2002 MINI COOPER Power Train Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE MADE A LEFT TURN AND THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE GEAR SHIFTER CABLE DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V201000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE ELECTRONIC LEARNING MODULE AND THE PYRAMID WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECTS. THE GEAR LEVER, TRANSMISSION, BRAKE PEDAL, MOTOR, CLUTCH, FRONT AND REAR AXLES, AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR WERE ALL REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,457.

Mileage: 118,457

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVE SHIFT CABLE FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V201000 (POWER TRAIN). HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

Mileage: 136,000

WHILE DRIVING MY MINI COOPER ON A MAJOR ROAD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC MY MINI COOPER EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER TO THE WHEELS (SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE). MY ONLY OPTION TO AVOID BEING REAR-ENDED WAS TO STEER THE CAR OFF THE ROAD ( WITH THE REMAINING FORWARD MOMENTUM INTO A FAST FOOD PARKING LOT IN ORDER TO AVOID BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. DESCRIPTION OF FAILED COMPONENT/AFFECTED PART: MINI COOPER'S CVT TRANSMISSION HAVE A KNOWN HISTORY OF SUDDEN FAILURE AT 80K-120K. BMW THE MANUFACTURER OF THE MINI HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION IN THEIR VEHICLE FOR YEARS, AND HAS NEVER INFORMED OWNERS OF THEIR VEHICLES OF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OR THE POTENTIAL RISK FOR ACCIDENTS, INJURY, OR DEATH THAT COULD RESULT FROM THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE MINI'S TRANSMISSION AND RESULTING TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. BMW HAS NEVER ISSUED A RECALL OR OFFER TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION UNDER THE VEHICLE WARRANTY. ADDITIONALLY, BMW HAS ISSUED SERVICE ADVISORIES TO THEIR SERVICE MANAGERS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR MINI COOPER'S CVT TRANSMISSION, BUT AS MENTIONED HAS NOT COMMUNICATED THIS PROBLEM TO MINI OWNERS. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

2002 MINI COOPER, MANUAL TRANSMISSION. LOW MILEAGE, ONLY 22,000 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING IS CITY TRAFFIC, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN I SHIFTED INTO 1ST AND LIFTED THE CLUTCH TRYING TO START FROM A RED LIGHT. THERE WAS A SMALL "SPUTTER" AND THEN THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THOUGHT THAT THE CLUTCH WAS OUT. THE REPAIR SHOP FOUND OUT THAT THE ENTIRE MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAD DISINTEGRATED. IT HAD TORN ITSELF APART OVER THE YEARS. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT HE WAS AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON FLAW WITH THE EARLY MINI COOPERS. THIS WAS A $2500 REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 22,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE HOWEVER, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO MOVE OUT OF REVERSE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE WAS DETACHED FROM THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V201000 (POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS INELIGIBLE FOR RECALL REPAIRS. THE PART WAS ORDERED AND THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR REPAIRS WHEN THE PART BECAME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,200. ....UPDATED 12/20/12 *BF UPDATED 12/27/2012*JS

Mileage: 148,200

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED IN A JERKING MOTION AND BEGAN TO DOWN-SHIFT INTO ANOTHER GEAR CONTINUOUSLY. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR AND EP CODE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO INTERNAL DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,416.

Mileage: 56,416

BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2008 AND HAVE HAD VERY FEW ISSUES. THIS MONTH (NOVEMBER 2011) THE CVT (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) WENT OUT. ONLY REPAIR APPARENTLY IS "REPLACEMENT" - RECEIVING QUOTES BETWEEN 7K AND 9K FROM THE DEALER AND AAMCO. NOW FINDING OUT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL MINI COOPER CVT'S. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. REPAIR COST NOW EXCEEDS CAR'S VALUE. WON'T DO IT. FOOL ME ONCE... SHAME ON YOU. *TR

