2004 Mini Cooper complaints

THE POWER STEERING ASSIST ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER STARTED FAILING VERY SPORADICALLY OVER ONE YEAR AGO BECOMING MORE AND MORE FREQUENT UNTIL FINALLY I EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE POWER ASSIST. SOMETIMES THIS WOULD OCCUR WHEN I WAS FIRST STARTING THE CAR BUT THEN AS THE FREQUENCY INCREASE, IT WOULD ALSO JUST STOP WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING, SOMETIMES GOING AS FAST AS 50-60 MILES PER HOUR, MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED WITH A BRAND NEW ONE, WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE CAR ONLY HAD 83,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED, WHICH, I BELIEVE, IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STEERED THE VEHICLE TO A PARKING LOT WHERE HE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE STEERING RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 01/13/11 *BF UPDATED 01/24/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED; THE FAILURE LASTED ANYWHERE FROM A FEW MINUTES TO 45 MINUTES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SIX TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE DIFFERENT STEERING PARTS WERE REPLACED (THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHICH PARTS). THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000. UPDATED 2/17/11 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST CAPABILITIES. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN REMAINED ON AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND DRAINED THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,325.

1. POWER STEERING STARTED FAILING 2. OCCURS RANDOMLY THROUGHOUT MY DRIVING ~ DAILY 3. REPAIR/REPLACE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP STOPPED WORKING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING FAILED WHEN HE TRIED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND PULLED OVER. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED IT; THE STEERING SEEMED TO RESET ITSELF. THE FAILURE SEEMED TO OCCUR WHEN THE ENGINE WAS HOT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,140.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. HE CONTACT NOTICED AN UNKNOWN FLUID LEAK ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, STEERING HOSE, PRESSURE HOSE, RETURN HOSE, AND THE SUCTION HOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,400.

MY WIFE'S 2004 MINI COOPER (NON-S) HAS BEEN HAVING POWER STEERING FAILURES FOR THE PAST MONTH. I EXPERIENCED IT FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY DRIVING DOWN A BUSY DALLAS HIGHWAY. WHILE TRYING TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT AS I WAS YANKING ON THE WHEEL, "WHAT IF THE POWER STEERING KICKS BACK IN ALL OF THE SUDDEN, WE WOULD END UP IN AN ACCIDENT." THANKFULLY, THAT DID NOT HAPPEN AND AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF, CHECKING THE FLUID RESERVOIR, AND STARTING THE CAR AGAIN, THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE LOCAL MINI DEALERSHIP AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT, BUT AFTER RESEARCHING THIS I THINK WE MAY JUST PARK IT UNTIL AN OFFICIAL RECALL IS ISSUED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

MY 2004 MINI COOPER HAS HAD THE POWER STEERING FAIL INTERMITTENTLY, ALWAYS AFTER 20-30 MINUTES OF DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE CAR HAS 37,000 MILES. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER. INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURES. HAPPENS ON A HOT DAY OR IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. *TR

