High Severity Issue
This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.
This Problem Across All Years
I PARKED MY 2003 MINI COOPER S AT WORK, AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, I NOTICED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS STILL RUNNING. I WAS GOING INTO THE OFFICE GET A WRENCH TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY, AND WITHIN 5 MIN, AN EMAIL WAS SENT OUT "2003 MINI COOPER HEAVILY SMOKING IN PARKING LOT." AS SOON AS I GOT OUT THERE, THE FIRE/SMOKE HAS BEEN PUT OUT BY A COOLANT LINE THAT SPLIT OPEN BY THE FIRE AND PUT THE FLAMES OUT. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR, I COULD SEE THE POWER STEERING PUMP COMPLETELY BURNT. I FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AND SO FAR THIS IS OVER $4,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT AS I HAVE DONE MUCH RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THIS IS NOT A RARE INCIDENCE. IN FACT, IT IS VERY COMMON, AND BMW REFUSES TO RECALL THIS FAULTY DESIGNED PART. I AM JUST SO FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN IN MY GARAGE. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND INVESTIGATE BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN BMW, AS THEY HAVE STATED PUBLICLY THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I WILL PROVIDE ANY EVIDENCE NEEDED TO HELP THIS INVESTIGATION. THERE IS A MINI COOPER COMMUNITY THAT SHARES THEIR PROBLEMS AND FRUSTRATIONS HERE: HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/STOCK-PROBLEMS-ISSUES/73527-SPONTANEOUS-ENGINE-BAY-FIRES.HTML THE LIST IS ONLY GROWING, AS THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE. I HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE A DEATH FOR BMW TO RECOGNIZE THERE IS AN ISSUE. *TR
I PARKED MY 2003 MINI COOPER S AT WORK, AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, I NOTICED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS STILL RUNNING. I WAS GOING INTO THE OFFICE GET A WRENCH TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY, AND WITHIN 5 MIN, AN EMAIL WAS SENT OUT "2003 MINI COOPER HEAVILY SMOKING IN PARKING LOT." AS SOON AS I GOT OUT THERE, THE FIRE/SMOKE HAS BEEN PUT OUT BY A COOLANT LINE THAT SPLIT OPEN BY THE FIRE AND PUT THE FLAMES OUT. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR, I COULD SEE THE POWER STEERING PUMP COMPLETELY BURNT. I FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AND SO FAR THIS IS OVER $4,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT AS I HAVE DONE MUCH RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THIS IS NOT A RARE INCIDENCE. IN FACT, IT IS VERY COMMON, AND BMW REFUSES TO RECALL THIS FAULTY DESIGNED PART. I AM JUST SO FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN IN MY GARAGE. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND INVESTIGATE BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN BMW, AS THEY HAVE STATED PUBLICLY THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I WILL PROVIDE ANY EVIDENCE NEEDED TO HELP THIS INVESTIGATION. THERE IS A MINI COOPER COMMUNITY THAT SHARES THEIR PROBLEMS AND FRUSTRATIONS HERE: HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/STOCK-PROBLEMS-ISSUES/73527-SPONTANEOUS-ENGINE-BAY-FIRES.HTML THE LIST IS ONLY GROWING, AS THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE. I HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE A DEATH FOR BMW TO RECOGNIZE THERE IS AN ISSUE. *TR
