2004 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

2004 MINI COOPER STEERING BECOMES HARD TO STEER SUDDENLY DURING DRIVING AND ALSO AT TIMES AFTER A RESTART FROM PARKING. AFTER A COUPLE OF RESTARTS IT APPEARS TO BE BACK TO NORMAL BUT QUICKLY BECOMES HARD TO STEER AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. DURING TURNS I FEEL KIND OF BLOCKS IN THE STEERING DURING THE TURNING THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE COUNTERED WITH A LITTLE MORE HARD PRESSURE ON STEERING TO COMPLETE THE TURN. FEEL RISKIER TO TAKE IT FOR DOWNTOWN DRIVES THAT NEED SHARP AND PROPER TURNS INTO LANES. EVEN MORE RISKIER FOR HIGHWAY DRIVES AS NOT SURE HOW IT WILL REACT TO A QUICK LANE CHANGE OR DURING EXITS. POWER STEERING SEEMS TO NO LONGER EXIST. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 MINI COOPER IT HAS RECENTLY REACHED 87000 MILES AND THE CVT TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. NORMALLY YOU CHANGE YOUR TRANSMISSION FUEL EVERY 25,000 TO 50,000 MILES. MY MODEL MINI COOPER HATCHBACK DOES NOT COME WITH A RESERVOIR TO CHANGE SUCH A FUEL IT WAS A GUARANTEE BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THESE MODELS WOULD NOT NEED SUCH A SERVICE AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE FINE THROUGHOUT THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR. WHAT WORRIES ME IS THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY MINI OVER 50MPH DUE TO THE INCREASE OF RPM'S. WITHOUT THE SPEED INCREASE IT IS NOT SAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAYS AS I NORMALLY WOULD. A CVT TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT COULD COST THOUSANDS. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY SAFETY ITS POSSIBLE THAT MY TRANSMISSION COULD FAIL WHILE MOBILE. THATS MY MAIN CONCERN. I RECENTLY READ THAT THERE HAS BEEN A LAWSUIT ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES. IT IS BMW'S DUE DILIGENCE TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER SEEING HOW THOUSANDS OF CITIZENS ARE OPERATING THIS MACHINERY ON A DAILY BASIS. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND I ALMOST CRASHED. *TR

STEERING WOULD WORK FINE SOME OF THE TIME BUT THEN BECOME VERY HARD TO TURN. *TR

YESTERDAY I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND AS I WAS TURNING ONTO THE ACCESS ROAD TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND FORCED ME TO HIT A CURB. I WAS ABLE TO TAKE SIDE ROADS TO AVOID THE HIGHWAY AND MAKE IT HOME SAFELY. THE CURB DID DO SOME DAMAGE TO MY CAR. MAN DATE IS OCT 2004. *TR

EXITING THE INTERSTATE,I ALMOST WENT OFF THE ROAD WHEN STEERING THE CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND TURNING THE CAR WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. I PARKED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 6 HOURS, TRIED IT AGAIN, STEERING SEEMED TO HAVE RETURNED TO NORMAL. *TR

HEARD CLICK WHILE TURNING WHEEL WAS ADVISED STEERING HOSE NEEDED REPLACEMENT LAST JULY 12 2012 HAD REPAIR MADE. NOW WITH ONLY 78K ON CAR HEARING CLICK AGAIN - TOOK TO MECHANIC ADVISING WHOLE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDS REPLACEMENT. *TR

THE TIRE WILL NOT SEAL TO THE RIM BECAUSE OF THE SMALL NIPPLES IN THE RUBBER AROUND THE RIM OF THE TIRE. THE BACK SIDE SEAL CAN NOT HOLD TIRE PRESSURE BECAUSE OF THE NIPPLES. ALL FOUR TIRES WOULD NOT HOLD THE TIRE PRESSURE. BUILD DATE (4612) BOUGHT DISCOUNT TIRES 5540 ARAPAHO RD. DALLAS, TX 75248 972-385-0700. THEY WARRANTY THE TIRES & I BOUGHT DIFFERENT BRAND OF TIRES. I WAS SHOWN WHAT THE ISSUE WAS WITH THE TIRES & TOOK A PHOTO ON THE NIPPLES. I WAS CHARGE OTHER INSTALL FEE. THE OTHER TIRES THAT I PICK WERE THE SAME COST YOKOHOMA S WHICH THE CAR HAD BEFORE WITH ZERO ISSUES. ALL THE TIRES COULD NOT KEEP THE SAME TIRE PRESSURE WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO DRIVE POORLY. I TOOK PHOTO OF THE SMALL NIPPLES IN THE SEAL AREA. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. IT APPEARS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE BECAUSE ONCE I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM RETURNED TO NORMAL. I ALMOST RAN INTO A PARKED CAR BECAUSE I COULD NOT TURN WITHOUT A LOT OF EFFORT. *TR

