2003 MINI COOPER Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A FIRE HAD ERUPTED IN THE ENGINE AREA AND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

Mileage: 113,000

I OWN A 2003 MINI COOPER AUTOMATIC AND I'VE ALREADY HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE COOLING FAN REPLACED TWICE, AND NOW, ONLY A YEAR LATER AFTER MY 2ND REPLACEMENT AND A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS LATER, IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR A THIRD TIME. THE CARE ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS COSTLY AND A SAFETY ISSUE FOR DRIVERS. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CAR BY MINI OR BMW. *TR

Mileage: 81,000

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

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

THE SPARKPLUG HAS BLOWN COMPLETELY OUT THE HEAD OF MY 2003 MINI COOPER, I WENT ON LINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE ITS PURCHASE BRAND NEW IN MARCH, 2003. WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM AND STARTING IT UP AFTER HAVING BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR UP TO TWO HOURS THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MINOR, INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH A ROUGH AND SURGING IDLE THAT OSCILLATES BETWEEN 1050 RPM DOWN TO 400 RPM THEN BACK UP THEN DOWN WHICH LASTS FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS BEFORE SETTLING DOWN. AS THE VEHICLE HAS AGED THE PROBLEM HAS INTENSIFIED TO THE POINT THAT THE ENGINE SOMETIMES STALLS. THE SYMPTOMS ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE AS NOTED IN NHTSA ITEM #10009756, SERVICE BULLETIN #110104 (ROUGH IDLE, STALLING). LATELY IT HAS NOW EVEN BEGUN TO OCCUR WHEN STOPPING QUICKLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO ALMOST STALL. IF IT WERE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION THERE WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH IMMEDIATE POWER TO ACCELERATE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN SHOWN THE PROBLEM BUT HAS FAILED TO RECTIFY. THE ONLY INVESTIGATION THEY DO IS TO MAKE SURE THE SOFTWARE IN THE VEHICLE IS THE LATEST RELEASE. *TR

Mileage: 89,950

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED THREE TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE BRACKETS THAT SUPPORT THE MUFFLER HAVE ROTTED. UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, THE BRACKETS THAT SUPPORT THE HORN HAVE ALSO ROTTED. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN FOR ANOTHER REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 68,600.

Mileage: 68,600

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WERE ALSO REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL PAN LEAK. THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MOTORS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,900 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

Mileage: 10,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHEN THE CONTACT WOULD TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, SHE COULD STILL HEAR THE MOTOR FAN RUNNING. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. ALSO, ALL OF THE WINDOWS ON HER VEHICLE WOULD SPONTANEOUSLY OPEN. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN DEACTIVATED THE CONVENIENCE POWER SYSTEM FOR THE POWER WINDOWS. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

Mileage: 60,000

AFTER THE 10,000 MILE OIL CHANGE WAS PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT, IT IDLED ROUGH AND SOMETIMES STALLED WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER, DRAINED THE FUEL AND PUT IN OTHER GRADE OF FUEL. *JB AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, THE FUEL PUMP AND INJECTORS WERE REPLACED BUT REMAINED TO LOSE FUEL PRESSURE OVERNIGHT. *SC

Mileage: 10,000

WHEN SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE HAD THE TENDENCY TO SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. THE DRIVER MUST WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. EACH TIME, THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED TO HAVE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING ON A LOW SPEED, STOP AND GO TRAFFIC IN THE FREEWAY THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED AND I WAS STOPPED IN THE FIRST LANE OF THE FREEWAY. I TRIED TO RE-START THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO SUCESS, AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES THE ENGINE STARTED. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT THE SUV DRIVING BEHIND WAS ABLE TO STOP BUT NOT BEFORE HITTING MY BUMPER. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED, THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND HAD THE CAR TOWED BUT THE ENGINE STARTED AS SOON AS I GOT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD ONLY CHECK WHEN THE THE CARS IS STALLED. I HAVE 2 LITTLE KIDS AND I AM SCARED TO DRIVE WITH THE CAR.*AK

