2005 Mini Cooper S complaints

I DRIVE A 2005 MINI COOPER S, WITH APPROXIMATELY 49,000 MILES DRIVEN. ON OCTOBER 22, 2010, THE POWER STEERING ON THE CAR COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, LEAVING BARELY ENOUGH CONTROL OVER THE CAR TO DRIVE VERY CAUTIOUSLY. THE CAR WAS DIAGNOSED BY TWO MECHANICS, ONE A REPUTABLE NEW ENGLAND CHAIN AND THE OTHER AN EXPERT MINI COOPER FACILITY, AND BOTH DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP, RACK AND FAN HAD ALL FAILED ON THE CAR. EVEN USING REFURBISHED PARTS, THE REPAIR IS COSTING $1,100; WITH NEW PARTS, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE REPAIR WOULD HAVE BEEN UPWARDS OF $2,000. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT NHTSA IS ALREADY INVESTIGATING FREQUENT POWER STEERING ISSUES FOR MINIS IN THIS DATE RANGE. THE MINI SHOP DOING THE WORK FOR ME CERTAINLY CONFIRMS THE STORIES I'VE READ ABOUT OTHER SHOPS AROUND THE COUNTRY - THE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THEY'RE DOING ABOUT 6-7 POWER STEERING JOBS PER MONTH ON THESE CARS. HOPEFULLY THE ADDITION OF MY SITUATION TO THE DATABASE CAN HELP JUSTIFY A RECALL - IT CERTAINLY SEEMS WARRANTED BASED ON THE VOLUME OF PROBLEMS THAT MINI OWNERS HAVE HAD. *TR

2005 MINI COOPER S, 50,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, LOSES POWER STEERING WHICH CAUSES SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE CAR WILL STILL STEER AT FASTER SPEEDS, BUT WITH VERY HEAVY, UNPREDICTABLE RESPONSE. THE PROBLEM BEGAN WITH AN INCREASED DRONING NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION WHICH WOULD DIMINISH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, AND THEREFORE, I THOUGHT IT WAS RELATED TO A LOW FLUID LEVEL ISSUE. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND PURCHASED "SPECIAL" STEERING FLUID, AND NO MENTION WAS MADE TO ME ABOUT ANY STEERING PUMP DEFECT. I INSTALLED THE FLUID TO THE RECOMMENDED LEVEL WITH NO CHANGE IN RESPONSE. I TELEPHONED THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE PERSON WHO ANSWERED THE PHONE SAID HE KNEW THE PROBLEM, AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW STEERING PUMP, COOLING FAN, HOSES, AND RESERVOIR, AND THE COST OF THE WORK WAS $1600.00. I THEN DID INTERNET RESEARCH AND LEARNED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCED IN 2004 AND 2005 MINI COOPER MODELS. I THEN TELEPHONED MINI COOPER'S CORPORATE COMPLAIN DEPARTMENT AND I WAS TOLD TO SPEND THE MONEY TO REPAIR THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM IS UNDOUBTEDLY A PERSISTENT DEFECT, AND SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF RECALL REPAIR PROGRAM. *TR

I OWN A 2005 MINI COOPER S 2 DOOR HARD TOP WITH CURRENTLY 90,000 MILES. JUST RECENTLY A SEMI LOUD WHIRRING SOUND STARTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AS SOON AS THE ENGINE IS STARTED. IMMEDIATELY I CAN NOTICE THAT THE PITCH OF THE NOISE SUBTLY CHANGES WHEN YOU GO TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. I HAD A CERTIFIED MECHANIC LOOK AT THE CAR AND HE CONFIRMED TO ME THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS FAILING. WHEN I AM DRIVING THE MINI COOPER THE STEERING WILL INTERMITTENTLY BEGIN TO GET A LITTLE HARDER TO STEER. THE PUMP IS ON THE WAY TO COMPLETE FAILURE AND HARD STEERING WILL END UP BEING THE RESULT. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE VIA THE WEB AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THE FAILING POWER STEERING UNIT IN MINI COOPERS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH BMW BUT I HAVE YET TO FIND ANY INFORMATION AS TO WHAT THEY ARE DOING ABOUT IT. ASIDE FROM SPEED, STEERING A MOTOR VEHICLE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SAFETY CONCERNS WHEN IN OPERATION. *TR

