2005 Mini Cooper complaints

I WAS DRIVING 50 MPH, OUTSIDE AIR TEMP APPROX 65F. WITHOUT WARNING THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE TIRES AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO CHECK FOR LEAKS OR BELT FAULTS. NOTHING, SO I CONTINUED 20 MILES TO MY DESTINATION WITHOUT THE STEERING ASSIST. AFTER I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, I RESTARTED IT AND THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK. IT HAPPENED DURING A SLOW TURN, FORTUNATELY. IF I HAD BEEN IN ANY TIGHTER OF A TURN, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE DRIVEN OFF THE ROAD. *TR

I OWN A 2005 MINI COOPER. MILEAGE IS 43,070. MY POWER STEERING PUMP RECENTLY MALFUNCTIONED. STEERING BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP EVENTUALLY WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND CONTINUED RUNNING AFTER I TURNED OFF MY CAR. PART HAD TO BE REPLACED. I UNDERSTAND THAT A CLASS ACTION WAS FILED IN OCTOBER 2010 REGARDING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I AM WRITING TO LET THE NHTSA KNOW THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP ALSO MALFUNCTIONED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD RESEARCH THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 68,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

MY 2005 MINI COOPER VIN # [XXX] JUST LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING ON THE SIDE STREET, TRIED TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART, IT WORKS BUT DECIDED TO JUST PARK IN THE GARAGE SINCE I WAS AFRAID TO GET INVOLVE IN A ACCIDENT. THEN SUDDENLY, A WEIRD SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, LEFT IT OVERNIGHT , NEXT THING MY CAR BATTERY DIED AND COULD NOT START THE CAR. JUMPED START IT LET MY HUSBAND DROVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK AND EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE POWER STEERING BECAME STIFF AND VERY HARD TO MANEUVER EVEN JUST MAKING A 45 DEGREES ANGLE AND RETURNED TO A DRIVING POSITION. I JUST DECIDED TO JUST PARK IT AND WAIT UNTIL A POSSIBLE RECALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL ON MY MINI COOPER HAS BECOME HARD TO STEER ON AND OFF FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. AT THE ONSET, I WAS GOING AT ABOUT 15 TO 20MPH AND TURNING RIGHT. THE STEERING GOT HARD TO TURN AND I WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY STAYING OUT OF ON COMING TRAFFIC. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND HOOD UNDER THE HOOD TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING TO EXPLAIN WHAT WAS GOING ON. I WAS NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY ANYTHING TO EXPLAIN THIS OCCURRENCE, SO I RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT WAS BACK TO NORMAL. SINCE THEN IT HAS DONE THIS ON AND OFF SEVERAL OTHER TIMES. I CALL THE MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THESE VEHICLES HAVE LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING PUMP, COOLING FAN AND RELY SWITCH.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED IT WOULD BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST WOULD PREVENT THE WHEEL FROM BEING TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING OF A 2005 MINI COOPER. IT OCCURRED AT LEAST TWICE (3/14/2011 AND 4/8/2011). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED, WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF. HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DETECT A FAILURE. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND RESUMED OPERATION WITH THE STEERING FAILURE. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 06/03/11 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. UPDATED 06/13/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING WOULD RESET ITSELF. THE CONTACT HAD A MECHANIC INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

FOR THE PAST WEEK, THE POWER STEERING ON MY CAR HAS FAILED TWICE. WHEN IT FAILS, I WILL SUDDENLY BE UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, E.G. WHILE MAKING AT TURN WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL STREETS, ON AN ON-RAMP TO A FREEWAY, AND ALSO WHILE PARKING, MAYBE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE WITHIN REASONABLE TIME. WHILE DRIVING LOCAL STREET, I HAVE HAD TO SLOW DOWN (FOR FEAR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE THE TURN TRYING TO STEER THE VEHICLE WITH MY OWN ARMS) AND NEARLY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. UPDATED 08/17/11*BF *TR UPDATED 02/02/2012 *LN *TR

THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE PERFORMING TURNS OR ACTIONS WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN OVER/UNDER STEERING. THE FAILURE COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

WHEN BACKING OUT OF GARAGE NOTICED THAT STEERING FELT "HEAVY", THEN AS I PROCEEDED FORWARD, ALL POWER STEERING ASSIST CEASED. THIS HAS OCCURRED TWO OR THREE TIMES (WITH NO WARNING) IN THE PAST, AND ON THE HIGHWAY. THE POWER STEERING OUTAGE MAY LAST A FEW MINUTES, OR A FEW DAYS. THE OUTAGE REPORTED HERE LASTED 10 DAYS. THE CAR CAN BE STEERED, BUT ONLY WITH GREAT EFFORT.. VERY DANGEROUS.

