHILE DRIVING. IF YOU PULL OFF INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURN OFF THE CAR YOU CAN STILL HEAR THE COOLING FAN GOING. AFTER APPROX 30 MIN THE POWER STEERING WILL RETURN TO NORMAL UNTIL IT OVERHEATS AGAIN. SO MY BATTERY WAS BEING DRAINED BY THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN. *TR

POWER WINDOW ON PASSENGER SIDE COMES DOWN ONLY SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WORK FOR WEEKS. STEERING IS MAKING NOISES. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER WILL NOT COME DOWN. *TR

THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER HAS FAILED. I BELIEVE THAT THIS FAILURE MADE THE CAR DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE CAR IS A LOW-MILEAGE VEHICLE (43,000 MILES AT 4 YEARS) AND I BELIEVE THIS COMPONENT HAS FAILED PREMATURELY. I AM A MEMBER OF SEVERAL MINI ENTHUSIAST COMMUNITIES AND AM AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MINI. WWW.MINI2.COM HAS REPORTS OF AROUND 1 IN 4 VEHICLES HAVING THIS PUMP FAIL PREMATURELY. I BELIEVE AN INVESTIGATION IS IMPORTANT DUE TO MEMBER REPORTS OF FIRES STARTING UNDER THE HOOD. THE PART WAS REPLACE AT A MINI DEALERSHIP. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER, HAD SEVERAL PROBLEM WITH FRONT EXCEL , HYDOROPLATES AND DANGEROUS CAR TO DRIVE. *TR

FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AND LOCKED UP CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT 40MPH. NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AS I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE SLIDE. HOWEVER I HAVE SPOKEN TO BOTH DEALER AND MANUFACTURE AND THEY BOTH ADMIT THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THESE VEHICLES BOTH AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL ARE WEAK AND CAN CAUSE FAILURE AT ANY SPEED WHICH WILL RESULT IN LOCKUP OF THE FRONT TIRES. NUMEROUS REPORTS FROM OTHER MINI COOPER OWNERS SHOW THE SAME. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN THIS VEHICLE 3 YEARS AGO FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW IT NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN. THE ONLY REPAIR IS TO PUT A REBUILT UNIT IN PLACE WITH THE SAME WEAK GEARS. MINI NO LONGER WARRANTIES THE REPAIRS AS OF 2008 BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS. I GOT LUCKY BUT I CARRY MY 3YR OLD SON WITH ME MOST OF THE TIME AND THIS DOES NOT FEEL LIKE A SAFE VEHICLE CONSIDERING OUT OF NOWHERE WITH NO WARNING THIS FAILURE COULD OCCUR AGAIN. BOTH MINI USA, BMW HAVE BEEN VERY UNHELPFUL IN THE MATTER UNLESS I'M WILLING TO PAY OVER $1000 TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A MINI COOPER DEALER JUST TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. *TR

I HAD DRIVEN 2004 MINI FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTE, THEN PARKED IT IN DRIVEWAY. WITHIN 15 MINUTES I LOOKED OVER TO SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I OPENED THE COMPARTMENT AND GOT HELP. WE PUSHED IT INTO A NEARBY FIELD AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPT. IF IT HAD STAYED IN THE DRIVE, IT WOULD HAVE ALSO IGNITED 2 CARS, THE HOUSE AND A BOAT. WHO KNOW ABOUT PEOPLE AND ANIMALS. I ALMOST GOT RUN OVER TRYING TO STOP THE MINI AS IT WAS PUSHED. AFTER THE CAR WAS OUT, WE HAD IT TOWED TO INSKIP AUTO IN WARWICK RI. JEOF SAID AT FIRST IT WAS A POWER STEERING HOSE THAT BURST AND GOT ON THE HOT EXHAUST...IGNITING. AFTER LOOKING AT IT FURTHER AND WITH METLIFE INSURANCE AGENT, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING FAN AND PUMP FAILURE. THIS OVERHEATED THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS, TO START THE ELECTRICAL FIRE. NEITHER THE INSURANCE NOR INSKIP FELT IT WAS COVERED BY THEM. I AM TO PAY $2,600. TODAY WHEN IT PICK IT UP. THIS COVERS LABOR, A POWER STEERING PUMP, FAN AND HARNESS. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET TO UPSETTING TO ME AND FIND AT LEAST 250 POSTED MINI'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MINI DOES NOT HAVE TO RECALL IT. ARE THEY WAITING FOR JUST AS MANY DEATHS? *TR

I HAVE A 2004 MINI COOPER WITH ABOUT 61000 MILES, AND HAVE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. IT WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION AS THE STEERING LOCKED AS I WAS DRIVING ON A LOS ANGELES FREEWAY AT A HIGH SPEED. THERE IS NO WARNING INDICATION, AND THERE IS DEFINITELY A POTENTIAL DANGER. *TR

VENT FAN IN MOTOR COMPARTMENT SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE CAUSING DAMAGE TO VARIOUS ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND SMOKE DAMAGE. *TR

TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 57,000 MILES. WARRANTY JUST RAN OUT, QUOTED PRICE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION, CLUTCH, PRESSURE PLATE AND THROW OUT BEARING $7,000 MINIMUM. DEALER REFUSES TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 25 MPH AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER IT WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT ALL OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OVER THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 78,402.