1 NORMAL DRIVING ALL THE SUDDEN STEERING WHEEL GOT HARD TO MOVE , THEN IT LOOSENED UP AND THEN CAUSED OVERSTEER 2 POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE PUT CAR INTO DITCH DAMAGED 2 TIRES/RIMS 3 REPLACED THE FAN UNIT ONCE THEN THE ENTIRE PUMP THE SECOND TIME IT IS CURRENTLY OUT FOR THE THIRD TIME. *TR

COMPLAINT IN ASSOCIATION WITH NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE10038 2005 MINI COOPER S - POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. I OWN A 2005 MINI COOPER S WITH APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES ON THE CLOCK. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, IN THE PROCESS OF TURNING A CORNER, THE STEERING ON THE CAR BECAME INSTANTLY HEAVY CAUSING ME TO TEMPORARILY VEER IN TO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. FORTUNATELY AT THE TIME THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS COMING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND I WAS ABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND CORRECT THE DIRECTION OF THE CAR. THE SITUATION REMAINED FOR THE DURATION OF MY JOURNEY, BUT I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY NAVIGATE THE CAR HOME. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND THIS APPEARED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, DURING THE NEXT 2 CAR TRIPS SIMILAR FAILURES OCCURRED (FORTUNATELY I WAS PREPARED FOR THE POSSIBILITY AND SO DID NOT END UP IN THE OPPOSING TRAFFIC LANE). THE MINI DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THIS AS A FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP, A PROBLEM WHICH I UNDERSTAND TO BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECENTLY OPENED NHTSA INVESTIGATION (PE 10038). PERSONALLY I BELIEVE THIS SITUATION TO BE POTENTIALLY EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS GOING TO FAIL, AND WHEN IT DID, THE IMPACT WAS IMMEDIATE AND CAUSED ME TO STEER IN TO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC (AS A RESULT OF NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN THE CORNER AT THE REQUIRED ANGLE). DUE TO THE IMMEDIATE NATURE OF THE FAILURE I WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM SAFELY IN TIME. I AM WRITING THIS REPORT TO BE

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER S BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING ON 8-9-2010. WHILE GOING LEFT ON A MIXMASTER, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HIT THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE AND PERHAPS DRIVE OFF OF THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE. THE PASSENGER IN MY CAR HELPED ME STEER (WITH FORCE) TO THE LEFT AND DRIVE TO THE STRAIGHTAWAY. THE POWER STEERING IS INTERMITTENT, WORKING FIVE PERCENT OF THE TIME. MY CAR WAS SERVICED IN JUNE OF 2010 DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE TENSION BELT, WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO HAVE A BURNING SMELL AND NO AIR CONDITIONING. THE "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHT IS ON TEN PERCENT OF THE TIME AND THE "CHECK TIRE PRESSURE" LIGHT IS ON OFTEN, THOUGH I NO LONGER HAVE RUN-FLAT TIRES. MY CAR IS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE DUE TO THE LACK OF POWER STEERING. AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST INCIDENT, MY CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES. *TR

2005 MINI COOPER S. COMPLETE POWER STEERING FAILURE. SHUTTING OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTING CORRECTED PROBLEM FOR A SHORT TIME, THEN PROBLEM RESUMED. HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. *TR

THE SRS LIGHT WAS ON AND WOULDN'T GO OUT. THE DEALER CHECKED IT AND SAID THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT IS DEFECTIVE AND IT WAS A HARD FAULT WHICH PREVENTS THE AIR BAG FROM WORKING. THE LIGHT SOMETIMES GOES OUT BUT USUALLY STAYS ON. THEY WOULD NOT WARRANTY THIS AND WANTED $1330 TO REPAIR IT. THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS PROBABLY ONLY BEEN SAT IN 10% OF THE TIME. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT FAILED AROUND 66,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG AND BOTH DOOR SENSORS HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE BATTERY CABLE AT A COST OF $4000.00. SOUNDS AS IF BMW STILL HAS REAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THEIR CARS AND ARE STICKING IT TO CONSUMERS TO FIX IT INSTEAD OF FIXING THESE PROBLEMS THEMSELVES. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT. *TR

