NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2005 MINI Cooper. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND AT OTHER SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAN BECAME INOPERABLE AND POWER STEERING FUNCTIONALITY WAS LOST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE POWER STEERING FAN WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT WITHOUT NOTICE AT ALL SPEEDS. IT WILL RESET IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, HOWEVER THE INTERVAL TO THE NEXT POWER OUTAGE IS UNPREDICTABLE. IT OCCURRED THE FIRST TIME, AND THEN DIDN'T REOCCUR FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. THEN WHEN THE PROBLEM RETURNED IT DID THIS FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS, THEN DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN FOR ANOTHER MONTH. IT HAS NO BEEN A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM. HAVE ALSO HAD EXPERIENCES WHERE MAKING A TURN, THE POWER ASSIST WILL GO OUT, AND THEN RETURN, WHICH HAS ME PUTTING EXTRA EXERTION INTO MAKING THE TURN, ONLY TO HAVE IT COME BACK ON RESULTING IN OVERSTEER.
MY POWER STEERING IS GOING OUT. UPON MY OWN INVESTIGATION I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. SHOULD SUCH A VITAL PIECE TO HAVING CONTROL OF THE CAR BE A PROBLEM? NO. COST OF REPAIR IS $1,070 AS QUOTED FROM MY DEALER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND APPLIED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED WITH NORMAL FUNCTIONING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE PROGRESSED TO WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION AT ANY SPEED BEING TRAVELED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.
TAKATA RECALL. DEALERSHIP WANTED TO CHARGE ME $1000 TO FIX THIS AIRBAG. STEERING ALSO STIFF AND AT TIME UNRESPONSIVE. NUMBER THREE MISFIRE IS A DESIGN FLAW. HORN DOES NOT WORK. LENS ON HEADLIGHTS MAKE LIGHT VERY DIM.
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY OVER SNOQUALMIE PASS. SINCE IT IS A WINDY ROAD, STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. *TR
OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO "STICK" IN THAT I COULD NOT STEER RIGHT OR LEFT WITHOUT PHYSICALLY FORCING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, USING ALL MY STRENGTH TO DO IT. I THOUGHT I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS A TERRIFYING EVENT. THEN IT WOULD GO BACK TO "NORMAL" THE NEXT DAY, BUT THEN "STICK" AGAIN ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS WITH NO RHYME OR REASON; THERE WAS NO PATTERN AS TO WHEN IT WOULD OCCUR. BUT IT DID HAPPEN AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD "STICK" NO MATTER IF THE CAR WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, OR WHILE DRIVING. AFTER CHECKING WITH LOCAL GARAGES, THEY SUGGESTED TO HAVE MY MINI DEALERSHIP REPAIR IT AS NO ONE COULD FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. MINI DIAGNOSED THE FAILED POWER STEERING, AND INSTALLED A FAN WITH PROTECTING "GRI" (PART # 32-41-6-781-742 @ $222.43) AND INSTALLED A REPAIR KIT, LOWER "SECT" (PART # 32-30-6-763-722 @ $186.63). MINI SERVICE FOUND THE STEERING SHAFT KNUCKLE SEIZED UP, MAKING IT HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. MINI REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT, AND ALSO FOUND THE POWER STEERING FAN TO BE SEIZED, SO THEY ALSO REPLACED THE STEERING FAN. INCLUDED IN THIS DIAGNOSIS, MINI FOUND THE CONTROL ARM BRACKETS, WHICH ARE PART OF THE STEERING OF THE CAR, NEEDS REPAIR IN THE NEAR FUTURE TOO. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, ALL STEERING FUNCTIONALITY WAS SUDDENLY LOST, MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL DIFFICULT TO TURN. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT STATED THAT PROBLEM WAS COMMON AND WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 47,000. UPDATED 05/25/11 *BF UPDATED 05/31/11
MY 2005 MINI COOPER S HAS HAD THE POWER STEERING GO OUT SEVERAL TIMES. THIS HAPPENS WITH NO WARNING AND HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. AS I WAS CHANGING LANES ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL AND ALMOST WENT INTO A CONCRETE WALL. IT ALSO WENT OUT WHILE ON A TRIP IN THE MOUNTAINS, I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT GOING OFF THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN ROAD. THIS POWER STEERING PUMP ALSO HAS STAYED RUNNING AND KILLED MY BATTERY LEAVING ME TO FIND A JUMP. THE ISSUE IS THAT IT TURNS OFF AND ON AT RANDOM TIMES AND WITH NO WARNING. *TR
2005 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE SUDDENLY DISAPPEARING FROM TIME TO TIME, AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. SO FAR I AVOIDED ACCIDENT BUT THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS. I HEARD IT HAPPENS TO A LOT OF MINIS, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL ISSUED. *TR
THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT ON THE CENTER DASHBOARD AND "AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT ABOVE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR TURN ON WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE CAR. IT APPEARS AS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IS FAILING TO PROPERLY DETECT THE PASSENGER'S WEIGHT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING WOULD RESET ITSELF. THE CONTACT HAD A MECHANIC INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
I HAVE NOTICED FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS THAT MY CAR HAS BEEN LURCHING. IN JUST THE LAST WEEK I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN I GET TO ABOUT 55-65 MPH, MY RPM'S ARE AROUND 4000. I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND THE RPM'S INCREASED. I HAD SOME MINOR WORK DONE ON THE AUTO-SEQUENTIAL TRANSMISSION IN 2010. I HAD BROKEN THE LINE AND HAS BEEN WELDED BACK IN AND HAD NO MAJOR PROBLEMS ASIDE FROM THE LURCHING UNTIL RECENTLY. ALL FACTORY PARTS ARE STILL ON THE CAR. TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. I AM OUTSIDE MY WARRANTY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER BUT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 49,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED IT WOULD BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST WOULD PREVENT THE WHEEL FROM BEING TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING AND INTERMITTENT STEERING SYSTEM DEGRADATION PRIOR TO TOTAL FAILURE. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE 2005 MINI WHEN STEERING STARTED FAILING. PULLED OVER AND WAS TOWED TO GARAGE FOR REPAIRS. POOR DESIGN AND NO ACCOMMODATION FOR SYSTEM FAILURE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING; THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING ASSEMBLY OVERHEATED WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 42,000. UPDATED 11/05/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/7/10 *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. AS HE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING PUMP LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED UNCONTROLLABLE HARD STEERING. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL FOR HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE CONTACT ADVISED THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000.
2005 MINI COOPER S; WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED 60 MPH GOING AROUND A BEND ON THE HIGHWAY COMPLETE FAILURE OF POWER STEERING CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND ALMOST CRASHED INTO MEDIAN. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I NOTICED MY STEERING FELT "TIGHT". IT WAS DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE A CURVE. I TRIED TO PULL INTO A REST AREA WHEN I REALIZED I HAD ALMOST NO STEERING ABILITY. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR BY USING BOTH HANDS. I ALMOST CRASHED ON THE RAMP. IT WAS A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE. THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER. IT IS MY POWER STEERING PUMP. IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND IT SEEMS THERE ARE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS. I AM VERY GLAD I DID NOT HAVE TO DO ANY EMERGENCY TURNS, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STEER THE CAR. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. *TR
INTERMITTENT COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. NOW IS NO LONGER WORKING. HAS CAUSED VERY SERIOUS SITUATIONS AND POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. *TR
PER THE MINI COOPER POWER STEERING PUMP INVESTIGATION - ON MARCH 24, 2010 I PAID TO HAVE MY POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED AFTER HAVING MY BATTERY DIE FOR A SECOND TIME. THE MINI DEALERSHIP FAILED THE FIRST TIME TO FIND THE PROBLEM BUT UPON THE SECOND BATTERY DYING THEY REPORTED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REMAINING ON AND DRAWING POWER FROM THE BATTERY EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. THIS ALSO EXPLAINED WHY I HAD BEEN NOTICING THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. *TR
POWER STEERING IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER WITH 28,000 MILES SOMETIMES FUNCTIONS AND OTHER TIMES DOES NOT-MOSTLY THOUGH IT DOES NOT FUNCTION. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE MARCH, 2010. ON RARE OCCASIONS, I WILL START THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WILL FUNCTION AS NORMAL. *TR
HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER WITH INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING, DRIVING ALONG AND OCCASIONALLY THE POWER STEERING JUST GOES. REQUIRES INCREASED FORCE TO STEER AND MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. STOP THE CAR RESTART AND ALL APPEARS OKAY AGAIN. *TR
MULTIPLE POWER STEERING FAILURES. INITIALLY WHEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 1 HOUR, NOW (JAN. 2011) OFTEN GOES OUT WHEN DRIVING MORE THAN 10 MINUTES. SOMETIMES COMES/GOES DURING A TURN. EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE WHEN CORNERING IN THE CITY OR PARALLEL PARKING.