PASSENGER SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW CEASED OPERATION IN THE 'UP' POSITION. DUE TO THE VEHICLE DESIGN, THE TOP OF THE WINDOW GLASS CAN NOW POTENTIALLY CONTACT THE DOOR FRAME WHEN CLOSING, PRESENTING A BREAKAGE HAZARD. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, THE WINDOW BEGAN TO OPERATE, THEN FAILED AGAIN SEVERAL WEEKS LATER - CURRENTLY INOPERATIVE. WIDESPREAD EVIDENCE ON THE INTERNET OF SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH OTHER VEHICLES OF THIS TYPE - MINI COOPER. *TR

DRIVING TO WORK AND POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS FAILURE CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR, BUT IT TOOK A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EFFORT. HAD MY WIFE BEEN DRIVING, IT IS LIKELY THAT SHE WOULD LOST CONTROL. *JB

MY 2004 MINI COOPER S HAS INCURRED TWO CRACKED WINDSHIELDS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, REQUIRING THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD TO BE REPLACED. EACH CRACK OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AFTER A SMALL PEBBLE NICKED THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER DRIVING FOR NEARLY TWENTY YEARS I FIND THIS RATE OF OCCURRENCE TO BE UNACCEPTABLE. ALTHOUGH THE ANGLE OF THE WINDSHIELD MAY BE AT A STEEPER GRADE THAN MOST VEHICLES, MINI HAS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE SOLUTIONS SUCH AS A STRONGER THICKER WINDSHIELD. A RESOLUTION IS NEEDED TO PREVENT FELLOW MINI OWNERS FROM PURCHASING REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELDS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. *JB

BRAKE FAILURE - WHILE COASTING IN "BRAKE AND RELEASE TRAFFIC", THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT CATCH. LOOKING DOWN AT MY FOOT, I WATCHED MY FOOT FLOOR THE BRAKE PEDAL AND FELT NO BRAKE PEDAL CATCH. LOOKING UP, MY CAR CONTINUED ROLLING FORWARD AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR SUSTAINED OVER $2000 DAMAGE. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT AND THE OTHER CAR WAS NOT DAMAGED. A MONTH PRIOR, THE MINI DEALERSHIP HAD DONE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE BRAKE WORK ON MY MINI. BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT, I ASKED MINI IF IT COULD HAVE BEEN AN AIR BUBBLE OR SOMETHING ELSE RELATED TO THE BRAKE JOB. MINI SAID NO; ANY PROBLEM WOULD HAVE OCCURRED A COUPLE DAYS AFTER THE JOB; NOT A MONTH LATER. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY CHECKED THE BRAKES. MINI SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. WHAT COULD CAUSE THIS? I'M CONCERNED THAT MY BRAKES COULD FAIL AGAIN , THIS TIME WITH MORE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES, EVEN DEATH! PLEASE HELP! *JB

COMPLAINT REGARDING THE POSITION OF THE HORN BUTTONS ON THE 2004 MINI COOPER S. *MR THE CONSUMER WOULD TRY TO HONK THE HORN BY PRESSING THE MIDDLE OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. *SC

THE WINDSHIELD IN THE CONSUMER'S 2004 MINI COOPER CRACKED ABOUT 4 INCHES TO THE LEFT OF THE VIN NUMBER. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE EDGE AND MOVED UP TO THE RIGHT. *NM THE DEALER STATED IT WAS A STRESS CRACK. *JB

WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY A VERY VERY SMALL PEBBLE SIZE STONE HITS UNDERNEATH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE WINDSHIELD IMMIDEIATLY SPIDERS ALL OVER THE WINDOW. I'VE BEEN TOLD ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH THE BMW WINDSHIELDS WERE CORRECTED, BUT I'VE HEARD FROM OVER 20 FELLOW MINI OWNERS OF RANDOM CRACKING AND FAILURES WITHIN THE FIRST 2000 MILES!!! THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE, AND IT ISNT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECUASE IT WAS THE RESULT OF AN IMPACT.*AK

I WAS DRIVING NORMAL. I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) THE CAR MOVE A LITTLE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STALLED. THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS HONKING AND I QUICKLY SHIFT TO N AND TRIED STARTING AND THE CAR STARTED. MY CAR HAS ONLY 1650 MILES. I CALLED MINI THE NEXT DAY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE REP TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALLS OR ISSUES KNOWN TO MINI AT THIS TIME. *AK