2005 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

MY PROBLEM IS WITH A 2005 MINI COOPER S. WHY IS THEIR NOT A RECALL ON THE WATER PUMP? IT HAS BEEN KNOW FOR GOING OUT PREMATURE AND BMW HAS REDESIGNED THE NEW PUMPS WITH A METAL IMPELLER INSTEAD OF PREVIOUS PLASTIC. TALKING TO THE DEALER, THEY MADE ME FEEL FORTUNATE THAT MY WATER PUMP MADE IT TO 50,000 MILES STATING THEY REPLACE MANY WATER PUMPS IN THE 1ST GENERATION SERIES AROUND 20,000 MILES. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS IS DANGEROUS, AS THE FAILURE CAN CAUSE OVERHEATING AND REQUIRES YOU TO SHUT OFF THE CAR, AND SIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CARS ARE NOT MADE TO OVER HEAT. THIS GREATLY INCREASES THE CHANCE OF A FIRE. BMW KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM BUT IS NOT RECALLING THE WATER PUMPS UNTIL 2006-2011. I THINK THE 1ST GENERATION MINIS SHOULD HAVE THE SAME RECALL AS MOST MINIS INCLUDING MINE HAS/HAD A WATER PUMP ISSUE AND WOULD LIKE OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HAVE IT REPLACED. I HAVE CAUGHT MINE EARLY BUT ONLY BECAUSE I JACK UP MY MINI TO CLEAN THE UNDERBODY ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. MINI COOPERS ARE WELL KNOWN FOR THEIR WATER PUMPS, THERMOSTATS, AND POWER STEERING, FAILING. I AM 18 YEARS OLD AND WOULD LIKE TO USE THIS CAR TO TRAVEL FROM SOUTH CAROLINA TO WISCONSIN IN THE FUTURE, YET IF MY COOLANT SYSTEM (WATER PUMP OR THERMOSTAT) COULD GO OUT AGAIN AT ANY TIME AND COST A FORTUNE TO REPLACE AND LEAVE ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF A HIGHWAY. I WILL BE TAKING A PLANE EVERY TIME I TRAVEL A FEW HUNDRED MILES AND RENT A CAR. THIS MUST BE ADDRESSED! I JUST PAID 1200 FOR MINI TO REPLACE A WATER PUMP THAT SHOULD HAVE HAD AT THE LEAST 30-50 THOUSAND MILES MORE. *TR

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT APPEARED AND OVERHEAD LIGHT SIGNALED PASSENGER AIRBAG "OFF" EVEN THOUGH AN ADULT MALE (168 POUNDS) WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. MULTIPLE EXPERIENCES OVER SEVERAL DAYS. NO MALFUNCTION OCCURRED WHEN THE SEAT WAS EMPTY, ONLY WHEN OCCUPIED BY A BONAFIDE ADULT. *TR

I GOT IN MY VEHICLE AND SHUT THE DOOR. I TURN THE KEY TO ON, THE LOCKS WENT DOWN (LOCKS USUALLY GO DOWN WHEN CAR IS IN GEAR AND MOVING) I TURNED THE KEY FURTHER TO START THE ENGINE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO DOWN, THE SUN ROOF WOULD NOT OPEN, THE FOB WOULD NOT WORK, AT THAT POINT I WAS LOCKED IN MY CAR. I HAD TO KICK OUT THE WINDOW TO GET OUT OF MY CAR. WHEN I DID GET OUT, I RE ENTERED THE CAR AND OPENED THE HOOD AND JIGGLED THE BATTERY CONNECTION. I SHUT THE HOOD AND TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND IT STARTED. I NOTICED AS I WAS DRIVING IT HOME THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE STEERING COLLUM WERE NOT WORKING AND THAT WHEN I PARKED IT AT HOME THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ON. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER AND JUST LOST THE POWER STEERING. A COUPLE TIMES RECENTLY IT WAS HARD TO STEER WHILE PARALLEL PARKING, BUT OK ON THE ROAD. THIS MORNING IT COMPLETELY FAILED ON THE WAY TO THE HIGHWAY. THE WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO TURN AND JUST MANAGED TO GET IT BACK TO THE HOUSE, WILL TAKE IT TO THE DEALER ON MONDAY. I SEE ON THE INTERNET NOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING PUMP SINCE 2011 THAT I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT BEFORE. WHY ARE OWNERS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS? I COULD HAVE HAD A BAD ACCIDENT IF THE FAILURE HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY. UPDATED 11/24/2014 *JS

