2003 MINI Cooper S Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2003 Mini Cooper S equipped with Falken Tires, Tire Line: Sincera SN250 A/S, Tire Size: 235/45R17, DOT Number: FMHR3120. The contact stated that while washing the vehicle, he noticed that a bubble had developed on the front driver’s side tire. The contact was concerned for his safety while driving the vehicle. The contact stated that he rotated the tire to the rear driver’s side but was concerned and uncertain if the bubble might cause a risk to his safety while driving. The vehicle had not yet been diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.

NHTSA ID

11541298

Incident

Aug 25, 2023

Mileage

101,000 mi

I WAS STARTING MY VEHICLE AND IT MADE A BAD KNOCKING NOISE THEN IT WAS LIKE CRUNCHING NOISE SO I STOPPED TURN IT OFF AND WAITED FOR A WHILE WENT BACK TO THE CAR STILL MAKING A STRANGE NOISE BUT ONCE I PUT IT IN THE DRIVE IT STOPPED MAKING NOISE DROVE DOWN THE ROAD A BIT AND TALKING ABOUT APPARENTLY SLIPS OFF OF THE CAR SO IT JUST PULLS OVER INSIDE ALL THE ALL THE WEARING LIGHTS CAME ON SO PULLED OVER APPARENTLY THIS HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN BUT THE HARMONIC BALANCER SEPARATED AND WITH SPINNING AGAINST ITSELF AND KNOCKED THE PIECES OFF OF IT AND THROUGH THE SERPENTINE BELT SO THAT NEEDS TO REPLACE NOW THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IT'S ONE PIECE IS THIS ONE PIECE THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR THESE WHATEVER CARS HAD THESE HARMONIC BALANCERS IS DANGEROUS AND IT COULD BLOW YOUR CAR UP THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

11362320

Incident

Jul 1, 2020

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON THREE OCCASIONS, THE MAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE WARNING LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MINI OF BIRMINGHAM LOCATED AT 2001 TOM WILLIAMS WAY, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35210, 205-267-4505. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,200. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE PART MAY ALSO BE AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL JUNKYARD. THE MAT SENSOR WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT SHOULD BE REPLACED WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA ID

11319813

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

Mileage

79,000 mi

WE KNOW OF TWICE THAT OUR CAR'S POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE IN MOTION. AFTER BMW WAS FINALLY FORCED INTO A RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE AND WE RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION, WE TOOK OUR CAR TO CENTURY BMW IN GREENVILLE, SC. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHECKED OUR WORK REGARDING REPLACEMENT PUMP, FAN, ETC. AND DEEMED IT 100% SATISFACTORY. WE SUBMITTED THE PAPERWORK AND INVOICE FOR THE REPAIR AND WAITED (REQUESTED . AFTER 16 WEEKS AND NO REIMBURSEMENT OR NOTIFICATION, WE CALLED AND WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER THAT BMW WOULDN'T PAY US ANYTHING BECAUSE WE DIDN'T USE OEM PARTS. WHY WOULD WE KEEP REPLACING THE PUMP (THIS WAS THE 3RD PUMP THAT WE KNOW OF) WITH A DEFECTIVE ONE (BY ZF) THAT KEPT QUITTING? WE REPLACED IT WITH DORMAN (WELL-KNOWN MANUFACTURER OF QUALITY PARTS) WHICH HAD A LIFE-TIME WARRANTY (LIFE-TIME!) AND WAS MUCH CHEAPER. THE SD MANAGER EVEN SAID THAT SINCE HE'D SEEN SO MANY REPAIRS USING THAT BRAND OF POWER STEERING PUMP HE HAD RESEARCHED THEM AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM. BUT BMW DECIDED THEY WOULDN'T PAY FOR THIS. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE RECALL LETTER THAT SAID OEM HAD TO BE USED OR THEY WOULDN'T REIMBURSE FOR REPAIRS. I BELIEVE BMW SAW SO MANY DORMAN PUMPS USED THEY KNEW THEY COULD SAVE A LOT OF MONEY BY REFUSING TO PAY. WE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE SC DEPT. OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS BUT BMW WOULDN'T ANSWER THEM SO THEY JUST DROPPED IT, LETTING BMW GET BY WITH THIS. WE WERE ONLY REQUESTING $721.04 WHICH IS LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT A REPAIR SHOP WOULD HAVE CHARGED. CAN YOU DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? WE FILED THE COMPLAINT WITH SC CONSUMER AFFAIRS IN DECEMBER OF 2017, TOOK THE CAR TO BMW IN MAY OF 2017 SO THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE. HAVE OTHER OWNERS HAD THIS PROBLEM? HAS A LAWSUIT BEEN STARTED AGAINST BMW?

