2005 MINI Cooper Transmission Problems

I HAVE NOTICED FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS THAT MY CAR HAS BEEN LURCHING. IN JUST THE LAST WEEK I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN I GET TO ABOUT 55-65 MPH, MY RPM'S ARE AROUND 4000. I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND THE RPM'S INCREASED. I HAD SOME MINOR WORK DONE ON THE AUTO-SEQUENTIAL TRANSMISSION IN 2010. I HAD BROKEN THE LINE AND HAS BEEN WELDED BACK IN AND HAD NO MAJOR PROBLEMS ASIDE FROM THE LURCHING UNTIL RECENTLY. ALL FACTORY PARTS ARE STILL ON THE CAR. TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. I AM OUTSIDE MY WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10397160

Incident

Apr 15, 2010

Mileage

87,000 mi

TRANSAXLE ON THE MINI COOPER FAILED. UNIT CONTAINS SEALED BEARINGS (SO I'M TOLD), THAT ARE NOT SERVICEABLE. THEREFORE, I HAD TO BUY A COMPLETE NEW UNIT AT A COST OF $3,000 ()INCLUDED $900 LABOR). I UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON FAILURE FOR MINIS, AND THAT MINI AND BMW ARE REFUSING TO WORK WITH CONSUMERS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE APPARENTLY CHANGED THE DESIGN, RECOGNIZING THE POOR DESIGN OF THE ORIGINAL UNIT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10358166

Incident

Jul 1, 2010

Mileage

110,000 mi

(2005 MINI COOPER TRANSMISSION) VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE FROM STANDING POSITION WHEN ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED. SUDDENLY JUMPS INTO GEAR (IN DRIVE OR REVERSE POSITION). NEEDED TO STEP ON THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT ACCIDENT. ALSO LACKS ACCELERATION WHILE PASSING ON THE HIGHWAY.. UPDATED 03/30/10 *BF SPORADIC INITIALLY. BECAME MORE FREQUENT OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS (JANUARY TO MARCH 2009 TIME FRAME). PROBLEMS SURFACED JUST AT THE END OF WARRANTY MILEAGE. TAKEN TO DEALER ON MARCH 26, 2009. SERVICE TECHNICIAN FOUND NO FAULTS FROM SCANNING OR IN LINKAGE OPERATION. NO EFFECT DUE TO RESETTING ADAPTATIONS AND SHIFT SOLENOIDS. TRANSMISSION WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY. TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *TR UPDATED 07/07/10.*JB

NHTSA ID

10320748

Incident

Mar 20, 2009

Mileage

55,937 mi

2005 MINI COOPER AUTOMATIC CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED AT ONLY 47,000 MILES. WHEN TAKING MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS, THE RPM'S WOULD REV UP AS THE CAR SLOWED DOWN. THEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND EP (TRANSMISSION) WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT ABOVE SECOND GEAR, MAKING THE CAR PRACTICALLY UNDRIVABLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED PROMPTLY AND WELL MAINTAINED THROUGH MINI COOPER DEALERSHIPS. MY FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED 6 MONTHS AGO. THE INTERIOR BELT OR CHAIN ON THE TRANSMISSION HAS "COMPLETELY COME APART" AND THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MINI COOPER ESTIMATES $7600 TO REPLACE THIS TRANSMISSION! *TR

NHTSA ID

10286633

Incident

Oct 1, 2009

Mileage

47,000 mi

MY 2005 MINI HAD APROX. 77,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I HAD DROVE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY, HEARD A LOUD NOISE, AND WHEN I GOT OUT I SAW A PIECE OF THE TRANSMISSION CASING LAYING ON THE GROUND AND ALL THE FLUID DRAINED OUT. THERE ARE 95 MINI OWNERS THAT I KNOW OF WHO HAVE HAD 1 OR 2 TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED AFTER ONLY A FEW YEARS OF USE. MINE COST ME 5,000 DOLLARS AND LOSS OF USE FOR 2 MONTHS. MINI WAS AWARE OF THE FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS AND CONTINUED TO SELL THEM. I REALLY BELIEVE THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECKONING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10269410

Incident

Oct 7, 2008

Mileage

77,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND MADE RATTLING AND POPPING SOUNDS. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE CONTACT PUSHED IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WOULD COST $7,000 TO REPAIR. THE CONTACT WILL CALL THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ID