LOST ALL POWER STEERING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE STEERING SYSTEM SEIZED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS CHANGING LANES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC HOWEVER, NO DETAILS REGARDING THE STEERING SYSTEM DEFECT WAS PROVIDED BY THE MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

I WAS ON AN EXIT RAMP FROM THE HIGHWAY AND AROUND THE CURVE I FELT THE STEERING STIFFEN. WHEN I HAD TO TURN RIGHT I HAD TO SWING VERY WIDE INTO THE OTHER LANE BECAUSE I HAD NO POWER STEERING. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS THERE! IT RETURNED AFTER I SHUT MY CAR OFF AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT. THEN THE NEXT DAY IT DID IT AGAIN. TODAY IT WENT OUT AND HASN'T RETURNED YET. MY HUSBAND CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THE FAN WORKED AND IT DOES. THIS IS A KNOWN TO BMW PROBLEM AND NO RECALL IN THE USA. CANADA HAS A RECALL. TELL ME PLEASE, WHY WE DO NOT? *TR

I WAS EXITING INTERSTATE AND SLOWING TO A STOP WHEN STEERING WHEEL NO LONGER WORKED EASILY. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN I80 AND MY CAR STARTED TO KICK AND SPUTTER THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND I DROPPED SPEEDS AND ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY THE CAR BEHIND ME HE SWERVED HONKED HIS HORN AND GAVE ME THE FINGER. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER BLEW OUT AND I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE HEADGASKET AND REFURBISH THE ENGINE. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR IT WOULD PERIODICALLY KICK AND STALL OUT ON ME I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER SHIP THEY TOLD ME IT WAS JUST THE ENGINE BREAKING IN. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER I SAW THE OIL WAS A LITTLE LOW AND AGAIN IT KICKED AND STALLED. I TOOK IT BACK IN THEY SAID THEY HAD TO REPROGRAM THE TRANNY. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. *TR

THE STEERING BECAME VERY TIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING WAS VERY SCARY AT NORMAL STREET SPEEDS. SHUTTING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING IT WILL RETURN THE STEERING TO NORMAL ONLY FOR A LITTLE BIT...AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE POWER STEERING IS GONE AGAIN. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER REQUESTS ASSISTANCE FOR HAZARDOUS VEHICLE TRANSMISSION AND STEERING WHEEL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY.

I BOUGHT MY USED MINI COOPER S (64,686 MILES) FROM HONDA DEALERSHIP - SERRAMONTE (DALY CITY, CA) ON MARCH 13, 2012. I'M THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. THE STEERING PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED ON JUNE 2012, BUT IT WAS TEMPORARY. WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO MANEUVER FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND STOPPED THE CAR TO SEE WHAT'S WRONG. IT CAME BACK TO NORMAL AFTER I TURNED ON THE ENGINE. THE STEERING PROBLEM WOULD HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY, I WOULD DO THE SAME PROCEDURES AND THE STEERING WOULD GO BACK TO NORMAL AGAIN. TODAY (3/27/13), WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREA, I NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL STIFFEN LIKE LAST TIME. I STOPPED AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND FIRED IT BACK UP. THIS TIME, IT STAYED STIFF PERMANENTLY. I HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR BACK HOME DURING RUSH HOURS. LUCKILY I MANAGED TO GET HOME WITHOUT GETTING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I CHECKED THE STEERING FLUID LEVEL UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS FULL. I GOOGLED THE STEERING PROBLEM ON THE 2004 MINI COOPER S, I CAME TO FIND OUT THE SAME PROBLEMS WERE EXPERIENCED BY MANY MINI OWNERS. I NEED YOUR ADVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ON HOW I CAN GET MY CAR REPAIRED BEFORE IT CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD. THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE TO MAKE A LIVING. BECAUSE OF THESE COMMON STEERING PROBLEMS, I HOPE MINI WOULD TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. *TR

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING, COULDN'T TURN WHEEL ,HIT CURB. *TR

I STOPPED MY CAR IN A PARKING LOT TO RUN SOME ERRANDS. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR AND GOT IT STARTED, I REALIZED THAT THE POWER STEERING OF MY CAR BECAME REALLY STIFF. IT WAS REALLY HARD FOR ME TO STEER MY CAR LEFT AND RIGHT. THE POWER STEERING OF MY CAR NO LONGER FUNCTION AS BEFORE AND IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO DRIVE ON THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT AT A ROAD JUNCTION. *TR

