Transmission upshifts and downshifts erratically and/or shifts into neutral without driver input while in motion.

- Franklin, NC, USA

The transmission in this vehicle is known to be defective by MINIusa. The car is undrivable and unsafe as the transmission could fail at any time, stranding the driver or causing a fire.

- Norman, OK, USA

Around June 2008 my MINIcooper S 2005 began exhibiting what appeared to be a failure to maintain consistent speed while driving at a constant RPM. I experienced slow, or sluggish acceleration while driving and the engine light would come on sporadically. I took my MINIwhich was still under warranty in for service to BMW/MINIof san antonio and was reassured that I was experiencing normal shifting mechanics. They were also unable to detect why the engine light was coming on. I experienced these idiosyncratic issues continuously throughout the year and began to notice the car jumping higher and lower in speed during acceleration in more regular intervals. In September of 2010 the engine would lurch into gear, seconds after failing to change gears effectively. At times, the car would suddenly drop out of gear while driving. I began taking my car into a BMW/MINIcertified shop in austin, tx. After much time, money, and trouble, plus many visits to the mechanic, my MINIcooper's condition deteriorated completely. While in busy traffic my MINIlurched forward and stalled coming to a complete stop while driving before I could get it off the busy roadway. I was almost rear ended by vehicles behind mine, these drivers had to make extreme evasive maneuvers in order not to hit me, the car in front of them, or be rear ended themselves. This unsafe and hazardous incident endangered my life, and was the last for my MINIresulting in complete transmission failure in July 2011. I sought opinions on my options, shop quotes to fix my vehicle, all around $10,000. My vehicle has not been fixed or altered, it stands as it did the day of the transmission failure. It was towed from the shop to storage. My vehicle is no longer under warranty, and there are many others who have similar circumstance documented. Why was there no recall? class action lawsuits in California and New Jersey.

- Austin, TX, USA

When my MINICooper S convertible only had around 85,000 mile on speedometer my transmission would suddenly have difficulty going from 3rd to 4th gear and stall while going down the road and I have almost been rear ended by cars behind me not expecting me to stall. Upon researching web there are many same complaints about this model vehicle. It is a safety issue. MINIusa did not agree to fix the vehicle. I think this should be addressed as a recall before some one is killed.

- Valley, AL, USA

Traveling at approximately 40mph. Finger was cut 2mm deep by defective peeling/flaking chrome accent on manual transmission shift knob. As a result, finger was bleeding and experienced a shock from the affected nerve throughout the body while vehicle was in motion. Attention to the road was lost for a moment causing me to nearly get into an accident.

- Rosemead, CA, USA