2004 Mini Cooper S complaints

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 MINI COOPER S, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE MAKING A TURN AT LOW SPEED. WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING, IT IS HARD TO STEER DURING LOW SPEED. AFTER TURNING OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK. BUT THE POWER STEERING PUMP SEEMS TO BE ON ALL THE TIME WITH A HUMMING NOISE EVEN AFTER THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. WHICH LEADING TO THE DRAINING OF THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY GAVE OUT AFTER A COUPLE JUMP STARTS. AS OF 2/15/2011, I HAVE DISCONNECTED THE POWER TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN. BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD OF THE HIGH COST OF REPLACING THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND COOLING FAN. I HAVE NOT REPLACE THEM YET. I STILL HAVE THESE PARTS. *LN

COMPLETE FAILURE OF STEERING COLUMN, IT LOCKS UP DURING DRIVING, CAN BARELY TURN THE WHEEL. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY DURING DRIVING, EVEN ON A STRAIGHT ROAD NOT MAKING ANY TURNS. HAVE TO FORCE CAR OVER ONTO SHOULDER AND RESTART THE CAR. NOTHING BAD HAS HAPPENED YET, BUT VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING WITH KIDS IN THE CAR. ALL FLUID LEVELS CHECK OUT, NO WARNING LIGHTS ABOUT STEERING FAILURE. *TR

1. 04 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. OCCASIONALLY WHILE DRIVING THE PUMP WILL LOOSE POWER AND STEERING WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT. POWER STEERING FAN STAYS ON AFTER VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF WHICH TENDS TO DRAIN THE BATTERY. 2. EVENTUALLY THE PUMP STARTED LEAKING AND FAN STOP WORKING NEEDING REPLACEMENT. LOSS ALL POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. 3. REPLACED PUMP AND FAN WITH NEW UNITS AND PROBLEM IS TEMPORARILY FIXED BUT PROBLEM HAS COME BACK. NOTICING THE SAME SYMPTOMS FROM #.1 POST HAPPENING AGAIN.

SUDDEN FAILURE OF POWER STEERING. CONTROL OF CAR WAS NOT LOST. IT WILL REQUIRE A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR

I DROVE MY MINI COOPER 2004 S WITH 95K MILES ON THE FREEWAY AND NOTICED MY STEERING VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE. I ARRIVED TO MY DESTINATION SAFELY AND SEARCHING ON THE WEB FOR STEERING PROBLEMS WITH 2004 MINI COOPER AND FOUND FEDERAL INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. THEY FOUND THE POWER STEERING PUMP DEFECTIVE AS DESCRIBED ON THE WEBSITE AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOR 1500 DOLLARS. THE DEALER/BMW OFFERED NO COMPENSATION TO DEFER THE COST. I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND RECEIVED A NON RESPONSE ON IF AND HOW BMW WOULD RESPOND. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER S, POWER STEERING FAILURE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF POWER STEERING IN MY 2004 MINI COOPER S. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEEMINGLY AT RANDOM AND CAUSES GREAT DIFFICULTY WITH STEERING THE VEHICLE. THIS CREATES AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION IN WHICH IT IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN A GIVEN DAY OR SOMETIMES ONLY ONCE IN A WEEK. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AT VARIOUS TIMES OF OPERATION, INCLUDING IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE CAR IN THE MORNING, MID-COMMUTE, AND AT THE END OF A LONG DRIVE. THE ONLY CONSISTENCY IS THAT IT SEEMS TO OCCUR JUST AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE, THEN BACK IN 1ST GEAR (THOUGH NOT EVERY TIME). POWER STEERING IS ALMOST ALWAYS RESTORED BY TURNING IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON- NOT A SAFE ACTION IN MOST OF MY DRIVING CIRCUMSTANCES. ON ONE OCCASION THE POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN AUDIBLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, THREATENING TO DRAIN THE BATTERY. THIS LASTED FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND WAS ONLY RESOLVED BY DRIVING THE CAR AGAIN FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AGAIN, THE PUMP FINALLY SHUT OFF. *LN

