2005 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

AIR BAG WARNING LAMP TURNS ON AND REMAINS ON RANDOMLY. DIAGNOSTIC INDICATES PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. THE PASSENGER SEAT IS USED INFREQUENTLY AND LOOKS LIKE NEW. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD RESULT IN EITHER THE AIR BAG FAILING TO DEPLOY OR DEPLOYING WITH TOO GREAT OF FORCE. THE COST OF REPAIR IS PROHIBITIVE AND YET THE ISSUE MAKES THE VEHICLE ALMOST UN SALEABLIMPOSSIBLE TO SELL WITHOUT THE REPAIR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED.THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MERGE TO THE SHOULDER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. ONCE RESTARTED, THE STEERING RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

AT RANDOM TIMES, THE POWER STEERING FAILS, MOSTLY AT START-UP, BUT SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. I ALWAYS NEED TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION, AND RESTART THE CAR, WHICH SEEMS TO TEMPORARILY RE-ENGAGE THE POWER ASSIST STEERING.

AFTER RUNNING ERRANDS IN THE MORNING I PARKED MY CAR IN MY SPOT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. WHEN I WALKED AWAY THE CAR WAS SILENT. TWO HOURS LATER MY NEIGHBOR KNOCKED ON MY DOOR TO LET ME KNOW THAT MY CAR (WHICH HAD BEEN OFF AND PARKED FOR TWO HOURS) WAS MAKING A LOUD WHINING NOISE. I WENT OUTSIDE TO CHECK IT OUT, AND DETERMINED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM MY CAR WHILE IT WAS OFF. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR, WHICH WAS DRIVING WELL AT THE TIME, TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND RECOMMEND THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT IMMEDIATELY TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE MINI DEALERSHIP THEY IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY CAR BACK. I WAS TOLD THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FAILING AND OVERHEATING, WHICH CAUSED THE POWER STEERING FAN TO KEEP RUNNING WHILE THE CAR WAS OFF. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THIS HAPPENS TIME TO TIME, AND IF I HAD CONTINUED DRIVING THE CAR IT MAY OF CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE TECHNICAL WORDS ON THE WORK ORDER FROM THE MINI MECHANIC WERE, "SCANNED CAR FOR FAULTS, AFTER CHECKING CARS FAULT MEMORY IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE WAS A CURRENT FAULT FOR AN OPEN CIRCUIT ON THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP." BOTH THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

GOING INTO A TURN ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF I-465 IN INDIANAPOLIS AND THE MINI COOPER'S POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I BRAKED HARD AND PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED AND APPROACHING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE VEHICLE'S STEERING STIFFENED. THUS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE TURN SAFELY. INSTEAD OF COMPLETING A TIGHT TURN INTO THE CLOSES LANE, I MADE A WIDE TURN INTO LANE 2. ONCE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, PARKED AND TURNED BACK ONE THE PROBLEM DID NOT PERSIST. *TR

I RECENTLY BOUGHT MY 2005 MINI COOPER, AFTER MOVING TO TACOMA, WA. ONLY AFTER A WEEK OF DRIVING I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. I HAVE NOT EVEN MADE A PAYMENT ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED UKMINI AND MY INFORMATION WAS FORWARD TO BMW HEAD OFFICE IN GERMANY. MINIUSA CONTACTED ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE INTO A LOCAL DEALER TO VERIFY THE FAULT. THEY DIDN'T SAY THEY WOULD COVER THE COST. BUT BEING IN THE MILITARY I WILL ENSURE THAT SOLDIERS ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS THEY MAY FACE WITH THIS COMPANY. *TR

STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER BELIEVES THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE STEERING PUMP. I RESEARCHED IT ON THE NET AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. *TR

