I just got a recall letter from the MINI corp. recalling our new MINI due to problems with the type of transmission oil used. They said that the current oil could cause gear slippage and complete failure of the transmission. The car has to be taken to the dealer for a complete flush of the transmission and a different type of oil inserted. The service will take over 3 hours. Has anyone else receive any recall notices? Our build date of the car was September 13th 2002.

Thanks

 

We have a 03 cooper with CVT transmission.

 

No
July 02 Build date
Waiting by mail box
Buzz

 

My Cooper CVT was built during the first week of August 2002, and the serial VIN number is not part of the CVT recall. According to MINIUSA the great majority of recalled CVT are 2003's built during September and some 2002's built towards the end of the month of August.

August and older Cooper CVT's should be fine and are not part of the recall. If in doubt, call MINIUSA and give them the last 7 digits if your VIN number. They'll be able to tell you whether your CVT is included in the recall or not.

 

It doesn't effect me personally, but I just happened to read this post while sitting at my service dept and thus asked about it. Yes, there is a service bulletin (issued 12/4 with letters mailed to effected customers within a week after that) that says that late 2002 and 2003 build MINIs with CVTs should have their transmission oil changed.

Apparently (ack to the bulletin the service guy just let me read) the procedure takes 2 - 3 hours since it involves draining and filling the transmission THREE times and running it through all of the gears after each fill. But the procedure sounds worth it, as they say that slippage and/or total failure could result if the matter isn't attended to. This is the result of using incorrect trans oil on the assembly line...doesn't sound like it's an engineering problem.

For what it's worth.

 

July 02 build also....waiting to see if I get anything in the mail.

 

>>July 02 build also....waiting to see if I get anything in the mail. :smile:

 

HOORAY! Thanks, Cooper4us!

 

>>HOORAY! Thanks, Cooper4us!

You're welcome!


I am glad that we opted to get one of the "Last" 2002 when we placed our order back in June. The dealer gave us the option to wait an extra 2 weeks and get a 2003 but since there was not going to be any difference from one year to the next we decided to get the first slot available for early August production.

Otherwise right now we would have been "stuck" with a 2003 Cooper CVT made in September with the low viscosity oil.

 

WOW! Maybe we should play 'Guess what the next recall is?' :evil:

 

I got the same notice yesterday.

Rick Howe

>>I just got a recall letter from the MINI corp. recalling our new MINI due to problems with the type of transmission oil used. They said that the current oil could cause gear slippage and complete failure of the transmission. The car has to be taken to the dealer for a complete flush of the transmission and a different type of oil inserted. The service will take over 3 hours. Has anyone else receive any recall notices? Our build date of the car was September 13th 2002.
>>
>>Thanks

 

I received the recall yesterday. Pain in the ***. The car was last week in service because it had a problem: it didn't start, and sometimes the engine stops suddenly when you stopped in a traffic light for example. So they had to change the main computer, but I don't think that they fixed the problem. And now this recall.
I loved my mini, but doesn't seem very reliable.

 

>>I received the recall yesterday. Pain in the ***. The car was last week in service because it had a problem: it didn't start, and sometimes the engine stops suddenly when you stopped in a traffic light for example. So they had to change the main computer, but I don't think that they fixed the problem. And now this recall.
>>I loved my mini, but doesn't seem very reliable.

 

I have an April '02 build w/ CVT. I have a problem with the idle dropping incredibly low when I come to a quick stop, and have had the software update performed 2 weeks ago. I don't know, but it seems inevitable that I will part with her soon.....

 

>>I have an April '02 build w/ CVT. I have a problem with the idle dropping incredibly low when I come to a quick stop, and have had the software update performed 2 weeks ago. I don't know, but it seems inevitable that I will part with her soon.....


If you got CD #31 performed, this software update will not fix the idle drop problem.

