Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2005 record →
WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE POWER STEERING ALL OF A SUDDEN WENT OUT THUS MAKING THE STEERING EXTREMELY HEAVY. IT CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE. COULD BE DANGEROUS TO DRIVERS IF FAILURE OCCURS ON A TURN. POWER STEERING SHOULD NOT FAIL. *TR
AFTER RUNNING ERRANDS IN THE MORNING I PARKED MY CAR IN MY SPOT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. WHEN I WALKED AWAY THE CAR WAS SILENT. TWO HOURS LATER MY NEIGHBOR KNOCKED ON MY DOOR TO LET ME KNOW THAT MY CAR (WHICH HAD BEEN OFF AND PARKED FOR TWO HOURS) WAS MAKING A LOUD WHINING NOISE. I WENT OUTSIDE TO CHECK IT OUT, AND DETERMINED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM MY CAR WHILE IT WAS OFF. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR, WHICH WAS DRIVING WELL AT THE TIME, TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND RECOMMEND THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT IMMEDIATELY TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE MINI DEALERSHIP THEY IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY CAR BACK. I WAS TOLD THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FAILING AND OVERHEATING, WHICH CAUSED THE POWER STEERING FAN TO KEEP RUNNING WHILE THE CAR WAS OFF. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THIS HAPPENS TIME TO TIME, AND IF I HAD CONTINUED DRIVING THE CAR IT MAY OF CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE TECHNICAL WORDS ON THE WORK ORDER FROM THE MINI MECHANIC WERE, "SCANNED CAR FOR FAULTS, AFTER CHECKING CARS FAULT MEMORY IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE WAS A CURRENT FAULT FOR AN OPEN CIRCUIT ON THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP." BOTH THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
I USE MY MINI COOPER THE NIGHT BEFORE PARKING IT AT AROUND 10:00PM THE NIGHT OF DECEMBER 22ND, 2011. THE NEXT MORNING WENT TO WORK AS USUAL BY MASS TRANSIT. AT AROUND 8:00AM I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY NEIGHBOR TELLING ME THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF MY BUILDING HAD SEEN THE CAR SMOKING AND BY THE TIME HE CAME BACK TO GRAB AN EXTINGUISHER THE CAR HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OF IN SHORT TIME AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ASSURED THE FIRE WAS OFF SPREADING FIRE RETARDANT, A POWDER TALC LIKE OVER THE AREA THAT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS OVER THE RIGHT SIDE GRILLE BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND HOOD. THE ESTIMATE OF RECORD PREPARED BY GEICO ADJUSTER DESCRIBES DAMAGES IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, DASH PAD CROSSMEMBER, SUPERCHARGER, AIR GRILLE AND MUCH MORE PARTS. THE CAR HAS BEEN CONSIDERED TOTAL LOSS BY GEICO AND CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS TO TRY TO SETTLE BUT HAVEN'T BECAUSE THE ESTIMATE THEY GAVE ME FOR THE VALUE OF THE CAR IS VERY LOW COMPARED TO WHAT I PAID FOR IT AND THE LOW MILEAGE OF IT. THIS IS TERRIBLE SINCE I HAVE NOT FINISH PAYING THE CAR, I'M SHOCKED A CAR CAN CATCH FIRE BY ITSELF I WOULD APPRECIATE IF SOMEONE CAN HELP ME WITH THE PROBLEM OF MINI COOPERS CATCHING WHILE PARKED A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET TODAY JAN 17TH, 2012. OR GUIDE ME IF THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL DO SOMETHING REGARDING THE RECALL, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THE MODEL OR YEAR MY CAR WAS MADE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED A CONCURRENT INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11005 (STEERING STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
WHILE DRIVING 2005 MINI COOPER, I WENT AROUND A CORNER AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND WHEN I TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE POWER STEERING HAD QUIT WORKING. IT ALMOST PUT ME IN THE DITCH ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD. JUST THANKFUL OF NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR
MY WIFE WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN TURNED OFF. SHE RE-STARTED THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED FINE AFTER THAT. IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHEN I WAS ALSO BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT LAST NIGHT. I AM AFRAID THIS COULD BECOME A BIG ISSUE IF THIS HAPPENS IN TRAFFIC THUS THE REPORT. FROM AN INTERNET SEARCH, IT SEEMS THAT NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE SO THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WHICH MINI NEEDS TO FIX BEFORE THIS ENDS TRAGICALLY FOR SOMEONE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED.THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MERGE TO THE SHOULDER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. ONCE RESTARTED, THE STEERING RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF POWER STEERING BEGINNING AT APPROXIMATELY 48,000 MILES, WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY AND DURATION UNTIL COMPLETE FAILURE OF POWER STEERING AT APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES, DESPITE FULL POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR AT ALL TIMES. MINI DEALER ADVISES NEW POWER STEERING PUMP REQUIRED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND THAT HE SHOULD BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,781.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THEN CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, BUT REPAIRS WERE NOT PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
I RECENTLY BOUGHT MY 2005 MINI COOPER, AFTER MOVING TO TACOMA, WA. ONLY AFTER A WEEK OF DRIVING I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. I HAVE NOT EVEN MADE A PAYMENT ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED UKMINI AND MY INFORMATION WAS FORWARD TO BMW HEAD OFFICE IN GERMANY. MINIUSA CONTACTED ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE INTO A LOCAL DEALER TO VERIFY THE FAULT. THEY DIDN'T SAY THEY WOULD COVER THE COST. BUT BEING IN THE MILITARY I WILL ENSURE THAT SOLDIERS ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS THEY MAY FACE WITH THIS COMPANY. *TR
DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT ABOUT 70 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I WAS GOING AROUND A BEND IN THE ROAD WHEN SUDDENLY THE POWER STEERING FAILED THAT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. WITHOUT NOTICE THE CAR REVERTED TO "RACK-AND-PINION" MODE. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT TIME TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR AND DID NOT GO OVER THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR HIT ANOTHER CAR. I DIDN'T DRIVE THE CAR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS THEN TOOK IT TO A FEW MECHANICS FOR AN ESTIMATE. DEALER SAYS REPLACE THE STEERING PUMP AT $1200 BUT THEY WILL NOT HONOR ANY ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE STEERING PUMP OR THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO THE COOLING FAN FAILURE. THE POWER STEERING FAN QUITS THEN THE PUMP GETS HOT AND SHUTS OFF. I CALLED MINI USA TODAY AND THEY SAID THEY WILL NOT ASSIST ME IN PAYING FOR THE MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MY PUMP FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT SUGGESTING THAT THE PROBLEM IS ELECTRICAL AND ON POINT FOR A RECALL ON 2004 MINI COOPERS. MY CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2004, BUT IS THE 1707 CAR OUTSIDE THEIR "OFFICIAL" RECALL RANGE. MINI/BMW SENT A "MR. DRIVER" LETTER OUT ON 12/2004 FOR THIS "RECALL." MY CAR HAD NOT BEEN PURCHASED YET. THE DEALER SAYS THAT REPLACING THE STEERING PUMP WILL SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS INCLUDING THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE. APPARENTLY, THE NEW STEERING PUMP HAS A DESIGN FEATURE THAT ELIMINATES THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE PROBLEM (DEFECT CODE: 0032630100 & LABOR CODE: 0055719). THE MORE THE PUMP OVERHEATS BECAUSE OF THE FAN NON-OPERATION PROBLEM, THE PUMP WILL NEED TO B