ON SEPTEMBER 12TH I WAS MAKING MY COMMUTE HOME FROM WORK IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER S. UPON MY RETURN HOME, MY BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT WENT ON. I PARKED AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AND THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I WENT TO RUN ERRANDS THE POWER STEERING WAS NON-EXISTENT. I HAD HE CAR TOWED TO THE BMW/MINI DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY GAVE ME A DIAGNOSIS OF A FAILING POWER STEERING PUMP AND A BAD ALTERNATOR. *TR UPDATED 09/08/11 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,304. UPDATED 01/20/11 *BF THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED ON OCTOBER 15, 2010. UPDATED 03/28/11 UPDATED 03/28/11

I HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER S. LAST YEAR THE POWER STEERING PUMP RANDOMLY STOPPED WORKING ON MY WAY TO SCHOOL. I DID NOT CRASH OR ANYTHING BUT IT WAS VERY HARD TO STEER MY CAR. I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE PUMP BECAUSE HONESTLY I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO AND I BELIEVE THE PUMP COSTS NEARLY $1000. THE PUMP ON MY CAR STILL WORKS FINE MOST OF THE TIME. NOW EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE ON SHARP CORNERS THE PUMP WILL GIVE OUT AND IF I PULL OVER, SHUT THE CAR OFF, AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON THE PUMP WILL WORK AGAIN. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY EITHER A DEFECT WITH THE PUMP ITSELF OR THE ELECTRONICS WHICH RUN THE PUMP. THE FACT THAT SHUTTING MY CAR OFF AND TURNING IT BACK ON MAKES ME THINK IT IS MOSTLY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, POSSIBLY INSIDE THE PUMP ITSELF. *TR

STEERING ON MY MINI COOPER 2005 FAILED THIS MORNING, RESULTING IN A NEAR ACCIDENT IN A PARKING GARAGE. IT FELT LIKE THE POWER STEERING WAS FAILING. IT CAME BACK BRIEFLY ON THE WAY TO THE REPAIR SHOP, BUT THE TECH CONFIRMED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. IT IS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED, BUT IT IS LIKELY THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR

MY 2005 MINI COOPER S HAS HAD THE POWER STEERING GO OUT SEVERAL TIMES. THIS HAPPENS WITH NO WARNING AND HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. AS I WAS CHANGING LANES ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL AND ALMOST WENT INTO A CONCRETE WALL. IT ALSO WENT OUT WHILE ON A TRIP IN THE MOUNTAINS, I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT GOING OFF THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN ROAD. THIS POWER STEERING PUMP ALSO HAS STAYED RUNNING AND KILLED MY BATTERY LEAVING ME TO FIND A JUMP. THE ISSUE IS THAT IT TURNS OFF AND ON AT RANDOM TIMES AND WITH NO WARNING. *TR

MY POWER STEERING IS GOING OUT. UPON MY OWN INVESTIGATION I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. SHOULD SUCH A VITAL PIECE TO HAVING CONTROL OF THE CAR BE A PROBLEM? NO. COST OF REPAIR IS $1,070 AS QUOTED FROM MY DEALER. *TR

ON SEPT. 19, 2010, MY 2005 MINI COOPER S HAD BEEN PARKED IN A GARAGE FOR ABOUT 10 HOURS. WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE, I FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL AND I HAD TO REALLY MUSCLE IT TO DRIVE IT. I'D NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT BEFORE. BECAUSE I HAD TO GET TO WHERE I WAS GOING, I DROVE IT VERY CAREFULLY. AFTER ABOUT FORTY MINUTES, I STOPPED AT A SERVICE AREA TO USE THE RESTROOM. WHEN I CAME BACK OUT AND STARTED MY CAR UP, THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. SINCE THEN, I'VE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH IT. I HAD PLANNED ON MENTIONING THIS TO MY MECHANIC WHEN I GO IN TO HAVE MY BRAKES DONE IN THE NEXT WEEK. BUT THEN MY HUSBAND FORWARDED ME A NEWS STORY ABOUT THE POWER STEERING ISSUE AND I FIGURED THAT I SHOULD REPORT MINE. *TR

2005 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE SUDDENLY DISAPPEARING FROM TIME TO TIME, AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. SO FAR I AVOIDED ACCIDENT BUT THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS. I HEARD IT HAPPENS TO A LOT OF MINIS, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL ISSUED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND AT OTHER SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAN BECAME INOPERABLE AND POWER STEERING FUNCTIONALITY WAS LOST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE POWER STEERING FAN WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

