MINI Sued in Florida Over CVT Defects

A lawsuit has been filed in Florida against MINI for a “manufacturing defect” in its continuously variable transmissions (CVT) that is allegedly causing Cooper models to experience premature transmission failure.

Over the years, MINI has developed a reputation for carrying reliability issues with its early CVT Cooper models. The Florida lawsuit is just the most recent one filed, as other ones have also been filed in other states, further reinforcing that the idea that the automaker might have cut corners with its CVTs.

The models in question are the 2002-2006 MINI Cooper hardtops and 2005-2008 MINI Cooper Convertibles. The use of CVT transmissions have been heavily debated over the years, but automakers have recently turned to the technology to improve fuel efficiency.

[Source: Wall Street Journal]