VERY DISAPPOINTED TO FIND OUT THAT A VEHICLE I HAVE TAKEN EXCEPTIONAL CARE OF TO AVOID COSTLY REPAIRS HAS ALSO HAD THE OCCUPANCY MAT GO BAD OUT OF THE BLUE.... I WASN'T EVEN DRIVING THE CAR! I HELD OUT HOPE THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND WAS TOLD OFF THE RECORD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLAINTS HE RECEIVES AND IN HIS OPINION HAS COST MINI A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF REPEAT BUSINESS. IT IS VERY HARD TO SWALLOW THE $1400 REPAIR WHEN IT IS EVIDENT THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURES PROBLEM WHICH WILL COST SOMEONE THEIR LIFE ONE DAY; MAYBE THEN THEY WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX THEIR PROBLEMS. LIKE TOYOTA; IT TOOK PEOPLE DYING FOR THEM TO ADDRESS THE ACCELERATOR PROBLEM. SAD, VERY SAD. *TR

THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED AS I WAS MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE. I COULDN'T MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AND THOUGHT MY CAR HAD DIED, BUT IT HADN'T AND THEN ALL WAS FINE SO I THOUGHT MAYBE I IMAGINED IT. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS ON 11/11/11. I WENT TO PICK UP MY GRAND-DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WHEN I RESTARTED IT I COULD NOT PULL OUT OF THE SCHOOL LINEUP. I WAITED UNTIL ALL OTHER CARS LEFT AND DROVE FORWARD USING ALL MY MIGHT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SO THAT I COULD PARK THE CAR WHILE I TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON A FEW TIMES AND THEN THE STEERING WORKED. I DROVE MY GRAND-DAUGHTER HOME, SAFELY, THANK GOD, RETURNED HOME AND PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. I'M NOW TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT AND UPON DOING RESEARCH ONLINE I REALIZE THAT I AM FAR FROM THE ONLY ONE WITH COMPLAINTS. THIS IS A VERY, VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. BEING UNABLE TO STEER PUTS NOT ONLY ME AND MY PASSENGERS IN DANGER BUT MANY OTHERS ON THE ROAD AS WELL..

POWER STEERING FAN BURNED OUT WHICH CAUSED THE PUMP TO FAIL. SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR. THE PLACEMENT OF THE FAN IS REALLY BAD BECAUSE IT'S SUBJECT TO CONSTANT ROAD GRIME, SALT, ETC. COST ME OVER $1,200 TO FIX. :( *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS WITH AND WITHOUT PASSENGERS SEATED IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A WIRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,500.

AUTOMATIC CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 77,000 MILES. CAR STOPPED WHEN GOING DOWN INTERSTATE, PRESSING GAS, NOTHING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR SAFELY, TURNED IT OFF, RESTARTED IT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND EP (TRANSMISSION) WARNING LIGHT CAME ON.MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP SAYS MIN IS VERY AWARE OF THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, AND STOPPED PUTTING THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS IN, APPARENTLY IT WAS EXPERIMENTAL. CANNOT REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION, AND MINI ESTIMATES $7100 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, AND WILL ONLY GIVE ME $2500 ON IT AS A TRADE IN DUE TO THE KNOWN TRANSMISSION ISSUE. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE "AIR BAG" OFF LIGHT IS ON ALL OF THE TIME AND THUS, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT BE DEPLOYED IN AN COLLISION. HAVE HAD SENSOR WORKED ON, SYSTEM FLASHED BY BMW, ETC TO RESOLVE ISSUE. BMW UNABLE TO RESOLVE WITHOUT EXTENSIVE COST. *TR

WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE POWER STEERING ALL OF A SUDDEN WENT OUT THUS MAKING THE STEERING EXTREMELY HEAVY. IT CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE. COULD BE DANGEROUS TO DRIVERS IF FAILURE OCCURS ON A TURN. POWER STEERING SHOULD NOT FAIL. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED ON LOW AND HIGH SPEED. HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO STOP,KEY OFF AND REKEY SEVERAL TIMES TO GET POWER STEERING TO RETURN. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES SINCE THE FIRST TIME. IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING AND WITH NO NOTICE. BY LOOKING AT THIS WEBSITE AND ONLINE FORUMS I SEE THIS IS A ONGOING CONCERN,AND THAT THIS CONCERN RESULTED IN A RECALL IN CANADA. I WOULD HOPE THAT NHTSA WOULD ADOPT THE SAME RECAL AS CANADA,AS THIS DEFECT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE CONSUMER. THE APPX COST OF A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE 1200.00 TO 2000.00 DOLLAR RANGE THAT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE CONSUMER SEEMS GROSSLY UNFAIR. *TR

