RoadVitals

2002 MINI Cooper Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
34
Latest May 30, 2011
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
18%
of 187 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 MINI Cooper submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 34 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming transmission

The 25 most recent of 34, in the owner's own words

Transmission
Filed May 30, 2011

I WAS DRIVING FROM EAST LOS ANGELES TO WEST LOS ANGELES (PLAYA DEL RAY) ON THE 105 WEST HGWY WHEN THE CARS TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THIS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY IN LA DURING RUSH HOUR. I HAD TO SLOWLY MOVE OVER TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY UNTIL I COULD FIND AN AREA WITH A SHOULDER. I BARELY MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER AND COULD HAVE DIED FROM ONE OF THE CARS SPEEDING PAST ME. LUCKILY I MADE IT. I CALLED AAA AND THEY BROUGHT A TOW TRUCK WHICH TOWED THE CAR INTO A SHOP WHICH STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE THING WHICH WOULD COST $7,000 MINIMUM. I CALLED MULTIPLE OTHER DEALERS AND SHOPS, WHOM ALL GAVE THE SAME ESTIMATE. I DONATED IT TO MY LOCAL NPR STATION BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO PAY THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE A FAULTY TRANSMISSION, WITH ANOTHER FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10403716
Incident
Apr 28, 2011
SteeringTransmission
Filed Apr 16, 2011

I ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY 2002 MINI COOPER AND AT 80K MILES THE TRANSMISSION BLEW UP JUST BEFORE I WAS TO ENTER A VERY BUSY FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES, DOWNTOWN AREA. THERE WAS PLENTY OF OIL IN THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A FAULT OF MY CARE AFTER THE MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT UPON TOW IN. IT JUST STOPPED FAST AND SHORT WITH A HUGE JERK FORWARD AND EXPLOSIVE NOISE. THE MECHANIC SAID IT BLEW IN BIG CHUNKS. I COULDN'T MOVE IT FROM TRAFFIC IN NEUTRAL AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP. 80K IS EARLY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND I SEE MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THIS HAPPENED WITH EVEN LESS MILEAGE, 34K, 48K ...NO REPLACEMENTS AND SO MANY FAILURES LIKE THIS? MINI TURNS THEIR HEADS; WOULD NOT REPLACE OR EVEN TALK TO ME. PREVIOUSLY TOO THE POWER STEERING PUMP ALSO JUST STOPPED AND NO MOVEMENT ON THE WHEEL. SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP ONE TIME IN MOUNTAIN VIEW, I HAD AN OIL LEAK. AT THE TIME THE AMOUNT THEY WANTED ME TO PAY WAS HIGH, 700.00 OR SO (JUST AFTER WARRANTY ENDED). I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC. HE TOOK ME UNDER THE CAR AND SHOWED ME THERE WAS NOT A SPOT OF OIL UNDER THAT CAR IN ANY NOOK OR CRANNY. IN THINKING ABOUT THIS AFTER TRANSMISSION PROBLEM I REALIZE THESE THINGS ARE TELLING ME MINI KNOWS ABOUT THEIR MINI MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. ALSO WHEN THE NEW ($4350.00) TRANSMISSION WAS PURCHASED, LA, MINI TOLD THE MECHANIC THEY HAD 5 TRANSMISSIONS IN STOCK IN THEIR PARTS DEPARTMENT AT ALL TIMES BECAUSE THIS WAS SO COMMON. THAT'S PROOF THEY KNOW IT'S A PROBLEM. YET NO RECALL TO PEOPLE WITH THESE ISSUES AND THESE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10396095
Incident
May 18, 2009
Mileage
80,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 16, 2010

JUST DRIVING ALONG AND CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER, AND THEN TRANSMISSION LET GO. ENGINE REVVED, BUT THE GEARS WERE GONE. NO FORWARD OR REVERSE. NOTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10336663
Incident
Jun 12, 2010
Mileage
93,101 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 17, 2010

SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE MANUAL 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION CAUSING CAR TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP IN AN INTERSECTION, ENDANGERING THE DRIVER AND BLOCKING TRAFFIC. SOMETHING INTERNAL FAILS IN THE TRANSMISSION, CAR COMES TO T SUDDEN STOP, CANT BE PUSHED AS THE WHEELS LOCK UP AND MUST BE TOWED FROM THE ROAD. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON MESSAGE BOARDS ON THE WEB. TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10311291
Incident
Feb 11, 2010
Mileage
80,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 13, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ID
10276566
Incident
Jul 11, 2009
Mileage
63,000 mi
Transmission
Filed May 20, 2009