Mileage: 132,000

I WAS DRIVING FROM EAST LOS ANGELES TO WEST LOS ANGELES (PLAYA DEL RAY) ON THE 105 WEST HGWY WHEN THE CARS TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THIS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY IN LA DURING RUSH HOUR. I HAD TO SLOWLY MOVE OVER TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY UNTIL I COULD FIND AN AREA WITH A SHOULDER. I BARELY MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER AND COULD HAVE DIED FROM ONE OF THE CARS SPEEDING PAST ME. LUCKILY I MADE IT. I CALLED AAA AND THEY BROUGHT A TOW TRUCK WHICH TOWED THE CAR INTO A SHOP WHICH STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE THING WHICH WOULD COST $7,000 MINIMUM. I CALLED MULTIPLE OTHER DEALERS AND SHOPS, WHOM ALL GAVE THE SAME ESTIMATE. I DONATED IT TO MY LOCAL NPR STATION BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO PAY THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE A FAULTY TRANSMISSION, WITH ANOTHER FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *TR

I ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY 2002 MINI COOPER AND AT 80K MILES THE TRANSMISSION BLEW UP JUST BEFORE I WAS TO ENTER A VERY BUSY FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES, DOWNTOWN AREA. THERE WAS PLENTY OF OIL IN THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A FAULT OF MY CARE AFTER THE MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT UPON TOW IN. IT JUST STOPPED FAST AND SHORT WITH A HUGE JERK FORWARD AND EXPLOSIVE NOISE. THE MECHANIC SAID IT BLEW IN BIG CHUNKS. I COULDN'T MOVE IT FROM TRAFFIC IN NEUTRAL AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP. 80K IS EARLY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND I SEE MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THIS HAPPENED WITH EVEN LESS MILEAGE, 34K, 48K ...NO REPLACEMENTS AND SO MANY FAILURES LIKE THIS? MINI TURNS THEIR HEADS; WOULD NOT REPLACE OR EVEN TALK TO ME. PREVIOUSLY TOO THE POWER STEERING PUMP ALSO JUST STOPPED AND NO MOVEMENT ON THE WHEEL. SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP ONE TIME IN MOUNTAIN VIEW, I HAD AN OIL LEAK. AT THE TIME THE AMOUNT THEY WANTED ME TO PAY WAS HIGH, 700.00 OR SO (JUST AFTER WARRANTY ENDED). I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC. HE TOOK ME UNDER THE CAR AND SHOWED ME THERE WAS NOT A SPOT OF OIL UNDER THAT CAR IN ANY NOOK OR CRANNY. IN THINKING ABOUT THIS AFTER TRANSMISSION PROBLEM I REALIZE THESE THINGS ARE TELLING ME MINI KNOWS ABOUT THEIR MINI MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. ALSO WHEN THE NEW ($4350.00) TRANSMISSION WAS PURCHASED, LA, MINI TOLD THE MECHANIC THEY HAD 5 TRANSMISSIONS IN STOCK IN THEIR PARTS DEPARTMENT AT ALL TIMES BECAUSE THIS WAS SO COMMON. THAT'S PROOF THEY KNOW IT'S A PROBLEM. YET NO RECALL TO PEOPLE WITH THESE ISSUES AND THESE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING PROBLEMS. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

JUST DRIVING ALONG AND CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER, AND THEN TRANSMISSION LET GO. ENGINE REVVED, BUT THE GEARS WERE GONE. NO FORWARD OR REVERSE. NOTHING. *TR

Mileage: 93,101

SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE MANUAL 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION CAUSING CAR TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP IN AN INTERSECTION, ENDANGERING THE DRIVER AND BLOCKING TRAFFIC. SOMETHING INTERNAL FAILS IN THE TRANSMISSION, CAR COMES TO T SUDDEN STOP, CANT BE PUSHED AS THE WHEELS LOCK UP AND MUST BE TOWED FROM THE ROAD. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON MESSAGE BOARDS ON THE WEB. TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

Mileage: 63,000

TRANSMISSION WHINING NOISE EVENTUALLY LEADING TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. MINI IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH CVT TRANSMISSIONS AND REFUSES TO ADMIT FAULT. VERY COMMON PROBLEM OCCURRING IN MOST 2002 VEHICLES WITH ONLY 40,000-60,000 MILES ON THEM. COST IS 7000 TO REPLACE. MINI DOES NOT OFFER REPAIR ON THIS PART. *TR

