2005 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

NOTICED A WHIRRING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THEN SUDDENLY THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT LIKELY DUE TO POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. LOOKED UP POSSIBLE ISSUES ON LINE AND NOTICED THAT OTHER FOLKS HAD VERY SIMILAR EXPERIENCES.

POWER STEERING QUIT UNEXPECTEDLY. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT, JUST STARTED THE CAR, AND HAD NO POWER STEERING. I DROVE IT A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD TO A GAS STATION, TURNED IT OFF, AND WHEN TURNED BACK ON AGAIN IT WORKED FINE. ORIGINALLY HAPPENED ON 2/12/11 AND HAS NOT RECURRED AS OF 2/22/11. *TR

I HAVE A JANUARY 2005 BUILT MINI COOPER S (R53) WITH APPROXIMATELY 21,000 MILES ON IT. ON FEBRUARY 12, 2011 I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON A WINDING ROAD IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHEN THE POWER STEERING PUMP CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGH SPEED TURN. THE UNEXPECTED POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE MADE THE STEERING COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE CAUSING THE CAR TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL AND NEARLY HIT A TREE (I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT I WASN'T KILLED!). AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT UNWARRANTED POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURES ARE QUITE COMMON WITH THE EARLIER MINI COOPER MODELS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURE VIA A MANDATORY SAFETY RECALL. AFTER THE INITIAL CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP, THE PUMP WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY IN THAT IT WOULD RUN FINE FOR A WHILE AND THEN FAIL AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING A SHORT TIME LATER MAKING THE CAR EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. AT TIMES, THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NOT SWITCH OFF AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR'S IGNITION AND THE CAR'S BATTERY WOULD ULTIMATELY GO FLAT LEAVING US STRANDED. WE TOOK THE CAR INTO THE MINI DEALERSHIP ON 2/17//2011 AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE CAR AS HAVING A BAD BATTERY (CLAIMING THAT THE BATTERY WAS SO LOW THAT THE CAR WAS ACTUALLY SHUTTING DOWN THE POWER STEERING IN ORDER TO STAY RUNNING). THEY CHARGED US $160 FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS. WE THEN REPLACED THE BATTERY WITH AN OEM BATTER FROM THE DEALERSHIP ($130) AND IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. WE ALSO CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER (MINI USA) DIRECTLY AND THEY WERE UNWILLING TO HELP CLAIMING THAT THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. ULTIMATELY, ON JULY 26, 2011 (AT 21,385 MILES) WE REPLACED THE FAILED POWER STEERING PUMP (PART # 32-41-6-778-425) AT A COST OF $735.29 (PLUS LABOR). THE MINI DEALERSHIP WANTED WELL OVER $1,000 TO PERFORM THE WORK AND SO WE PURCHASE A REMPLACEMENT PUMP FROM THE MINI DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT INSTALLED OURSELVES. *TR

THERE WAS A STRANGE NOISE (LIKE A FAN RUNNING) COMING FROM MY 2005 MINI COOPER WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. IT CONTINUED TO MAKE THE NOISE UNTIL EVENTUALLY THE CAR BATTERY DIED. I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR IN FEAR OF LOSING THE POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO EVALUATE THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I AM NOT SURE WHY A 6 YEAR OLD CAR WITH 36,600 MILES WOULD NEED THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED OR WHY IT IS BROKEN IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WITH PARTS AND LABOR WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $1400. I HAD CONCERNS REGARDING THE REPAIR AND DECIDED TO RETURN HOME WITH MY CAR. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILING ON MINI COOPERS. I HAVE REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND ULTIMATELY MINI USA FOR THE REPAIR AS I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

SAME ISSUE AS COMPLAINTS 10378962 AND 10380308, RELATED TO INVESTIGATION 10-038. POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN

I HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER S WITH 51,000 MILES ON IT. I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND HAVE HAD A CREAK IN MY STEERING COLUMN THAT IS GETTING WORSE. LAST MONTH, I FIRST EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LACK OF POWER STEERING. THE CAR CORRECTED ITSELF AND WORKED PROPERLY UNTIL A FEW INTERMITTENT OCCASIONS THIS WEEK. TURNING OFF THE CAR AND TURNING IT BACK ON SEEM TO TEMPORARILY CORRECT THE LACK OF POWER STEERING. HOWEVER, IT IS VERY TEMPORARY. WHILE DRIVING, I CAN FEEL THE STEERING RESPONSE CHANGE ON/OFF DUE TO LACK OF POWER STEERING CONTROL. WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILS, THE WHEEL IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. IT FEELS LIKE A 1961 CHEVY TRUCK WITH A 350 V8. IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE CAR FROM A DEAD STOP MAKING PARKING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. I AM BEING FORCED TO DRIVE BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT TO LIMIT MY LIABILITY IN CORNERS AND TURNS, ESPECIALLY ON THE INTERSTATE. I AM SETTING UP AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL MINI DEALER TO ADDRESS AND CORRECT THE FAILURE. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA, BUT I CANNOT WAIT TO HAVE THE REPAIR. I AM BEWILDERED AS TO WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL YET. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT A VEHICLE'S STEERING SYSTEM CAN FAIL AFTER VERY LITTLE MILES. MINI NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN GOING OUT FOR SOME TIME. OFTEN IT WILL RESET IF I TURN THE VEHICLE OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS AND RESTART, BUT RECENTLY IT HASN'T BEEN RESETTING RIGHT AWAY AND OFTEN WILL BE OUT FOR QUITE SOME TIME BEFORE RESETTING. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN STRANGE CREAKING/GROANING SOUNDS EVERY TIME I TURN THE WHEEL RECENTLY, AS WELL AS A WHIRRING SOUND THAT GOES ON AND OFF WHILE THE CAR IS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. THE STEERING WILL GO OUT WHEN I START THE CAR OR WHEN I'M DRIVING. IT'S WORRYING TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WHERE YOU CAN NEVER BE SURE IF A LIGHT TURN OF THE WHEEL WILL DO THE TRICK TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE OR IF IT WILL REQUIRE ALL THE STRENGTH I HAVE--IF I MISJUDGE THIS BY EITHER APPLYING TOO MUCH FORCE OR TOO LITTLE, AN ACCIDENT IS VERY LIKELY. *TR

WE BOUGHT THIS CAR 1 MONTH AGO FOR OUR 16 YEAR OLD TWINS TO LEARN TO DRIVE ON. TWICE WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING HAS LOCKED UP TO THE POINT THEY ARE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. BOTH TIMES THEY CALLED ME FROM THEIR CELL PHONES AND I INSTRUCTED THEM TO TURN ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND TRY AND GET TO A SAFE PLACE. THEY COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR FROM SIDE TO SIDE SO I INSTRUCTED THEM TO STOP PUTTHE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF AND TRY TO RE-START. EACH TIMES THIS SEEMED TO HELP BUT WHEN WE HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAD ONLY 27,982 MILES A MONTH AGO WHEN WE BOUGHT IT. *LN

POWER STEERING APPEARS TO NOT BE WORKING. POWER IN THE VEHICLE IS INTERRUPTED AT LOW SPEEDS AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. SYMPTOMS OF THIS BEGAN OCCURRING OVER THREE MONTHS AGO WITH THE BATTERY OF THE CAR BEING DRAINED AFTER SITTING FOR A PERIOD OF 4 DAYS OR MORE. ALL RELAYS AND FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED. THE POWER STEERING PUMP COOLING FAN WAS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN INOPERATIVE AND WAS REMOVED, CLEANED AND REINSTALLED APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS AGO.

MY 2005 MINI COOPER S SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING AS I WAS DRIVING ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I'VE NOT HAD IT IN FOR REPAIRS YET, BUT RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET IT SEEMS MANY CONSUMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE EVEN READ OF THOSE WHOSE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND AM FEARFUL OF THE SAME HAPPENING TO ME NOT TO MENTION THE EXTREMELY HIGH COST OF REPAIR. MINI SHOULD RECALL THE 2005 AND FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR

SUDDEN STEERING FAILURE. *LN

THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED SUDDENLY AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE CAR. *TR UPDATED 08/24/11 *BF UPDATED 08/29/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND THE CONTACT UNPLUGGED THE BATTERY, WHICH STOPPED THE LOUD NOISE THAT SHE WAS HEARING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,998.

