2006 MINI Cooper S Problems

The contact owns a 2006 Mini Coop S. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the passenger’s side seat occupancy mat had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist since the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V205000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 90,350.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SOUTH BAY MINI LOCATED AT (18800 HAWTHORNE BLVD, TORRANCE CA) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING FUNCTIONALITY. THE SEAT BELT AND CHECK-ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE BROWN MOTOR WORKS (803-551-0991, LOCATED AT 4041 BROAD RIVER RD, COLUMBIA, SC 29210) AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE SERVICES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160.000.

POWER STEERING IS MALFUNCTIONING. IT COME AND GOES FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS WHILE IN A WINDING ROAD. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACE SOME LINES. A FEW MOTHS LATER IT STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DRIVING AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN IDLE FOR MORE THAN 2 HOURS. NOW THE POWER STEERING IS TOTALLY NOT WORKING AT ALL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING AT A LOW SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. ONCE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN OFF WITH THE KEY IN THE OFF POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR HAD FAILED AND MELTED. THE POWER STEERING MOTOR, WIRES, BATTERY, PUMP, FAN, PRESSURE HOSE AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED. AFTER REPAIRS, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE USING THE DIAGNOSTIC TOOL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING) BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD MY I TURNED THE AC ON AND ABOUT 20MIN OF ME RIDING IN THE VEHICLE ME AND MY INFANT SON MY MY VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD HEAVY WHITE SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE 2006 MINI COOPER S. MY CAR BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER WHILE ENGINE BAY STILL HEAVILY SMOKING I MANAGED TO GET CAR IN A NEARBY DEALERSHIP GET MY SON AND I OUT OF THE CAR I PUT WATER ON THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE THAT WAS BURNING TO KEEP THE REST OF THE CAR FROM BURNING UP.THE REST OF THE CAR I HAD TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY THE CAR WONT DO ANYTHING AT ALL THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM OR THE WIRES BURNT UNDER THE HOOD.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD MY I TURNED THE AC ON AND ABOUT 20MIN OF ME RIDING IN THE VEHICLE ME AND MY INFANT SON MY MY VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD HEAVY WHITE SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE 2006 MINI COOPER S. MY CAR BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER WHILE ENGINE BAY STILL HEAVILY SMOKING I MANAGED TO GET CAR IN A NEARBY DEALERSHIP GET MY SON AND I OUT OF THE CAR I PUT WATER ON THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE THAT WAS BURNING TO KEEP THE REST OF THE CAR FROM BURNING UP.THE REST OF THE CAR I HAD TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY THE CAR WONT DO ANYTHING AT ALL THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM OR THE WIRES BURNT UNDER THE HOOD.

LOUD NOISE/RATTLE AT IDLE. LOOSE CAMSHAFT TIMING CHAIN DUE TO TENSIONER FAILURE. IT WOULD APPEAR FROM SEVERAL FORUMS THAT THIS IS FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM THAT DEALERS ARE REFUSING TO FIX SINCE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. *TR

STEERING PUMP TRANSMISSION WEENING NOT WANTING TO CHANGE GEARS RIGHT

2006 MINI COOPER S WITH 66000 MILES HAD A TRANSMISSION FAILURE THAT RESULTED IN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION DUE TO LOSS OF FORWARD PROPULSION WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.

UPON STARTING MY CAR, AFTER BEING IN A STORE, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE A PASSENGER WAS IN THE SEAT. THE INDICATOR STAYED ON AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. I RESEARCHED TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS FOR A FAULTY PASSENGER AIRBAG COVERING MY YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL, AND FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL MINI DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO INFORMATION PERTAINING TO MY CAR AND THAT I NEEDED TO CONTACT MINI USA DIRECTLY. I DID SO AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY ALSO COULD NOT FIND ANY INFORMATION PERTAINING TO MY CAR AND THAT THEY NEEDED TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE STATUS OF MY VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE MY CAR WAS PURCHASED THROUGH AN OVERSEAS MILITARY PROGRAM THE SYSTEMS WERE NOT THE SAME AND THAT A SUPERVISOR WOULD HAVE TO TRY AND FIND THE INFORMATION AND MANUALLY ADD IT TO THE MINI USA SYSTEM. I WAS ALSO ASKED, REPEATEDLY, IF MY CAR WAS A CANADIAN SPEC VEHICLE. IT WAS NOT ORDERED AS SUCH. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF WAITING, I CALLED MINI USA TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE INVESTIGATION. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD ALREADY BEEN NOTIFIED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL FOR THE AIRBAG SENSOR ISSUE. WHEN I INQUIRED AS TO WHY MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM FOR WHICH THE RECALL WAS ISSUED, I WAS TOLD THAT MY CASE WAS NOW CLOSED AND IF I HAD ANY OTHER QUESTIONS I NEEDED TO CONTACT MINI CUSTOMER SERVICE.

