2002 MINI Cooper Visibility Problems

DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC WINDOW DOES NOT WORK; WILL BE REPLACING WINDOW MOTOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10262232

Incident

Mar 10, 2002

Mileage

65,000 mi

BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MOTOR FAILURE (WITH WINDOW IN UP POSITION). PROBLEM WAS INTERMEDIATE OVER THE PAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS WITH FAILURE TWO OR THREE TIMES A YEAR. CURRENTLY DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW HAS NOT WORKED FOR WEEKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10238105

Incident

Jul 18, 2008

Mileage

80,000 mi

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

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS WIPER MOTOR FAILURE. I NOTICED THAT THE WIPER MOTOR WAS EXPOSED DIRECTLY TO THE WEATHER AND MOISTURE BECAUSE IT IS LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE COWL INTAKE AND I FELT THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. IT'S EXPOSED TO RAIN, SNOW, AND WINTER ROAD SALT SPRAY - EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT BEING DRIVEN. I OBTAINED THE REPLACEMENT PART AND NOTICED THAT IT HAD A PLASTIC SHIELD INSTALLED TO PROTECT THE MOTOR INDICATING THE MANUFACTURER DOES KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HAS IMPLEMENTED CORRECTIVE ACTION. WHEN I CONTACTED BMW, THEY CLAIMED TO BE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. BMW INSISTS ON CHARGING FOR THE REPAIR ($465.00) AND HAS NOT YET RECOGNIZED THE FACT THAT THERE IS A SAFETY DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE IS ALSO A HIGH LIKELIHOOD THAT THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES THAT COULD EXPERIENCE THE SAME FAILURE RESULTING IN LOSS OF LIFE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171873

Incident

Oct 12, 2006

Mileage

56,800 mi

8" CRACK IN FRONT WINDSHIELD. CRACK IS LOCATED ON LOWER RIGHT HAND (PASSENGER) SIDE OF VEHICLE THAT STARTS BELOW THE WINDSHIELD SEAL. THE GOES UP 3" THEN CURVES LEFT AND TRAVELS FOR 5". CRACK APPEARED AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A SECURE GARAGE FOR 3 DAYS, AND HAS GROWN ABOUT 1" A WEEK.

NHTSA ID

10122262

Incident

May 15, 2005

Mileage

1,090 mi

MINI COOPER 2002 SUFFERED A STRESS CRACK OF THE WINDSHIELD THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. NO ROCKS OR CHIPS CAUSED THE CRACK. IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE'S 36,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10095777

Incident

Sep 25, 2004

Mileage

22,101 mi

WINDSHIELD ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER S HAS CRACKS IN 2 PLACES WHICH STARTED FROM THE EDGES OF THE WINDSHIELD. BOTH CRACKS APPEARED WHEN THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER SAYS THEY ARE "ROCK CHIPS" THOUGH THERE'S NO VISIBLE IMPACT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10061988

Incident

Mar 4, 2004

Mileage

18,000 mi

I HAVE A JULY 2002 BUILD, MINI COOPER S .TO DATE I HAVE HAD 6 WINDSHIELDS INSTALLED.MOST HAVE SUFFERED STRESS RELATED FAILURE,BUT 2 STARTED AS MINIMAL ROCK STRIKES ,WHICH LATER RESULTED IN LONG (10- 14 INCH) CRACKS.GLASS IS SUB-STANDARD,TOO THIN ,AND TOO SOFT.I DEFINATELY FEAR FOR MY SAFETY AS LONG AS THIS GLASS ISN'T REDESIGNED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10061985

Incident

Dec 20, 2003

Mileage

26,654 mi

1. INTERIOR DOOR LATCH MECHANISM INOPERABLE IN FREEZING CONDITIONS - WILL NOT RELEASE (UNABLE TO EXIT CAR) - WAS ABLE TO ENTER CAR - CLOSED DOOR - COULD NOT EXIT. BAD SITUATION AS POWER WINDOWS WERE ALSO FROZEN SHUT. 2. WINDSHIELD CRACKS (2ND WINDSHIELD - SEE OTHER THREADS ON THIS KNOWN FAILURE) - OCCURRED WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVE ON PUBLIC STREET - STARTED AT BASE OF WINDSHIELD DRIVERS SIDE-UP 6"-THEN SHARPLY RIGHT-ACROSS WINDSHIELD TO PASSENGER A PILLAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10056319

Incident

Feb 2, 2004

Mileage

35,000 mi

MY WINDSHIELD SUSTAINED AN 8 INCH LONG CRACK ON THE LOWER CORNER DRIVER SIDE JUST ABOVE THE VIN NUMBER. THIS HAPPENED ONE COLD MORNING WHILE WARMING UP THE ENGINE AT THE DRIVEWAY. BMW DENIED WARRANTY COVERAGE BECAUSE OF A STONE PIT A SIZE OF A PEN DOT ALONG THE CRACKED AREA. I FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE SAME GENERAL LOCATION (ABOVE THE BIN NUMBER) AS A RESULT OF STRESS FROM THE FRAME. ATTACHED IS A SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION REGARDING CRACKED WINDSHIELDS ON MINI. HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/MODULES.PHP?. *CB

NHTSA ID

10054402

Incident

Jan 6, 2004

Mileage

32,500 mi

WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE AFTER TURNING THE HEATER ON WHILE VEHICLE WAS WARMING UP PARKED ON THE DRIVEWAY. DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY. *LA

NHTSA ID

10050831

Incident

Dec 10, 2003

WINDSHIELDS ARE FAILING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ON MINI COOPER AUTOMOBILES. I AM CURRENTLY ON MY 3RD WINDSHIELD IN AS MANY MONTHS - STRESS CRACKS APPEARED FROM THE ROOF PILLARS IN BOTH CASES. WE NEED A RESOLUTION TO THIS - EITHER BETTER GLASS OR STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10033342

Incident

Aug 20, 2003

Mileage

10,100 mi

WINDSHIELD CREAKING, CRACKLING. REPLACED TWICE BY DEALER DUE TO WIND LEAKAGE. WINDSHIELD IS TOO THIN AND PITS WAY TOO EASILY. WIFE IS AFRAID OF SAFETY BECAUSE OF THE NOTORIOUSLY HIGH INCIDENCE OF SPONTANEOUS CRACKING WINDSHIELDS. MINI USA CONTINUES TO DENY ANY PROBLEMS, BUT INFORMAL SURVEYS OF DEALERS INDICATE THOUSANDS OF REPLACEMENTS ALREADY, AND THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN ON SALE FOR 16 MONTHS. GLASS IS TOO THIN AND BRITTLE. GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO INTERCEDE AND FORCE MINI USA TO REPLACE WITH THICKER, SAFE WINDSHIELDS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10025885

Incident

Apr 15, 2003

WINSHIELD CRACK FROM BIRD SAP!*AK

NHTSA ID

10025539

Incident

May 1, 2003

Mileage

19,864 mi

STRESS CRACKED WINDSHIELD IN 2002 MINI COOPER S.*AK

NHTSA ID

10025496

Incident

Jan 2, 2002

Mileage

15,000 mi

CRACKED WINSHIELD IN TWO DIFFERENT PLACES. OCCURRED ABOUT 10 MINUTES APART WHILE DRIVING IN SLOW TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 100 DEGREES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10025446

Incident

Jul 3, 2003

Mileage

10,995 mi

WE OWN A MINI COOPER S. LIKE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE NOT YET FILED A COMPLAINT, WE HAD A CRACKED WINDSHIELD FOR NO APPARANT REASON. THE WINDSHIELD SEEMS TO BE VERY THIN AND SOFT. AND VERY SUCCEPTABLE TO CRACKS AND ROCK CHIPS, PITTING FOR LACK OF ANOTHER WORD.

NHTSA ID

10025387

Incident

Apr 25, 2003

Mileage

23,000 mi

STOPPED AT LIGHT WHEN I HEARD A SMALL CRACK NO OTHER VEHICLES OR TRAFFIC AROUND UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND A SMALL STAR LIKE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH BEFORE CRACK COULD BE FIXED WINDSHIELD WAS CHIPPED BY ROAD DEBRIS IN TWO SEPARATE PLACES AND ON TWO SEPARATE DAYS. WINDSHIELD GLASS SEEMS TO BE VERY WEAK.*AK

NHTSA ID

10025261

Incident

Dec 15, 2002

Mileage

4,500 mi

BROKEN WINDSHIELD 2002 MINI COOPER S. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023977

Incident

Apr 27, 2003

I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIN/WEAK WINDSHIELDS IN MY MINI COOPER S. I AM ON MY THIRD WINDSHIELD IN LESS THAN A YEAR. THE GLASS IS INCREDIBLY THIN AND CRACKS WITH THE SLIGHTEST IMPACT. I CONSIDER THIS UNSAFE. IN ADDITION I KNOW OF MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023959

Incident

Jun 26, 2003

Mileage

16,150 mi

WINDSHIELD PITS FROM SAND VERY EASILY. WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM DRIVER'S SIDE TO MIDDLE OF WINDOW WHILE BACKING OUT OF FLAT DRIVEWAY. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BY DEALER. TWO MONTHS LATER, SMALL AMOUNT OF BLOWING SAND PITS WINDSHIELD AGAIN. 2002 MINI COOPER. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023179

Incident

Jun 13, 2002

Mileage

8,458 mi

MY MINI COOPER HAS DEVELOPED A HUGE CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER SAID THE CRACK WAS STARTED BY A CHIP FROM ROAD DEBRIS, HOWEVER CRACKED WINDSHIELDS ARE A WELL KNOW PROBLEM WITH THE MINI. MANY MINI OWNERS HAVE REPLACED THEIR WINDSHIELDS 3 OR 4 TIMES. BEFORE I BUY A NEW WINDSHIELD I WOULD LIKE ASSURANCES FROM MINI USA THAT THE REPLACEMENT WON'T PROMPTLY CRACK, AS HAS HAPPENED WITH MANY OTHER OWNERS. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10020983

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

MINI COOPER S 2002 HAD A CRACK START AND GROW UNTIL IT SPANNED THE WINDSHIELD. HAD TWO SUBSEQUENT ROCK CHIPS THAT GREW INTO MASSIVE CRACKS. THE WINDOW SEEMS TO CRACK TOO EASILY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10020911

Incident

Apr 7, 2003

THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER S DEVELOPED TWO CRACKS IN IT'S WINDSHIELD. I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN SEPT OF 2002. THE FIRST CRACK DEVELOPED AFTER OWNING THE CAR ABOUT 4 MONTHS AND MINI USA WOULD NOT REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. NOW A SECOND CRACK HAS DEVELOPED 3 MONTHS LATER. *TT

NHTSA ID

10020850

Incident

Jan 10, 2003

Mileage

8,000 mi

I NEED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE WINDSHIELD ON THE MINI COOPER 2002. ONE WEEK AFTER I GOT MY CAR, I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN A CHIP APPEARED. I NEVER SAW OR HEARD ANYTHING HIT IT. I HAVE SINCE GOTTEN ABOUT 10 CHIPS IN MY WINDSHIELD. EVER SINCE I GOT THE CAR, MY WINDSHIELD HAS CREAKED AND MADE A LOT OF NOISE AS IF IT WERE SHIFTING AROUND. THIS SCARES ME SO MUCH! THEN, I HAD AN APPOINTMENT THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON TO GET ONE CHIP FIXED WHEN THE WINDSHIELD CREAKED LOUDLY AND A CRACK WENT RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE. I HONESTLY AM AFRAID SOMETIMES THAT MY WINDSHIELD IS GOING TO FLY RIGHT OFF OF MY CAR!

NHTSA ID

10019159

Incident

Feb 8, 2003

Mileage

12,000 mi