2003 MINI Cooper Powertrain & Transmission Problems

WHILE IN MOTION, CAR BEGAN TO BECOME JERKY WHILE EXCELERATING, THAN THE TRANSMISSION DISINGAGED. NO GEAR WOULD WORK THEREAFTER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO MOVE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

ON 08/13/2014, I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 MINI COOPER, CAME TO A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED, I WENT TO START OUT THRU THE INTERSECTION AND LOST ALL POWER-I MANAGED TO GET IT THRU ABOUT THE TIME THE LIGHT HAD TURNED RED, AGAIN! I COASTED TO THE CURB, PUT IT IN PARK, SAT THERE FOR A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED, AGAIN, TO TAKE OFF. IT SEEMED TO BE FINE, THIS TIME,( EXCEPT FOR SOME TAKE-OFF JERKING, AND RPM'S SPIKING).DROVE 42 MILES THEN CAME TO A ONE WAY STOP SIGN AT THE INTERSECTION OF US HWY 40 & US HWY 56, WHEN TRAFFIC CLEARED I WENT TO CROSS THE INTERSECTION AND MY CAR JERKED AND DIED!!! I HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF THE INTERSECTION WHILE CROSS TRAFFIC HAD TO STOP & WAIT ON ME! NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, IN FACT, I QUESTIONED WHETHER OR NOT THEY EVEN WORKED. IT'S NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE I PURCHASED IT, USED, ON 07/29/2014, GETTING DIAGNOSED. *TR

DRIVING IN 2ND GEAR (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) AND THE CAR BRAKES EVERYTHING LOCKED UP SKIDDING TO AN IMMEDIATE, VIOLENT STOP THAT SQUEALED THE TIRES AND MADE SMOKE, OIL EVERYWHERE ON THE ROAD, ENGINE STILL RUNNING FINE. SCARY, COULD NOT EVEN PUSH THE CAR OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE IT WAS STUCK IN GEAR. WARRANTY COMPANY TOWED IT TO A MINI DEALER IN VALENCIA, CA. TWO WEEKS LATER, THEY GRANTED WARRANTY WORK HOWEVER, THE PRICE TAG IS $4000!! WARRANTY ONLY COVERS $2000 SO I HAVE TO GET ANOTHER USED TRANSMISSION! I SEE WHERE THERE IS A RECALL ON ALL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS 2003-2007 BECAUSE OF A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST MINI COOPER. ISN'T IT POSSIBLE THE SAME THING WRONG WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS ALSO HAPPENING WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS? I CAN'T AFFORD THIS EVEN WITH THE WARRANTY AND I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO RISK PUTTING ANOTHER FAULTY TRANSMISSION THAT LOCKS UP, WHAT IF I WAS DOING 65? I'D ROLL AND BE DEAD, THAT'S WHAT! THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND I FEEL THE NEW, APPROVED TRANSMISSION IS THE ONLY ANSWER. THIS ISN'T ABOUT MONEY, IT'S ABOUT THE FACT THE CAR LOCKED UP WITH NO SIGN OR WARNING WHATSOEVER. THOUGH, IF THERE IS A RECALL I WOULD LIKE REIMBURSED FOR THE COSTS OR HOWEVER THAT WORKS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE CAR WOULD NOT EASILY SHIFT GEARS. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT ALL OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION IS "SEALED", SO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CANNOT BE CHECKED OR CHANGED. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH. THE CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE A SEALED TRANSMISSION IF IT CAN DEVELOP A LEAK SO EASILY.

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR FAILED WHEN I WAS TRYING TO GO THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING SIGNS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING TO STOP WORKING. I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION BECAUSE OF THIS. I WAS NEARLY HIT SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF MY LOCATION. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE MINI DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A KNOW PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT AND THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION. *TR

MINI COOPER WITH A CVT AUTO TRANSMISSION: I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD "REV." UP WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT OF THE ENGINE, THAN RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND MOVED AHEAD. LATER THE "SLIPPING" HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN; AT ALL SPEEDS AND WITH A COLD OR HOT ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 55+MPH, AND THIS REQUIRES COASTING OVER TO A BREAKDOWN LANE TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE CONDITION STILL EXISTS AND I AM TRYING TO LOCATE AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND HOPEFULLY RECTIFY THE PROBLEM AT A REASONABLE COST. MINI COOPER DEALERS ARE ASKING BETWEEN $5000 TO $9000.00 TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT MINI KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AS EARLY AS 2005. ASIDE FROM DOING WARRANTY REPAIRS NO ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE BY MINI TO NOTIFY OWNERS AND/OR OFFER TO REPAIR/REPLACE THESE FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

THE VEHICLE FOR MONTHS WOULD MAKE A SMALL JUMP FORWARD WHEN PUTTING IN REVERSE. THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN IN DRIVE. THE CAR WOULD FEEL SPONGY IN DRIVE WHEN FIRST STARTING OFF IN THE MORNING AND AT FULL STOPS.