GOING INTO A TURN ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF I-465 IN INDIANAPOLIS AND THE MINI COOPER'S POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I BRAKED HARD AND PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE. *TR
STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER BELIEVES THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE STEERING PUMP. I RESEARCHED IT ON THE NET AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED AND APPROACHING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE VEHICLE'S STEERING STIFFENED. THUS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE TURN SAFELY. INSTEAD OF COMPLETING A TIGHT TURN INTO THE CLOSES LANE, I MADE A WIDE TURN INTO LANE 2. ONCE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, PARKED AND TURNED BACK ONE THE PROBLEM DID NOT PERSIST. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE CONTACT WOULD RESTART THE VEHICLE. ONCE RESTARTED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
4/10/2008 AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY - MINI DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM 9/23/2008 AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON AND STAYED LIT - MINI DEALER FOUND MICRO-CRACKS IN OC3 SEAT MAT FAULT CODE FC71 STORED IN MR55K CHECKED FAULTS REPLACED OC3 SEAT MAT INSTALLED SEAT AND ENABLE SEAT MAT WITH GT1 CLEARED FAULTS SUMMER 2011 - AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY OCTOBER 2011 - AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON AND STAYED LIT 11/15/2011 - MINI DEALER REFUSES TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY, DESPITE KNOWN ISSUES WITH THIS COMPONENT HAVING A HISTORY OF BEING DEFECTIVE. *TR
RANDOM LOSS OF POWER TO POWER STEERING SYSTEM AT VARYING SPEEDS AND CONDITIONS. LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAN VARY IN TIMES FROM A FEW SECONDS TO A SEVERAL MINUTES. STEERING VEHICLE BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSS OF POWER IN STEERING PUMP/SYSTEM. CONDITION SEEMS TO GO AWAY FOR A FEW HOURS TO A FEW DAYS. *TR
THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED AS I WAS MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE. I COULDN'T MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AND THOUGHT MY CAR HAD DIED, BUT IT HADN'T AND THEN ALL WAS FINE SO I THOUGHT MAYBE I IMAGINED IT. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS ON 11/11/11. I WENT TO PICK UP MY GRAND-DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WHEN I RESTARTED IT I COULD NOT PULL OUT OF THE SCHOOL LINEUP. I WAITED UNTIL ALL OTHER CARS LEFT AND DROVE FORWARD USING ALL MY MIGHT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SO THAT I COULD PARK THE CAR WHILE I TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON A FEW TIMES AND THEN THE STEERING WORKED. I DROVE MY GRAND-DAUGHTER HOME, SAFELY, THANK GOD, RETURNED HOME AND PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. I'M NOW TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT AND UPON DOING RESEARCH ONLINE I REALIZE THAT I AM FAR FROM THE ONLY ONE WITH COMPLAINTS. THIS IS A VERY, VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. BEING UNABLE TO STEER PUTS NOT ONLY ME AND MY PASSENGERS IN DANGER BUT MANY OTHERS ON THE ROAD AS WELL..
POWER ASSISTED STEERING WILL CEASE WORKING WHILE DRIVING, MAKING THE CAR VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER/CONTROL. THIS PROBLEM IS CURRENTLY INTERMITTENT, BUT WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN IT IS VERY SCARY. *TT
DRIVING OFF A PARKING LOT ABOUT TO MAKE A LEFT ONTO TRAFFIC, CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING, TRY TO CORRECT DIRECTION BUT WEIGHT TONS TO STEER INTO RIGHT DIRECTION AND RUNS STRAIGHT INTO TRAFFIC. *TR
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A LEFT HAND TURN. THE CAR'S STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME SO HEAVY THAT I ALMOST DROVE INTO SOMEBODY'S YARD. SINCE THE ROAD WAS A 3 MILE STRAIGHT SHOT TO MY HOME, I DROVE IT THE REST OF THE WAY. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO COME AND GO TO VARYING DEGREES OVER THAT DISTANCE. I WILL NOT BE DRIVING IT AGAIN UNTIL REPAIRED. *TR
PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT READS "OFF" AND CENTER CONSOLE ALERT IS LIT. GETTING VARIOUS DIAGNOSES FROM SHOPS, BUT NO ONE REALLY KNOWS HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NO ONE WILL DEFINITIVELY SAY, "YES, YOUR PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF" OR "ON." THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MINIS AND THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. *TR
ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO THE STEERING STARTED GETTING HARD TO STEER AS IF THE POWER STEERING WAS BROKEN. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IT WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. ON 9/26/11 THE STEERING BECAME HARD TO STEER ALL OF THE TIME AND MY WIFE ALMOST GOT INTO A COLLISION WHEN SHE FOUND IT VERY HARD TO STEER. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD FAILED. IN ADDITION, HE TOLD ME THAT THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF POWER STEERING UNIT FAILURE WITH MY 2005 MINI COOPER. I CALLED MY LOCAL MINI COOPER DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL AT ALL IN REGARDS TO THE POWER STEERING UNIT. SINCE MY WIFE AND I HAVE TO DRIVE THE CAR, I HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPAIRED AT A COST OF $1055.00. *TR
AS REPORTED BY HUNDREDS OF OTHERS TO NHTSA AND BY THOUSANDS ON THE INTERNET, THE POWER STEERING PUMP IN OUR 2005 MINI COOPER WILL SIMPLY STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT BECOMES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON-LINE AND WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A DEATH. IT IS MY OPINION THAT NHTSA MUST IMMEDIATELY MOVE TO ESCALATE THIS FROM ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO REQUIRE BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC ISSUE A RECALL ON ALL 2005 & 2006 MODEL MINI COOPERS, IF NOT EARLIER MODELS AS THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ON-LINE GOING BACK TO 2002 WHEN THE MODEL WAS FIRST INTRODUCED TO THE US MARKET. THE COST TO REPLACE THIS UNIT IS THE BETTER PART OF $900, BUT WHAT''S THE COST OF A LIFE? MINI SHOULD HAVE LONG SINCE RECALLED THIS UNIT AND THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE 2002 BUT THEY HAVE CLEARLY IGNORED COMPLAINT AFTER COMPLAINT INSTEAD CLAIMING THEY ''WORK CLOSELY WITH NHTSA ON ALL COMPLAINTS'' (THEY''RE REQUIRED TO DO SO BY LAW SO THEIR STATEMENT DOESN''T HOLD MUCH WEIGHT). AS THE FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT AN UNPREDICTABLE HOW CAN I ALLOW MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER WHO IS PREPARING TO LEARN TO DRIVE TO DRIVE EITHER OF OUR MINI COOPERS UNTIL IT''S REPLACED? MINI SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT
THE FAILURE IN MY POWER STEERING PUMP OCCURRED AT 70,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AS I WAS DRIVING WHILE CHANGING LANES. I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL WITHOUT EXCESSIVE FORCE. I HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT A PUMP, IN THE PROCESS OF FAILING, CAUSES ANOTHER PROBLEM; THE PUMP MIGHT RANDOMLY START WORKING AGAIN, AND POSSIBLY IN THE PROCESS OF A TURN. THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO ME AND CAUSED AN OVER COMPENSATION WHEN TURNING A CORNER (ON 2 OCCASIONS) AND POTENTIALLY ENDANGERED THE OTHER MOTORISTS ON THE ROAD, AS WELL AS MYSELF! I FOUND THAT IT WILL COST ME $1000.00+ TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. I AM CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED AND CANNOT AFFORD THIS EXPENSE. IN THE MEAN TIME, MY BELOVED MINI SITS IN THE GARAGE UNTIL A RECALL OR UNTIL I HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. *TR
POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN GO OUT ALL TOGETHER. POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. LASTED A YEAR. FAILED AGAIN, AND DEALER REPLACED OUT OF WARRANTY BUT CHARGED LABOR. THIRD PUMP FAILING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO MERGE ONTO THE SHOULDER BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 10/18/11 UPDATED EVOQ 11/01/11.
POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT USUALLY WHEN THIS HAPPENS I CAN TURN THE CAR OFF AND WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED ON AGAIN IT IS FINE FOR A WHILE. I HAD POWER STEERING FLUID TOPPED UP BUT APPARENTLY IT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD IT IS A POWER STEERING PUMP THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND COSTS APPROXIMATELY $1,000.00- 1,2000.00. TODAY THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO NORMAL AFTER ABOVE SAID ACTIONS. I READ THAT CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE CAR IN THIS STATE CAN CAUSE BATTERY DRAINAGE/FAILURE, FAN PROBLEMS, AND/OR ELECTRICAL FIRES. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND SHUT OFF. UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A DAILY BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUAL STEERING FUNCTION WOULD ILLUMINATE WITHOUT ACTIVATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER ORDERED THE PART THAT THE CONTACT NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
POWER STEERING TURNS ON AND OFF WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT DURING TURNS OR DRIVNG ON A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY. *TR
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE, DRAINED BATTERY DUE TO POWER STEERING FAN CONTINUING TO RUN AFTER VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE LAST THURSDAY AND UPON EXITING THE POWER STEERING WENT. I WAS TERRIFIED. I AM JUST LUCKY I HAVE A STRAIGHT EXIT FROM THE INTERSTATE; IF THERE HAD BEEN A CURVE I WOULD HAVE BEEN INTO THE WALL OR OFF THE ROAD. MY PERSONAL FEELING IS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP AS FAILURE CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR, SOMEONE TO BE KILLED? I LIMPED MY MINI TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WILL COST $1257.00 TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN. I AM NOW UNABLE TO DRIVE MY MINI AS IT IS UNSAFE. *TR
TRAVELING BACK HOME TO A SHORT DRIVE FROM A LOCAL STORE. WHEN I WENT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN ONTO MY STREET THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. HAD MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER BEEN DRIVING THE CAR, I THINK IT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXERT THE NECESSARY FORCE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO TURN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE POWER STEERING AND THE CONTACT WOULD SEE AND SMELL SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. IT BEGAN TO RUN ALL THE TIME EVEN WITH THE KEY OFF. PLEASE NOTE LESS THAN 2 MONTHS AGO I FILED CLAIM # 10411560 PREDICTING THAT AFTER THE FAN HAD FAILED THE PUMP WOULD FAIL IN A SHORT TIME. IT DID. *TR
2005 MINI COOPER HAS POWER STEERING PROBLEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. SEEMINGLY RESOLVES SPONTANEOUSLY. *TR
I WAS LEAVING MY HOUSE FOR WORK IN THE MORNING. AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY ONTO THE STREET, I DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS REALLY HARD TO TURN. CONSEQUENTLY I ENDED UP ALL THE WAY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET, AND IT TOOK GREAT EFFORT TO GET THE CAR INTO THE DIRECTION I INTENDED. FORTUNATELY THERE WASN'T ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN I WAS ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE STREET, OTHERWISE IT COULD BE DANGEROUS... I STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET, CHECKED THAT EVERYTHING ELSE WAS OK EXCEPT POWER STEERING. SINCE I ONLY NEEDED TO TAKE LOCAL STREETS, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO WORK - IT JUST FELT LIKE MY VERY FIRST CAR THAT WAS MANUAL AND WITHOUT POWER STEERING!
WITHOUT WARNING, IN MARCH 2011, MY POWER STEERING FAILED. SERVICE DETERMINED THE COOLING FAN FOR THE ELECTROHYDRAULIC STEERING PUMP MOTOR IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED--INTAKE MANIFOLD AND FAN WITH PROTECTING GRILLE. NO MENTION WAS MADE THAT A FURTHER FAILURE, OF THE PUMP ITSELF, COULD OCCUR. IN JUNE 2011, THE ELECTROHYDRAULIC STEERING PUMP MOTOR FAILED WHILST I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. SERVICE REVEALED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT AND SAID PUMP WAS REPLACED. *KB
POWER STEERING HAS BEEN GOING OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN - USUALLY AFTER GOING OVER A POTHOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD. *TR
