2004 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

MY CAR STARTED TO MAKE A WHIRRING SOUND, I WASN'T SURE WHAT IT WAS SO MY DAD HAD A LOOK AND WASN'T SURE. THE NEXT DAY I WAS DRIVING ALONG A 60MPH ROAD AND AS I WENT TO TURN A SHARP CORNER MY POWER STEERING FAILED. I HAD TO MANUALLY PULL THE CAR ROUND THE CORNER WITH ALL MY STRENGTH SO AS NOT TO HIT THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT THEN KEPT FAILING INTERMITTENTLY FOR THE REST OF THE DRIVE HOME. I TYPED MINI POWER STEERING INTO GOOGLE WHEN I GOT HOME AND FOUND PAGE AFTER PAGE OF PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEMS JUST LIKE MINE. I RANG MINI AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN CHELTENHAM WHICH I DID. I LEFT THE CAR WITH THEM AND THE NEXT DAY THEY GOT BACK TO ME TO SAY IT DEFINITELY WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP. I ASKED IT THEY WOULD FIX THIS AS IT WAS A DANGEROUS FAULT WITH THE CAR. THEY SAID THEY WOULD SPEAK TO MINI ONE AND GET BACK TO ME. I EVENTUALLY HEARD BACK FROM THEM AND THE ANSWER WAS NO, THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT AS I DIDN'T BUY THE CAR FROM A MINI DEALERSHIP. I WAS UNHAPPY WITH THIS DECISION AS IT WAS CLEARLY A DANGEROUS MANUFACTURING FAULT SO WENT INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN CHELTENHAM TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE FACE TO FACE. I SPOKE TO THE MANAGER THERE AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THINGS, THAT I DIDN'T BUY IT FROM A MINI DEALERSHIP, IT WAS OVER 5 YEARS OLD AND OVER 30000 MILES ON THE CLOCK. IT WAS A PRISTINE 2004 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE WITH 35000 MILES ON THE CLOCK. HAD ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED WITH MINI AND I HAD ONLY OWNED THE CAR 3 MONTHS. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ME 800 TO FIX IT. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS AND TOLD THEM HOW UNHAPPY I WAS AND THEY OFFERED ME HALF OFF THE LABOR TAKING THE PRICE TO 590 APPROX. I WAS STILL UNHAPPY SO THEY OFFERED TO RING MINI ONE AGAIN AND PUT MY CASE FORWARD. 2 DAYS LATER WE GOT A CALL AND THE ANSWER WAS AGAIN NO. I THEN FOUND A COMPANY ONLINE WHO RESTORE FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMPS WITH A 2 YEAR WARRANTY FOR A FRACTION OF THE PRICE SO WENT WITH THAT. IT WAS FIXED IN JUNE AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS SINCE. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 MINI COOPER S BUILT IN LATE SEPTEMBER OR EARLY OCTOBER 2003. AT APPROXIMATELY 54,000 MILES IN SPRING OF 2010, I LEFT TO GO ON A TRIP ACROSS TOWN. AFTER ABOUT 2 MILES OF THE UP TO THEN NORMAL DRIVE, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF A CURVE. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO RETAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR AND MAKE IT TO MY DESTINATION A COUPLE MORE MILES AWAY. AFTER SITTING ABOUT 15 MINUTES, UPON RESTART, THE CAR PERFORMED NORMALLY AS FAR AS I CAN TELL. CHECKING THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A SOMEWHAT COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THAT IT WILL CONTINUE ON AND OFF UNTIL THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. THIS CAN ALSO LEAD TO A FIRE AT THE POWER STEERING PUMP THAT MAY LEAD TO COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE AND OR ADDITIONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE. SOME WITH FIRES HAVE NOT HAD ANY PRIOR HINTS OF AN ISSUE AND SOME HAVE HAD THE INTERMITTENT PUMP GOING OUT. IN SPEAKING TO THE MINI SERVICE CENTER, THEY OF COURSE SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO GIVE ME ANY HELP UNDER GOODWILL WARRANTY. I HAD THEM REPLACE THE PUMP AT MY EXPENSE TO AVOID THE RISK OF FIRE. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE 2004 MINI COOPER S TO PICK UP OUR SON FROM SCHOOL. AFTER SHE RETRIEVED HIM, SHE WENT AROUND A CORNER AND THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING CAUSING HER TO CRASH INTO A CURB. SHE DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL AND THERE WAS NO WARNING OF A POSSIBLE FAILURE. I AM FEARFUL TO REPLACE THE PART AND CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON A VEHICLE I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE PUTTING MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN IN DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE NEW POWERING STEERING PUMP WILL FAIL IF REPLACED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WOULD MALFUNCTION WHICH ALMOST LED TO A CRASH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AND THE COOLING FAN REPLACED. SINCE THE REPAIRS, THE CONTACT HAD NOT NOTICED ANY POWER STEERING ISSUES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED ON MY MINI COOPER AT HIGH SPEED, CURVY ROAD AT NIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. I HAD TO REPLACE THE PUMP AND THE COOLING FAN TO THE TUNE OF $900. THIS HAPPENED JUST OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY AT 60K MILES. MECHANIC SAID THAT HE REPLACES ABOUT 10 A MONTH...ALL MINI'S PUMPS FAIL UNDER 80K MILES. *TR