DEAR SIR/MADAM, TODAY (9/29/2010) I SAW A NEWS ITEM, "(CNNMONEY.COM) -- THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION HAS OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO POSSIBLE POWER STEERING FAILURES IN MINI COOPER CARS" AND FELT COMPELLED TO ADD TO THE EXISTING COMPLAINS REGARDING THE DANGEROUSLY DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING ELECTROHYDRAULIC PUMP IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY, AVERAGE SPEED OF 25 TO 35 MPH, THE POWER ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY THE POWER STEERING WENT DOWN TO ZERO, TOTALLY UNASSISTED, WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS WARNING WHATSOEVER, MAKING THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE, WHILE GOING AROUND A ROUNDABOUT (TRAFFIC CIRCLE) AT NO MORE THAN 25 MPH. CONSEQUENTIALLY I WAS UNABLE TO STEER FIRST RIGHT AND THE LEFT AROUND THE CIRCLE, MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL STRIKING THE RIGHT SIDE CURB AT THE POINT THAT I NEEDED TO TURN LEFT, DAMAGING BOTH THE WHEEL AND THE TIRE, AND POSSIBLY THE SUSPENSION (MACPHERSON STRUT). AND I ASK YOU, WHAT IF I HAD TO STEER TO AVOID A MOTHER PUSHING A BABY STROLLER, OR EVEN AN ERRANT DOG OR CAT AT THE MOMENT THE POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE DECIDED TO QUIT? WHAT IF THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT A HIGHER SPEED WHILE MERGING ON A FREEWAY? I CONSIDER BMW/MINI TO BE TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DEATHS OR INJURIES AND PROPERTY DAMAGES RELATED TO THEIR NEGLIGENT FAILURE TO ENGINEER A PROPERLY WORKING POWER STEERING PUMP (AN KNOWN PROBLEM AS THE NEWER MODELS HAVE DONE AWAY WITH THE ELECTROHYDRAULIC PUMP IN FAVOR OF A TOTALLY E

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING POWER. HE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED; AFTER THE RESTART, THE STEERING CAPABILITIES RETURNED. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND BECAME WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

2005 MINI COOPER INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING STARTED AT 55,000 MILES. DURING RIGHT HAND TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 30MI/HR HAD NEAR HEAD ON COLLISION WITH THE CAR IN THE LEFT HAND LANE DO TO THE UNEXPECTED POWER STEERING OUTAGE. REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY (5,000 MILES OVER) COST ESTIMATE AT $1,200. CAR IS SAFER WITHOUT POWER STEERING. PREDICTABLE, BUT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED SUDDENLY WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 51,000.

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY OVER SNOQUALMIE PASS. SINCE IT IS A WINDY ROAD, STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. *TR

2005 MINI COOPER S (BMW) POWER STEERING UNIT FAILURE - VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. *TR

I WAS TRAVEL AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH, WHEN MY VEHICLE LOST POWER IMMEDIATELY DOWN TO 15 MPH. THE ENGINE DID NOT SHUT OFF, BUT I COULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 15 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC FLOW WAS SPACED SO I COULD SAFELY PULL OVER. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THIS MALFUNCTION WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS SAID TO GONE INTO "LIMP MODE". THE ELECTRONIC BELT WAS REPLACED THAT APPARENTLY CONTROLS THE VEHICLE FUNCTION AT A COST OF $3400.00. *TR

I NOTICED A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AREA. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED. *TR

I STARTED MY CAR AFTER IT HAD BEEN SITTING PARKED FOR A FEW DAYS, TO FIND THAT MY POWER STEERING HAD COMPLETELY FAILED. THE CAR WAS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE - BUT I HAD TO MOVE IT TO AVOID IT BEING TOWED. WHILE ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, THIS UNPREDICTABLE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC HAD I BEEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, OR IN A DENSELY POPULATED AREA REQUIRING QUICK STEERING REACTIONS. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ENDEMIC PROBLEM. SEE THIS THREAD ON THE MINI NORTH AMERICAN MOTORING DISCUSSION PAGES: HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/STOCK-PROBLEMS-ISSUES/74213-THE-GREAT-POWER-STEERING-PUMP-FAILURE-PROBLEMS-THREAD-22.HTML. *TR