Mileage: 1,800

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. *AK

Mileage: 15,000

MINI COOPER 2003 CVT STALLS IN SLOW TRAFFIC OR STARTING FROM STOP LIGHT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. IN ADDITION, IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN A MONTH CONSIDERING THAT THE VEHICLE IS ONLY A MONTH OLD. ALSO, THE CVT TRANSMISSION IS VERY JERKY AND COULD SURGE ON AN OCCASIONAL BASIS. INFORMED THAT IT'S A SOFTWARE PROBLEM AND NO REPAIR IS NEEDED AT THIS POINT. I THINK IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *LA

Mileage: 4,000

MINI COOPER STALLED ON TWO SEPERATE OCCASIONS DURING LOW SPEED/STOP AND GO TRAFFIC

WHEN THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF FROM A STOP, AT TIMES THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. *JB. LOST OF THROTTLE CONTROL, ENGINE BRAKING EFFECT IN FIRST GEAR SLOWS CAR RAPIDLY WHILE TRAFFIC IS BEARING DOWN*TS *JB

Mileage: 1,500

MY MINI COOPER JULY 2003 BUILD HAS WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS EITHER A "STUMBLE" OR A "HICCUP". BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE ENGINE MOMENTARILY CUTS OUT WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, CAUSING A PAUSE AND THAN RESUMIING WITH A JOLT. THIS PROBLEM IS BEING COMPLAINED ABOUT BY NUMEROUS MINI OWNERS FOR OVER 1 YEAR (SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS SUBJECT AT HTTP://WWW.MINICOOPERONLINE.COM/MOD...OPIC&TOPIC=9951 AND ALSO AT MINI2.COM YET THE MINI DEALERS CLAIM IGNORANCE ABOUT THE PROBLEM, OR SAY THEY HAVE HEARD OF A FEW COMPLAINTS ON THE S BUT NOT ON THE COOPER. SOME MINI USA REPS (1-866-ASK-MINI) ADMIT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON BOTH THE COOPER AND THE COOPER S. OTHES CLAIM IGNORANCE. THEY GIVE PEOPLE DIFFERENT RESPONSES, BUT GENERALLY WHEN THEY DO ADMIT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE THEY ALSO SAY THAT "ENGINEERING IS COLLECTING COMPLAINTS" OR "THEY ARE WORKING ON A FIX" BUT THEY OFFER NO PROJECTED FIX DATE AT ALL. THEY DO TAKE SOME PEOPLE'S VIN NUMBER WHEN FILING THE COMPLAINT, BUT SAY THEY HAVE NO SYSTEM OF LETTING YOU KNOW IF OR WHEN A FIX IS TO BE EXPECTED. WE MINI OWNERS ARE FRUSTRATED OVER THIS ONGOING, ANNOYING, AND POTENTIALLY LETHAL DEFECT. MINI SHOULD BE PUT TO THE TASK OF REPAIRING THIS ISSUE OR TO STOP SELLING THE CAR PERIOD. THEY ARE FULLY AWARE THAT THEY ARE SELLING CARS WHICH HAS THIS DEFECT WTIH NO FIX. THEY ARE STEALING (MISREPRESENTATION) AND ENDANGERING THE PUBLIC.

Mileage: 800

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL. CONSUMER HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHEN DRIVING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INSTANT DECELERATION BELOW 1500 RPMS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS A 2003 MINI-COOPER CVT.*AK *TS *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

THE CAR HAS MULTIPLE DAILY ENGINE STUMBLES AND HAS STALLED 3 TIMES SINCE OWNING THE NEW CAR FOR THE PAST 7 MONTHS. THE STALLS HAVE BEEN WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. *NLM

Mileage: 4,000

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 55 MPH ENGINE IS LOSING POWER AND WON'T PASS THE 20 MPH. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH OR LESS THE VEHICLE STALLED. *NLM

Mileage: 550