2005 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

MINI COOPER 2005 CALIFORNIA USA. LOSS OF POWER STEERING PROBLEM - CURRENTLY, INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING, EITHER FROM COLD-START, OR WHILE DRIVING ON SHORT OR LONG DISTANCES. CAN HAPPEN FOR ONLY A FEW SECONDS OR REMAIN FOR MINUTES. ONCE THE POWER LOSS IS REALIZED, IT IS POSSIBLE TO SWITCH ENGINE OFF THEN ON AGAIN TO REGAIN POWER - SOMETIMES - BUT PROBLEM CAN RETURN AFTER MINUTES OR HOURS. IT IS VERY SCARY TO BE DRIVING ON BUSY ROADS WHEN CORNERING IS REQUIRED, LACKING FAITH WHETHER ONE WILL BE ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE PATH OF OTHER ROAD-USERS... INTERNET SEARCHES SHOW OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS BUT DEALERS AND MANUFACTURERS ARE IGNORING OR SIDE-STEPPING THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

2005 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING FAILURE, WHILE TURNING POWER STEERING FAILED, NO LEAKS, AND FLUID RESERVOIR FULL. RESEARCHED POSSIBLE PROBLEMS AND FOUND AN ARTICLE ON HTTP://NEW MINI.WORD PRESS.COM REPORT PUBLISHED ON HTTP://WWW.BBC.CO.UK/WATCHDOG TALKS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM EFFECTED 175,000 MINI'S BETWEEN 2001-2007. THIS SEEMS PRETTY SERIOUS AND WITH THAT MANY VEHICLES I SHOULDN'T INCUR ANY COSTS FOR REPAIR. *TR

FOUND NEED MORE TURNING OF STEERING WHEEL AT TRAFFIC LIGHT INTO THE CROSS STREET, THEN PARKED THE CAR, TURNED OFF ENGINE BUT STILL FOUND SOMETHING RUNNING IN ENGINE BAY. THOUGHT IT WAS THE FAN TO COOL THE ENGINE OFF, SO DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION. AT LUNCH, COME BACK TO PICK UP THE CAR, AND FOUND ITS BATTERY WAS DRAINED ALMOST TOTALLY. JUMPED THE CAR WITHOUT ISSUE AND DROVE BACK HOME WITHOUT ISSUE. TURNED OFF ENGINE AND STILL HEAR THE NOISE OF SOMETHING RUNNING IN THE ENGINE BAY. PULLED ALL FUSES TO SEE IF CAN IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM, DOESN'T HELP, SOMETHING STILL RUN WITH LOAD NOISE. SEARCHED INTERNET, FOUND OTHER OWNERS ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME AND IS THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE, SOME EVEN FOUND FAILURE WHILE DRIVING.

MY 2005 MINI COOPER S APPEARS TO HAVE LOST ITS POWER STEERING. JUST HAPPENED TODAY (11/22/10) AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IT JUST BECAME EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR. *TR

2005 MINI COOPER 'S' CONVERTIBLE. THE POWER STEERING WILL OCCASIONALLY STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. IF YOU SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART THE CAR IT RESETS AND WORKS AGAIN. IT NORMALLY HAPPENS WHEN SLOWING FOR A STOP OR MAKING A TURN, WHICH YOU DON'T NOTICE UNTIL YOU START MOVING AND FIND YOU ARE UNABLE TO TURN THE CAR. LUCKILY I HAVEN'T PULLED OUT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE PUMP AND THEY WOULD REPLACE IT FOR APPROXIMATELY $680. *TR

AFTER MY 2005 MINI COOPER PASSED THE 60,000 MILE MARK, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FAIL ON A REGULAR BASIS. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT A HALF-HOUR, THE POWER STEERING WOULD SIMPLY STOP WORKING AND IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. PULLING OVER, SHUTTING DOWN AND RESTARTING THE CAR WOULD TEMPORARILY FIX THE PROBLEM. MY LOCAL BMW DEALER REPEATEDLY CHECKED THE CAR AND WAS NEVER ABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEM. A LOCAL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY COOLING FAN ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN OK SINCE. *TR UPDATED 08/03/11 *BF UPDATED 12/05/11