2005 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING FAILURE. HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY FAILING. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS NOT A "PROBLEM", BUT WILL PROBABLY NEED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. AFTER READING MULTIPLE POSTS, AND THE INVESTIGATION THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS STARTED...THIS IS LOOKING MORE LIKE A COVERUP ON MINI'S PART INSTEAD OF AN ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR, AND IT HAS PUT HER SAFETY AT RISK TWICE NOW WHEN IT FAILED WHILE MAKING A TURN. *TR

I HAVE NOTICED FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS THAT MY CAR HAS BEEN LURCHING. IN JUST THE LAST WEEK I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN I GET TO ABOUT 55-65 MPH, MY RPM'S ARE AROUND 4000. I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND THE RPM'S INCREASED. I HAD SOME MINOR WORK DONE ON THE AUTO-SEQUENTIAL TRANSMISSION IN 2010. I HAD BROKEN THE LINE AND HAS BEEN WELDED BACK IN AND HAD NO MAJOR PROBLEMS ASIDE FROM THE LURCHING UNTIL RECENTLY. ALL FACTORY PARTS ARE STILL ON THE CAR. TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. I AM OUTSIDE MY WARRANTY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING OF THE VEHICLE FAILS, CAUSING THE CAR TO SWERVE DANGEROUSLY INTO OTHER LANES, AS IT REQUIRES A LOT OF STRENGTH TO KEEP THE CAR IN ITS LANE WHEN THIS HAPPENS ON A BEND IN THE ROAD. THIS OCCURS APPROXIMATELY ONCE A MONTH. AT OTHER TIMES, THE POWER STEERING PUMP DOES NOT EVEN TURN ON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. THE STEERING WHEEL IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN LIKE THIS. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE STEERING PUMP OR FAN CAN BE HEARD CLEARLY STRUGGLING. THE CAR MUST BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. THIS OCCURS USUALLY ONCE WEEKLY. I HAVE HEARD THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MINI COOPER AND NOT ISOLATED TO ME AND TO FILE A COMPLAINT. NOTHING HAS YET BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. *TR

ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT SEEM NOTICEABLE ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN THE POWER STEERING PUMP STARTED TO FAIL I WAS USING EXTRA PRESSURE TO STAY IN MY LANE. THE PUMP WOULD THEN WORK AGAIN AND THE CAR WOULD LURCH OFF TO THE SIDE I WAS FAVORING AND I ALMOST WENT INTO A GUARD RAIL. WHEN COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND NOT KNOWING THE PUMP WAS QUITTING AGAIN, I WOULD HAVE TO JUMP INTO EMERGENCY MODE TO NEGOTIATE THE TURN. *TR

POWER STEERING VERY SUDDENLY FAILED! NEARLY CAUSED A SEROUS ACCIDENT WHEN NEGOCIATING A ROUNDABOUT. THE CAR IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO MANOEUVER, ESPECIALLY AT A DEAD STOP, OR ROUNDING CORNERS. STEERING IS VERY HARD TO RETURN TO "MIDDLE" POSITION. *TR

STARTED NOTICING THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN, USUALLY RIGHT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, BUT TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING WOULD RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. INITIALLY IT WOULD OCCUR EVERY 2 TO 3 MONTHES, BUT AS TIME WENT ON IT BECAME MORE FREQUENT. I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED OUT AFTER IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN ONE DAY - TWICE WHILE I WAS DRIVING CAUSING ME TO PULL TO THE SIDE OFTHE ROAD AND SHUT OFF AND RESTART THE CAR IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO EASILY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. ONLY AFTER GETTING THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED WAS I INFORMED OF THE THE FREQUENCY OF ISSUES LIKE THIS WITH OTHER CARS. THE DEALER DID FIX THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE POWER STEERING PUMP AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $900.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING A TURN, THE STEERING WOULD BECOME INCREASINGLY RESISTANT. THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR WHEN TURNING AND ONCE THE TURN WAS COMPLETE, THE STEERING WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE STEERING PUMP MAY BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,000.

LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. SIGNIFICANT FORCE WAS NEEDED TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM LASTED FOR ONE DAY. THE POWER STEERING RETURNED THE FOLLOWING DAY, BUT THE MOTOR STAYED ON AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR AND THE FAN. *TR

THE POWER STEERING PUMP IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING WHILE DRIVING. THIS MAKES TURNING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND HAZARDOUS AND HAPPENS AT WHAT SEEMS TO BE 'RANDOM' TIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE MINI DEALER AND THEY CHARGED ME $125 TO TELL ME THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FINE, BUT SHORTED OUT A COUPLE OF TIMES CAUSING THE DIFFICULTY IN STEERING. THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE $1060 FOR THE REPLACEMENT. FROM WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT EFFECTS 223,000 MINI DRIVERS AND YET THERE IS NO RECALL YET. *TR

THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS DEFECTIVE. I HAD A LOCAL FIRESTONE CAR REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSE AN UNUSUAL NOISE EMANATING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT INTENSIFIED WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THEY NOTED THE DEFECTIVE STEERING PUMP AND THAT IT WOULD COST AT LEAST $1,223.39 TO REPLACE. THEY SAID IF I DID NOT REPLACE IT, I COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AT ANY POINT WHILE MAKING A TURN. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE STEERING PUMP. THE ONES WHO LEFT THE ISSUE UNRESOLVED ENDED UP LOSING CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLE MID-TURN WHEN EITHER THE PUMP RANDOMLY SHUT OFF, OR IF IT HAD ALREADY FAILED, RANDOMLY TURNED BACK ON MID-TURN. THESE SITUATIONS ARE DANGEROUS ENOUGH, BUT THERE WERE ALSO REPORTS OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS CATCHING FIRE. IN LIGHT OF THIS, I COULD NOT RISK THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY OR MYSELF, AND TOOK IT INTO A LOCAL MINI DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE PUMP WAS FAILING AND THAT IT WAS GOOD THAT I BROUGHT IT IN BEFORE IT FAILED. THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPLACEMENT COST WAS $1,417.49. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND WERE AWAITING THE RESULTS OF THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION BEFORE COMMITTING TO REFUND THE COST OF THE DEFECTIVE PART(S). THANKFULLY, THANKS TO ALL THE REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM ONLINE, I WAS ABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ANYONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED.

THE FIRST TIME I HAD A PROBLEM, I WAS DRIVING AND MAINTAINING SPEED WHEN SUDDENLY THE POWER-STEERING FAILED. I JERKED THE STEERING WHEEL AND TURNED IT WITH FORCE, AND THEN THE POWER-STEERING RETURNED. ANOTHER TIME, THE POWER-STEERING FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND REMAINED OFF UNTIL I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND THEN TURNED THE IGNITION BACK ON.

2005 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES IN MY MINI COOPER. THE CAR BECOMES EXTREMELY HARD TO DRIVE WHEN IT FAILS (MUCH HARDER THAN AN OLD CAR WITHOUT POWER STEERING-ITS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILS). SEVERAL TIMES IT HAS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE MAKING A TURN. IF I TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT THE POWER STEERING WILL COME BACK FOR A WHILE. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION! *TR

POWER STEERING BEGAN INTERMITTENTLY FAILING ON OUR 2005 MINI COOPER AT APPROX. 88,000 MILES. STEERING WOULD BECOME VERY STIFF MAKING MANEUVERING THE CAR QUITE DIFFICULT. USUALLY WOULD GO OUT AFTER TRAVELING SOME DISTANCE ON THE HIGHWAY. VERY NOTICEABLE ONCE STOPPED AT INTERSECTION AND TRYING TO TURN TO NEW DIRECTION. DOES NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE. HAS OCCURRED ABOUT 10 TIMES NOW IN THE PAST 3 WEEKS. FAILED ON WAY TO MINI DEALER TODAY. MINI DEALER HAS INDICATED THE FAILURE OF THE MODULE IN THE POWERSTEERING PUMP. WILL REPLACE PUMP FOR $1,100.00 PLUS. HAVING THIS REPAIR DONE AS I WRITE. NO OFFER TO DISCOUNT EVEN THOUGH NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING THE FAILURE OF THIS PART. *TR

THERE WAS A STRANGE NOISE (LIKE A FAN RUNNING) COMING FROM MY 2005 MINI COOPER WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. IT CONTINUED TO MAKE THE NOISE UNTIL EVENTUALLY THE CAR BATTERY DIED. I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR IN FEAR OF LOSING THE POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO EVALUATE THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I AM NOT SURE WHY A 6 YEAR OLD CAR WITH 36,600 MILES WOULD NEED THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED OR WHY IT IS BROKEN IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WITH PARTS AND LABOR WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $1400. I HAD CONCERNS REGARDING THE REPAIR AND DECIDED TO RETURN HOME WITH MY CAR. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILING ON MINI COOPERS. I HAVE REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND ULTIMATELY MINI USA FOR THE REPAIR AS I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE ALL POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH CONCLUDED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND COMPLETED THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,648 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

WE BOUGHT THIS CAR 1 MONTH AGO FOR OUR 16 YEAR OLD TWINS TO LEARN TO DRIVE ON. TWICE WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING HAS LOCKED UP TO THE POINT THEY ARE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. BOTH TIMES THEY CALLED ME FROM THEIR CELL PHONES AND I INSTRUCTED THEM TO TURN ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND TRY AND GET TO A SAFE PLACE. THEY COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR FROM SIDE TO SIDE SO I INSTRUCTED THEM TO STOP PUTTHE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF AND TRY TO RE-START. EACH TIMES THIS SEEMED TO HELP BUT WHEN WE HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAD ONLY 27,982 MILES A MONTH AGO WHEN WE BOUGHT IT. *LN

I HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER I JUST HIT 55K MILES AND MY POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FAILED. MY BATTERY IS NOW DEAD, ALTERNATOR IS FRIED. IT WAS RUNNING FINE ONE DAY AND THE NEXT IT TURNED ON AND I COULDN'T GET IT OUT OF MY GARAGE AND THEN THE BATTERY COMPLETELY DIED. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND AN EXPENSIVE COST THAT IS THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT IN THE UK THEY ARE PAYING FOR PARTS BUT IN THE US IT IS A MINOR ISSUE. *TR

HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER WITH INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING, DRIVING ALONG AND OCCASIONALLY THE POWER STEERING JUST GOES. REQUIRES INCREASED FORCE TO STEER AND MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. STOP THE CAR RESTART AND ALL APPEARS OKAY AGAIN. *TR

I JUST BOUGHT A 2005 MINI COOPER AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED THIS MORNING. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND THAT THE NHTSA WAS LOOKING INTO THESE ISSUES ALREADY. SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE ONE DAY, I DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT WHETHER THE POWER STEERING FAILURE COMES AND GOES OR WHEN IT IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR. THIS MORNING IT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING, MY WIFE HAD TO EXERT STRENGTH TO DRIVE VEHICLE TO SAFE PLACE WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT (REPORTING THIS AS WE ARE NOT SURE IF IT IS RELATED) OUR 2005 MINI REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAN (AT COST OF $245.60) ON 8/21/2009, TO FIX A LOUD NOISE. ON 1/12/2011 WE HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP DUE TO POWER STEERING FAILURE. MINI AGREED TO CHARGE ME ONLY 1/2 THE WARRANTY PART COST AND REDUCED LABOR (TOTAL JOB COST ME $443 VERSUS ALMOST $1200 UNTIL I COMPLAINED). GIVEN THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS (AND I READ OF SIMILAR CONCERNS IN BRITAIN), THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OF THIS SYSTEM AND I SHOULD GET A REFUND OF WHAT I PAID FOR THE PUMP AND THE FAN I HAD REPLACED IN 2009. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE REPLACED FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AT A LABOR AND PARTS COST OF $767.24. AGAIN, NOT SURE IF THIS IS RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. OUR CAR ONLY HAS 46,500 MILES, SO THESE FAILURES SEEM UNUSUAL FOR A CAR WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOTH THE DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 2/23/11 *CN

AFTER STARTING UP MY CAR I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, BUT THE POWER STEERING WASN'T WORKING. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND TRIED DRIVING AGAIN. IT STILL DIDN'T WORK. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF TRYING THIS IT FINALLY STARTED TO WORK AGAIN. THE NEXT DAY THIS HAPPENED AGAIN BOTH IN THE MORNING AND AGAIN AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING FOR 3+ HOURS. LATER THAT NIGHT WHEN I DROVE MY CAR IT WORKED FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED RANDOMLY APPROXIMATELY 8 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS, BUT THE MECHANIC CAN NEVER DUPLICATE THE INCIDENT NOR FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE POWER STEERING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP SUDDENLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND GASKET WERE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,954. UPDATED 3/7/11 *CN UPDATED 03/14/11

MY DAUGHTER IS 18 YEARS OLD SHE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK 2AM RAINING OUT SIDE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE STARTED HAVING STEERING PROBLEMS REAL BAD THANK GOD HER BRAKES WORKED. COME TO FIND OUT HER POWER STEERING BOX WENT OUT AND HER FAN SHE HAS A 2005 MINI COOPER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE WOULD BECOME INOPERABLE DUE TO THE BODEN CABLE GUIDE BECOMING DISLODGED FROM ITS RETENTION CLIP. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS A DESIGN UPDATE BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT SAY WHEN THE DESIGN UPDATE HAD TAKEN PLACE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AGAIN AND STATED THAT ALL PROBLEMS AND QUESTIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER. NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED BY THE MANUFACTURER OR THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND TRYING TO MAKE A TURN, THE POWER STEERING FAILED MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER (APPROX 48,000 MILES) OUR POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY SEEMED TO CUT OUT MAKING THE STEERING EXTREMELY HEAVY AND UNRESPONSIVE. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY IT MADE DRIVING DIFFICULT, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE. HOWEVER, ON ARRIVING IN TOWN WE WERE UNABLE TO MAKE A TURN WITHOUT ENDING UP IN THE LANE OF ON-COMING TRAFFIC! LUCKILY THERE WAS LITTLE TRAFFIC AROUND WHEN WE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT SEEMED TO RESTORE OUR POWER STEERING LONG ENOUGH TO GET TO OUR FINAL DESTINATION. *TR

2005 MINI COOPER SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. DUE TO DEFECT IN DESIGN POWER STEERING COOLING FAN FAILS, CAUSING PUMP TO OVERHEAT AND RELAY GETS FRIED. MINI REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM, AND FIX. COST FOR REPLACEMENT OF PUMP, FAN, LABOR IS $1300-$1400. VEHICLE HAS 59000 MILES. CURIOUSLY THEY HAVE REDESIGNED FAN WITH COVER TO PROTECT IT AND PUMP HAS ALSO BEEN REDESIGNED. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL. *TR

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO MONTHS, I LOST POWER STEERING IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER. THE SECOND TIME HAPPENED AS I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE-84,OUTSIDE HARTFORD, IN CONNECTICUT. VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS! MY MECHANIC SAYS I HAVE A LEAK IN MY POWER STEERING ELECTRIC PUMP, AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR ALMOST $600 FOR A PUMP. HE SAYS THE MINI COOPERS HE'S WORKED ON ALL HAVE NEEDED THIS REPAIR. HOW CAN A COMMON POWER STEERING PROBLEM NOT BE DANGEROUS AND WARRANT A RECALL? *TRW