DRIVING OFF A PARKING LOT ABOUT TO MAKE A LEFT ONTO TRAFFIC, CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING, TRY TO CORRECT DIRECTION BUT WEIGHT TONS TO STEER INTO RIGHT DIRECTION AND RUNS STRAIGHT INTO TRAFFIC. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A LEFT HAND TURN. THE CAR'S STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME SO HEAVY THAT I ALMOST DROVE INTO SOMEBODY'S YARD. SINCE THE ROAD WAS A 3 MILE STRAIGHT SHOT TO MY HOME, I DROVE IT THE REST OF THE WAY. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO COME AND GO TO VARYING DEGREES OVER THAT DISTANCE. I WILL NOT BE DRIVING IT AGAIN UNTIL REPAIRED. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILS DURING DRIVING. SEEMS TO BE AFTER ENGINE GETS HOT. HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

THE AIRBAG LIGHT SAYING THAT THE AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF HAS BEEN TURNING OFF AND ON FOR A WHILE. PROBABLY SEVERAL YEARS. IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, THE SEAT BELT SIGNAL WILL ACTIVATE EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. IT USUALLY HAPPENS RIGHT AFTER THE PASSENGER HAS EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO BUCKLE THE SEAT. THEN THE AIRBAG WARNING LAMP ON THE DASHBOARD WILL TURN ON AS WELL AS THE "AIRBAG LIGHT IS OFF" SIGNAL. SOMETIMES BOTH STAY ON FOR A WHILE. THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN AND IF THE AIRBAGS ARE ACTUALLY WORKING WHEN I HAVE A PASSENGER IN MY CAR, WHICH IS FRIGHTENING TO ME. I HAD MY MECHANIC RUN DIAGNOSTICS AND HE FOUND THAT THERE'S A TSB FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM ON 2005 MINIS. IT REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE SENSOR MAT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR TO VERIFY WHETHER SUCH A KEY SAFETY COMPONENT OF THE CAR SHOULDN'T BE UNDER SOME EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD NO IT WASN'T. THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR THE ISSUE IS TO REPLACE THE BOTTOM SEAT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH I WAS TOLD WOULD COST $650 + LABOR OF $400 OR SO. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT IF I ORDERED THE NEW SEAT AND HAD IT REPLACED BY MY MECHANIC AND THAT DIDN'T RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, THEY WOULD NOT TAKE BACK THE SEAT. THE ONLY WAY IT WOULD BE COVERED IS IF I HAD THEM RUN THE DIAGNOSTIC FOR $95. I THINK IT'S OUTRAGEOUS THAT WITH SO MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME KEY SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THEIR CAR THAT THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH NOT EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO THIS MODEL OR ELSE RECALLING THE ITEM. AND WHAT'S WORSE, THERE IS NO WAY TO BE ASSURED THAT EVEN WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE NOT ON, THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL ACTUALLY DEPLOY PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR

RANDOM LOSS OF POWER TO POWER STEERING SYSTEM AT VARYING SPEEDS AND CONDITIONS. LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAN VARY IN TIMES FROM A FEW SECONDS TO A SEVERAL MINUTES. STEERING VEHICLE BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSS OF POWER IN STEERING PUMP/SYSTEM. CONDITION SEEMS TO GO AWAY FOR A FEW HOURS TO A FEW DAYS. *TR