NHTSA ID

11290482

Incident

Dec 13, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ID

11235343

Incident

Feb 20, 2019

Mileage

115,000 mi

OCCASIONALLY THE STEERING OVER MY MINI COOPER S IS BECOMING VERY HARD. IT SEEMS LIKE THE POWER STEERING IS FAILING. THE CAR THEN CAN ONLY BE STEERED WITH A LOT OF DIFFICULTY. I CAN NO LONGER RISK TO HAVE MY DAUGHTER OR WIFE DRIVE THIS CAR. I CHECKED THE STEERING FLUID AND IT IS AT OPTIMAL LEVELS. IT USUALLY HAPPENS AT LOWER SPEED, BUT I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT ON THE FREEWAY SINCE THIS ISSUE STARTED TO APPEAR.

NHTSA ID

11190112

Incident

Mar 8, 2019

Mileage

82,790 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL FILTER HAD A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11096780

Incident

May 17, 2018

Mileage

130,000 mi

AFTER BATTERY WENT DEAD, REPLACED WITH NEW BATTERY AND SHORTLY AFTER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HAD INDEPENDENT SHOP CLEAR CODE IN 2015 INSPECTED HARNESS FOUND NOTHING OUT OF ORDINARY. 3 DAYS LATER AIR BAG LIGHT RETURNED. NOW IN FEBRUARY 2018 HAD MINI OF TOWSON DIAGNOSE AIR BAG LIGHT THINKING THE DEALERSHIP CAN RESET AIR BAG LIGHT PROPERLY. DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED UPGRADING WIRING HARNESS UNDER SEAT FOR 525 DOLLARS. I HAVE BEEN ON MULTIPLE FORUMS AND THIS AIR BAG LIGHT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 02-03 MINIS, INCLUDING 05-06, AND 12-15 YEAR MINIS. MY CONCERN IS THAT MINI KNOWS THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART FROM THE MANUFACTURER BUT REFUSES TO STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT EVEN WHEN IT COULD AFFECT THE SAFETY OF THE PURCHASER OF ITS VEHICLES. IN THE EVENT NHTSA RECEIVES ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO FORCE MINI TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, I WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED AS ANOTHER DISSATISFIED CONSUMER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, GARRETT

NHTSA ID

11067115

Incident

May 15, 2015

Mileage

48,000 mi

I WAS APPROACHING A CORNER ON A BACK ROAD AND HALF WAY THROUGH THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO GO OFF THE ROAD ROLLING TWO AND A HALF TIMES LANDING ON THE ROOF.

NHTSA ID

11046326

Incident

Jan 24, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE MANUAL TAILGATE RELEASE CABLE WAS NOT FITTED IN THIS AND OTHER EARLY PRODUCTION MINI COOPER S CARS, THOUGH THE OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATES THAT THIS SAFETY FEATURE IS PART OF THE DESIGN. THE MANUAL TAILGATE RELEASE CABLE ALLOWS ACCESS TO THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT, WHICH IS IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE, WHEN THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION SUCH AS A BATTERY FAILURE. WITHOUT THE MANUAL RELEASE CABLE, THE BATTERY IS INACCESSIBLE IN THE EVENT OF A FAILED BATTERY OR OTHER ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. THE BATTERY IN MY CAR FAILED AND LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITH NO CONVENIENT ACCESS TO REMOVE THE BATTERY. FURTHER, THE ABSENCE OF THIS MANUAL RELEASE CABLE MEANS THAT THE TAILGATE COULD NOT BE USED AS AN EGRESS FOR VEHICLE OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.

NHTSA ID

11010679

Incident

Jul 12, 2013

Mileage

90,000 mi

POWER STEERING WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION; MINI USA ADVISED IT WAS STILL DRIVEABLE, BUT TO BE CAUTIOUS DUE TO LACK OF CONTROL/POWER STEERING; WHEN PARKED, SMOKE BEGAN TO PLUME FROM UNDER HOOD WHERE A FIRE WAS NOTICED IN BACK OF ENGINE. CALLED MINI USA BACK AND THEY ADVISED US TO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE, AS IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. CONTACTED MINI TO SET UP RECALLED PART (HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING), BUT THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALER (120 MILES FROM MY RESIDENCE).