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE ON 2004 MINI COOPER S. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A TURN THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I WAS DRIVING VERY SLOWLY INTO THE DRIVE THRU BURGER KING AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR I COULD NOT GET IT TO GO THE DIRECTION I WANTED IT TO GO SO I ENDED UP CRASHING INTO THE CURB. ANOTHER TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS WHEN I HIT A PATCH OF ICE MY CAR LOST POWER STEERING A FEW SECONDS LATER AND I HAD TO RESTART MY CAR, BUT IT DID COME BACK ON. *TR

DURING 2010 I EXPERIENCED THE POWER STEERING GOING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. ALSO, SOMETIMES THE POWER STEERING WOULD NOT WORK RIGHT AT THE START UP. I THEN HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF, AND RE-START IT. MY MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND A DIRECT PROBLEM. 3 DAYS AGO, JAN 2011, THE POWER STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY, AND MY CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE, IT WOULD NOT START. MY MECHANIC EXAMINED MY CAR AND FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING UNIT WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN. *TR

OUR 2004 MINI COOPER S IS LOOSING POWER STEERING RANDOMLY MAKING IT VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE . ITS VERY RANDOM , I THOUGHT IT WAS SOME KIND OF SPORT MODE BUT YOU CANT EVEN CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN THE CAR KICKS INTO "PARALYSIS", TOTALLY WEIRD ...I'VE OWNED ALL FOREIGN CARS MOSTLY JAPANESE ,AND GERMAN ...THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND I GREW UP IN THE CAR BUSINESS DRIVING EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF.....IT WOULD BE A SHAME IF MINI LOOSES ITS REPUTATION OVER SOMETHING LIKE A POWER STEERING PROBLEM JUST FIX THE PROBLEM ITS OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR DEFECT ON THE ENGINEERING .....SOUNDS LIKE A RECALL TO ME ....PLEASE DON'T JOIN TOYOTAS CRASH PARADE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ONTO A FREEWAY ON RAMP, MY STEERING BECAME EXCESSIVELY DIFFICULT AND I ALMOST RAN INTO A MEDIAN. I PULLED OVER AND THE STEERING RESUMED NORMAL ACTIVITY AND THEN BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AGAIN TO THE POINT WHERE I COULD BARELY STEER THE CAR ENOUGH TO TAKE IT TO A REPAIR SHOP THREE BLOCKS FROM MY HOUSE WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP HAD FAILED. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE DURING DRIVING. BECAME SLUGGISH/VERY HARD TO TURN ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEED. *TR

04 MINI COOPER S WITH UNDER 40,000 MILES. INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. CAR IS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN WHEN THE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING. RESTARTING THE CAR SOMETIMES CAUSES THE POWER STEERING TO START WORKING BUT IT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MILES PER HOUR ON JAN 02, 2011. THIS IS AN INDICATION OF A POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL JAMMED AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO TURN IT OR CONTROL THE VEHICLE. SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON, SHE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AFTER IT RESET BUT IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT DRIVING SO HE DID NOT KNOW THE FULL DETAILS OF THE FAILURE. THE PERSON DRIVING WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THEIR RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN PULLING OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,400. UPDATED 09/07/11 *BF