ON 2005 MINI COOPER S WITH 13,000 MILES THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. MINI DIAGNOSED REASON AS FAILURE OF THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE $1100 REPAIR. MINI WILL NOT FIX BECAUSE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. MINI DID NOT STATE WHETHER THE AIRBAG WILL OR WILL NOT FUNCTION. PASSENGER SEAT HAS RARELY BEEN USED. MINI DENIES RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY TURNED ON AND OFF DURING THE NORMAL OPERATION OF THE CAR THREE TIMES SINCE PURCHASE TEN MONTHS AGO. THE ACTUAL FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP OCCURRED ON 8/16/2010 WHEN THE RELAY WITHIN THE UNIT FAILED AND WOULD NOT TURN THE PUMP OFF EVEN WHEN THE CARS ENGINE WAS OFF. THE RESULT WAS A DRAINED BATTERY AND THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO BE JUMP STARTED BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING PUMP TURNED ON AND CONTINUED TO DRAIN POWER AS SOON AS IT WAS CONNECTED TO POWER EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN WHEN THE PUMP SHUTS DOWN AND ALL THREE OCCURRENCES WERE WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH. ALSO WHEN THE CAR IS OFF THE COOLING FAN IS ALSO OFF AND THE PUMP HEATS UP TO THE POINT WHERE THERE IS A VERY REAL RISK OF ENGINE FIRE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE COOLING FAN REPLACED. THE WORK IS NOT YET COMPLETED BUT THE ESTIMATED COST IS 1,700 USD. THIS APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MINI COOPERS AS THE NUMBER OF FORUMS DEVOTED TO AND PERSONS REPORTING THIS ISSUE ON THE FORUMS ARE ASTOUNDING. *TR

PULLED INTO A BOOKSTORE CAME BACK 30MIN LATER, TRIED TO PULL OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. MY WIFE ISN'T QUITE STRONG ENOUGH - SO I HAD TO DRIVE IT THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. VERY SUDDEN AND WITHOUT WARNING, COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. *TR

THERE WERE NO "EVENTS" LEADING UP TO THIS. SUDDEN FAILURE OF POWER STEERING PUMP AS I TURNED OFF THE HIGHWAY ONTO A CITY SIDE STREET - NO NOTICE, JUST COMPLETE FAILURE OF COMPONENT. THE FAILURE LEFT THE VEHICLE WITH NO POWER STEERING - ONLY MANUAL "ARM STRONG" STEERING UNTIL REPAIRED. PERSONALLY REPLACED THE PUMP WITH NEW PART - NO SUPPORT FROM DEALER OR MANUFACTURE. *TR

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG DETECTION LIGHT SAYS OFF EVEN WHEN AN ADULT IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND THE AIRBAG CODE READ WAS A 71 INDICATING THAT THE OC3 MAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS FAULTING. THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THAT THE AIRBAG MAY OR MAY NOT WORK EVEN IF A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WOULD COST UP TO 3000.00 FOR MY CAR TO REPLACE THE OC3 MAT!!! NO SAFETY RECALL WARRANTY AVAILABLE FOR THIS MODEL YEAR AS THERE IS ON OTHERS! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. SHE CONTACTED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHICH JUMP-STARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED THE NEXT DAY AND SHE WAS ABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE JUMP-STARTED A SECOND TIME. THE DEALER REMOVED THE BATTERY AND THERE WAS EXCESSIVE WATER SURROUNDING THE BATTERY BOX. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION FOR A WHILE UNTIL THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY WAS ENTIRELY ENCASED IN WATER AND EXHIBITED CORROSION. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE BST CABLES AND FUSE ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION FOR THE EXCESSIVE WATER IN THE BATTERY. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY CONTINUE TO RECUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 28,326.

