This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I have owned the vehicle since its purchase brand new in March, 2003. When the engine is warm and starting it up after having been shut down for up to two hours there has always been a minor, intermittent problem with a rough and surging idle that oscillates between 1050 RPM down to 400 RPM then back up then down which lasts for about 30 seconds before settling down. As the vehicle has aged the problem has intensified to the point that the engine sometimes stalls. The symptoms are similar to those as noted in NHTSA item #10009756, service bulletin #110104 (rough idle, stalling). Lately it has now even begun to occur when stopping quickly causing the engine to almost stall. If it were an emergency situation there would not be enough immediate power to accelerate. The dealer has been shown the problem but has failed to rectify. The only investigation they do is to make sure the software in the vehicle is the latest release.
Vehicle will sometimes stall without warning. Vehicle has the latest version of engine controller software that has corrections for stalling. Dealer cannot determine the problem.
While driving on a low speed, stop and go traffic in the freeway the car suddenly stalled and I was stopped in the first lane of the freeway. I tried to re-start the engine several times with no sucess, after waiting a few minutes the engine started. I was very lucky that the SUV driving behind was able to stop but not before hitting my bumper. This is the second time it happened, the first time it happened I was in the middle of the street and had the car towed but the engine started as soon as I got to the dealer and they told me that they could only check when the the cars is stalled. I have 2 little kids and I am scared to drive with the car.
MINICooper S has severe hesitation when starting from a standing start. The problem is unrelated to throttle or clutch pedal position. Car bogs for a few seconds (when making a left against traffic it feels like an eternity) when in first gear at approximately 1800 RPM then resumes accelerating. Service advisor at dealership told me it's a "characteristic" of the car. Representative at MINIusa told me they are aware of the problem and are working on a fix. The is no fix at the present time and no estimate as to when there will be one. For the time being, MINIowners have to pray each time they enter an intersection.
When sitting at a traffic light, the vehicle had the tendency to shut down completely. The driver must wait several minutes before attempting to start the vehicle again. The vehicle had been to the dealership 3 times. Each time, the dealership claimed to have repaired the vehicle, but the same problem recurred.
"2003 MINICooper S automobile experiences a noticeable and significant stumble when engaging first gear and accelerating from a stopped position. The stumble is significant enough to cause a stall condition and results in unreliable throttle response. The problem is worse at higher RPM engagements, in hotter weather, and with the ac engaged. The stumble feels like a momentary loss of power and then shortly thereafter, power is returned to the wheels. The problem occurs on virtually every engagement but is considerably worse on the first engagement after the car has sat for several hours with the engine off. The problem is less severe when turning the car left or right while engaging first gear. This issue renders the throttle response unreliable and can stall the automobile at unexpected times. No crashes have occurred at this time but the potential for a rear-end collision due to a stall or a side impact collision due to stalling when crossing an intersection is present. Additional issues related to engine management and throttle response occur in the same automobile have occurred but these additional problems have been intermittent and difficult to reproduce. In general, the additional problems seem to occur in on temperature days with ac engaged and include a full loss of power for an extended period of time while engaging first gear and a noticeable surging during acceleration as is the driver was pressing and releasing the gas." I am experiencing the exact same problem. I would only like to add that a car had to move into the median because my MINIlost power while entering the freeway.
New MINICooper S automobile (purchased in June of 2003) experiences a noticeable and significant stumble when engaging first gear and accelerating from a stopped position. The stumble is significant enough to cause a stall condition and results in unreliable throttle response. The problem is worse at higher RPM engagements, in hotter weather, and with the ac engaged. The stumble feels like a momentary loss of power and then shortly thereafter, power is returned to the wheels. The problem occurs on virtually every engagement but is considerably worse on the first engagement after the car has sat for several hours with the engine off. The problem is less severe when turning the car left or right while engaging first gear. This issue renders the throttle response unreliable and can stall the automobile at unexpected times. No crashes have occurred at this time but the potential for a rear-end collision due to a stall or a side impact collision due to stalling when crossing an intersection is present. Additional issues related to engine management and throttle response occur in the same automobile have occurred but these additional problems have been intermittent and difficult to reproduce. In general, the additional problems seem to occur in on temperature days with ac engaged and include a full loss of power for an extended period of time while engaging first gear and a noticeable surging during acceleration as is the driver was pressing and releasing the gas.
Consumer states that while driving and with no warning the vehicle will stall and it will be hard for the consumer to control the vehicle. Dealer notified.
The car has multiple daily engine stumbles and has stalled 3 times since owning the new car for the past 7 months. The stalls have been while driving at low speeds.
On 4 separate occasions, the vehicle lost power when driving, which resulted in an instant deceleration below 1500 rpms. The dealer was unable to duplicate or diagnose the problem. Vehicle is a 2003 MINICooper cvt.
When the vehicle took off from a stop, at times the vehicle lost power.. lost of throttle control, engine braking effect in first gear slows car rapidly while traffic is bearing down
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Mission Viejo, CA, USA