I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL CURVY HIGHWAY AT APPROX 35MPH WHEN MY POWER STEERING GAVE OUT GOING AROUND A CURVE. I ALMOST DROVE INTO THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP MAKING NOISE WHEN CAR IS OFF, DRAINING BATTERY. EMINENT FAILURE. *TR

WAS DRIVING NORMALLY ON 4/8/14 , TURNED NORMALLY UNTIL I TOOK A SLIGHT CURVE AND STEERING WHEEL GOT VERY STIFF & HARD TO TURN FROM THEN ON . UNTIL NOW IT REMAINS VERY HARD TO DRIVE . *TR

THE AIRBAG LIGHT THAT WARNS OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG BEING TURNED OFF COMES ON SOMETIMES WHEN NOBODY IS IN THE SEAT AND SOMETIMES WHEN A FULL SIZED ADULT IS IN THE SEAT. *TR FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS MEANS THE AIRBAG SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE AND THE AIRBAG COULD EITHER FAIL TO WORK OR DEPLOY WHEN IT SHOULD NOT. I HAVE LEARNED THAT BMW ISSUED RECALLS FOR MANY OF THEIR CARS BUILT WITH THIS PARTICULAR SEAT SENSOR BUT HAVE NOT DONE SO WITH THE MINI. ARE YOU AWARE OF A RECALL FOR THE MINI? WE ARE VERY WORRIED ABOUT USING THIS CAR TO CARRY A PASSENGER BUT WE HAVE TO DO SO EVERY DAY. YOUR HELP WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

FAILURE TO POWERSTEERING STARTED ACTING UP IN JANUARY OF 2014 AFTER I GOT MY O2 SENOR REPLACED. WAS TOLD TO CONTINUED TO DRIVE CAR BECAUSE THE O2 SENSOR NEEDED TO RECALIBRATE ITSELF. SO NOW IN APRIL 9TH 2014, WHILE GETTING READY TO TAKE OFF FOR WORK,I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR, CALLED AAA TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THIS IS WHEN I WAS INFORMED IT WAS IN FACT THE POWER STEERING PUMP, AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME 1700 TO REPLACE, IM OUTRAGED. *JS

STARTED OUT BEING AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM,WHERE IT WOULD SEEM THE POWER STEERING WOULD SHUT OFF THEN COME BACK ON, MAKING HARD TO JUDGE IF YOU COULD JUST RELAX TO STEER OR NOT, NOW ITS MORE OFF THAN ON. CALLED THE MINI ASSISTANCE NUMBER BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS ISSUE, WAS TOLD THERE WAS BUT MY VEHICLE DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR IT, AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS FOR VEHICLES 2002-2005, MINES A 2005 AND MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED. DON'T UNDERSTAND. *TR

MY AIR BAG LITE CAME ON.WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING.I HAD MY SYSTEM CHECKED. I FOUND THAT THE SEAT HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF 2000 $.BMW HAS RECALL ON ALL 3,5,7 SERIES.BUT NOT ON MINI. *TR

POWER STEERING WENT OUT ABRUPTLY WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. *JS

MY POWER STEERING JUST TOTALLY WENT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A CORNER AND I CAME WITHIN INCHES OF PLOWING THROUGH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT THERE MIGHT BE A RECALL ON THIS SOON. POWERS STEERING WILL NOW COME ON INTERMITTENT. *TR

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON! PASSENGER LIGHT TURNS OFF AND ON WITH PASSENGER IN SEAT. PASSENGER WARNING LIGHT GOES OFF WITH OUT PASSENGER IN SEAT. I LOOKED ON SEVERAL INTERNET FORMS AND THIS SEAMS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT MINI HAS HAD FOR SOME TIME WITHOUT A RECALL. THE FIX FOR MOST PROBLEMS IS AN EXPENSIVE 1200.0 TO 1400.00 SEAT SENSOR . I FILL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN WHICH MINI SHOULD ADDRESS . *TR

POWER STEERING, PERIODICALLY STOPS WORKING. IT USUALLY DOES NOT WORK WHEN THE CAR STARTS UP AND WILL THEN START WORKING. IT HAS NOW STOPS WORKING AT UNEXPECTED TIMES AND SEEMS TO COME BACK ON AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME. *TR

