2006 Mini Cooper complaints

THE BMW MINI COOPER 2006 HAS THE SAME SAFETY PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : EA08001, NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER : 08V384000 BUT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE VEHICLE RECALL LIST. THERE ARE MANY MANY OWNERS HAVING TO PAY $1000 - $2000 FOR REPAIRS CONCERNING DEFECTS TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE BROKEN CIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR LIGHT. THE REPAIR OF THE DETECTION MAT FORCES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PASSENGER SEAT. MY VEHICLE IS NOW ONE OF THE INCREASINGLY LARGE NUMBER OF MINI COOPERS WITH THE FAILED SAFETY SYSTEM. MANY STATES HAVE YEARLY SAFETY INSPECTIONS AND THE AIRBAG SAFETY SITUATION NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE THE INSPECTION PASSES. THE MINI COOPER "R" SERIES VEHICLES NEED TO BE ADDED INTO THE EA08-001 NHTSA RECALL 08V384000. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 MINI COOPER CONV S, APROX 53,000 MILES, HAS A CVT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AT THIS TIME SHIFTING IN 1ST, 2ND AND 3RD GEARS HAS BEEN ERRATIC, WITH VERY JERKY SHIFTING AND SPEED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS OCCUPIED WHEN THE AIR BAG DEACTIVATED WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT MAT SENSOR BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHICH CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE SEAT MAT SENSOR. THE DEALER DID NOT REPLACE THE SEAT MAT SENSOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS CONTINUOUSLY LIT ON MY 2006 MINI COOPER. INITIALLY THE LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENTLY ON; HOWEVER NOW IT REMAINS PERMANENTLY LIGHT. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER OC3 MAT IS FAULTY AND WILL BE REQUIRE A $1,000+ FIX. INTERNET SEARCHES HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE SAME ISSUE HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES ON SOME VEHICLES, EVEN AFTER BEING REPAIRED WITH NEW PARTS. ADDITIONALLY, BMW, THE PARENT COMPANY OF MINI, HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THEIR BMW VEHICLES AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED. MINI OFTEN USES BMW PARTS IN THEIR VEHICLES SO IT IS POSSIBLE AND QUITE LIKELY THAT SIMILAR PARTS WERE USED. THIS IS A GENUINE SAFETY ISSUE AND ONE THAT IS WIDE SPREAD WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. *TR

THE CAR WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF OUR TOWNHOME. THAT AFTERNOON, MY NEIGHBOR KNOCKED ON THE DOOR TO TELL ME THAT THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THAT SHE HAD HEARD A LOUD POP UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER CALLING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE FIREFIGHTERS CAUTIOUSLY RAISED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT SOMETHING HAD CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THEY TOLD ME TO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE, AND I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY, HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC WHO WORKS ON OUR AUTOMOBILES, AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY SENT A CLAIMS AGENT TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE. THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND NUMEROUS OTHER PARTS WERE DAMAGED. *LN *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED LATE AT NIGHT ON A LONG ROAD TRIP HOME. WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL AND WELL KNOWN BY MINI/BMW. *JS

POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. DEALERSHIP MECHANICS STATED FAN AND PUMP HAD SEIZED. *JS

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE SENSOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS BROKEN. THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MINI'S BEGINNING WITH THE 2002 MODEL, BUT ESPECIALLY WITH THE 2006. BMW WHICH OWNS MINI HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME YEAR CAR AND ISSUED A RECALL, BUT MINI NEVER DID. THE DEALER WANTS $1500 TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT OTHERS WITH THE SAME CAR HAVE HAD THE PART BREAK AS MANY AS THREE TIMES. THE SENSOR IS TO DETECT THAT THERE IS A PASSENGER AND THE WEIGHT OF THE PASSENGER SO THAT THE FORCE OF THE AIRBAG CAN BE REGULATED IF A CHILD OR CHILD CAR SEAT IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. IT IS UNSCIONABLE THAT MINI WOULD JEOPARDIZE SAFETY AFTER THEY HAVE KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS. CUSTOMER RELATIONS AT MINI USA WAS UNWILLING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *TR