2005 MINI COOPER 2 DOOR STANDARD VEHICLE HAS A POWER STEERING FAILURE. IT STARTED 2 MONTHS AGO WITH AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING AT ANY GIVEN TIME OF THE VEHICLE IN USE. 60% OF THE TIME THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER OR TURN CORNERS. IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING AND IS VERY SCARY AS THE DRIVE HANDLING IS IMMEDIATELY CHANGED AND THE MANEUVERING TO THE END OF THE CURVE CHANGES DRASTICALLY. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOW INCREASED AS OF LATE TO THE POWER STEERING NOT TURNING OFF, EVEN AFTER THE KEY HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE POWER STEERING MOTOR HUMS AND WHINES LOUDLY AS THE CAR SITS PARKED AND WITH NO KEY INSERTED. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO TURN THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF. I CALLED CONCORD, CA. MINI (BMW), AND AFTER HAVING EXPLAINED TO THEM THE ABOVE MENTIONED PROBLEMS, THEY STATE THAT THERE ARE NO BULLETIN CLAIMS FOR THIS AND MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THEY FURTHER STATE THAT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WILL COST ME AT LEAST $1200. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND 225,000 OTHER FOLKS WITH THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I AM HOPING THAT THIS FORUM AND MY ADDED COMPLAINT WILL GENERATE ENOUGH CONCERN FOR DRIVER SAFETY AND BRING ABOUT A RECALL OR SOME LEVEL OF OWNERSHIP ON MINI TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION. FOR NOW I WILL KEEP MY MINI COOPER OFF THE STREET AND BATTERY DISCONNECTED AS IT IS A DANGER TO THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND OTHER DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING; IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, AND COOLING FAN. THE COOLING FAN WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 113,306.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE STEERING COLUMN MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS AND ENGINE HARNESS TO IGNITE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE STEERING PUMP WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE. . THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,209. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY HER PERSONAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,528 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILS . POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTANTLY

AFTER MY 2005 MINI COOPER PASSED THE 60,000 MILE MARK, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FAIL ON A REGULAR BASIS. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT A HALF-HOUR, THE POWER STEERING WOULD SIMPLY STOP WORKING AND IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. PULLING OVER, SHUTTING DOWN AND RESTARTING THE CAR WOULD TEMPORARILY FIX THE PROBLEM. MY LOCAL BMW DEALER REPEATEDLY CHECKED THE CAR AND WAS NEVER ABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEM. A LOCAL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY COOLING FAN ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN OK SINCE. *TR UPDATED 08/03/11 *BF UPDATED 12/05/11

FOLLOWING REAR END IMPACT, THERE WAS AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, WHICH WAS LATER TRACED TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. TERMINALS WERE BURNED OFF THE PUMP, AND ALTERNATOR ALSO FAILED AS A RESULT. NOTE: THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO COLLISION DAMAGE TO FRONT END. *TR

OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO "STICK" IN THAT I COULD NOT STEER RIGHT OR LEFT WITHOUT PHYSICALLY FORCING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, USING ALL MY STRENGTH TO DO IT. I THOUGHT I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS A TERRIFYING EVENT. THEN IT WOULD GO BACK TO "NORMAL" THE NEXT DAY, BUT THEN "STICK" AGAIN ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS WITH NO RHYME OR REASON; THERE WAS NO PATTERN AS TO WHEN IT WOULD OCCUR. BUT IT DID HAPPEN AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD "STICK" NO MATTER IF THE CAR WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, OR WHILE DRIVING. AFTER CHECKING WITH LOCAL GARAGES, THEY SUGGESTED TO HAVE MY MINI DEALERSHIP REPAIR IT AS NO ONE COULD FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. MINI DIAGNOSED THE FAILED POWER STEERING, AND INSTALLED A FAN WITH PROTECTING "GRI" (PART # 32-41-6-781-742 @ $222.43) AND INSTALLED A REPAIR KIT, LOWER "SECT" (PART # 32-30-6-763-722 @ $186.63). MINI SERVICE FOUND THE STEERING SHAFT KNUCKLE SEIZED UP, MAKING IT HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. MINI REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT, AND ALSO FOUND THE POWER STEERING FAN TO BE SEIZED, SO THEY ALSO REPLACED THE STEERING FAN. INCLUDED IN THIS DIAGNOSIS, MINI FOUND THE CONTROL ARM BRACKETS, WHICH ARE PART OF THE STEERING OF THE CAR, NEEDS REPAIR IN THE NEAR FUTURE TOO. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING. I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THE STEERING WAS ABOUT TO GO.