SAME ISSUE AS COMPLAINT 10378962, RELATED TO INVESTIGATION 10-038. POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, THE STEERING BEING DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ON HER BEHALF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD SPEAK WITH THE REGIONAL MANAGER ON HER BEHALF AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

I JUST BOUGHT A 2005 MINI COOPER AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED THIS MORNING. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND THAT THE NHTSA WAS LOOKING INTO THESE ISSUES ALREADY. SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE ONE DAY, I DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT WHETHER THE POWER STEERING FAILURE COMES AND GOES OR WHEN IT IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR. THIS MORNING IT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. *TR

POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING. HAD TO REPLACE THE PUMP. *TT

I HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER I JUST HIT 55K MILES AND MY POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FAILED. MY BATTERY IS NOW DEAD, ALTERNATOR IS FRIED. IT WAS RUNNING FINE ONE DAY AND THE NEXT IT TURNED ON AND I COULDN'T GET IT OUT OF MY GARAGE AND THEN THE BATTERY COMPLETELY DIED. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND AN EXPENSIVE COST THAT IS THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT IN THE UK THEY ARE PAYING FOR PARTS BUT IN THE US IT IS A MINOR ISSUE. *TR

I HAVE AN 05 MINI COOPER S AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS DEFECTIVE ALONG WITH 80,000+ OTHERS. I AM ROUGHLY AROUND 90,000 MILES AND THE PUMP HAS JUST RECENTLY STARED GOING OUT DUE TO WHAT THE DEALERSHIP CALLED A "DEFECTIVE LEAK ON THE ACTUALLY BODY OF THE PUMP". I ASKED THEM WHAT I SHOULD DO AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $1100 TO "FIX IT" BUT SAID THAT IT COULD GO OUT AND FAIL AT ANYTIME WHILE I AM DRIVING. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE BECAUSE MY WIFE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR IF IT COULD GO OUT AT ANYTIME? THEY ALSO SAID THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN 04/05 MINI COOPERS. I REALLY WISH SOMEBODY WOULD MAKE THEM RECALL THIS POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM WITHOUT CHARGING US $1100 FOR THEIR MISTAKE IN DESIGNING/INSTALLING THE POWER STEERING PUMPS??? *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN CORNER. FAILURE CONTINUED FOR SEVERAL MILES/HOURS AND THEN BEGAN WORKING AGAIN AFTER A PERIOD OF INACTIVITY

2005 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES IN MY MINI COOPER. THE CAR BECOMES EXTREMELY HARD TO DRIVE WHEN IT FAILS (MUCH HARDER THAN AN OLD CAR WITHOUT POWER STEERING-ITS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILS). SEVERAL TIMES IT HAS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE MAKING A TURN. IF I TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT THE POWER STEERING WILL COME BACK FOR A WHILE. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION! *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP WAS MAKING A LOUD WHINING NOISE AS SOON AS THE CAR WAS STARTED, AND WOULD "WIND DOWN" A FEW SECONDS AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. THE PUMP AND FAN WERE BOTH REPLACED THANKFULLY BEFORE THE SYSTEM FAILED. *TR

ON 1/14/11 WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON A HIGHWAY MY STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED UP AND MADE STEERING IMPOSSIBLE. I WAS ABLE TO GET BACK TO MY DRIVEWAY. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL 1/16/11 AND THEN 1/20/11, ALL WHILE DRIVING MY CAR AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, ALSO WHILE TRYING TO BACK INTO MY DRIVEWAY. IT HAPPENS WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR NOTIFICATION FROM THE MINI COMPUTER SYSTEM HAS ALERTED ME. *TR

POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AT ALL SPEEDS. UPDATED VIN. 02/22/11. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING, MY WIFE HAD TO EXERT STRENGTH TO DRIVE VEHICLE TO SAFE PLACE WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT (REPORTING THIS AS WE ARE NOT SURE IF IT IS RELATED) OUR 2005 MINI REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAN (AT COST OF $245.60) ON 8/21/2009, TO FIX A LOUD NOISE. ON 1/12/2011 WE HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP DUE TO POWER STEERING FAILURE. MINI AGREED TO CHARGE ME ONLY 1/2 THE WARRANTY PART COST AND REDUCED LABOR (TOTAL JOB COST ME $443 VERSUS ALMOST $1200 UNTIL I COMPLAINED). GIVEN THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS (AND I READ OF SIMILAR CONCERNS IN BRITAIN), THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OF THIS SYSTEM AND I SHOULD GET A REFUND OF WHAT I PAID FOR THE PUMP AND THE FAN I HAD REPLACED IN 2009. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE REPLACED FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AT A LABOR AND PARTS COST OF $767.24. AGAIN, NOT SURE IF THIS IS RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. OUR CAR ONLY HAS 46,500 MILES, SO THESE FAILURES SEEM UNUSUAL FOR A CAR WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A RIGHT TURN FROM A VERY BUSY STREET WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN. I NEARLY CRASHED HEAD-ON INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THE STEERING WAS SO DIFFICULT, I PULLED A SHOULDER AND BACK MUSCLE JUST TRYING TO COMPLETE THE TURN. THE POWER STEERING WAS OUT FOR THE REST OF MY TRIP. SINCE THEN, THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY ON A DAILY BASIS AND COMES WITH NO WARNING. IT WILL DRIVE FOR SEVERAL MILES WITH NO PROBLEM AND THEN SUDDENLY STOP WORKING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE ALL POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH CONCLUDED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND COMPLETED THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,648 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

LOST POWER STEERING AND ABILITY TO MAKE TURN EASILY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP SUDDENLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND GASKET WERE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,954. UPDATED 3/7/11 *CN UPDATED 03/14/11

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR ACTIVATES, SAYING THAT THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT WHEN ONE IS NOT PRESENT. IT OFTEN REMINDS THIS "PASSENGER" TO BUCKLE THEIR SEAT BELT. OTHER TIMES IT IS SILENT BUT STILL INDICATES THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF WHEN THERE TRULY IS A PASSENGER. *TR

INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING LOSS RESULTING IN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO DEALER. DEALER PROVIDED NO WORKING RESOLUTION. POWER STEERING LOSS IN THIS VEHICLE MADE STEERING VERY DIFFICULT AND RESULTED IN EXCESSIVELY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. POWER PUMP FINALLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE WOULD BECOME INOPERABLE DUE TO THE BODEN CABLE GUIDE BECOMING DISLODGED FROM ITS RETENTION CLIP. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS A DESIGN UPDATE BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT SAY WHEN THE DESIGN UPDATE HAD TAKEN PLACE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AGAIN AND STATED THAT ALL PROBLEMS AND QUESTIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER. NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED BY THE MANUFACTURER OR THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER S AS I WAS ABOUT TO TURN RIGHT ONTO A HIGHWAY ON RAMP. I FELT THE LACK OF POWER AND CONTINUED STRAIGHT SO I COULD PULL INTO A SERVICE STATION UP AHEAD. THE POWER STEERING WAS INTERMITTENT FOR A BIT THEN TOTALLY OUT, LEAVING ME WITH A 45 MINUTE DRIVE DOWN THE MOUNTAINS TO HOME WITHOUT POWER STEERING. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF THE POWER STEERING FAN RUNNING AFTER THE CAR WAS OFF. NOW IT LOOKS AS IF THE FAN IS NO LONGER COOLING THE PUMP CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT WHICH COULD START A FIRE. I AM PLANNING TO TRY TO REPLACE THE FAN SOON BUT I AM JUST A BROKE COLLEGE STUDENT SO I REALLY HOPE THIS RECALL GOES THROUGH. *TR

AFTER STARTING UP MY CAR I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, BUT THE POWER STEERING WASN'T WORKING. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND TRIED DRIVING AGAIN. IT STILL DIDN'T WORK. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF TRYING THIS IT FINALLY STARTED TO WORK AGAIN. THE NEXT DAY THIS HAPPENED AGAIN BOTH IN THE MORNING AND AGAIN AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING FOR 3+ HOURS. LATER THAT NIGHT WHEN I DROVE MY CAR IT WORKED FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED RANDOMLY APPROXIMATELY 8 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS, BUT THE MECHANIC CAN NEVER DUPLICATE THE INCIDENT NOR FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE POWER STEERING. *TR