POWER STEERING LOSE THE POWER SUDDENLY, HARD TO TURN OR CHANGE LANE WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. CHECKED THIS CAR HISTORY, THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS CHANGED AT BMW DEALER IN 3 YEAR AGO. THIS TIME THE STEERING LOST ITS POWER AGAIN. *TR

IN ADDITION TO MY PREVIOUS POST, MORE INFORMATION ON THIS SITUATION, THIS NOTE SENT TO MINIUSA.COM, MY 2006 MINI COOPER HAS THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ABOVE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND IS GENERATING AN ERROR 71, PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR FAULT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY SENSOR MAT UNDER THE SEAT. FROM MY RESEARCH I SEE THAT THIS HAS BEEN COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE OC3 SEAT MAT SENSOR WHICH IS USED IN BMW AS WELL AS MINI MODELS. I AM REQUESTING THAT THIS SENSOR BE REPLACED IN MY MINI COOPER AS I FEAR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE DOCUMENTED FAULTY SENSOR. THE RECALL IS STATED AT HTTP://WWW.BMWUSA.COM/STANDARD/CONTENT/CONTACTUS/VOLUNTARYRECALL.ASPX, *TR

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON AND DEALER HAS SAID THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS BAD AND THE PAD AND SENSOR MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1400. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT A CAR THIS POPULAR HAS THIS KIND OF SAFETY ISSUE. I WOULD EXPECT MINI TO AT THE VERY LEAST TO COVER THE COST OF THE PAD OR SENSOR. UNBELIEVABLE. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, HE NOTICED A WHINING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT COVER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,160.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

I WAS DRIVING IN MODERATE TRAFFIC (40MPH) WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY JERKED SO HARD IT FELT LIKE SOMEONE HIT ME FROM BEHIND. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, I WAS FEELING THE JERKINESS SLIGHTLY AND INTERMITTENTLY (FELT LIKE DOWNSHIFTING). AFTER READING PEOPLE'S COMPLAINTS IN MINI FORUMS, I'M STARTING TO THINK THIS COULD BE THE BEGINNING OF MY TRANSMISSION FAILURE. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT BUT IF THIS CONTINUES, THERE COULD BE SOME MAJOR INJURIES INVOLVED. ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO, MY MINI STARTED TO OVERHEAT. I GET MY CAR SERVICED REGULARLY SO I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW MY WATER LEVELS AND OIL LEVELS GOT SO LOW TO OVERHEAT MY CAR. AFTER READING UP ON THIS, OTHER MINI OWNERS FACED SIMILAR ISSUES. SO NOW, I AM REQUIRED TO CHECK WATER AND OIL LEVELS AT EVERY 1500 MILES TO AVOID OVERHEATING. A LITTLE HIGH MAINTENANCE? TELL ME ABOUT IT!! *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN IN AN INTERSECTION. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2006 MINI COOPER FOR MY TEEN CHILD. WE NOW DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG NOTIFICATION SHOULD NOT BE ON. WE TOOK IT TO A BMW DEALER TO HAVE THIS LOOKED, AND WE WERE TOLD THAT IT'S DUE TO A FAULTY PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM REQUIRING A REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $1700. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THIS COULD BE SAFETY CONCERN, AND I BELIEVE THAT BMW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED. I AM NOT SURE IF THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY IF A PASSENGER IS SEATED. THIS IS A SITUATION THAT NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED THROUGH A RECALL. MINI SHOULD EXTENDED THEIR AIRBAG SYSTEM WARRANTY. *TR

I HAD TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE AIR BAG SENSORS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT REPLACED LAST WEEK, BECAUSE I WILL HAVE A PASSENGER ON A TRIP TO UTAH SOON. WHEN I COMPLAINED TO ONE OF THE SERVICE PEOPLE, THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS RARELY USED, HE STARTED BLOVIATING AS TO HOW HEAT CAN BREAK DOWN THE MATERIALS IN THE SENSORS. *TR