DAILY DRIVING MY 04 MINI COOPER LOSES POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT IS JUST FOR A MINUTE OR TWO AND OTHER TIMES IT LASTS HOURS. WHEN I'M DRIVING THE CAR IN TOWN I HAVE TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AS IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO STEER AROUND SHARP CORNERS. IF ON THE FREEWAY IT'S ALARMING HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO STEER. I TOOK IT TO THE MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED THAT IT NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. I HAD IT REPLACED 10/14/2010. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BECOME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A SIDE STREETS WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I COULDN'T STEER THE CAR AFTER STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD SUDDENLY GONE BACK ON MY 2004 MINICOOPER. II WAS AT A 4-WAY INTERSECTION AT THE TIME AND WAS NEARLY CRUSHED BY TWO OTHER CARS. AFTER GETTING THE CAR HOME I WROTE TO MINI'S CORPORATE TO SEE IF IT WOULD BE COVERED SINCE THERE HAD BEEN A LOT OF ONLINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PUMP, BUT THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT. INSTEAD I WAS FORCED TO SHELL OUT OVER $700 FOR IT (EXACT PRICE I WILL HAVE TO LOOK UP). I JUST READ ABOUT AN INVESTIGATION THAT THE NHTSA WAS DOING AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HEARD BY STORY. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 2004 FROM MINI OF PEABODY, MA. AND WILL TRY TO GET MY MONEY BACK, BUT SO FAR I HAVEN'T HAD ANY LUCK. [XXX]2004 MINICOOPER (NON "S" MODEL) HERE IS THE EMAIL THAT I SENT TO MINICOOPER ------------------------- I AM WRITING TO SEE IF MINI WILL COVER THE COST OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP THAT DIED YESTERDAY WITHOUT ANY ADVANCE WARNING IN MY 2004 MINI. THE CAR WAS FINE ALL DAY AND THEN AS I WENT TO TAKE A TURN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL AND ALMOST GOT CRUSHED BY OTHER CARS HEADING TOWARD ME. FROM THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE THIS IS A KNOWN FAILURE AND ONE THAT MINI SEEMS TO AVOID ABSORBING THE COST TO FIX / REPLACE. FROM WHAT I READ A RECALL WAS DONE IN BRITAIN, BUT NOT HERE IN THE U.S. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW MINI WILL HELP ME IN THIS SITUATION. I SURELY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR A NEW OR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT HER EXPENSE. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD LIKELY NED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING PROBLEMS, THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY CAR FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE TRYING TO ENTER A REST STOP ON THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY. UPON BRINGING THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN HAD BEEN JAMMED, CAUSING THE PUMP TO OVERHEAT. I THEN RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND THAT SEVERAL MINI COOPER MODELS FROM 2002 TO 2006 HAD BEEN SUFFERING FROM THIS ISSUE, AND THAT THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING A SECOND TIME WAS TO INSTALL AN EXPENSIVE FAN GUARD ON THE NEW COOLING FAN. MORE RECENTLY, I FOUND OUT ABOUT NHTSA RESEARCH CONCERNING THE PROBLEM, AND WANTED TO SUBMIT THE EXPERIENCE I HAD WITH THE PROBLEM. *TR

MINI COOPER (2004 WITH ~74K MILES) WITH INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. STEERING WHEEL WOULD RANDOMLY BECOME VERY STIFF WHEN TURNING AND THEN FREE UP UNEXPECTEDLY. WHEN THIS WOULD OCCUR, THE CAR WOULD UNDERSTEER (NOT TURNING AS FAR AS INTENDED) AND I WOULD FIND MYSELF REACTING BY TURNING HARDER, USUALLY RESULTING IN OVERSTEERING AND ERRATIC TURNS. IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS BINDING AND THEN LETTING GO BUT IT WASN'T PREDICTABLE OR REPEATABLE WITH CONSISTENCY. DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT 'POWER STEERING PUMP WAS CUTTING OUT. REPLACED THE FAULTY PS PUMP TO RESOLVE.' COST WAS $1009.94. ONE WEEK LATER, EXACTLY SAME CONDITION RETURNED. DEALERSHIP NOW DETERMINED 'FOUND STEERING SHAFT FROM STEERING WHEEL TO STEERING RACK TO BE SEIZED AND BINDING. REPLACED STEERING SHAFT AND ALIGNED STEERING WHEEL TO FRONT TIRES.' NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE; PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED. *TR

1. POWER STEERING FAILED AND STEERING BECAME EXCESSIVELY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL ESPECIALLY IN LOW SPEED TURNS SOMETIMES COULDN'T MAKE THE TURNS IN TIME. 2. SEVERAL TIMES. PARKED THE CAR 3. WAITING FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO HELP WITH REPLACING DEFECTIVE PARTS. *TR

