2004 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING FAILED WHEN HE TRIED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND PULLED OVER. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED IT; THE STEERING SEEMED TO RESET ITSELF. THE FAILURE SEEMED TO OCCUR WHEN THE ENGINE WAS HOT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,140.

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY ON THE FREEWAY AND IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR. POWER STEERING RETURNED AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT IN A PARKING LOT, BUT FAILED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING HOME. WE HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR SINCE. THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WE HAVE TALKED TO MINI, BUT THEY HAVE NOT OFFERED TO HELP REPAIR THE CAR. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WILL COST AROUND $1500 TO REPLACE THE MALFUNCTIONING PARTS. *TR

UNEXPECTED AND INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. INTERMITTENT FAILURES FIRST STARTED AROUND 2008, THE FAILURES WOULD LAST FOR MINUTES TO HOURS LONG, DAYS, WEEKS, AND MONTHS WOULD GO BY BETWEEN FAILURES. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE CAUSE WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THE REPAIR WOULD COST ~$700 TO REPLACE. WHEN THE PUMP FAILS THE CAR IS *VERY* DIFFICULT TO STEER AT SLOW AND MODERATE SPEEDS. ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS A SURPRISE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NARROW, WINDY ROAD AND IT WAS A STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN THE LANE, AVOID HITTING ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND STAYING ON THE ROAD. THE PUMP WAS REPLACED AND AS OF THIS WRITING IS NEW ONE IS NOW INTERMITTENTLY FAILING. I JUST EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE WHEN TURNING FROM A STOP AND NARROWLY MISSED HITTING A CURB AS I STRUGGLED TO COMPLETE A TURN. THE PUMP FAILURE LASTED ABOUT 10 MINUTES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT HER EXPENSE. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD LIKELY NED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER S AND WHEN DRIVING THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN OFF RAMP AND THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY HARD. I WAS UNABLE TO NAVIGATE THE TURN AND WENT OFF THE ROAD. LUCKILY I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. FROM TIME TO TIME NOW I LOOSE THE POWER STEERING. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND DO NOT LET MY WIFE OR CHILD RIDE IN THE CAR. *TR

MY CAR HAS HAD INTERMITTENT POWER FAILURE SINCE 2008, USUALLY LASTING A FEW DAYS. MORE RECENTLY MY POWER STEERING HAS BEEN OUT FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS. TODAY IT STARTED WORKING ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK BUT THE POWER STEERING FAN REMAINS ON AFTER I TURN THE CAR OFF. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO KEEP THE FAN OFF. CONSEQUENCES HAVE RESULTED IN NEAR ACCIDENTS ON THE HIGHWAY AND ROAD WHEN FAILURE OCCURS (FAILURES HAPPENED WHEN I HAVE GONE INTO TURNS). POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

POWER STEERING WHEEL GOES ON AND OFF. WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL I CAN FEEL IT GO FROM HEAVY RESISTANCE TO REGULAR IN SECONDS, WHICH HAS BEEN MORE THAN ONCE IN A DAY. IF THERE IS A CAR COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, IT COULD EASILY CRASHED INTO MY SIDE. DUE TO THIS SUDDENLY WHEEL MALFUNCTION, I HAD TO SLOW DOWN BECAUSE I WAS AT THE CORNER OF THE ROAD, TRYING TO TURN. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS, AND IT WILL ONLY TAKE SECONDS TO KILL PEOPLE IN THIS SITUATION. I DID RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A PRETTY COMMON ISSUE FOR THE MINI COOPER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED ONTO THE SHOULDER AND THEN TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

I HAVE A 2004 MINI COOPER AND I TOO HAVE HAD MY POWER STEERING FAIL ON CURVES WHILE DRIVING THIS HAPPENS A LOT WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL ON SHARP CURVES AND PARK. IT COSTS ABOUT 850 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AT THE DEALER AND I AM UNEMPLOYED AT THE MOMENT AND CANNOT AFFORD THIS COST. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER: POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND THAN IT WAS JUST GONE. ON SUNDAY 9-26-10 STARTED THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED FINE, UNTIL I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 70MPH AND IT WENT OUT AGAIN FOR GOOD.. DONE NOTHING YET TO FIX IT. *TR

THE POWER STEERING FAILS ON THE CAR. IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. IT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU FIRST START THE CAR, OR IT CAN HAPPEN AFTERYOU HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR SOME TIME. ALL OF THE SUDDEN YOU LOSE YOUR POWER STEERING AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. I AM A FEMALE AND I HAVE TO USE BOTH ARMS TO GET THE CAR TO TURN WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. I AM AFRAID THAT THE POWER STEERING IS GOING TO GO OUT AT A BAD TIME AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO TURN QUICK ENOUGH AND I COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING WAS ABSENT. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 102,000. UPDATED 01/03/11