I HAD DRIVEN MY CAR ~ 40 MILES AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 45 MPH TO 70 MPH. THE LAST 20 OR SO MILES HAD BEEN ON AN INTERSTATE. SHORTLY AFTER I EXITED THE FREEWAY, MY STEERING BECAME VERY TIGHT AND HARD TO MANIPULATE. THIS CONTINUED UNTIL I PARKED THE CAR, ABOUT 5 MILES LATER. WHEN I RE-STARTED THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING HAD RETURNED TO NORMAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED NO LESS THAN 15 TIMES SINCE THEN. IT OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND USUALLY WILL CORRECT ITSELF IF I TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BECOME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

2004 MINI COOPER, COUPE HAS INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING, WHICH BEGAN SUDDENLY ON A CIRCULAR FREEWAY ON RAMP AT ABOUT 40MPH, DURING WHICH I NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE FAILURE SEEMS TO BE TRIGGERED BY U TURNS (ROUND-ABOUT, SPIRAL RAMPS, MANEUVERING OUT OF A SMALL PARKING SPACE.) I HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP INVESTIGATED AS THE CAUSE AND IT IS WORKING NORMALLY. I BELIEVE IT IS A PROBLEM WITH EITHER THE COMPUTER OR STEERING ASSEMBLY. IT IS POSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH THE FAILED POWER STEERING, BUT QUITE DISCONCERTING WHEN IT FAILS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN. I AM STILL DRIVING THE CAR - BUT CAREFULLY. UPDATE - WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THIS MORNING, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED ON A CURVE AT 50 MPH. I MOMENTARILY LOST CONTROL, BUT REGAINED IT WITHOUT ACCIDENT. THE POWER STEERING BECAME FUNCTIONAL AGAIN WITHIN ABOUT 100 YARDS OF DRIVING. *TR

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. CAR HAD JUST BEEN INSPECTED AND THERE WERE NO OTHER MECHANICAL OR ROAD HAZARD ISSUES BUT I ALMOST COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE. IN ACTUALITY, IT REQUIRED A GREAT DEAL OF STRENGTH--UNEXPECTEDLY SO IT FELT FROZEN. *TR

LOST POWER STEERING UNEXPECTEDLY IN MY CAR. POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN WERE REPLACED 6/3/2010. ON 6/29/2011, I AGAIN LOST POWER STEERING UNEXPECTEDLY MILEAGE- 96250 . POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN WERE REPLACED AGAIN. ON 6/26/2012 I YET AGAIN LOST POWER STEERING - MILEAGE -111834, PUMP AND FAN WERE REPLACED FOR THE 3RD TIME. EACH TIME THE FAN HAD FAILED AND THE PUMP OVERHEATED. *TR

AFTER DRIVING 5 MILES AND STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I BEGAN A LEFT TURN AND HAD NO POWER STEERING, I HAD TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL WITH ALL MY STRENGTH TO KEEP FROM CAUSING A WRECK. I DROVE 5 MORE MILES TO WORK AND PARKED. 2 HOURS LATER I WENT OUTSIDE AND HEARD A MOTOR RUNNING IN MY CAR. THE RUNNING MOTOR HAD DRAINED MY BATTERY, I HAD TO JUMP START THE CAR TO GET HOME. THE MINI DEALER IN CHARLESTON SC SAID I HAD TO BRING THE CAR TO THEM TO REPLACE A RMFD POWER STEERING PART WHICH WAS A DEALER ONLY PART. I LIVE 100 MILES FROM THE DEALER, I HAD TO TAKE CAR TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC SO HE COULD UNHOOK THE MOTOR SO THE BATTERY WOULD NOT BE DRAINED WHILE I PARKED UNTIL I COULD GET A DAY OFF WORK TO DRIVE THE MINI TO CHARLESTON. PARTS NEEDED FOR THE FIX: INTAKE MANIFOLD; HOSE CLAMP; RMFD POWER STEERING; CORE RETURN. THE TOTAL REPAIR COSTS 969.00 AND A DAY OFF WORK. I HAVE A 2 YEAR GUARANTEE ON THIS FIX. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER TYPE S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY STOP FUNCTIONING WITHOUT WARNING; THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE WAS 8,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 143,000. UPDATED 01/04/11*LJ UPDATED 01/10/11*JB

