2004 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED TO WORK, IT WORKED OFF AND ON FOR A SHORT PERIOD. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING IT. *TR

LAST NIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY STREET IN ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE U.S., I EXPERIENCED COMPLETE POWER STEERING FAILURE - WHICH BECAME EVIDENT TO ME ONLY WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND FOUND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, NO WARNING LIGHTS BECAME ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH & NOTHING ABOUT THE CAR'S PERFORMANCE SUGGESTED A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE - THERE WAS SIMPLY NO WARNING OF ANY KIND. AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR LESS THAN 15 MINUTES @ APPROX. 35 MPH & I HAD MADE SEVERAL TURNS (RIGHT & LEFT) DURING THE COURSE OF THIS TRIP WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS - THE LAST OF WHICH HAD BEEN ONLY 2 OR 3 MINUTES PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. THOUGH I WAS ULTIMATELY ABLE TO COMPLETE THE TURN WITHOUT LEAVING THE ROAD BY USING ALL OF MY STRENGTH TO SLOWLY TURN THE WHEEL, MY CAR TRAVELED FOR APPROX. 1/2 BLOCK IN THE OPPOSING LANE OF TRAFFIC BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR BACK INTO MY LANE. IF THERE HAD BEEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON THE STREET I TURNED ONTO I WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY UNABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. DESPITE BEING RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THIS EVENT, THE VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING HAS NOT RETURNED OR IMPROVED. AT THIS TIME IT APPEARS THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS EXPERIENCE WAS EXTREMELY TERRIFYING & COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN THE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH OF MYSELF AND/OR OTHERS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 MINI COOPER S, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE MAKING A TURN AT LOW SPEED. WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING, IT IS HARD TO STEER DURING LOW SPEED. AFTER TURNING OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK. BUT THE POWER STEERING PUMP SEEMS TO BE ON ALL THE TIME WITH A HUMMING NOISE EVEN AFTER THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. WHICH LEADING TO THE DRAINING OF THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY GAVE OUT AFTER A COUPLE JUMP STARTS. AS OF 2/15/2011, I HAVE DISCONNECTED THE POWER TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN. BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD OF THE HIGH COST OF REPLACING THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND COOLING FAN. I HAVE NOT REPLACE THEM YET. I STILL HAVE THESE PARTS. *LN

POWER STEERING ASSIST IN MY 2004 MIN COOPER FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. *TR

I DROVE MY MINI COOPER 2004 S WITH 95K MILES ON THE FREEWAY AND NOTICED MY STEERING VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE. I ARRIVED TO MY DESTINATION SAFELY AND SEARCHING ON THE WEB FOR STEERING PROBLEMS WITH 2004 MINI COOPER AND FOUND FEDERAL INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. THEY FOUND THE POWER STEERING PUMP DEFECTIVE AS DESCRIBED ON THE WEBSITE AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOR 1500 DOLLARS. THE DEALER/BMW OFFERED NO COMPENSATION TO DEFER THE COST. I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND RECEIVED A NON RESPONSE ON IF AND HOW BMW WOULD RESPOND. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE ON 2004 MINI COOPER S. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 20 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST POWER STEERING WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF; AND AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE SIMILAR FAILURE RECURRED ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL BEING INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A TURN THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

MY CAR KEEPS HAVING INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE, IT HAS BEEN QUITE SPONTANEOUS, ALWAYS WHILE I AM DRIVING. *TR I HAVE HAD MORE THAN 10 INSTANCES, SOME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING A TURN WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AS OF YET; I AM PLANNING TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ONCE I HAVE THE MONEY TO DO SO.

MY POWER STEERING FAILED IN THE MIDDLE LEFT TURN CAUSING ME TO WRECK RIGHT INTO A SIGNAL LIGHT. I HAVE A 2004 MINI COOPER 5SPD TRANSMISSION NON-S. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COPPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH IN ORDER TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO INCREASE SPEED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILING AND WAS TOLD TO ONLY USE PREMIUM GASOLINE. THE CONTACT MADE THE CHANGE AND WITHIN A FEW MONTHS, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 58,000.