Mileage: 67,700

TRANSMISSION BEARINGS FAILURE AFTER 82,000 MILES. NO BEARINGS KIT REPLACEMENT OFFERED. *TR

Mileage: 82,000

PURCHASED A USED 2002 MINI COOPER ABOUT 3 1/2 YRS AGO W/ ABOUT 12K MILES. AT AROUND 15-17K MILES THE TRANSMISSION BASICALLY EXPLODED WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE TRANSMISSION. MINI REPLACED IT WITH I'M GUESSING A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR I ASKED THEM IF THEY WERE PUTTING IN A NEW CLUTCH AND THEY SAID NO, WHICH I FOUND STRANGE. NOW AT 60K MILES THE CLUTCH IS BASICALLY DONE. WHEN THE CAR IS COLD IT SHIFTS PRETTY NORMALLY, BUT AFTER 15-25 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE FIRST TWO GEARS BECOME HARD TO ENGAGE AND THEY SLIP. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST FIVE SPEED AND I'M SHOCKED THAT THIS CLUTCH IS DONE AFTER SUCH LITTLE MILEAGE. SHOULD THEY HAVE REPLACED THE CLUTCH WHEN THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION? I'M NOT A MECHANIC BUT TO LOSE A CLUTCH AT 60K MILES DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. MY DRIVING HABITS ARE PRETTY NORMAL. I'M NOT LIGHTING UP THE TIRES AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR RACING PEOPLE. THIS IS AN EVERYDAY CAR MOSTLY USED ON THE HIGHWAY. I'M BRINGING THE CAR IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT THE MINI SERVICE CENTER IN FREEPORT NY ON 12/29/08. ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH OVERHEATING ABOUT 4 MONTHS AFTER CAR WAS PURCHASED. AND AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS LIT. HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED ONCE OR TWICE. BUT THE LIGHT STILL STAYS LIT. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

BACK IN FEB 2008 THE STEERING ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER JUST WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING. I WAS LEFT WITHOUT POWER STEERING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 101 FREEWAY, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS! I FIXED THE PROBLEM, WHICH WAS VERY EXPENSIVE AS IT WAS THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM THAT FAILED AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH MINI, I NEVER HEARD BACK BUT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR. RECENTLY, SEPTEMBER 2008 THE TRANSMISSION IN THAT SAME CAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND FEEL IT MAY BE A LEMON. MINI IS UNWILLING TO HELP ME AS MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I FEEL AS THOUGH THESE PROBLEMS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY AS THERE IS NO PRIOR WARNING AND I AM CONCERNED FOR ALL PRESENT AND FUTURE MINI COOPER DRIVERS. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

CLUTCH AND CABLES FAIL AT 100 000KM. RATTLING NOISE AT START UP. VERY LOUD HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING. TRANSMISSION GONE AT 103 000KM. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

CLUTCH AND CABLES FAIL AT 100 000KM. RATTLING NOISE AT START UP. VERY LOUD HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING. TRANSMISSION GONE AT 103 000KM. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

THE WARRANTY ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER RAN OUT AT 50K MILES. AT 53K MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION FROM MINI. THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $4,200. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING THE SAME FATE BECAUSE MINI WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

Mileage: 53,000

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OF MY 2002 MINI COOPER FAILED WHILE MY FRIEND WAS DRIVING MY CAR. SHE WAS ON A WINDING COASTAL ROAD AND THE CAR DIED ON A BLIND CURVE, PUTTING HER AT GREAT DANGER. FORTUNATELY NOBODY WAS HURT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE SAN FRANCISCO BMW DEALERSHIP, WHERE I WAS INFORMED I NEEDED A $8500 "REFURBISHED" TRANSMISSION, AS THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT EVEN MADE ANYMORE. RESEARCH ON LINE SHOWS THAT THIS BECOMING A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH "FIRST GENERATION" MINIS WITH THE "CVT" AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I DECLINED THE REPAIR AND SOLD THEM THE CARCASS OF MY CAR. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND BMW/MINI IS NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