HI, I'M WRITING TO REPORT THAT MY 2005 MINI COOPER, WITH LESS THAN 43K MILES IS IN NEED OF A THIRD TRANSMISSION. I NEARLY DID NOT MAKE IT HOME ONE EVENING BECAUSE THE JERKING MOTION THE CAR WAS MAKING AND BECAUSE THE ENGINE JUST FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO SHUT OFF. I NEARLY STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY, WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE FIRST TRANSMISSION, WHILE UNDER WARRANTY WAS REPLACED IN NOVEMBER 2007 AT 28K MILES. ON 12/16/08, I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE TRANSMISSION PAN AMONG OTHER THINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS THE ONLY KNOWN DAMAGE CAUSED TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE AUTO BODY AND PAINT SHOP THAT I CONTRACTED WITH DID NOT KNOW HOW TO FILL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THEREFORE THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED THE LOCAL MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP. THEY PERFORMED THAT PIECE OF IT. NOW, THE DEALER IS TELLING ME I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO STATES THEY DON'T KNOW IF THE TRANSMISSION DAMAGE WAS A RESIDUAL OF THE ACCIDENT OR NOT AND THEREFORE, WERE TRYING TO OPEN UP THE OLD INSURANCE CLAIM FROM JANUARY 2009. HOWEVER, MY INSURANCE COMPANY DOES NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THEY STATE THE REPAIRS FROM THE ACCIDENT $7,888.70, PLUS THE COST OF A NEW TRANSMISSION, AROUND 8K WILL BE MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR. SO, WHO SHOULD PAY FOR THIS NEW TRANSMISSION, THE DEALER, THE AUTO BODY SHOP (WHOM DID NO WORK ON THE TRANSMISSION, SEEMINGLY) OR ME? HOW DO I KNOW, THIS IS NOT JUST ANOTHER BAD TRANSMISSION? THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL ON A MINI COOPER (NO WAY TO CHECK) TRANSMISSION FLUID AND NO INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. *TR
DASH LIGHT INDICATING A PASSENGER AIRBAG PROBLEM LIGHTS UP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH MAKING A LEFT TURN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. AS A RESULT, IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. ..UPDATED 11/29/12 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD COME ON PERIODICALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OFF AND WOULD RUN, UNTIL THE BATTERY DRAINED. UPDATED 12/03/12
NOTHING SPECIFIC TO LEAD UP TO FAILURE POWER STEERING WILL INTERMITTENTLY FAIL, AND OCCASIONALLY BE RESTORED NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. *TR
THE RED AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IN THE SPEEDOMETER AREA CAME ON AT APPROXIMATELY 99,450 MILES. IT CAME ON AFTER DRIVING ACROSS A CITY RAILROAD CROSSING AT LOW SPEED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND ASKED ABOUT THE LIGHT, AND THEY INDICATED THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION BUT COULD BE A FAULTY SEAT SENSOR WHICH WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1250 TO REPLACE. THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT THEY WERE NOT SURE WHETHER OR NOT THE AIRBAGS WOULD DEPLOY PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. FURTHER RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS MODEL AND YEAR MAY ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRING HARNESSES AND CONNECTIONS, AND THAT ONLY THE DEALER CAN RESET THE WARNING LIGHT. AS OF DECEMBER 2 2010 THE VEHICLE HAS 113,000 MILES ON IT AND THE WARNING LIGHT IS STILL ON. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE DEALER AS A WARRANTY ISSUE AS I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE CURRENT SITUATION BUT DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR AN EXPENSIVE SAFETY RELATED DEFECT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND STILL HAVE IT. THANKS. *TR