2004 MINI COOPER S - POWER STEERING FAN/PUMP FAILURE VIN# [XXX] MY POWER STEERING STOP WORKING COMPLETELY. THIS POWER STEERING WOULD GO "ON" AND "OFF: INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE PAST YEAR A HALF (4-7 TIMES A WEEK OVER THE LAST 8-10MONTHS). I'D PARK THE CAR WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE, NO POWER STEERING. THIS HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND NOW THE POWER STEERING HAS STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD!!I HAVE ONLY HAS THE CAR FOR 2 YEARS AND IT HAS 70K MILES. I BROUGHT THE INTERMITTENT FAILURES TO THE DEALERSHIPS ATTENTION NUMEROUS TIMES BUT THEY NEED TO "SEE IT HAPPENING" TO FIX IT. NOW THAT MY POWER STEERING HAS COMPLETELY FAILED, THEY NOW TOLD ME TO ITS THE POWER STEERING FAN/PUMP THAT HAS FAILED. I CAN NOT AFFORD THE REPAIRS AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH NO POWER STEERING FOR OVER 3 MONTHS. I SEE THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN DISCUSSED EVERYWHERE ONLINE & THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUSLY HUGE AND COMMON ISSUE FOR MY MODEL & YEAR MINI COOPER. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS PROCESS OF FILING A COMPLAINT WILL EVEN DO ANYTHING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, BUT IF SOMEONE IS READING THIS COMPLAINT, PLEASE HELP US. THANK YOU ** THE WEBSITE WOULD NOT ACCEPT MY VIN # AS VALID SO I WAS UNABLE TO ADD IT TO THE APPROPRIATE PLACE DURING THIS COMPLAINT FILING. *TR

MY 2004 MINI COOPER S SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING LOST ITS POWER STEERING. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE MECHANIC WHO SAID THE WHOLE STEERING WAS SHOT. THAT IS WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT MINI HAS HAD A LOT OF THESE FAILURES. IF I HAD BEEN ON A CURVE AND AT ANY FASTER SPEED I MAY HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT, AND NOW BMW WON'T EVEN FIX THE CAR! THIS IS NOT RIGHT ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAVE KNOWN THERE IS PROBLEM, WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE A FEW PEOPLE GETTING KILLED LIKE WITH THE TOYOTA BRAKE PROBLEM? MAKE THEM DO SOMETHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

MY CAR HAS HAD INTERMITTENT POWER FAILURE SINCE 2008, USUALLY LASTING A FEW DAYS. MORE RECENTLY MY POWER STEERING HAS BEEN OUT FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS. TODAY IT STARTED WORKING ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK BUT THE POWER STEERING FAN REMAINS ON AFTER I TURN THE CAR OFF. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO KEEP THE FAN OFF. CONSEQUENCES HAVE RESULTED IN NEAR ACCIDENTS ON THE HIGHWAY AND ROAD WHEN FAILURE OCCURS (FAILURES HAPPENED WHEN I HAVE GONE INTO TURNS). POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED DURING CORNERING. REQUIRED ME TO APPLY EXTRA FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL AT WHICH POINT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST RE-ENGAGED CAUSING THE CAR TO OVER STEER. I NEEDED TO MAKE A QUICK CORRECTION IN ORDER TO AVOID CROSSING OVER THE CENTERLINE AND HITTING AN ON COMING VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS BEEN ON AND OFF FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS SINCE THAT TIME AND HAS BEEN COMPLETELY NON FUNCTIONAL FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SO.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY TIGHT. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED BEFORE BUT NOT AS EXTREME AS THE MOST CURRENT FAILURE. THE CONTACT COULD BARELY MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN AND ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING PUMP WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILURE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,053 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 4,509 UPDATED 02/03/11*LJ ALSO, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER GRID BURNED THROUGH THE COVER AND THE DRIVERS JACKET. THE SECOND SEAT COVER BURNED THROUGH ALSO AND MADE A HOLE IN THE PASSENGERS COAT. UPDATED 03/18/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER S FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAR IS EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING SHAFT STARTED TO MAKE ODD NOISES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND PUM WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. UPDATED 4/11/2011 *CN UPDATED 07/11/11

I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER HARD TOP AND I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM STATE COLLEGE WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THIS MADE THE CAR EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. SINCE THIS HAPPENED, I AM ALL BUT TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I HAVE DONE SOME INVESTIGATION INTO THIS, AND I SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY MINI OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE SOMETHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR

MY 2004 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING PUMP JUST FAILED AND HAS TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 45K MILES. *TR UPDATED 08-29/11 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH CAUSING LIMITED STEERING CAPABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED AT THAT TIME. THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NEAR THE END OF A 500 MILE TRIP FROM NORTHERN TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I COMPLETED THE TRIP WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 MINI COOPER S BUILT IN LATE SEPTEMBER OR EARLY OCTOBER 2003. AT APPROXIMATELY 54,000 MILES IN SPRING OF 2010, I LEFT TO GO ON A TRIP ACROSS TOWN. AFTER ABOUT 2 MILES OF THE UP TO THEN NORMAL DRIVE, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF A CURVE. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO RETAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR AND MAKE IT TO MY DESTINATION A COUPLE MORE MILES AWAY. AFTER SITTING ABOUT 15 MINUTES, UPON RESTART, THE CAR PERFORMED NORMALLY AS FAR AS I CAN TELL. CHECKING THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A SOMEWHAT COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THAT IT WILL CONTINUE ON AND OFF UNTIL THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. THIS CAN ALSO LEAD TO A FIRE AT THE POWER STEERING PUMP THAT MAY LEAD TO COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE AND OR ADDITIONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE. SOME WITH FIRES HAVE NOT HAD ANY PRIOR HINTS OF AN ISSUE AND SOME HAVE HAD THE INTERMITTENT PUMP GOING OUT. IN SPEAKING TO THE MINI SERVICE CENTER, THEY OF COURSE SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO GIVE ME ANY HELP UNDER GOODWILL WARRANTY. I HAD THEM REPLACE THE PUMP AT MY EXPENSE TO AVOID THE RISK OF FIRE. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY ON THE FREEWAY AND IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR. POWER STEERING RETURNED AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT IN A PARKING LOT, BUT FAILED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING HOME. WE HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR SINCE. THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WE HAVE TALKED TO MINI, BUT THEY HAVE NOT OFFERED TO HELP REPAIR THE CAR. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WILL COST AROUND $1500 TO REPLACE THE MALFUNCTIONING PARTS. *TR

I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER S AND WHEN DRIVING THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN OFF RAMP AND THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY HARD. I WAS UNABLE TO NAVIGATE THE TURN AND WENT OFF THE ROAD. LUCKILY I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. FROM TIME TO TIME NOW I LOOSE THE POWER STEERING. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND DO NOT LET MY WIFE OR CHILD RIDE IN THE CAR. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE. WHEN DRIVING POWER STEERING WILL UNEXPECTEDLY STOP WORKING. USUALLY AFTER DRIVING FOR AN HOUR OR SO. WHEN POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING THE CAR IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL. *TR

I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER S. ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2010, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THIS WAS OUT OF THE BLUE, AND I HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT TO MY MECHANIC THE SAME DAY AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY POWER STEERING FAN WENT OUT, THEREFORE CAUSING MY POWER STEERING PUMP TO FAIL. AFTER I HAD EVERYTHING REPLACED FOR AROUND $900, I SAW AN ARTICLE IN USA TODAY THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO OTHER 2004 AND 2005 MINI'S. I THINK MINI SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. IT WAS VERY SCARY TO DRIVE MY MINI WITH NO POWER STEERING, AND I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT; THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO RESET IT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000. UPDATED 01/20/11 *BF UPDATED 01/31/11

2004 MINI COOPER S - POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN FAILURE. POWER STEERING QUITS WORKING CAUSING INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT STEERING. SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE PUMP AND FAN AND THE EXPENSE OF THE OWNER, ME. I BELIEVE THIS PUMP AND FAN SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AND ALSO THAT THERE SHOULD BE A NATIONWIDE RECALL SINCE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MINI COOPER DRIVERS WITH THIS SAME ISSUES. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE 2004 MINI COOPER S TO PICK UP OUR SON FROM SCHOOL. AFTER SHE RETRIEVED HIM, SHE WENT AROUND A CORNER AND THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING CAUSING HER TO CRASH INTO A CURB. SHE DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL AND THERE WAS NO WARNING OF A POSSIBLE FAILURE. I AM FEARFUL TO REPLACE THE PART AND CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON A VEHICLE I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE PUTTING MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN IN DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE NEW POWERING STEERING PUMP WILL FAIL IF REPLACED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY AND MORE EFFORT HAD TO BE EXERTED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000.