FAILURE OF 2003 MINI COOPER MANUAL TRANSMISSION. MY CAR HAS BEEN UNDER REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I FIRST NOTICED THE CAR LOSING POWER GOING UPHILL, THEN IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR. NEXT MORNING I WAS UNABLE TO GET INTO REVERSE, WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT AND SOME GEARS COULD NOT BE ENGAGED. AT A STOP LIGHT I BEGAN HEARING A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE, LIKE METAL IN A BLENDER, THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN GEAR, I HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF THE INTERSECTION. THE DEALER OFFERED NOTHING. MY PRIVATE MECHANIC FOUND METAL SHREDS THROUGHOUT THE TRANSMISSION. SAID A BEARING HAD COME LOOSE AND DESTROYED THE INTERIOR OF THE TRANSMISSION, ALL AT 65K MILES. HE ALSO SAID THE ENGINE COULD HAVE FAILED WHILE ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS AND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE ENDANGERING. ALSO THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT AT 30K MILES. BOTH VERY COSTLY REPAIRS AND THE TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP A VERY SERIOUS LIFE THREAT. THE REPLACEMENT COSTS FOR THE TRANSMISSION WERE $3K AND THAT WAS FROM A PRIVATE MECHANIC. ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS A PLETHORA OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND INFORMATION THAT MINI COOPER KNOWS ABOUT THIS. NEITHER THE LOCAL DEALER NOR CORPORATE OFFICE WOULD OFFER ANY HELP IN REPLACEMENT COSTS. *TR
FAILURE OF 2003 MINI COOPER MANUAL TRANSMISSION. MY CAR HAS BEEN UNDER REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I FIRST NOTICED THE CAR LOSING POWER GOING UPHILL, THEN IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR. NEXT MORNING I WAS UNABLE TO GET INTO REVERSE, WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT AND SOME GEARS COULD NOT BE ENGAGED. AT A STOP LIGHT I BEGAN HEARING A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE, LIKE METAL IN A BLENDER, THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN GEAR, I HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF THE INTERSECTION. THE DEALER OFFERED NOTHING. MY PRIVATE MECHANIC FOUND METAL SHREDS THROUGHOUT THE TRANSMISSION. SAID A BEARING HAD COME LOOSE AND DESTROYED THE INTERIOR OF THE TRANSMISSION, ALL AT 65K MILES. HE ALSO SAID THE ENGINE COULD HAVE FAILED WHILE ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS AND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE ENDANGERING. ALSO THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT AT 30K MILES. BOTH VERY COSTLY REPAIRS AND THE TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP A VERY SERIOUS LIFE THREAT. THE REPLACEMENT COSTS FOR THE TRANSMISSION WERE $3K AND THAT WAS FROM A PRIVATE MECHANIC. ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS A PLETHORA OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND INFORMATION THAT MINI COOPER KNOWS ABOUT THIS. NEITHER THE LOCAL DEALER NOR CORPORATE OFFICE WOULD OFFER ANY HELP IN REPLACEMENT COSTS. *TR
ONE MORNING DRIVING ABOUT 100 MPH GOING UP TO CT I PAY A TOLL TAKE OFF THE CAR HESITATES IN FIRST GEAR THEN GOES OK ABOUT A 2 MILES FROM THE TOLL I AM DOING ABOUT 100 MPH AND SWITCH TO THE RIGHT LANE AND THE CAR JUST STOP GIVING ME POWER SO I GO TO CHANGE TO 5TH GEAR NO LUCK SO I LET THE CAR ROLL TO THE SHOULDER CALL MINI ROADSIDE AND THEY TOW TO NEAREST DEALER TO MY HOUSE. THE DEALER HAS MY CAR FOR A TOTAL OF 8 DAYS AND TELL ME THE L/FRONT AXLE WILL NOT STAY IN THE TRANSMISSION. THEN THE DEALER SAY THAT ITS NOT COVERED@ FIRST THEN TELLS ME THAT WILL COVER IT A DAY LATER AFTER THE MINI SPECIALIST TAKE A LOOK @ IT AND SAY WE WILL COVER IT THIS TIME AS A FAVOR. NOW IT IS TEN DAYS LATER AND THE SAME THING HAS HAPPEN AGAIN THIS TIME I HAVE TO PAY FOR TOWING AND I CANT WAIT TO HAVE A TALK WITH THE DEALER. I WILL KEEP U GUYS POSTED. *NM