VEHICLE RECALLED 2015 FOR FRONT PASSENGER SENSOR MAT (RECALL 15V205) STILL NOT REPAIRED. LOCAL MINI DEALER HAS SERVICED THE CAR SO THEY HAVE CONTACT INFORMATION.

DRIVING HOME FROM DEALERSHIP AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. I THOUGHT I WAS JUST UNLUCKY AND A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD. NOW I THINK THERE WAS NOT A ROCK INVOLVED. DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD. *TR

PLETHORA OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. HEATED SEATS ARE A MAJOR CONCERN. THEY GO ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES, SEEM HAUNTED. SOMETIMES, THEY GET SO HOT THEY LEAVE BURN MARKS IN MY LEGS. I AM AFRAID OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE HEATED SEATS GET SO HOT, THEY LEFT BURN MARKS IN MY SEAT. AISIN 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPPED WITH "LIFETIME" FLUID, BEGINS SLIPPING GEARS AT 70K THE SUPERCHARGER HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE "DESIGN" OF THE SUPERCHARGER IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED, I WAS FORCED BY BMWUSA TO PURCHASE A REMANUFACTURED SUPERCHARGER. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A "COMMON PROBLEM" I HAVE ALSO FOUND OUT FROM FORUMS SUCH AS NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT BMW DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT ITS AT FAULT FOR HOWEVER THEY ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THE WIDESPREAD HAPPENINGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE AVAILABILITY OF NEW SUPERCHARGERS IS VERY LOW BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, HENCE ME PURCHASING A REMFGD ONE. REAR WIPER MOTOR FAILED AT 40K QUOTED HUNDREDS TO REPLACE, NOT WORTH IT!!!!! *TR

THERE IS A CONSTANT FUEL / GASOLINE SMELL IN MY CAR AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. NO VISIBLE LEAKS. THE SMELL IS CONSTANT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FUEL SENSOR GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF FUEL, BUT THE GAUGE INDICATED THAT THERE WAS 74 MILES LEFT IN THE FUEL TANK. TEMPE MINI, LOCATED AT 7855 SOUTH TEST DRIVE, TEMPE, ARIZONA 85284, WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL HOUSING, AND FUEL SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

IN APRIL 2013 I WAS MERGING ONTO HIGHWAY I20 WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE BACK OF MY MINI COOPER S 2006. AS I WAS SPEEDING UP TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY THE CAR COMPLETELY CUT OFF. I VEERED OVER INTO A MEDIAN IN THE MIDDLE OF SIX LANES OF HIGH-SPEED TRAFFIC. THE CAR HAD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, EVEN THE HAZARD LIGHTS. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT THE MEDIAN WAS THERE AND THAT I HAD NOT YET ENTERED THE MAIN STREAM OF TRAFFIC. THE POLICE CAME, THEN A FRIEND. AFTER ABOUT A HALF HOUR IT RESTARTED WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND HE WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE IT, AND HE FIXED A BELT THAT HE SAID HAD LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BLOWN OUT. ABOUT FOUR TIMES IN THE YEAR PRIOR TO THIS THE CAR HAD CUT OFF, BUT NOT WHILE I WAS DRIVING; IT SHUT DOWN AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT BUT THEN IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED. NO ONE COULD EXPLAIN IT. AFTER THE APRIL INCIDENT I WENT TO THE MINI COOPER DEALER AND SPENT CLOSE TO $3000 TO ENSURE THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE FOR MY CHILDREN. HOWEVER, YESTERDAY, 11/5/13, I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FOR ASSISTANCE AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS KIND OF PROBLEM AND COULDN'T HELP; FORTUNATELY THE CAR RESTARTED ABOUT TEN MINUTES LATER. HOWEVER, I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND I HAVE HEARD FROM AN ACQUAINTANCE WHO ALSO HAS A MINI COOPER S 2006 WHO SAID THIS HAS HAPPENED TO HER, THAT SOMETHING RANDOM HAPPENED WITH HER CAR AND IT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. SHE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT I CALLED MINI CORPORATE TODAY, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL AND REFERRED ME TO NHTSA. *TR

TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 70MPH AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS UP, SPEEDS DROPS TO MAXIMUM 30MPH CREATING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. FIRST OCCURRENCE MARCH 2012 WAS DIAGNOSED AS FAILED "THROTTLE BODY", SECOND OCCURRENCE IN JULY 2012 WAS DIAGNOSED AS FAILED "WIRING HARNESS". *TR

I PURCHASE MY 2006 MINI COOPER S NEW ALMOST 4 YEARS AGO. I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SINCE I PURCHASED IT. IF YOU ARE GOING DOWN A HILL IT DOWNSHIFTS EXTREMELY HARD CAUSING A WHIPLASH EFFECT. CARS HAVE ALMOST HIT ME FROM BEHIND MANY TIMES. ADDITIONALLY WHEN GOING UP A HILL SUCH AS A FREEWAY ON-RAMP, THE CAR WILL JUST REFUSE TO ACCELERATE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY. I HAVE SPOKEN MANY TIMES TO MINI HEADQUARTERS AND THE CONSENSUS IS THAT IS HOW THE VEHICLE IS SUPPOSED TO OPERATE. THEY TOLD ME TO BUY A NEW ONE NOW BECAUSE THEY DON'T USE THAT TRANSMISSION ANY MORE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME TO MANUALLY SHIFT THE CAR IN THOSE SITUATIONS. I SAID IF I HAD WANTED TO SHIFT MANUALLY I WOULDN'T HAVE PAID FOR AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THEIR RESPONSE. I AM DISABLED AND ON A LIMITED INCOME. I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY A NEW CAR AND MORE IMPORTANTLY I COULDN'T MORALLY SELL THIS ONE WITH THESE KIND OF PROBLEMS. *TR

TRANNY WENT ON MY 2006 S MANUAL AT 20K, 3 WEEKS OUT OF WARRANTY. I BROUGHT IT IN 5 WEEKS EARLIER WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. THEY SAID ?THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM?. I REALIZE NOW THAT THEY CHOSE THESE WORDS CAREFULLY. 5 WEEKS AND 1000 MILES LATER, JUST OUR OR WARRANTY IT BLEW. SAID THE TRANNY FLUID WAS DARK AND FULL OF SHARDS. DID THEY NOT CHECK THIS LAST MONTH????? THEY TOLD ME 6K TO FIX IT. I BLEW A GASKET. HE CALLED ME BACK A FEW HOURS LATER AND SAID MINI WOULD PROVIDE THE PARTS FOR FREE IF I PAID $1300 LABOR. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE ON THEIR MINI'S, MANY MORE THEN I HAVE SEEN WHEN I HAVE DONE SEARCHES ON OTHER ISSUES. I THINK THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

THIS IS MY 3RD MINI COOPER S. ON MY PREVIOUS 2 CARS, A 2004 AND A 2005, I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK BRAKES. BOTH CARS HAD ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON THEM. THE LINES ARE HELD IN PLACE BY "CLIPS" WHICH TRAP MOISTURE AND SALT. THIS CAUSES THE LINES TO RUST OUT AND FAIL, LOSING BRAKING ABILITY. SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN WITH A 50K MILE CAR AND CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. LOOKING AT MY 2006 YESTERDAY. CAR WITH ABOUT 50K MILES, BRAKE LINES LOOK TO ME LIKE THEY ARE READY TO FAIL FROM RUST. IF THIS HAS HAPPENED ON ALL OF MY CARS, THIS MUST BE A COMMON SAFETY DEFECT CAUSED BY A BAD DESIGN. MINI DOES NOT OFFER ANY HELP WITH THIS MATTER. I HAVE CONTACTED THEM BUT THEY HAVE OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. ALL I ASKED THEM TO DO WAS TO REPLACE THE LINES AT THEIR EXPENSE. THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN DOING SO. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 MINI COOPER JOHN COOPER WROKS GP. THE DSC (DIRECTIONAL STABILITY CONTROL), LOW TIRE WARNING LIGHT, AND ABS (ANTI LOCK BRAKING) WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AS I TRAVELED ON THE INTERSTATE. NO INCIDENT OCCURRED TO CAUSE A FAILURE. THE ABS AND DSC SYSTEMS DO NOT WORK, OR WORK INAPPROPRIATELY. DISCUSSING THIS WITH OTHER MINI COOPER OWNERS WITH THE SO CALLED WORKS BRAKES, I FIND OUT IT IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM. *JB