I BOUGHT A 2005 MINI COOPER IN SEPT 09 WITH 61,450 MILES. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE STEERING "CUT OUT" AS I TURNED A CORNER. I TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC WHO COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG & SAID THAT IT MAY JUST BE THAT A SPECK OF DIRT THAT GOT INTO THE SYSTEM. IT HAPPENED A COUPLE MORE TIMES AND I ASSUMED THAT THE "DIRT" WAS WORKING ITS WAY OUT. THEN I HAD A DRAMATIC INCIDENT WHERE NOT ONLY DID THE STEERING SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY CUT OUT, BUT THERE WAS TREMENDOUS "DRAG" ON THE SYSTEM AND IT TOOK ALL MY MIGHT & MAIN TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN I FOUND MYSELF IN THE OPPOSITE LANE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHO EVENTUALLY GOT THE CAR TO FAIL FOR HIM. HE TOLD ME TO GO TO A MINI SERVICE CENTER WHO COULD DEAL WITH THE FAULTY ELECTRONICS. I CALLED MINI OF AMERICA TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE IN MAKING THE CAR "RIGHT" BUT I WAS TOLD THAT CARS BREAK, THAT IT IS BEYOND THE 50,000 WARRANTY AND THAT IF THE CAR WAS UNSAFE, I SHOULD HAVE IT FIXED. THE REP SAID THAT "MAYBE" THEY WOULD PAY FOR PART OF THE PROBLEM AFTER IT WAS DIAGNOSED. I THEN SPOKE WITH A MECHANIC AT A MINI SERVICE CENTER WHO KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHAT WAS WRONG. HE SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MINIS BEFORE 2007 ----FIRST THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, THEN THE ELECTRONICS COMPLETELY FAIL. PAYING FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS FOR A CAR THAT I OWN IS MY RESPONSIBILITY BUT I BELIEVE THAT A CAR MANUFACTURER IS OBLIGATED TO PUT OUT A SAFE CAR. IF THIS IS A DESIGN ERROR, THEN THE COMPANY SHOULD MAKE IT RIGHT. WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL, I NEED TO TRUST THE ELECTRONICS TO RESPOND -- BECAUSE MY LIFE AND THE LIVES OF MY PASSENGERS DEPENDS ON IT. I THINK THAT MINI SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO INSURE THAT THE COMPUTER THAT GOVERNS STEERING OPERATES PROPERLY. AT PRESENT I HAVE A CAR THAT SITS DRIVEWAY BECAUSE IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I AM MAKING A TRIP TO A CITY THAT HAS A SERVICE CENTER IN TWO WEEKS AND I AM HOPING THAT MINI CORRECTS THIS PROBLEM WITH NO EXPENSE TO ME. *TR
I HAD JUST BOUGHT THE CAR AND FLEW TO NEW JERSEY TO GET IT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS OUT AND HE WAS NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I DROVE IT BACK TO FLORIDA AND DID NOT HAVE POWER STEERING THE WHOLE WAY. IN APRIL 2010, THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK. I CONTINUED TO HAVE POWER STEERING AND THEN IN OCTOBER 2010, IT WENT OUT AGAIN FOR TWO DAYS. THEN IT CAME BACK. THEN IN 2011, IT WENT OUT AGAIN FOR TWO DAYS DURING THE YEAR. AND NOW IT HAS BEEN OUT SINCE APRIL OF THIS YEAR. I HAD BEEN ON DISABILITY FROM JANUARY TILL JULY, SO I WAS NOT DRIVING MY CAR THAT MUCH. I HAVE NOT WORRIED ABOUT FIXING IT. ALSO, WHEN I PICKED MY CAR UP IN NJ, THEY HAD WRITTEN ON MY RECEIPT THAT THEY WOULD PAY $500 TOWARDS THE REPAIR OF MY POWER STEERING. I HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO ASK MY ATTORNEY IF THAT WOULD STILL BE VALID OR NOT. BUT IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF THE MINI'S ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I WAS WONDERING IF MINI WILL BE RECALLING THE POWER STEERING AND I CAN HAVE MY CAR FIXED? *TR
2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE WITH APPROX 78,000 MILES. ABOUT A WEEK AGO THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITH NO WARNING DURING COMMUTE. TOOK CAR TO REGULAR LOCAL FOREIGN CAR MECHANICS. POWER STEERING WAS WORKING WHEN THEY EXAMINED SO COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. DAY CAR WAS RETURNED POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN ON AFTERNOON COMMUTE. CONSISTENTLY HAS FAILED ONCE CAR WARMS UP. TOOK TO MINI YESTERDAY WITH POWER STEERING IN FULL FAILURE MODE. DEALER SAYS IT IS FAN WHICH COOLS POWER STEERING PUMP. WHILE DEALER MAINTAINS THEY HAVE RARELY SEEN THIS PROBLEM ONLINE SEARCH OF MINI RELATED SITES AS WELL AS ARTICLE PRINTED IN UK DAILY MAIL SHOWS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR CAR. *TR
OWNER PARKED MINI COOPER AT STORE WENT INSIDE. WHILE IN STORE, HEARD OVER INTERCOM THAT HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. SHE WENT OUTSIDE AND SAW FLAMES UNDERNEATH FRONT OF VEHICLE. FIRE WENT OUT BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM WIRING HAD OVERHEATED AND BURNED ONLY - NOTHING ELSE IGNITED. THE DAMAGE WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE PREVIOUS EA ANALYSIS EA07-011 PERTAINING TO 2002-2003 MINI COOPERS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
DEFECT INITIALLY OCCURRED AT NIGHT TIME IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC: DASH-LIGHTS WENT OUT, TURN INDICATOR NOT FUNCTIONAL, HEATER BLOWER STOPPED WORKING (CAUSING FOGGING OF WINDSHIELD/WINDOWS), AIR BAG LIGHTS WENT ON, SEAT BELT LIGHT ON CONSEQUENTLY HAD TO PULL ON THE SIDE OF ROAD (LIMITED VISIBILITY, NO SPEED INDICATOR, COULD NOT OPERATE VEHICLE SAFELY). A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS AT IGNITION CYCLING PARTIALLY RESTORED FUNCTIONALITY. AFTER INITIAL DEFECT, PROBLEM COULD BE REPRODUCED INTERMITTENTLY (ALL/SOME OF THE COMPONENT LISTED ABOVE FAILED DURING COURSE OF NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE). VEHICLE INSPECTED BY MINI/BMW DEALER, ROOT CAUSE: INTERFERENCE ON K-BUS OF ONE OF THE AUDIO COMPONENT, RESULTING IN FAILURE/MALFUNCTION OF OTHER COMPONENTS ON THE BUS. ULTIMATELY COMPONENT (MINI I-POD INTERFACE) HAD TO BE REMOVED -- PART IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. REQUEST TO HAVE REPAIRS COVERED WAS REJECTED BY MINI/BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS ON GROUNDS THERE WAS NO RECALL (VEHICLE IS 5 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY --- 41K MILES). *TR
THERE WERE NO "EVENTS" LEADING UP TO THIS. SUDDEN FAILURE OF POWER STEERING PUMP AS I TURNED OFF THE HIGHWAY ONTO A CITY SIDE STREET - NO NOTICE, JUST COMPLETE FAILURE OF COMPONENT. THE FAILURE LEFT THE VEHICLE WITH NO POWER STEERING - ONLY MANUAL "ARM STRONG" STEERING UNTIL REPAIRED. PERSONALLY REPLACED THE PUMP WITH NEW PART - NO SUPPORT FROM DEALER OR MANUFACTURE. *TR
2005 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE, WHILE MAKING A TURN, WITHOUT NOTICE MY POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED MY VEHICLE HAS APROX. 80K MILES ON IT. MINI IS REMANUFACTUING THE PUMP WITH DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS THIS TELLS ME THEY KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE ORIGINAL PUMP, THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO REPAIR THE ORIGINAL PUMPS FEE OF CHARGE NOT THE $800.00 THEY WANT JUST FOR THE PUMP. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. *TR
THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 MINI COPPER S FOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. I REFUSE TO PAY MORE THAN 1,000EUROS (SINCE I SERVE OVERSEAS) TO FIX A "KNOWN" PROBLEM THAT BMW MINI CHOOSES TO IGNORE DESPITE THE VALID COMPLAINTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD....*TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE STEERING COLUMN MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS AND ENGINE HARNESS TO IGNITE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE STEERING PUMP WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE. . THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,209. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I CANNOT REMEMBER EXACT DATES AS THIS PART HAS BEEN BAD FOR SO LONG. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHINES VERY LOUDLY. A COUPLE TIMES THE POWER HAS GONE OUT AND THE CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE PROBLEM IS VERY INTERMITTENT AND ONLY LASTED A FEW SECONDS EACH TIME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. WHILE PARKED, A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