You need to wait for either CD #32 (To be released at the end of this month) or CD #33 (Early February) because these updates will have calibration changes for the Cooper CVT's plus it will once and for all cure this annoyance of the idle RPM's dropping below 1K RPM, most specially when the engine is COLD.

_________________
Delived 9/7/02: '02 MINI Cooper, Pepper White, Black roof and mirrors, CVT, Multifunction Steering wheel, 8-Spoke 15" Wheels, STD black leatherette seats with Silver Gray door panels, STD painted bumpers (No Chrome accents). Having lots of fun!!!!

 

The recall came too late for me.
Is seems that the 600 miles I drove my new '03 w/CVT before
the car started acting up might have been enough to totally trash the tramsmission.
I've had to bring the car back to the dealer (Mini of Manhattan) THREE times so far.
Its back in their shop right now. Each time they '"fixed" it, the problems got worse and worse: bucking, stalling, refusing to re-start after a stall. Various warning lights coming on: SVC ENGINE SOON, FLAT TIRE WARNING, EML, DSC FAILURE & EP (TRANSMISSION FAILURE).
The dealer tried flushing trans fluid 4 times, reprogramming the computer and its transmissiom module.
They had a CVT expert flown out from Belgium who eventually pronounced the car fixed. Two days later it was worse then ever.
It was only cupla days ago I got letter from Mini re the screw-up at the factory. The dealer's shop must have known right away what the cause of the trouble was because the first thing they did was flush the transmission. But I had to find out the truth from the Company.
The NYS Lemon Law is about to kick in but I'm hoping that Mini won't make me suffer through another usless fixit attempt & send me out on the road one more time with a car that might get me killed. It is no fun when you car dies in 70 MPH traffic in the fast lane.
Good luck to all the other victims.
BB














i

 

>>The recall came too late for me.
>>Is seems that the 600 miles I drove my new '03 w/CVT before
>>the car started acting up might have been enough to totally trash the tramsmission.
>>I've had to bring the car back to the dealer (Mini of Manhattan) THREE times so far.
>>Its back in their shop right now. Each time they '"fixed" it, the problems got worse and worse: bucking, stalling, refusing to re-start after a stall. Various warning lights coming on: SVC ENGINE SOON, FLAT TIRE WARNING, EML, DSC FAILURE & EP (TRANSMISSION FAILURE).
>>The dealer tried flushing trans fluid 4 times, reprogramming the computer and its transmissiom module.
>>They had a CVT expert flown out from Belgium who eventually pronounced the car fixed. Two days later it was worse then ever.
>>It was only cupla days ago I got letter from Mini re the screw-up at the factory. The dealer's shop must have known right away what the cause of the trouble was because the first thing they did was flush the transmission. But I had to find out the truth from the Company.
>>The NYS Lemon Law is about to kick in but I'm hoping that Mini won't make me suffer through another usless fixit attempt & send me out on the road one more time with a car that might get me killed. It is no fun when you car dies in 70 MPH traffic in the fast lane.
>>Good luck to all the other victims.
>>BB
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>i


It seems to me that MINIUSA needs to step up the plate and to one of two things for you:

1) Replace the car with a brand new Cooper CVT.

2) Replace the transmission.


I think the dealer has been the culprit in your situation. For some reason they think it is more cost effective to keep fixing an unrepairable transmission and even fly a tech all the way from Europe. The dealer is simply using stalling tactics to wear you down. Pickup the phone and call MINIUSA tell them your situation and escalate the problem as needed.

Tell them that you love the car but can't put up with a damaged transmission (And the safety concerns). You want a brand new car (That's what you paid for afterall) and no other alternative for you is acceptable at this point. They will try to offer you an extended warranty, etc, say no. Stick to your guns (be firm but polite, threats and shouts or insults don't help in your case) and state your disatisfaction with the product.


I am sure MINIUSA will replace your car and I believe this is the only acceptable alternative at this point. If you wanted a piece of junk with a repaired transmission, you would have bought a $1K used car instead ops:


I think this "chain" of failed CVT transmissions are mostly newly delivered CVT's. I have almost 3K miles in my early August 2002 Cooper CVT and have never had any transmission related problems.