TRANSMISSION WHINING NOISE EVENTUALLY LEADING TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. MINI IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH CVT TRANSMISSIONS AND REFUSES TO ADMIT FAULT. VERY COMMON PROBLEM OCCURRING IN MOST 2002 VEHICLES WITH ONLY 40,000-60,000 MILES ON THEM. COST IS 7000 TO REPLACE. MINI DOES NOT OFFER REPAIR ON THIS PART. *TR

NHTSA ID
10269497
Incident
May 13, 2009
Mileage
67,700 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 23, 2009

TRANSMISSION BEARINGS FAILURE AFTER 82,000 MILES. NO BEARINGS KIT REPLACEMENT OFFERED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10262729
Incident
Oct 15, 2008
Mileage
82,000 mi
ElectricalTransmission
Filed Dec 23, 2008

PURCHASED A USED 2002 MINI COOPER ABOUT 3 1/2 YRS AGO W/ ABOUT 12K MILES. AT AROUND 15-17K MILES THE TRANSMISSION BASICALLY EXPLODED WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE TRANSMISSION. MINI REPLACED IT WITH I'M GUESSING A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR I ASKED THEM IF THEY WERE PUTTING IN A NEW CLUTCH AND THEY SAID NO, WHICH I FOUND STRANGE. NOW AT 60K MILES THE CLUTCH IS BASICALLY DONE. WHEN THE CAR IS COLD IT SHIFTS PRETTY NORMALLY, BUT AFTER 15-25 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE FIRST TWO GEARS BECOME HARD TO ENGAGE AND THEY SLIP. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST FIVE SPEED AND I'M SHOCKED THAT THIS CLUTCH IS DONE AFTER SUCH LITTLE MILEAGE. SHOULD THEY HAVE REPLACED THE CLUTCH WHEN THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION? I'M NOT A MECHANIC BUT TO LOSE A CLUTCH AT 60K MILES DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. MY DRIVING HABITS ARE PRETTY NORMAL. I'M NOT LIGHTING UP THE TIRES AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR RACING PEOPLE. THIS IS AN EVERYDAY CAR MOSTLY USED ON THE HIGHWAY. I'M BRINGING THE CAR IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT THE MINI SERVICE CENTER IN FREEPORT NY ON 12/29/08. ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH OVERHEATING ABOUT 4 MONTHS AFTER CAR WAS PURCHASED. AND AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS LIT. HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED ONCE OR TWICE. BUT THE LIGHT STILL STAYS LIT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10252644
Incident
Dec 15, 2008
Mileage
60,000 mi
SteeringTransmission
Filed Sep 15, 2008

BACK IN FEB 2008 THE STEERING ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER JUST WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING. I WAS LEFT WITHOUT POWER STEERING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 101 FREEWAY, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS! I FIXED THE PROBLEM, WHICH WAS VERY EXPENSIVE AS IT WAS THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM THAT FAILED AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH MINI, I NEVER HEARD BACK BUT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR. RECENTLY, SEPTEMBER 2008 THE TRANSMISSION IN THAT SAME CAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND FEEL IT MAY BE A LEMON. MINI IS UNWILLING TO HELP ME AS MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I FEEL AS THOUGH THESE PROBLEMS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY AS THERE IS NO PRIOR WARNING AND I AM CONCERNED FOR ALL PRESENT AND FUTURE MINI COOPER DRIVERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10242293
Incident
Feb 20, 2008
Mileage
60,000 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)Steering+1 more
Filed Sep 12, 2008

CLUTCH AND CABLES FAIL AT 100 000KM. RATTLING NOISE AT START UP. VERY LOUD HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING. TRANSMISSION GONE AT 103 000KM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10242030
Incident
Jul 7, 2008
Mileage
62,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 7, 2008

THE WARRANTY ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER RAN OUT AT 50K MILES. AT 53K MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION FROM MINI. THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $4,200. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING THE SAME FATE BECAUSE MINI WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10241226
Incident
Mar 15, 2008
Mileage
53,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 6, 2008