ONE MORNING DRIVING ABOUT 100 MPH GOING UP TO CT I PAY A TOLL TAKE OFF THE CAR HESITATES IN FIRST GEAR THEN GOES OK ABOUT A 2 MILES FROM THE TOLL I AM DOING ABOUT 100 MPH AND SWITCH TO THE RIGHT LANE AND THE CAR JUST STOP GIVING ME POWER SO I GO TO CHANGE TO 5TH GEAR NO LUCK SO I LET THE CAR ROLL TO THE SHOULDER CALL MINI ROADSIDE AND THEY TOW TO NEAREST DEALER TO MY HOUSE. THE DEALER HAS MY CAR FOR A TOTAL OF 8 DAYS AND TELL ME THE L/FRONT AXLE WILL NOT STAY IN THE TRANSMISSION. THEN THE DEALER SAY THAT ITS NOT COVERED@ FIRST THEN TELLS ME THAT WILL COVER IT A DAY LATER AFTER THE MINI SPECIALIST TAKE A LOOK @ IT AND SAY WE WILL COVER IT THIS TIME AS A FAVOR. NOW IT IS TEN DAYS LATER AND THE SAME THING HAS HAPPEN AGAIN THIS TIME I HAVE TO PAY FOR TOWING AND I CANT WAIT TO HAVE A TALK WITH THE DEALER. I WILL KEEP U GUYS POSTED. *NM
ENGINE POWER LOSS STARTING OFF IN 1ST GEAR. WHEN STATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP IN 1ST GEAR THE CAR WILL HESITATE FOR APROX. 2-3 SECONDS BEFORE THE RPMS INCREASE. THERE IS NO COMBINATION OF CLUTCH AND THROTTLE THAT WILL ALLEVIATE THIS SITUATION. THE COMBINATION OF WARM TEMPERATURES AND RUNNING THE A/C CONTRIBUTE HEAVILY TO THE POWER LOSS. COLDER WEATHER DOES IMPROVE THIS POWER LOSS.*AK
ENGINE POWER LOSS STARTING OFF IN 1ST GEAR. WHEN STATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP IN 1ST GEAR THE CAR WILL HESITATE FOR APROX. 2-3 SECONDS BEFORE THE RPMS INCREASE. THERE IS NO COMBINATION OF CLUTCH AND THROTTLE THAT WILL ALLEVIATE THIS SITUATION. THE COMBINATION OF WARM TEMPERATURES AND RUNNING THE A/C CONTRIBUTE HEAVILY TO THE POWER LOSS. COLDER WEATHER DOES IMPROVE THIS POWER LOSS.*AK
CAR LOSES POWER SUDDENLY AND LURCHES IN FIRST GEAR WHEN MOVING OFF FROM A STANDING START. *LA
CAR LOSES POWER SUDDENLY AND LURCHES IN FIRST GEAR WHEN MOVING OFF FROM A STANDING START. *LA
WHILE CONSUMER STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ANOTHER DRIVER POINTED OUT THAT REAR AXLE HAD SNAPPED FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
WHILE CONSUMER STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ANOTHER DRIVER POINTED OUT THAT REAR AXLE HAD SNAPPED FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
2003 MINI COOPER S. THERE IS A "STUMBLE" WHEN STARTING OFF IN FIRST GEAR. THE CAR SEEMS TO LOSE POWER AND LURCH MOMENTARILY. NO COMBINATION OF CLUTCH AND GAS PEDAL MOTION SEEMS TO FIX THIS. ISSUE HAS BEEN HEAVILY DOCUMENTED AND DISCUSSED ON MINI ENTHUSIAST FORUMS, SO IT IS NOT A DRIVER CLUTCH-USER ERROR. *JB
2003 MINI COOPER S. THERE IS A "STUMBLE" WHEN STARTING OFF IN FIRST GEAR. THE CAR SEEMS TO LOSE POWER AND LURCH MOMENTARILY. NO COMBINATION OF CLUTCH AND GAS PEDAL MOTION SEEMS TO FIX THIS. ISSUE HAS BEEN HEAVILY DOCUMENTED AND DISCUSSED ON MINI ENTHUSIAST FORUMS, SO IT IS NOT A DRIVER CLUTCH-USER ERROR. *JB
MY 2003 MINI COOPER S STUMBLES AND BOGS DOWN WHEN STARTING IN FIRST GEAR. WHEN STARTING FROM A DEAD START AND LETTING CLUTCH OUT, THE CARS POWER CUTS OFF FOR A MOMENT AND THEN CUTS BACK IN. THIS WAS NOT A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR PRIOR TO MY DEALER UPGRADING THE SOFTWARE FOR THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. I'VE CONTACTED MINI USA (AKA BMW) AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE NO FIX FOR IT. I CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC AND THE CAR HESITATES BADLY.*AK
MY 2003 MINI COOPER S STUMBLES AND BOGS DOWN WHEN STARTING IN FIRST GEAR. WHEN STARTING FROM A DEAD START AND LETTING CLUTCH OUT, THE CARS POWER CUTS OFF FOR A MOMENT AND THEN CUTS BACK IN. THIS WAS NOT A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR PRIOR TO MY DEALER UPGRADING THE SOFTWARE FOR THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. I'VE CONTACTED MINI USA (AKA BMW) AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE NO FIX FOR IT. I CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC AND THE CAR HESITATES BADLY.*AK