Mileage: 43,191

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 MINI ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH AND I FELT A SUDDEN JOLTING AND SENSED A BACKWARD FORCE IMPEDING IT FROM GOING FORWARD. LUCKILY, IT WAS NIGHT TIME AND THERE WEREN'T MANY CARS, BECAUSE MY MINI STOPPED GOING FORWARD AND WAS MERELY RUNNING ON MOMENTUM. THE CAR GOT WORSE AND STARTED MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND FROM WHERE THE TRANSMISSION SITS AND THE CAR CONTINUED JOLTING NOT GOING FORWARD AS I BARELY HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER. AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND CHECKING THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE BY APPEARANCE (NO OIL LEAK, NO BLOWN GASKET, ETC), I RESTARTED THE CAR FINE, BUT THE CAR NEVER AGAIN ENGAGED INTO GEAR UNTIL I SPENT A WHOPPING $7,000 TO FIX IT. I WOULD SHIFT INTO D AND THE ENGINE WOULD REV, BUT THE CAR STAYED INERT. THE TRANSMISSION IS A CLOSED SYSTEM AND WHEN NO HARM IS DONE TO IT AND NO FLUID IS NOT LEAKING, TRANSMISSIONS SHOULDN'T POSE ANY PROBLEMS AT CONSIDERABLY LOW MILES (99K). I STARTED RESEARCHING ON THE POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND SURE ENOUGH, THERE WAS A LONG LIST OF COMPLAINTS ON THE FAULTY DESIGN. NEXT, I HAD TO SHOP FOR MECHANICS. ALL THE EXPERIENCED MINI MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT BMW OFFERED NO REPLACEMENT PARTS BECAUSE OF A PATENT THE INVENTOR HAD ON THE CVT DESIGN. I HAD TO HAVE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BECAUSE THERE WERE NO OPTIONS BMW LEFT FOR THE CONSUMER. IT WAS EITHER YOU PAY $7,000 OR YOUR MINI WILL BE SCRAPPED AND NEVER RUN AGAIN. MY MECHANIC WAS NICE ENOUGH TO CHOP OPEN THE TRANSMISSION AND SAW THAT IT WAS JUST A METAL BELT THAT DRIVES THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS BROKEN. A SIMPLE BELT THAT PROBABLY COSTS NO MORE THAN $200 COULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND A WHOLE LOT OF CONSUMER MONEY COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED IF THE PART WAS AVAILABLE TO THE US- NOT TO MENTION THE WHOLE ORDEAL WOULDN'T BE THERE IF BMW HAD DESIGNED A RELIABLE TRANSMISSION IN THE FIRST PLACE, (IE USE A REGULAR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INSTEAD OF A CVT WHEN THE CVT HAS NOT BE FULLY TESTED FOR ITS RELIABILITY). *TR

Mileage: 98,901

I AM THE SECOND OWNER (BOTH OLDER LADIES), OF A 2002 AUTOMATIC MINI COOPER WITH 46,000 MILES. YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THE TRANNY FAILED. IT DOWNSHIFTED OR SOMETHING AND THE EP WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, WHICH MEANS TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND I WAS TWO FEET AWAY FROM BEING REAR ENDED! I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. AFTER RESEARCHING ON LINE, I HAVE READ GREAT AMOUNTS OF CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. IT IS DANGEROUS AND VERY COSTLY ACCORDING TO THE FIGURES I'VE READ OF PEOPLE WHOSE HAD THEIRS FIXED OR REPLACED. THESE CARS WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS NEEDS TO BE ANNOUNCED TO THE PUBLIC FOR SAFETY REASONS ALONE NOT EVEN TO MENTION THE COST! SINCERELY, BONNIE QUINN *TR

Mileage: 46,000

TRANSMISSION BLEW AT 34 THOUSAND MILES. *TR

Mileage: 34,000

CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER 32,000 MILES, NEEDING COSTLY REPLACEMENT. *TR