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OF MY 2002 MINI COOPER FAILED WHILE MY FRIEND WAS DRIVING MY CAR. SHE WAS ON A WINDING COASTAL ROAD AND THE CAR DIED ON A BLIND CURVE, PUTTING HER AT GREAT DANGER. FORTUNATELY NOBODY WAS HURT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE SAN FRANCISCO BMW DEALERSHIP, WHERE I WAS INFORMED I NEEDED A $8500 "REFURBISHED" TRANSMISSION, AS THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT EVEN MADE ANYMORE. RESEARCH ON LINE SHOWS THAT THIS BECOMING A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH "FIRST GENERATION" MINIS WITH THE "CVT" AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I DECLINED THE REPAIR AND SOLD THEM THE CARCASS OF MY CAR. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND BMW/MINI IS NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10241197
Incident
Aug 3, 2008
Mileage
43,191 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 5, 2008

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 MINI ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH AND I FELT A SUDDEN JOLTING AND SENSED A BACKWARD FORCE IMPEDING IT FROM GOING FORWARD. LUCKILY, IT WAS NIGHT TIME AND THERE WEREN'T MANY CARS, BECAUSE MY MINI STOPPED GOING FORWARD AND WAS MERELY RUNNING ON MOMENTUM. THE CAR GOT WORSE AND STARTED MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND FROM WHERE THE TRANSMISSION SITS AND THE CAR CONTINUED JOLTING NOT GOING FORWARD AS I BARELY HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER. AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND CHECKING THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE BY APPEARANCE (NO OIL LEAK, NO BLOWN GASKET, ETC), I RESTARTED THE CAR FINE, BUT THE CAR NEVER AGAIN ENGAGED INTO GEAR UNTIL I SPENT A WHOPPING $7,000 TO FIX IT. I WOULD SHIFT INTO D AND THE ENGINE WOULD REV, BUT THE CAR STAYED INERT. THE TRANSMISSION IS A CLOSED SYSTEM AND WHEN NO HARM IS DONE TO IT AND NO FLUID IS NOT LEAKING, TRANSMISSIONS SHOULDN'T POSE ANY PROBLEMS AT CONSIDERABLY LOW MILES (99K). I STARTED RESEARCHING ON THE POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND SURE ENOUGH, THERE WAS A LONG LIST OF COMPLAINTS ON THE FAULTY DESIGN. NEXT, I HAD TO SHOP FOR MECHANICS. ALL THE EXPERIENCED MINI MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT BMW OFFERED NO REPLACEMENT PARTS BECAUSE OF A PATENT THE INVENTOR HAD ON THE CVT DESIGN. I HAD TO HAVE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BECAUSE THERE WERE NO OPTIONS BMW LEFT FOR THE CONSUMER. IT WAS EITHER YOU PAY $7,000 OR YOUR MINI WILL BE SCRAPPED AND NEVER RUN AGAIN. MY MECHANIC WAS NICE ENOUGH TO CHOP OPEN THE TRANSMISSION AND SAW THAT IT WAS JUST A METAL BELT THAT DRIVES THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS BROKEN. A SIMPLE BELT THAT PROBABLY COSTS NO MORE THAN $200 COULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND A WHOLE LOT OF CONSUMER MONEY COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED IF THE PART WAS AVAILABLE TO THE US- NOT TO MENTION THE WHOLE ORDEAL WOULDN'T BE THERE IF BMW HAD DESIGNED A RELIABLE TRANSMISSION IN THE FIRST PLACE, (IE USE A REGULAR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INSTEAD OF A CVT WHEN THE CVT HAS NOT BE FULLY TESTED FOR ITS RELIABILITY). *TR

NHTSA ID
10241108
Incident
Jan 10, 2008
Mileage
98,901 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 6, 2008