MY DAUGHTER EXPERIENCED COMPLETE POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING HER MINI COOPER, NEARLY CAUSING A COLLISION WITH AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. I DROVE THE CAR AFTERWARD AND COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW HARD IT WAS TO STEER THE CAR (COMPARED TO A MANUAL STEERING VEHICLE). I CALLED MINI AT THEIR TOLL FREE NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD NO RECALL NOTICE FROM THE NHTSA, THEREFORE THEY HAD NO OBLIGATION TO FIX THIS INCREDIBLE DEFECT. I HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE A BODY COUNT FOR THE NHTSA TO RECALL THE 223,000 MINI'S EFFECTED BY THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DEFECT. *KB

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE SUDDENLY FAILED ON A TURN, NEARLY CAUSING ME TO GO INTO A DITCH. MY MINI DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS PROBABLY THE POWER STEERING PUMP & WOULD COST $1400 TO REPLACE. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET & FOUND THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE MINI COOPER & THAT AN INVESTIGATION WAS TAKING PLACE INTO THE DEFECTIVE PUMP & THAT A RECALL MIGHT BE FORTHCOMING. I CALLED MINI USA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT. THEIR REP TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ISSUE & THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO OFFER "GOODWILL" ASSISTANCE IN GETTING IT REPLACED IF I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER FOR VERIFICATION THAT IT WAS A PUMP FAILURE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO VERIFIED THAT THE PUMP NEEDED REPLACED. THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THIS HAD BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM & THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE COMPLAINTS MADE ABOUT THE PUMP GOING BAD. I CALLED MINI USA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE, SPOKE TO A SUPERVISOR WHO TOLD ME SHE'D GET BACK TO ME. A WEEK LATER, SHE CALLED & TOLD ME THAT MY REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN DENIED & THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT, IN LIGHT OF THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE POWER STEERING PUMP, BMW/MINI SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS REPLACEMENT. $1400 IS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE BAD IN THE FIRST PLACE. THERE ARE NO LOCAL MECHANICS WHO CAN TAKE REPAIR THIS SO MINI USA/BMW HAS US RIGHT WHERE THEY WANT US - POWERLESS TO FIGHT A BIG COMPANY & HELPLESS BECAUSE WE NEED OUR VEHICLES. I WOULD HAVE NEVER EXPECTED THIS TO HAPPEN ON A CAR WITH LESS THAN 45,000 MILES ON IT. SUDDENLY LOSING ONE'S POWER STEERING CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I ENCOURAGE NHTSA TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING PUMP DEFECT & ISSUE A RECALL TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE'S DRIVERS, PASSENGERS & ANYONE WHO COULD BE INJURED DUE TO SUDDEN LOSS OF ITS POWER STEERING. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE POWER STEERING BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,776. UPDATED 01/18/12*LJ THE STATED SHE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING AS SHE ROUNDED A CURVE. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING FORCED HER OFF THE ROAD AND NEARLY INTO A DITCH. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST $1400 TO REPLACE THE STEERING PUMP. UPDATED 02/28/12

POWER ASSISTED STEERING WILL CEASE WORKING WHILE DRIVING, MAKING THE CAR VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER/CONTROL. THIS PROBLEM IS CURRENTLY INTERMITTENT, BUT WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN IT IS VERY SCARY. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE CONTACT WOULD RESTART THE VEHICLE. ONCE RESTARTED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN BROOKWOOD STREET AND WENT TO MAKE A CURVE WHEN I REALIZED THAT I COULDN'T TURN THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO PULL HARDER ON THE WHEEL AND MAKE THE CURVE. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF TO LOOK THINGS OVER,CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID WHICH WAS FULL. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE STEERING WORKED AGAIN.I FINISHED DRIVING TO WORK WITH NO PROBLEMS. WHEN I CAME OUT OF WORK I AGAIN HAD NO POWER STEERING AND HAD THE CAR TOWED INTO A SHOP WHERE THEY TOLD ME THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD FAILED AND IT WAS GOING TO COST OVER $1300 TO FIX. I HAD THE REPAIR DONE BUT AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AS THEY TOLD ME IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN EVEN WITH THE NEW PART. *TR

POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT USUALLY WHEN THIS HAPPENS I CAN TURN THE CAR OFF AND WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED ON AGAIN IT IS FINE FOR A WHILE. I HAD POWER STEERING FLUID TOPPED UP BUT APPARENTLY IT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD IT IS A POWER STEERING PUMP THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND COSTS APPROXIMATELY $1,000.00- 1,2000.00. TODAY THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO NORMAL AFTER ABOVE SAID ACTIONS. I READ THAT CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE CAR IN THIS STATE CAN CAUSE BATTERY DRAINAGE/FAILURE, FAN PROBLEMS, AND/OR ELECTRICAL FIRES. *KB

POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING NEAR THE END OF A 15 MILE DRIVE TO WORK. POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED NORMALLY ON THE DRIVE HOME 9 HOURS LATER. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND SHUT OFF. UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A DAILY BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

INTERMITTENTLY AND RARELY, WHEN THE CAR FIRST STARTS, THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL, AND THERE IS NO APPARENT EFFECT ON THE WHEELS OF THE CAR. EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, I HAVE IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED. RESTARTING THE IGNITION HAS BEEN ENOUGH TO REGAIN THE POWER STEERING. AFTER THIS HAPPENED BETWEEN 5 AND 10 TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR, I REALIZED IT WAS A PATTERN AND DECIDED TO LODGE A COMPLAINT. I ALSO REALIZED THAT THE LOUDER-THAN-ORDINARY STEERING FAN NOISE MIGHT BE ANOTHER SYMPTOM OF PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. IN MID-SEPTEMBER 2011, THE CAR BATTERY DIED. THE STEERING FAN WAS VERY LOUD. I NOW WONDER IF THE BATTERY FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE STEERING FAN, ALTHOUGH NO ONE AT THE DEALERSHIP COMMENTED ON THE VERY LOUD FAN THAT WAS EXTREMELY NOTICEABLE WHEN THEY RESTARTED THE CAR. *TR

MY POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER S FAILED AT 45 MPH IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN FOR A DIAGNOSES IN WHICH THEY INFORMED ME THE REPAIR WOULD BE OVER $1K. I DECLINED THE REPAIR AS I HAVE LOCATED A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE, AND AM NOW TAKING IT UP WITH MINI HQ. *TT

WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 MINI, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS OCCURED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. ONCE THE VEHICLE COOLS OFF, THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. *TR I HAVE CONTACTED THE MINI DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS PROBLEM TO SEE IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY RECALLS ISSUED, WHICH THERE HAVE NOT. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED IT AS WELL. CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY A "RECALL" HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED?

BOUGHT MY DREAM CAR, AN '05 MINI COOPER S MONDAY, LABOR DAY, AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING RANDOMLY CUTTING IN AND OUT. NOT AWESOME! EACH TIME, TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON HAS RESOLVED THE ISSUE, HOWEVER IT WOULD SEEM THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING, LIKE, AT ALL, LET ALONG HAVING TO 'CYCLE' THE ENGINE EACH TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO MERGE ONTO THE SHOULDER BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 10/18/11 UPDATED EVOQ 11/01/11.

TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING. AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS, I STOPPED TO FILL UP AT A GAS STATION. I THEN STARTED THE CAR AND BEGAN TO DRIVE OUT OF THE GAS STATION. I SOON NOTICED THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, OPENED THE HOOD, AND PROCEEDED TO CHECK THE POWER STEERING FLUID. THE POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR WAS FULL. I RESTARTED THE CAR AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. THIS TEMPORARY POWER STEERING LOSS HAS OCCURRED 3 MORE TIMES OVER THE LAST MONTH SINCE THE INITIAL INCIDENT DESCRIBED ABOVE. DURING THE LAST OCCURRENCE, I DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE BACK TO MY HOME WITH NO POWER STEERING. I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT, NEARLY UNDRIVEABLE AROUND SLOW SPEED TURNS. THE STEERING EFFORT WAS MUCH MORE THAN MANUAL STEERING CARS I'VE OWNED IN THE PAST. *TR

