MINIUSA Responds to Windshield Issues

Sections: Uncategorized Jul 15th, 2003 23 Comments

I’m with MINI USA, and on their behalf, we want to apologize to those of you who have experienced problems with your windshield. Please be assured that we have heard you, and MINI is investigating this issue. As soon as we have any information at all, we will report it here. In the meantime, please continue to work closely with your dealer, who is in the best position to assist you. As always, we are available at 866.ASK.MINI if you’d like additional assistance.

This is really nice to see. As someone who went through two windshields in a month last summer I can tell you it's not fun to have them replaced. Personally I'd recommend 100% windshield coverage if you can get it from your insurance – even if there are improvements made it gives you a little more peace of mind.

Written By: MF Staff

Vanwall
I'm glad someone at MINI is paying attention, and I hope they take a close look at how the dealers are deciding what is a warranty issue and what is road damage. I don't really want to go thru a third windshield without some clarification. The “ball point pen” method is not very convicing, and I've had other windshields on other cars with much larger pitting that didn't lead to cracks. This may be a function of shape and function, but then, this is a factory design issue.
```
    BCNU,
   Rob in Dago
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Ron Ruggiero

I just replaced a windshield after having the car only 4 months. The “road damage” was the size of a pin head–literally. Next time, I'll push harder with the dealer! but, having guidelines would be nice. I love this car but then I did the math on windshield replacement and its the only thing that could ever make me sell it!
Robert Ballard

I have been having problems with the car stumbling or sometimes stalling from 1st gear starts. I had the dealer look at the prblem but, even though they say it's fixed it isn't. Anybody else having same problem. Also having different computer things like, one day the gas gauge showed no gas eventhough I had just filled up then the next day it was Ok, then the auto air wouldn't come on until I restarted and I hae been checking the computers MPG rating and it's never right.

LoVE the car hate the dealers…RB
Frank

We still have the factory windshield in our '02 Cooper CVT after 10,500+ miles and 11 months of service…absolutely no problems at all. Our car has the standard suspension and 15″ non-runflat tires and wheels.

I wonder if the stress crack problems are more prominent on rougher riding MINIs equipped with the SS+ suspension and harder 16″ and/or 17″ runflat tires???

Could it be that the suspension revision that MINI made during the May production run to “dampen” the ride quality could also be related to a find of a stiff ride + stiff body = cracked windshields???
Maxwell (Chitown COOP)

Frank, could you fill me in on the May production suspension alterations? Did they apply to the MC and the MCS? I haven't heard about that.
Steve Rosenblum

Here is the info (sory Gabe if I jumped in here)

http://www.bridger.us/mini/?Y=2003&M=05&D=14&TitleID=JackPitneyRespondsToTheRecentJDPowerSurveyResults

and

http://www.bridger.us/mini/?Y=2003&M=05&D=15&TitleID=TheUSMINISuspensionChangesAndItsOnlinePetition
julie hofstrom

Glad I found this site. A rock the size of a molecule hit my windshield and left a crack about 10 inches long. The dealer will not cover replacement as it was not caused by a defect. Personally, a windshield that cracks from such a tiny force could be defected. For now, I will be out $800.00 from the dealer. Is this a reasonable price?
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

For now, I will be out $800.00 from the dealer. Is this a reasonable price?

No that’s a terrible price. You may want to go to an independent glass shop. I’ve seen them charge as low as $300 for a complete job. Then you may want to call your insurance and get full glass coverage with no deductable. Due to the MINI’s upright windshield design, it’s a good thing to have!
http://MINIUSAResponsTOWindsheidIssues Kim

I am getting ready to replace my windsheild for the 4th time on my 2004 Mini S. I bought the car to drive it and it has 60,000. My last car, a Honda 2 door civic hatch back had 250,000 with not once having a windshild issue in the 11 years I drove it.

Blah blah blah mini cooper, what is there to look into, it’s a problem and your being contrary to you standard by not acknowledging it. Honda provided better service.
Kevin

My mini is now just over a year old and I am needing my 4th windshield. What is wrong with the design of this vehicle to cause a crack to occur no matter how small the projectile is or how slow it is traveling?
Mo

Hello, i Have a 2006 Mini. Drove it for 15,000 miles and now it has a crack a foot long from what looks like a very very small rock having hit it. Dealer is saying $1,000 to replace!!