AFTER ABOUT 77,000 MILES ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER, I ENCOUNTERED SUDDEN AND INTERMITTENT DIFFICULTY WITH THE STEERING WHEREIN THE POWER STEERING WOULD ABRUPTLY FAIL. THE FIRST TWO INCIDENTS OCCURRED ~3-4 MONTHS AGO, BOTH DIRECTLY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE AND PULLING OUT OF PARKING. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENTS OCCURRED WITHIN THE PAST 6 WEEKS, RANDOMLY DURING THE FIRST 40 MILES OF MY COMMUTE. AFTER EACH INCIDENT, I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN FULL CONTROL OF THE STEERING BY PULLING OVER AND SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE AND THEN REENGAGING IT. THERE HAVE NOW BEEN A TOTAL OF 6 INCIDENTS. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT, A FEW DAYS AGO, OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A WINDING HIGHWAY AND WAS MAKING A TURN. WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED, IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CORRECT THE ANGLE/SPEED OF THE VEHICLE'S TURN AND A CRASH INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE SEEMED EXTREMELY LIKELY. AFTER CAUTIOUS BRAKING AND RELYING ON THE REMAINING MANUAL STEERING, USING VERY FIRM AND SWIFT HAND-OVER-HAND MOTION ON THE STEERING WHEEL, I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN SOME CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE'S WHEELS. THEN, ENGAGING THE VEHICLE'S HAZARD LIGHTS, I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO PULL OVER AT THE NEXT AVAILABLE HIGHWAY'S SHOULDER, BUT IT WAS AN EXTREME AWKWARD MANEUVER REQUIRING SOME OF THE DRIVERS OF VEHICLES AROUND ME TO ADJUST THEIR OWN SPEEDS AND TURNS. I HAVE SINCE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE CENTER AND AM AWAITING THE RESULTS OF THE VEHICLE INSPECTION IN RESPONSE TO MY COMPLAINTS. I DO NOT INTEND TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN UNTIL THE ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING IS COMPLETELY RESOLVED, FOR MY OWN SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHER DRIVERS. A CRASH IN THE FUTURE WOULD SEEM INEVITABLE, OTHERWISE, WITH INCONSISTENT POWER OVER THE STEERING DURING ANY COMMUTE THAT INVOLVES MANY WINDING TURNS. (IF THE POWER STEERING COULD BE COMPLETELY DISENGAGED, ALLOWING ONLY MANUAL STEERING, IT WOULD SEEM FAR SAFER THAN FOR IT TO RANDOMLY TURN OFF IN THE MIDST OF DRIVING). *TR

2005 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WITHIN A TWO YEAR PERIOD THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE PUMP. THE RESULT IS A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND DEGRADATION OF THE BATTERY. *TR