I WAS DRIVING 45-50 MILES AN HOUR ON I95S OVER THE Q BRIDGE NEAR NEW HAVEN. I TURNED GENTLY TO THE RIGHT HAND LANE AND COULD NOT STEER THE CAR TO STRAIGHTEN UP. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR AT ALL. I TRIED TO BRAKE BUT IT DID NOT HELP. NOTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED BEFORE. MY CAR WAS BOUNCED FROM ONE SIDE OF THE CONCRETE BARRIER TO THE OTHER. ALL AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. I WAS DEEMED TO BE AT FAULT. I SUSTAINED SEVERE SPINAL INJURY AND REQUIRED MAJOR SURGERY IMMEDIATELY. I WAS UNABLE TO WORK FOR OVER 3 MONTHS. I GOT REIMBURSEMENT FROM MY INSURANCE FOR THE CAR,S KBB VALUE. I THINK THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO HARTFORD. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT UNTIL NOW DUE TO MY PHYSICAL DISABILITY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS CASE FOR STEERING FAILURE. *TR

MY DAUGHTER HAD BEEN DRIVING MY CAR WITH NO PROBLEMS, WHEN SHE PARKED TO PICK ME UP I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING STALL THE STEERING WAS SO HARD. I THEN HAD TO DRIVE HOME USING EVERY OUNCE OF STRENGTH I HAD, WHILE MAKING SURE NOT TO HIT ANYTHING. I TOO HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND AM TRULY DISAPPOINTED WITH BMW. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE. UNKNOWN CAUSE. *TR

POWER STEERING ASSIST INTERMITTENTLY FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES TODAY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN SEEMS TO TEMPORARILY FIX THE PROBLEM BUT AFTER SOME TIME, THE POWER ASSIST WILL FAIL AGAIN. CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER WITHOUT POWER ASSIST. *TR

POWER STEERING WENT OUT AS WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. POWER STEERING STILL OUT. I JUST READ UP AND IT SEEMS EVERYONE'S WAITING FOR THE RECALL. THIS IS DANGEROUS!! *TR

DRIVING OFF-RAMP AT 35 MPH POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND STEERING BECAME REALLY HARD, LIGHTS WENT OFF, AC STOPPED WORKING, AND LOTS OF ENGINE LIGHTS CAME UP, ALMOST CRASHED WHEN TURNING A CORNER AND ENGINE STARTED FAILING.....GOT HOME AND SHUT OFF CAR, WHEN TRIED TO TURN ON AGAIN, IT FAILED TO START....... *TR

LOSS OF POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER. THIS PROBLEM COMES AN GOES AND MY LOCAL SERVICE STATION SAID THE PUMP HAS A CRACK. *TR

MY POWER STEERING IS FAILING. IT CAUSES MYSELF OR WHEN MY WIFE DRIVES (WITH BOTH MY YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR) TO COME AND GO INTERMITTENTLY. AT TIMES IN PARKING LOTS OR EVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT WILL GO FROM NORMAL USAGE AND EASE OF USE TO HEAVY MANUAL STEERING. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED MORE THEN JUST "BEING LOOKED INTO." THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD/WILL CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE IF NOT RESOLVED PER BMW/MINI COOPER AND IT'S OWNERSHIP. I LISTED IT AS "CRASH" IN THE YES FORM. SO FAR IT HAS ONLY BEEN INTO THE CURB A FEW TIMES AT TYPICAL PARKING SPEEDS. SO FAR IS THE STATEMENT HERE. THIS WILL BECOME AN ISSUE IF NOT RESOLVED AND I HOPE THAT IT IS JUST A CURB AND NOT ANOTHER CAR/FAMILY THAT ARE AFFECTED DUE TO THIS "KNOWN" ISSUE. *TR

POWER STEERING RANDOMLY GOES OUT ON CAR. LOW-SPEED FAN HAS SEIZED, DAMAGING POWER STEERING PUMP. CAR HAS NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. *TR