10262055

Incident

Mar 12, 2009

Mileage

62,000 mi

DURING NOVEMBER OF 2008, I BROKE DOWN 4 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON 11/1 (WHEN I HAD AN APPT TO HAVE MY AILING CAR LOOKED AT ON 11/3). I MADE THE APPT FOR 11/3 ON 10/30 WHEN I WAS ON A HIGHWAY AND THE CAR BEGAN BUCKING LIKE A MECHANICAL BULL. OBVIOUSLY, I DID NOT MAKE IT TO THE APPOINTMENT. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 11/1 AFTER BREAKING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS I NEEDED A NEW BATTERY, VALVE COVER GASKET, AND TRANSMISSION. I WAS "GOOD-WILLED" THE TRANSMISSION BY OTTO'S BMW BECAUSE I WAS OVER MY WARRANTY IN TIME AND NOT MILEAGE (PASSED 4 YEARS, BUT NOT 50000 MILES). I PAID $386 TO FIX THE FIRST TWO ITEMS. THE NEXT DAY, I GOT MY CAR BACK. ON 11/8, I BROKE DOWN AGAIN WHILE PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. I REALIZED ON MY WAY TO MY DESTINATION, I DESTROYED TWO STREETS AND MY FAMILY'S DRIVEWAY WITH MY TRANSMISSION FLUID. I WAS IRATE, AND THE DEALER TOWED IT IN. THEY SAID THE TRANS COOL LINE DISCONNECTED. I HAD MY CAR BACK IN A COUPLE DAYS. ON 11/23, I BROKE DOWN AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THE CAR'S EMS AND CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR WOULD RESTART, BUT THEN SHOOK VICIOUSLY AND THEN CONKED OUT WHEN IT WAS PUT IN GEAR. MINI TOWED IT IN AGAIN. THEY "COULDN'T VERIFY THE CONCERN" AND SAID IT DROVE OFF THE FLATBED FINE, AND YET I COULDN'T GET IT TO MOVE AGAIN 24 HOURS AFTER BREAKING DOWN. MINI KEPT THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE DAYS TO ENSURE THEY WERE THOROUGH IN THEIR EFFORTS. ON 11/30, I BROKE DOWN AGAIN ON MY WAY TO HAVE THE CAR DETAILED TO PREPARE IT FOR SALE THE FOLLOWING DAY. I HAD TO CALL OUT OF WORK ON 12/1 TO WAIT FOR MINI'S TOW COMPANY TO COME RETRIEVE THE CAR FOR THE FORTH AND FINAL TIME. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID IT WAS "ACTING UP REAL NICE" WHEN THEY GOT IT OFF THE FLATBED THIS TIME. BY THIS POINT IN TIME, I WAS HAVING PANIC ATTACKS BEHIND THE WHEEL OF ANY CAR BECAUSE I WAS SO PARANOID AND DIDN'T FEEL SAFE. WHY HAS NO ONE RECALLED THE MINI? *TR

NHTSA ID

10255178

Incident

Nov 1, 2008

Mileage

47,500 mi

I COMPLAINED TO MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP ABOUT NOISE COMING FROM UNDERSIDE OF THE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND THE LAST TIME I COMPLAINED THEY BLAMED IT ON "WORN TIRES". AT 52,000 MILES I NOTICED A HIGH PITCH SQUEALING FROM UNDER THE CAR WHEN I HAD THE CLUTCH PRESSED IN. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO MINI SERVICE, THEY SAID THAT "CLUTCH MATERIAL PROBABLY GOT CAUGHT IN THE FINGERS OF THE CLUTCH". THEY SAID THAT SINCE MY WARRANTY WAS UP (OVER AT 50,000 MILES) AND THAT THIS WAS A "FRICTION MATERIAL" ISSUE, THE COST OF THE REPAIR ($2,200 - $2,800) WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. SINCE THIS COST WAS SO HIGH AND THE EARLY FAILURE SO FAR OUTSIDE OF NORMAL EXPECTED DUTY TIME, I REFUSED THE SERVICE. SINCE THERE ARE MANY REPORTED CASES OF EARLY CLUTCH FAILURE AND FLYWHEEL FIELD UPGRADES, I CONTACTED MINI USA AND ASKED FOR MY ISSUE TO BE REVIEWED AS A WARRANTY ISSUE. THEY WOULD NOT AGREE TO COVER THE REPAIR, BUT SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY AT LEAST $700 TO CHECK OUT TO EVEN CONSIDER THIS AS A WARRANTY. THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO BRING THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP FOR REVIEW. SINCE INDEPENDENT SHOPS CHARGE ABOUT HALF THE AMOUNT FOR CLUTCH REPLACEMENT, I WANTED THAT OPTION IN CASE MINI REFUSED TO COVER ANY COSTS. THE MINI CS REFERENCE NUMBER FOR THIS ISSUE IS 2000736002924. ON 12/25 (CHRISTMAS DAY) MY CLUTCH FAILED COMPLETELY. SINCE MINI IS NOT WILLING TO GIVE ANY MATERIAL SUPPORT TO THIS ISSUE, AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER CASES OF EARLY CLUTCH FAILURE REPORTED I OPENED THIS COMPLAINT TO SEE IF NHTSA COULD HELP RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10212868