MY CAR STARTED TO MAKE A WHIRRING SOUND, I WASN'T SURE WHAT IT WAS SO MY DAD HAD A LOOK AND WASN'T SURE. THE NEXT DAY I WAS DRIVING ALONG A 60MPH ROAD AND AS I WENT TO TURN A SHARP CORNER MY POWER STEERING FAILED. I HAD TO MANUALLY PULL THE CAR ROUND THE CORNER WITH ALL MY STRENGTH SO AS NOT TO HIT THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT THEN KEPT FAILING INTERMITTENTLY FOR THE REST OF THE DRIVE HOME. I TYPED MINI POWER STEERING INTO GOOGLE WHEN I GOT HOME AND FOUND PAGE AFTER PAGE OF PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEMS JUST LIKE MINE. I RANG MINI AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN CHELTENHAM WHICH I DID. I LEFT THE CAR WITH THEM AND THE NEXT DAY THEY GOT BACK TO ME TO SAY IT DEFINITELY WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP. I ASKED IT THEY WOULD FIX THIS AS IT WAS A DANGEROUS FAULT WITH THE CAR. THEY SAID THEY WOULD SPEAK TO MINI ONE AND GET BACK TO ME. I EVENTUALLY HEARD BACK FROM THEM AND THE ANSWER WAS NO, THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT AS I DIDN'T BUY THE CAR FROM A MINI DEALERSHIP. I WAS UNHAPPY WITH THIS DECISION AS IT WAS CLEARLY A DANGEROUS MANUFACTURING FAULT SO WENT INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN CHELTENHAM TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE FACE TO FACE. I SPOKE TO THE MANAGER THERE AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THINGS, THAT I DIDN'T BUY IT FROM A MINI DEALERSHIP, IT WAS OVER 5 YEARS OLD AND OVER 30000 MILES ON THE CLOCK. IT WAS A PRISTINE 2004 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE WITH 35000 MILES ON THE CLOCK. HAD ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED WITH MINI AND I HAD ONLY OWNED THE CAR 3 MONTHS. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ME 800 TO FIX IT. I COM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE TRAVELING 15 MPH AND MAKING A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75000. UPDATED 01/11/2011*LJ UPDATED 02/28/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE GOT IN THE VEHICLE AND STARTED IT, THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. SHE PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT. HOWEVER, THE POWER STEERING WAS STILL NON-FUNCTIONAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

AFTER DRIVING 5 MILES AND STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I BEGAN A LEFT TURN AND HAD NO POWER STEERING, I HAD TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL WITH ALL MY STRENGTH TO KEEP FROM CAUSING A WRECK. I DROVE 5 MORE MILES TO WORK AND PARKED. 2 HOURS LATER I WENT OUTSIDE AND HEARD A MOTOR RUNNING IN MY CAR. THE RUNNING MOTOR HAD DRAINED MY BATTERY, I HAD TO JUMP START THE CAR TO GET HOME. THE MINI DEALER IN CHARLESTON SC SAID I HAD TO BRING THE CAR TO THEM TO REPLACE A RMFD POWER STEERING PART WHICH WAS A DEALER ONLY PART. I LIVE 100 MILES FROM THE DEALER, I HAD TO TAKE CAR TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC SO HE COULD UNHOOK THE MOTOR SO THE BATTERY WOULD NOT BE DRAINED WHILE I PARKED UNTIL I COULD GET A DAY OFF WORK TO DRIVE THE MINI TO CHARLESTON. PARTS NEEDED FOR THE FIX: INTAKE MANIFOLD; HOSE CLAMP; RMFD POWER STEERING; CORE RETURN. THE TOTAL REPAIR COSTS 969.00 AND A DAY OFF WORK. I HAVE A 2 YEAR GUARANTEE ON THIS FIX. *TR