DRIVING APPROX. 15 MILES - MOSTLY INTERSTATE - TO ATTEND A FRIEND'S BIRTHDAY DINNER. WHILE PULLING INTO THE PARKING LOT, LOST POWER STEERING AND ALL INDICATOR WARNING LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. I PROCEEDED TO A PARKING SPACE AND SAW SMOKE POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I RELEASED THE HOOD I COULD SEE AN ORANGE GLOW AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE (NIGHT TIME). WITHIN 30 SECONDS IT BURST INTO FLAMES. A 911 CALL TO LOCAL FIRE FIGHTERS WAS PLACED WHO RESPONDED WITHIN 15 MINUTES. SINCE THERE WERE TWO RESTAURANTS IN THE COMPLEX, EMPLOYEES OF EACH ONE HAD COME OUT WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO MY WORK PLACE, FROM MY WORK PLACE TO ANOTHER CITY FOR REPAIRS. ONLY THE ACTUAL REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NOT THE TOWING OR RENTALS. I HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR TWO WEEKS AND A WEEK AFTER PICKING MY CAR UP, I HAD OTHER THINGS TO GO OUT ON THE CAR CAUSED BY THE HEAT FROM THE FIRE. (DOMINO EFFECT). THE CAR HAD TO GO BACK INTO A SHOP WHERE IT TOOK MORE THAN 3 WEEKS TO GET ALL PARTS IN AND REPAIRS MADE, WHILE I INCURRED YET MORE EXPENSE OF A RENTAL CAR. I AM NOW IN DEBT ALMOST $3,000.00 AS A DIRECTLY RESULT OF THIS FAULTY SYSTEM. *TR

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, I WAS ONLY TWO HOUSES FROM MY HOME GOING AROUND SMALL CURVE THOUGHT MY CAR HAD CUT OFF THEN REALIZED ONLY THE STEERING HAD GONE OUT VERY HARD TO STEER IF HAD BEEN ON HWY AT MED RATE OF SPEED COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE CAR AND POSSIBLE WRECK. *TR

AFTER I TURNED MY CAR OFF, A NOISE LIKE A FAN KEPT RUNNING. IT DRAINED THE BATTERY CAUSING ME TO GET MY CAR JUMPED. THEN POWER STEERING WENT OUT, AND WHEN I ARRIVED HOME AFTER STRUGGLING TO TURN VEHICLE AND OPERATE SAFELY, THE FAN DID IT AGAIN, AFTER 5 MINUTES BATTERY WAS DEAD. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR OF MINI I HAVE FOUND AFTER RESEARCHING TONIGHT, AND I AM VERY DISPLEASED TO SEE THAT CANADA HAS RECALLED THIS ISSUE AND THE USA HAS NOT! PEOPLE COULD GET SERIOUSLY INJURED. THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON AS TO WHY, OR WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS BMW IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY IN US AS THEY HAVE BEEN FORCED TO IN CANADA!!! I AM A YOUNG, FEMALE COLLEGE STUDENT AND IT WAS VERY SCARY BEING STUCK AND THEN NOT TO HAVE STEERING EITHER. *TR

THE POWER STEERING PUMP STOPPED WORKING THE FIRST TIME WHEN I STOPPED TO GET A SANDWICH. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR TO DRIVE OFF THE STEERING WAS VERY HEAVY. I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF ONCE AGAIN SO I COULD LOOK UNDER THE HOOD TO CHECK THINGS OUT BUT EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE SO I RESTARTED THE ENGINE TO TRY TO DRIVE OFF AGAIN AND THE STEERING STILL WAS VERY HEAVY. NO POWER ASSIST. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES SINCE, ONE TIME WHILE I WAS DRIVING. *TR

SUDDEN FAILURE OF POWER STEERING RESULTING IN VERY HIGH STEERING EFFORT, TRACED BY DEALER TO A WELL-KNOWN FAILURE MODE IN ELECTROHYDRAULIC POWER STEERING PUMP. PUMP AND ASSOCIATED FAN WERE REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER SPECIAL ("SECRET") WARRANTY COVERAGE, DUE TO COMMON INCIDENCE OF THIS FAILURE. EXISTENCE OF THIS SPECIAL WARRANTY WAS FOUND ONLY AFTER SEARCH AND LOCATION OF MANY IDENTICAL FAILURES ON THE INTERNET. THE VEHICLE BATTERY WAS FOUND TO BE COMPLETELY DISCHARGED UPON ARRIVAL AT DEALERSHIP. ONCE A SHOP BATTERY WAS CONNECTED, THE PUMP WAS FOUND TO BE RUNNING CONTINUOUSLY EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IGNITION WAS IN THE FULL OFF POSITION. ALSO, THE ALTERNATOR WAS FOUND TO HAVE FAILED, PRESUMABLY BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE STRESS IMPOSED BY THE DEFECTIVE PUMP ON THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. COST OF ALTERNATOR REPLACEMENT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THIS KNOWN FAILURE MODE IS BELIEVED TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY DEFECT. FORMAL RECALL OF AFFECTED VEHICLES BY NHTSA IS WARRANTED, SINCE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT SPEED CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. *JS