UNEXPECTED AND INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. INTERMITTENT FAILURES FIRST STARTED AROUND 2008, THE FAILURES WOULD LAST FOR MINUTES TO HOURS LONG, DAYS, WEEKS, AND MONTHS WOULD GO BY BETWEEN FAILURES. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE CAUSE WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THE REPAIR WOULD COST ~$700 TO REPLACE. WHEN THE PUMP FAILS THE CAR IS *VERY* DIFFICULT TO STEER AT SLOW AND MODERATE SPEEDS. ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS A SURPRISE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NARROW, WINDY ROAD AND IT WAS A STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN THE LANE, AVOID HITTING ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND STAYING ON THE ROAD. THE PUMP WAS REPLACED AND AS OF THIS WRITING IS NEW ONE IS NOW INTERMITTENTLY FAILING. I JUST EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE WHEN TURNING FROM A STOP AND NARROWLY MISSED HITTING A CURB AS I STRUGGLED TO COMPLETE A TURN. THE PUMP FAILURE LASTED ABOUT 10 MINUTES. *TR

SUDDEN TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING ON A 2004 MINI COOPER S IN A PARKING AT LOW SPEED. CAR WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO DRIVE BACK TO DEALER DUE TO HIGH GRIP THE CAR HAS. DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP FOR POWER ASSISTED GEAR. COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS IN A CORNER. MILEAGE 20,257. *TR

ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2010 2004 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON SAN FRANCISCO/OAKLAND BAY BRIDGE. ABLE TO SAFELY EXIT BRIDGE AND HAD CAR TOWED TO AUTO SHOP IN BERKELEY, CA WHERE THEY "PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TIME CHECK FOR NO POWER STEERING. FOUND PUMP COMING ON, NO PRESSURE TO SYSTEM". THEY REMOVED AND REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP INCLUDING BLEEDING THE SYSTEM. *TR

I WANT TO REPORT PROBLEM WITH STEERING COMPONENTS IN MY 2004 MINI COOPER S (BASED ON ARTICLE IN USA TODAY). IN JULY OF THIS YEAR, 2010, MY STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. I STOPPED, CALLED MY DEALERSHIP, HAD THE CAR TOWED IN. THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR. THIS WEEK, SEPT. 2010, I HEARD A STRANGE SOUND. TOOK IT BACK IN, THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING FAN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING WAS ABSENT. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 102,000. UPDATED 01/03/11

INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED POWER STEERING FAILURE ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER S (R53). WE PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 69,000 MILES AND WITHIN A WEEK HAD OUR FIRST POWER STEERING PROBLEM. WE GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WHEN WE TURNED IT BACK ON THE STEERING WAS FINE. THIS OCCURRED RANDOMLY FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. POWER STEERING WOULD QUIT WITHOUT WARNING AT SLOW AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FINALLY TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND THE MECHANIC SAID THE POWER STEERING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. REPAIR WAS DONE THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER AND WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY POWER STEERING PROBLEMS SINCE. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER: POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND THAN IT WAS JUST GONE. ON SUNDAY 9-26-10 STARTED THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED FINE, UNTIL I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 70MPH AND IT WENT OUT AGAIN FOR GOOD.. DONE NOTHING YET TO FIX IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED SUDDENLY. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS THEN REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING. *TR

POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING, REPAIR COST APP. $ 2.000.-, NO HELP FROM MINI USA. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED ON MINI COOPER S WITH APPROXIMATELY 71,000 MILES LAST WEEK. *TR