POWER STEERING WHEEL GOES ON AND OFF. WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL I CAN FEEL IT GO FROM HEAVY RESISTANCE TO REGULAR IN SECONDS, WHICH HAS BEEN MORE THAN ONCE IN A DAY. IF THERE IS A CAR COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, IT COULD EASILY CRASHED INTO MY SIDE. DUE TO THIS SUDDENLY WHEEL MALFUNCTION, I HAD TO SLOW DOWN BECAUSE I WAS AT THE CORNER OF THE ROAD, TRYING TO TURN. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS, AND IT WILL ONLY TAKE SECONDS TO KILL PEOPLE IN THIS SITUATION. I DID RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A PRETTY COMMON ISSUE FOR THE MINI COOPER. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER, COUPE HAS INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING, WHICH BEGAN SUDDENLY ON A CIRCULAR FREEWAY ON RAMP AT ABOUT 40MPH, DURING WHICH I NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE FAILURE SEEMS TO BE TRIGGERED BY U TURNS (ROUND-ABOUT, SPIRAL RAMPS, MANEUVERING OUT OF A SMALL PARKING SPACE.) I HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP INVESTIGATED AS THE CAUSE AND IT IS WORKING NORMALLY. I BELIEVE IT IS A PROBLEM WITH EITHER THE COMPUTER OR STEERING ASSEMBLY. IT IS POSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH THE FAILED POWER STEERING, BUT QUITE DISCONCERTING WHEN IT FAILS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN. I AM STILL DRIVING THE CAR - BUT CAREFULLY. UPDATE - WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THIS MORNING, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED ON A CURVE AT 50 MPH. I MOMENTARILY LOST CONTROL, BUT REGAINED IT WITHOUT ACCIDENT. THE POWER STEERING BECAME FUNCTIONAL AGAIN WITHIN ABOUT 100 YARDS OF DRIVING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 25 TO 30 MPH, THERE WAS A SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS A CONTINUOUS OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,441 UPDATED 02/01/11*LJ THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. 03.22.11

THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2004 MINI COOPER BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING LAST YEAR. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO STEER AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE. IT MALFUNCTIONS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR, THE PUMP STOPS WORKING A FEW MINUTES OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER I START THE ENGINE. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION, BUT ONE COULD BE POSSIBLE, IF I WERE TO HAVE TO MAKE A SHARP TURN AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE. SINCE THIS PART IS A DEALER ONLY PART, IT IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD IT SINCE I WAS LAID OFF LAST YEAR. HELP! *TR

TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING. HAPPENS PROBABLY ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT I HAVE A POWER STEERING LEAK - BUT NOT BAD ENOUGH TO CAUSE A PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER LOST A QUANTITY OF FLUID THAT REQUIRED REFILLING. CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 70K MILES - SEEMS ODD TO HAVE A POWER STEERING LEAK AT THAT MILEAGE. LEAK FIRST SHOWED UP AT ABOUT 50K MILES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 MINI COOPER, THE POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE SUDDENLY DISAPPEARED. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER/CONTROL AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED BY REPLACING THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR

TEMPORARY LOSS OF STEERING. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 MINI COOPER AND I TOO HAVE HAD MY POWER STEERING FAIL ON CURVES WHILE DRIVING THIS HAPPENS A LOT WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL ON SHARP CURVES AND PARK. IT COSTS ABOUT 850 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AT THE DEALER AND I AM UNEMPLOYED AT THE MOMENT AND CANNOT AFFORD THIS COST. *TR

DEAR NHTSA, OUR COMPLAINT MATCHES THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION BEING CONDUCTED REGARDING THE INTERMITTENT POWER-LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP OF THE 2004-5 MINI COOPER WE OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER. OUR POWER STEERING LOSS BEGAN FEB '10 AND DESCRIBED AS UNEXPECTED AND INTERMITTENTLY-OCCURRING TOTAL LOSS-OF-ASSIST TO STEERING. THIS WAS RECTIFIED BY A PURCHASE OF A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP FROM MINI COOPER (ELMSFORD, NY) AND PURCHASE OF LABOR (INSTALLATION) FROM STRAUB AUTO REPAIR (HASTINGS ON HUDSON, NY) DURING THAT MONTH. *TR