HAVE A 2004 MINI COOPER WITH 65,000 MILES TOTAL AND ONLY 6200 MILES IN LAST 20 MONTHS AND CAR SERVICED REGULARLY. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS NOW STARTED TO NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND MINI SERVICE REPROGRAMMED TRANSMISSION BUT PROBLEMS HAVE RECURRED AND AGAIN MINI WANTS TO REPROGRAM TRANSMISSION. IF THIS DOES NOT WORK, TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT COST OF $6500.00. THERE IS NO REPAIR OR REBUILDING OF THIS TRANSMISSION. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION BUT BMW HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED ANY PROBLEM. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE MADE CAR STOP IN TRAFFIC. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. *TR

LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR. AT TIMES, THERE WOULD BE NO POWER STEERING ASSIST; RESTARTING THE CAR WOULD SOLVE THE ISSUE. ULTIMATELY, THE ISSUE APPEARED TO BE A BUILT-IN ELECTRICAL RELAY IN THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP THAT STICKS. ONLY REPLACEMENT OPTION WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PUMP. *TT

I WAS DRIVING ON I-95N WHEN THE STEERING BECAME ALL TIGHT LIKE I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL. NO INDICATIOR LIGHTS CAME ON. I REACHED MY DESTINATION, SHUT THE CAR OFF FOR SEVERAL MIN, GOT IN STARTED IT UP AND IT WAS FINE. GOT BACK ON I-95S AND 5 MIN LATER THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LIKE IT WAS LOCKED UP I COULDN'T TURN IT. AGAIN NO WARNINGS!!!!! ARE YOU PEOPLE GOING TO WAIT TILL SOME ONE IS KILLED TO MAKE BMW FIX THIS!!!!!! I HAVE READ IT'S BEEIN GOING ON SINCE 2002 POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 25 TO 30 MPH, THERE WAS A SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS A CONTINUOUS OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,441 UPDATED 02/01/11*LJ THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. 03.22.11

POWER STEERING PUMP STOPPED WORKING. *TR

MY 2004 MINI COOPER HAD A BAD FUEL LEAK FROM THE FUEL RAIL THAT SITS ON TOP OF THE ENGINE CONNECTED TO THE FUEL INJECTORS. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT TO WORK WHEN SHE WAS ALL MOST OVERCOME BY GAS FUMES. WHEN SHE GOT TO WORK SHE NOTICED THAT SHE HAD LOST A HALF A TANK OF GAS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO VISTA MOTORS IN POMPANO BCH. FL. ON SAMPLE ROAD AND THE MINI SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. WHEN I ASKED HIM IF THE PART WAS GOING TO BE INVESTIGATED BY MINI WHY THE PART STARTED LEAKING AND COULD OF EASILY CAUSED A FIRE AND BECAME A SAFETY HAZARD I WAS TOLD NO. *TR

WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, THE CENTER CONSOLE CONTROLS (HEAT, REAR DEFOGGER), THE HEADLIGHTS, FRONT/REAR WIPERS WILL NOT FUNCTION. WHEN CAR STARTS TO WARM UP, THOSE ITEMS WILL START WORKING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO EITHER SIDE. WHEN CAR IS FULLY WARMED UP, WILL WORK MOST OF THE TIME UNLESS YOU HIT A BUMP. MINI SHOP SAID IT WAS A BAD COMPUTER - $800 TO FIX. ENGINE HAD AN OIL PLAN LEAK 2 YEARS AGO RESULTING IN MAJOR LOSS OF OIL. FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN GETTING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM FIXED, MINI SHOP FOUND 3 OIL LEAKS. TOTAL COST TO FIX WAS $3200. NOT NECESSARY TO GET THE FIX BUT NEED TO WATCH THE OIL LEVELS. *TR