BOTH MY PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND AIRBAG WARNING LAMP IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS ILLUMINATED DEACTIVATING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WHEN AN ADULT IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND REMAINS ON WHEN PASSENGER SEAT IS VACANT WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS ALSO 2 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS (TSB) I'M AWARE OF RELATING TO THIS MALFUNCTION: TSB: SI M-65-02-06 AIRBAG WARNING ILLUMINATED, FC55 FOR VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM AUGUST 31, 2005 - APRIL 25, 2006. NHTSA 10026024 (MY VEHICLE WAS PRODUCED IN AUGUST 2005 AS INDICATED ON MY DRIVER DOOR PANEL). TSB: 720106 AIRBAG WARNING LAMP FOR OC3 SEAT MAT FAULT, AIRBAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATES TOGETHER WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG STATUS LAMP. NHTSA 10019981. I SPOKE WITH 2 SERVICE MANAGERS AT MINI INDICATING FAULTY DETECTION MAT, PARTS WERE IN STOCK AND WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT ESTIMATED AT APPROXIMATELY $1000.00. MY ONLY RECOURSE IS TO REPAIR IT, FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING MY VEHICLE OR TRANSPORTING PASSENGERS IN THE EVENT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. IN ADDITION, BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON PASSENGER AIRBAG DETECTION MATS TO 10 YRS/UNLIMITED MILEAGE FOR SPECIFIC BMW MODELS RANGING FROM MY04 THROUGH MY06, WHO OWNS MINI OF NORTH AMERICA. I'VE READ SEVERAL FORUMS RELATING TO THIS ISSUE, ONE OF WHICH STATES MINI DID EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON MODELS PRIOR TO MY05, BUT PROBLEM HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED IN MODEL YEARS THEREAFTER AS MENTIONED IN MY COMPLAINT AND OTHER NHTSA BULLETINS. I CONTACTED MINI OF

2005 MINI COOPER S WITH 42K MILES. DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILS TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. I CAN ONLY EXIT THE CAR BY USING THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE WHICH REQUIRES OPENING THE WINDOW. IF AN EMERGENCY OCCURS WHICH REQUIRES RAPID EXIT FROM THE CAR AND THERE WAS A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE. 42K MILES IS FAIRLY LOW AND THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED. MINI COOPER CLAIMS THIS IS 'NORMAL' WEAR. IT IS NOT 'NORMAL' WEAR AND IS INDEED A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT WHICH APPARENTLY HAPPENS TO MANY MINI COOPERS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. AS HE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING PUMP LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED UNCONTROLLABLE HARD STEERING. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL FOR HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE CONTACT ADVISED THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000.

I BOUGHT A 2005 MINI COOPER IN SEPT 09 WITH 61,450 MILES. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE STEERING "CUT OUT" AS I TURNED A CORNER. I TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC WHO COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG & SAID THAT IT MAY JUST BE THAT A SPECK OF DIRT THAT GOT INTO THE SYSTEM. IT HAPPENED A COUPLE MORE TIMES AND I ASSUMED THAT THE "DIRT" WAS WORKING ITS WAY OUT. THEN I HAD A DRAMATIC INCIDENT WHERE NOT ONLY DID THE STEERING SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY CUT OUT, BUT THERE WAS TREMENDOUS "DRAG" ON THE SYSTEM AND IT TOOK ALL MY MIGHT & MAIN TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN I FOUND MYSELF IN THE OPPOSITE LANE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHO EVENTUALLY GOT THE CAR TO FAIL FOR HIM. HE TOLD ME TO GO TO A MINI SERVICE CENTER WHO COULD DEAL WITH THE FAULTY ELECTRONICS. I CALLED MINI OF AMERICA TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE IN MAKING THE CAR "RIGHT" BUT I WAS TOLD THAT CARS BREAK, THAT IT IS BEYOND THE 50,000 WARRANTY AND THAT IF THE CAR WAS UNSAFE, I SHOULD HAVE IT FIXED. THE REP SAID THAT "MAYBE" THEY WOULD PAY FOR PART OF THE PROBLEM AFTER IT WAS DIAGNOSED. I THEN SPOKE WITH A MECHANIC AT A MINI SERVICE CENTER WHO KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHAT WAS WRONG. HE SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MINIS BEFORE 2007 ----FIRST THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, THEN THE ELECTRONICS COMPLETELY FAIL. PAYING FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS FOR A CAR THAT I OWN IS MY RESPONSIBILITY BUT I BELIEVE THAT A CAR MANUFACTURER IS OBLIGATED TO PUT OUT A SAFE CAR. IF THIS IS A DESIGN ERROR, THEN THE COMPANY SHOULD MAKE IT