HELLO, I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING (LOOSING POWER) OF MY MINI COOPER S 2004 MODEL. IN JAN 2013, I BROUGHT MY 2004 MINI COOPER S FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER-ASSIST STEERING FUNCTION, WHICH INCLUDE POWER STEERING HOSE ($56.25), POWER STEERING PUMP ($710.00) AND LABOR ($315.00). IN MAY 2013, I RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR THE REPAIR EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT FROM MINI. APPARENTLY THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN (BUT UNKNOWN TO ME) FOR MINI MODEL YEAR 2002-2205. I SUBMITTED THE REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST AND RECEIVED THE RETURN RECEIPT ON JUNE 10, 2013. SINCE THEN I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO REACH TO MINI CUSTOMER RELATION BY PHONE (1-866-275-6464) 4 TIMES AND STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE REIMBURSEMENT. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO ASK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. MINI SHOULD LIVE UP TO STANDARD AND REIMBURSE MY EXPENSE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM ME. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2004 MINI COOPER OCCASIONALLY WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING ONCE EVERY COUPLE MONTHS AFTER A FEW YEARS OF OWNING IT. TURNING OFF CAR AND STARTING IT BACK UP WOULD ALWAYS RESOLVE IT. WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 60MPH, LOST POWER STEERING. COULD NOT PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY. TOOK EXIT RAMP WITH A SHARP CURVE, COULD BARELY MAKE IT AROUND THE CURVE, ENDED UP ON THE SHOULDER. EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT, OR WORSE. *TR

FIRST INCIDENT: VEHICLE MILEAGE 37004 (12/31/2009): 2004 MINI COOPER S WAS BEING DRIVEN ON SURFACE STREETS AND POWER STEERING WAS LOST WITHOUT WARNING MAKING THE VEHICLE EXQUISITELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. UPON ARRIVAL AT A MECHANIC, THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DETERMINED TO BE FAULTY AND BOTH THE PUMP AND FAN WERE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS INJURY. SECOND INCIDENT: VEHICLE MILEAGE ~55,000 (1/19/2013): SAME VEHICLE AS ABOVE WAS BEING DRIVEN ONTO A SHARP RIGHT BANKING ON RAMP TO THE I-10E FREEWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR WAS OCCUPIED BY A DRIVER AND A PASSENGER. DESPITE THE DRIVER'S QUICK REACTIONS, THE CAR HIT THE CURVES OUTER CONCRETE RETAINING WALL NEARLY HEAD ON. THE WALL COULD NOT BE AVOIDED BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF WARNING OF THE POWER STEERING FAILURE, AS WELL AS THE MINIMAL SPACE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE OUTSIDE OF THE CURVE, ESTIMATED BY THE DRIVER AS LESS THAN A CAR WIDTH WIDE. THE DRIVER WAS ESTIMATED BY A POLICE OFFICER TO BE DRIVING BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT. THE DRIVER RECEIVED CHEMICAL BURNS TO HIS UPPER EXTREMITY FROM THE AIRBAG, THE PASSENGER WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR THREE DAYS WITH A PNEUMOTHORAX AND REQUIRED A CHEST TUBE TO BE PLACED. AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL NOT PREVENT PEOPLE FROM BEING INJURED, BUT A RECALL WILL. UPDATED 06/12/13*LJ UPDATED 07/10/13*LJ *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUTDOWN AND RESTARTED AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES, OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC BUT THE CONTACT WAS SURE THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AT SPEED. WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND PRESENTED A HAZARD TO ME AND THE VEHICLES AROUND ME. THIS IS A COMMON AND KNOWN ISSUE ON MANY MINIS OF SIMILAR YEAR, SHOULD NOT OCCUR TO DUE THE SAFETY HAZARDS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGH WAY FROM MY FRIENDS HOUSE , WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY STEERING GOT HARD AND I WAS GOING ABOUT 65MPH, I PULLED OVER AND SHUT MY CAR OFF WONDERING WHAT HAD HAPPENED, TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WORKED FINE BUT IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GETTING HARD, AGAIN LIKE IT WOULD GET HARD AND LET GO REAL QUICK , STARTED DRIVING REALLY SLOW UNTIL MY NEAREST EXIT AND IT GOT REALLY HARD BEFORE I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY, AND IT STAYED THAT WAY UNTIL I GOT HOME AND ITS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE. *TR

TOOK MY CAR INTO THE MECHANIC TO HAVE IT LOOK AT FOR A NEW CLUTCH. THEY NOTICED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS LEAKING. THEY REPLACED THE FLUID AND CAUTIONED ME ABOUT GETTING IT REPLACED SOON. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR A BRIEF MOMENT AND THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL FUNCTION. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE BECAME PERMANENT OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,416 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,570.