NHTSA ID

11004769

Incident

Jul 10, 2017

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. 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 NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 05/18/16*LJ UPDATED 06/14/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10852218

Incident

Dec 18, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CONTUSIONS TO THE FACE AND LOST A TOOTH. THE OCCUPANTS OF THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 213,000.

NHTSA ID

10849946

Incident

Jul 27, 2015

Mileage

213,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. 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 MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10839425

Incident

Oct 15, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. 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 NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10836991

Incident

Feb 18, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. AFTER TURNING OFF AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE 30 MINUTES LATER, THE POWER STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL, BUT THEN FAILED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10824486

Incident

Feb 4, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO TURN. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED FROM THE POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ID

10806500

Incident

Nov 16, 2015

Mileage

136,000 mi

SUDDENLY OUT OF NOWHERE AS SOON AS I STARTED THE CAR TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY & GO TO WORK THE STEERING WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP, ONLY HAVING APPROXIMATELY AN INCH TO INCH AND A HALF OF MOBILITY IN EITHER DIRECTION. I THEN TURNED THE CAR OFF, LET IT SIT OFF FOR ABOUT 5 MINS THEN RE-STARTED IT AND THE STEERING WAS STILL THE SAME WAY.

NHTSA ID

10787346

Incident

Oct 30, 2015

Mileage

86,500 mi

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AT 69,000 MILES. PUMP AND FAN WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT DEALER REQUIRED ADDITIONAL WORK TO BE PERFORMED TO KEEP EXTENDED WARRANTY IN FORCE. THE WORK INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF ALL POWER STEERING HOSES AT A COST OF OVER $600.00

NHTSA ID

10785321

Incident

Oct 16, 2015

Mileage

69,000 mi

STEERING FLUID CONTINUOUSLY LEAKS - REPLACE HYDRAULIC HOSE TWICE - KNOWN DEFECT - MINI REFUSED TO FIX FOR FREE ENGINE COOLING - FAN RUNS AFTER SHUTOFF CONTINUOUSLY - KNOWN DEFECT - MINI REFUSED TO FIX FOR FREE ELECTRICAL - DOORS, WINDOWS, SUNROOF FIRE OFF ON THEIR OWN WHILE CAR IS MOVING AND WHEN IS PARKED. WILL DO THIS AT HIGHWAY SPEED OR WHEN SITTING OUTSIDE (RAIN OR SHINE) - CAR UNLOCKS ITSELF AND WINDOWS ALL OPEN UP -KNOWN DEFECT - KIND OF DISTRACTING AT HIGHWAY SPEED -MINI REFUSED TO FIX FOR FREE. DEALERS WILL NOT FIX THESE ISSUES UNLESS YOU MAKE THEM RECALL VEHICLES WITH MULTIPLE SMALL PROBLEMS ( NOT JUST ONE BIG PROBLEM) - THIS MODEL HAS 73 TSBS THAT DEALERS CHARGE YOU TO FIX EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEMS ARE KNOWN AND DANGEROUS ISSUES. IN MY MIND, MANY SMALL PROBLEMS CAN BE MORE DANGEROUS THAN A FEW BIG ONES - STEERING, DOOR LOCKS, COOLING - NOT GOOD. THIS IS AN OLD CAR BUT THESE PROBLEMS ARE OLD TOO - KNOWN TSBS SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO WARRANTY TIME FRAMES, THEY ARE STILL DANGEROUS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. WHEN THESE CARS ARE ROUTINELY SERVICED, THESE KNOWN/DANGEROUS ISSUES NEED TO BE CORRECTED OR THE CARS SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. I USED THE DATE OF THE LAST INCIDENT, NOT THE FIRST ONE. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10694956

