2003 MINI COOPER Electrical System Problems

No air or blower or heat to defog windshield. Water in driver-side foot well. Power steering intermittent fault. Engine continues running and panel gauge lights remain on with ignition off and key removed.

i Purchased the car in Dover Pa . INspection sticker had same milage as on car so i shoulda knew he slapped a sticker on . drove 150 miles dash lit ip like chrismas tree. 1st thing left window wont work , then left lock wont work had to lock from passenfger dide. then door wont open at all . have to get ou t passenger door . know that wont open have to put down passenger window pull handel to get out . car is possessed light work whren they want does all kinda crazt stuff . batter has problems . charge and still cant start it . and hatch locks so i cant get to battery. power steering leaking going bad . timing belt making noise . no power on hills .cracking noise in right front pulls to right had . hazard to me ive been locked inside three times could get out of car i coulda sat in heat and died or cold and froze . cant get out of car when it ts electric doors dont work . car sucks . this has been gradual thing these events from feb to may . now i just hate the car

WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM WHERE IT MEETS THE HOOD OF THE CAR. DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT GO DOWN. I ONLY HEAR A CLICKING SOUND. WATER PUMP, OIL PAN AND VALVE COVER GASKETS FAILED PREMATURELY. I CAN'T SHIFT THE CAR INTO FIRST GEAR WITHOUT MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS.

WHILE TRAVELING NORTH ON US 221 FROM BENT MOUNTAIN, VA TO ROANOKE VA MY HYDRALIC STEERING TOTALLY FAILED. AS I TRAVELLED A SHORT DISTANCE MY BRAKE LIGHT WARNING LIGHTS, ABS LIGHT, OTHER BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I LOOKED AT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GUAGE AND THE TEMP WAS NORMAL. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, RAISED THE HOOD, CHECKED THE FLUIDS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND REENTERED THE CAR. WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVERS SEAT I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION, LOOKED FORWARD AND NOTED THICK STEAM COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, EXITED THE CAR AND WHEN THE STEAM DISSIPATED I NOTED THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM FILLING/OVERFLOW TANK WAS SPLIT IN HALF DAMAGING A PROTECTING COVER ON THE FIREWALL AND SPRAYED A BUILDING WALL AND WINDOW WITH ENGINE COOLANT 10 FEET AWAY IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MARTIN'S GERMAN SERVICE IN CAVE SPRING, VA. BECAUSE THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP IN LOCATED IN NORTH CAROLINA 150 MILES AWAY. DUE TO SERVICE VOLUME THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EVALUATE THE PROBLEM UNTIL 24 MAY 2016.

Mileage: 102,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. THE BATTERY AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

Mileage: 168,000

OUR 2003 MINI COOPER WAS DRIVEN IN OCTOBER 2015 IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR, IN BUMPER TO BUMPER SLOW TRAFFIC, UPHILL FOR ABOUT A MILE. WHEN WE SHUT THE CAR OFF AND GOT OUT OF IT, A FAN IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CONTINUED TO RUN. WE WENT BACK INTO THE CAR, STARTED IT AGAIN, THEN SHUT IF OFF FOR A SECOND TIME, AND THE FAN CONTINUED TO RUN. THE FAN RAN ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE STAGE 1 COOLING FAN HAS FAILED AND THAT THE STAGE 2 COOLING FAN WAS RUNNING TO COOL DOWN THE ENGINE.

