2002 Mini Cooper S

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 MINI Cooper and Cooper S vehicles and 2005 Cooper and Cooper S Convertible vehicles. The affected vehicles may experience temporary or permanent loss of the electro-hydraulic steering assistance.

Risk. If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy. MINI will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the electro-hydraulic power steering system, replacing the components and wiring, as necessary, free of charge. Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 10, 2015. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

The contact owns a 2002 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45-55 MPH, the steering wheel seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road. The contact restarted the vehicle and continued driving normally. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (STEERING). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 43,000.

THE VIN # OF MY 2002 MINI COOPER S WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE ELECTROHYDRAULIC STEERING FAILURE OF 2002 - 2005 MINI COOPER S BUT I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT ISSUE OUTLINED IN THIS RECALL. THE STEERING IS INCREDIBLY HARD TO TURN WHEN PARKED, AS WELL AS WHILE DRIVING. I NOTICED THAT THE RECALL HAD ABOUT 339 COMPLAINTS AND ROUGHLY 85,000 VEHICLES WERE RECALLED, SO MAYBE AT THE TIME NO ONE WITH A SIMILAR VIN AS ME COMPLAINED.

PURCHASED THIS CAR USED WITH LOW MILES. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE I NOTICED THE STEERING ON MY VEHICLE GOT A LITTLE HARDER TO STEER, DIDN'T THINK TO MUCH ABOUT IT. THEN THE RADIATOR FAN WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OFF. TOOK THE CAR IN TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS TO FIND THE PROBLEM. FOUND OUT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT CAUSING THE COOLANT RESERVOIR TO GO OUT. THIS COULD CAUSE EXTREME SAFETY HAZARDS WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE STEERING FREEZES!! I CONTACTED BMW AFTER HEARING THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD WE MISSED THE RECALL TIME FRAME. I HAVE LOW MILES, 60,000. THE RECALL EXPIRED IN 2017. WELL, MY CARE WAS NOT HAVING THE ISSUES. I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SELLING THE CAR AND HANDING THE PROBLEM TO ANOTHER CONSUMER. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED AS IT COULD BE AN UNPLEASANT RESULT.

POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. MAKING A WHINING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL ITSELF IS HARD TO TURN. NOT LEAKING ANY FLUIDS AND THE POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR IS FULL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AT 865-693-4553 AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. AFTER PLACING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE CONTACT SWITCHED GEARS INTO DRIVE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FORWARD, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT ADDED POWER STEERING FLUID AND MADE ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO STEER THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING) AND THE DEALER SCHEDULED A REPAIR APPOINTMENT. THE DEALER LATER CANCELED THE APPOINTMENT, STATING THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR REMEDY FOR MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A DATE THAT THE PART WOULD BE SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ...UPDATED 04/12/16 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ON MANUAL CONTROL AND AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS WARMED UP, THE STEERING WHEEL FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, A CLANKING NOSE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V66000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THAT A REMEDY WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000. VIN TOOLS CONFIRMS PARTS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE RIGHT, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE TURN. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE MANUFACTURER WHO INDICATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD NEED TO WAIT FOR A SECOND NOTIFICATION LETTER TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR MONTHS AS THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A TIME FRAME FOR THE PARTS TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND CAUSED EXTRA EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM AND WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,548.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO AVOID HITTING AN ANIMAL, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE ANIMAL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V66000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE SEAT CUSHION HAS FAILED AND A WARNING LIGHT NOW PERMANENTLY SHOWS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG MAY NOT FUNCTION AS DESIGNED. UPDATED 11/25/15*LJ UPDATED 2/5/2016 *JS UPDATED 11/07/2017*CN

THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE SEAT CUSHION HAS FAILED AND A WARNING LIGHT NOW PERMANENTLY SHOWS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG MAY NOT FUNCTION AS DESIGNED. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE HEATED SEAT MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED A HOLE INTO THE LEATHERETTE UPHOLSTERY AND MY WIFES SWEATER. SHE WAS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEN IT OCCURRED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR FIRE A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SHIFT LINKAGE HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V201000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WE HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING AND FAN GO OUT ABOUT 3 TIMES ON THIS CAR. WE HAVE OWNED IT NEW FROM 2002. THERE WAS A RECALL AND WE ONLY RECEIVED $525 DOLLARS WHEN WE SPEND OVER $2000. WHY WOULD WE NOT RECEIVE A FULL REFUND AS WE HAD THE WORK DONE ALWAYS AT THE MINI DEALER AND WE HAD TWO RECEIPTS FROM THE DEALER SHOWING THE DEFECT. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE WARRANTY IS NOT INCREASED TO 13 YEARS AND 150000 MILES. WHEN THE DEFECT HAPPENS THE CAR GETS NOISY FROM THE PUMP AND WHEN IT FAILS THE STEERING BECOMES SLUGGISH. WHY WOULD THEY BE ALLOWED TO ONLY REIMBURSE PART OF THE AMOUNT WHEN THIS IS SUCH A BIG ISSUE. $2000 FOR STEERING REPAIRS ON A $27,000 DOLLAR CAR SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. STEERING BECAME VERY TIGHT AND HEAVY. ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING THROUGH CITY TRAFFIC AND THE POWER STEERING CEASED TO OPERATE. STEERING BECAME IMMEDIATELY VERY HEAVY. PULLED INTO PARKING LOT, LOOKED UNDER HOOD, LOOKED UNDER CAR FOR FLUIDS, BELTS, ETC., AND FOUND NOTHING VISIBLE. GOT BACK INTO CAR, STARTED IT UP AND IT BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN, AS NORMAL. TWO WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, POWER STEERING AGAIN FAILED ABRUPTLY. POWER STEERING PUMP IS SCHEDULED TO BE CHECKED/REPLACED TODAY AT DEALERSHIP TODAY. THIS COULD BE A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. HAD I BEEN IN A CURVE AT THIS SPEED, I'M NOT SURE I COULD HAVE MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE CAR. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING, UNABLE TO STEER CAR. AFTER SOME TIME, POWER RESUMED INTERMITTENTLY. *TR