FROM MY RESEARCH, THE 2006 MINI HAS A FAULTY PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM REQUIRING A REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF OVER $1000. SINCE 2006 WAS THE FIRST YEAR FOR THIS REQUIREMENT, I BELIEVE THEY DID NOT PROPERLY TEST THE DEVICE BEFORE RELEASING THEM INTO PRODUCTION AS I HAVE RESEARCHED AND READ ON MANY FAILURES OF THIS DEVICE. I CANNOT DETERMINE CONCLUSIVELY IF THE AIRBAG WILL OR WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THIS SITUATION AND MINI WILL BE LIABLE IN A SITUATION IF IT DOES NOT DEPLOY THE AIRBAG PROPERLY WITH A PASSENGER SEATED. THIS IS A SITUATION THAT NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED THROUGH A RECALL. MINI EXTENDED THEIR AIRBAG SYSTEM WARRANTY ON THE 2002 - 2005 MODELS TO 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES AND SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR THE 2006+ MODELS. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON FOR NO REASON, IT IS DUE TO A FAULTY SENSOR THAT MINI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO CORRECT. I DON'T HAVE 1700 DOLLARS TO REPLACE PASSENGER SEAT - SO ALL PASSENGERS WILL BE AT RISK WHEN I DRIVE, AS THE AIR BAG WON'T DEPLOY OR WILL DEPLOY AT FULL FORCE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70MPH IN FAR LEFT LANE AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. THE BRAKE AND STEERING WHEEL GOT STIFF AND WOULD NOT WORK RIGHT. THE AREA OF THE FREEWAY WAS CROWDED DUE TO CONSTRUCTION AND IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TO THE SIDE. THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS ENTIRELY TO CLOSE AND IM SURPRISED I WAS NOT HIT. *TR

MY CAR IS A 07/2006 MINI COOPER WITH ONLY 22,900 MILES AS OF 06/2013. WHEN SOMEONE IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED LIGHT ARE INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE MINI DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE FAULT CODES INDICATE AN ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR--WHICH SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE COST CITED FOR THAT OPERATION WAS $900. THE DEALERSHIP SPECULATED THAT, DESPITE THE INDICATOR LIGHTS, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SHOULD STILL DEPLOY IF THE PASSENGER WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT. HOWEVER, WHEN BMW, MANUFACTURER OF MINI, ANNOUNCED A RECALL IN NORTH AMERICA OF FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR MATS INVOLVING APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MODEL YEAR 2004-06 BMWS, AFFECTED OWNERS WERE WARNED THAT THEY SHOULD CONTACT THEIR DEALER "IF THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG 'ON-OFF' LAMP ARE ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY." IN THAT SITUATION, BMW RECOMMENDED THAT CUSTOMERS NOT USE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED IMMEDIATELY, WARNING THAT "A POSSIBLE DEFECT MAY KEEP THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG FROM OPENING IN A CRASH." THUS, IT SEEMS EVIDENT THAT FAULTY SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSORS SHOULD BE REGARDED AS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. YET, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS, WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEMS WITH THE SENSORS IN THE MINI, BMW HAS NEITHER EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO FINANCIALLY COMPENSATE OWNERS FOR AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT, NOR ISSUED A RECALL. THE NHTSA SHOULD COMPEL BMW TO ENSURE THE SAFETY O

FROM MY RESEARCH, THE 2006 MINI HAS A FAULTY PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM REQUIRING A REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF OVER $1000. SINCE 2006 WAS THE FIRST YEAR FOR THIS REQUIREMENT, I BELIEVE THEY DID NOT PROPERLY TEST THE DEVICE BEFORE RELEASING THEM INTO PRODUCTION AS I HAVE RESEARCHED AND READ ON MANY FAILURES OF THIS DEVICE. I CANNOT DETERMINE CONCLUSIVELY IF THE AIRBAG WILL OR WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THIS SITUATION AND MINI WILL BE LIABLE IN A SITUATION IF IT DOES NOT DEPLOY THE AIRBAG PROPERLY WITH A PASSENGER SEATED. THIS IS A SITUATION THAT NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED THROUGH A RECALL. MINI EXTENDED THEIR AIRBAG SYSTEM WARRANTY ON THE 2002 - 2005 MODELS TO 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES AND SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR THE 2006+ MODELS. *TR

DRIVING ON ROAD WENT TO TURN ,AND STEERING LOSS ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT.L *TR ## VIN FAILED ##

AIR BAG LIGHT ABOVE REAR VIEW MIRROR ILLUMINATES WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE, BUT HAVE NOT DISCOVERED A RECALL OR ANY INFORMATION TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. SEEMS IT SHOULD BE FIXED AS THEY DID WITH THE 2002 MODEL, COVERING THE REPAIR TO 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES. *TR

I HAVE AN '06 MINI COOPER AND NEVER HAD ANY ENGINE/TRANSMISSION ISSUES PRIOR TO TODAY. ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE WAS DONE BY THE MINI DEALER. TODAY LEAVING TO GO TO WORK, I STARTED THE CAR, PUT MY SEAT BELT ON, CHECKED THE MIRRORS, ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOWS, PUT THE CAR GEAR IN "D" AND STARTED MOVING FORWARD OUT A PARKING LOT, AND AFTER A FEW SECONDS WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR LOST ALL ACCELERATION AND CAME TO A STOP. THEN THE CAR WON'T REVERSE NOR MOVE FORWARD WHILE IN ANY GEAR. TOWED TO THE DEALER AND LATER WAS TOLD IT'S THE CVT TRANSMISSION AND IT WILL COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE CVT TRANSMISSION. *TR

PURCHASED CAR USED. WHEN PASSENGER SITS IN FRONT SEAT, AIRBAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY GOES ON AND OFF AND THEN STAYS ON. HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE AND THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR IS LIKELY BROKEN AND IS A $1500 FIX AT THE DEALER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY MANUFACTURER. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG FAILED. SEAT PASSENGER DETECTOR FAILURE IS CAUSE. A REVIEW OF ON LINE TROUBLE SITES SHOW THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WHICH MANUFACTURER DENIES AND DELAYS REPAIR. THOUGH MINI HAS MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THIS, THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR AS THEY STATE "OUT OF WARRANTY". THIS IS A BASIC SAFETY FEATURE WHICH IS FLAWED AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO IMMEDIATE AND BROAD RECALL. *TR

DURING THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON. AT TIMES IT WOULD STAY ON FOR A LONG PERIOD, OTHER TIMES NOT AS LONG. THIS WEEK THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AFTER A PASSENGER LEFT THE CAR AND THE ALARM SOUNDED FOR APX. 10 MINUTES UNTIL I STOPPED AND SHUT OFF THE CAR. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ALSO CAME ON. I TOOK IT FOR SERVICING TODAY BUT THE GARAGE COULD NOT GET ANY CODES FROM THE SRS CONTROL UNIT. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY TRIP PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT. ADJUSTING WEIGHT ON SEAT WOULD INITIALLY EXTINGUISH; HOWEVER, PROBLEM IS NOW CONSTANT. COST PROHIBITIVE TO REPLACE. *TR

DRIVING ALONG AT 30 MPH WHEN AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND OVER HEAD PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF. HAD PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM REPLACED ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHT COME BACK ON 3 DAYS LATER. I HAVE HAD THE SYSTEM CHECKED 3 TIMES ( WITH LIGHT TURNED OFF WHEN RETURNED) ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHT COME BACK ON A FEW DAYS LATER. *TR

PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WON'T GO OFF. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE AIRBAGS WILL WORK IN A ACCIDENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED AND STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHIFT INTO MANUAL MODE TO SHIFT THE GEARS UP AND DOWN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO THE COOLING SYSTEM EMITTING SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE AND CORROSION ON THE ENGINE ITSELF. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR FAILED AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE AIRBAGS IN THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AND DRIVER MAY BE DEACTIVATED AND NOT WORK IN A CRASH. MINI IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM HAS CHOSE TO IGNORE IT. IT IS A GREAT SAFETY HAZARD. MY WIFE HAS REFUSED TO RIDE IN THE CAR OR LET ANYONE ELSE RIDE IN IT. *TR

MY 2006 MINI COOPER HAD A AIR BAG LIGHT JUST TURN ON ABOUT A WEEK AGO FOR NO REASON FOR WHAT I CAN TELL. I CALLED MY MINI DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS PROBABLY A WORN OUT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $900-1000 TO REPLACE THE SEAT AND THE SENSOR. OUR MINI ONLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 50K MILES AND 50% OF THOSE MILES THERE WASN'T ANYONE EVER SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT TO WARE IT OUT. I HAVE SEEN ON SEVERAL OTHER FORUMS THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED BY BMW BUT NOT BY MINI. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL MINI'S AS I HAVE SEEN THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THEY HAD REPAIRED THIS PREVIOUSLY UNDER WARRANTY. WE THEN CONTACTED MINI USA AND THEY SAID OUR VIN# WAS NOT LISTED FOR A RECALL. I MENTIONED THERE ARE MINI COOPERS IN FORUMS ALL OVER THE INTERNET WITH AIRBAG LIGHT ISSUES. *TR

WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE, 2006 MINI COOPER, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AT THE TIME. THERE WAS AN AUGUST, 2008 BMW RECALL ON 150,000 2002-2006 MINI COOPER'S FOR THIS SAME PASSENGER LIGHT AIRBAG ISSUE. BMW EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS ON ALL OF THESE RECAILED VEHICLES BY VIN#. I HAD THIS DIAGNOSED BY A BMW SERVICE CENTER & A FAULTY PASSENGER SENSOR PAD IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS CAUSING THE ISSUE. THE SENSOR PAD IS ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PASSENGER SEAT SO BOTH ITEMS HAVE TO BE REPLACED WHICH WILL COST APPROX.$1,200. I SPOKE TO MINI USA & MY VIN# WAS NOT ON THE 2008 RECALL. I THEN ASKED MINI USA HOW DO I GET MY VIN# ON THE RECALL LIST & WAS TO TOLD TO GO TO THIS WEBSITE & FILE A COMPLAINT. AFTER YOUR INVESTIGATION, MINI USA TOLD ME THAT YOU CAN HAVE MY VEHICLE VIN# ADDED TO THE AUGUST, 2008 RECALL. MINI USA WAS ALSO UNABLE TO TELL ME IF MY PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG WILL PROPERLY DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A ACCIDENT. I CONSIDER THIS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE (POSSIBLE DEATH) IF THE AIRBAG DOES NOT PROPERLY DEPLOY BECAUSE OF A FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR PAD! PLEASE HELP.....THANKS *TR

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON. AT FIRST THE LIGHTS WERE COMING ON AND OFF NOW THEY JUST STAY ON. NO INCIDENTS ON A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE. BOTH A MINI DEALERSHIP AND ANOTHER MECHANIC BOTH SAY IT IS THE AIR BAG WEIGHT SENSOR IN THE SEAT AND THAT THE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