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS REMAIN ON WITH OR WITHOUT SOMEONE IN THE SEAT. CAUSES CONCERN IF AIRBAGS WILL OPERATE IN A CRASH. *TR

THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER S FAILED, MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE CAR SAFELY IN TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO A SERVICE SHOP AND LATER DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I CALLED MINI, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE VIN NUMBER FOR MY CAR WAS NOT ONE COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS A MODEL YEAR 2005. THEY OFFERED NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WHATSOEVER TO HELP ME REPLACE THE PART. A NEW PART WAS QUOTED AS 1300 DOLLARS, AND THAT WAS ASIDE FROM THE LABOR. FOR COST REASONS, IT LOOKS LIKE I WILL HAVE TO INSTALL A REFURBISHED PART INSTEAD, WHICH GIVES ME CONCERNS ABOUT FUTURE FAILURES. *TR

CAME HOME ON TUESDAY NIGHT FROM MY GIRLFRIENDS HOUSE THEN IN THE MORNING MY BATTERY WAS DEAD. AS CONFUSED AS I WAS SINCE I KNEW I DIDNT LEAAVE ANY LIGHTS OR ANYTHING ON WENT AHEAD AND DECIDED TO JUMP THE CAR AND AS SOON AS I CONNECTED THE CABLES I HEARD A NOISE ALMOST LIKE A FAN NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. I THEN PROCEEDED TO OPEN THE HOOD AND SEE OR TRY AND HEAR WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM. DECIDED TO LIFT THE CAR UP AND GET UNDERNEATH TO SEE WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM AND SURE ENOUGH IT WAS FROM INSIDE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. CHECKED FLUIDS AND WAS OK BUT FOR SOME ODD REASON THE PUMP JUST STAYS ON WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF SO TO PREVENT BATTERY DRAINAGE I HAVE TO DISCONNECT A BATTERY TERMINAL EVERY TIME I NEED TO USE THE CAR. IM REQUESTING THAT MINIUSA TAKE CARE OF THIS BEING THAT THERE IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY DAUGHTER'S CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE ABOUT THREE (3) WEEKS AGO WHILE SHE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, LUCKILY SHE THOUGHT ENOUGH AND TURNED THE CAR OFF SO THE DAMAGE WAS ONLY TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND WIRING HARNESS . ONCE WE DISCOVERED WHAT HAD CAUGHT FIRE WE DID RESEARCH ON HOW TO MAKE THE REPAIR(S) AND CAME ACROSS THE RECALL FOR 2005 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLES POWER STEERING PUMPS, THEY ARE RECALLING THEM BECAUSE THEY FAIL AND SOMETIMES CATCH FIRE. THE RECALL IS FOR CARS PRODUCED UNTIL FEBRUARY 2005 AND MINE, ACCORDING TO THE DOOR STICKER, WAS PRODUCED IN MARCH 2005 SO MINI WILL NOT MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY 'FIXED' THE ISSUE. ONCE WE GOT UNDER THE CAR AND PULLED THE POWER STEERING PUMP OFF YOU COULD CLEARLY SEE IT WAS BURNED, THE LARGER POWER STEERING PUMP CONNECTOR WAS COMPLETELY BURNED AND MELTED TOGETHER, WE COULDN'T EVEN REMOVE THE PUMP WITHOUT CUTTING THE WIRING HARNESS. WHEN WE GOT THE PUMP OFF YOU COULD SEE THE PUMP WAS BURNED ON THE INSIDE AS WELL SO APPARENTLY THERE IS STILL AN ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMPS FAILING AND CATCHING FIRE. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH MINI NORTH AMERICA AGAIN AND AGAIN THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE ISSUED BECAUSE WELL, THERE'S NOT AN ISSUE, AGAIN ACCORDING TO THEM. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS ISSUE SO I WILL RESEARCHING THAT AVENUE. *TR