INTERMITTENT COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. NOW IS NO LONGER WORKING. HAS CAUSED VERY SERIOUS SITUATIONS AND POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. *TR

2005 MINI COOPER S; WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED 60 MPH GOING AROUND A BEND ON THE HIGHWAY COMPLETE FAILURE OF POWER STEERING CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND ALMOST CRASHED INTO MEDIAN. *TR

DEFECT INITIALLY OCCURRED AT NIGHT TIME IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC: DASH-LIGHTS WENT OUT, TURN INDICATOR NOT FUNCTIONAL, HEATER BLOWER STOPPED WORKING (CAUSING FOGGING OF WINDSHIELD/WINDOWS), AIR BAG LIGHTS WENT ON, SEAT BELT LIGHT ON CONSEQUENTLY HAD TO PULL ON THE SIDE OF ROAD (LIMITED VISIBILITY, NO SPEED INDICATOR, COULD NOT OPERATE VEHICLE SAFELY). A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS AT IGNITION CYCLING PARTIALLY RESTORED FUNCTIONALITY. AFTER INITIAL DEFECT, PROBLEM COULD BE REPRODUCED INTERMITTENTLY (ALL/SOME OF THE COMPONENT LISTED ABOVE FAILED DURING COURSE OF NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE). VEHICLE INSPECTED BY MINI/BMW DEALER, ROOT CAUSE: INTERFERENCE ON K-BUS OF ONE OF THE AUDIO COMPONENT, RESULTING IN FAILURE/MALFUNCTION OF OTHER COMPONENTS ON THE BUS. ULTIMATELY COMPONENT (MINI I-POD INTERFACE) HAD TO BE REMOVED -- PART IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. REQUEST TO HAVE REPAIRS COVERED WAS REJECTED BY MINI/BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS ON GROUNDS THERE WAS NO RECALL (VEHICLE IS 5 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY --- 41K MILES). *TR

OWNER PARKED MINI COOPER AT STORE WENT INSIDE. WHILE IN STORE, HEARD OVER INTERCOM THAT HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. SHE WENT OUTSIDE AND SAW FLAMES UNDERNEATH FRONT OF VEHICLE. FIRE WENT OUT BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM WIRING HAD OVERHEATED AND BURNED ONLY - NOTHING ELSE IGNITED. THE DAMAGE WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE PREVIOUS EA ANALYSIS EA07-011 PERTAINING TO 2002-2003 MINI COOPERS. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 MINI COPPER S FOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. I REFUSE TO PAY MORE THAN 1,000EUROS (SINCE I SERVE OVERSEAS) TO FIX A "KNOWN" PROBLEM THAT BMW MINI CHOOSES TO IGNORE DESPITE THE VALID COMPLAINTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD....*TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. WHILE PARKED, A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

24 DEGREE MORNING CAR'S MANUAL 6-SPEED TRANSMISSION FROZEN IN 1ST GEAR. TOOK OTHER CAR TO WORK. PROBLEM GONE AFTER RETURNING FROM WORK AT 40 DEGREES. LOOKED UP ONLINE. SAW MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS DUE TO WATER IN SHIFTER CABLES. *TR

2005 MINI COOPER S. APPROXIMATELY 63,000 MILES. OCTOBER 22, 2009. I HAD JUST GOTTEN HOME FROM WORK AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE. GOING IN THE HOUSE I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. AFTER A COUPLE MINUTES OF INVESTIGATING IN THE HOUSE, I DECIDED TO GO BACK INTO THE GARAGE, AND FIND THAT IT IS A LITTLE SMOKEY. I OPEN THE GARAGE DOOR AND BACK THE MINI OUT ONTO THE DRIVEWAY. NOW THERE IS SMOKE STREAMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I CAN HEAR SPINNING/CLICKING NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I OPEN THE HOOD AND SEE FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE BACK OF THE ENGINE, BELOW THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I EMPTIED 3 FIRE EXTINGUISHERS INTO THE ENGINE BAY AND IT WAS STILL BURNING. CALLED 911. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME, THE FIRE HAD BURNED ITSELF OUT. I WAS EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT I WENT BACK INTO THE GARAGE WITHIN MINUTES TO INVESTIGATE, OTHERWISE IT COULD'VE BEEN A HUGE CAR FIRE AND POTENTIALLY FIRE DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE AND HOUSE AS WELL. *TR