Incident

Mar 15, 2015

Mileage

71,500 mi

8/13/2014- I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN IN A MALL PARKING LOT AND SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING OUT FROM UNDER THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE CAR AND AT THE SAME TIME STARTED COMING THROUGH THE VENTS INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR. I TRIED TO SHUT OFF THE CAR, BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. A BYSTANDER CAME RUNNING AND OPENED THE HOOD, SMOKE POURED OUT, TOLD ME TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AS HE WAS OPENING HOOD AND THEN TOLD ME TO HANG UP AND CALL 911 THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE AREA BUT THERE WAS TOO MUCH SMOKE. THE ENGINE FAN WAS STILL RUNNING. ANOTHER PASSERBY HAD AN COMMERCIAL EXTINGUISHER AND EMPTIED IT ON MY VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPT. WAS PULLING UP AS THEY WERE TRYING TO PUSH IT ASIDE, THE CAR RE-IGNITED AND IT TOOK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT APPROX. 15 TO MAKE DOUSE THE FIRE WITHOUT IT RE-IGNITING. ALL OF THESE PEOPLE LOOKED MY VEHICLE OVER AND COULD FIND NO REASON FOR IT TO IGNITE. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO AND HAVE PUT ABOUT 3000 MILES ON IT WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC DOWN THE ROAD AND THEY ARE TO CONTACT ME TOMORROW TO SEE IF THEY CAN SEE WHY THIS OCCURRED. LUCKILY, MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR AND BE IN AN AREA CLOSE TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND GOOD SAMARITANS...UPDATED 10/06/14 *BF *TR UPDATED 7/15/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10622184

Incident

Aug 13, 2014

Mileage

72,000 mi

I HAD NOTICED THAT THE POWER GOING UP HILLS HAD BEEN SLOWING DOWN FOR SOMETIME BUT AS WE WERE DRIVING IN TOWN AND LOST IT'S NUMBER THREE CYLINDER, TOOK IT TO SHOP AND WITH SEVERAL DAYS OF WORK FOUND OUT I WOULD BE BETTER OFF SCRAPPING IT THAN FIXING IT. MECHANIC WHO DEALS WITH BMW SAID THAT HE COULD PUT IN A NEW ENGINE BUT HE SAND THAT THE ISSUES THAT HE HAS SEEN ON THIS YEARS COOPER SHOW IT IS JUST A MONEY PIT. HE SAID, JUST SCRAP IT AND TAKE YOUR LOSSES. THE ONLY THING IS I BOUGHT IT USED AND STILL OWE OVER $3,000. ON IT. I HAVE NO CAR AND CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE IT AND HAVE TWO PAYMENTS AS I AM DISABLED WITH A LOW INCOME FROM INJURIES. I FINALLY GOT MY CAR OF MY DREAMS AND IT BECAUSE MY NIGHTMARE. MISSING MY MINI. *TR

NHTSA ID

10610540

Incident

Jun 1, 2011

Mileage

134,000 mi

I WAS EXITING AN EXPRESSWAY AND WHILE ON THE RAMP COMING OFF, THE STEERING BECAME VERY UNRESPONSIVE AND HEAVY. IN DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET IT SOUNDS LIKE MY POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10606800

Incident

Jun 11, 2014

Mileage

125,900 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND WAS GOING TO MAKE A RIGHT TO TURN, SLOWED DOWN TO SAY HI TO MY ROOMMATE WHO WAS LEAVING AND WENT OUT OF GEAR WHEN I WENT BACK IN MY STEERING WAS EXTREMELY STIFF AND I COULD BARELY MOVE THE WHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10598698

Incident

Jun 9, 2014

Mileage

27,000 mi

ON FEBRUARY 6, 2014 MY MINI COOPER S WAS SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP MINI COOPER OF CONCORD FOR A RECALL IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. SHORTLY, AFTER IN MARCH MY CAR STARTED TO SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE AND MY CAR BURSTED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND TURNED DOWN THE FIRE, HOWEVER MY CAR IS A COMPLETE LOSS. I CALLED MINI COOPER OF CONCORD, HOWEVER NO ONE COULD PROVIDE HELP. I ALSO EMAILED THE HEAD OF THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. I INVESTIGATED ONLINE AND NOTICED THAT MANY PEOPLE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE WATER PUMP LEAKING AND CATCHING FIRE IN THE ENGINE. I CALLED MINI USA AND FILED A CASE,AND THEY PROMISED TO RESPOND WITHIN 3 DAYS. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT ONLY UNTIL I CALLED VARIOUS TIMES AND FINALLY WAS ABLE TO REACH A REPRESENTATIVE. JAMES INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO WAY TO EVALUATE THE MINI COOPER WAS AS AT FAULT AND ONLY TRIED TO SELL ME A NEW CAR. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH MINI COOPER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE AND LACK OF SUPPORT. MY CAR IS NOW A COMPLETE LOSS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10588457

Incident

Apr 17, 2014

Mileage

145,126 mi