2006 MINI COOPER Power Train Problems

THE AIR CONDITIONING HAD STOPPED BLOWING COOL AIR. THEN WHEN I WAS PARKED, AND IDLED, MY POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHILE TRYING TO BACK OUT. AFTER WRESTLING WITH THE WHEEL FOR A MINUTE TO GET OUT OF A PARKING LOT AREA, THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. THE MECHANIC SAID ONE OF MY COOLANT FANS DOES NOT WORK. THIS MAY BE PART OF A RECALL THAT AFFECT 2005 MINIS WITH COOLANT FAN/POWER STEERING, HOWEVER MY CAR WAS MADE JUST A FEW MONTHS PAST THE RECALL.

Mileage: 68,000

ONCE THE CAR WARMS UP THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LURCHES WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. THE ENGINE STILL ACCELERATES, HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION SIMPLY WHINES AND NO POWER IS DISTRIBUTED TO THE WHEELS. VERY UNSAFE WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC. MINI ADVERTISED THESE VEHICLES AS NEVER REQUIRING TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGES. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. NO RECALL EXISTS, HOWEVER, THE ISSUE IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON WEB FORUMS.

Mileage: 90,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED LOSING POWER. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED WITH NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN HOME AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Mileage: 90,000

TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM. THE 2006 MINI COOPER CVT TRANSMISSION HAS HAD NUMEROUS FAILURES. A CALIFORNIA JUDGE RECENTLY RULED IN FAVOR OF A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST BMW(MINI COOPER). WE JUST BECAME AWARE OF THE TRANSMISSION GOING OUT IN OUR CAR. IT STILL RUNS AND SHIFTS BUT OUR CONCERN IS THAT IT COULD QUIT AT AN INOPPORTUNE TIME AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. MINI HAS SHOWN NO MORAL OR ETHICAL INTEREST IN REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION AT NO COST OR REDUCED COST TO THE CONSUMER.

Mileage: 69,000

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AS USUAL, I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY WHEN I FELT A JOLT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE ENGINE SEEMED TO SPUTTER AND AS SOON AS I SLOWED DOWN TO 30 MPH OR SO THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT BACK UP TO THE HIGHER GEARS. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY A QUARTER MILE FROM HOME SO I PUT THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND DROVE VERY CAREFULLY INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND GOT OUT TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD TO SEE IF ANYTHING WAS DRASTICALLY WRONG ( ANY LEAKS, SMOKE, ETC.). NOTHING APPEARED TO BE MALFUNCTIONING SO I PUT THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE AND INSTANTLY STALLED THE ENGINE . I THEN CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO HAVE IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD NEED AN ENTIRELY NEW CVT TRANSMISSION.

Mileage: 100,000

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SEEMS VERY JERKY AND HESITANT. IT HAS DIED ON ME ONCE WHILE DRIVING AS IT STALLED OUT. I AM AFRAID THE TRANSMISSION IS CLOSE TO FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 79,000

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

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

Mileage: 88,170

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

Mileage: 150,000

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.

Mileage: 74,000

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

Mileage: 71,000

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

Mileage: 48,000

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

Mileage: 69,000

MINI COOPER TRANSMISSION FAIL. THE CAR DOES NOT GO BETWEEN 20 TO 50 MPH. IT HAS NO POWER AND THAT CAN BE DANGERS WHEN I AM GETTING INTO THE HIGHWAY AND CARS ARE GOING AT A HIGH SPEED. ON TOP OF IT MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR. LUCKY I GOT IT STARTED AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME. SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM THE CAR NEED TO BE RECALL AND GET IT FAXED BECAUSE SOMEONE CAN DIE. *TR

Mileage: 114,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP IN AND OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT'S MECHANIC ORIGINALLY ASSUMED THE PROBLEM WAS THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SWITCH BUT AFTER SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SWITCH WAS NOT THE ISSUE. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HAVING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 84,000. UPDATED 4/2/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED HE LOST CONTROL OF PADDLE SHIFTER AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT DOWN SHIFT. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RE-STARTED, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT UP AND DOWN IN ALL GEARS, UNTIL IS SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. UPDATED 04/13/12

Mileage: 84,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CLUTCH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH AND FLY WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE COSTS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47, 000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 47,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO FOURTH GEAR TO INCREASE SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT AS THE CLUTCH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34, 4000. UPDATED 05/24/11*LJ

Mileage: 28,000

I PURCHASED A REBUILT LEFT HALF SHAFT FROM BESTSOURCE AUTO PARTS ON LINE FOR A 2006 MINI COOPER S. THE RE-BUILDER NAME ON THE BOX WAS FEQ. THE OUTER CV JOINT HOUSING EXPLODED INTO PCS AFTER ABOUT 3000 MILES. I WAS LUCKY IT HAPPENED DRIVING OFF FROM A STOP. IF IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY THE DAMAGE WOULD HAVE HUGE AND THE CAR MAY HAVE GONE OUT OF CONTROL. THIS FAILURE SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. THE THICK STEEL HOUSING EXPLODED THEN RELEASING THE HALF SHAFT TO FLY IN A BIG ARC.SINCE I WAS DRIVING OFF FROM A A STOP IT WAS A LOUD BANG AND THEN CLANGING OF THE HALF SHAFT SMACKING THE WHEEL ETC. I WAS LUCKY BUT SOMEONE ELSE MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. I WAS IN LAS VEGAS SO I TOOK THE CAR TO DESERT MINI AND THEY SAW IT FIRST HAND, I TOOK PHOTO'S I CAN SEND TO YOU. BESTSOURCE TELLS ME FEQ IS A QUALITY RATING "FIRST EQUIPMENT QUALITY" AND THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THEM EITHER. FEQ HAS A SIMPLE ONE PAGE WEBSITE WITH NO CONTACT INFORMATION. I UNDERSTAND METALLURGY, THIS PART WAS FLAWED. YOU CAN TELL BY THE WAY THE BRAKE LOOKS.. DESERT MINI KEPT THE PART AND SENT IT BACK TO BMW LAST WEEK. WE CAN TRACK IT DOWN I AM SURE OF IT. I HAVE TRIED TO FIND THE VENDOR BUT NO LUCK. THIS IS WRONG. THEY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS AND THEY SHOULD COVER MY REPLACEMENT EXPENSE. THE EXPENSE IS NOT AS IMPORTANT TO ME AS SAFETY TO OTHERS RIGHT NOW. THE PHOTOS I HAVE WILL MAKE ANY OF YOUR SAFETY ENGINEERS CONCERNED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE, IT WOULD SUDDENLY LUNGE BACKWARD OR FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE 2009. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY ORLANDO MINI IN WHO ADVISED HER THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 13,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD AND BACKWARD. UPDATED 04/04/11

Mileage: 13,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED FROM 3,000 TO 5,000. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER PROCEEDING TO SLOW DOWN DURING TRAVEL BETWEEN 50-70 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

Mileage: 62,000