"SRS" WARNING LIGHT (PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF) BLINKS ON AND OFF IN A 2005 MINI COOPERS WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT. THE WARNING LIGHT ONLY TRIGGERS WHEN THERE IS SOMEONE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. WAS TOLD BY MINI DEALERSHIP THAT IT WOULD COST $800 FOR THE PART AND +$200 IN LABOR TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE. NOT AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER. *TR

I NOTICED ON THE FRONT OF A SET OF A BRAND NEW TIRES THE TREAD ON LEFT TIRE WAS WORN TO THE CORE AND THE WAS SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE ON THE INSIDE, THE RIGHT TIRE HAD EVERY LITTLE TREAD LEFT. THE CAUSE OF THIS WAS THE STRUTS HAD DAMAGED THE UPPER STRUT PLATES ON BOTH SIDES, CAUSING IT TO BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT .THERE HAS BEEN 216 COMPLAINTS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; I.E,PARTS REPAIRED OR REPLACED. *TR

THE MINI COOPER ENGINE HAS AN INTERNAL THERMOSTAT THAT IS PLASTIC, WHEN MINE CRACKED AND LEAKED I HAD NO SIGNS SHOWING THAT. THE ENGINE ONE DAY GOT HOT, I DROVE ABOUT 5 MILES AND STOPPED. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND I NEED A NEW ENGINE. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THIS HAPPENS ALOT. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAN SEIZED. PER DEALERSHIP AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, MOST COMMON MINI REPAIR. PROBLEM IS THAT SEIZED FAN MOTOR CONTINUES TO DRAW POWER WHICH DRAINS BATTERY. HAD TO HAVE CAR JUMPED BY AAA TO GET IT STARTED TO BRING IN FOR REPAIR. NOW ALL THE DASHBOARD ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS ARE MALFUNCTIONING: NO SPEEDOMETER/TACH/GAS GAGE READ OUT. IN EXCESS OF $2K TO FIX PLUS ALREADY PAID $400 FOR NEW POWER STEERING FAN AND BATTERY, HOPING THAT WAS ALL THAT WAS NEEDED. *TR

2005 MINI COOPER S-BEGAN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CAR JERKING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS (NOT A MANUAL TRANSMISSION) IN EARLY 2009. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANICS. THEY HAD IT FOR QUITE AWHILE, TRYING TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE. THEY ADVISED THAT THEY EVEN CONSULTED WITH THE DEALERSHIP, BUT SAID THEY FELT LIKE THE DEALERSHIP WASN'T VERY FORTHCOMING IN THEIR INFORMATION. MY MECHANIC ULTIMATELY DECIDED THAT HE THOUGHT IT WAS A SENSOR THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. $500 TO REPLACE THIS SENSOR. THE ROUGH SHIFTING CONTINUED AND ON JUNE 2, 2009, WHILE I WAS OUT AT LUNCH, I LOST FIRST GEAR ALTOGETHER. THE CAR WOULD MOVE FORWARD, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO PICK UP ANY REAL SPEED UNTIL THE RPM'S GOT HIGH ENOUGH. I PULLED OVER INTO A PARKING LOT, PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. WHEN I STARTED IT AGAIN, I HAD THE USE OF FIRST GEAR AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME IT FELT AS THOUGH IT WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF THIRD. I DROVE IT VERY SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY BACK TO MY OFFICE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, TOLD THEM THAT I WAS GOING TO NEED TO HAVE IT TOWED IN, AND ASKED IF THEY HAD A TOWING SERVICE. SHE SAID NO, BUT RECOMMENDED A TOWING COMPANY. I HAD IT TOWED IT BUT DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING BACK FROM ANYONE UNTIL MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2009. MY HUSBAND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT WOULD BE $8,000 FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND $2000 FOR THE LABOR. HARD TO BELIEVE ANYONE COULD SAY THAT WITH A STRAIGHT FACE. AROUND JUNE 9, 2009, THE MINI SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE WAS GOING TO WORK WITH IT A LITTLE BIT AND SEE IF HE COULD GET A