Mileage: 79,000

THIS MINI COOPER A 2003 W/130K MILES DRIVEN BY A YOUNG FEMALE. SHE HAD NO IDEA HER WHEEL WAS GOING TO FALL OFF THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT. SHE HAD CALLED FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND INTERMITTENT BATTERY FAILURE. IT WAS ASK THAT I DRIVE THE CAR AND LISTEN TO A POP COMING FROM THE WHEEL SECTION. THE POP WAS THE ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY MOVING FORWARDS AND BACK BUMPING THE WHEEL WELLS AS THE CAR WENT FORWARD. NEEDLESS TO SAY I DIDN'T DRIVE FAR NOR DID I ACCELERATE FASTER THAN 10 MPH. I TOLD THE PARENT OF THE DRIVER THAT THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE UNDER ANY CONDITION AND THAT IT NEEDED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING RUBBER WAS COMPLETELY GONE. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS A DEFECT. THIS PART IS A MOUNT AND IT'S HOLDING MANY COMPONENTS OF THIS CAR TOGETHER. IT IS NOTHING LIKE I HAVE SEEN BEFORE USED AS A MOUNT. I HAVE SEEN THE RUBBER WORN FROM THIS TYPE PART BUT THEY WERE NOT BEING USED AS A MOUNT. WHEN THE RUBBER ON THIS PART DETERIORATES IT CAUSES THE MOUNT TO BE UNSTABLE RESULTING IN THE WHOLE WHEEL ASSEMBLY MOVING LIKE A SWING FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS WHILE DRIVING. IN A TRAFFIC SITUATION THIS COULD BE DEVASTATING TO MORE THAN JUST THE DRIVER OF THIS CAR BUT ALSO TO THE CARS DRIVING NEAR IF THE WHEEL WERE TO COME OFF IN THEIR TRAFFIC. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE MINI COOPER WOULD IMMEDIATELY FAIL IN TRAFFIC WITH THE BRAKE CYLINDERS HITTING THE ROAD CAUSING FLYING SPARKS, IF REAR ENDED IT WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY FLIP. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SCENARIO. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED SECOND HAND AS ARE A LOT OF CARS. THIS IS NOT A PART ON ANYONE'S CHECK LIST AND NOT ONE YOU CONSIDER TO BE ONE OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BUT I AM NOT THE OWNER OF THIS CAR. I AM MERELY CONCERNED AT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE DETERIORATION OF THE RUBBER AND WHAT THOSE IMPLICATIONS MEAN TO THE OTHER PURPOSE THIS PART IS SUPPOSE TO PERFORM AND CAN'T WHEN THE RUBBER IS GONE. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

DRAIN HOSE FROM SUNROOF DRAIN RUNNING DOWN A-PILLAR CAME DISLODGED THROUGH "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" CAUSING MASSIVE FLOODING TO THE INTERIOR OF MY CAR. IT WAS RENDERED UNSERVICEABLE AND TOTALED, ON JUNE 16, 2014, BUT UNCOVERED BY INSURANCE. THIS WAS NOTHING THAT I WAS AWARE OF THAT WAS AN ISSUE, NOR WERE ANY RECALLS EVER ISSUED ON THIS ISSUE. I HAD IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP IN 2012, 2 YEARS AGO, FOR ELECTRICAL FAILURE, AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS MERELY THE BATTERY, SO THEY REPLACED IT AND IT SEEMED TO BE FINE, BUT THEY SAID TO KEEP THE BATTERY AS A BACK UP "JUST IN CASE" BECAUSE IT STILL APPEARED TO BE A GOOD BATTERY. THEN LATER IN 2013, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE MINI DEALER FOR GENERAL SERVICE AND I SAID I NOTICED WATER IN THE BOOT (TRUNK) AND FOR THEM TO CHECK THE HATCHBACK SEAL TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY LEAKS, THEY SAID NO, AND NO FURTHER INVESTIGATION WAS DONE FOR EITHER EVENT. I BELIEVE THAT BOTH THESE EVENTS WERE RESULTS OF THE FAULTY DRAIN HOSE FROM THE A-PILLAR BEING DISLODGED FOR SO LONG. TODAY, THE AUTOMOBILE LEFT MY POSSESSION, TO AN AUCTION HOUSE. I WANTED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT SO THAT YOU, THE NHTSA CAN PERHAPS HAVE MINI ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND HAVE THEM CHANGE THEIR VEHICLE'S SUNROOF DRAINAGE SYSTEM SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE DOESN'T HAVE A CAR TOTALLY RUINED BY FLOODING DUE TO THIS DEFECT IN ENGINEERING AND DESIGN. AFTER VIEWING SOME MINI FORUMS, I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS HAD THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TO THEIR MINI COOPER. I'M VERY SAD, BECAUSE I HAPPENED TO REALLY ENJOY THIS CAR, AND IT WAS TOTALLY FUN TO DRIVE. I WAS ADVISED BY A FRIEND WHO IS A MOTORCYCLE MECHANIC AND MY INSURANCE AGENT TO FILE THIS REPORT WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION, IN HOPES THAT SOMETHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT THIS. TOO MANY PEOPLE DON'T SPEAK UP, AND I AM NOT ONE TO LET SOMETHING DONE WRONG TO ME GO WITHOUT A FIGHT! DO ALL YOU CAN TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE WITH MINI! *TR