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED ON MINI COOPER S WITH APPROXIMATELY 71,000 MILES LAST WEEK. *TR

I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER S. ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2010, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THIS WAS OUT OF THE BLUE, AND I HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT TO MY MECHANIC THE SAME DAY AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY POWER STEERING FAN WENT OUT, THEREFORE CAUSING MY POWER STEERING PUMP TO FAIL. AFTER I HAD EVERYTHING REPLACED FOR AROUND $900, I SAW AN ARTICLE IN USA TODAY THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO OTHER 2004 AND 2005 MINI'S. I THINK MINI SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. IT WAS VERY SCARY TO DRIVE MY MINI WITH NO POWER STEERING, AND I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT. *TR

I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER. I STARTED THE CAR LAST WEEK AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS MAKING A VERY HIGH PITCHED SQUEALING NOISE. I DECIDED TO DRIVE ANOTHER CAR THAT DAY BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO BRING IT TO A MECHANIC. THE NEXT DAY I STARTED THE CAR AND THE PUMP CAME UP TO SPEED VERY SLOWLY AND THEN STOPPED MAKING NOISE ALTOGETHER. THE POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKS. I DON'T THINK I CAN SAFELY DRIVE IT TO THE MECHANIC AND THE CAR HAS SAT IN THE DRIVEWAY SINCE. THE CAR IS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY PERIOD SO I WOULD BE LOOKING AT THE EXPENSE OF TOWING AND PARTS AND LABOR BEFORE I CAN USE IT AGAIN. I JUST SAW THE REPORT ON CNBC AND WAS WONDERING IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BEFORE I CONTACT A GARAGE. THANK YOU. *TR

ELECTRIC/HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AFTER ONLY 43,000 MILES ON THE CAR. IT STUCK IN THE "ON" POSITION EVEN WHEN KEY REMOVED FROM THE CAR, DRAINING MY BATTERY AND CAUSING A HEAT BUILDUP UNDER THE BONNET. 2004 MINI COOPER S. *TR

MY 04 MINI S JUST HIT 90K AND RUNS GREAT UNTIL I WAS ON THE FREEWAY OVERPASS THE OTHER DAY. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT SUDDENLY ON A 55 MPH TURN AND ALMOST RAN ME RIGHT INTO THE SHOULDER BARRIER WHICH HAPPENS TO BE 50 FEET ABOVE THE LOWER FREEWAY. THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. MINI COOPER IS A GREAT CAR, BUT THIS POWER STEERING ISSUE IS A WELL KNOW ISSUE AMONGST THE COMMUNITY OF OWNERS AND MINI NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE AND HELP OWNERS WHO ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. ONCE YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT THE STEERING COMES BACK TO NORMAL. WHEN ITS HOT OUT THE STEERING SEEMS TO FAIL AND IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE CAR ONCE THIS HAPPENS WHICH WAS THE RESULT IN MY ABOVE EXPERIENCE. THIS POWER STEERING FAILURE IS WELL KNOW AND HAS MANY MANY ACCOUNTS OF FAILURES ON POPULAR MINI FORUMS. THE PART TO REPLACE THIS ISSUE A SINGLE POWER STEERING UNIT WHICH CAN BE BOUGHT FOR ABOUT $450 AND THE AVERAGE MECHANIC CAN REPLACE IT WITHIN AND HOUR OR SO. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ALONG A STREET ABOUT TO NEGOTIATE A TURN WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. HAD IT HAPPENED A FEW SECONDS LATER, I PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE TURN AND MAY HAVE CRASHED. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING. *TR

OCCASIONAL DIFFICULTY IN STEERING MY 2004 MINI COOPER. THE STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT AND I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT FOR IT TO WORK AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE A WEEK. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING CUT OUT CREATING AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. OVER THE NEXT 20,000 MILES THE POWER STEERING WOULD INTERMITTENTLY COME BACK AND GO OUT MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES UNTIL EVENTUALLY FAILING COMPLETELY. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER. POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AT HIGH SPEED WHILE DRIVING ON WINDY ROAD AT NIGHT. WAS ABLE TO OVER CORRECT AND SLOW VEHICLE SAFELY. HAD IT BEEN MY DAUGHTER DRIVING SHE MAY HAVE CRASHED. PUMP FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND NO ENGINE LIGHTS. AFTER LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED WITH NEW MODEL CARS WITH LESS THAN 50K MILES. SHOULD BE A RECALL TO BMW FOR THIS!!!! *TR

ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2010 2004 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON SAN FRANCISCO/OAKLAND BAY BRIDGE. ABLE TO SAFELY EXIT BRIDGE AND HAD CAR TOWED TO AUTO SHOP IN BERKELEY, CA WHERE THEY "PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TIME CHECK FOR NO POWER STEERING. FOUND PUMP COMING ON, NO PRESSURE TO SYSTEM". THEY REMOVED AND REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP INCLUDING BLEEDING THE SYSTEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING SHAFT STARTED TO MAKE ODD NOISES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND PUM WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. UPDATED 4/11/2011 *CN UPDATED 07/11/11

THE STEERING IS SO HARD AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO MOVE WHILE DRIVING, I HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR LAST FEW MONTH BUT EVERY TIME WHEN I TURN OFF/ON, THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY FOR A DAY OR TWO. SINCE LAST WEEK, IT BECOME PERMANENT. I SURF ON INTERNET AND CALL MINI CUSTOMER SERVICES, THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS ISSUE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION AND IF I FIXED THE PROBLEM AND IF THERE WILL BE A RECALL, THEY WILL COVER ONLY PARTS NOT LABOR. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AND UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING. *TR

THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY LOOSES POWER STEERING, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE POWER ASSIST CUTS OUT INTERMITTENTLY, AND WILL OCCASIONALLY COME BACK WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THOUGH MORE OFTEN IT BEGINS WORKING THE NEXT TIME THE CAR IS STARTED. THE FREQUENCY IS VARIABLE - IT GOES MONTHS WITHOUT A PROBLEM AND THEN MAY HAVE THE PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL CONSECUTIVE DAYS. *TR

TEMPORARY LOSS OF STEERING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED SUDDENLY. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS THEN REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED; THE FAILURE LASTED ANYWHERE FROM A FEW MINUTES TO 45 MINUTES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SIX TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE DIFFERENT STEERING PARTS WERE REPLACED (THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHICH PARTS). THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000. UPDATED 2/17/11 *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE GOT IN THE VEHICLE AND STARTED IT, THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. SHE PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT. HOWEVER, THE POWER STEERING WAS STILL NON-FUNCTIONAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

POWER STEERING PUMP IS FAILING. SO FAR NO MAJOR PROBLEMS BUT I HAVE HAD OTHER MINI OWNERS REPORT THIS SAME PROBLEM AND WORSE. I AM HAVING MY PUMP REPLACED THIS WEEKEND WITH THE HOPE OF AVOIDING ANY FURTHER ISSUES. HOPEFULLY THIS ONE WILL LAST A LONG TIME. *TR

THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE GOING UP HILL ON A CURVY TWO LANE ROAD. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FORCED ME TO GO INTO THE OTHER LANE, WHERE FORTUNATELY NO CARS WERE PRESENT. IF I WAS GOING DOWN HILL ON THE SAME ROAD I WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY GONE AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE HILL OR OFF THE SIDE OF THE CLIFF IF NOT HITTING AN ON COMING CAR FIRST. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME OVER $1000 TO CHANGE THE ELECTRO/HYDRAULIC STEERING PUMP. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH MANY MINIS ACCORDING TO FORUM POSTS. *TR

DAILY DRIVING MY 04 MINI COOPER LOSES POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT IS JUST FOR A MINUTE OR TWO AND OTHER TIMES IT LASTS HOURS. WHEN I'M DRIVING THE CAR IN TOWN I HAVE TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AS IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO STEER AROUND SHARP CORNERS. IF ON THE FREEWAY IT'S ALARMING HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO STEER. I TOOK IT TO THE MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED THAT IT NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. I HAD IT REPLACED 10/14/2010. *TR

1. POWER STEERING FAILED AND STEERING BECAME EXCESSIVELY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL ESPECIALLY IN LOW SPEED TURNS SOMETIMES COULDN'T MAKE THE TURNS IN TIME. 2. SEVERAL TIMES. PARKED THE CAR 3. WAITING FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO HELP WITH REPLACING DEFECTIVE PARTS. *TR

MY 2004 MINI COOPER S, OF WHICH I AM THE SECOND OWNER HAS DEVELOPED PROGRESSIVELY WORSENING STEERING CHARACTERISTICS. MOST TIMES THE STEERING IS HARD AND TYPICALLY ITS HARDEST AT LOW SPEED. THE STEERING UNDER ACCELERATION IS NOTABLY OF GREAT CONCERN AS I HAVE EXPERIENCED ERRATIC AND UNPREDICTABLE SUDDEN PULLS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT WITHOUT ANY DRIVER INPUT. THE SERVICE HISTORY FOR THIS VEHICLE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE SUGGESTED SERVICE INTERVALS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME. *TR

INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED POWER STEERING FAILURE ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER S (R53). WE PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 69,000 MILES AND WITHIN A WEEK HAD OUR FIRST POWER STEERING PROBLEM. WE GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WHEN WE TURNED IT BACK ON THE STEERING WAS FINE. THIS OCCURRED RANDOMLY FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. POWER STEERING WOULD QUIT WITHOUT WARNING AT SLOW AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FINALLY TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND THE MECHANIC SAID THE POWER STEERING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. REPAIR WAS DONE THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER AND WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY POWER STEERING PROBLEMS SINCE. *TR

CAR IS VERY NOISY ON COLD STARTS WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. STEERING WOULD JUDDER WHEN BEING TURNED. WHEEL WILL FEEL HEAVY AND STUCK AT TIMES. POWER STEERING RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY WITH NO SIGNS OF LEAKS. POWER STEERING FLUID FLOODED INTO STEERING RACK DUE TO FAILED SEAL. STEERING RACK NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING FUNCTION. THE CONTACT STATED IN ORDER FOR THE POWER STEERING TO FUNCTION PROPERLY THE VEHICLE HAD TO COOL DOWN AND THAT COULD TAKE HOURS. THE VEHICLE ALSO BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOT OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING HER YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL AND THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM AND WOULD LIKE FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 01/20/11 *BF UPDATED 03/28/11

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER S FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAR IS EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILS. *TR

I WANT TO REPORT PROBLEM WITH STEERING COMPONENTS IN MY 2004 MINI COOPER S (BASED ON ARTICLE IN USA TODAY). IN JULY OF THIS YEAR, 2010, MY STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. I STOPPED, CALLED MY DEALERSHIP, HAD THE CAR TOWED IN. THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR. THIS WEEK, SEPT. 2010, I HEARD A STRANGE SOUND. TOOK IT BACK IN, THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING FAN. *TR

WE PURCHASED A NEW 2004 MINI-COOPER R50 AND PAID EXTRA FOR INSTALLATION OF A CVT TRANSMISSION. THE CVT ' (SPORT MODE)' FAILED IN 2010, JUST 2 YEARS AFTER ITS WARRANTY EXPIRED AND WITH ONLY 35,147 MILES DRIVEN. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT COULD COST BETWEEN $2,000 AND $9,000 TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE SPORT MODE' FUNCTION, AND SINCE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS STILL OPERATING, WE DECIDED TO AVOID THE UNCERTAINTY OF COSTLY REPAIRS AND MAKE SURE NO ONE ELSE DRIVES THIS VEHICLE. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE LEARNED OF OTHER PREMATURE CVT FAILURES AND THREE CLASS-ACTION LAWSUITS REGARDING THIS TRANSMISSION: AARONS V. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC [XXX],BONOMO V. BMW[XXX], AND BOURNE-MILLER V. BMW[XXX]. PREMATURE 'SPORT-MODE' FAILURE CAN CAUSE PERMANENT DAMAGE TO A $9,000 TRANSMISSION WITH DEADLY CONSEQUENCES ON U.S. HIGHWAYS AT HIGH SPEEDS. CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS DO NOT ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, AND WE HAVE 'OPTED-OUT' OF PARTICIPATION IN THEM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE EXTENT OF PREMATURE CVT FAILURES IN THE MINI-COOPER AND ISSUE A RECALL APPROPRIATE TO REMEDY THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY DEFECT. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF MORE INFORMATION OR DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED. UNDER PENALTIES OF PERJURY IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA I SWEAR THAT THE FORGOING DETAILS ARE ACCURATE AND TRUTHFUL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DRIVING NORMALLY WHEN SUDDENLY POWER STEERING FAILS COMPLETELY CAUSING INSTANT CONTROL ISSUES. POWER STEERING RETURNS INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING; HAD NEW STEERING RACK/PUMP INSTALLED AT 90,000, WORKED FINE FOR A YEAR AND NOW THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME; A NEW STEERING PUMP/RACK NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED... *KB

