2005 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED, WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF. HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DETECT A FAILURE. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND RESUMED OPERATION WITH THE STEERING FAILURE. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 06/03/11 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. UPDATED 06/13/11

THE STEERING WHEEL ON MY MINI COOPER HAS BECOME HARD TO STEER ON AND OFF FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. AT THE ONSET, I WAS GOING AT ABOUT 15 TO 20MPH AND TURNING RIGHT. THE STEERING GOT HARD TO TURN AND I WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY STAYING OUT OF ON COMING TRAFFIC. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND HOOD UNDER THE HOOD TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING TO EXPLAIN WHAT WAS GOING ON. I WAS NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY ANYTHING TO EXPLAIN THIS OCCURRENCE, SO I RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT WAS BACK TO NORMAL. SINCE THEN IT HAS DONE THIS ON AND OFF SEVERAL OTHER TIMES. I CALL THE MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THESE VEHICLES HAVE LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING PUMP, COOLING FAN AND RELY SWITCH.

POWER STEERING HAS BEEN FAILING TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. IT OCCURS MAINLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND DRIVING AWAY FROM A STOP. STOPPING AND RESTARTING CLEARS THE PROBLEM. IT DID HAPPEN ONCE AT FREEWAY SPEED ON A LEFT HAND OFF RAMP. IT MADE THE STEERING VERY HEAVY AND HARD TO TURN AND COULD HAVE LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL HAD THE PAVEMENT BEEN SLIPPERY. THE POWER STEERING DID RETURN AFTER SLOWING AND COMPLETING THE TURN. *TR

FOR THE PAST WEEK, THE POWER STEERING ON MY CAR HAS FAILED TWICE. WHEN IT FAILS, I WILL SUDDENLY BE UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, E.G. WHILE MAKING AT TURN WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL STREETS, ON AN ON-RAMP TO A FREEWAY, AND ALSO WHILE PARKING, MAYBE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE WITHIN REASONABLE TIME. WHILE DRIVING LOCAL STREET, I HAVE HAD TO SLOW DOWN (FOR FEAR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE THE TURN TRYING TO STEER THE VEHICLE WITH MY OWN ARMS) AND NEARLY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. UPDATED 08/17/11*BF *TR UPDATED 02/02/2012 *LN *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE WITHOUT APPLYING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE BUT REPLACED THE POWER STEERING FAN AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

VIN: [XXX], DELIVERED SEPT. 2004. CURRENT MILEAGE 49,940 THIS CAR WAS ORDERED VIA MINI.COM. THE ONLY DRIVERS ARE A 63 YR FEMALE AND A 63 YR MALE. NO CHILDREN HAVE EVER DRIVEN THIS CAR, NOR HAS IT BEEN RACED, DRIVEN HARD, SIMPLY DRIVEN TO WORK AND BACK LAST WEEK I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, A 11 MILE TRIP MAX SPEED ON A 55 MPH HIGHWAY. THE FRONT END MADE A HUGE NOISE, THE CAR SHOOK, AND I STOPPED. I HAD TO CALL A TOWING SERVICE, AS I FELT THE CAR WAS UNDRIVABLE. THE SERVICE TOWED THE CAR TO MINI OF NASHVILLE, WHERE I WAS TOLD THE "HARMONIC BALANCER" BROKE, AND IT THEN BROKE THE FRONT AXLE. WHAT? I ASKED, IS A HARMONIC BALANCER" AND WHAT DOES IT DO?, AFTER A LENGTHY CONVERSATION, I FIND OUT THAT IF THE CAR IS TOO OLD, THE RUBBER DRIES OUT AND THIS CAN HAPPEN. FOR A PART TO WEAR OUT, I AM STUCK WITH $2,000 REPAIR BILL. THIS CAR IS NOT TOO OLD, IT HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT AND IS ALWAYS GARAGED. IF THE PARTS MINI USES ON A CAR AND IF MINI KNOWS THAT THEY WEAR OUT THEN MINI SHOULD FULLY DISCLOSE THIS, AS CONSUMERS CAN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS WHEN MAKING DECISIONS ON CAR PURCHASES. THIS IS NOT WHAT I EXPECT FROM A MINI, THIS CAR WAS GENTLY DRIVEN, WELL TAKEN CARE OF. YOUR "HARMONIC BALANCER" IS DEFECTIVE, YOU SHOULD MAKE THE BUYERS OF YOUR CARS AWARE OF THE DEFECT, PUT YOURSELF IN POSITIONS TO MAKE IT RIGHT. THIS CAR WAS UNDRIVABLE, I COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT HIGH SPEED IF A BROKEN AXLE OCCURRED WHILE ON A LONG TRIP, LET ALONE THE INCONVENIENCE OF REPAIRS, HOTEL STAYS, AND OTHER INTERRUPTIONS. I AM EXPECTING MINI MAKE THIS REPAIR AS A WARRANTIED ITEM, COVERING THE COST, LABOR TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE PARTS. THE INVOICE IS DATED 29 APRIL 2011, MINI OF NASHVILLE, I AM CUSTOMER # 31442. THE INVOICE READS AS FOLLOWS: THE DRIVER STATES WHILE DRIVING IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING FELL OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE MINI. 11 - REPLACED DAMPNER. 1035 C THERE ARE MANY INCIDENTS OF THIS ON THE WEB. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THIS IS THE RESULT OF USING INFERIOR PARTS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR

EXPERIENCED ABRUPT AND COMPLETE LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM SIMULTANEOUS WITH AN IMMEDIATE AND SHARP DECREASE IN POWER. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 75 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, CAR IN MIDDLE LANE. VERY NARROWLY AVOIDED COLLISION WITH A TRUCK WHEN MOVING VEHICLE TO FULL STOP IN EMERGENCY LANE. VEHICLE CURRENTLY NOT IN USE AS WE FEEL IT IS A ROAD HAZARD AND UNSAFE TO OPERATE IN CURRENT CONDITION. ALSO AWAITING FOR RESPONSE FROM MINI DEALER.

2005 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING FAILURE. HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY FAILING. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS NOT A "PROBLEM", BUT WILL PROBABLY NEED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. AFTER READING MULTIPLE POSTS, AND THE INVESTIGATION THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS STARTED...THIS IS LOOKING MORE LIKE A COVERUP ON MINI'S PART INSTEAD OF AN ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR, AND IT HAS PUT HER SAFETY AT RISK TWICE NOW WHEN IT FAILED WHILE MAKING A TURN. *TR

THE CAR ( 2005 MINI COOPER) WAS COMPLETELY DEAD OVERNIGHT. WE CHARGED THE BATTERY AND A FAN WOULDN'T TURN OFF WHICH MUST HAVE CAUSED THE DRAIN. WE HAD IT FIXED. IT WAS A FAULTY RELAY IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP, WHICH HAD ALSO BEEN LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE. READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS VERY ISSUE. WE SPENT $1,000 TO FIX THIS ON A CAR WITH 40,000 MILES! *TR

MY 2005 MINI COOPER S HAS POWER STEERING WHEEL FAILURE. IT STARTED HAPPENING AFTER THE CAR HIT 50,000 MILES WHICH I THINK IT'S STILL TOO LOW FOR ANY CARS. I FIRST ENCOUNTERED THE PROBLEM A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHEN I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ON A MAIN RD. THE STEERING WAS SO DIFFICULT TO TURN EVEN WITH BOTH HANDS THAT I HAD TO COME TO HALT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WOULD HAVE HIT THE BUILDING IF I KEPT ON GOING AT FULL SPEED WHICH IS 30 MILES. SO GLAD THERE WAS NO CAR BEHIND ME. ENCOUNTERED A FEW MORE TIMES AFTER THIS. MY CAR IS NOW PARKED AT MY CONDO LOT AS IT COST OVER $1300 TO GET IT FIXED. IT WILL BE VERY DANGEROUS IS THIS HAPPENS ON THE FREEWAY. A FEW OF MY FRIENDS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE OR LIFE WILL BE LOST. BMW/MINI NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *TR

MY POWER STEERING FAILED AS I WAS MAKING A TURN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND A LITTLE UNNERVING. I AM STRONG ENOUGH TO DRIVE THE CAR WITHOUT THE POWER ASSIST, BUT THIS IS NOT TRUE OF MY WIFE. IF THE PROBLEM WERE TO OCCUR WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING SHE MIGHT LOSE CONTROL.

THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN FAILING ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. I FIRST NOTICED IT WHEN I WAS TRYING TO GET OUT OF A PARALLEL PARKING SPOT. UPON TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING IT, THE POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED. IT MOST OFTEN HAPPENED WHEN MANEUVERING OUT OF PARALLEL PARKED SPOTS. SOMETIMES IT WOULD HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES IN ONE DAY AND THEN NOT AGAIN FOR A FEW MONTHS. SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I WAS DRIVING I FELT THE POWER STEERING LOCK UP AND HAVE HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR TO SAFELY AND RESTART THE STEERING. I TOOK IT IN TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP AND DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD IT SOUNDED LIKE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND GIVEN A QUOTE OF $895 TO GET IT REPLACED. *TR

WHEN BACKING OUT OF GARAGE NOTICED THAT STEERING FELT "HEAVY", THEN AS I PROCEEDED FORWARD, ALL POWER STEERING ASSIST CEASED. THIS HAS OCCURRED TWO OR THREE TIMES (WITH NO WARNING) IN THE PAST, AND ON THE HIGHWAY. THE POWER STEERING OUTAGE MAY LAST A FEW MINUTES, OR A FEW DAYS. THE OUTAGE REPORTED HERE LASTED 10 DAYS. THE CAR CAN BE STEERED, BUT ONLY WITH GREAT EFFORT.. VERY DANGEROUS.

THE AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. ALSO, THE LIGHT WHICH INDICATES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS OFF COMES ON WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. CERTAINLY, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WE BELIEVE BMW/MINI SHOULD FIX THIS AT NO CHARGE. *TR

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IN THE CAR SHOWS THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF WHEN THERE IS SOMEONE SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN GOES OFF, OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WHENEVER THE SEAT IS OCCUPIED. THIS INDICATES TO ME THAT THE PERSON SITTING IN THE SEAT HAS NO RELIABLE AIRBAG PROTECTION. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER THREE YEARS IN MY CAR. ORIGINAL COMPLAINT WAS ON 5/31/11. STILL NO ACTION. EMAILED MINI USA AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO HELP. THIS WAS DONE ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO. DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL PEOPLE START DYING BEFORE THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS FIXED BY MINI? I AM NOT THE ONLY MINI OWNER HAVING THIS PROBLEM. BMW HAS RECALLED CARS HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. THEY DEEMED THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHY SHOULDN'T MINI? CAN YOU HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM? *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING OF THE VEHICLE FAILS, CAUSING THE CAR TO SWERVE DANGEROUSLY INTO OTHER LANES, AS IT REQUIRES A LOT OF STRENGTH TO KEEP THE CAR IN ITS LANE WHEN THIS HAPPENS ON A BEND IN THE ROAD. THIS OCCURS APPROXIMATELY ONCE A MONTH. AT OTHER TIMES, THE POWER STEERING PUMP DOES NOT EVEN TURN ON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. THE STEERING WHEEL IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN LIKE THIS. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE STEERING PUMP OR FAN CAN BE HEARD CLEARLY STRUGGLING. THE CAR MUST BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. THIS OCCURS USUALLY ONCE WEEKLY. I HAVE HEARD THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MINI COOPER AND NOT ISOLATED TO ME AND TO FILE A COMPLAINT. NOTHING HAS YET BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. *TR

ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT SEEM NOTICEABLE ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN THE POWER STEERING PUMP STARTED TO FAIL I WAS USING EXTRA PRESSURE TO STAY IN MY LANE. THE PUMP WOULD THEN WORK AGAIN AND THE CAR WOULD LURCH OFF TO THE SIDE I WAS FAVORING AND I ALMOST WENT INTO A GUARD RAIL. WHEN COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND NOT KNOWING THE PUMP WAS QUITTING AGAIN, I WOULD HAVE TO JUMP INTO EMERGENCY MODE TO NEGOTIATE THE TURN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND HAPPENS EVERY FEW DAYS. SIMPLY CYCLING THE IGNITION GETS IT WORKING AGAIN BUT IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN IN MY BOOK. *TR

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT THAT PROMPTED THE LIGHT TO COME ON. APPARENTLY, MINIS PRODUCED THREE MONTHS AFTER THIS VEHICLE ARE INCLUDED IN A RECALL OR "EXTENDED WARRANTY" BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHTS, BUT NOT THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE. BASED ON DISCUSSIONS WITH DEALER SERVICE, IT COULD BE A VERY COSTLY REPAIR, ESTIMATED AT $1200. IT SEEMS VERY STRANGE THAT VEHICLES MANUFACTURED SO CLOSE TO THE COVERED TIME PERIOD ARE ALSO HAVING ISSUES. PERHAPS MINI NEEDS TO CONSIDER EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF THE AIRBAG SENSOR EXTENDED WARRANTY.

ON TUESDAY, 5 APRIL 2011, I DROVE MY 2005 MINI COOPER S ABOUT 20 - 25 MILES HEADING FOR WORK - I MADE A BRIEF STOP FOR COFFEE. THE CAR OPERATED PROPERLY DURING THIS DRIVE, HOWEVER, WHEN I LEFT THE COFFEE SHOP I NOTICE A VERY ACRID SMELL IN THE AREA. WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR AND STARTED IT THE "BATTERY" INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON. I CHECK THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND IT SAID THIS INDICATED THE BATTERY WAS NOT BEING CHARGED. AS THE CAR WAS RUNNING I DECIDED I COULD DRIVE IT TO WORK AND THEN ADDRESS THE CHARGING ISSUE. WHEN I BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT I REALIZED I HAD ALSO LOST MY POWER STEERING. I WAS CONCERNED THAT MY CAR MIGHT NOT BE COOLING AS WELL, SO MOVED THE CAR TO A SPOT FURTHER OUT IN THE PARKING LOT TO ALLOW FOR A TOW TRUCK TO PICK IT UP. I REALIZED THE ACRID SMOKE SMELL WAS STILL WITH ME AND DECIDED TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I LIFTED THE HOOD I FOUND THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FORTUNATELY I CARRIED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT - THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ALSO RESPONDED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO SANDIA MINI COOPER IN ALBUQUERQUE NM AND I HAVE SINCE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE FIRE. FROM SOME RESEARCH I HAVE DONE ON LINE IT APPEARS THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE ISOLATED TO MY VEHICLE, BUT THAT IT WAS OCCURRED IN A NUMBER OF CASES. *TR

THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE PERFORMING TURNS OR ACTIONS WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN OVER/UNDER STEERING. THE FAILURE COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

POWER STEERING VERY SUDDENLY FAILED! NEARLY CAUSED A SEROUS ACCIDENT WHEN NEGOCIATING A ROUNDABOUT. THE CAR IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO MANOEUVER, ESPECIALLY AT A DEAD STOP, OR ROUNDING CORNERS. STEERING IS VERY HARD TO RETURN TO "MIDDLE" POSITION. *TR

WE PURCHASED OUR 2005 MINI COOPER LESS THAN A WEEK AGO. IT HAS 51,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. I TRIED TO TAKE AN OFF RAMP TO THE RIGHT TRAVELING ABOUT 60 MPH AND REALIZED THE POWER STEERING HAD FAILED. I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP. I SLOWLY DROVE THE CAR TO A GAS STATION WHERE I TURNED THE CAR OFF. THE FAN CONTINUED TO RUN. I WAITED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. 2 DAYS LATER I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN ONLY 10 MINUTES AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN. I WAS DRIVING IN FREEZING RAIN...THANK GOODNESS I WAS IN TOWN. IF THE STEERING HAD FAILED ON THE INTERSTATE WITH THESE WEATHER CONDITIONS THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I AM TAKING MY MINI INTO THE DEALERSHIP TOMORROW. WHEN WE BOUGHT THE MINI COOPER WE THOUGHT WE WERE BUYING A SAFE AND DEPENDABLE CAR..NOW IT LOOKS LIKE AN UNSAFE MONEY PIT. *TR

BOUGHT MINI COOPER USED FROM DEALER JUST PRIOR TO GOING TO FLORIDA FOR 2 WKS. WHEN ALMOST HOME FROM FLORIDA POWER STEERING WENT OUT. MY 3000 MILE USED CAR WARRANTY HAD JUST RAN OUT SO CHECKED ON RECALLS, FOUND NONE. BUT I DID FIND OUT THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS. CONTINUED TO DRIVE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY AND FOUND THE STEERING SOMETIMES WORKED AND AGAIN WOULD CUT OUT WITH NO WARNING, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER WHEN NOT EXPECTED. THEN ONE DAY I CAME HOME AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF BUT THE STEERING PUMP WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO GET IT TO STOP. WHEN I RECONNECTED THE BATTERY IT WOULD START RIGHT BACK UP AGAIN. THAT'S WHEN I DECIDED I NEEDED TO BITE THE BULLET AND TAKE IT IN TO BE FIXED. I RECONNECTED THE BATTERY AND DROVE IT TO A MINI COOPER DEALER WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE STEERING PUMP THAT WAS BAD, THAT IT HAD INTERNAL ELECTRONICS THAT FAIL. I HAD THEM REPLACE IT FOR A TOTAL COST OF $1072.38 AND THAT CAME WITH A 2 YR WARRANTY. PLEASE NOTE ~ THE VEHICLE HAD A WHIRRING NOISE WHEN I BOUGHT IT THAT I THOUGHT WAS FROM THE TURBO. I FOUND OUT LATER IT WAS THE STEERING PUMP MAKING THE NOISE. WHEN THE NEW PUMP WAS INSTALLED IT WAS A LOT QUIETER. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON STRAIGHT ROAD THEN INTO CURVE...NOTICED THE STEERING WAS HARD TO TURN....WENT IN & OUT FOR A DAY THEN TOTALLY OUT...NO POWER STEERING...HAVE REPLACED THIS AND NOW IT'S OUT AGAIN!!!! *TR

OVER HEATING CONSTANTLY NO TECHNICAL PERSON KNOWS OF A REMEDY. OVERFLOW TANK BLOWS OUT WHEN CAR OVERHEATS CONSTANTLY .THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM SINCE THE BEGINNING NO MATTER WHAT YEAR THE CAR WAS BUILT AND NEVER REMEDIED. WHY NOT A RECALL? NOT KNOWING WHAT OTHER DAMAGE THIS CAUSES TO THE ENGINE. THIS HAS TO BE A RECALL FOR THE COMPANY TO FIX IT IS A HIT AND MISS FIX??? THIS IS A COSTLY PROCESS AND EVEN IN THE FORUMS ON MINI IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE. FRONT END FAILS ALL AT THE SAME TIME. (CONTROL ARMS, CV JOINTS) STEERING BECOMES HARD TO CONTROL. MINI HELP *TR

POWER STEERING HAS FAILED TWICE. ONCE WAS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND THE OTHER WAS IN MID-DAY TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE BECAME EXTREMELY HARD TO HANDLE. THE FIRST TIME, I ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. MY CAR ONLY HAS 53,000 MILES AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. *TR

TRUNK DOOR OPENED WHILE DRIVING AROUND 50MPH. ITEMS IN TRUNK FLEW OUT. ANOTHER DRIVER PULLED UP ALONGSIDE ME TO NOTIFY ME OF THE SITUATION. *TT

MY 2005 MINI COOPER S HAD A SUDDEN POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE APPROACHING A HIGHWAY OFF RAMP. I WENT TO TURN INTO IT AND THE CAR HAD BECOME A TANK. AFTER SOME PANIC BRAKING AND ALL THE UPPER BODY STRENGTH I COULD MUSTER ON THE STEERING WHEEL... I DID NOT FLY INTO THE DITCH, BUT HAD THE ROAD BEEN WET OR ICY I HAVE NO DOUBT THE RESULTS WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT. CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS ESTIMATED $1200 FOR THE REPAIR OF A KNOWN FACTORY DEFECT. *TR

LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. SIGNIFICANT FORCE WAS NEEDED TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM LASTED FOR ONE DAY. THE POWER STEERING RETURNED THE FOLLOWING DAY, BUT THE MOTOR STAYED ON AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR AND THE FAN. *TR

INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING OF A 2005 MINI COOPER. IT OCCURRED AT LEAST TWICE (3/14/2011 AND 4/8/2011). *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE ON MY 05 MINI COOPER-S. POWER STEERING JUST STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE ROAD IN REGULAR TRAFFIC, WAS TURNING LEFT INTO A PARKING LOT FROM A 5 LANE ROAD WHEN IT QUIT WORKING, WAS BARELY ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL ENOUGH TO SAFELY MAKE IT INTO THE PARKING LOT AND AVOID A CRASH. APPARENTLY AS OF NOW IF I TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON THE POWER STEERING MIGHT COME BACK ON; TERRIBLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM TO HAVE ON A PART ON A CAR THAT SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. REPAIR ESTIMATES ARE AROUND $800-1300, AND IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM W/ THESE CARS. *TR

WHEN I GOT IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE TO COME TO WORK TODAY, I FOUND THAT I DIDN'T HAVE POWER STEERING. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES TO A GAS STATION AND FILLED UP THE TANK. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN, THE POWER STEERING WORKED PERFECTLY. AFTER I GOT TO WORK, I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAD EXPERIENCED THIS AND THERE WERE MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO HAD DEALT WITH THIS AND ACCORDING TO A FEW NEWS SOURCES, THIS COULD BE CLOSE TO A RECALL SITUATION. THE FIX FOR THIS IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE ACCORDING TO THE SITES THAT I VISITED, BUT THE SAFETY OF THE SITUATION IS THE OVER RIDING FACTOR. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH MY MOTHER OR WITH MY WIFE DRIVING, I'M NOT SURE IF THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR. *TR

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND AS I MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN,I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING HAD FAILED AND I HAD TO FIND THE STRENGTH TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BEFORE I RAN INTO THE BUILDING ON THE NAVY BASE WHERE I WORK. I HAD A POWER STEERING PUMP PUT ON. IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN A YEAR AND ALREADY I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. I DO NOT THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO BUY A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP EVERY YEAR. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. FAILURE HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE PARKING AND TWICE UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN. MAKES CAR HARD TO MANEUVER AND UNSAFE BECAUSE OF THE UNPREDICTABLE NATURE OF THE FAILURE. *TR

MY POWER STEERING BEGAN TO STOP WORKING AS I RODE. I WOULD PARK THE CAR, SWITCH THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART AND THE POWER STEERING WOULD COME BACK. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BOTH IN BACK ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. FINALLY LAST MONTH IT STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY AND NOW IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AND REALLY A DANGER TO BE ON THE ROAD WITH. *TR

I HAD TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS OF LOSING POWER STEERING IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I WAS DRIVING AND MADE A RIGHT TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL FELT VERY HEAVY AND IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE THE TURN - COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED FOR ANY TURN ON THE WAY HOME. THE NEXT TIME I DROVE THE CAR, THE STEERING SEEMED FINE, AND CONTINUED TO SEEM FINE UNTIL YESTERDAY AFTERNOON (MARCH 8, 2011). ONCE AGAIN, I MADE A RIGHT TURN AND FOUND THAT I HAD NO POWER STEERING. I NEEDED TO STOP FOR GAS, SO AFTER SOME RATHER TRICKY MANEUVERS TO GET PARKED BY A GAS PUMP, AND SHUTTING THE CAR OFF, THE POWER STEERING SEEMED OK AGAIN. I HAVE SEEN WHERE THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS, SO I WANTED TO ADD MY INCIDENT TO YOUR DATABASE. *TR

MY 2005 MINI COOPER S HAD THE POWER STEERING FAIL WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 56,000 MILES. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER TO HAVE MAINTENANCE DONE ON IT LAST WEEK AND WAS TOLD THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS "SEEPING" BUT WAS NOT OF IMMEDIATE CONCERN AND I COULD WAIT ON FIXING/REPLACING IT. TODAY THERE IS ALMOST NO FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR AND I AM UNABLE TO PURCHASE AT ANY LOCAL AUTO PART STORE AS NO ONE CARRIES (CHS 11S) APPARENTLY A TYPE OF MINERAL SPIRIT. IN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, I FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY ADMINISTRATION IS INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE SO I WANTED TO ADD MY VOICE. I WAS TRAVELING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED IN A SLIGHT CORNER AT THE TIME AND YET STILL HAD A VERY HARD TIME MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE CAR. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE, THIS COULD REALLY LEAD TO A TRAGEDY. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER S WITH MILEAGE OF ABOUT 72K. THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON AND OFF FOR A WEEK AND WAS COMPLETELY GONE ON MAR 5. UPDATED 07/26/11 *BF THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. UPDATED 08/19/11

POWER STEERING PUMP ON 2005 MINI FAILED. *TR

THE POWER STEERING PUMP IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING WHILE DRIVING. THIS MAKES TURNING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND HAZARDOUS AND HAPPENS AT WHAT SEEMS TO BE 'RANDOM' TIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE MINI DEALER AND THEY CHARGED ME $125 TO TELL ME THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FINE, BUT SHORTED OUT A COUPLE OF TIMES CAUSING THE DIFFICULTY IN STEERING. THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE $1060 FOR THE REPLACEMENT. FROM WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT EFFECTS 223,000 MINI DRIVERS AND YET THERE IS NO RECALL YET. *TR

POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. POWER STEERING REPLACEMENT, TRUNK REPAIR AND DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR REPAIR. UPDATED 07/26/11 *BF *TR

AROUND 2 YEARS AGO, WHILE DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT, THE LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF. THIS IS EXTREMELY CONCERNING THAT THE CAR'S PASSENGER AIRBAG MIGHT NOT BE WORKING, PARTICULARLY WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. THIS MALFUNCTION HAS BEEN REPORTED ON OTHER FORUMS TO BE LINKED TO A FAULTY SENSOR IN THE CAR SEAT, AND A NHTSA SERVICE BULLETIN (ID NUMBER: 10043927) HAS BEEN FILED. I HOPE THAT NHTSA CAN CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION INTO WHETHER A RECALL SHOULD OCCUR, GIVEN THE SAFETY CONCERN OF POTENTIALLY NOT HAVING A PASSENGER AIRBAG GO OFF IF A PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT SEAT AND AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. *TR

OUR 2005 MINI COOPER S HAS INTERMITTENT STEERING ISSUES. THE POWER STEERING COMES AND GOES. WHEN RESEARCHING THE FIX, I FOUND THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THERE IS EVEN A GUY ON EBAY SELLING REMANUFACTURED POWER STEERING PUMPS AT AN AVERAGE OF ONE EVERY THREE DAYS. (BASED ON EBAY FEED BACK). *TR

I OWN A 2005 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE & NOTICED MY POWER STEERING STARTING TO MAKE NOISE ABOUT A WEEK AGO. NOW IT IS WORKING VERY INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE NOTICED IN DOING SOME RESEARCH THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AN THEY WANT TO REPLACE MY POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH IS GOING TO BE VERY COSTLY. I AM TO SAY THE LEAST A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT A CAR WITH THE BMW NAME ON IT IS HAVING THIS MANY COMPLAINTS. *TR

POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS PARKING THE CAR, MINI COOPER S 2005 MODEL YEAR. THERE WAS NO SERVICE LIGHT OR ANY OTHER WARNING BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED.

THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS DEFECTIVE. I HAD A LOCAL FIRESTONE CAR REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSE AN UNUSUAL NOISE EMANATING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT INTENSIFIED WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THEY NOTED THE DEFECTIVE STEERING PUMP AND THAT IT WOULD COST AT LEAST $1,223.39 TO REPLACE. THEY SAID IF I DID NOT REPLACE IT, I COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AT ANY POINT WHILE MAKING A TURN. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE STEERING PUMP. THE ONES WHO LEFT THE ISSUE UNRESOLVED ENDED UP LOSING CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLE MID-TURN WHEN EITHER THE PUMP RANDOMLY SHUT OFF, OR IF IT HAD ALREADY FAILED, RANDOMLY TURNED BACK ON MID-TURN. THESE SITUATIONS ARE DANGEROUS ENOUGH, BUT THERE WERE ALSO REPORTS OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS CATCHING FIRE. IN LIGHT OF THIS, I COULD NOT RISK THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY OR MYSELF, AND TOOK IT INTO A LOCAL MINI DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE PUMP WAS FAILING AND THAT IT WAS GOOD THAT I BROUGHT IT IN BEFORE IT FAILED. THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPLACEMENT COST WAS $1,417.49. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND WERE AWAITING THE RESULTS OF THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION BEFORE COMMITTING TO REFUND THE COST OF THE DEFECTIVE PART(S). THANKFULLY, THANKS TO ALL THE REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM ONLINE, I WAS ABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ANYONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED.

INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING, USUALLY WHEN MAKING A TURN - EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION - HAVE ALMOST HAD TWO ACCIDENTS WHEN STEERING WENT OUT. IT BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND AS OF MAY, 2011 THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY "OUT" - HOWEVER AS OF AUGUST 22, 2011 IT RETURNED TO FULL WORKING ORDER - AND LASTED FOR APPROX. 9 DAYS AND THEN STARTED TO POP IN AND OUT INTERMITTENTLY AFTER STARTING AND TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE. AS OF APPROX. SEPT. 8, 2011 THE POWER STEERING IS COMPLETELY OUT. *TR

POWER STEERING BEGAN INTERMITTENTLY FAILING ON OUR 2005 MINI COOPER AT APPROX. 88,000 MILES. STEERING WOULD BECOME VERY STIFF MAKING MANEUVERING THE CAR QUITE DIFFICULT. USUALLY WOULD GO OUT AFTER TRAVELING SOME DISTANCE ON THE HIGHWAY. VERY NOTICEABLE ONCE STOPPED AT INTERSECTION AND TRYING TO TURN TO NEW DIRECTION. DOES NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE. HAS OCCURRED ABOUT 10 TIMES NOW IN THE PAST 3 WEEKS. FAILED ON WAY TO MINI DEALER TODAY. MINI DEALER HAS INDICATED THE FAILURE OF THE MODULE IN THE POWERSTEERING PUMP. WILL REPLACE PUMP FOR $1,100.00 PLUS. HAVING THIS REPAIR DONE AS I WRITE. NO OFFER TO DISCOUNT EVEN THOUGH NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING THE FAILURE OF THIS PART. *TR