MINI COOPER BROKE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED. PROBLEM IS THE DEFECTIVE CVT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE BELT BROKE IN TRANSMISSION. FOUND OUT ONLINE OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. REPAIRS TO COST BETWEEN 6000 AND 9000 DOLLARS. SEVERAL CLASS ACTION SUITS FILED ALREADY. WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN BEFORE BMW RECALLS AND REPAIRS PROBLEM? DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE WHEN ONE OF THESE INFERIOR TRANSMISSIONS LETS GO? *TR

MINI COOPER BROKE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED. PROBLEM IS THE DEFECTIVE CVT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE BELT BROKE IN TRANSMISSION. FOUND OUT ONLINE OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. REPAIRS TO COST BETWEEN 6000 AND 9000 DOLLARS. SEVERAL CLASS ACTION SUITS FILED ALREADY. WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN BEFORE BMW RECALLS AND REPAIRS PROBLEM? DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE WHEN ONE OF THESE INFERIOR TRANSMISSIONS LETS GO? *TR

AUTO TRANSMISSION CVT FAILURE. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS 2003 MINI COOPER WITH ONLY 58,000 MILES AND THIS CAR IS JUST SITTING IN MY GARAGE. THE MINI DEALER WANTS $9,000 TO R&R THE TRANS. I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX. I FEEL BMW / MINI SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEM SELVES. LAST YEAR THE MINI DEALER CHARGE ME OVER $2,100 TO R&R THE STEERING PUMP WHEN THE CAR HAD UNDER 50,000 MILES ON IT. BMW / MINI SHOULD HAVE TO PAY UP OR REPLACE THESE CVT TRANS. T/Y *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD NOISE EMERGED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. .... UPDATED 10-17-13 *BF

CVT (AUTO TRANSMISSION) NEEDS REPLACING. MINI COOPER QUOTE IS $9,000 TO REPLACE. MINI DEALER KNOWS THAT THERE' S MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THESE CVT (AUTO TRANS.) *TR

I PURCHASED A 2003 MINI COOPER FROM A PRIVATE PARTY IN THE DALLAS,TEXAS A FEW YEARS AGO. I JUST RECEIVED THE DREADED NEWS TODAY THAT MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AND IT WILL COST ME $6000 TO REPAIR. ACCORDING TO MINI THIS VEHICLE HAS ALREADY HAD THE TRANSMISSION CHANGED DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD SO THIS WOULD BE THE 2ND TRANSMISSION FOR THIS CAR. THE REPAIR IS EQUIVALANT TO THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE 2 OR SO YEARS AGO. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY THIS PRICE AND UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON OCCURENCE WITH THIS YEAR VEHICLE SO IT WOULD SEEM THAT A RECALL WOULD NEED TO BE ISSUED. OTHERWISE I HAVE TO ATTEMPT TO SALE THIS CAR AND TAKE A LOSS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, ON A SLIGHT INCLINE IS WHEN I NOTICED THE RPM WAS HIGH AND THE SPEED REDUCING. (ALONG WITH SOME CRACKLING, ROUGH NOISES FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR) I LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL (LOWERED THE RPMS), TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T REGAIN SPEED THE CAR EVENTUALLY REDUCED DRIVING SPEED TO 30MPH WITH RPM AT 5. I MOVED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY AND WAITED FOR HELP. WITH A CHILD IN CAR. TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD NOT FAIL ON A VEHICLE AT 50,000MILES. VERY SCARY SITUATION. I HOPE THIS ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR VEHICLE IS ADDRESSED. THAT ISSUE COULD SERIOUSLY HARM ALOT OF PEOPLE I HAVE READ TOO MANY SIMILAR STORIES ONLINE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT HEARD A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED LOSING POWER. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED WITH NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVIN HOME AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,353. ...UPDATED 04/26/16 *BF UPDATED 12/11/2017*JS

WE HAVE A MINI COOPER COUPE 2003 WITH ONLY 30,000 MILES ON IT IN MINT CONDITION WHERE THE BELT FOR CVT TRANSMISSION DISINTEGRATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING LEAVING ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY AND PLACING ME AT RISK FOR INJURY. WE HAD PROVIDED GOOD MAINTENANCE FOR THE MINI BY CHANGING THE TRANSMISSION OIL WHEN WE FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT 8000.00 MILES AND THEN AT 15000 MILES WITH HIGH GRADE SYNTHETIC OIL AT $100.00. TRANSMISSION SHOP WORKING ON OUR CAR INQUIRED ABOUT PARTS FROM BMW AND WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT SELL PARTS FOR THAT TRANSMISSION AND IF YOU WANT IT FIXED YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW TRANSMISSION IN A BOX FOR $6,000.00. I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT AN OPTION IF THE TRANSMISSION IS ONLY GOING TO LAST 30,000 MILES. WHO CAN AFFORD SUCH A DISPOSABLE CAR? *TR

2003 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE TRANSMISSION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE LOS ANGELES FREEWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY AND SUDDENLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED AND VARIOUS REPAIR SHOPS STATED IT WOULD COST $ 9,3000 TO REPAIR BECAUSE MINI DIDN'T SELL THE CVT TRANSMISSION ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY WERE DEFECTIVE AND PRONE TO FAILURE. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE DONATED THE VEHICLE. *JB