24 DEGREE MORNING CAR'S MANUAL 6-SPEED TRANSMISSION FROZEN IN 1ST GEAR. TOOK OTHER CAR TO WORK. PROBLEM GONE AFTER RETURNING FROM WORK AT 40 DEGREES. LOOKED UP ONLINE. SAW MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS DUE TO WATER IN SHIFTER CABLES. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE - R52. THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK WELL. IT STARTED BEING PROBLEMATIC ABOUT A YEAR AGO RIGHT AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR. WHILE DRIVING THE POWERSTEERING GOES VERY STIFF. IT IS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING OFF A HIGHWAY WHILE THE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING, IT COMES BACK ON, AND I END UP OVERSTEERING OFF THE ROAD AND THEN BACK ON TO THE ROAD. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY DURING THE TIME I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR. I WAS TOLD BY MINI THAT THIS IS NOT A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT MY RESEARCH SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT THERE ARE 10'S OF THOUSANDS OF MINI OWNERS FROM 2002 TO 2006 WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. OTTOS MINI IN WEST CHESTER PA QUOTED ME OVER $1000 DO REPAIR IT...AND THEY DO NOT SEEM TO SEE THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM. I AM CONSIDERING BUYING THE NEW PARTS (FAN, MOTOR AND CIRCUIT BOARD) AND INSTALLING MY SELF. I JUST CANNOT SPEND 1000-1500 BUCKS TO FIX THIS. THE PARTS ARE ABOUT $500 BUCKS AND THE INSTALL HOPEFULLY IS PRETTY EASY FROM WHAT I HAVE READ. I HOPE THAT YOUR TESTING DOES PROVE THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BY A RECALL. IT APPEARS THAT THEY MADE A DESIGN CHANGE THAT HAS ELIMINATED THE PROBLEM IN THE 2006 OR 7 MODEL YEAR. THAT ALONE IS ENOUGH FOR ME TO BELIEVE THAT, WHILE I LOVE MY MINI, I AM DRIVING A TIME BOMB, THAT WILL CAUSE AND ACCIDENT DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING. PLEASE HELP ME. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
2005 MINI COOPER S. APPROXIMATELY 63,000 MILES. OCTOBER 22, 2009. I HAD JUST GOTTEN HOME FROM WORK AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE. GOING IN THE HOUSE I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. AFTER A COUPLE MINUTES OF INVESTIGATING IN THE HOUSE, I DECIDED TO GO BACK INTO THE GARAGE, AND FIND THAT IT IS A LITTLE SMOKEY. I OPEN THE GARAGE DOOR AND BACK THE MINI OUT ONTO THE DRIVEWAY. NOW THERE IS SMOKE STREAMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I CAN HEAR SPINNING/CLICKING NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I OPEN THE HOOD AND SEE FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE BACK OF THE ENGINE, BELOW THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I EMPTIED 3 FIRE EXTINGUISHERS INTO THE ENGINE BAY AND IT WAS STILL BURNING. CALLED 911. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME, THE FIRE HAD BURNED ITSELF OUT. I WAS EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT I WENT BACK INTO THE GARAGE WITHIN MINUTES TO INVESTIGATE, OTHERWISE IT COULD'VE BEEN A HUGE CAR FIRE AND POTENTIALLY FIRE DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE AND HOUSE AS WELL. *TR
SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED FAILING OF POWER STEERING FUNCTION WHILE ROUTINELY DRIVING THE CAR. CAR IS VERY HARD TO STEER AS A RESULT. TEN + INCIDENTS OF THIS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ARE AWARE OF DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING PUMP. PUMP WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $900.00. NO MORE PROBLEMS SINCE.*TR
2005 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. JUST OVER 50,000 MILES. TODAY, WHILST DRIVING TO LUNCH, MY POWER STEERING FAILED. THERE WAS NO WARNING, IT JUST QUIT, MID-DRIVE. THE CAR IS NOW VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. LOOKING ONLINE, I SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE, YET THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS. HTTP://WWW.MINI2.COM/FORUM/FIRST-GENERATION-FAULTS-FIXES/49527-IMPORTANT-HAVE-YOU-HAD-POWER-STEERING-PUMP-FAILURE-PLEASE-VOTE-YES-NO.HTML. *TR
ON MONDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 12, 2009, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE FREEWAY (280 SOUTH, DALY CITY, CA). I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER. I WAS IN THE FAST LANE ON A SLIGHT CURVE IN THE ROAD, AND SUDDENLY MY STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY APPLY THE BRAKES TO KEEP FROM VEERING INTO THE LEFT BARRIER, AND USE ALL MY STRENGTH REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ADJUST TO SPEED AND STEERING CONTROL TO GET SAFELY OFF OF THE FREEWAY. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND FRIGHTENING SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE VERY EASILY ENDED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ESPECIALLY SINCE I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED (65 MPH) IN THE FAST LANE OF A BUSY METROPOLITAN CITY WITH CARS ALSO TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED ALL AROUND ME. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND THAT POWER STEERING FAILURE IS A DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH THE MAKE AND MODEL OF MY CAR, AND THAT IN ADDITION TO MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS, YOUR ORGANIZATION, NHTSA, HAS OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO SUCH CLAIMS (NHTSA ACTION #'S FROM PUBLIC RECORD: PE07022 AND EA07011). MY FRIEND, WHO IS ALSO A MINI OWNER, HAD THIS VERY SAME FAILURE HAPPEN TO HIM, AND RECOMMENDED THAT I FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH YOU (AS HE DID). I UNDERSTAND BMW ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN THE 2002/2003 PRODUCTION MODELS, BUT THIS ISSUE CONTINUES TO OCCUR IN SUBSEQUENT PRODUCTION YEARS: MINE (2005) AND THIS PERSON (2004): HTTP://BIT.LY/3HLZ5A. THE POWER STEERING MECHANISM NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. ME, MY PASSENGER, MY DOG, AND ANYONE ELSE DRIVING NEAR ME COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IF NOT KILLED HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO MANEUVER MY DISABLED VEHICLE TO SAFETY BY BRUTE FORCE. PLEASE HELP ME AND ANY OTHERS WHO MIGHT COME ACROSS THIS PROBLEM AVOID A POSSIBLE CATASTROPHE. IT WILL NOT HELP MUCH TO REPLACE THIS PART WITH ANOTHER FAULTY PART THAT WILL ALSO FAIL IN THE FUTURE. A RECALL MUST BE ISSUED. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT COURSE OF ACTION I CAN TAKE NOW TO GET MY CAR RUNNING IN A SAFE, MECHANICALLY SOUND CONDITION. THANK YOU. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ANOTHER DRIVER CRASHED INTO HER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT COMPLETELY DEPLOY. AS A CONSEQUENCE SPARKS FROM THE AIR BAG SHORT, CAUSED HER COAT TO CATCH ON FIRE. SHE SUFFERED 2ND DEGREE BURNS ON THE RIGHT ARM AND THE HEEL OF THE HAND. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND HER CASE WAS ESCALATED TO THE MANUFACTURER. SHE HAS NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75,000. UPDATED 3/8/10 *CN UPDATED 07/27/10*JB
PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT READS "OFF" AND CENTER CONSOLE ALERT IS LIT. GETTING VARIOUS DIAGNOSES FROM SHOPS, BUT NO ONE REALLY KNOWS HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NO ONE WILL DEFINITIVELY SAY, "YES, YOUR PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF" OR "ON." THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MINIS AND THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. *TR