I WAS DRIVING VERY SLOWLY INTO THE DRIVE THRU BURGER KING AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR I COULD NOT GET IT TO GO THE DIRECTION I WANTED IT TO GO SO I ENDED UP CRASHING INTO THE CURB. ANOTHER TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS WHEN I HIT A PATCH OF ICE MY CAR LOST POWER STEERING A FEW SECONDS LATER AND I HAD TO RESTART MY CAR, BUT IT DID COME BACK ON. *TR

I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER. I'VE HAD A COUPLE INCIDENTS WITH THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING WILL CEASE TO OPERATE. THE RESULT IS A STEERING SYSTEM THAT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY BMW. I'VE READ A FEW ONLINE ARTICLES ON THIS MATTER AND NOW REALIZE THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP IS GOING BAD. IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND I PLAN TO DO SO. I WAS SURPRISED HOWEVER BY THE NUMBER OF ONLINE ARTICLES I FOUND ON THIS TOPIC. OPERATING A VEHICLE WITH A RANDOMLY FAULTY POWER STEERING SYSTEM IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE WORST SHOULD THE POWER STEERING FAIL ON MY MINI COOPER ON A WINDING ROAD WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT IS A COMPLETELY RANDOM FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND WENT AWAY. RECENTLY IT HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES ON THE SAME DAY. SO FAR MY SOLUTION HAS BEEN TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT. BASED ON INTERNET RESEARCH I KNOW NOW THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR

OUR 2004 MINI COOPER S IS LOOSING POWER STEERING RANDOMLY MAKING IT VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE . ITS VERY RANDOM , I THOUGHT IT WAS SOME KIND OF SPORT MODE BUT YOU CANT EVEN CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN THE CAR KICKS INTO "PARALYSIS", TOTALLY WEIRD ...I'VE OWNED ALL FOREIGN CARS MOSTLY JAPANESE ,AND GERMAN ...THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND I GREW UP IN THE CAR BUSINESS DRIVING EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF.....IT WOULD BE A SHAME IF MINI LOOSES ITS REPUTATION OVER SOMETHING LIKE A POWER STEERING PROBLEM JUST FIX THE PROBLEM ITS OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR DEFECT ON THE ENGINEERING .....SOUNDS LIKE A RECALL TO ME ....PLEASE DON'T JOIN TOYOTAS CRASH PARADE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF. UPON RESTART THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINED DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000. THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED INTERNALLY. THE POWER RETURN LINE WAS LEAKING. ALSO, BOTH STRUTS WERE LEAKING. UPDATED EVOQ 02/02/11

SUDDEN FAILURE OF POWER STEERING. CONTROL OF CAR WAS NOT LOST. IT WILL REQUIRE A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE DURING DRIVING. BECAME SLUGGISH/VERY HARD TO TURN ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEED. *TR

POWER STEERING IN MY 2004 MINI COOPER WENT OUT WHILE GOING AROUND A TURN AND CAUSED ME TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD. *TR

POWER STEERING HAS FAILED ON 2004 MINI COPPER TWICE. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE IN 1.75 YEARS. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN ESPECIALLY AS A CITY DRIVER WHERE THE NEED EXISTS TO PARALLEL PARK, PARK IN PARKING DECKS, AND DRIVING AND TURNING ON NARROW STREETS WITH TRAFFIC. THERE IS NOT ALWAYS THE OPTION TO MAKE A WIDE TURN. MODEL YEARS 04 AND 05 HAVE THIS ISSUE AND MINI HAS NOT ADDRESSED. IN ADDITION THEY HAVE NOT MADE IT AN AFFORDABLE REPAIR. *TR

04 MINI COOPER S WITH UNDER 40,000 MILES. INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. CAR IS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN WHEN THE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING. RESTARTING THE CAR SOMETIMES CAUSES THE POWER STEERING TO START WORKING BUT IT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MILES PER HOUR ON JAN 02, 2011. THIS IS AN INDICATION OF A POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER S, POWER STEERING FAILURE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF POWER STEERING IN MY 2004 MINI COOPER S. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEEMINGLY AT RANDOM AND CAUSES GREAT DIFFICULTY WITH STEERING THE VEHICLE. THIS CREATES AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION IN WHICH IT IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN A GIVEN DAY OR SOMETIMES ONLY ONCE IN A WEEK. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AT VARIOUS TIMES OF OPERATION, INCLUDING IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE CAR IN THE MORNING, MID-COMMUTE, AND AT THE END OF A LONG DRIVE. THE ONLY CONSISTENCY IS THAT IT SEEMS TO OCCUR JUST AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE, THEN BACK IN 1ST GEAR (THOUGH NOT EVERY TIME). POWER STEERING IS ALMOST ALWAYS RESTORED BY TURNING IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON- NOT A SAFE ACTION IN MOST OF MY DRIVING CIRCUMSTANCES. ON ONE OCCASION THE POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN AUDIBLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, THREATENING TO DRAIN THE BATTERY. THIS LASTED FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND WAS ONLY RESOLVED BY DRIVING THE CAR AGAIN FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AGAIN, THE PUMP FINALLY SHUT OFF. *LN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT DRIVING SO HE DID NOT KNOW THE FULL DETAILS OF THE FAILURE. THE PERSON DRIVING WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THEIR RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