This is ridiculous. Tons of people complaining online about the issue. I did a test and searched for the same issue with my Nissan Xterra (just in case its typical for this many ppl to complain about cracked windshields in generaly) and not a single peep out of anyone.

Untill this is fixed, I am disclaiming MINI on every consumer watch group I can find!
nate

I just had a crack on my 07 base cooper windshield, don’t even have the point where anything hit. I just woke up one morning and their it was. A 4 inch L shaped crack from the top of the roof. My sisters 06 had a windshild replaced last month. I think there has to be soemthing wrong w/ the cooper windshields.
http://motoringfileMiniUSA Melissa Chatham

I have a 2008 Mini Cooper Convertible March 2 I have a cracked front windshild top center L shape around 8 inch long 5 inch across looks like a pin shone hit dealer qoute 1250.00 before I could get it fixed the next day I found a second crack bottom right around 6-8 inches. Do the math thats two in two days I do not have replacement glass insurance. I have a very high insurance deductable I am forced to travel the freeway. Mini should pay for my windshield. I look forward to hearing from someone.
Linda Rodeck

Boy, do I feel snookered! I bought my 2005 mcs new and within a couple of months noticed the infamous l shaped crack just behind the rearview mirror. The dealer said it was caused by a rock which had to be the size of a piece of sand because I sure couldn’t see the “ding” the tech kept pointing to. But he sure did a sales job on me, because I went away actually believing him. Now almost four years later, I’ve actually met a few people who had the same problem, then went on line and couldn’t believe the complaints! Nor can I believe that mini still hasn’t fessed up and decided to do something about this. Does anyone know what recourse a person in my situation has? Does anyone know about a supposed class action suit on the matter? I just payed a small fortune for new tires…the old ones bombed out at around 30k miles. The dealer said that was about “average”. Yikes!
Erin

I just had my 2008 mini windshield replaced due to a stress carck that began on the drivers side towards the bottom. It stretched about 4-5 inches with nothing happening other than waking up in the morning and noticing it. After replacement, I noticed that the new windshield on the passenger side of the mirror has an inherent defect where there is a manufacturing defect causing blurry vision from the drivers side and passengers side. We have reported this several times to the dealship and they are “checking” on it and are aware and saw it in several replacements they had on hand. We are still waiting to hear back from them. Terrible customer service.
Gloria

I agree–I have had the infamous L-shaped crack and have had to replace my Mini windshield 2 times in 4 years!!! Word needs to get out that this is a HUGE problem with this car.
http://www.advantageautoglassrepair.com/ Windshield Replacement Toronto

Even a small amount of expansion can cause it to crack.
http://www.advantageautoglassrepair.com/ Windshield Replacement Toronto

Fixing wiper failure is usually as easy as tightening a nut or replacing a worn out or rusted part.
http://www.unityautoglass.ca/ Toronto Windshield Repair

If a dealer trys to use that as an excuse to not replace it under warranty, then you tell them that. A very small chip should not be the cause of a crack.
http://www.unityautoglass.ca/ Toronto Windshield Repair

We ensure that the place you are taking the car for the auto glass replacement is trustworthy so that you can be able to leave the car being worked on and continue with some of your errands.
Jtanker1775

Just replaced the drivers side window assembly…again.Â Â why cant a reputable company, such as BMW, put in a good window assembly that does not break when you roll the window up and down.Â No other company has these issues….Â Â I hate it
Millercrhodes

Now, MINI is “looking into it”? How many windshields do their customers have to stomach to get their attention? I, for one customer, will be a permanent “former” customer until BMW gets this issue resolved. Windshields are not supposed to break while the car is just sitting in the driveway. Then there are the water leaks. What ever happened to that?

jojo

I purchased my mini LESS THAN 30 DAYS AGO…I now have a crack that grows everyday…I didn’t even notice when it happened, probably a rock on my way to work. One day after driving for 15 mins to work, I parked for a few mins outside the office and I got back to my car to go do some errands and then I noticed it….I am so frustrated and dissapointed. have been driving a KIA for 12 years and although I heard rocks hitting my car, nothing ever happened to my windshield. This is ridiculous!!!!!!

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