Mileage: 31,980

I HAVE A 2002 MINI COOPER WITH 52K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION HAS WENT OUT TWICE IN THE PAST 2 YEARS THE FIRST TIME AT 31K MILES. THE CLUTCH HAS ALSO WENT OUT AS WELL AS THE SUNROOF MOTOR, LEFT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WITH A HOST OF SENSORS, GAUGES ETC... PARTS ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET AND SERVICE ON A 24K CAR (WHEN NEW) IS AS MUCH AS MY 70K BMW 7 SERIES.*CN

Mileage: 56,344

I HAVE A 2002 MINI COOPER WITH 52K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION HAS WENT OUT TWICE IN THE PAST 2 YEARS THE FIRST TIME AT 31K MILES. THE CLUTCH HAS ALSO WENT OUT AS WELL AS THE SUNROOF MOTOR, LEFT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WITH A HOST OF SENSORS, GAUGES ETC... PARTS ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET AND SERVICE ON A 24K CAR (WHEN NEW) IS AS MUCH AS MY 70K BMW 7 SERIES.*CN

Mileage: 56,344

MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER RENDERING THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $6000+ TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO AND THEY JUST RESET THE CODE AND IT WORKED FINE. THEY SAID IF THEY TRIED RESETTING THE CODE AGAIN, THE CAR MAY JUST DIE ON ME WHILE DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 122,000

I JUST FOUND THIS WEB SITE AND AFTER READING THROUGH THE VARIOUS ISSUES OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THEIR MINI, I DECIDED I SHOULD ALSO GO AHEAD AND SHARE MY ISSUES AS WELL. BACK IN APRIL OF 2004, I WAS HIT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BY A HONDA ACCORD TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MILES AN HOUR AND MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I NEVER HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR AN AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THAT MATTER BUT IT'S A SCARY THOUGHT NOT HAVING YOUR AIRBAGS DEPLOY, ESPECIALLY AT SUCH A HIGH SPEED OF IMPACT. I USED TO BE IN LOVE WITH MINI'S BUT I HAVE BEEN SO "SOURED" BY THEM AS OF LATE WITH ALL OF THE ISSUES I HAVE BEEN HAVING. MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I CAN'T EVEN START MY CAR. *TR

Mileage: 46,000

I HAVE A 2002 MINI COOPER WITH A CVT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. THE CARE HAS ABOUT 61,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED COSTING ME AT LEAST $6,000. *TR

2002 MINI COOPER WITH <55,000 MILES (SAME OWNER) THE SHIFT CABLE DETACHED FROM THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE WHILE I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE GEARS. GEAR CHANGES ARE NO LONGER POSSIBLE AND THE TRANSMISSION REMAINS IN THE LAST GEAR SELECTED! PRIOR TO THIS -BUT WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, ALL THE WINDOW MOTORS DIED SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE FAN BELT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, THE ENGINE CONTINUALLY OVERHEATED (DESPITE REPEATED SERVICE BY BMW), THE HORN FUSE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF (UNTIL IT BLEW), AND THE TRANSMITION IS SLOWLY DYING. 1) THE FAN BELT WOULD NOT TURN OFF -CONTINUOUSLY, DRAINING THE BATTERY. 2) TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED 3) THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING 4) THE POWER WINDOWS *TR

WE PURCHASED OUR 2002 MINI ON 10/10/06, W/55,059 MILES ON IT. 9 DAYS LATER THE CLUTCH WENT OUT, NOT COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WE PURCHASED. WE TOWED IT BACK TO MINI SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE DEPT WHO INSISTED THAT WE WORE OUT THE CLUTCH AND IT WAS OUR PROBLEM, WEAR AND TEAR, ETC. ? AFTER 9 DAYS! UNBELIEVABLE! THEY OFFERED TO PAY HALF, BUT WE FELT THIS WAS COMPLETELY UNFAIR. WE THEN HAD TO BATTLE WITH THE SERVICE DEPT AND THEY EVENTUALLY CALLED MINI USA WHO AGREED TO PAY THE OTHER HALF TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH. A FEW MONTHS LATER OUR MINI WAS DUE FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE (INSPECTION 2, $390), WHICH WE HAD DON ON 2/6/07, WITH NO NOTABLE PROBLEMS. THEN ON 9/14/07, AT 67,829 MILES, THE CLUTCH WENT OUT AGAIN! TWICE IN UNDER ONE YEAR! WE HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES FOR OVER 15 YEARS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH, LET ALONE TWICE IN ONE YEAR! OF COURSE IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND THE DEALERSHIP IS INSISTING THAT IT IS OUR FAULT THAT WE BURNT OUT THE CLUTCH, WHICH IS ABSURD. WE WOULD HAVE TO GRIND THE GEARS EVERY TIME WE SHIFT IN ORDER TO BURN OUT A BRAND NEW CLUTCH WITHIN ONE YEAR. MINI USA IS TAKING THE WORD OF THE SERVICE MANAGER AND WILL NOT HELP US. WE ARE NOT SURE IF THIS IS RELATED TO THE RECALL (MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY), HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP/SERVICE DEPT DENIES THAT SUCH A RECALL EXISTS. WHEN SEARCHING GOOGLE WE FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME OR VERY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OF CLUTCHES GOING OUT IN UNUSUALLY SHORT PERIODS OF DRIVING TIME. EACH TIME THE DEALERSHIP BLAMES THE DRIVER AND DENIES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. OUR MINI IS SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT NOW AS WE RESEARCH AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO RESOLVE THIS SITUATION FAIRLY. AT THIS POINT, WE JUST WANT TO GET IT REPAIRED AND SELL IT. ALTHOUGH, I FEEL BAD SELLING THIS CAR TO ANYONE, SINCE IT CLEARLY HAS MECHANICAL DEFECTS. *JB

Mileage: 67,829

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT A BUMP COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DROVE ROUGHLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. AS OF SEPTEMBER 6, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V201000 (POWER TRAIN: MANUAL TRANSMISSION: FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY). THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

Mileage: 65,000

I RECENTLY WAS DRIVING HOME FROM SACRAMENTO WHEN MY CAR STOPPED DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY.... LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE AND CALL FOR HELP... THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING AND THE RPM'S WERE GOING UP, BUT WOULD NOT DRIVE OR REVERSE. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAD JUST HAD THE SECOND INSPECTION SERVICE ON THE CAR ON 4/10/2007 AT THE COST OF $850. THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVING FUNNY, NO LIGHTS HAD COME ON, NOTHING WAS ABNORMAL. AAA TOOK MY CAR TO MINI OF SACRAMENTO DEALER WHERE I HAD TO LEAVE IT OVER NIGHT (THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS NO LONGER OPEN) AND CHECK MYSELF INTO A HOTEL. I CALLED THE NEXT MORNING AND THEY SAID BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE AN APPOINTMENT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT AROUND 5:00 PM. I WAS CALLED LATER THAT DAY AND TOLD THE CAR NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND IT WILL COST $7,500... THE CAR HAS ROUGHLY 59,000 MILES ON IT. *TR UPDATED 02-21-08 *BF

Mileage: 59,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SHIFT CABLE COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND PREVENTING THE CONTACT FROM SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALTY SHOP AND THEY RECONNECTED THE SHIFT CABLE. BMW STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 02V201000 (POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY). THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,750.

Mileage: 48,750

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THERE IS WARRANTY EXPIRED THAT COVERED THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAS A CVT TRANSMISSION AND, ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE, THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THIS SAME FAILURE. THE COMPUTER CHIP WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES AFTER STALLING ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS CONSTANTLY SHUTTING OFF AND STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 57,600. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY ALSO NEEDED REPLACING AFTER 41,000 MILES. THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPAIRS COST HER $7,000. UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

Mileage: 57,600

I PURCHASED A PRE-OWNED MINI COOPER WITH 34,000 MILES ON IT. 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE, I NOTICED A "STUDDER/HESITATION" ON TAKE OFF FROM A DEAD STOP IN FIRST GEAR. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC TO DEMONSTRATE THE PROBLEM. ON THE TEST DRIVE, THE CAR MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND ALL GEARS FAILED. THE CLUTCH AND GEAR SHIFT FELT NORMAL, BUT NO GEAR WOULD ENGAGE. THE CAR WAS ROLLING BACKWARDS DOWN A HILL INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL MINI DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. AT THAT POINT THE CAR HAD 35,000 MILES ON IT. BECAUSE IT WAS 4 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY, MINI REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I FOUND NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THE MIDLAND TRANSMISSIONS BEING REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY CAR RECEIVED THE NEWER GETRAG TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE MIDLANDS WERE DISCONTINUED IN 2004 IN FAVOR OF THE MORE RELIABLE GETRAG TRANSMISSIONS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH VERY LITTLE WARNING. IT WAS A DANGEROUS AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THAT RESULTED IN A CAR THAT SUDDENLY WOULD NOT MOVE IN TRAFFIC. *JB

Mileage: 35,000

2002 MINI COOPER CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 68,000 MILES. NM

Mileage: 68,000

THE SHIFT LINKAGE CAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I HAS UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. I LOOKED ON THE NHTSA SITE AND FOUND THAT THE CAR WAS RECALLED FOR THIS EXAC PROBLEM. I HAD ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT SUCH A RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THEY DENIED AND CONTINUE TO DENY THAT SUCH A RECALL EXISTS. AFTER I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, THEY CALLED TO HAVE ME PICK UP MY CAR. THEY THEN MENTIONED THAT THEY HAVE TO GET PARTS AND I WILL HAVE TO BRING THE CAR BACK. I INFORMED THAT I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR WITH A SAFTEY RELATED RECALL THAT WAS NOT FIXED. I AM FRUSTRATED THAT THE DEALER AND MANUFECTURER CONTINUE TO DENY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED AND TRY TO HAVE ME DRIVE THE UNREPAIRED VEHICLE. RCALL CAMPAIGN N. 02V-201 : SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP. *JB

Mileage: 23,800

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN 50-55 MPH, PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL GEAR TO COAST BEFORE SLOWING DOWN, WENT TO GEAR DOWN , AND VEHICLE WILL BRAKE BUT NOT CHANGE GEARS. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN RECALL 02V201000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE. BUT, THE CONSUMER WASN'T INFORMED NOR NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL UNTIL RECENTLY.*AK

Mileage: 9,000

WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON, CAR STALLS OR STUMBLES WHILE STARTING MOVEMENT IN FIRST GEAR. THIS CAUSES MERGES, LEFT TURNS TO GET DANGEROUS. HOT WEATHER INCREASES THE OCCURRENCE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

Mileage: 5,950

CAR STALLS RANDOMLY WHEN COMMING TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENS ON ON MANUEL TRANSMISSION. WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH IT REVS DOWN AND IDOLS LOW AND STALLS WHEN APPROAHING A STOP. AFTER AN INITAL STALL POWER IS REDUCED AND IS SLUGGISH WHEN THE GAS IS DEPRESSED.*AK

Mileage: 16,956

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

CAR ALMOST STALLS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP. ACCELERATION RATES VARY AND SOMETIMES ARE DANGEROUSLY SLOW CAR LUNGES WHEN TRYING TO MOVE SMALL DISTANCES

Mileage: 5,125

I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 MINI COOPER, IT IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN THREE SEPARATE OCCASION TOTALLYING 54 DAYS, THE LAST TIME THAT IT WAS IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IT WAS 40 DAYS. THEY FINALLY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED, BUT IT TOOK THEM THAT LONG TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM THAT I WANTED TO BE COMPENSATED ONLY FOR THE DAYS THE CAR WAS AT THEIR SHOP, ALSO I INFORMED THEM THAT IF THE MINI HAS TO BE TAKEN TO THE SHOP AGAIN, THAT WILL FORCE ME TO ENFORCE THE LEMON LAW. MELISSA STEFFY, THE GENERAL MANAGER, SAID FOR ME TO SEND HER THE LETTER AND SHE WIL SEE WHAT SHE CAN DO, BUT THAT IT WAS UNLIKELY THAT THEY WOULD COMPENSATE FOR ANYTHING. I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR BECAUSE I PURCHASED THE CAR TO USE IT, NOT FOR THEM TO HAVE IT IN THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD ASSIST ME WITH THIS MATTER. THANKS LEYDA RAMOS FOR EDID BATISTA : [email protected]