MINI Cooper slipping problems

Filed Feb 21, 2021 · Acceleration, Transmission · 1 miles · MI

When driving vehicle transmission slips causing a jerk reaction in the vehicle and then it will renegade causing another jerk reaction in the vehicle and makes going and or stopping unpredictable. Turning left is dangerous as the car may not move forward at a speed that it should or may jerk in the middle causing the vehicle to stop in front of oncoming traffic. I have had a machanic change the transmission and it still does the same thing. I have contacted the manufacturers who informed me that there were no recalls and nothing they would do.

Filed Oct 9, 2019 · Driver assistance, Engine · 87,000 miles · WA

Problem 1: clutch/transmission failed at 50,000 just after warranty. Unable to shift on highway, had to stay in low gear. Transmission was replaced. It failed a second time, was replaced at about 80,000. I believe it is failing again as the clutch is slipping in 1st and 2nd gears; mini cooper says they note no problem. Problem 2: timing chain. Parked, my car would not start easily; started on 3rd try. My car stalled, stopped on the highway as I was slowing down due to traffic. Restarted and continued. No engine light. Driving to mini service, car stalled coming in; had to coast in. Found to be timing chain, valvetronic eccentric shaft, perhaps parts falling into oil pan. $2800 in repairs. When I asked about law suits or recalls over the last 3 years because I've had major performance issues, mini cooper stated no known suits even though there were. I find that there have been suits, and I "missed the window" for the timing chain.

Filed Jul 30, 2018 · Transmission · 83,000 miles · PA

Before I bought the car it was rear-ended from losing speed because the transmission was slipping. This is in the design of this year of mini cooper as I am finding that it is on the internet as just a bad design. I can't get anyone to work on it for a reasonable price. I'm hoping there's some help out there for unsuspecting innocent people like me who thought they were getting a good car and now it is just unsafe as I have had to tow it 3 times now and I've only had it since may of this year 2018.

Filed Dec 26, 2013 · Transmission · 40,000 miles · MA

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.

Filed Dec 18, 2013 · Transmission · 16,000 miles · CA

Electronic fuel pump failed twice within a year. Manual transmission - clutch does not engage gears properly. Friction point is vague and unengaging. Gear slips. Requires exceedingly high rev. Counts/gas to engage in gear properly. Car stalls more than normal/often. Overall fuel injection/ecu mapping/clutch issues are evidently and repeats to be problem areas despite parts replacement and adjustment (ecu re-map). From the owner's experience, the car stopped accelerating on the freeway due to fuel pump failures (twice) thus creating road hazard for fellow drivers on the freeway at high speed as well as my own personal safety. Also, due to stalling issues off the line, entering freeway after meter-signal is also dangerous in multiple occasions creating potential threat to safety. Manufacturer need to address broad issue of fuel system/powertrain/clutch before anyone gets serious hurt or injured to sudden immobility/stalls. In particular, the clutch in manual transmission is so bad that it does not fulfill the intended function of engaging gears.

Filed Oct 22, 2012 · Transmission · 92,607 miles · FL

The transmission on our 2005 mini had been slipping but we could not afford to have it fixed. My daughter was driving to various local shopping plazas applying for jobs. She could not have been driving over 45 MPH because that was the maximum speed one could drive without the transmission slipping out of gear. The car began to make a whirring sound and smoke. She pulled into a parking lot and safely parked. The engine continued to smoke and all of the transmission fluid leaked onto the ground. We had the vehicle towed to our home and it now sits in our garage while we continue to pay for it and insure it.

Filed Mar 8, 2012 · Transmission · 84,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mini cooper. The contact stated that the transmission would slip in and out of gear. The contact tried to accelerate and the engine rpms increased excessively, but the vehicle would not respond. The contact's mechanic originally assumed the problem was the transmission control switch but after soon discovered that the transmission control switch was not the issue. The mechanic advised having the entire transmission replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 84,000. Updated 4/2/12 *cn the consumer stated he lost control of paddle shifter and the transmission would not down shift. Once the vehicle was turned off and re-started, the transmission would shift up and down in all gears, until is slipped out of gear. Updated 04/13/12

Filed Jun 8, 2010 · Transmission · 105,000 miles · CA

The CVT transmission on my 2003 mini cooper has failed rendering the car not drivable. The transmission has always been quirky, but I was assured by the dealer that it was working properly. The transmission slips drastically and makes a very audible whirring sound. The only option for repair is a complete new part install at the dealer cost of $8,800. I have read hundreds and hundreds of identical stories about the cvts on mini coopers as well as the power steering pump. It seems from research that this part commonly fails and replacing with a defective part at a cost near nine thousand dollars is absurd and disgusting. It is cost prohibitive to keep my car operating and I feel as though I have, as well as thousands of other mini owners have been sold a defective product worthy of recall.

Filed Nov 13, 2009 · Transmission · 76,500 miles · IA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mini cooper. While driving approximately 25 MPH the transmission began to slip gears. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The failure was related to the transmission which required replacement. The transmission can only be replaced by an authorized dealer, but there are no authorized dealerships in the state. The mechanic estimated the replacement cost of the transmission between $8,000-$9,000. The vehicle has not been repaired for the malfunction. The failure and current mileages were 76,500. The VIN was unavailable. Updated 01/12/10 *bf uddated 01/14/10.

Filed Jul 18, 2008 · Transmission · 60,905 miles · OH

2003 mini cooper, transmission problems. Dealers states it would cost seven thousand dollars to replace and fix. With the car only worth double than that it is an shameful act on mini for doing this to customers. Sounds of rattling and transmission slipping, dealer states it is a regular problem with the cooper but there is no recall of any sort.