PARKED THE VEHICLE AFTER A SHORT TRIP OF APPROX. 10 MILES. LEFT CAR FOR APPROX 5 TO 7 MINUTES. RETURNED TO FIND SMOKE BILLOWING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO UNHOOK THE BATTERY CABLE. GOT THE BATTERY UNHOOKED AND SMOKE DIMINISHED. TRIED RESTARTING CAR, RESTARTED FINE, BUT NO POWER STEERING. ASSUMING THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT UP IN SMOKE. FORTUNATELY, DAMAGE SEEMS TO BE LIMITED TO PS PUMP... NOT SURE YET IF SMOLDERING/SMOKE INDICATES ANY OTHER DAMAGE UNDER THE HOOD OR NOT. *TR

TRAVELING BACK HOME TO A SHORT DRIVE FROM A LOCAL STORE. WHEN I WENT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN ONTO MY STREET THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. HAD MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER BEEN DRIVING THE CAR, I THINK IT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXERT THE NECESSARY FORCE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO TURN. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE LAST THURSDAY AND UPON EXITING THE POWER STEERING WENT. I WAS TERRIFIED. I AM JUST LUCKY I HAVE A STRAIGHT EXIT FROM THE INTERSTATE; IF THERE HAD BEEN A CURVE I WOULD HAVE BEEN INTO THE WALL OR OFF THE ROAD. MY PERSONAL FEELING IS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP AS FAILURE CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR, SOMEONE TO BE KILLED? I LIMPED MY MINI TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WILL COST $1257.00 TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN. I AM NOW UNABLE TO DRIVE MY MINI AS IT IS UNSAFE. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE, DRAINED BATTERY DUE TO POWER STEERING FAN CONTINUING TO RUN AFTER VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. *TR

AS REPORTED BY HUNDREDS OF OTHERS TO NHTSA AND BY THOUSANDS ON THE INTERNET, THE POWER STEERING PUMP IN OUR 2005 MINI COOPER WILL SIMPLY STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT BECOMES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON-LINE AND WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A DEATH. IT IS MY OPINION THAT NHTSA MUST IMMEDIATELY MOVE TO ESCALATE THIS FROM ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO REQUIRE BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC ISSUE A RECALL ON ALL 2005 & 2006 MODEL MINI COOPERS, IF NOT EARLIER MODELS AS THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ON-LINE GOING BACK TO 2002 WHEN THE MODEL WAS FIRST INTRODUCED TO THE US MARKET. THE COST TO REPLACE THIS UNIT IS THE BETTER PART OF $900, BUT WHAT''S THE COST OF A LIFE? MINI SHOULD HAVE LONG SINCE RECALLED THIS UNIT AND THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE 2002 BUT THEY HAVE CLEARLY IGNORED COMPLAINT AFTER COMPLAINT INSTEAD CLAIMING THEY ''WORK CLOSELY WITH NHTSA ON ALL COMPLAINTS'' (THEY''RE REQUIRED TO DO SO BY LAW SO THEIR STATEMENT DOESN''T HOLD MUCH WEIGHT). AS THE FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT AN UNPREDICTABLE HOW CAN I ALLOW MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER WHO IS PREPARING TO LEARN TO DRIVE TO DRIVE EITHER OF OUR MINI COOPERS UNTIL IT''S REPLACED? MINI SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

IN THE EARLY FALL, SEPTEMBER 2011, I ENCOUNTERED ISSUES WITH MY CAR NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. IT'S AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SO I KNOW THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD BE DOING TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AND DRIVEN WITH CARE WHILE IN MY POSSESSION(I'M THE SECOND OWNER. NO SIMILAR ISSUES ON CARFAX REPORT). WHILE THE ENGINE IS COOL AND NOT YET AT ITS OPTIMAL TEMPERATURE THE DRIVE IS FINE AND YOU MAY NOT EVEN NOTICE A PROBLEM; HOWEVER, EVERY RIDE, ONCE WARMED UP THE CAR BEGINS TO SHIFT INCREDIBLY VIOLENTLY AS IT IS OBVIOUSLY STRUGGLING TO SWITCH GEARS. THIS OCCURS ALSO WHILE SLOWING DOWN AND THE CAR IS DOWNSHIFTING CREATING AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE "SLUNG" INTO A CAR FROM BEHIND(THIS HAPPENED IN THE MID SUMMER OF 2011). AFTER DROPPING THIS CAR OFF SEPTEMBER 15TH TO THE LOCAL MINI DEALERSHIP, I DID NOT HEAR FROM THEM FOR ALMOST THREE WEEKS. IN THE FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER I WAS CONTACTED AND TOLD IT LOOKS LIKE MY CAR IS VERY EASILY FIXABLE AND SHOULD BE READY SHORTLY. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT A SEAL HAD BROKEN ON THE TRANSMISSION LEAKING FLUID ONTO IT CAUSING THIS SHIFTING MALFUNCTION. WHEN THEY FINALLY TOLD ME I CAN PICK UP MY CAR(APPROXIMATELY OCTOBER 18TH) THEY REGRETTED TO INFORM ME THE PROBLEM WAS NOT ABLE TO BE FIXED AND I WOULD HAVE TO BRING IT ELSEWHERE AS THEY DO NOT REBUILD TRANSMISSIONS. NOW IT IS BACK IN MY POSSESSION WHERE I AM FORCED TO COMMUTE IN IT DAILY, DRIVING WORSE THAN IT WAS BEFORE I DROPPED IT OFF. IT NOW DISPLAYS "PE" FOR ITS CURRENT GEAR FROM TIME TO TIME. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY COMPLAINT I HAVE FILED FOR THIS CAR MATCHING OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS. I AM A VICTIM OF THEIR FAILED POWER STEERING AS WELL. *TR

DRIVING AROUND A CORNER, POWER STEERING DROPPED OUT. RESTARTING SOLVED THE PROBLEM. HAS OCCURRED OCCASIONALLY SINCE THEN. ALSO, OCCASIONALLY THE PUMP CONTINUES AFTER THE CAR STOPS. SEEMS RELATED TO EA11005. *JS

WHILE PROCEEDING DOWN A NORMAL DRY ROAD I MANUALLY SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION (USING MANUAL MODE ON THE CVT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) FROM 3RD GEAR TO 4TH GEAR. THE SHIFT NORMALLY WOULD BE SMOOTH HOWEVER ON THIS OCCURRENCE THE ENGINE IDLED EXTREMELY HIGH AND THE GEAR KICKED IN AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS WITH A LOUD BANGING SOUND WHEN THE GEAR FINALLY TOOK HOLD. THE CAR BEHAVED ITSELF FOR A WHILE BUT THIS EVENT STARTED HAPPENING MORE AND MORE UNTIL IT BECAME A REGULAR OCCURRENCE. MOST OF THE TIME THERE WAS NO LOUD NOISE BUT THE 4TH GEAR WOULD NOT CATCH AND I ADJUSTED MY DRIVING SO THAT I WOULD SHIFT FROM 3RD GEAR TO 5TH GEAR AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID THE OVER REVVING. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP. THEY LOOKED IT OVER AND ADVISED ME THAT THERE WAS NO WAY OF REPAIRING THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT ENTIRELY. I AM CURRENTLY WORKING TO LOCATE A NEW TRANSMISSION AS DURING THE LAST OCCURRENCE (JULY 21, 2012) THE CAR DID NOT GO INTO 4TH GEAR AND I WAS STUCK ON A HIGHWAY WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO MOVE, I.E. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR. AFTER PULLING OVER TO SAFETY I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR UP TO 3RD GEAR AND RETURN HOME. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY UNUSABLE. I AM NOT WORKING WITH THE MANUFACTURER / DEALER AS PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN ME THAT THEY ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND FINANCIAL GAIN IS THERE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE. IN ADDITION ALL THE INTERNET BLOGS THAT I HAVE REVIEWED, AND JOINED / COMMENTED ON HAS SHOWN ME THAT BMW / MINI DOES NOT WORK WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS TO RECTIFY THIS BAD, UNSAFE PRODUCT. I AM HOPING THAT BMW / MINI WILL WORK WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS WHO ARE STUCK WITH HIS BAD PRODUCT AND I AM ON A LIST TO SUPPORT A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST THEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE POWER STEERING AND THE CONTACT WOULD SEE AND SMELL SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUAL STEERING FUNCTION WOULD ILLUMINATE WITHOUT ACTIVATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER ORDERED THE PART THAT THE CONTACT NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