I AM THE SECOND OWNER (BOTH OLDER LADIES), OF A 2002 AUTOMATIC MINI COOPER WITH 46,000 MILES. YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THE TRANNY FAILED. IT DOWNSHIFTED OR SOMETHING AND THE EP WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, WHICH MEANS TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND I WAS TWO FEET AWAY FROM BEING REAR ENDED! I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. AFTER RESEARCHING ON LINE, I HAVE READ GREAT AMOUNTS OF CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. IT IS DANGEROUS AND VERY COSTLY ACCORDING TO THE FIGURES I'VE READ OF PEOPLE WHOSE HAD THEIRS FIXED OR REPLACED. THESE CARS WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS NEEDS TO BE ANNOUNCED TO THE PUBLIC FOR SAFETY REASONS ALONE NOT EVEN TO MENTION THE COST! SINCERELY, BONNIE QUINN *TR

NHTSA ID
10237175
Incident
Aug 5, 2002
Mileage
46,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 4, 2008

TRANSMISSION BLEW AT 34 THOUSAND MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10229989
Incident
May 30, 2008
Mileage
34,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 13, 2008

CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER 32,000 MILES, NEEDING COSTLY REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10221060
Incident
Mar 8, 2008
Mileage
31,980 mi
BrakesElectricalTransmission
Filed Jan 2, 2008

I HAVE A 2002 MINI COOPER WITH 52K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION HAS WENT OUT TWICE IN THE PAST 2 YEARS THE FIRST TIME AT 31K MILES. THE CLUTCH HAS ALSO WENT OUT AS WELL AS THE SUNROOF MOTOR, LEFT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WITH A HOST OF SENSORS, GAUGES ETC... PARTS ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET AND SERVICE ON A 24K CAR (WHEN NEW) IS AS MUCH AS MY 70K BMW 7 SERIES.*CN

NHTSA ID
10213520
Incident
Jan 2, 2008
Mileage
56,344 mi
AirbagsTransmission
Filed Dec 26, 2007
Crash reported3 injuries reported

I JUST FOUND THIS WEB SITE AND AFTER READING THROUGH THE VARIOUS ISSUES OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THEIR MINI, I DECIDED I SHOULD ALSO GO AHEAD AND SHARE MY ISSUES AS WELL. BACK IN APRIL OF 2004, I WAS HIT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BY A HONDA ACCORD TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MILES AN HOUR AND MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I NEVER HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR AN AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THAT MATTER BUT IT'S A SCARY THOUGHT NOT HAVING YOUR AIRBAGS DEPLOY, ESPECIALLY AT SUCH A HIGH SPEED OF IMPACT. I USED TO BE IN LOVE WITH MINI'S BUT I HAVE BEEN SO "SOURED" BY THEM AS OF LATE WITH ALL OF THE ISSUES I HAVE BEEN HAVING. MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I CAN'T EVEN START MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10212710
Incident
Apr 27, 2004
Mileage
46,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 26, 2007

MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER RENDERING THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $6000+ TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO AND THEY JUST RESET THE CODE AND IT WORKED FINE. THEY SAID IF THEY TRIED RESETTING THE CODE AGAIN, THE CAR MAY JUST DIE ON ME WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10212708
Incident
Dec 26, 2007
Mileage
122,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 10, 2007

I HAVE A 2002 MINI COOPER WITH A CVT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. THE CARE HAS ABOUT 61,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED COSTING ME AT LEAST $6,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10211394
Incident
Nov 30, 2007
EngineTransmissionVisibility
Filed Nov 15, 2007

2002 MINI COOPER WITH <55,000 MILES (SAME OWNER) THE SHIFT CABLE DETACHED FROM THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE WHILE I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE GEARS. GEAR CHANGES ARE NO LONGER POSSIBLE AND THE TRANSMISSION REMAINS IN THE LAST GEAR SELECTED! PRIOR TO THIS -BUT WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, ALL THE WINDOW MOTORS DIED SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE FAN BELT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, THE ENGINE CONTINUALLY OVERHEATED (DESPITE REPEATED SERVICE BY BMW), THE HORN FUSE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF (UNTIL IT BLEW), AND THE TRANSMITION IS SLOWLY DYING. 1) THE FAN BELT WOULD NOT TURN OFF -CONTINUOUSLY, DRAINING THE BATTERY. 2) TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED 3) THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING 4) THE POWER WINDOWS *TR