1. AN HOUR INTO A HIGHWAY DRIVE, ALL THE ELECTRICAL FAILED. ALL LIGHTS, GAUGES, RADIO, ETC. ALL BUT THE POWER STEERING RETURNED IN A MOMENT, LESS THAN A SECOND. 2. THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK. 3. POWER STEERING PUMP INTERNAL ELECTRONICS AREA SHOWS SIGNIFICANT SCORCHING AND MELTING. PUMP WAS REPLACED BUT POWER STEERING SYSTEM STILL INOPERABLE. THE OLD PUMP IS AVAILABLE. *TR

AFTER STARTING THE MINI, WHICH IS PARKED IN A PARKING GARAGE, I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN, AS IF THE POWER STEERING WASN'T WORKING. THIS HAD HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE, BUT THAT TIME THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AFTER A FEW MINUTES. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 70 OUTSIDE, AND THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS FULL. I DROVE THE CAR TO DO ERRANDS, APPROX 10 MILES ROUND TRIP, AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED EVEN AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AND LETTING IT SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES WHILE I WENT TO THE STORE. THE STEERING FUNCTIONED WHEN I USED A LOT OF FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL, BUT I WAS WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY IF I HAD TO SWERVE OR TURN THE WHEEL QUICKLY FOR ANY REASON; I WOULD BE UNABLE TO DO SO. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED DURING CORNERING. REQUIRED ME TO APPLY EXTRA FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL AT WHICH POINT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST RE-ENGAGED CAUSING THE CAR TO OVER STEER. I NEEDED TO MAKE A QUICK CORRECTION IN ORDER TO AVOID CROSSING OVER THE CENTERLINE AND HITTING AN ON COMING VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS BEEN ON AND OFF FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS SINCE THAT TIME AND HAS BEEN COMPLETELY NON FUNCTIONAL FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SO.

DOOR LOCK MECHANISM FREEZES AND TRAPS DRIVE AND OCCUPANTS INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ANYTIME THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING DOOR LOCKS FREEZE. UPON CONTACTING MINI THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY GET THIS COMPLAINT FREQUENTLY BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE A METHOD TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE TRAVELING 15 MPH AND MAKING A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75000. UPDATED 01/11/2011*LJ UPDATED 02/28/11

THE POWER STEERING PUMP SUDDENLY FAILED. THIS IS AN ELECTRIC-HYDRAULIC STEERING SYSTEM AND THE CAR IS NOT CONTROLLABLE WHEN THE PUMP FAILS. THE CAR HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILE. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). I HAVE A 2004 MINI COOPER S (BMW) THAT I HAVE OWNED FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF BUT RECENTLY, PAST 3 MONTHS., I HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING QUIT SUDDENLY ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THANKFULLY I WAS NOT ON A HIGH SPEED ROAD AT ANY OF THOSE TIMES BECAUSE WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT IT I COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL AND I'M A 36 YR. OLD MALE WITH QUITE A BIT MORE STRENGTH THAN MY FIANCE WHO ALSO DRIVES THE CAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS FLAW WITH THE CAR AS I HAVE CHECKED WITH OTHER MINI COOPER OWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO EACH AND EVERYONE OF THEM HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING FAILING SUDDENLY. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THIS OCCURS AT HIGH SPEEDS OR DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED BY BMW SINCE I AM NOT THE ONLY MINI COOPER OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM. [XXX] *TR

DEAR NHTSA, OUR COMPLAINT MATCHES THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION BEING CONDUCTED REGARDING THE INTERMITTENT POWER-LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP OF THE 2004-5 MINI COOPER WE OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER. OUR POWER STEERING LOSS BEGAN FEB '10 AND DESCRIBED AS UNEXPECTED AND INTERMITTENTLY-OCCURRING TOTAL LOSS-OF-ASSIST TO STEERING. THIS WAS RECTIFIED BY A PURCHASE OF A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP FROM MINI COOPER (ELMSFORD, NY) AND PURCHASE OF LABOR (INSTALLATION) FROM STRAUB AUTO REPAIR (HASTINGS ON HUDSON, NY) DURING THAT MONTH. *TR

LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER- 50K MILES- POWER STEERING FAN / MOTOR FAILURE LEADING TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, HEAT/FIRE DAMAGE RESULTING IN INABILITY TO TURN OFF ENGINE. *TR

TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING. HAPPENS PROBABLY ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT I HAVE A POWER STEERING LEAK - BUT NOT BAD ENOUGH TO CAUSE A PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER LOST A QUANTITY OF FLUID THAT REQUIRED REFILLING. CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 70K MILES - SEEMS ODD TO HAVE A POWER STEERING LEAK AT THAT MILEAGE. LEAK FIRST SHOWED UP AT ABOUT 50K MILES. *TR

STARTED TO HAVE INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE IN JANUARY 2010, THEN IT FINALLY STOPPED WORKING IN JULY 2010, HAVEN'T HAD POWER STEERING SINCE. *TR

DURING 2010 I EXPERIENCED THE POWER STEERING GOING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. ALSO, SOMETIMES THE POWER STEERING WOULD NOT WORK RIGHT AT THE START UP. I THEN HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF, AND RE-START IT. MY MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND A DIRECT PROBLEM. 3 DAYS AGO, JAN 2011, THE POWER STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY, AND MY CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE, IT WOULD NOT START. MY MECHANIC EXAMINED MY CAR AND FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING UNIT WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN. *TR

THE CARS POWER STEERING STARTED FAILING FOR A FEW SECONDS WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 20 OR MORE TIMES OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS. THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE BECOMES EXTREMELY HARD. THERE IS NO WARNING THAT THIS WILL OCCUR, SO CLEARLY IT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, THE POWER STEERING HAS STARTED TO FAIL WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED, BUT STARTED WORKING AGAIN IF THE CAR WAS RESTARTED OR AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THIS WEEK, AFTER 3 HOURS OF DRIVING, THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR 15 MINUTES, WHEN THE CAR WAS RESTARTED THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING AT ALL DURING ANOTHER 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THE CARE WAS STOPPED FOR ANOTHER 20 MINUTES AND WHEN RESTARTED POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS FAILURE COULD OCCUR DURING HIGH SPEED MANEUVERING AND COULD RESULT IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO DATE THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN IN A SITUATION THAT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, PRECISE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. *TR

I HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WHERE MY POWER STEERING WASN'T AVAILABLE. SEVERAL TIMES THE POWER STEERING FAILED DRIVING AROUND THE CORNER WHICH WAS VERY FREIGHTING. I CONTACTED BMW ABOUT THE ISSUE BUT THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT SINCE MY CAR ONLY HAD 35K MILES. I OWNED OTHER CARS WHERE I NEVER HAD A FAILED POWER STEERING PUMP. MINI UK SEEM TO HANDLE THE PROBLEM MUCH BETTER FOR THEIR CUSTOMER (SEE LINK BELOW). I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS NO RECALL BEING MADE YET. PAID ALMOST 1K FOR REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PUMP AND IT SEEMS THAT THE NEW PUMP THEY PUT IN MY MINI STARTS ACTING UP AGAIN. HTTP://WWW.BBC.CO.UK/BLOGS/WATCHDOG/2009/02/MINI_STEERING_SYSTEM_FAILURES.HTML. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. HE CONTACT NOTICED AN UNKNOWN FLUID LEAK ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, STEERING HOSE, PRESSURE HOSE, RETURN HOSE, AND THE SUCTION HOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,400.

CONTINUOUS RELAPSING/REMITTING PROBLEM. POWER STEERING HAS BEEN GOING OUT NEARLY ONCE A WEEK FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. 90% OF THE TIME THE POWER STEERING COMES BACK ON AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR.

POWER STEERING SUDDENLY CUT OUT DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS IN DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP SAFELY, BUT THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT HAD IT OCCURRED ON A CURVING ROAD. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE FAILED, AND WAS REPLACED BY THE CONSUMER, FOR A REPAIR COST OF CLOSE TO $700. THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS NOT SUPPOSED TO FAIL THIS EARLY IN THE LIFETIME OF A VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY AND MORE EFFORT HAD TO BE EXERTED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000.