Mileage: 68,000

THE POWER STEERING PUMP, FAN, HYDRAULIC FLUID PUMP CHF 1 CORE CHARGE) AND HOSE CLAMP WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER 5 DAYS EARLIER. MINI COOPER/BMW SENT ME A LETTER FOR VOLUNTARY REPLACEMENT BECAUSE MY MINI COPPER 2003 HAD TOO MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THIS ISSUE. THE CAR WAS RUNNING OK EXCEPT FOR THE POWER STEERING AFTER THE REPLACEMENT I ONLY DROVE ABOUT 70 MILES BECAUSE I WAS OFF FROM MY SCHOOL. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON JULY 15, 2013 APPROXIMATELY AT 3:45 PM. I DROVE ABOUT 30 MILES BACK FROM WORK. PARKED THE CAR IN FRONT OF RITE AID IN RANCHO PALOS VERDES. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR IT WOULDN'T START. USED JUMP CABLES FOR SEVERAL MINUTES WITHOUT SUCCESS. WENT TO MY MECHANIC CLOSE BY. MY MECHANIC CAME TO LOOK AT THE CAR, HE WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. I DROVE BACK HOME ABOUT 6 MILES. WHEN I PARKED THE CAR THE CAR WAS VERY HOT AND MOST OF THE LIGHTS IN THE PANEL WERE LIGHTEN. I MUST MENTION THAT MY CAR HAS A NEW BATTERY AND NEW STARTER (BOTH WERE REPLACED 9 MONTHS AGO). IT SEEMS THAT THE PROBLEM IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PART ON 7/17/2013. *TR

Mileage: 114,975

AFTER DRIVING THE CAR UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES A SHORT DISTANCE AND PARKING THE CAR, A FIRE IGNITED IN THE ENGINE BAY. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF PRIOR TO THE FIRE TRUCK ARRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER WHO, UPON INSPECTION, INDICATED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND/OR ASSOCIATED HARDWARE HAD FAILED AND CAUSED THE FIRE. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

I PARKED MY CAR IN A PARKING GARAGE AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES. I WALKED TO A DENTIST DOWN THE STREET FOR AN APPOINTMENT. WHILE AT THE DENTIST I GET A CALL THAT WENT TO MY VOICEMAIL THAT MY CAR (WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF) WAS ON FIRE AND WAS FILLING THE PARKING GARAGE WITH SMOKE. UPON RECEIVING THE MESSAGE I RUSHED HOME TO FIND THAT THE FIRE WAS ALREADY OUT, BUT THE SMELL OF SMOKE WAS STILL VERY STRONG. I NOTICED THAT THE INSIDE INDICATING LIGHTS OF THE CAR WERE ON AS IF THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION OF THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND INSPECTED THE CAR TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THAT THE FLAMES HAD COME FROM BEHIND AND SLIGHTLY BELOW THE MOTOR. THERE WAS A METAL SHIELD THAT WAS BLACKENED BY THE FLAMES THAT I COULD NOT SEE AROUND SO I JACKED UP THE CAR AND REMOVED THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL TO FURTHER INSPECT THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. AFTER DOING SO I COULD THEN CLEARLY SEE THAT THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP DUE TO THE SURROUNDING BURN MARKS. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF DAMAGE HAS YET TO BE ASSESSED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THEY TOWED THE CAR AND ARE INSPECTING THE CAR ON DEC 13, 2012. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

WHILE I WAS DRIVING MINI 2003 (ODO: 74K) ON I-90 HIGHWAY AT 70MPH, SUDDENLY THE POWER STEERING WHEEL STOPPED WORKING ON JUNE 28, 2012. I BARELY MADE TO EXIT FROM THE HIGHWAY, AND GOT HOME. NEXT DAY, THE CAR WAS SENT TO THE BMW-MINI DEALERSHIP, AND ASSESSED THE FAILURE OF POWER STEERING PUMP. THEY KNOW THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WITH MINI, BUT IT WAS NOT COVERED BY MANUFACTURERS. THE ONLY OPTION WAS TO REPLACE THE PART. THE PART WAS REPLACED AND THE COST WAS $1,200. *TR

Mileage: 74,100

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 THIS ISSUE IS WORTHY OF INVESTIGATION FOR RECALL. THIS IS A DANGEROUS VEHICLE DEFECT. PLEASE FORMALLY INVESTIGATE THIS INCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 83,567

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

Mileage: 90,000

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 IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE, AND NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE A DEFECT CORRECTED. MINI WON'T EVEN PAY TO HAVE A TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. *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

Mileage: 121,000

MY 2003 MINI COOPER HAS ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE SEVERAL TIMES, REPLACED TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL HARNESS, POWER STEERING PUMP, A/C HOSES AND A/C SERVICE, WHEEL BEARINGS, INJECTION PLUGS ETC....... I STILL CANNOT FIND THE REAL PROBLEM WHY IS CAUSING A SHORT, IT HAS ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE SEVERAL TIMES, THIS CAR HAS BEEN THE MOST DANGEROUS CAR I HAVE EVER OWN, I HAVE NEVER SPEND SO MUCH MONEY ON TRYING TO FIX ANY VEHICLE, RIGHT NOW I'M ABOUT $11,500 IN COSTS OF REPAIRS, THIS IS A CRIME TO THE CONSUMER, I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT IS IN PROGRESS, I HOPE AND PRAY THAT WE GET JUSTICE FROM THE MAKER OF MINI. *TR

Mileage: 48,000

SPONTANEOUS ENGINE BAY FIRE IN 2003 MINI COOPER WITH 60,000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN NORMALLY TO WORK, TURNED OFF, PARKED, LOCKED AND LEFT. UNATTENDED CAR CAUGHT FIRE SEVERAL MINUTES LATER. SEATTLE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO EMERGENCY CALL, BUT FIRE SELF-EXTINGUISHED WITHIN 10 MINUTES. SOOT COVERED ENGINE BAY AND ACRID SMOKE PERMEATED VEHICLE. INSPECTION REVEALED MELTED CONNECTION BETWEEN WIRING HARNESS AND POWER STEERING PUMP, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF PUMP, COOLING FAN, WIRING AND OTHER PARTS. INTERNET COMMUNITIES OF MINI OWNERS CONTAIN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF SUDDEN ENGINE BAY FIRES IN 2002 AND 2003 MINI COOPERS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL SHORTS LINKED TO FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMPS OR FANS. FREQUENTLY THESE FIRES OCCUR AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SWITCHED OFF. THEY ALWAYS RESULT IN MODERATE VEHICLE DAMAGE AND MAJOR REPAIR COSTS (MINE IS ESTIMATED @ $1,600). OCCASIONALLY THEY RESULT IN TOTAL VEHICLE LOSS AND / OR ADDITIONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE. HAD THIS FIRE OCCURRED IN MY HOME GARAGE AT NIGHT THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC; IF THIS KIND OF INCIDENT (SUDDEN POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE + ELECTRIC FIRE) WERE TO OCCUR ON A FREEWAY AT SPEED IT COULD EASILY RESULT IN FATALITIES. BMW / MINI USA HAS REPORTEDLY QUIETLY REIMBURSED INDIVIDUAL OWNERS WHO HAVE SUFFERED SPONTANEOUS FIRES, BUT HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE WIDESPREAD NATURE OF THE PROBLEM -- WHICH IS RIDICULOUS. AS I DISCOVERED WHILE RESEARCHING MY INCIDENT, IF YOU GOOGLE "MINI COOPER FIRE" OR "MINI POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE" YOU GET A RASH OF THESE REPORTS. APPARENTLY NHTSA INVESTIGATED MINI ENGINE BAY FIRES IN 2006-2008 AND DISMISSED THE PROBLEM, ALLUDING ONLY TO THE CHANCE OF SOME "LOCALIZED SMOLDERING." THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE -- MY MINI WAS BILLOWING ACRID BLACK SMOKE AND COULD EASILY HAVE BURNED OUT, TAKING OTHER CARS ON THE PARKING DECK WITH IT. SHOCKING THAT THIS MAJOR, DANGEROUS VEHICLE DEFECT HAS BEEN IGNORED. I AM ONE OF MANY VICTIMS. PLEASE REOPEN THIS INVESTIGATION INTO MINI FIRES. THANK YOU. *TR

Mileage: 60,500

BATTERY FAILURE. BATTERY HAS FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME SINCE CAR BRAND NEW IN FEB, 2003. ON EACH OCCASION THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER HAVING GIVEN NO WARNING. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS IN 2005 AT 26,000 MI., THE SECOND IN 2007 AT 51,000 MI., THE THIRD IN 2008 AT 68,000 MI. EACH FAILED BATTERY WAS A MANUFACTURER'S BRAND (MINI). *TR