DROVE CAR TO WORK - SOMEONE CAME IN A FEW MINUTES AFTER I ARRIVED AT WORK AND TOLD ME MY CAR WAS SMOKING. WENT OUT AND LOOKED BUT SMOKE HAD STOPPED BY TIME GOT BONNET OPEN. CAME FROM FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN STARTED CAR TO LEAVE WORK - HAD WARNING LIGHT AND POWER STEERING WOULD NOT WORK. MINI MANUAL SAID TO STOP IMMEDIATELY. HAD CAR TOWED TO LOCAL GERMAN REPAIR SHOP AND THE SAID POWER STEERING MOTOR HAD BURNED UP AND MELTED ALL THE ADJACENT WIRING. HAD TO REPLACE MOTOR AND WIRING. *LN

WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER (APPROX 48,000 MILES) OUR POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY SEEMED TO CUT OUT MAKING THE STEERING EXTREMELY HEAVY AND UNRESPONSIVE. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY IT MADE DRIVING DIFFICULT, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE. HOWEVER, ON ARRIVING IN TOWN WE WERE UNABLE TO MAKE A TURN WITHOUT ENDING UP IN THE LANE OF ON-COMING TRAFFIC! LUCKILY THERE WAS LITTLE TRAFFIC AROUND WHEN WE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT SEEMED TO RESTORE OUR POWER STEERING LONG ENOUGH TO GET TO OUR FINAL DESTINATION. *TR

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO MONTHS, I LOST POWER STEERING IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER. THE SECOND TIME HAPPENED AS I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE-84,OUTSIDE HARTFORD, IN CONNECTICUT. VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS! MY MECHANIC SAYS I HAVE A LEAK IN MY POWER STEERING ELECTRIC PUMP, AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR ALMOST $600 FOR A PUMP. HE SAYS THE MINI COOPERS HE'S WORKED ON ALL HAVE NEEDED THIS REPAIR. HOW CAN A COMMON POWER STEERING PROBLEM NOT BE DANGEROUS AND WARRANT A RECALL? *TRW

MY DAUGHTER IS 18 YEARS OLD SHE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK 2AM RAINING OUT SIDE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE STARTED HAVING STEERING PROBLEMS REAL BAD THANK GOD HER BRAKES WORKED. COME TO FIND OUT HER POWER STEERING BOX WENT OUT AND HER FAN SHE HAS A 2005 MINI COOPER. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER S WITH 60,000 MILES ON IT AND ABOUT 55,000 MILES THE AIRBAG WARNING LAMP AND PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LAMP ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. AT 58,000 MILES IT HAS STAYED ON CONSTANTLY. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE I TOOK THE CAR TO A TRUSTED MECHANIC AND HE DIAGNOSED THAT THE WEIGHT SENSOR PAD IN THE SEAT CUSHION IS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD REQUIRE THE CAR TO GO TO THE DEALER TO BE REPLACED. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE DEALER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE SINCE IT IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT MINIUSA BY EMAIL AND HAVE BEEN WAITING OVER A WEEK FOR A RESPONSE. *LN

LOSS OF POWER STEERING. AND REGARDING THIS: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER :15V660 MANUFACTURER :BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC MAKE / MODEL YEARS :MINI / 2002-2005 SUBJECT : ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING LOSS I CAN TELL YOU THE PROBLEM WAS BECAUSE THE LOCATION OF THE COOLING FAN CAUSES IT TO BE CONTINUALLY BOMBARDED WITH ROAD SALT AND DEBRIS, SO IT FAILS, THEN THE PUMP BURNS OUT.

THE FIRST TIME I HAD A PROBLEM, I WAS DRIVING AND MAINTAINING SPEED WHEN SUDDENLY THE POWER-STEERING FAILED. I JERKED THE STEERING WHEEL AND TURNED IT WITH FORCE, AND THEN THE POWER-STEERING RETURNED. ANOTHER TIME, THE POWER-STEERING FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND REMAINED OFF UNTIL I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND THEN TURNED THE IGNITION BACK ON.