POWER STEERING HAS BEEN GOING IN AND OUT FOR 3 YEARS, GETTING WORSE. *TR

ON MY WAY UP DRIVEWAY I NOTICED A SHARP STINGING SENSATION IN THE LUMBAR OF MY BACK. FELT SORT OF LIKE AN "CONTINUOUS ELECTRIC SHOCK". I IMMEDIATELY ARCHED MY BACK AS A REACTION TO THE STING AND HAD TO STRAIGHTEN MY BACK IN ORDER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. WHEN STRAIGHTENING MY BACK I FELT SOMETHING HOT, VERY HOT THIS TIME LIKE SOMETHING THAT WAS ON FIRE. I COULD NOT LONGER CONTROL THE VEHICLE GRABBED FOR THE HANDLE OPENED THE DOOR AND ROLLED OUT ONTO THE DRIVEWAY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. THE VEHICLE BUCKED AND STALLED OUT. I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE INTERIOR AND NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WAS SMOLDERING AND THERE WAS A HOLE THE SIZE OF A QUARTER BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT IN THE LUMBAR. IT WAS A 100 DEGREE DAY SO I WASN'T USING THE SEAT HEATER, NONETHELESS IT WAS ON, MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSED A FIRE WHICH RESULTED IN ME JUMPING OUT OF THE MOVING VEHICLE. I ALSO READ ONLINE ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO ANOTHER 2004 MINI COOPER S "PASSENGER SEAT" AS WELL. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 MINI COOPER ON THE HIGHWAY FROM LA TO SAN DIEGO. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING IN MY CAR EVAPORATED AND I ALMOST HIT THE SIDE OF RAIL. THE CAR WOULD RUN BUT I COULD HARDLY STEER IT. I TOOK IT INTO A AUTO SERVICE CENTER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP. SEVERAL MINI COOPERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED CUSTOMER CARE FOR MINI COOPER AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO TAKE IT TO A BMW/MINI DEALERSHIP EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ALREADY GOT A DIAGNOSTIC. THE DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING $145.00 JUST TO LOOK AT THE CAR EVEN THOUGH WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT IS WRONG. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT TELL ME HOW LONG THIS WOULD TAKE TO GET RESOLVED. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE CARS AND THIS PART REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE. IN ADDITION, I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET MY CAR FIXED WHEN THIS IS CLEARLY MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE CAR. I WOULD LIKE THE DOT TO RECALL THIS CAR AND MAKE THE PART AND SERVICE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING FAILURE AFTER <50,000 MILES VERY HARD TO STEER. HAD TO REPLACE THE PUMP. *TR

NEAR THE END OF A 500 MILE TRIP FROM NORTHERN TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I COMPLETED THE TRIP WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A SIDE STREETS WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I COULDN'T STEER THE CAR AFTER STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD SUDDENLY GONE BACK ON MY 2004 MINICOOPER. II WAS AT A 4-WAY INTERSECTION AT THE TIME AND WAS NEARLY CRUSHED BY TWO OTHER CARS. AFTER GETTING THE CAR HOME I WROTE TO MINI'S CORPORATE TO SEE IF IT WOULD BE COVERED SINCE THERE HAD BEEN A LOT OF ONLINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PUMP, BUT THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT. INSTEAD I WAS FORCED TO SHELL OUT OVER $700 FOR IT (EXACT PRICE I WILL HAVE TO LOOK UP). I JUST READ ABOUT AN INVESTIGATION THAT THE NHTSA WAS DOING AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HEARD BY STORY. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 2004 FROM MINI OF PEABODY, MA. AND WILL TRY TO GET MY MONEY BACK, BUT SO FAR I HAVEN'T HAD ANY LUCK. [XXX]2004 MINICOOPER (NON "S" MODEL) HERE IS THE EMAIL THAT I SENT TO MINICOOPER ------------------------- I AM WRITING TO SEE IF MINI WILL COVER THE COST OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP THAT DIED YESTERDAY WITHOUT ANY ADVANCE WARNING IN MY 2004 MINI. THE CAR WAS FINE ALL DAY AND THEN AS I WENT TO TAKE A TURN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL AND ALMOST GOT CRUSHED BY OTHER CARS HEADING TOWARD ME. FROM THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE THIS IS A KNOWN FAILURE AND ONE THAT MINI SEEMS TO AVOID ABSORBING THE COST TO FIX / REPLACE. FROM WHAT I READ A RECALL WAS DONE IN BRITAIN, BUT NOT HERE IN THE U.S. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW MINI WILL HELP ME IN THIS SITUATION. I SURELY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR A NEW OR REFURBISHED POWER STEERING PUMP AND WITH THE HUGE RISK OF INJURY / AND OR DEATH THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE I WOULD HOPE THAT MINI CARES LESS ABOUT PROFITS AND MORE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS - AND COVERS THE COST TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE RESPOND BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ON A 2004 MINI COOPER S, INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP CAUSING EXTREME DIFFICULTY STEERING. CAR HAS 43,000 MILES. MANY SIMILAR CASES REPORTED IN ONLINE FORUMS. *TR