2005 Mini Cooper complaints

I OWN A 2005 MINI COOPER. AS I WAS DRIVING IT, I SUFFERED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I HAVE HAD LITTLE TO NO PROBLEM WITH MY MINI BEFORE THIS, BUT COMPLETELY LOST ABILITY TO STEER. LUCKILY I WAS IN AN ALLEY AT THE TIME AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP WHO WAS UNAWARE OF ANY INVESTIGATION INTO MINICOOPER. *TR

THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED TWICE, ONCE WHEN I PARKED WHILE RUNNING ERRANDS AND ONCE WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. ON-LINE, I READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT FOR MINIS PRODUCED BETWEEN 2001 AND 2007, BUT PRIMARILY THOSE FROM 2004-05 AND THAT IT IS RELATED TO THE HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING PUMP. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE LACK OF HEAT SHIELDING OF THE PUMP ELECTRONICS PERMITS FLAKING OF CARBON, THAT SETTLES ON THE CONDUCTORS AND FORCES THE PUMP TO FAIL, UNTIL IT COOLS OFF OR UNTIL THE FLAKES MOVE ON. MINI USA IS NOT OFFERING ANY SOLUTIONS, NOR IS THE DEALER THAT SOLD ME THE VEHICLE, TWO MONTHS AGO.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INCREASINGLY TIGHT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OIL LEAK ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. 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.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME ABNORMALLY STIFF MAKING CAUSING LIMITED CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. AFTER RESTARTING, THE STEERING RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING YET NO FAILURE CODES WERE GENERATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MODULE WOULD POSSIBLY NEED REPLACING. THE STEERING MODULE WAS REPLACED YET WITHIN SIX MONTHS, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT CALLED BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER REGARDING THE STEERING FAILURE AND WAS ADVISED BY BOTH PARTIES THAT THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REGARDING STEERING FAILURES WITHIN HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE STEERING FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH. THE CONTACT WAS NO LONGER DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

MINI COOPER 2005: AT 60,000 PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. LIGHT STAYS ON NO MATTER IF SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT OR NOT. MINI SERVICE SAYS IT WILL COST $1,000 PLUS TO REPAIR SENSOR, AND THAT THE BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH AND TURNING RIGHT, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 117,000.

I HAVE LOST THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER ABOUT SIX TIMES. THIS HAS BECOME A BIG, FRUSTRATING, AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND SHUT OFF. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DROVE NORMALLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE BEGAN TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY, SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 61,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE POWER STEERING IN OUR 2005 MINI COOPER HAS A RECENT HISTORY (WITHIN THE PAST YEAR) OF INTERMITTENTLY FAILING, MAKING THE CAR DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, FOR OUR SMALL-SIZED DRIVERS (ABOUT 100 LBS.) TO MANEUVER. THIS HAS PROVED DANGEROUS ON THE ROAD, BUT INJURIES HAVE SO FAR BEEN AVOIDED, JUST WHEN WE WERE GOING TO GET IT FIXED, THE PROBLEM APPEARED TO SELF-CORRECT. THIS WEEK, HOWEVER, THE CAR HAS FAILED TO START OR TAKE A CHARGE TO A ONE-YEAR-OLD BATTERY. OUR RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY MECHANIC CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WE ARE WONDERING IF THERE MAY BE A DRAIN ON THE BATTERY FROM THIS POWER STEERING PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE PICKING MY GRANDSON FROM SCHOOL ON OCT 18 2010 AT 2:30 PM I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE ONTO THE HIGHWAY , HALF STILL IN PARKING SPACE AND HALF ON THE HIGHWAY MY CAR STOPPED--- IT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD --- COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WOULD NOT TURN--THE MOTOR RUNNING ALL THE TIME --I TURNED THE KEY OFF AND ON TWICE BEFORE THE CAR WOULD MOVE .ONLY REASON WE WERE NOT HIT BY TRAFFIC IS BECAUSE WE WERE IN A SCHOOL ZONE AND TRAFFIC WAS SLOW AT THAT TIME. I CALLED MY MINI DEALER IN BATON ROUGE AND ASKED IF THEY HAD OTHER PEOPLE WITH TROUBLE WITH THEIR MINI THEY SAID NO-- ASKED THEY TO CHECK IF MINI HAD ANYTHING GOING ON WITH MINI S THEY WOULD NOT CHECK THEY JUST SAYING THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED AND OFFICIAL NOTICE THEY SAID I COULD BRING IT IN AND IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT 800.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. *TR

THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER HAS GONE OUT. IT STARTED FAILING INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS THEN AS OF SEPTEMBER 2010 HAS FAILED COMPLETELY. IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND TURN THE CAR. I TOOK IT IN TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHEN IT WAS FAILING INTERMITTENTLY AND THEY COULD NOT RECREATE IT. NOTHING HAS BEEN CHANGED/FIXED AT THIS TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER ASSIST LOCKED UP AND HE LOST POWER STEERING FUNCTIONALITY. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY STIFF, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED 15% OFF FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,389. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,370.

THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAD TO STOP SUDDENLY BECAUSE I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN SAFELY WITHIN A NORMAL TURN. I HAD TO TURN VERY HARD AND WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING AND INTERMITTENT STEERING SYSTEM DEGRADATION PRIOR TO TOTAL FAILURE. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE 2005 MINI WHEN STEERING STARTED FAILING. PULLED OVER AND WAS TOWED TO GARAGE FOR REPAIRS. POOR DESIGN AND NO ACCOMMODATION FOR SYSTEM FAILURE. *TR

I JUST BOUGHT A 2005 MINI COOPER WHICH IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION UPON BUYING. AFTER A WEEK, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON A TURN THAT I COULD BARELY MAKE. I COULDN'T MAKE ANY OF THE TURNS ALL THE WAY HOME! I THOUGHT MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE THE KEY WASN'T IN THE IGNITION RIGHT. I TOOK OUT THE KEY AND RE-STARTED MY CAR. IT WORKED AND THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON! WELL, A COUPLE DAYS LATER THIS ISSUE HAS NOW BECOME A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I WOULD MAKE A RIGHT TURN OFF A MAIN ROAD AND I WAS SHOCKED THAT MY CAR WOULDN'T TURN. TO MAKE THINGS EVEN WORSE, THERE WAS A SCHOOL BUS I ALMOST HIT! I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND TRY TO MAKE THIS IMPOSSIBLE TURN. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED EVERY TIME I HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR. ITS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT! IT GOES OUT ALL THE TIME AND I'M NOT ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR FOR SHORT DISTANCES. I HAVE BEEN KEEPING TRACK OF HOW MANY TIMES THIS HAS OCCURRED, I'M NOW AT 31 TIMES! MANY OF THOSE TIMES, I WAS VERY CLOSE TO HITTING MANY PEOPLE! I'M AM VERY LUCKY TO HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR DRIVEN OFF THE ROAD!! *TR UPDATED 08/17/11*BF UPDATED 1/27/2012 *LN *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER BUT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 49,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER TODAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AROUND SHARP TURNS AT SLOWER SPEEDS. I HAVE NOT YET CORRECTED THE FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECOME TIGHT AND WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND TRYING TO MAKE A TURN, THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL OCCASIONALLY. HE WOULD CONTINUE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MUCH DIFFICULTY. THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE UNTIL THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000. UPDATED 01/06/11 *BF UPDATED 03/30/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO MOVE OUT A PARKING LOT, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED UP. THE REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.

