Cvt (continuously variable transmission) failure.
2003 MINI Cooper transmission complaints
Page 4 of 4: complaints 71 to 89 of 89, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 mini cooper. While driving 40 MPH in first gear, the transmission began to randomly make whirling noises. He took the vehicle to the mechanic and was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced; however, they did not explain what caused the failure. The vehicle is currently repaired and a new transmission was installed. The contact believes that a transmission should not have to be repaired within five years. The failure mileage was 34,000.
I was driving home from work and the mini cooper would not accelerate any longer. Fortunately, I was about a mile away from home and called for help. We had to push the car all the way home. Come to find out, many people have been having the same problem with the mini cooper transmission. They noted something about the CVT transmission that mini tried experimenting with. I've read many stories where mini cars just stopped in the middle of the highway. Many mini transmissions have been giving out around 70,000 to 80,000 miles which is unorthodox for a transmission. The cost to replace the transmission was approx 8,000.
My CVT in my 2003 mini cooper failed at 85000 miles.. Suddenly and it seems a rarer large percent are failing. With an average replacement price of $7000.. For a car that cost $21,000.. Never had a transmission fail like this.!! Car was towed to dealer.. Appro 1.4 miles away and we were given a lift home... Approx 24 miles away. We are waiting to hear what the repair cost will be but research gave me the number already of $7000. To be honest.. I cant afford that !!!
2 transmissions needed to be replaced within 1 1/2 years. 1st trans was replaced in november 2006 after experiencing grinding noise in the front end of the car. On friday may 2, 2008 heard a pop while turning left and experience the grinding noise. Dealer now states that it's the transmission and want $5,000 to replace. I complained that this is the second one in 1 1/2 years and was told that a call was placed to the engineer and waiting for their response on whether they will cover the costs.
Cvt failure at 37,000 miles dealer estimates cost at $8,400 to replace (there is no repair option).
Driving to work one morning and the engine response seemed sluggish. Called a mechanic friend, he said it's either the spark plugs or transmission problem. Book appointment for service. Several days later, complete transmission failure at 83,000km. Mini cooper has said that I need a completely new transmission, being just off warranty by 3,000km I was quoted approximately $9,000 for repairs.
My 2003 mini cooper uses a CVT transmission system and the transmission has failed after only 75,000 miles. I was fortunate to get the vehicle to the dealer for repair before the transmission actually failed but I was told by the dealers service center that the car was unsafe to drive as the transmission could go out at any time. I never would have expected a transmission to give out with so few miles on it and only took it to the dealer because it was making a strange sound. Had I not taken it in I could have lost the transmission while driving. I have heard from other owners of vehicles like mine and it appears this is not an isolated incident. The transmission system used in these cars is unreliable (I believe the manufacturer stopped using it after 2004 or 2005). There could potentially be a large number of these cars on the road with transmissions that are about to fail at any time whose owners are unaware of the problem.
Sudden unexpected failure. Cvt transmission (automatic) in 2003 mini cooper. First one was under warranty. The second time they told me they would sell me another car. The car sold for $22k new, transmission costs $8500 to replace. So that's $17000 worth of transmissions 4 years (its been sitting for the last year while I still have to make payments). I don't think their idea of buying another car to replace my transmission was a good idea.
I will be installing what will be the third manual 5-speed transmission in my mini. Same problem, seems to be the final drive bearing is failing likely due to lack of lubrication. I have records of all service and check it regularly and it has never been low. The bearing is apparently not getting a proper supply of fluid. Problem number two, my power steering pump failed on me once. It exploded while I was driving. The hoses basically got too hot and blew up. I fortunately was able to limp it to a shop without any fire. On another occasion the power steering fan continued to run even when the ignition was shut off, needed to replace the entire pump this time which cost me $500 installed with a remanufactured pump. Third, I have had to put three windshields in the car. None of these repairs were warranted! Mini needs to suck it up and claim responsibility for these shoddily made cars, they have made their money and don't care to help with anything. I am a loyal bmw customer but I think I will stick with the older models now as they aren't impossible to work on and find parts for. God knows I will not pay 23 grand for this nightmare again.
1 - driving normally - hearing noise from under hood getting louder 2 - drove to mechanic who took to a transmission shop to verify noise was defective transmission and more specifically the differential within the transmission - the car would still drive and shift properly. (the grinding noise is the differential unit within the transmission casing) 3- looking for after market parts to repair. Current estimate from dealer for parts alone is $7500.
Replaced the clutch twice in 10 months in my 2003 mini cooper. I bought it used in may, 2006. January and oct 2007 had to have the clutch replaced. The vehicle was not abused. 18,000 miles between the two repairs.
2003 mini cooper transmission failure at 70,000 miles, 4 years. Mini USA and bmw of north america, llc have a long history of this failure and refuse to take accountability for their defective parts, claiming it's a characteristic of the car. Smells of deceptive trade practices to me. Not to mention a monopoly-- there are only two dealership in dallas/fort worth that service mini coopers, both tell me that the cost will be between $6k-9k to replace w/labor costs. Pep boys and other independents won't or cannot touch it because it's a mini cooper and only mini authorized dealers supposedly have specialty software/parts to perform job. This is a racket, mini and bmw need to step up and stop selling defective transmissions and replace this at their cost and stand by their product and faulty and defective manufacturing. This is a problem for many first generation mini's as I have learned from my recent on-line research. Bmw/mini has changed the transmissions on the mini 2007 model -- wonder why?? They advertise that this car is a safe, dependable and long lasting car, but to the contrary, look at the list of problems people are reporting with them. God help them.
My 2003 mini cooper with the CVT transmission began making a ratcheting noise from the transmission. The car was towed back to town, and after talking to the dealer, it was driven to the dealer. I was told it needed a new transmission: $7,200.00. No rebuild available. It had just turned 90,000 miles, driven by myself (retired) and my wife; very easy driving. This was over half the value of the car, so we drove it to a transmission shop that we were aware of for a second opinion. On the test drive at that shop, the transmission "blew up" and locked up everything on the street. The steel belt in the transmission had come apart, destroying everything internally. Had this happened on the freeway or a busy street, it could have been disastrous. Upon researching this transmission, I find that this problem is not at all uncommon. I believe mini should be doing something about these early model CVT transmissions, which obviously have some mechanical defects built into them.
I need a new transmission at only 58,000 miles for my 03 mini cooper. The manufacturer has offered to pay for the transmission, but I'm being asked to pay $2,500 for labor. I've never heard of a transmission crashing at 60,000 and I'm surprised that bmw and mini aren't doing more to keep me as a loyal customer.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 mini cooper. While driving 50 MPH, the rpms increase and the transmission makes noises when shifting gears. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who stated that the CVT transmission needed to be replaced. The current mileage is 91,991 and failure mileage was 89,000.
2003 mini cooper CVT transmission died @ 83000 miles. I purchased vehicle from northwest mini in tacoma, wa on 10-18-05 with 49000 miles and one year later the tranny is toast. Nw mini wants $7200 to replace with same 'questionable CVT transmission'. Ironic that mini has abandoned the CVT transmission for the 2007 models...they know it's a dog. I'm stuck, with many others, holding the bill!
The consumer was unable to shift the gear into reverse. The dealer stated it was a manufacturing defect.
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.
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