IN AN OFFSET FRONTAL ACCIDENT, BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EVEN WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT UNOCCUPIED. BASED UPON INFORMATION PROVIDED ABOUT THIS VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT RELATED TO THE OPERATION OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM. THE DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE SUFFERED A SERIOUS SECOND DEGREE BURN APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER TO THE INSIDE OF THE RIGHT WRIST. THE LONG SLEEVE SWEATER DRIVER WAS WEARING HAD A LARGE HOLE BURNED THRU IT IN THE LOCATION OF THE BURN TO THE WRIST. THIS BURN WAS CAUSED BY THE AIR BAG HOT GAS DISCHARGE. HANDS WERE BETWEEN THE 9 & 10 AND 2 & 3 O'CLOCK POSITIONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. DRIVER WAS SITTING CORRECTLY POSITIONED RELATIVE TO STEERING WHEEL AND WAS PROPERLY WEARING THE SEAT BELT. *TR

I WAS ON MY WAY BACK TO WORK FROM LUNCH IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER S AND MY POWER STEERING SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF A CURVE! I FORTUNATELY MANAGED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND LIMP TO THE PARKING LOT TO PULL OVER. THEN, I TURNED THE CAR OFF TO GET OUT, AND DISCOVERED MY POWER STEERING PUMP WAS STILL RUNNING EVEN WITH THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF!? I WAS AFRAID THAT THIS WOULD CAUSE A MELTDOWN OR FIRE, SO I QUICKLY CALLED A MINI DEALER TO ASK HOW TO SHUT THE PUMP OFF. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED! THE BATTERY HAD TO REMAIN DISCONNECTED WHILE THE CAR WAS OFF OR THE PUMP WOULD RUN CONTINUOUSLY. I DID NOT FEEL THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AT THIS POINT. MY POWER STEERING WAS NOW UNPREDICTABLY INTERMITTENT WHEN THE CAR WAS RUNNING. THE POWER STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY FAIL AND THEN SUDDENLY COME BACK ON, CAUSING A JERK-AND-SWERVE REACTION IN THE STEERING WHEEL FOR ME WHILE DRIVING. SO I CALLED MINI USA TO REPORT THE PROBLEM, AND I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A MINI DEALER. THE MINI DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE KNOWN POWER STEERING FAILURE COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND ASSOCIATED PUMP COOLING FAN FOR MODEL YEARS 2002-2005 FOR UP TO 13 YEARS/150,000 MILES. BUT MINI USA DENIED COVERAGE DESPITE MY CAR ONLY HAVING APPROX 70,000 MILES, CLAIMING THAT THEY STOPPED COVERAGE AFTER FEB 2005 BECAUSE THE NEWLY DESIGNED REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE INSTALLED AFTER FEB 2005. MY CAR WAS BUILT IN MAY 2005 AND WAS PROVEN BY THE MINI DEALER TO HAVE THE ORIGINAL FAULTY POWER STEERING PARTS, NOT THE NEWLY DESIGNED PARTS. I AM REPORTING THIS AS A KNOWN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD INSTEAD BE A SAFETY RECALL, RATHER THAN THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT MINI USA DOES NOT PROPERLY ADVERTISE OR HONOR, SO THAT ALL MINI OWNERS WILL GET THEIR STEERING CHECKED BEFORE ANYTHING BAD HAPPENS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AT ABOUT 35 MPH STEERING THROUGH A CURVE WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. IT REQUIRED MAJOR EFFORT TO KEEP THE CAR TURNING THROUGH THE CURVE TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS SEEMS TO BE COMMON OCCURRENCE ON FIRST GENERATION MINI COOPERS AND COULD EASILY RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IF MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO TYPICALLY DRIVES THE CAR HAD BEEN AT THE WHEEL AT THE TIME THIS COULD HAVE HAD CATASTROPHIC RESULTS BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THE STEERING OF THE CAR. A CAR SHOULDN'T BE AT RISK OF HAVING MAJOR COMPONENT FAILURES WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES. *TR

ABOUT 1 WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I HAVE A PASSENGER AND THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION SIGN COMES ON THE DASH. IN THE MANUAL IT SAYS :IN THE EVENT OF A MALFUNCTION, HAVE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM CHECKED IMMEDIATELY. OTHERWISE, THERE IS A RISK THAT THE SYSTEM WILL NOT FUNCTION AS INTENDED IN RESPONSE TO A SEVERE IMPACT OCCURRING WITHIN THE SYSTEM'S NORMAL TRIGGERING RANGE. I HAVE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY BUT THEY TOLD ME IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND I HAVE TO PAY 100 TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS OKAY. BUT I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THAT. *TR