DURING A SERVICE CALL ON OUR 2006 MINI COOPER, WE WERE INFORMED THAT BOTH FRONT STRUT MOUNTS WERE BENT AND DAMAGED. THESE ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND IN ONE CASE HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE AT 20000+ MILES AFTER HITTING A BAD POTHOLE. THE CAR NOW HAS 34000 MILES AND HAD TO HAVE BOTH MOUNTS REPLACED. APPARENTLY THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT MINI/BMW IS NOT WILLING TO CORRECT ALTHOUGH THERE ARE AFTERMARKET REINFORCEMENTS AVAILABLE. A FURTHER SEARCH OF THE INTERNET REVEALS THAT A LOT OF MINI & BMW OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE, IN PARTICULAR THOSE WITH RUN-FLAT TIRES INSTALLED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SQUEAKED WHEN IT DROVE OVER A BUMP. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STRUT MOUNTS WERE CRACKED AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

I HAVE A 2006 MINI COOPER S. AIRBAGS REPLACED DUE TO RECALL (2015 OR 2016) AT MINI DEALERSHIP. NOW, MAY 15, 2018, SEATBELT/AIRBAG RED LIGHT ON ON CONSOLE. NO AIRBAG LIGHT ON NEAR MIRROR. NOTHING ON PASSENGER SEAT - I AM BELTED WHEN I DRIVE. THIS HAPPENS AS I TURN ON IGNITION AND STAYS ON.

AIRBAG FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON... AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY. 700.00 TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX THE ISSUE (CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE) CALLED MINI USA, AND THEY WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL EVEN THOUGH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

EXECUTING A LEFT TURN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS ISSUE. DAMAGE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF CAR AGAINST CURB. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ON A RECALL!

2006 MINI COPPER S. I BOUGHT IT WITH 15997 MILES ON THE CAR. THE CLUTCH WENT OUT 3000 MILES LATER AND THE MINI DEALERSHIP WAS ASKED TO CHECK OUT THE CAR ESPECIALLY THE CLUTCH ONLY 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. NO WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED BEFORE THE CLUTCH STOPPED WORKING. NOW THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT IS NOT COVERING BY THE WARRANTY AND THEN INFORMS ME THAT THIS WILL BE THE THIRD CLUTCH TO BE INSTALLED IN THIS VEHICLE.... ONE WAS REPLACED AT 8000 MILES AND THEN ANOTHER AT 11000 MILES (FIRST OWNER) AND NOW AGAIN AT 19000 MILES. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND I HAVE RESEARCHED WITH MANY OTHER MINI OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUES. SOME MAY HAVE STARTED THEIR OWN CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT.....PLEASE ADVISE! *TR

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ABOUT 60 MPH. EXTREMELY LOUD SCREECHING BURST OF SOUND OCCURRED. SOUND WAS SIMILAR TO SMOKE DETECTOR TEST SOUND, LASTING ABOUT A SECOND, BUT HORRIBLY LOUD, ESPECIALLY IN A SMALL ENCLOSED AREA WITH THE WINDOWS UP. NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT. OUR EARS HURT BADLY (I STILL FEEL SOME SORENESS A DAY LATER, AS I NOW WRITE. SIMILAR OCCURRENCES FOR MINI COOPER NOTED IN WEB FORUMS, REFERENCING A POSSIBLE STEREO AMPLIFIER PROBLEM. OUR RADIO WAS NOT ON. FORTUNATELY THE DEALER WAS OPEN (ON SUNDAY) AND WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED TODAY. FROM WHAT I'VE RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET, WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES VICTIMIZED BY THIS ISSUE. WE ARE ACTUALLY FEARFUL AND UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR, WORRYING THAT AT ANY TIME THIS COULD OCCUR AGAIN. THIS IS AN UNNECESSARY HARDSHIP AND DISTRACTION THAT KEEPS US FROM PAYING FULL ATTENTION TO SAFELY DRIVING THE CAR. UNTIL THE DEALER CAN SPECIFICALLY EXPLAIN WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND PERFORM WHATEVER WORK IS NEED TO GUARANTEE IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS ONE-YEAR-OLD CAR, BEING CONCERNED THAT I'LL HAVE AN ACCIDENT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF I STILL FEEL SORENESS IN MY LEFT EAR LATER TODAY, I PLAN TO CONTACT MY DOCTOR. *TR