I HAD PARKED MY CAR AT A DONUT SHOP AND WHEN I CAME OUT AND STARTED THE CAR AND GO, IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. I HAD TO CALL A FRIEND TO HELP ME TOW IT TO MY HOUSE. *TR

BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE AND UPON SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND STARTING FORWARD POWER STEERING WENT OUT. VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE CAR DUE TO DIFFICULTY STEERING. *TR

POWER STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY FAILED AND BECAME STIFF WHILE GETTING OFF FREEWAY. TOOK GREAT FORCE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL TO STEER CAR. LUCKILY ABLE TO STOP CAR SAFELY. *TR

MY 2004 MINI COOPER HAS HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WHERE THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILS. IT HAS FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES, SOME EVEN WHILE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM STARTS IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS CRANKED ALL THE WAY FOR A TIGHT TURN, GRADUAL TURN OR DOES NOT TURN ON WHEN THE CAR STARTS. SOMETIME THE PUMP WILL RESET IF THE CAR IF SHUT OFF THEN ON AGAIN OR THE PUMP REGAINS PRESSURE. I HAVE CHECKED THE PUMP ITSELF, THERE ARE NO LEAKS, FLUID IS FILLED TO THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL AND NO OTHER ISSUES HAVE COME UP. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAVE HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AND NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. IT IS A COSTLY REPAIR THAT I FIND BMW SHOULD ASSIST WITH BEING THAT THE PUMP APPEARS TO BE FAULTY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME AS I TURNED INTO MY STREET THE STEERING POWER SUDDENLY WENT OUT CAUSING ME TO DRIVE INTO THE INCOMING TRAFFIC LANE, LUCKILY THERE WERE NO VEHICLES BUT IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN ANY VEHICLES I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A FRONT COLLISION. THE FACT THAT THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING MAKES THIS ISSUE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

LEFT HOME WITH NO POWER STEERING ISSUES. HALF WAY TO WORK, DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND BEGAN TO TAKE A RIGHT HAND CURVE IN THE ROAD AND OUT OF NO WHERE THERE IS NO POWER STEERING. NO WARNING OR INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG PRIOR TO THIS. LUCKILY I REACTED QUICKLY AND THE CURVE WAS NOT TOO SHARP BECAUSE I WAS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE WITH CARS TO THE LEFT OF ME AND BEHIND ME. WOULD HAVE BEEN BAD NEWS HAD THE CURVE BEEN A LITTLE SHARPER. I CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL AND IT WAS FULL. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. DROVE THE CAR AGAIN LATER IN THE DAY, WHEN I STARTED THE CAR EVERYTHING WAS WORKING PERFECTLY AND THEN PART WAY TO MY DESTINATION THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. *TR

1) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BUSTED. CAR STALLED DANGEROUSLY ON THE HIGHWAY. 2) POWER STEERING PUMP BUSTED. STEERING LOCKED DANGEROUSLY ON THE ROAD AND COULD NOT BE MOVED. *TR

WHILE TAKING A CORNING MY POWER STEER ABRUPTLY VANISHED ALMOST CAUSING ME TO CRASH. VERY DANGEROUS. HAVE HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING WITH MANY OTHER MINIS AROUND THE SAME AGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE REGAINED POWER STEERING CAPABILITIES. THE POWER STEERING CONTINUED TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER HAS GONE OUT NOW FOUR TIMES. IT BECOMES VERY HARD TO STEER AND IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE A U-TURN OR PARALLEL PARK. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING AND IS VERY DANGEROUS.I HAVE CONTACTED MINI OF SAN FRANCISCO AND THEY REFUSE TO MAKE THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS DESPITE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM BMW/MINI THAT THE PART IS FAULTY. *TR

THE POWER STEERING CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN. AFTER DRIVING FURTHER ABOUT 20 MINUTES, POWER STEERING RETURNED. POWER STEERING NOW ACTS ERRATICALLY, OPERATING SOMETIMES AND NOT OTHERS. POWER STEERING PERIODICALLY DOES NOT OPERATE. *TR

POWER STEERING GOES OUT SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY MAKING THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN AND STEER. HAS HAPPENED 3X IN TWO DAYS. HAPPENED ONE TIME A YEAR OR MORE AGO AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE. THIS IS NOW NO FLUKE. WHEN I RESTART THE VEHICLE (SO FAR) IT HAS COME BACK, BUT I CANNOT RELIABLY DRIVE THIS VEHICLE THIS WAY. CANADA ORDERED A RECALL ON THIS SAME ISSUE AND MINI IS FIXING AND EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO 200,000KM. SEEMS ONLY FAIR THAT US DRIVERS GET THE SAME TREATMENT. IT IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND NOT ONE WE CAN AFFORD TO LET GO UNSOLVED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP REMAINED IN CONTINUOUS OPERATED ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH POSED A FIRE HAZARD. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DISCONNECTED. THERE WAS A CONCURRENT INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11005 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.