OUR 2004 MINI COOPER (CVT) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS ONLY 74,000 MILE ON IT. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) WHY HAS THE NHTSA ADMINISTRATION TAKEN NO ACTION AGAINST MINI AND BMW FOR THE KNOWN DEFECT IN POWER STEERING SYSTEMS. I AM WONDERING, AMID ALL THE TOYOTA CONTROVERSY AND RECALLS, ESPECIALLY NOW ABOUT THE BROKEN STEERING RODS, WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL, OR AT LEAST A PUBLIC WARNING OF SOME KIND ABOUT STEERING ISSUES ON THE MINI. THE POWER STEERING PUMP IN MINI'S OF ALL AGES AND MILEAGES ARE PRONE TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 MINI COOPER S ACROSS A SNOWY AND ICY MOUNTAIN PASS HERE IN WASHINGTON STATE. IT WAS QUITE A SURPRISING, FRIGHTENING, AND UNSAFE EXPERIENCE TO SAY THE LEAST. OTHERS HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS WITH YOU FOLKS, AS WELL AS THE COMPANY, BUT SO FAR AS I KNOW NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. IF INJURIES AND FATALITIES ARE THE CRITERIA, HOW WOULD ANYONE KNOW THE STEERING WAS AN ISSUE UNLESS THEY HAD EXPERIENCED THE TERROR OF LOSING STEERING AT SPEED? THIS ISSUE PROMPTED A RECALL IN GREAT BRITAIN. WHY NOT HERE. EVEN A CURSORY SEARCH OF THE INTERNET REVEALS THE DEPTH OF THE PROBLEM, YET NEITHER BMW NOR MINI HAVE TAKEN ANY STEPS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE HERE IN THE US. CAN YOU TELL ME WHY?? [XXX] *TR

THE POWER STEERING ASSIST ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER STARTED FAILING VERY SPORADICALLY OVER ONE YEAR AGO BECOMING MORE AND MORE FREQUENT UNTIL FINALLY I EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE POWER ASSIST. SOMETIMES THIS WOULD OCCUR WHEN I WAS FIRST STARTING THE CAR BUT THEN AS THE FREQUENCY INCREASE, IT WOULD ALSO JUST STOP WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING, SOMETIMES GOING AS FAST AS 50-60 MILES PER HOUR, MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED WITH A BRAND NEW ONE, WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE CAR ONLY HAD 83,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED, WHICH, I BELIEVE, IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

PURCHASED A 2004 MINI COOPER A YEAR AGO, WITH A MILEAGE OF 17,000 MILES. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 4,000 MILES, THE CAR BROKE DOWN AND WAS SENT TO LOCAL MINI DEALER TO GET IT FIXED. CONTINUOUS VARIABLE TRANSMISSION WAS DIAGNOSED WRECKED, AND DEALER OFFERED A REPLACEMENT (ONLY SOLUTION) WITH A RE-FURBISHED CVT TRANSMISSION FOR $9800. AFTER NEGOTIATION, I HAD MINI COVER THE PARTS AND I PAID LABOR. BUT I HAVE SEEN ON SO MANY FORUMS THAT ALL CVT TRANSMISSIONS ARE FAILING SO I WONDER WHY THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS. MY CVT FAILED WHEN THE CAR HAD 21,000 MILES! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURE, THE STEERING PROBLEMS BECAME INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT; THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO RESET IT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000. UPDATED 01/20/11 *BF UPDATED 01/31/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BUMP ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 71,000.

THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2004 MINI COOPER S FAILED, LEADING TO EXTREMELY DIFFICULT OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. CAR WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT FAILURE NOT COVERED.

2004 MINI COOPER NON S , TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO A MIDLAND TRANSMISSION. *TR

MINI COOPER (2004 WITH ~74K MILES) WITH INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. STEERING WHEEL WOULD RANDOMLY BECOME VERY STIFF WHEN TURNING AND THEN FREE UP UNEXPECTEDLY. WHEN THIS WOULD OCCUR, THE CAR WOULD UNDERSTEER (NOT TURNING AS FAR AS INTENDED) AND I WOULD FIND MYSELF REACTING BY TURNING HARDER, USUALLY RESULTING IN OVERSTEERING AND ERRATIC TURNS. IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS BINDING AND THEN LETTING GO BUT IT WASN'T PREDICTABLE OR REPEATABLE WITH CONSISTENCY. DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT 'POWER STEERING PUMP WAS CUTTING OUT. REPLACED THE FAULTY PS PUMP TO RESOLVE.' COST WAS $1009.94. ONE WEEK LATER, EXACTLY SAME CONDITION RETURNED. DEALERSHIP NOW DETERMINED 'FOUND STEERING SHAFT FROM STEERING WHEEL TO STEERING RACK TO BE SEIZED AND BINDING. REPLACED STEERING SHAFT AND ALIGNED STEERING WHEEL TO FRONT TIRES.' NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE; PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED. *TR