NHTSA ID
10209056
Incident
Nov 15, 2007
Transmission
Filed Sep 26, 2007

WE PURCHASED OUR 2002 MINI ON 10/10/06, W/55,059 MILES ON IT. 9 DAYS LATER THE CLUTCH WENT OUT, NOT COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WE PURCHASED. WE TOWED IT BACK TO MINI SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE DEPT WHO INSISTED THAT WE WORE OUT THE CLUTCH AND IT WAS OUR PROBLEM, WEAR AND TEAR, ETC. ? AFTER 9 DAYS! UNBELIEVABLE! THEY OFFERED TO PAY HALF, BUT WE FELT THIS WAS COMPLETELY UNFAIR. WE THEN HAD TO BATTLE WITH THE SERVICE DEPT AND THEY EVENTUALLY CALLED MINI USA WHO AGREED TO PAY THE OTHER HALF TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH. A FEW MONTHS LATER OUR MINI WAS DUE FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE (INSPECTION 2, $390), WHICH WE HAD DON ON 2/6/07, WITH NO NOTABLE PROBLEMS. THEN ON 9/14/07, AT 67,829 MILES, THE CLUTCH WENT OUT AGAIN! TWICE IN UNDER ONE YEAR! WE HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES FOR OVER 15 YEARS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH, LET ALONE TWICE IN ONE YEAR! OF COURSE IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND THE DEALERSHIP IS INSISTING THAT IT IS OUR FAULT THAT WE BURNT OUT THE CLUTCH, WHICH IS ABSURD. WE WOULD HAVE TO GRIND THE GEARS EVERY TIME WE SHIFT IN ORDER TO BURN OUT A BRAND NEW CLUTCH WITHIN ONE YEAR. MINI USA IS TAKING THE WORD OF THE SERVICE MANAGER AND WILL NOT HELP US. WE ARE NOT SURE IF THIS IS RELATED TO THE RECALL (MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY), HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP/SERVICE DEPT DENIES THAT SUCH A RECALL EXISTS. WHEN SEARCHING GOOGLE WE FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME OR VERY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OF CLUTCHES GOING OUT IN UNUSUALLY SHORT PERIODS OF DRIVING TIME. EACH TIME THE DEALERSHIP BLAMES THE DRIVER AND DENIES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. OUR MINI IS SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT NOW AS WE RESEARCH AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO RESOLVE THIS SITUATION FAIRLY. AT THIS POINT, WE JUST WANT TO GET IT REPAIRED AND SELL IT. ALTHOUGH, I FEEL BAD SELLING THIS CAR TO ANYONE, SINCE IT CLEARLY HAS MECHANICAL DEFECTS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10204178
Incident
Sep 14, 2007
Mileage
67,829 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 6, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT A BUMP COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DROVE ROUGHLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. AS OF SEPTEMBER 6, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V201000 (POWER TRAIN: MANUAL TRANSMISSION: FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY). THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ID
10202077
Incident
Jun 1, 2007
Mileage
65,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 31, 2007

I RECENTLY WAS DRIVING HOME FROM SACRAMENTO WHEN MY CAR STOPPED DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY.... LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE AND CALL FOR HELP... THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING AND THE RPM'S WERE GOING UP, BUT WOULD NOT DRIVE OR REVERSE. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAD JUST HAD THE SECOND INSPECTION SERVICE ON THE CAR ON 4/10/2007 AT THE COST OF $850. THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVING FUNNY, NO LIGHTS HAD COME ON, NOTHING WAS ABNORMAL. AAA TOOK MY CAR TO MINI OF SACRAMENTO DEALER WHERE I HAD TO LEAVE IT OVER NIGHT (THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS NO LONGER OPEN) AND CHECK MYSELF INTO A HOTEL. I CALLED THE NEXT MORNING AND THEY SAID BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE AN APPOINTMENT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT AROUND 5:00 PM. I WAS CALLED LATER THAT DAY AND TOLD THE CAR NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND IT WILL COST $7,500... THE CAR HAS ROUGHLY 59,000 MILES ON IT. *TR UPDATED 02-21-08 *BF

NHTSA ID
10201306
Incident
Aug 28, 2007
Mileage
59,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 10, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SHIFT CABLE COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND PREVENTING THE CONTACT FROM SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALTY SHOP AND THEY RECONNECTED THE SHIFT CABLE. BMW STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 02V201000 (POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY). THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,750.

NHTSA ID
10199074
Incident
Aug 9, 2007
Mileage
48,750 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .