2003 MINI Cooper: jerking or lurching

Filed Nov 5, 2017 · Transmission · 56,000 miles · WA

While in motion, car began to become jerky while excelerating, than the transmission disingaged. No gear would work thereafter.

Filed Aug 20, 2014 · Transmission · 68,000 miles · KS

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.

Filed Sep 2, 2011 · Steering, Transmission · 109,000 miles · NV

We purchased a 2003 mini cooper just weeks ago from a private party. Almost instantly the power steering went out while my daughter was driving. Luckily she wasn't in heavy traffic on the la freeway. We were told by the service center that we needed a new power steering pump. We purchased this and had it installed for approx.$1200.00. However the electric power steering pump fan still would not shut off when the engine was turned off, so this issue was still not resolved. Immediately following this repair my daughter was driving on the freeway at 60 MPH when the car suddenly jerked and slowed to a stop. Luckily my daughter was in the right hand lane and could pull over on to the side of the busy freeway.(still no power steering working)the car was towed to the mini dealer. They diagnosed that the CVT transmission needs to be replaced, at a cost of $7150 approx. And this is before they can even diagnose the steering fan electrical problem. From all the complaints on this website about both of these problems, mini needs to take responsibility! We don't know what to do, as the repairs are much more than the cars value and the mini service manager states that the new CVT transmission only has a 2 year warranty. If this is a defective transmission, why should we pay for another one. As of today my daughter has to walk/bus to school and the mini sits.we are interested in the class action suit.

Filed Apr 21, 2011 · Steering · 104,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mini cooper. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the power steering failed making it impossible to control the steering wheel. The vehicle then jerked violently followed by an independent reset of the power steering. The contact barely missed crashing into another vehicle as a result of the failure. The contact did not inform the dealer or manufacturer nor was the vehicle diagnosed or repaired. The current and failure mileage was 104,000.

Filed Sep 12, 2009 · Transmission · 75,558 miles · KS

I have a 2003 mini cooper with automatic CVT transmission and have had recurring problems with the CVT since I purchased the vehicle. Below is a summary of service visits, replacement of the CVT in 2007, and the current status of the CVT as inoperable. I have all invoices detailing work done. 10/9/02 - I purchased a new 2003 mini cooper with automatic CVT transmission from baron bmw in merriam, ks. 12/02 - mini USA sent me letter re: chassis #te13495 that some automatic CVT transmissions had been filled with the incorrect transmission oil and to schedule an appointment to have it flushed and replaced asap. 12/27/02 - baron flushed and replaced fluid. I also complained that the car had died two times and ran rough. Mileage 1,760. 7/2/03-I took mini in complaining "when going from reverse to drive car has a hard lurch" and baron's invoice states "test drove car and found it was very harsh going into gear and lurched when it was cold". 2nd auto trans concern was "car has almost died at low idles a few times". Baron reprogrammed the car under warranty. Mileage 6,465. 7/23/07-customer goodwill provided by baron mini and replaced the transmission at no cost although warranty was up. Mileage 49,512. 9/11/07-I took mini in again complaining of rough idle and car wants to die at stops. Mileage 51,167. 8/13/09- mini was having a hard time shifting out of 1st gear. It would only drive 15-20 MPH at up to 3,000 rpms. I called baron and was told the current transmission had a two year warranty (which made this complaint 2 years and a few weeks past warranty) but it was possible mini would cover repair/replacement. They did not. Baron flushed and filled the transmission fluid and said it runs better but it is not fixed. They recommend replacing the CVT again. I have not had the CVT replaced (for the 2nd time). Mileage 75,558.

Filed Sep 5, 2008 · Transmission · 64,000 miles · NH

Bought the car in 2003 brand new and had complained to the service dept when in for repairs that the transmission felt odd. It would jerk at low speeds, between 5 and 10. They said this was normal for the CVT and it should go away once the transmission was accustomed to the way I drive. In 2006 my husband was giving blood in manchester, nh and while he was doing that I went to the mall for a few hours. As I was returning to pick him up I came to a yellow light that I could not make it through. I stopped the car, like normal not a hard stop, and heard a clank noise almost as if I had hit something in the road. The light turned green and I pressed on the accelerator to go and nothing would happen except my rpms would go up. I was on a slight hill and began to coast but I wasn't sure if I was coasting or if the car was just going really slow, until I started in an uphill and the car stopped. I tried to turn of the car and turn it back on, crazy logic that sometimes does the trick, and there was no change. I pushed the car into a driveway as I was on a 2 lane road and blocking traffic and called aaa to have the car towed. The car was towed to mini of peabody. When they called on monday they said that the CVT had failed, they found the chain and links in the oil pan and that it would have to be replaced. I asked how much the replacement would be and they told me parts and labor would be $7700. When I was told that I talked to the sa about the other people that had problems with they're CVT's at 60k miles. He said he would talk to the manager and call back. He called back and said that he talked to the manager and spoke with mini USA and they would come half the cost of the replacement bringing it to $3850. I went to pick it up and it felt like a completely different car. There is no jerkiness at slow speeds so I'm convinced that I had a dud transmission all along.

Filed Oct 6, 2003 · Engine, Transmission · 4,000 miles · WA

Mini cooper 2003 CVT stalls in slow traffic or starting from stop light. The check engine light goes on; however, the engine shuts off. In addition, it has happened twice in a month considering that the vehicle is only a month old. Also, the CVT transmission is very jerky and could surge on an occasional basis. Informed that it's a software problem and no repair is needed at this point. I think it is a serious safety issue.