PER THE MINI COOPER POWER STEERING PUMP INVESTIGATION - ON MARCH 24, 2010 I PAID TO HAVE MY POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED AFTER HAVING MY BATTERY DIE FOR A SECOND TIME. THE MINI DEALERSHIP FAILED THE FIRST TIME TO FIND THE PROBLEM BUT UPON THE SECOND BATTERY DYING THEY REPORTED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REMAINING ON AND DRAWING POWER FROM THE BATTERY EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. THIS ALSO EXPLAINED WHY I HAD BEEN NOTICING THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. *TR

MY 2005 MINI COOPER LOST POWERSTEERING FUNCTIONALITY DURING A SHORT INTERSTATE DRIVE (INDIANA INTERSTATE 65 FROM EXIT 64 TO EXIT 68) ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2010 AT 11:20AM. PARKING LOT MANEUVERING AND INTERSTATE ON-RAMP DRIVING WAS NORMAL, INTERSTATE OFF-RAMP AND SUBSEQUENT IN-TOWN DRIVING WAS WITH NO POWERSTEERING ASSIST, AND THEREFORE REQUIRED A GREAT DEAL OF FORCE TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING PUMP COOLING FAN WAS LATER DETERMINED TO HAVE COMPLETELY SEIZED, PRESUMABLY CAUSING THERMAL SHUTDOWN OF THE POWERSTEERING PUMP. MY ANALYSIS OF THE FAILURE OF THE COOLING FAN LEADS ME TO CONCLUDE THAT THE SPAL BRAND FAN USED WAS IMPROPERLY APPLIED TO THE APPLICATION. THE DESIGN AND PLACEMENT OF THE FAN INTO THE MINI CAUSES WATER AND FOREIGN MATERIAL TO POOL INTO THE BLADE HOUSING AND CAUSE CORROSION OF THE STEEL FAN MOTOR HOUSING AND EVENTUAL SEAL DAMAGE RESULTING IN MOTOR FAILURE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES: THE ONLINE MESSAGE BOARDS SHOW NUMEROUS SIMILAR FAILURES. I AM WAITING ON A NEW COOLING FAN TO ARRIVE TO FIX THE FAILURE. *TR

2005 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING GOES OUT TYPICALLY WITHIN THE 1ST HOUR OF DRIVING. THE POWER STEERING FAILURE IS NOT CONSISTENT, BUT I FIND IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN IN HOT WEATHER WHEN I HAVE THE A/C ON "AUTO" OR FULL BLAST. (???) THE A/C ALSO AFFECTS THE RADIO RECEPTION, SO PERHAPS IT DRAINS TOO MUCH POWER. AT TIMES I NEED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DRIVE AS IF I HAVE MANUAL STEERING. I TURN OFF THE ENGINE, LET IT REST FOR 30 SECONDS THEN START IT UP AGAIN. THE POWER STEERING GOES BACK TO NORMAL. WE HAVE NOT TAKEN THE MINI IN FOR SERVICE, AS IT IS NOT CONSISTENT AND WE DO NOT LIKE THE DEALERSHIP AS THEY SEEM TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR AUTOMOTIVE IGNORANCE AND CHARGE AN ARM AND A LEG. *TR UPDATED 08/17/11*BF UPDATED 1/27/2012 *LN *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, ALL STEERING FUNCTIONALITY WAS SUDDENLY LOST, MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL DIFFICULT TO TURN. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT STATED THAT PROBLEM WAS COMMON AND WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 47,000. UPDATED 05/25/11 *BF UPDATED 05/31/11

TRANSAXLE ON THE MINI COOPER FAILED. UNIT CONTAINS SEALED BEARINGS (SO I'M TOLD), THAT ARE NOT SERVICEABLE. THEREFORE, I HAD TO BUY A COMPLETE NEW UNIT AT A COST OF $3,000 ()INCLUDED $900 LABOR). I UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON FAILURE FOR MINIS, AND THAT MINI AND BMW ARE REFUSING TO WORK WITH CONSUMERS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE APPARENTLY CHANGED THE DESIGN, RECOGNIZING THE POOR DESIGN OF THE ORIGINAL UNIT. *TR

