2004 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

AS I WAS DRIVING 40 MPH ON MY LOCAL 2-LANE ROAD, MY POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. I RETURNED CAREFULLY HOME AND LEFT THE CAR PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY UNTIL I COULD CONTACT MY LOCAL MINI DEALER (PRESTIGE MINI IN MAHWAH, NJ). WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, THE POWER STEERING WAS SUDDENLY WORKING AGAIN. PRESTIGE MINI CLAIMS THAT MY STRUT TOWERS ($645) AND LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS (ALSO $645) WERE SHOT AND NEEDED REPLACING. THE ADVISOR TOLD ME VERBALLY THAT IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND/OR THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAN, BUT SO FAR I CANNOT GET PRESTIGE TO REPLY VIA EMAIL (IN WRITING) THAT THIS IS TRUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING PUMP CAUGHT ON FIRE, MELTING ALL OF THE WIRES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK MY STEERING ALL OF A SUDDEN BECAME HARD TO TURN I HIT THE CURB AND BLEW TWO TIRES. *TR

MY POWER STEERING FAILED. CAUSE UNCONFIRMED AS YET, BUT THIS APPARENTLY IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. POWER STEERING STARTED AGAIN WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR, BUT NOW THE PUMP MOTOR (OR PERHAPS THE FAN) WON'T SHUT OFF AND THERE IS NO FUSE TO DISABLE. MUST DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO SHUT IT OFF AND AVOID DRAINING THE BATTERY. STEERING DID NOT LOCK UP, BUT VERY DIFFICULT TO OVERCOME THE RACK-AND-PINION STEERING LINKAGE RESISTANCE. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED AS I WAS RETURNING FROM TAKING MY CHILD TO THE AIRPORT. THE CAR POWER STEERING COOLING FAN STAYED ON AFTER I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND DRAINED THE BATTERY. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED POWER STEERING PUMP. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED AS WAS THE DEAD BATTERY. THE TOTAL COST WAS OVER $1700. *TR

HAD JUST MADE MINOR ENGINE REPAIRS - HOSES - BELT - THERMOSTAT - WATER PUMP - OIL CHANGE - OIL FILTER - AIR FILTER - LESS THEN ONE WEEK - 30MP MAKING LEFT TURN - GRIPPING VERY HARD ON THE WHEEL TO FINISH THE TURN - NO POWER STEERING - TESTED FAN - FAN OK - PULLED STEERING PUMP OFF - WHAT DO I DO NOW - BUY PUMP - CALL DEALER - WAIT TO HERE FROM YOU *TR

THE POWER STEERING FAILED, COMMON PROBLEM IN 2004 MINI COOPER. CANADA HAS ISSUED A RECALL IN JANUARY 2012. *TR

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT AFTER THE ENGINE WARMS UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED NOW 4 TIMES WITH VERY DIFFICULT STEERING. NO LOSS OF FLUID ON THE PAVEMENT OR SQUEALING NOISES. AFTER ENGINE COOLS DOWN, POWER STEERING AGAIN WORKS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,000. UPDATED 9/10/12 *CN

DRIVING AT AROUND 40 MPH AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAN GOT LOWER IN TONE, HARDER TO TURN BUT HASN'T FAILED YET. LOOKING UP THE ISSUE ON SEVERAL SITES, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS PART FAILING. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER WHICH I ORIGINALLY BOUGHT IT FROM AND NO RECALLS WERE SHOWN FOR IT - FOR THE US. CANADA HOWEVER GOT A RECALL AND THEY ARE FIXING THE PROBLEM THERE FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

THE CAR LOSES POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY AND IT MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT HAPPENS ON THE INTERSECTION AND I CAN'T TURN THE CAR. I DRIVE WITH MY CHILD AND THIS FREAKS ME OUT. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND IN MAY 2013 I RECEIVED MINI RECALL/EXTENSION OF WARRANTY LETTER AND CALLED MINI DEALER IN SACRAMENTO CA AND THEY PUT ME TO THE RECORDING MACHINE, WHERE I LEFT A MESSAGE REGARDING EXTENSION OF WARRANTY BY MINI AND TO SCHEDULE REPLACEMENT OF POWER STEERING - NO REPLY. CALLED THEM TWICE, THEY SEEM TO IGNORE MY CALLS. VERY UPSET WITH DEALER'S IGNORANCE. *TR

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE STEERING GOT HARD. AFTER ALMOST WRECKING AND MAKING IT HOME , TURNED CAR OFF AND 10 MINUTES LATER IT WORKED AGAIN. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. SHUTTING OFF AND RESTARTING CAR, THE LIGHT WILL GO OUT BUT COMES BACK ON WITHIN SECONDS. THIS OCCURRED AFTER ADJUSTING PASSENGER SEAT. *JS

MY 2004 MINI COOPER INTERMITTENTLY LOSES IT'S POWER STEERING AND IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN THE ENGINE IS NOT YET WARMED BUT SOMETIMES HAPPENS RANDOMLY. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL WHEN TURNING AND TODAY I JUST MISSED A PEDESTRIAN TURNING A CORNER IN A CROWDED DOWNTOWN AREA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COPPER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND UPON RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAD INDEPENDENTLY RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,005.

I RETURNED HOME AFTER DRIVING FOR 15 MINUTES. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND A MOTOR KEPT RUNNING. I RESTARTED THE CAR TO SEE IF A ELECTRICAL FAN HAD KEPT RUNNING. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AGAIN, BUT THE NOISE OF A FAN OR PUMP WAS STILL HEARD. I LOOKED FOR A FUSE TO REMOVE, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE ONE THAT STOPPED THE NOISE. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, SO THE WIRING WOULD NOT OVERHEAT. I RECONNECTED THE BATTERY THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND THE NOISE STILL PERSISTED. I CALLED THE DEALER FERMIN MINI OF TAMPA BAY TO ASK WHAT THE NOISE COULD BE. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR A REPLACEMENT STEERING PUMP AND FAN. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 MINI COOPER THAT HAD NINE MONTH OLD PIRELLI EUFORI RUN FLAT TIRES ON ALL FOUR WHEEL THAT IS EXCLUSIVELY DRIVEN BY MY WIFE. I USED THE CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL MONTHS AND NOTICED ABNORMAL HANDLING ON THE VEHIICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL TIRE STORE TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND DISCOVERED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES HAS SPLIT DOWN THE CENTER GROOVE OF EACH TIRE (PHOTOS AVAILABLE). ON THE MOST BADLY DAMAGED TIRE, THE STEEL BELT WAS VISIBLE AND HAD NEARLY WORN THROUGH THE STEEL BELT. THE STORE MANAGER WARNED THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE EXISTING SET OF TIRES. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT NOTICE. NEVER GOT A WARNING LIGHT BEFORE DURING OR AFTER FAILURE. NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT SINCE I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR STEERING TO BE SO DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE I TURNED THE CAR OFF, LET IT SIT FOR A WHILE AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE STEERING WAS OK AGAIN. SINCE THE STEERING IS BACK AND NO WARNING LIGHTS, I ASSUME EVERYTHING IS GOING TO WORK OK FROM NOW ON. *TR

I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ON TO A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN MY POWER STEERING FAILED, CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO BE TEMPORARILY OUT OF MY CONTROL. DUE TO THE LOSS OF STEERING, I WAS UNABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE CAR INTO TRAFFIC AND WAS FORCED TO USE BOTH MY PARKING BRAKE AND MY REGULAR FOOT BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE I COLLIDED WITH A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE VEHICLE STOPPED APPROXIMATELY 5-10 FEET FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT POLE AND PLACED ME IN THE CENTER OF THE INTERSECTION WHERE OTHER MOTORISTS WERE ATTEMPTING TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE ON RAMP. AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS, THE POWERSTEERING REENGAGED AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE, WITHOUT INCIDENT. I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE, AND THANKFUL THAT IT WAS NOT MY DEATH THE PROMPTED SOME CONCRETE ACTION BY BOTH YOUR AGENCY AND BMW. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME MY POWER STEERING UNIT HAS FAILED. THE FIRST TWO TIMES WERE LESS THAN ONE SECOND EACH AND OCCURRED WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE. SOME HOW CANADA HAS FORCED BMW TO ISSUE AT THE VERY LEAST AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS SPECIFIC PART, HOW IS IT THAT THE US IS SO FAR BEHIND? *TR

I EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO CENTER AFTER TURNING. FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED FIRST AT A VERY LOW SPEED. I DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER WHICH HAD REPLACED THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP 1,300 MILES EARLIER. THIS FAILURE WAS DETERMINED BY THE DEALER TO BE BINDING OF THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT AND IT WAS REPLACED. *TR

STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND STAYED THAT WAY. IT WAS FINE THE NEXT DAY, BUT AS THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN A WHILE THE PROBLEM CAME BACK. *TR

POWER STEERING IS LOSS IS RANDOM, ONCE STEERING IS LOST AFTER TURNING OFF AND CAR COOLS IT WORKS AGAIN. LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS IN THE UNIT'S DESIGN. HESITANT TO SPEND UPWARDS OF $800 (IN PARTS) TO REPLACE WHEN IT MAY NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER SHOULD INVESTIGATE AND ISSUE RECALL DUE TO TREMENDOUS COMPLAINTS ON SIMILAR FAILURES AND NOT SOLUTION IS AVAILABLE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING STOPPED OPERATING AS WE WERE MAKING A 90 DEGREE TURN AT AN INTERSECTION. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. WE CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL, AND FOUND IT WAS IN THE PROPER RANGE. AFTER A SHORT WAIT WE RESTARTED THE CAN AND THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO BE OPERATING. *TR

DRIVING ON FREEWAY, STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. LATER WENT BACK TO NORMAL. A MONTH LATER THE POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUES TO RUN AFTER VEHICLE SWITCHED OFF, DRAINING BATTERY DEAD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER CV. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED, WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN 2004 MINI COOPER FAILURE AT 98K MILES. COST TO REBUILD QUOTED AT $5K-$8K. *JB

MY MINI COOPER INTERMITTENTLY, WITHOUT WARNING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. POWER STEERING FAILED ROUNDING A CORNER ON THE FREEWAY, NEARLY RESULTING IN A HIGH SPEED CRASH. *TR

WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, WENT TO TURN A CORNER AND THE STEERING GOT VERY HARD. *TR

POWER STEERING/STEERING PUMP SHOWING SIGNS OF FAILING, FIRST NOTICED IN A CROWDED PARKING LOT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING THROUGH ATLANTIC CITY, AND WHEN I TRIED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST ON MY MINICOOPER FAILED. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS RIGID AND NEEDED TO BE FORCIBLY TURNED USING A GREAT DEAL OF STRENGTH. I ALMOST RAN INTO A FENCE SURROUNDING A PARKING LOT, BUT WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES, WRESTLE WITH THE WHEEL , AND EDGE INTO THE PARKING LOT. *JS

THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN ACTING STRANGE FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, THE STEERING WOULD BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES, AND ON THE OTHER OCCASIONS WOULD WORK JUST FINE. A TRIP TO THE DEALERSHIP REVEALED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD FAILED. THIS SEEMS LIKE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MOST OF THE 2004 MINI COOPERS, A DEFECTIVE PART WAS PUT INTO THE CAR WHILE MANUFACTING. MINI IS NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY OF IT, AND THE DEALERSHIP IS ASKING FOR $1200 TO REPLACE IT. DUE TO THE POWER PUMP FAILURE, THE TEMPARATURE RISES AND MAY HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE TO A FEW HOSES AROUND THAT AREA. *TT

SUDDEN LOSS OF ALL STEERING ASSIST AT SPEED, RESULTING IN ALARMING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *TR

I DROVE MY SISTER'S 2004 MINI COOPER SOMETIME IN SPRING OF 2012 TO CHECK ON WORK DONE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. AS I YIELDED INTO A ROUNDABOUT AND ENTERED IT, THE POWER STEERING CUT OFF WHICH STEERING EFFORT BECAME VERY HEAVY AND VERY NEARLY HAD A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. I SISTER INFORMED ME AFTERWARDS THAT THE ISSUE JUST HAPPEN RECENTLY OCCURRED TO HER TOO, AS SHE EXITED A HIGHWAY EXIT RAMP AT NEARLY 55MPH, AND POWER STEERING HAD FAILED. LUCKILY, SHE WAS ABLE TO REACT QUICKLY WITH THE POWER STEERING LOSS. PULLED TO THE SIDE, SHUT THE VEHICLE, AND TURNED ON THE VEHICLE AGAIN, AND POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. IT HAS INTERMITTENTLY GOING OFF/ON W POWER SINCE THEN WHICH THE DEALER RECOGNIZES, BUT WARRANTY HAS BEEN EXPIRED SINCE IT'S 9 YEARS AND OVER 100,000 MI. AND WE ARE LEFT WITH A BILL AT AROUND $1,400 AVERAGE. $800 IN PARTS ALONE. THERE ARE MANY MINI CUSTOMERS KNOWN TO HAVE THIS ISSUE OF POWER STEERING LOSS IN THEIR EARLY MODELS TOO, SAME AS MY SISTER'S YEAR MODEL. SO FAR FORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NO INJURIES NOR FATALITIES DIRECTLY FROM THIS POWER STEERING LOSS FROM WHAT I KNOW OF. BUT MANY ARE FACED WITH THIS LARGE REPAIR WITH WE'RE FACING, AND SOME MAY FOREGO/ DELAY REPAIRING IT. TRANSPORT CANADA, RECOGNIZES THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND RECALLED ABOUT 9,000 MINI'S LAST YEAR. AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP PART IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THEIRS. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO ACT LIKE OUR NEIGHBORS? UNTIL WE GET SOMEONE HORRIBLY INJURED OR KILLED?! OR HAVE MINI CUSTOMERS SUCH MY SISTER FACING THIS LARGE REPAIR ORDER ON THIS DEFECTIVE PART THAT'S KNOWN TO FAIL PREMATURELY? THIS IS A SERIOUS GAMBLE WITH LIVES. *TR

I WAS DRIVING TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE APPROX. 20 MILES AWAY. ON A TURN, THE CAR STEERING WAS ALMOST NON RESPONSIVE. I MANAGED THE TURN AND TURNED MY CAR OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED IT, THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK BUT ONLY FOR A SHORT TIME. I HAD TO STOP AND START MY CAR A FEW MORE TIMES TO GET TO MY DESTINATION. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED CLOSER TO MY DESTINATION THEN MY HOME SO IT WAS SAFER TO GO THERE. IT EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY ON THAT FIRST TURN OFF OF A 65 MPH ROAD. I'M NOT THAT STRONG. IT TOOK EVERYTHING I HAD NOT TO GO IN THE DITCH. LUCKILY NOTHING WAS COMING. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE TODAY. THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THERE WAS NO LEAD UP TO THIS INCIDENT. I HAD POWER STEERING AND IN A SECOND, I DIDN'T. *TR

POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT AND STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT (I.E. HARD TO CONTROL THE CAR). THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING AND AFTER RESTART GOES AWAY. IN FEBRUARY OF 2012 THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM IN CANADA. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, PLEASE RECTIFY IT. *TR

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM MAKING SOME ERRANDS, WENT TO TURN LEFT AND I THOUGHT THE CAR HAD CUT OFF OR SOMETHING. BECAUSE IT DIDN'T WANT TO TURN RIGHT, BUT TO MY SURPRISE IT WAS RUNNING. SO I MANAGE TO TURN IT BEFORE I HIT THE CURB. WHEN I GOT HOME I WAS ABLE TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING. I LET THE CAR COOL A LITTLE AND GOT BACK IN IT AND THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. COME TO FIND OUT THE POWER STEERING WORKS FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND GOES OUT, UNTIL IT COOLS OFF. I STARTED LOOKING ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I MEAN DANGEROUS. I CALLED MY MINI DEALER TO SEE IF THERE WERE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THERE WASN'T. BUT I DID SEE THEY HAD A MINI DEALER NOTICE FOR THEM TO LOOK OUT FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT FIX FOR FREE. SO WE NEED A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR HURT, IF IT HASN'T ALREADY HAPPENED. THANK YOU, [XXX] *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

POWER STEERING IS OF GREAT CONCERN AS IT HAS PERIODS WHERE IT SEEMS THAT THE POWER STEERING QUITS WORKING. ALSO WHEN ADJUSTING THE DIRECTION AS I AM BACKING UP INTO MY DRIVEWAY STEERING IS SORT OF LAZY AND IT MAKE A HIGH PITCH WHINING NOISE WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

THE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING. I AM A 280 POUND MAN AND I CAN BARELY TURN . ALSO WHILE DRIVING AT TIMES IT FEELS HARDER TO TURN, ONCE AGAIN LIKE POWER STEERING NOT WORKING. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE AT 127,000 MILES. *TR

I WAS MERGING ONTO HIGHWAY I-25, TAKING A SHARP TURN AT 50 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED. I NEARLY MISSED THE TURN AND ALMOST CRASH DOWN THE ON-RAMP, WHICH WOULD'VE PLACED ME HEADING PERPENDICULAR STRAIGHT INTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. THE STEERING BECAME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND THE FIRST EXIT WE APPROACHED WE STOPPED AND CHECKED FLUID LEVELS, EVERYTHING WAS FINE. RESTARTED THE CAR AND POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN AFTER A FEW MILES POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. CAR IS MUCH HARDER TO STEER WHEN THE PUMP GOES OUT THAN IF EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL STEERING. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN VEHICLE IS AT SLOWER SPEEDS BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT IT REQUIRES TO TURN. *TR

LOST POWER STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEED DUE TO POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. SHORT CIRCUIT OR FIRE MELTED POWER STEERING PUMP WIRING HARNESS. DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO OTHER PORTIONS OF ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS BY FIRE, RESULTING IN BLOWN FUSES. UPON REMOVING KEY FROM IGNITION AT ROADSIDE, ENGINE KEPT RUNNING UNTIL BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED. *TT

WHILE DRIVING MY 04 MINI COOPER AT FREEWAY SPEED, I SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST. I CAN STILL DRIVE THE VEHICLE, BUT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE NEW POWER STEERING PUMP ALONE WILL COST ME OVER 600 DOLLARS. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE LABOR AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH REPLACING THE UNIT. THE REPAIR WILL COST ME IN EXCESS OF 1000 DOLLARS, WHICH I CAN NOT AFFORD AT THIS MOMENT. I UNDERSTAND THAT MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS RELATING TO THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM IN THE 04 MINI COOPER HAVE BEEN FILED. HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT SEEN A RECALL REGARDING THIS ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU FORESEE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN OFFER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. *TR

MY MINI WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS. WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE IN IT, I COULD NOT STEER IT. THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME (ABOUT 5 MILES) BUT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

MY POWER STEERING FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING DURING RUSH HOUR ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY INTO WASHINGTON, DC. THE WHEEL WAS NOT LOCKED, BUT IT BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL IN ANY DIRECTION, WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS TRAFFIC WAS GOING 70MPH. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OFF AT AN EXIT, AND STOP IT ON THE SHOULDER. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RE-STARTED THE CAR, AT WHICH TIME THE POWER STEERING APPEARED TO WORK NORMALLY AGAIN. THIS WAS THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT OF THIS TYPE, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST TEN. IN OTHER INSTANCES, THE POWER STEERING FAILS DURING PARALLEL PARKING IN THE TIGHT SPACES ON CITY STREETS. THIS IS UNPREDICTABLE, HOWEVER -- MONTHS CAN PASS WITH NO PROBLEM, AND THEN IT STARTS AGAIN. *TR

AT 35 MPH I NOTICED INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING (PS). I WAS DIVING ON 2 LANE WINDING COUNTRY ROAD WITH NO SHOULDERS AND ENDED UP IN THE ONCOMING LANE BEFORE I REGAINED CONTROL. LUCKILY WAS NO TRAFFIC AT THE TIME. THE MOST TERRIFYING THING IS WHEN PS IT'S DEAD FOR A WHILE AND THEN SUDDENLY COMES BACK ON. IF YOU ARE IN A CORNER, BECAUSE YOU'VE JUST BEEN MUSCLING THE STEERING WHEEL, AND PS COMES BACK YOU WILL BE SUDDENLY OVER-STEER AND VEER OUT OF YOUR LANE. *TR

LOST POWER STEERING WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. FEELS LIKE THE STEERING LOCKS UP BUT CAN STILL STEER WHEN USING A LOT OF STRENGTH. SINCE FIRST INCIDENT, THIS HAS HAPPENED AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES. USUALLY AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING APPROX 35 MPH MY MINI SUDDENLY FELT AS IF I HAD SEVERAL FLAT TIRES. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED ALL MY TIRES. I HAD NO POWER STEERING, IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE MINI. (I HAVE DRIVEN CARS IN THE PAST WITHOUT POWER STEERING) IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO DRIVE THE MINI TO MY DESTINATION. I TURNED OFF THE MINI AND CALLED MY HUSBAND. WHEN I RESTARTED THE MINI I HAD POWER STEERING. IT CONCERNS ME THAT THE POWER STEERING WHEN OUT WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *TR