While proceeding down a normal dry road I manually shifted the transmission (using manual mode on the cvt automatic transmission) from 3rd gear to 4th gear. The shift normally would be smooth however on this occurrence the engine idled extremely high and the gear kicked in after a couple of seconds with a loud banging sound when the gear finally took hold. The car behaved itself for a while but this event started happening more and more until it became a regular occurrence. Most of the time there was no loud noise but the 4th gear would not catch and I adjusted my driving so that I would shift from 3rd gear to 5th gear as quickly as possible to avoid the over revving. I brought the car in to a local transmission shop. They looked it over and advised me that there was no way of repairing the transmission and that I would have to replace it entirely. I am currently working to locate a new transmission as during the last occurrence (July 21, 2012) the car did not go into 4th gear and I was stuck on a highway without being able to move, I.e. the car would not go into any gear. After pulling over to safety I was able to put the car up to 3rd gear and return home. The car is currently unusable. I am not working with the manufacturer / dealer as previous experience has shown me that they are extremely expensive and financial gain is there primary objective. In addition all the internet blogs that I have reviewed, and joined / commented on has shown me that BMW / MINIdoes not work with their customers to rectify this bad, unsafe product. I am hoping that BMW / MINIwill work with their customers who are stuck with his bad product and I am on a list to support a class action suit against them.

- East Windsor, NJ, USA

Defective cvt transmission! the dealership said that it was no fault of ours that we needed a new transmission, but due to the way this transmission was designed!!!!!!!!

- Half Moon Bay, CA, USA

The car suddenly would not accelerate after stopping at a stop sign, a very serious situation. The motor was running, however, the car would not move. I had the car towed to the dealer who informed us today that the cvt (transmission) had to be replaced at a cost of $7000. We are aware that there are numerous complaints on line regarding MINICooper cvt power trains in 2002 - 2006 MINIs and that there are apparently class action law suits in California and New Jersey as MINICooper apparently is refusing to issue a recall. It does not seem within reason that a car with less than 50,000 miles should have the transmission go out. Also, in that there are substantial similar complaints from others and class action law suits pending, this does not seem to be an isolated incident. I strongly believe that MINICooper should admit that its cvt power train is faulty and issue an immediate recall. Thanks for your attention to this complaint.

- Las Cruces, NM, USA

Power steering stopped functioning. Had to replace the pump.

- Huntsville, AL, USA

In the early fall, September 2011, I encountered issues with my car not shifting properly. It's an automatic transmission so I know there was nothing I could be doing to cause this problem. The car has been serviced regularly and driven with care while in my possession(I'm the second owner. No similar issues on carfax report). While the engine is cool and not yet at its optimal temperature the drive is fine and you may not even notice a problem; however, every ride, once warmed up the car begins to shift incredibly violently as it is obviously struggling to switch gears. This occurs also while slowing down and the car is downshifting creating an opportunity to be "slung" into a car from behind(this happened in the mid summer of 2011). After dropping this car off September 15th to the local MINIdealership, I did not hear from them for almost three weeks. In the first week of October I was contacted and told it looks like my car is very easily fixable and should be ready shortly. It was explained to me that a seal had broken on the transmission leaking fluid onto it causing this shifting malfunction. When they finally told me I can pick up my car(approximately October 18th) they regretted to inform me the problem was not able to be fixed and I would have to bring it elsewhere as they do not rebuild transmissions. Now it is back in my possession where I am forced to commute in it daily, driving worse than it was before I dropped it off. It now displays "PE" for its current gear from time to time. This is not the only complaint I have filed for this car matching other consumer complaints. I am a victim of their failed power steering as well.

- East Brunswick, NJ, USA

Automatic cvt transmission failed at 77,000 miles. Car stopped when going down interstate, pressing gas, nothing. Check engine light came on. I was able to stop the car safely, turned it off, restarted it, check engine light and ep (transmission) warning light came on.MINIcooper dealership says min is very aware of this transmission problem, and stopped putting the cvt transmissions in, apparently it was experimental. Cannot rebuild the transmission, and MINIestimates $7100 to replace the transmission, and will only give me $2500 on it as a trade in due to the known transmission issue.

- Plant City, FL, USA

While picking my grandson from school on Oct 18 2010 at 2:30 pm I was backing out of a parking space onto the highway, half still in parking space and half on the highway my car stopped--- it would not go forward or backward --- could not turn the steering wheel, it would not turn--the motor running all the time --I turned the key off and on twice before the car would move.only reason we were not hit by traffic is because we were in a school zone and traffic was slow at that time. I called my MINIdealer in baton rouge and asked if they had other people with trouble with their MINIthey said no-- asked they to check if MINIhad anything going on with MINIS they would not check they just saying they had not received and official notice they said I could bring it in and it would cost me about $800 to have it fixed.

- Sorrento, LA, USA