1. 04 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. OCCASIONALLY WHILE DRIVING THE PUMP WILL LOOSE POWER AND STEERING WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT. POWER STEERING FAN STAYS ON AFTER VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF WHICH TENDS TO DRAIN THE BATTERY. 2. EVENTUALLY THE PUMP STARTED LEAKING AND FAN STOP WORKING NEEDING REPLACEMENT. LOSS ALL POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. 3. REPLACED PUMP AND FAN WITH NEW UNITS AND PROBLEM IS TEMPORARILY FIXED BUT PROBLEM HAS COME BACK. NOTICING THE SAME SYMPTOMS FROM #.1 POST HAPPENING AGAIN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN PULLING OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,400. UPDATED 09/07/11 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED, MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO WAS UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,900. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COPPER. WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHICH MADE THE STEERING WHEEL DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE FAILURE ONLY LASTED FOR A SHORT TIME AND BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 44600.

MY 2004 MINI COOPER S SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING LOST ITS POWER STEERING. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE MECHANIC WHO SAID THE WHOLE STEERING WAS SHOT. THAT IS WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT MINI HAS HAD A LOT OF THESE FAILURES. IF I HAD BEEN ON A CURVE AND AT ANY FASTER SPEED I MAY HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT, AND NOW BMW WON'T EVEN FIX THE CAR! THIS IS NOT RIGHT ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAVE KNOWN THERE IS PROBLEM, WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE A FEW PEOPLE GETTING KILLED LIKE WITH THE TOYOTA BRAKE PROBLEM? MAKE THEM DO SOMETHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. CONTINUES TO OCCUR ALMOST DAILY. TO DATE, I HAVE NOT HAD TROUBLE DRIVING THE CAR, BUT THE POWER STEERING GOES ON AND OFF WITH NO APPARENT REASON. *TR

12-4-10: THE POWER STEERING PUMP KEPT RUNNING AFTER THE CAR WAS OFF AND DRAINED THE BATTERY IN 2 HOURS. SEPT., 2012: TWO INCIDENTS OF POWER STEERING LOSS WHILE DRIVING. FIRST TIME I HAD NO POWER STEERING WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. I DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE, STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED. SECOND TIME I LOST POWER STEERING BRIEFLY WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. MY MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING FAN HAD SEIZED AND REPLACED IT. WHEN HE TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE, THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. HE REPLACED THE PUMP AS WELL AND THE PROBLEMS WERE CORRECTED. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER INTERMITTENTLY FAILS. TO DATE, 5 FAILURES HAVE HAPPENED LASTING FROM 10 TO 30 MINUTES IN DURATION. LAST FAILURE WAS DECEMBER 3, 2010. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

WHILE DRIVING ONTO A FREEWAY ON RAMP, MY STEERING BECAME EXCESSIVELY DIFFICULT AND I ALMOST RAN INTO A MEDIAN. I PULLED OVER AND THE STEERING RESUMED NORMAL ACTIVITY AND THEN BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AGAIN TO THE POINT WHERE I COULD BARELY STEER THE CAR ENOUGH TO TAKE IT TO A REPAIR SHOP THREE BLOCKS FROM MY HOUSE WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP HAD FAILED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY TIGHT. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED BEFORE BUT NOT AS EXTREME AS THE MOST CURRENT FAILURE. THE CONTACT COULD BARELY MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN AND ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING PUMP WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILURE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,053 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 4,509 UPDATED 02/03/11*LJ ALSO, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER GRID BURNED THROUGH THE COVER AND THE DRIVERS JACKET. THE SECOND SEAT COVER BURNED THROUGH ALSO AND MADE A HOLE IN THE PASSENGERS COAT. UPDATED 03/18/11

WHILE PARKING AND WHILE DRIVING, STEERING FUNCTION HAS BEEN LOST. THE STEERING WHEEL GETS HEAVY, SEEMING TO BE STUCK AND UNABLE TO TURN. THIS HAPPENED TWICE, AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR OR PULL OFF TO THE SIDE AND STOP WITHOUT INJURY. THE STEERING FLUID WAS FINE, AN ALTHOUGH THE STEERING PUMP DOESN'T MAKE NOISE OR CONTINUE TO RUN AFTER THE CAR IS SHUT OFF, IT IS ASSUMED THE STEERING PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED (A COMMON FAULTY PART IN MINI COOPERS). THERE IS CONCERN FOR SAFETY OVER WHEN AND WHERE I MIGHT LOSE STEERING AGAIN AND WHETHER THIS WILL CAUSE AN INCIDENT ALONE OR WITH ANOTHER CAR. I HAVE READ THAT MY CAR MIGHT START ON FIRE IN CONNECTION WITH THE STEERING PUMP, EVEN WITH A REPLACEMENT OF THE PUMP. *TR

NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. 2004 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING FAILED. NO LEAKING FLUIDS, NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ABNORMAL SOUNDS TO HINT THAT THIS WAS AN IMPENDING ISSUE. CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN PARKING LOTS, WITH PEDESTRIANS OR AT SPEED AROUND OTHER VEHICLES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL JAMMED AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO TURN IT OR CONTROL THE VEHICLE. SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON, SHE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AFTER IT RESET BUT IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STEERED THE VEHICLE TO A PARKING LOT WHERE HE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE STEERING RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 01/13/11 *BF UPDATED 01/24/11

COMPLETE FAILURE OF STEERING COLUMN, IT LOCKS UP DURING DRIVING, CAN BARELY TURN THE WHEEL. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY DURING DRIVING, EVEN ON A STRAIGHT ROAD NOT MAKING ANY TURNS. HAVE TO FORCE CAR OVER ONTO SHOULDER AND RESTART THE CAR. NOTHING BAD HAS HAPPENED YET, BUT VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING WITH KIDS IN THE CAR. ALL FLUID LEVELS CHECK OUT, NO WARNING LIGHTS ABOUT STEERING FAILURE. *TR

MY 2004 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING PUMP JUST FAILED AND HAS TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 45K MILES. *TR UPDATED 08-29/11 *BF

I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER S AND LOST THE POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WERE NO LEAKS DETECTED BUT THE PS CANISTER WAS EMPTY. THE MINI WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM CROWN MINI IN RICHMOND, VA. WE ARE THE ONLY OWNERS OF THE MINI. MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE MINI NOW AND WE WANTED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I HAVE RECEIVED NO HELP FROM MINI AFTER SENDING THEM AN EMAIL AND CALLING THEM. *TR

POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY LOSES POWER MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED DUE TO AN INTERNAL FAILURE. INVOICE RECEIVED. UPDATED 08/11/11.*JB UPDATED 08/15/11 *BF UPDATED 08/24/11

I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER HARD TOP AND I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM STATE COLLEGE WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THIS MADE THE CAR EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. SINCE THIS HAPPENED, I AM ALL BUT TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I HAVE DONE SOME INVESTIGATION INTO THIS, AND I SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY MINI OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE SOMETHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR

MY WIFE'S 2004 MINI COOPER (NON-S) HAS BEEN HAVING POWER STEERING FAILURES FOR THE PAST MONTH. I EXPERIENCED IT FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY DRIVING DOWN A BUSY DALLAS HIGHWAY. WHILE TRYING TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT AS I WAS YANKING ON THE WHEEL, "WHAT IF THE POWER STEERING KICKS BACK IN ALL OF THE SUDDEN, WE WOULD END UP IN AN ACCIDENT." THANKFULLY, THAT DID NOT HAPPEN AND AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF, CHECKING THE FLUID RESERVOIR, AND STARTING THE CAR AGAIN, THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE LOCAL MINI DEALERSHIP AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT, BUT AFTER RESEARCHING THIS I THINK WE MAY JUST PARK IT UNTIL AN OFFICIAL RECALL IS ISSUED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

1. POWER STEERING STARTED FAILING 2. OCCURS RANDOMLY THROUGHOUT MY DRIVING ~ DAILY 3. REPAIR/REPLACE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR

MY 2004 MINI COOPER HAS HAD THE POWER STEERING FAIL INTERMITTENTLY, ALWAYS AFTER 20-30 MINUTES OF DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE CAR HAS 37,000 MILES. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER. INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURES. HAPPENS ON A HOT DAY OR IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST CAPABILITIES. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN REMAINED ON AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND DRAINED THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,325.

UNABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR FROM THE INSIDE; IMMEDIATE FAILURE. AT ABOUT 36,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 60,000 MILES, THE DRIVER'S DOOR COULD ONLY BE OPENED BY PULLING ON THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE MULTIPLE TIMES OR OPENING THE WINDOW & USING THE OUTSIDE HANDLE. THE ISSUE APPEARS TO BE A CABLE THAT COMES OFF A PULLEY IN THE OPENING MECHANISM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CABLE IN ITS PROPER POSITION; THE FIX LASTED ABOUT 2 YEARS BEFORE RE-OCCURRING CAUSING THE CAR TO FAIL STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. THIS IS A PROBLEM KNOWN TO MINI/BMW AND IS REPORTED IN MANY ONLINE MINI COOPER FORUMS. *TT

POWER STEERING FAILURE. WHEN DRIVING POWER STEERING WILL UNEXPECTEDLY STOP WORKING. USUALLY AFTER DRIVING FOR AN HOUR OR SO. WHEN POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING THE CAR IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL. *TR