THE POWER STEERING JUST STOPPED WORKING AND BECAME NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THE LACK OF CONTROL NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT SEEMS THE POWER STEERING WAS OKAY. IT KEEPS CUTTING OUT AND I HAVE TO SHUT DOWN THE CAR AND RESTART IT IN ORDER TO GET IT TO WORK AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT EVENTUALLY IT WILL STOP WORKING COMPLETELY. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THEY RECOMMENDED HAVING THE DEALER RUN DIAGNOSTICS. DIAGNOSTIC AT THE DEALER IS EXPENSIVE AND IS NOT CREDITED TOWARDS THE REPAIRS SO I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET THE ISSUE ADDRESSED BY THE MINI DEALER. *TR
POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 2005 MINI COOPER. REQUIRES STOPPING VEHICLE AND RESTARTING ENGINE. THE FREQUENCY OF FAILURE OR POWER ASSIST INCREASING. *TR
UNEXPECTED AND PERMANENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. *KB
POWER STEERING COOLING FAN FAILED. POWER STEERING PUMP GOT VERY HOT AND ALL THE FLUID BOILED AWAY. PUMP DID NOT FAIL BUT IS PROBABLY DAMAGED AND FAILURE CAN BE EXPECTED. *TR
POWER STEERING PUMP ON 2005 MINI FAILED. *TR
MY 2005 MINI COOPER STEERING IS GOING OUT EVERY TIME I TRY TO TURN I HAVE TO USE BOTH HANDS AND ALL MY POWER TO TURN IT. I JUST DROPPED IT OFF AT THE REPAIR SHOP AND WILL CALL HIM IN THE MORNING TO LET HIM KNOW THE PROBLEM SO HE CAN TRY AND FIX IT. *TR
WE HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER. ON 16JUN11, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING BACK FROM HER SHIFT AT THE HOSPITAL AT AROUND 9AM WHEN WHILE TAKING A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME VERY HEAVY. SHE HAD TO MAKE THE CAR TURN WITH A LOT OF FORCE. THE NEXT DAY, 17JUN11, WHEN WE TRIED TO OPEN THE CAR, IT DIDN'T RESPOND TO THE KEY REMOTE, AND WE HAVE TO OPEN IT MANUALLY. THE CAR DIDN'T RESPOND, AND WOULDN'T START. TODAY, 18JUN11, WE CALLED AAA VA OUR INSURANCE, AND THEY CAME OVER JUMP STARTED THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MINI SERVICE CENTER (NEW COUNTRY BMW), AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK ON MONDAY, 20JUNE. THEY DID TAKE A QUICK LOOK UNDER THE HOOD, AND EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS SWITCHED OFF, A CYLINDER BEHIND THE BATTERY MAKES A CONTINUOUS HISSING SOUND. THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WOULD MOST CERTAINLY BE RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP/ASSEMBLY. SO, WHEN IN ITS TURNED OFF STATE, THE PUMP SOMEHOW DRAINS THE BATTERY. I WILL TAKE MY CAR TO THEM IN A FEW DAYS AGAIN WHEN THEY ARE FREE, BUT MEANWHILE, WHEN I PARK, I PARK WITH THE BATTERY CONNECTIONS REMOVED, SO ATLEAST I DON'T HAVE TO ASK AAA TO JUMP START IT EVERYTIME. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, AND MINI WOULD BE TAKING CARE OF IT. BUT I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE COSTS! *TR
MINI COOPER 05 POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR
LOSS OF POWER STEERING IN 2005 MINI COOPER. 1. ON 06 APRIL 2011 AT 11:00, I HAD AN APPOINTMENT AT THE GRAND RAPIDS, MI MINI COOPER DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE. DURING THE ROUTINE INSPECTION CONDUCTED ALONG WITH THE OIL CHANGE, IT WAS REPORTED TO ME THAT MY POWER STEERING FAN HAD FAILED. FORTUNATELY, AS REPORTED AT THAT POINT, MY POWER STEERING PUMP LOOKED FINE. I PAID TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING FAN REPLACED AT THAT POINT. I EXPERIENCED NO ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE'S STEERING UNTIL 11 JUNE 2011 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:30PM WHEN, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING GARAGE, THE POWER STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY. THE RESULTING LOSS OF STEERING CAPABILITY CAUSED ME TO IMPACT A MOVABLE PARKING SIGN IN THE ADJACENT PARKING SPACE. HOURS LATER, AFTER COOLING DOWN, THE POWER STEERING CONTINUED TO FUNCTION, BUT HAS BEGUN TO FAIL AT RANDOM INTERVALS. I AM CURRENTLY AWAITING AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT REPLACED FOR APPROXIMATELY $1500. 2. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE FAILURE HAVE BEEN HEIGHTENED CONCERN WHILE DRIVING, AND A DYNAMIC COST OF $1500 TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
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