I HEARD A WHIRRING SOUND AND A LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. TOOK IT TO THE MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP BOB SMITH WHERE I HAD THE CAR SERVICED AND WHERE IT WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED. THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT PULL ANY CODES, JUST TOOK THE CAR FOR A RIDE. HE PRONOUNCED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AS IT IS A SEALED TRANSMISSION AS IT IS A "SEALED" TRANSMISSION AND THEREFORE IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AT A COST OF $9000! HE THEN TOOK OFF $1500 FOR A COST OF $7500! GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM TO FIND OUT THAT SO MANY MINI'S HAD THIS PROBLEM THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAD BEEN FILED. CONTACTED MINIUSA WHO SCOFFED AT THE PROBLEM AND OFFERED NO HELP OR RELIEF. HOPING THAT MINI WILL BE FORCED TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE AND THAT A RECALL WILL BE INITIATED BEFORE ANYONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SLIGHT INJURIES IN THE CRASH. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. .. UPDATED 02-07-13 *BF UPDATED 02/13/2013 *JS

PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHT IS LIGHTING UP. THIS HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT THAT CAUSED THIS. IT JUST WENT BAD. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE FOR MIN AND BMW BUT THEY ARE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE THE SENSOR WHICH RUNS ANYWHERE FROM $900 TO $1600 TO BE REPAIRED. THIS AUTOMOBILE HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED HAS LESS THAN 60K MILES AND IS A ONE OWNER. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAVE GONE BAD OTHER THAN THE PART MUST BE OF POOR QUALITY OR DESIGN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MINI USA SHOULD STEP UP AND RESOLVE THIS FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR

THE AIRBAGS LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON AT ALL. DOING RESEARCH I FOUND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM! AND APPARENTLY MINI USA IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY OF IT. *TR

WITHOUT ANY WARRANTING THE POWER STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN. THE CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE I JUST HAD DIAGNOSED TEST FOUR DAYS AGO ON THE CAR THE ONLY PROBLEM NOTED WAS THE THERMOSTAT. KNOW I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR. *TR

2006 MINI-COOPER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *SMD THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, BUT THEY DID STATE THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN THE PROCESS OF FAILING. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO GET ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO PAY 1/2 OF THE COST ON THE BILL, WHICH TOTALED $8,000. *JB

AIR BAG SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS RETURNED FAULT CODE 71. TECH CHECK ON SRS SYSTEM FOUND PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR FAULT. PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM IS DISABLED AS A RESULT. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST IS $1200. INTERNET SEARCHES FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MINI COOPER'S AND MINI REFUSES TO COVER WHEN OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

CAR LOST POWER AND STARTED RUNNING AND IDLING VERY ROUGH. SERVICE SHOP DISCOVERED THAT THE NYLON CAPS FOR THE HYDRAULIC LASH VALVES HAD DETERIORATED AND CRACKED AND IN SOME CASES HAD FALLEN COMPLETELY OFF HAVING A NEGATIVE AFFECT ON THE ENGINE COMPRESSION. THE ORIGINAL CAPS ARE BRIGHT YELLOW AND AFTER USE AND HEAT THEY TURN ORANGE/BROWN. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS SOME MINI'S HAVE STEEL LASH CAPS. SEEMS THAT A ENGINE COMPONENT SUSCEPTIBLE TO HEAT DAMAGE SHOULD NOT BE MADE OF NYLON/PLASTIC. THE CAR HAS A TOTAL OF 18 OF THESE LASH CAPS AND AT LEAST 12 ARE CLEARLY CRACKED. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE FROM MINI OR IN THE AFTERMARKET. MINI'S ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ROCKER ARMS WHICH IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR WHEN THE ONLY FAILURE IS SMALL NYLON CAPS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE RPM READINGS INCREASED AS THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND CAUSED AND INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE THAT EXISTED WITH THE STEERING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

2006 MINI CVT TRANSMISSION MADE A WEIRD NOISES AND STOPPED MOVING, JUST PRIOR TO THIS THERE WAS HESITATION IN ACCELERATION AND VERY LOUD NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATES CONTINUOUSLY WHETHER A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT OR NOT INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF FOR THE PASSENGER. MINI COOPER DENIES ANY PROBLEM WITH THEIR SAFETY AIRBAG SYSTEM, YET THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. *TR