Good luck.

 

My Mini CVT has about 3k on it, and I have noticed only annoying engine problems - 1) when in drive at a stop, when the AC compressor is on, there's a lot of vibration in the front end - the steering wheels throbs so much the keys rattle, and 2) when I come to a stop, it briefly feels like the car is going to stall, but it doesn't and 3) when go from a 45MPH straight road, take a hard right turn and coast down a hill (its in the neighborhood), the engine revs up to 4k RPM and it doesn't stop for a few seconds, even when I apply the breaks.
I called the dealer, who said if no red lights were on, it was OK. I did get the letter about the recall, and they can't take the car in until Friday. They said it was OK to drive the car until then, but I'm thinking maybe I should keep it off the road. I love the car, and don't want to kill it.
Has anybody had similar problems, or does anyone know enough techi stuff about cars to know if I should keep it off the road until Friday?

 

Go to this thread in MINI2.COM lots and lots of infor on the issue:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...threadid=20565

You can also do a search there for additional CVT topics.

For those of you that are having idle problems with their Cooper CVT's, I strongly encourage you to call Sam at MINIUSA (1-866-ASK-MINI) as he needs to collect as much feedback as possible from current CVT owners.

 

here is recent coorespondence with MINI:

>--Original Message--

I just bought this MINI used and wonder if it is one of the
>CVT's that will be subject to recall?? When was it born and is it one of
>those that have bad Tranny Fluid??

>AccountNo:
>VIN: WMWRC334X3XXXXXXXX

From: MINIOwnersLounge@askMINIUSA.COM
>To: cmcxxx@hotmail.com
>Subject: RE:WMWRC334X3TE13366 [#319813]
>Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 11:10:29 -0500
>
>
>
>Hi Chris! Thanks for writing in.
>
>Your MINI was born on September 5, 2002 so it looks like it is not affected
>by the fluid switch. But, as always if you notice a problem with your
>MINI, please contact your MINI dealer to have it checked out. Let me know
>if you need anything else. Oh--and welcome to the family.
>
>LET'S MOTOR.
>
>Emily Hatley
>MINI Division
>
>

Reading all of the above posts, I would have figured that it WOULD be affected...what is the first sign of problems I should look for...(car not delivered yet)

 

cunning,
You are lucky. MiniDivision doesn't talk to me
anymore. Or so it seems!!

 

I got this notice weeks ago, I just forgot to post it. This is apparently what caused my failed transmission. Nice to get the notice after my car exploded.

 

>>I just got a recall letter from the MINI corp. recalling our new MINI due to problems with the type of transmission oil used. They said that the current oil could cause gear slippage and complete failure of the transmission. The car has to be taken to the dealer for a complete flush of the transmission and a different type of oil inserted. The service will take over 3 hours. Has anyone else receive any recall notices? Our build date of the car was September 13th 2002.
>>
>>Thanks
I got the same letter and took the car back to the dealer for the flush. The car had about 1800 miles on it before the new fluid was added. Some cars may have had the wrong fluid put in and since they can not be sure which cars are effected all cars within a certain build date were recalled for the flush. My dealer had the job done in about 5 hours but they also filled the gas tank up and detailed the car...my car need a bath so I was happy...and free gas to boot!
Regards,
Glenn Montalbano

 

[clip] My dealer had the job done in about 5 hours but they also filled the gas tank up and detailed the car...my car need a bath so I was happy...and free gas to boot!
>>Regards,
>>Glenn Montalbano

As I mentioned in another post, I saw the bulletin to the dealers about this (which came before you got your letters), and I recall that it told dealers to be "particularly accomodating" (words to that effect) to customers since this was such a long repair. The funny thing about that is that it implies that MINIUSA knows that it needs to advise its dealers when extra niceness is necessary.

Free gas and detailing? Sounds like they got the message!