Mileage: 68,500

I WAS DRIVING HOME ONE DAY WHEN SEVERAL LIGHTS LIT UP IN MY CAR. I WAS SCARED BECAUSE THESE LIGHTS WERE: LOW TIRE PRESSURE, LOW BRAKE PADS, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, & ABS BREAK LIGHT. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE CAR, AND WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON, THEY STILL WERE LIT UP. I AM NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THIS AS I WASN'T DRIVING ERRATICALLY, JUST NORMAL. I STILL DO NOT KNOW WHY EXACTLY THEY ARE ON, HOWEVER I FIGURE IT IS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE COMPUTER. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

MY CAR WAS BROUGHT INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND REAR BRAKE REPAIR ON TUESDAY (JUNE 26, 2007). WEDNESDAY EVENING (JUNE 27, 2007) THE CAR WAS DRIVEN 15 MINUTES, PARKED FOR ALMOST AN HOUR, THEN DRIVEN A MERE 30 SECONDS TO CHANGE TO A DIFFERENT PARKING SPOT. WALKED AWAY FOR A MINUTE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. UPON OPENING THE BONNET, THERE WAS FLAMES COMING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE FIRST ATTEMPT AT USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TEMPORARILY PUT OUT THE FIRE, THEN IT RE-IGNITED WHICH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS THEN CALLED TO PUT IT OUT SAFELY. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT THE NEXT MORNING (JUNE 28, 2007) TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS NOT LOOKED AT UNTIL THE NEXT DAY (JUNE 29, 2009). THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THE STEERING PUMP FAILED, UPON WHICH IT OVERHEATS CAUSING THE FIRE. THE FIRE THEN DAMAGED THE LOOM (HARNESS, OR MAIN WIRING FOR THE VEHICLE), WHICH ALSO RUINED THE BATTERY. PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THERE WERE NO SIGNS THAT THE STEERING WAS FAILING, NOR ANY INDICATION THAT THERE WAS ANY OTHER POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. CAR MILEAGE WAS AT 65,500 AT THE TIME IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER, AND ABOUT 65,525 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. NOTHING WILL BE DONE UNTIL THE INSURANCE AGENTS FROM BOTH THE CONSUMER AND DEALERSHIP ASSESS THE DAMAGES. *TR

Mileage: 65,525

WHILE DRIVING AT A THREE WAY INTERSECTION MY MINI SUDDENLY CUT OUT AND BLOCKED TRAFFIC IN ALL DIRECTIONS; SO MUCH SO THAT PEOPLE HAD TO STOP TRAFFIC AND CARS NEEDED TO BE BACKED UP TO GET MY CAR IN A SECURE PLACE. THIS WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS. INITIAL ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR WAS $1200 PARTS AND LABOR, BUT UPON MY COMPLAINT JUST LABOR WAS CHARGED ME - I FEEL NEITHER IS APPROPRIATE AS THIS IS A PRODUCT ISSUE, IN MY CASE A SAFETY ISSUE, AND I SHOULD BE REINSTATED TO MY PRE-HARNESS INCIDENCE AT THE PRODUCT OWNER'S EXPENSE. I FURTHER NOTICE THAT THERE IS A T.O. FOR THIS ITEM AND PART OF IT STATES ONLY REPLACE AT OWNER'S COMPLAINT - IN MY CASE THIS WAS ALMOST TOO LATE AS I WAS IN A VERY BUSY AREA WHEN MY CAR DIED AND SHUT DOWN THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC. *JB

Mileage: 85,000

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH A FIRE STARTED IN THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND PUT OUT THE FIRE OUT. THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 73,000

COMPUTER(S) FAILURE RESULTING IN A LOST OF ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD OR REARWARD. THE ENGINE COMPUTER(S) HAVE BEEN REPLACED AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION.

Mileage: 18,200

THE COMPUTER SYSTEM DOESN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING PROPERLY. MY CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC (THIS HAPPENED TWICE.) MY KEY-LESS ENTRY DOESN'T WORK. FINALLY, THE TIRE FAILURE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE TIRE PRESSURE CHANGES BUT IT DOESN'T LIGHT UP WHEN I HAD A FLAT.*AK

Mileage: 8,500

MINI COOPER 2003 STOP DEAD AT THE THE INTERSECTION FOR THE THIRD TIME.THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK