2004 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE ON 2004 MINI COOPER. HARD TO STEER WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. ORDERED NEW PART FROM DEALERSHIP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF. UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE MOMENTARILY OPERATED AS NORMAL BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN HOME AND PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 37,854.

STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT WHILE DRIVING REQUIRING FULL ARM STRENGTH TO TURN WHEEL. AN ACCIDENT COULD EASILY HAVE OCCURRED IF OTHER VEHICLES WERE IN THE AREA WHERE I WAS TURNING. VEHICLE NOW REQUIRES WIDE RADIUS TO TURN. A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE A STRONG UPPER BODY BUT ANYONE DRIVING 2004/05 MINIS WITH THIS STEERING PROBLEM SHOULD TAKE CARE AND HAVE DEALERSHIP FIX AND PAY FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING *TGW THE CONSUMER HAS SPENT OVER $4800 IN REPAIRS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. *JB

MY 2004 MINI EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT STEERING PROBLEMS IN FEB. OF 2011. STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT AT TIMES AND THEN NEARLY ALL THE TIME. GOT NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. MOSTLY FIXED BUT FELT ODD AT TIMES. STEERING BECAME PERMANENTLY DIFFICULT IN JUNE 2011 AND HAD PUMP REPLACED BUT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. ADVISED TO REPLACE RACK AND PINION. PLAN TO DO SO. STEERING BILLS AT ABOUT $2,000. *TR

POWERS STEERING PUMP FAILURE, POWER STEERING PUMP COOLING FAN FAILURE

EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS. OCCURRED MOSTLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR ON HOT DAYS. THE CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AT LOW SPEED WITH NO POWER STEERING. POWER STEERING SPORADICALLY CAME AND WENT. EVENTUALLY, THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD REMAIN ON AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR, CAUSING THE BATTERY TO GO DEAD. REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN IN MAY 2012 AT ABOUT 130,000 MILES AND HAVEN'T HAD ANY ISSUES SINCE. *TR

INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT TWICE, BOTH TIMES THIS WAS NOTICEABLE SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE (BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY). IN THE FIRST INCIDENT, POWER STEERING RETURNED AFTER DRIVING ABOUT HALF A BLOCK. IN THE SECOND INCIDENT (A COUPLE MONTHS LATER), POWER STEERING DID NOT RETURN WHILE DRIVING (1 MILE), BUT RETURNED WHEN CAR WAS STARTED THE FOLLOWING DAY. DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER IS CURRENTLY UNABLE TO PINPOINT ISSUE THROUGH CAR'S COMPUTER, BUT POWER STEERING PUMP IS SUSPECTED. CAR IS UNDER 30K MILES. *TR

THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING CAR. HAPPENS AT DIFFERENT TIMES WITH NO WARNING. *TR

1. NO EVENTS LED UP TO THIS FAILURE. IT OCCURRED SPONTANEOUSLY AFTER TURNING OFF MY CAR. 2. POWER STEERING PUMP STAYS ON AFTER CAR'S ENGINE IS OFF, AND THE PUMP WILL NOT SHUT OFF. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND PERSISTS UNTIL THE CAR IS RESTARTED OR THE BATTERY DIES. THE CONSTANTLY ON POWER STEERING PUMP IS KNOW TO LEAD TO FIRES OR SPONTANEOUSLY KILLING POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AROUND TURNS. 3. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS ISSUE IS TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP OR LEAVE THE BATTERY UNPLUGGED IN THE CAR. I CURRENTLY HAVE ORDERED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR

MAY 17TH WHILE TURNING LEFT AT AN INTERSECTION WAS TAKEN BY SURPRISE AT THE EFFORT SUDDENLY NEEDED TO TURN MY VEHICLE, CAUSING ME TO GO WIDER THAN NEEDED. NEARLY HIT ANOTHER MOTORIST TURNING LEFT IN OTHER DIRECTION. STOPPED TO CHECK FOR LOW FLUID LEVEL AND FOUND NO DEFICIENCIES. WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME WHERE I WILL PARK THE CAR INDEFINITELY. *TR

MINI COOPER S 2004- POWER STEERING FAILURE, GOING IN AND OUT, EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE THE VEHICLE AROUND CORNERS AND DISTURBING TO SAY THE LEAST. HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP YET, APPARENTLY THIS IS A 'COMMON' PROBLEM ON MINI COOPERS OF THIS MANUFACTURING PERIOD, ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I'M AFRAID THAT IF THIS HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING AT A CRUCIAL MOMENT THAT IT WILL LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE COST OF REPAIR (THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANY MORE) WILL BE MORE THAN I CAN BEAR AS FAR AS COST. THIS DOES NOT SEEM LIKE A COST THAT SHOULD BE BURDENED BY THE OWNER, IT IS AN ISSUE OF SAFETY AND SHOULD BE A MAJOR CONCERN OF THE AUTO MANUFACTURER. *TR

THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2004 MINI COOPER S FAILED, LEADING TO EXTREMELY DIFFICULT OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. AT SPEED THE CAR IS OK, IF A BIT CUMBERSOME. AT LOW SPEEDS OR IN A PARKING LOT, A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR. AT FIRST, THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT - RESTARTING THE CAR SOMETIMES RESTORED CONTROL. HOWEVER, FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS THE POWER STEERING IS COMPLETELY DEAD.

I HAD ONLY HAD MY MINI FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS AND WAS DRIVING FROM HUNTSVILLE, AL TO TUSCALOOSA, AL FOR AN EVENT FOR MY DAUGHTER. THE CVT WENT OUT AND I HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE TO GO. THEN WHEN I GOT IT FIXED THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE ABOUT 2,000.00 DOLLARS BUT WHEN I WENT TO PICK IT UP IT WAS 6,000.00. THEN ABOUT A MONTH AGO 1/2012 MY POWER STEERING STARTED MESSING UP AND TOOK TO MY MECHANIC. HE THOUGHT IT WAS HOPEFULLY JUST A LOOSE HOSE AND GOT IT WORKING AGAIN. HOWEVER TWO WEEKS AGO IT WENT OUT AGAIN AND HE CHECKED IT OUT AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS TOAST. DOES NOT EVEN HAVE 100,000 MILES ON IT. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH IT. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY INCIDENT HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED SEVERAL YEARS AGO BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE FOR A REPLACEMENT TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE RACK AND PINION. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WAS CONCERNED WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THE FAILURE CAUSING A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 06/24/11 *BF UPDATED 06/30/11. *JB

COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING VEHICLE. THIS IS MUCH HARDER TO STEER THAN A CAR WHICH NEVER HAD POWER STEERING TO BEGIN WITH. ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. *TR

WAS DRIVING MY SON HOME FROM A SOCCER TOURNAMENT, TRAVELING ABOUT 70 MPH, WHEN THE STEERING FAILED-I COULD ONLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL ABOUT 1" IN EACH DIRECTION. TERRIFYING. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS, AND THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE-I'LL PROBABLY NEED TO TOW IT TO THE MECHANIC. *TR

INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE CAUSING UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. DURING THE MOST RECENT FAILURE, THE POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO MOVE. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,331.

DROVE 70 MI FROM MILLTOWN, NJ TO VALHALLA, NY ON APRIL 26. POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING UPON ARRIVAL. TURNING OFF AND RESTARTING ENGINE REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. ON RETURN TRIP, FAILURE OCCURRED JUST PAST ESSEX TOLLS ON GARDEN STATE - ABOUT HALF WAY TO RETURN DESTINATION. CHECKED AND TOPPED FLUID. THE STEERING FAILS REGULARLY ACCORDING TO THIS PATTERN. IT APPEARS THAT POWER STEERING PUMP COOLING FAN HAS STOPPED WORKING. I WILL REPLACE FAN. IF THIS DOES NOT REMEDY THE SITUATION, I WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. I WILL RETAIN THE OLD PARTS. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER S AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON. DEALER WANTS $1000 TO FIX. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED YET THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND POWER STEERING COOLING FAN WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,500. UPDATED 09/07/11 *BF UPDATED 10/31/11

LOST POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY LAST MONTH WHILE DRIVING AND NOW THE FAN STAYS ON AND RUNS THE ENGINE TILL THE BATTERY IS DEAD. I NEED TO HAVE IT JUMPED EVERYTIME I WANT TO DRIVE IT. MINI STATED THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT FOR FREE "THEY DON'T CARE IF THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION, UNIT WERE ORDERED TO FIX IT THE COST IS ON THE CUSTOMER" *TR

I HAVE A 2004 MINI COOPER S WITH APPROX 80K MILES. THE POWER STEERING RANDOMLY AND INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO WORK. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES DURING THE LAST TWO MONTHS. I INTEND TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT AM TOLD THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN, EVEN WITH REPLACED PUMP. *TR

POWER STEERING FROZE UP AS WE TURNED A CORNER AND THEN DIED OUT COMPLETELY. IT HAS NEVER RETURNED. VERY CLOSE TO CAUSING A COLLISION BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *TR

VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH MINI COOPER AND THE CORPORATION OF BMW ON HOW THEY HANDLED MY ISSUES WITH MY 2004 MINI. I CAME TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES IN RAMSEY, NEW JERSEY WITH THE REPAIRS THAT WERE RECALLED. I HAD PRINTED THE RECALLS AS EVIDENCE THAT THERE WERE IDENTICAL ISSUES AS THE REPAIRS NEEDED TO MY CAR! THE DEALERSHIP IGNORED AND REFUSED TO EVEN LOOK AT THE RECALLS ON PAPER AND TO MY DISMAY I WAS FORCED TO PAY OUT-OF-MY-OWN POCKET! I HAD NO CHOICE BECAUSE OF MY CONCERN TO DRIVE A 'SAFE' VEHICLE. TO MY DISAPPOINTMENT I HAD TO RETURN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME AND ADDITIONAL ISSUES THAT WERE NO REPAIRED! THE NEXT DAY THE MANAGER ASSURED ME THAT ALL WAS TAKEN CARE OF AND THE CAR WAS FINALLY SAFE! WRONG AGAIN! WITH ADDITIONAL CALLS TO BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND BMW I STILL DID NOT HAVE A SOLUTION NOR A SAFE CAR! . THE ISSUES WERE: 1.BRAKE LIGHT BEING REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEN CAUSED A FIRE. 2.STEERING 3.STABILITY CONTROL ULTIMATELY, I HAVE CONTACTED NHTSA SEVERAL TIMES TO ASSIST AND THE RESPONSE WAS TO CONTACT THE DEALER. I'M AT THE POINT I NEED TO NOW TAKE THIS TO A NEW LEVEL TO RESOLVE THIS SITUATION. *TR

FOR THE PAST YEAR, MY MINI COOPER S HAS HAD SEVERAL SUDDEN POWER LOSSES IN THE POWER STEERING, RESULTING IN THE CAR BECOMING DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. IT HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY A MINI SERVICE DEPARTMENT, WHO KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT INFORM ME. MY WARRANTY WAS CALLED IN, AND THEY DID NOT AUTHORIZE ITS REPAIR EITHER. I LIVE IN A REMOTE AREA, WITH A DRIVING NEED FOR 3-4 HOURS FOR MEDICAL CARE. THIS DRIVE IS THROUGH CANYONS AND OVER MOUNTAINS, SO THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL IS IN NO WAY AN OPTION, AND MAY ALSO RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSING INJURY OR WORSE, DEATH. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION THAT THE COMPLAINT WAS MADE TO MINI BY ME, AND YESTERDAY, RECEIVED CONFIRMATION THAT THEY DID, IN FACT, KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE RACK OF THE RACK AND PINION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH THE RACK AND POWER STEERING PUMP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

2004 MINI COOPER S. CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR

ACUTE LOSS OF POWER STEERING IN MY 2004 MINI COOPER S. I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY AND WAS PULLING ONTO THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO STEER THE VEHICLE BUT IT REQUIRED A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT IT DOESN'T INVOLVE THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAN...THE FAN HAS BEEN TESTED AND IS WORKING OK. THE COST FOR THE REPAIR IS GOING TO BE APPROXIMATELY $1160. MY MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THAT FAILURE OF THE P. S. PUMP IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL MINI COOPER IS COMMON. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER WITH 60K MILES. TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS ADVISED BY MINI COOPER DEALER NEEDS REPLACEMENT, MAKES WHINING NOISE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. HAVE NOT DRIVEN CAR SINCE APRIL 2011. CAN NOT AFFORD $5K REPLACEMENT COST. *TR

POWER STEERING JUST CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING FOR NO REASON. YOU HAVE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND TURN OFF ENGINE AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON TO (I GUESS) RESET THE POWER STEERING. THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE IF YOU ARE DRIVING ON A ROAD THAT YOU CANNOT PULL OVER AND ESPECIALLY ON A CURVY ROAD. *KB

POWER STEERING FAILED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE/ TURN VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. TYPICALLY THE POWER STEERING COMES BACK AFTER A MINUTE OR TWO BUT DURING THE LATEST INCIDENT IT DID NOT COME BACK ON. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 MINI COOPER HOME FROM WORK ONE AFTERNOON, I BEGAN HAVING DIFFICULTY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURE, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO REMAIN A CONSTANT WHEN TURNING AT ANY SPEED. THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR HAS BEEN CHECKED AND IS LOW, BUT NOT EMPTY. I UNDERSTAND THAT A POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE IS COMMON IN THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL OF MINI COOPER VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS JUST OVER 80K MILES. NO REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE BEEN ORDERED AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 MINI COOPER S THE POWER ASSISTED STEERING SEEMS TO QUIT WORKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND THEN THE POWER ASSIST BEGINS WORKING ON ITS OWN AND MAY WORK FOR QUITE A WHILE THEN UNEXPECTEDLY WILL STOP WORKING AGAIN. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT AND REQUIRES A GREAT DEAL OF EXTRA EFFORT TO TURN. MANY TIMES IT ONLY STOPS WORKING FOR ONE OR TWO TURNS THEN THE POWER ASSIST PUMP BEGINS WORKING AGAIN. IN THE FALL OF 2010 I HAD TO INSTALL A POWER STEERING PUMP "COOLING FAN" BECAUSE IT FAILED BUT THE PUMP CONTINUES TO INTERMITTENTLY STOP WORKING.

2004 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING FAILED ON I93 SOUTH ON MY WAY TO WORK IN BOSTON WITHOUT ANY WARNING , SPEED ABOUT 80 AT 4:00AM ON THE MORNING OF 4/25/2011. MADE IT TO WORK HAD CAR TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AT MINI OF PEABODY MA THE SAME DAY AND WAS CHARGED $1180.00 DOLLARS TO REPLACE STEERING PUMP. TWO WEEKS PRIOR ON 4/8/2011 AT THE SAME DEALER AT THEIR RECOMMENDATION REPLACED STEERING FAN AND RETURN HOSE AS A PRECAUTION DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CHARGED 500.00 DOLLARS. FRIDAY 4/22/2011 CAR WAS AT SAME DEALER TO HAVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED FOLLOWED BY THEIR USUAL TEST DRIVE , THERE WAS NO MENTION OF ANY STEERING PROBLEM AT THAT TIME NOR DID I EXPERIENCE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING ON MY WAY BACK HOME AFTER REPAIR. MY CONCERN IS IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WITH OUT WARNING ON AN OFF RAMP OR WHEN MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER WERE DRIVING THE OUT COME COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH DIFFERENT. I PAID AN EXTRA 60.00 DOLLARS TO KEEP THE OLD PUMP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STUCK IN A PARTIALLY TURNED POSITION BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE STRAIGHT FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS PLACE OF RESIDENCE AND WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,683.

2004 MINI COOPER 110K MILES LOST POWER STEERING WHEEL CONTROL, VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT-HARD TO STEER CAR. I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER. *TR

THE POWER STEERING UNIT IN MY 2004 MINI COOPER HAS BEEN ACTING STRANGE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. IT WOULD SPORADICALLY CUT OFF MAKING THE CAR DIFFICULT TO STEER. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. LUCKILY, ALL OF THE INCIDENTS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS MOVING SLOW. NOW THE CAR HAS NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. IT COMPLETELY FAILED TODAY. OUR MINI COOPER ONLY HAS 43,000 MILES ON IT. IMAGINE IF I WAS DRIVING OVER 30 MILES AND HOUR AND THE POWER STEERING CUT OFF! I FEEL LIKE THE CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I AM VERY NERVOUS ABOUT PARKING THE CAR SINCE THE POWER STEERING IS INTERMITTENT, I HOPE THAT IT DOESN'T CUT OUT WHEN I TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE, WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE CHANCE OF HITTING A PARKED CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND GOT A QUOTE FOR $1200 IN PARTS ALONE. ADDING THE LABOR WILL BRING THE GRAND TOTAL TO $1400. *TR

POWER STEERING GOT TIGHTER AND TIGHTER MAKING IT REALLY HARD TO TURN IN SMALL CORNERS (WHICH ARE EVERYWHERE IN BIG CITIES). IT TURNS OUT THE BE A WELL-KNOWN ISSUE WHICH IS POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. IT ALMOST GOT ME INTO ACCIDENTS/PROPERTY DAMAGE DUE TO TIGHT STEERING. *TR

LOSS OF POWER STEERING. AT FIRST INTERMITTENT, NOW COMPLETE. *KB

POWER STEERING FAILS. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED, BOTH WHILE DRIVING AS WELL AS AFTER JUST STARTING THE CAR. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND I SEE NO PATTERN TO IT'S OCCURRENCE. TYPICALLY IT IS REMEDIED BY TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RE-STARTING. THERE HAS BEEN A FEW OCCASIONS WHERE IT WILL SPUTTER IN AND OUT BEFORE IT GOES OUT COMPLETELY BUT THE MOST COMMON OCCURRENCE IS WHEN I START THE CAR, THERE'S IS NO POWER STEERING.

2004 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING RANDOMLY STOPS WORKING MAKING THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER. EMERGENCY MANEUVERS WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE. MUST SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART TO GET STEERING BACK, WHICH IS NOT EASY TO DO IN MANY SITUATIONS. WILL WORK MOST OF THE TIME BUT FAIL ONCE PER DAY OR SO. MY MECHANIC HAS ORDERED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN FROM BMW WHICH HE SAYS IS THE FIX FOR THIS WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM. IF A LIGHT PERSON WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS I SERIOUSLY DOUBT THEY COULD KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD DUE TO THE ARM STRENGTH REQUIRED TO CONTINUE STEERING THE CAR. PROBLEM COULD HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, HE SUDDENLY HAD A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITH OUT ANY WARNING. THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AFTER THE FAILURE. HE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WAS A TSB BUT NO RELATED RECALLS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 109,000. UPDATED 04/15/11*LJ

PURCHASED A USED 2004 MINI COOPER FROM A DEALERSHIP. 7 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE THE STEERING BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT AT TIMES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS. TAKING IT ON MONDAY BUT THE "STEERING" ISN'T COVERED UNDER THEIR 9 MONTH, 9000 MILE WARRANTY. TAKING IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY FOR THEIR SERVICE DEPT TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. HOPING IT'S COVERED BUT I DOUBT IT. *TR

POWER STEERING IN 2004 MINI COOPER ALMOST COMPLETELY LOCKS UP WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR OTHER VISUAL INDICATORS DEPICT THE STATUS OF THE POWER STEERING FLUID OR OVERALL STEERING SYSTEM. ABILITY TO STEER CAR CHANGES INSTANTANEOUSLY FROM FULL "NORMAL" CONTROL TO NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PARALLEL PARK (AT EXTREMELY SLOW SPEED) OR MAKE A BASIC 90 DEGREE TURN (AT ANY RELEVANT SPEED). MAKES THE CAR DANGEROUS AND STRESSFUL TO DRIVE. *TR

SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AND HAD SUBSTANTIAL DIFFICULTY TURNING TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. IT HAPPENED A FEW TIMES, THEN TOOK IT FOR REPAIRS. WAS TOLD THAT THE PUMP AND FAN WERE BAD AND THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2004 MINIS. *TR