I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER. I STARTED THE CAR LAST WEEK AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS MAKING A VERY HIGH PITCHED SQUEALING NOISE. I DECIDED TO DRIVE ANOTHER CAR THAT DAY BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO BRING IT TO A MECHANIC. THE NEXT DAY I STARTED THE CAR AND THE PUMP CAME UP TO SPEED VERY SLOWLY AND THEN STOPPED MAKING NOISE ALTOGETHER. THE POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKS. I DON'T THINK I CAN SAFELY DRIVE IT TO THE MECHANIC AND THE CAR HAS SAT IN THE DRIVEWAY SINCE. THE CAR IS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY PERIOD SO I WOULD BE LOOKING AT THE EXPENSE OF TOWING AND PARTS AND LABOR BEFORE I CAN USE IT AGAIN. I JUST SAW THE REPORT ON CNBC AND WAS WONDERING IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BEFORE I CONTACT A GARAGE. THANK YOU. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER. POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AT HIGH SPEED WHILE DRIVING ON WINDY ROAD AT NIGHT. WAS ABLE TO OVER CORRECT AND SLOW VEHICLE SAFELY. HAD IT BEEN MY DAUGHTER DRIVING SHE MAY HAVE CRASHED. PUMP FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND NO ENGINE LIGHTS. AFTER LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED WITH NEW MODEL CARS WITH LESS THAN 50K MILES. SHOULD BE A RECALL TO BMW FOR THIS!!!! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING FUNCTION. THE CONTACT STATED IN ORDER FOR THE POWER STEERING TO FUNCTION PROPERLY THE VEHICLE HAD TO COOL DOWN AND THAT COULD TAKE HOURS. THE VEHICLE ALSO BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOT OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING HER YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL AND THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM AND WOULD LIKE FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 01/20/11 *BF UPDATED 03/28/11

CAR IS VERY NOISY ON COLD STARTS WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. STEERING WOULD JUDDER WHEN BEING TURNED. WHEEL WILL FEEL HEAVY AND STUCK AT TIMES. POWER STEERING RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY WITH NO SIGNS OF LEAKS. POWER STEERING FLUID FLOODED INTO STEERING RACK DUE TO FAILED SEAL. STEERING RACK NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 MINI COOPER ON THE HIGHWAY FROM LA TO SAN DIEGO. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING IN MY CAR EVAPORATED AND I ALMOST HIT THE SIDE OF RAIL. THE CAR WOULD RUN BUT I COULD HARDLY STEER IT. I TOOK IT INTO A AUTO SERVICE CENTER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP. SEVERAL MINI COOPERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED CUSTOMER CARE FOR MINI COOPER AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO TAKE IT TO A BMW/MINI DEALERSHIP EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ALREADY GOT A DIAGNOSTIC. THE DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING $145.00 JUST TO LOOK AT THE CAR EVEN THOUGH WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT IS WRONG. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT TELL ME HOW LONG THIS WOULD TAKE TO GET RESOLVED. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE CARS AND THIS PART REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE. IN ADDITION, I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET MY CAR FIXED WHEN THIS IS CLEARLY MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE CAR. I WOULD LIKE THE DOT TO RECALL THIS CAR AND MAKE THE PART AND SERVICE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. CAR HAD JUST BEEN INSPECTED AND THERE WERE NO OTHER MECHANICAL OR ROAD HAZARD ISSUES BUT I ALMOST COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE. IN ACTUALITY, IT REQUIRED A GREAT DEAL OF STRENGTH--UNEXPECTEDLY SO IT FELT FROZEN. *TR

HAVE A 2004 MINI COOPER WITH 65,000 MILES TOTAL AND ONLY 6200 MILES IN LAST 20 MONTHS AND CAR SERVICED REGULARLY. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS NOW STARTED TO NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND MINI SERVICE REPROGRAMMED TRANSMISSION BUT PROBLEMS HAVE RECURRED AND AGAIN MINI WANTS TO REPROGRAM TRANSMISSION. IF THIS DOES NOT WORK, TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT COST OF $6500.00. THERE IS NO REPAIR OR REBUILDING OF THIS TRANSMISSION. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION BUT BMW HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED ANY PROBLEM. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE MADE CAR STOP IN TRAFFIC. *TR