2005 MINI COOPER WARNING LIGHTS INDICATED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG TURNED OFF WHILE AN ADULT PASSENGER WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. ISSUE STARTED DURING A COLD NY WINTER AFTER 5 YRS OF FAULT FREE OPERATION. NORMALLY THE PASSENGER SEAT WILL SENSE THE WEIGHT OF A PASSENGER AND AUTOMATICALLY ADJUST THE FORCE OF A DEPLOYING AIRBAG. DEALER REPORTED FAULTY SEAT MAT SENSOR WITH A REPLACEMENT COST OF $1300 WHICH IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. AFTER EXTENSIVE INTERNET SEARCH FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS, THESE SENSOR MATS FAIL AT A REGULAR RATE, AND ARE NOT COVERED BY ANY RECALL. DUE TO THE HIGH COST AND REPEATED FAILURE THESE REPAIRS ARE NOT BEING PERFORMED. *TR

2005 MINI COOPER SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. DUE TO DEFECT IN DESIGN POWER STEERING COOLING FAN FAILS, CAUSING PUMP TO OVERHEAT AND RELAY GETS FRIED. MINI REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM, AND FIX. COST FOR REPLACEMENT OF PUMP, FAN, LABOR IS $1300-$1400. VEHICLE HAS 59000 MILES. CURIOUSLY THEY HAVE REDESIGNED FAN WITH COVER TO PROTECT IT AND PUMP HAS ALSO BEEN REDESIGNED. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL. *TR

2005 MINI COOPER S INTERMITTENTLY LOSES POWER STEERING, THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING AND RENDERS THE VEHICLE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS ON AN ELEVATED EXIT RAMP AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO STRIKE THE SAFETY WALL. AFTER A DRASTIC SLOW DOWN I WAS ABLE TO STRONG ARM THE VEHICLE BACK ON COURSE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE - MOST DANGEROUS WHEN IT CUTS OUT AND THE RANDOMLY COMES BACK ON CAUSING SEVERE OVER-STEERING. *LN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND TRYING TO MAKE A TURN, THE POWER STEERING FAILED MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER AND TOOK A SWEEPING RIGHT TURN ONTO A FREEWAY ON RAMP. DURING THE TURN THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AND IT TOOK AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF FORCE ON THE WHEEL FOR ME TO AVOID HITTING THE SIDE OF THE OVERPASS AS THE CAR WANTED TO CONTINUE GOING STRAIGHT.. IT PROCEEDED TO CUT OUT AGAIN AS I TRIED TO GET IT HOME. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL IT AND PARK IT. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF THE PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN AND DRAINED THE BATTERY OVERNIGHT. THE CAR WOULD NOT START IN THE MORNING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING; IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, AND COOLING FAN. THE COOLING FAN WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 113,306.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT HEARD A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAKING NOISE WHILE MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 72,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE VEHICLE HAS LOSS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST DUE TO POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. THUS REQUIRING INCREASED FORCE TO STEER AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE. STEERING HAS BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND HAS MADE MANOEUVRING THIS CAR FAR HARDER AND DANGEROUS. THE CAR HAS SPOTTY ELECTRICAL FAILURES; EXAMPLE THE WINDOW JUST DOESN'T WANT TO ROLL UP; NO, WAIT, IT DOES. NO, WAIT, IT DOESN'T. THE STEREO JUST GIVES UP; NO SOUND ANYMORE,THEN IT PLAYS AGAIN. THE SAME WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR YOU COULD HERE IT UNLOCK AND RE-LOCK, BUT THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AND THEN IT WOULD. ALSO BOTH OF MY KEYS TO OPEN THE DOOR BOTH TURNED OFF AT THE SAME TIME AND I HAD TO HAVE THE KEYS RE-CALIBRATED AT A MINI DEALERSHIP TO REOPEN THE VEHICLE.

2005 MINI COOPER S. INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF POWER STEERING UNDER VARIED DRIVING CONDITIONS. ALTHOUGH NHTSA HAS OPENED INVESTIGATION, BMW HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL YET. LOCAL MINI SERVICE DEPARTMENT WILL CHANGE THE ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR AT ABOUT $1000, BUT IS UNAWARE OF THE REASON FOR THE FAILURES. *TR