Incident

Dec 25, 2007

Mileage

50,000 mi

MY 2005 MINI COOPER S AUTOMATIC SUDDENLY STOPPED TWICE FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING. CAR WAS ONLY 4 MONTHS OLD, ABOUT 4000 MILES ON CAR. I WAS ACTUALLY IN MOTION, AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED MOVING! I HAD TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT. EML AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON ONCE THE CAR STOPPED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON FOR A FEW DAYS, THEN WENT OFF, SO I ASSUMED IT WAS A FLUKE AND NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT (OTHERWISE I ASSUME THE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON). THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED WAS EXACTLY THE SAME SCENARIO AS THE FIRST. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT MINI IS CALLING THIS "LIMP MODE", BUT I HAD NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTIFICATION FROM MINI, OR ANYTHING INDICATING THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE DID KNOW, BASED ON WHAT I HAVE READ OF OTHERS WHO COMPLAINED TO THEM ABOUT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS!! YET MINI APPARENTLY DID NOT NOTIFY DEALERSHIPS, BECAUSE THE FIRST ONE I CALLED HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS WHICH I DESCRIBED, AND WASN'T GOING TO TAKE ME FOR SERVICE UNTIL 2 WEEKS LATER. I CALLED A SECOND DEALER WHO IMMEDIATELY KNEW THE PROBLEM, AND SAID IT WAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL. STILL I HAD NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM MINI USA. I TOOK MY CAR IN AND IT WAS FIXED IN AN HOUR--THEY REPROGRAMMED THE DME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! I STILL HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM MINI ABOUT A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM! MAYBE THEY DIDN'T NOTIFY ME BECAUSE I HAD IT TAKEN CARE OF ALREADY, BUT HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY, RATHER THAN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I COULD BE DEAD NOW! WHY ISN'T MINI NOTIFYING OWNERS WHO PURCHASED THE 2005 AUTOMATICS!! WHY AREN'T THEY ISSUING A RECALL? ARE THEY WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO BE KILLED? *JB

NHTSA ID

10142671

Incident

Jul 12, 2005

Mileage

4,000 mi

I HAD MY BRAND NEW 2005 MINI COOPER S AUTOMATIC FOR LESS THAN ONE MONTH WHEN IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET - THE ENGINE JUST STALLED OUT OR WENT INTO WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD IS "LIMP MODE". LUCKILY, THE STREET WASN'T CROWDED AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. BUT WHAT IF I WAS ON THE FREEWAY???? I'VE SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND OUT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND BMW KNOWS ABOUT IT, BUT HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM CORRECTLY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE! BMW SAID IT IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE MADE UPDATES, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN CORRECTED. I AM STILL AFRAID TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY FOR FEAR OF BECOMING A STATISTIC! BMW SHOULD AT LEAST NOTIFY ALL MCS AUTOMATIC OWNERS OF THE POTENTIAL HAZARD! *JB

NHTSA ID

10141800

Incident

Jul 14, 2005

ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AFTER TRAVELING A FEW HUNDRED YARDS OR SO OUR MINI WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE POWER AND GO INTO A "LIMP MODE" AS WE MOVE FROM EITHER A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC SIGNAL. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STOP IN THE INTERSECTION CAUSING A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CONDITION. THE VEHICLES SES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO COMES ON. WE HAVE TAKEN OUR VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE THREE TIMES TO GET THIS DEFECT ADDRESSED. MINI STATES THAT IT IS A "KNOWN" PROBLEM WITH THE CURRENT SOFTWARE. I NOW HAVE A THIRD VERSION OF THE SOFTWARE, BUT WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR TO "TEST" IT OUT. I HOPE EITHER MINI OR THE NHTSA WILL POST A RECALL ON THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10131711

Incident

Jul 3, 2005

Mileage

2,000 mi

STARTED VEHICLE IN THE EVENING WHEN LEAVING WORK THEN DROVE OUT ONTO THE STREET AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE THROTTLE WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING AND THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. THE DEALER SAID A TEMPERATURE SENSOR TOLD THE COMPUTER IT WAS OUT OF RANGE AND SENT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO A LIMP MODE. AFTER PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING THE CAR IT WAS POSSIBLE TO DRIVE IT HOME, BUT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY 1 MONTH OLD. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED TWO MAP SENSORS AND AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MOTOR, BUT IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED UNTIL THEY CORRECT THE SOFTWARE. THERE ARE 7 MINI COOPER S AUTOMATICS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AT THIS DEALER AND MANY MORE THROUGHOUT THE U.S.

NHTSA ID

10127331

Incident

Jun 16, 2005

Mileage

2,250 mi