1. AN HOUR INTO A HIGHWAY DRIVE, ALL THE ELECTRICAL FAILED. ALL LIGHTS, GAUGES, RADIO, ETC. ALL BUT THE POWER STEERING RETURNED IN A MOMENT, LESS THAN A SECOND. 2. THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK. 3. POWER STEERING PUMP INTERNAL ELECTRONICS AREA SHOWS SIGNIFICANT SCORCHING AND MELTING. PUMP WAS REPLACED BUT POWER STEERING SYSTEM STILL INOPERABLE. THE OLD PUMP IS AVAILABLE. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. *TGW

2004 MINI COOPER WITH MOTOR MOUNT, ELECTRICAL, FLAT TIRE SENSORS ISSUES. CVT TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT RECOMMENDED. *TGW ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED; DEAD NO POWER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IS SITTING IN THE GARAGE UN-DRIVABLE BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE $8,000 TO REPLACE THE CVT TRANSMISSION. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURE, THE STEERING PROBLEMS BECAME INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. WHEN THIS WOULD OCCUR, THE CONTACT COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON IN HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

MY 2004 MINI COOPER HAD A BAD FUEL LEAK FROM THE FUEL RAIL THAT SITS ON TOP OF THE ENGINE CONNECTED TO THE FUEL INJECTORS. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT TO WORK WHEN SHE WAS ALL MOST OVERCOME BY GAS FUMES. WHEN SHE GOT TO WORK SHE NOTICED THAT SHE HAD LOST A HALF A TANK OF GAS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO VISTA MOTORS IN POMPANO BCH. FL. ON SAMPLE ROAD AND THE MINI SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. WHEN I ASKED HIM IF THE PART WAS GOING TO BE INVESTIGATED BY MINI WHY THE PART STARTED LEAKING AND COULD OF EASILY CAUSED A FIRE AND BECAME A SAFETY HAZARD I WAS TOLD NO. *TR

POWER STEERING SUDDENLY CUT OUT DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS IN DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP SAFELY, BUT THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT HAD IT OCCURRED ON A CURVING ROAD. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE FAILED, AND WAS REPLACED BY THE CONSUMER, FOR A REPAIR COST OF CLOSE TO $700. THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS NOT SUPPOSED TO FAIL THIS EARLY IN THE LIFETIME OF A VEHICLE.

DRIVER SIDE DOOR OF MY 2004 MINI COOPER CAN ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE (I.E. I NEED TO LOWER THE WINDOW IN ORDER TO OPEN THE DOOR) MINI DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT GUARANTEE A FIX WILL LAST MORE THAN FEW WEEKS. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER- 50K MILES- POWER STEERING FAN / MOTOR FAILURE LEADING TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, HEAT/FIRE DAMAGE RESULTING IN INABILITY TO TURN OFF ENGINE. *TR

MY 2004 MINI COOPERS TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 80K MILES WITH NO WARNING. LUCKILY I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY, WHERE I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE COST OF REPLACING THE TRANNY WAS $7,000. MINI USA WAS USELESS WHEN I PLEADED WITH THEM TO HELP ME. AFTER READING ABOUT ALL OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE CVT TRANS, I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE WAS NO RECALL. I WILL NEVER BUY A MINI AGAIN. I STILL OWE $11,000 ON THE CAR AND CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER. *TR

PURCHASED A 2004 MINI COOPER A YEAR AGO, WITH A MILEAGE OF 17,000 MILES. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 4,000 MILES, THE CAR BROKE DOWN AND WAS SENT TO LOCAL MINI DEALER TO GET IT FIXED. CONTINUOUS VARIABLE TRANSMISSION WAS DIAGNOSED WRECKED, AND DEALER OFFERED A REPLACEMENT (ONLY SOLUTION) WITH A RE-FURBISHED CVT TRANSMISSION FOR $9800. AFTER NEGOTIATION, I HAD MINI COVER THE PARTS AND I PAID LABOR. BUT I HAVE SEEN ON SO MANY FORUMS THAT ALL CVT TRANSMISSIONS ARE FAILING SO I WONDER WHY THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS. MY CVT FAILED WHEN THE CAR HAD 21,000 MILES! *TR