ELECTRIC FAN THAT COOLS THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON OUR 2005 MINI COOPER FAILED. OUR MECHANIC SAYS HAD WE DRIVEN VERY FAR, OUR POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD HAVE FAILED. HE TELLS US THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MINIS, AND A FULL 50% OF HIS MINI CUSTOMERS HAVE EXPERIENCE FAN FAILURE, PUMP FAILURE, OR BOTH. *TR

2005 MINI COOPER PASSENGER LIGHT COMES ON WITH OR WITHOUT ANY PASSENGER SITTING. HOWEVER, AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE GOES AWAY. WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND STARTED AGAIN, THE PASSENGER LIGHT STAYS ON AGAIN. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. I HAVE SEEN OTHER RECALLS FOR DIFFERENT YEARS, WHY 2005 IS NOT A RECALL? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND APPLIED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED WITH NORMAL FUNCTIONING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE PROGRESSED TO WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION AT ANY SPEED BEING TRAVELED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

MY POWER STEERING COMPLETELY WENT OUT IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER WHILE COMING AROUND A TURN ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN A MAJOR CITY. I WAS AWAY FROM HOME AND SCARED TO DEATH. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MINI MODELS 01-06. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. CURRENTLY I AM FIGHTING WITH THE MINI CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT BECAUSE MY "CASEWORKER" IS ALSO MYSTERIOUSLY UNAVAILABLE AND THEY WILL NOT LET ME SPEAK TO ANYONE ELSE BECAUSE MY "CASEWORKER" HAS ALL THE DETAILS ABOUT THE CAR'S DEFECT EVENTHOUGH THEY WORK OUT OF A CALL CENTER AND ALL THE NOTES ARE UPLOADED IN THE COMPUTER AND VISIBLE FOR ALL "CASEWORKERS". *TR

2005 MINI COPPER CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE AUTOMOBILE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST DID NOT RESET ITSELF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE HAVING TO UTILIZE EXTREME BODILY FORCE TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HAVING THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 56,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING; THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING ASSEMBLY OVERHEATED WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 42,000. UPDATED 11/05/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/7/10 *CN

(2005 MINI COOPER TRANSMISSION) VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE FROM STANDING POSITION WHEN ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED. SUDDENLY JUMPS INTO GEAR (IN DRIVE OR REVERSE POSITION). NEEDED TO STEP ON THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT ACCIDENT. ALSO LACKS ACCELERATION WHILE PASSING ON THE HIGHWAY.. UPDATED 03/30/10 *BF SPORADIC INITIALLY. BECAME MORE FREQUENT OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS (JANUARY TO MARCH 2009 TIME FRAME). PROBLEMS SURFACED JUST AT THE END OF WARRANTY MILEAGE. TAKEN TO DEALER ON MARCH 26, 2009. SERVICE TECHNICIAN FOUND NO FAULTS FROM SCANNING OR IN LINKAGE OPERATION. NO EFFECT DUE TO RESETTING ADAPTATIONS AND SHIFT SOLENOIDS. TRANSMISSION WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY. TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *TR UPDATED 07/07/10.*JB

2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE WITH APPROX 78,000 MILES. ABOUT A WEEK AGO THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITH NO WARNING DURING COMMUTE. TOOK CAR TO REGULAR LOCAL FOREIGN CAR MECHANICS. POWER STEERING WAS WORKING WHEN THEY EXAMINED SO COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. DAY CAR WAS RETURNED POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN ON AFTERNOON COMMUTE. CONSISTENTLY HAS FAILED ONCE CAR WARMS UP. TOOK TO MINI YESTERDAY WITH POWER STEERING IN FULL FAILURE MODE. DEALER SAYS IT IS FAN WHICH COOLS POWER STEERING PUMP. WHILE DEALER MAINTAINS THEY HAVE RARELY SEEN THIS PROBLEM ONLINE SEARCH OF MINI RELATED SITES AS WELL AS ARTICLE PRINTED IN UK DAILY MAIL SHOWS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR CAR. *TR

1. STEERING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS 2. POWER STEERING ASSIST MOTOR CUTS IN AND OUT, MAKING CONTROL DIFFICULT AND UNPREDICTABLE: STEERING GETS HEAVY SO ADDITIONAL FORCE IS APPLIED BUT THEN THE POWER ASSIST 'REACTIVATES' CAUSING DRAMATIC OVERSTEER. FIRST OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 60000 MILES, TURNED CAR ON/OFF STEERING WAS FINE. RE-OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 100000 MILES AND HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT. 3. MECHANIC HAS SUGGESTED REPLACING ASSIST MOTOR. *TW

SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED FAILING OF POWER STEERING FUNCTION WHILE ROUTINELY DRIVING THE CAR. CAR IS VERY HARD TO STEER AS A RESULT. TEN + INCIDENTS OF THIS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ARE AWARE OF DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING PUMP. PUMP WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $900.00. NO MORE PROBLEMS SINCE.*TR

ON MONDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 12, 2009, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE FREEWAY (280 SOUTH, DALY CITY, CA). I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER. I WAS IN THE FAST LANE ON A SLIGHT CURVE IN THE ROAD, AND SUDDENLY MY STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY APPLY THE BRAKES TO KEEP FROM VEERING INTO THE LEFT BARRIER, AND USE ALL MY STRENGTH REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ADJUST TO SPEED AND STEERING CONTROL TO GET SAFELY OFF OF THE FREEWAY. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND FRIGHTENING SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE VERY EASILY ENDED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ESPECIALLY SINCE I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED (65 MPH) IN THE FAST LANE OF A BUSY METROPOLITAN CITY WITH CARS ALSO TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED ALL AROUND ME. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND THAT POWER STEERING FAILURE IS A DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH THE MAKE AND MODEL OF MY CAR, AND THAT IN ADDITION TO MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS, YOUR ORGANIZATION, NHTSA, HAS OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO SUCH CLAIMS (NHTSA ACTION #'S FROM PUBLIC RECORD: PE07022 AND EA07011). MY FRIEND, WHO IS ALSO A MINI OWNER, HAD THIS VERY SAME FAILURE HAPPEN TO HIM, AND RECOMMENDED THAT I FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH YOU (AS HE DID). I UNDERSTAND BMW ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN THE 2002/2003 PRODUCTION MODELS, BUT THIS ISSUE CONTINUES TO OCCUR IN SUBSEQUENT PRODUCTION YEARS: MINE (2005) AND THIS PERSON (2004): HTTP://BIT.LY/3HLZ5A. THE POWER STEERING MECHANISM NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. ME, MY PASSENGER, MY DOG, AND ANYONE ELSE DRIVING NEAR ME COULD HAV

2005 MINI COOPER AUTOMATIC CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED AT ONLY 47,000 MILES. WHEN TAKING MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS, THE RPM'S WOULD REV UP AS THE CAR SLOWED DOWN. THEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND EP (TRANSMISSION) WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT ABOVE SECOND GEAR, MAKING THE CAR PRACTICALLY UNDRIVABLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED PROMPTLY AND WELL MAINTAINED THROUGH MINI COOPER DEALERSHIPS. MY FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED 6 MONTHS AGO. THE INTERIOR BELT OR CHAIN ON THE TRANSMISSION HAS "COMPLETELY COME APART" AND THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MINI COOPER ESTIMATES $7600 TO REPLACE THIS TRANSMISSION! *TR

WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2005 MINI COOPER AND SAID THAT SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER STARTING HER DRIVE, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN ACTING ERRATICALLY. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD GO CEASE WHEN SHE WAS TURNING A CORNER, FORCING HER TO MUSCLE THE CAR IN UNASSISTED STEERING MODE. THEN, THE POWER STEERING WOULD KICK IN, RESULTING IN OVERSTEER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN, REQUIRING QUICK CORRECTION. I WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHEN SHE RETURNED HOME THAT DAY. HOWEVER, THE NEXT DAY, THE POWER STEERING WAS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING AT ALL. CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THAT CONDITION, WE TOOK IT TO BE REPAIRED. SINCE THE CAR WAS NO LONGER IN WARRANTY (ONLY 32,500 MILES, BUT >4 YEARS OLD) WE DID NOT TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. OUR REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAN, WHICH IN TURN LED TO A FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP. HE SAID THE LAYOUT OF THESE ITEMS WAS POORLY DESIGNED, INCREASING THE CHANCE OF FAILURE AND THAT HE THOUGHT MINI HAD MODIFIED THE LAYOUT IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS. TOTAL COST FOR THE REPAIR WAS $1,650. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE PARKED OUTSIDE OF A RETIREMENT CENTER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND UNPLUGGED THE BATTERY BECAUSE IT APPEARED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL POWER ASSIST ON HIS RACK AND PINION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,000.

INTERMITTENT (TWICE WITHIN 40 MINUTES) POWER STEERING FAILURE. FIRST OCCURRENCE WHILE TURNING A CORNER, CONTINUED UNTIL I PULLED IN TO MAKE A CALL TO THE DEALERSHIP. ONCE I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE POWER STEERING WAS APPARENTLY WORKING NORMALLY AGAIN. WHILE TELEPHONING THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS WORKING AGAIN, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN AND REMAINED NONFUNCTIONAL UNTIL PARKING THE CAR. AN HOUR LATER, BACK IN THE CAR TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, POWER STEERING AGAIN APPEARED TO BE FUNCTIONING NORMALLY UNTIL ARRIVAL AT THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE SYSTEM FAILURE, WHERE IT REMAINS TO DATE. *TR

DRIVING HOME THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP. GOT THE CAR PARKED. NEXT MORNING THE CAR WAS DEAD. NOTHING WORKED. TOWED CAR TO REPAIR SHOP. MECHANIC CALLED AND SAID CAR MUST GO TO THE DEALER. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. 1ST ESTIMATE FROM DEALER WAS 2350.00 FOR A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP, POWER STEERING HARNESS AND A NEW BATTERY. CAR REMAINED AT THE DEALER UNTIL TODAY 6/19/09. TOTAL FOR THE WORK PERFORMED WAS 1058.39 WHICH INCLUDED A 99.95 GREASE OIL AND FILTER. *TR

MY 2005 MINI HAD APROX. 77,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I HAD DROVE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY, HEARD A LOUD NOISE, AND WHEN I GOT OUT I SAW A PIECE OF THE TRANSMISSION CASING LAYING ON THE GROUND AND ALL THE FLUID DRAINED OUT. THERE ARE 95 MINI OWNERS THAT I KNOW OF WHO HAVE HAD 1 OR 2 TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED AFTER ONLY A FEW YEARS OF USE. MINE COST ME 5,000 DOLLARS AND LOSS OF USE FOR 2 MONTHS. MINI WAS AWARE OF THE FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS AND CONTINUED TO SELL THEM. I REALLY BELIEVE THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECKONING. *TR

ON MARCH 12, 2009 AT APPROXIMATELY 9:00 PM MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING BACK FROM DINNER IN NORTHRIDGE, CALIFORNIA WHEN I MADE A STOP AT THE LOCAL POST OFFICE. I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER HATCHBACK AND DID NOT NOTICE ANY WARNING LIGHTS OR ERRANT BEHAVIOR WITH THE CAR. I STOPPED AT THE POST OFFICE TO MAIL A PACKAGE, PARKED THE CAR, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, LOCKED THE CAR WITH MY WIFE INSIDE THE AUTO, AND WENT IN. WHEN I RETURNED APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES LATER I FOUND MY WIFE IN THE CAR IN A GREAT STATE OF PANIC WITH SMOKE POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY UNLOCKED THE DOORS WITH MY CAR KEY, MADE SURE THAT MY WIFE WAS OUT OF THE CAR, AND WE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE BOTH WITNESSED A SMALL FIRE BURNING UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT QUICKLY ARRIVED, OPENED THE HOOD AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. I CONTACTED A REPRESENTATIVE FROM MINI ON THE 13TH WHO INFORMED ME THAT SOMEONE FROM BMW WOULD BE CONTACTING ME REGARDING THE CAR. I TOWED THE CAR BACK TO MY HOUSE AND TOWED IT TO BOB SMITH BMW IN CALABASAS ON SATURDAY THE 14TH. BOB SMITH BMW HAS PROVIDED ME WITH A RENTAL CAR IN THE INTERIM. I THEN RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM BMW FROM A STEVE KOSSAR ON MARCH 17TH, WHO REQUESTED THE DETAILS OF THE INCIDENT. WHEN I SPOKE WITH SUSAN AT BOB SMITH BMW LATER THAT WEEK I WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL PARTS. NO EXPLANATION WAS GIVEN AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT BMW NORTH AMERICA

CAR POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE EXITING A FREEWAY. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND VERY SCARY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND MADE RATTLING AND POPPING SOUNDS. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE CONTACT PUSHED IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WOULD COST $7,000 TO REPAIR. THE CONTACT WILL CALL THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

I HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT FAILED AFTER 60,000 MILES, JUST AFTER THE CAR WENT OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT MANY MINI AND BMW OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS FAILED CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO BE PERMANENTLY DEACTIVATED, EVEN WHEN A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE DEALER CHARGES $1100 TO FIX THE DEFECT. I FEEL LIKE THE AIRBAG SHOULD WORK FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR, OR AT LEAST UP TO 100,000 MILES. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR HAD ANY OTHER MECHANICAL ISSUES THAT WOULD AFFECT THE AIRBAG. MY CAR IS IN GOOD CONDITION AND HAS APPROXIMATELY 80,00 MILES ON IT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST BMW AND MINI COOPER AND I WOULD LIKE THE MANUFACTURER TO FIX THIS DEFECT AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER OF THE CAR. THANK YOU. *TR

DURING NOVEMBER OF 2008, I BROKE DOWN 4 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON 11/1 (WHEN I HAD AN APPT TO HAVE MY AILING CAR LOOKED AT ON 11/3). I MADE THE APPT FOR 11/3 ON 10/30 WHEN I WAS ON A HIGHWAY AND THE CAR BEGAN BUCKING LIKE A MECHANICAL BULL. OBVIOUSLY, I DID NOT MAKE IT TO THE APPOINTMENT. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 11/1 AFTER BREAKING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS I NEEDED A NEW BATTERY, VALVE COVER GASKET, AND TRANSMISSION. I WAS "GOOD-WILLED" THE TRANSMISSION BY OTTO'S BMW BECAUSE I WAS OVER MY WARRANTY IN TIME AND NOT MILEAGE (PASSED 4 YEARS, BUT NOT 50000 MILES). I PAID $386 TO FIX THE FIRST TWO ITEMS. THE NEXT DAY, I GOT MY CAR BACK. ON 11/8, I BROKE DOWN AGAIN WHILE PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. I REALIZED ON MY WAY TO MY DESTINATION, I DESTROYED TWO STREETS AND MY FAMILY'S DRIVEWAY WITH MY TRANSMISSION FLUID. I WAS IRATE, AND THE DEALER TOWED IT IN. THEY SAID THE TRANS COOL LINE DISCONNECTED. I HAD MY CAR BACK IN A COUPLE DAYS. ON 11/23, I BROKE DOWN AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THE CAR'S EMS AND CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR WOULD RESTART, BUT THEN SHOOK VICIOUSLY AND THEN CONKED OUT WHEN IT WAS PUT IN GEAR. MINI TOWED IT IN AGAIN. THEY "COULDN'T VERIFY THE CONCERN" AND SAID IT DROVE OFF THE FLATBED FINE, AND YET I COULDN'T GET IT TO MOVE AGAIN 24 HOURS AFTER BREAKING DOWN. MINI KEPT THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE DAYS TO ENSURE THEY WERE THOROUGH IN THEIR EFFORTS. ON 11/3