MY CAR STARTED WITH A LOW HUM AND AS TIME HAS GONE BY THE SOUND HAS GOTTEN LOUDER AND EVER SINCE THE SOUND HAS BEEN THERE THE POWER STEERING HAS INTERMITTENTLY GONE OUT, BUT NOW IS OUT ALMOST ALL THE TIME. MY WIFE DRIVES THE VEHICLE THE MOST BUT WE WERE PLANNING ON GIVING IT TO OUR 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER FOR HER GRADUATION PRESENT BUT NOW THAT THIS PROBLEM IS AN ALL THE TIME THING WE WILL HAVE TO GO PURCHASE A DIFFERENT VEHICLE FOR HER. IT IS JUST FRUSTRATING THAT AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND THEM BEING THE SAME IT ALMOST SEEMS USELESS TO FILE A COMPLAINT DUE TO MINI NOT WANTING THEIR VEHICLES TO BE GOOD. ALSO ABOUT 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT IS ALWAYS LIT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE FAILURE WAS 60,000.

MY BROTHER WAS DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE WHEN HE SMELLED WIRES BURNING AND SMOKE, WENT TO PULL OVER AND THE CAR WAS HARD TO CONTROL. UPON INSPECTION THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE POWER STEER PUMPS ELECTRONICS HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED THE ADJACENT PARTS. UPON CONTACT RAULPH SCHOMP MINI COOPER DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CARS BEING REPLACED FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE CAR JUST HAD MAJOR WORK DONE TO THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM A YEAR AND HALF AGO BY THE SAME DEALER. SPOKE WITH THE MINI USA REP AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT BEING COVERED. *TR

WHILE I WAS DRIVING, MY POWER STEERING SUDDENLY CUT OFF COMPLETELY. LUCKILY, I WAS CLOSE TO HOME, BUT IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PARALLEL PARK MY CAR. THE NEXT DAY, THE POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN. *JS

THE AUTOMATIC CVT TRANSMISSION JUST DOWN SHIFTED AND NOW WON'T GO INTO HIGH GEAR. THIS WILL HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY AND WILL SHIFT AND CLUNK INTO GEAR. BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION BUT WON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *JS

I WAS DRIVING AND LOST ALL POWER IN MY STEERING. VERY HARD TO TURN, NEARLY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT CROSSING THE YELLOW LINE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. RECOVERED AND DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. *JB

AIR BAG INDICATOR CAME ON, AND THE "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" INDICATOR CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. CALLED MINI COOPER OF PENSACOLA, FL AND THEY SAID THE CAR WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIR. THEY SAID THE BAG WOULD DEPLOY IF THEIR WAS AN ACCIDENT AT FULL FORCE. I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR MY GRAND DAUGHTER AND FEEL THE AIR BAGS SHOULD BE ACTIVE AND OPERABLE FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I FEEL BMW IS NEGLIGENT IN NOT RECALLING THESE VEHICLES AND CORRECTING A MAJOR FLAW, AND INHERENT SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

I HAD A TEMPORARY LOST OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. I DROVE TO A FEW BLOCKS TO STOP. THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED AFTER I RESTARTED THE CAR AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING A MONTH EARLIER OR SO. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, I HAD A VERY HARD TIME TO STEER THE CAR AND FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PARK. *TR

DRIVING ABOUT 10 MPH ON A ONE LANE STREET, I TRIED TO NEGOTIATE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CAR RAN OFF THE ROADWAY AND COLLIDED WITH SOME SHRUBBERY. *TR

POWER STEERING IN THE VEHICLE WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE CORRECTLY. SINCE THIS DATE THE POWER STEERING COMES AND GOES INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

MY COOLING FAN BURNED OUT CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO FAIL. I FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN MY MODEL YEAR AND THAT THE WARRANTY ON THAT PART HAD BEEN EXTENDED. HOWEVER, MINI CLAIMS THAT THEY STARTED PUTTING NEW PUMPS IN FEB OF 2005. MY CAR WAS MADE IN MAR OF 2005 AND THUS THEY WILL NOT COVER IT. I WENT THE EXTRA STEP AND HAD THE DEALER DO A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH FOUND THAT MY CAR HAS THE SAME PART WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE WARRANTY EXTENSION. STILL MINI WILL NOT COVER IT. ONE OF THE REPS TRIED TO COVER IT UP BY TELLING ME THAT THERE IS CONFUSION ON THE PART NUMBER MATCHING BECAUSE THEY USED THE SAME PART NUMBER WHEN THEY CHANGED THE OEM PART. THAT DOES NOT COMPUTE BECAUSE IF THAT WERE TRUE, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO ACCURATELY DISTINGUISH THE GOOD PARTS FROM THE BAD ONES. THERE 222 OTHER STEERING COMPLAINTS AT NTSB SO I'M NOT ONLY ONE. I'M CALLING A LAWYER BECAUSE THIS IS RIDICULOUS. HOW CAN MINI LET CARS THAT HAVE A KNOWN SAFETY RISK CONTINUE TO BE ON THE ROADS? *TR

SRS LIGHT CAME ON...PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR ISSUE. *TR

THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND SAYS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS TURNED OFF. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A WEIGHT SENSOR IN THE SEAT AND IT IS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS THAT THERE IS CONFLICTING INFORMATION NOT THERE AS TO WEATHER THE AIR BAGS WILL WORK OR NOT IN THIS CONDITION. THE DEALER FIX COST BETWEEN 1000 AND 1200 DOLLARS TO FIX. THESE SAFETY ITEMS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR AND NOT COST THIS MUCH TO REPAIR. WHY ISN'T BMW RECALLING THIS CAR AND FIXING AN OBVIOUS DEFECT? *TR

THE POWER STEERING PUMP STARTS AND STOPS WHENEVER IT WANTS TO. YOU CAN BE DRIVING AND THE PUMP STOPS AND THE STEERING GETS VERY HARD. THE PUMP ALSO RUNS AFTER THE CAR IS SHUT OFF. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO COVER THE PROBLEM BUT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR IT FOR TWO MONTHS UNTIL PARTS CAME IN. I TOOK THE CAR BACK WHEN THE PARTS CAME IN AND THEN WHEN THEY RAN THE VIN THEY SAID THE CUTOFF WAS IN FEB AND MY CAR WAS BUILT IN APRIL SO IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY.I CALLED MINI AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WORKED EXTENSIVELY WITH YOU TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YEARS HAD THE BAD PARTS. WHEN I LOOK ON LINE I SEE MANY PROBLEMS NOTED FOR 2005 AND EVEN 2006 AND IT LOOKS LIKE CANADA MADE THEM RECALL THE CARS. WOULD YOU REVISIT AND SEE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE 2005 MODELS BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THANK YOU *TR

THE FIRST OF MULTIPLE STEERING FAILURES OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT, THANKFULLY. NONE HAS YET TO HAPPEN ON INTERSTATE OR AT A DEADLY RATE OF SPEED, WHICH THAT WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE VERY FAST IF A CHILD RIDING ON THEIR BIKE UNEXPECTEDLY DARTED IN FRONT OF YOU. IF THE STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AT THAT MOMENT IT WOULD BE OVER FOR THE KID. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A KNOWN, POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS, ISSUED GOES UNADDRESSED. I'M BEWILDERED. *TR

MY WIFE BOUGHT A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE AND IT DROVE FINE FOR LIKE ONE DAY, THEN AFTER THAT IT STOPPED SHIFTING GEARS. WE NOTICED IT WOULD GO AROUND 35MPH THEN THE GEARS WOULD NOT SHIFT. AFTER AWHILE IT WOULDN'T EVEN GO OVER 15MPH. AFTER TAKING IT TO GET DIAGNOSED FOR SOME REASON IT RAN 40 MPH FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES THEN THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. *TR

THE MANUFACTURER HAS RECENTLY STATED THEY ARE GOING TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE WARRANTY FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP FOR MODELS RANGING FROM THE YEARS 2002-2005 AND SOME 2005 MINI CONVERTIBLES. I HAVE A 2005 MINI CONVERTIBLE, AND HAVE THE FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMP THAT THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY LIFE FOR. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY LOCAL MINI DEALERSHIP TO GET MY CAR FIXED AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A WAITING LIST TO GET THE WORK DONE. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE PARTS ARE ENTIRELY UNAVAILABLE, AND I CAN EXPECT TO WAIT UP TO A MONTH BEFORE I CAN EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO GET MY CAR FIXED. TILL THEN HOWEVER I CANNOT GET MY CARS INSPECTION RENEWED AS IN MY STATE A CAR CANNOT PASS WITHOUT POWER STEERING. I HAVE BEEN LEFT WITHOUT ANY FEASIBLE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, AND UPON BEGGING MINI TO HELP WITH MY PROBLEM WHICH THEY HAVE CREATED I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. THIS LEAVES ME WITH EITHER HAVING TO BREAK TEXAS STATE LAW AND DRIVE THE CAR WITHOUT CURRENT INSPECTION, OR DROP OUT OF SCHOOL AS I WILL HAVE NO WAY OF GETTING THERE UNTIL THE MINI FIXES THE PROBLEM. *TR

PASSENGER SAFETY INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINS ON. CALLED LOCAL MINI SERVICE CENTER AFTER READING MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE AND THEY STATED THEY (MINI USA) HAVE/WILL NOT SERVICE/REPAIR THE FAULTY SEAT MODULE. THIS MUST BE CONSIDERED AS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE PASSENGER AND SHOULD BE DEALT WITH UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OR RECALL. *TR

MINI HAS ANNOUNCED RECALL NO. 15V-205 REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT SENSOR ON MINI COOPER. MY MINI HAS THIS DEFECT AND IN ORDER TO VALIDATE THIS AIR BAG RELATED DEFECT, MINI REQUIRED ME TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. NOW, MINI IS REFUSING TO REIMBURSE DIAGNOSTIC FEE NEEDED TO DETERMINE THAT AIRBAG LIGHT WAS DUE TO THE DEFECT ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT SEAT DETECTION MAT SENSOR. THIS FEE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED SINCE MINI ACKNOWLEDGES THIS IS A DEFECT FOR THE FRONT SEAT MAT SENSOR.

2005 MINI COOPER 2-DOOR CONVERTIBLE: THE LEFT REAR UPPER AND LOWER (ORIGINAL/FACTORY) CONTROL ARMS (METAL STRUT) FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD; WARNING SIGN WAS A SLIGHT NOISE FROM THE REAR LEFT TIRE, WHICH WENT AWAY WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL SLIGHTLY LEFT, THEN CAME BACK WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT. (SOUNDED LIKE INTERMITTENT RUBBING/ TIRE ISSUE.) THE CAR WAS DRIVING NORMALLY AND THE TIRE LOW PRESSURE INDICATOR LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. WHILE TURNING OFF MAIN ROAD TO INVESTIGATE, SECOND CONTROL ARM FAILED AND CAR CAME DOWN TO REST ON REAR TIRE AND WOULD NOT ROLL FORWARD. UNEXPECTED AND COMPLETE FAILURE WITH CLEAN FRACTURE TO BOTH CONTROL ARMS. NO COLLISION OCCURRED TO THE VEHICLE/PART. VEHICLE NOT RUSTED. GOOGLE SEARCH BRINGS UP MANY OTHER MINI COOPER POSTS OF THIS CONTROL ARM FAILING UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER IS VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY (THAT THEY HAD RECENTLY EXITED). OTHERS POSTING ONLINE HAVE EXPERIENCED 'UNCONTROLLED 180 SPINS' WHEN THEIRS FAILED. CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT THE ORIGINAL FACTORY CONTROL ARMS ON OTHER SIDE MAY EXHIBIT SAME UNEXPECTED FAILURE IN THE FUTURE. NOT CLEAR IF THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW OR MATERIALS/PARTS BAD BATCH. MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEE MENTIONED THE SAME FAILURE (TO HIS PERSONAL CAR) WITH NO WARNING RECENTLY. ONLINE POSTS OF CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME UNEXPECTED FAILURE: HTTP://WWW.MINI2.COM/FORUM/FIRST-GENERATION-FAULTS-FIXES/80969-REAR-SUSPENSION-FAILURE.HTML HTTP://WWW.MINI2.COM/FORUM/FIRST-GENERATION-FAULTS-FIXES/108796-REAR-CONTROL-ARM-ISSUES.HTML HTTP://WWW.MINI2.COM/FORUM/FIRST-GENERATION-FAULTS-FIXES/69981-BROKEN-PART-UNDERSIDE-WHATS-CALLED.HTML HTTP://WWW.PSMINI.ORG/FORUM/EXPENSIVE-REPAIR-CONTROL-ARM-BUSHINGS-AND-STRUTS_TOPIC6569.HTML

2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITH AN OCCUPANT POSITIONED IN THE SEAT. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR EVEN WHEN AN OCCUPANT WAS NOT PRESENT IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE ILLUMINATION NO LONGER CONTINUED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. *TR

I WAS TOLD THE FOLLOWING ABOUT MY PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM. BASICALLY THE COMPUTER FAILED AND I HAD A CRACK IN THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 32,000 MILES AND WAS MOSTLY DRIVEN WITH NO ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED WITH SUCH MINIMAL USE.: REPLACE MRS MODULE AND PROGRAM,ENCODE (MRS MODULE FAILURE, INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT) FAIL $774.06 REPLACE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT (PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT HAS MICRO CRACK ON MAT FAULT 0071)FAIL $874.55. *TR