2005 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE WITH 65K MILES. ORIGINAL OWNER. YESTERDAY MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT AS I DROVE HOME FROM WORK. NO WARNING SIGN AND IT WAS HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND MANEUVER THE CAR. I WAS GLAD IT WAS ME DRIVING AND NOT MY WIFE. SCARY EXPERIENCE WHEN DRIVING AT 65MPH+ ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

MY 2005 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE HAD A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT REPORTEDLY CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP. I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND TURNED OFF MY CAR. I HAD NO PROBLEM STEERING THE CAR UP TO THAT POINT. I GOT OUT AND WENT INTO THE HOUSE. MY WIFE CAME INSIDE AND TOLD ME MY CAR SMELLED FUNNY AND WAS SMOKING (LIGHT) UNDER THE HOOD. I RAISED THE HOOD AND SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HEAT SHIELD IN THE REAR OF THE ENGINE, WHICH IS BELOW THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR AND ABOVE THE PS PUMP. I COULD HEAR SIZZLING, WHICH I INTERPRETED AS WATER. I WENT INSIDE TO CALL A MECHANIC FRIEND AND THEN REALIZED IT WASN'T A GOOD IDEA TO LEAVE A SMOKING CAR ALONE. WHEN I CAME OUTSIDE AGAIN, THE SMOKE HAD TURNED DARK AND HEAVIER. WHEN I REACHED THE CAR, I COULD SEE A RAGING FIRE BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD. I RAN INTO MY GARAGE AND RETURNED WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WHICH I USED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER THAT THE PUMP CAUSED THE FIRE AND THEY WOULD ONLY REIMBURSE FOR THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE POWER STEERING PUMP, NOT FOR THE PUMP ITSELF. I WAS TOLD THAT PS FAILURE IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON MINI COOPERS OF MY YEAR (AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS) AND MODEL. AFTER CHECKING THE INTERNET, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A MFGR.'S RECALL AND WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A NHTSA INVESTIGATION. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY CATASTROPHIC! *TR

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THIS 2005 MINI COOPER STAYS ON AND WON'T GO OFF. DEALER ADVISED ON 8/19/2011 THAT THIS WOULD COST $1229.88 TO REPLACE THE SEAT MAT SENSOR BUT TOLD OWNER THAT THE AIRBAG WAS WORKING, IT WAS JUST THE SENSOR/LIGHT THAT DIDN'T WORK. MANY, MANY COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS EXACT ISSUE WITH THE 2005 MINI MODELS ARE ON THE INTERNET. DEALERS REFUSE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. SINCE THE LIGHT IS ON AND THE REPAIR IS EXPENSIVE, PASSENGERS TAKE A RISK THAT THE AIRBAG WON'T WORK AT ALL. *TR

INTERMEDIATE POWER STEERING FAILURE , RAN OFF THE ROAD HIT A FENCE TO AVOID ON COMING CAR,THANK GOD I WAS NOT HURT ,WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK, AFTER 8 HRS AT WORK GOT IN IT STEERING WAS WORKIN ALMOST TO MY DRIVE WENT OUT AGAIN NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN BUT HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN LATELY COME DRIVE IT WILL SCARE YOUR PANTS OFF. *TR