ON THREE OCCASIONS, MY 2005 MINI COOPER HAS HAD POWER STEERING FAILURE. EACH TIME, I WAS DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35-45MPH AND HAS PUT ME IN DANGEROUS POSITIONS WHERE I WAS UNABLE TO STEER MYSELF OUT OF MAJOR MATERIALS AND ONTO A SAFER ROAD. I AM NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO EASILY OVERPOWER MY VEHICLE'S STEERING. MY FIRST EXPERIENCE HAPPENED AS I WAS DRIVING 35MPH ON A BUSY ROAD AT PEAK HOUR. I WAS ON A FOUR LANE ROAD, TWO IN EACH DIRECTION. I WAS IN THE LEFT HAND LANE COMING UP TO MY APT WHEN MY STEERING WENT OUT. I WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE RIGHT LANE TO PULL OVER DUE TO THE SHEER STRENGTH NEEDED AND HIGH TRAFFIC VOLUMES. I IMMEDIATELY PUT MY HAZARDS ON TO ALERT MOTORISTS AND SLOWED DOWN MY SPEED. I WAS LEFT STRANDED BEFORE A MAJOR CURVE IN THE ROAD. I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE MY CAR IN EITHER DIRECTION. A SECOND EXPERIENCE OCCURRED PRIOR TO A CURVE AS I WAS EXITING AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. AS I ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE WHEEL I NOTICED THE WHEEL WAS STIFF/RIGID. I COULD NOT MAKE THE CURVED EXIT RAMP AND BLOCKED TREMENDOUSLY HIGH SPEEDING EXITING TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT DANGER TO DRIVERS. PRIOR TO EACH INCIDENT, THERE WERE NO WARNINGS/LIGHTS INDICATING ISSUES OF ANY KIND. I WOULD SUGGEST AN INVESTIGATION, AS I WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY RECALLS FROM MINIUSA. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND MANY FORUMS (USA & UK) OF MINI OWNERS DISCUSSING EACH OF THEIR INCIDENTS CAUSED BY POWER STEERING FAILURES. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM AND COULD CAUSE GREAT HARM TO OWNERS. IT IS COMMON THAT ONCE AN ACCIDENT/DEATH HAS OCCURRED DUE TO FAULTY PARTS, A RECALL IS MADE. AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE MADE BEFORE THIS HAPPENS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING. I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THE STEERING WAS ABOUT TO GO.

POWER STEERING PUMP AND COOLING FAN FAILURE. UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND SAFETY HAZARD. POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN WITH REGARDS TO PLACEMENT OF PUMP / FAN AND ELECTRICAL LOAD. DEFECTIVE (REBUILT AND NOT NEW) PARTS FROM MINI DEALERSHIP REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY ONE TIME. MINI DOES NOT STAND BY ITS PRODUCTS OR ENGINEERING. REPLACEMENT AND REPAIRS OCCURRED 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN 5 YEARS AND LESS THAN 65,000. *TR UPDATED 07/26/11 *BF UPDATED 2/29/12 *CN

I OWN A 2005 MINI COOPER. AS I WAS DRIVING IT, I SUFFERED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I HAVE HAD LITTLE TO NO PROBLEM WITH MY MINI BEFORE THIS, BUT COMPLETELY LOST ABILITY TO STEER. LUCKILY I WAS IN AN ALLEY AT THE TIME AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP WHO WAS UNAWARE OF ANY INVESTIGATION INTO MINICOOPER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. AT TIMES, THE POWER STEERING WOULD RESET ITSELF AFTER BEING TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,000.

MY POWER STEERING IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR ALL 01-07 MINI COOPERS AND BEFORE SOMEONE DIES OR IS SERIOUSLY INJURED BMW MINI NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND REPLACE THIS FAULTY PART. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND THE STEERING STARTED TO LOCKUP ON THE HIGHWAY, I THEN PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR THEN RESTARTED AND THE STEERING WORKED JUST FINE. TWO DAYS LATER I WAS PULLING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY AGAIN AND THE STEERING STARTED TO LOCK UP ONCE MORE. I BARELY MADE IT TO A NEARBY PARKING LOT STRONG-ARMING THE CAR WITH EACH TURN. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND TURNED OFF THE CAR ONCE AGAIN. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR THE STEERING STILL WOULD NOT WORK, I EVEN LET IT COOL DOWN FOR A FEW MINUTES TO TRY ONCE MORE. STILL UNABLE TO STEER. HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED AND HAD TO REPLACE POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN ON CAR. THIS CAR IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD AND THE POWER STEERING SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR.

FOLLOWING REAR END IMPACT, THERE WAS AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, WHICH WAS LATER TRACED TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. TERMINALS WERE BURNED OFF THE PUMP, AND ALTERNATOR ALSO FAILED AS A RESULT. NOTE: THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO COLLISION DAMAGE TO FRONT END. *TR

2005 MINI COOPER S, 50,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, LOSES POWER STEERING WHICH CAUSES SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE CAR WILL STILL STEER AT FASTER SPEEDS, BUT WITH VERY HEAVY, UNPREDICTABLE RESPONSE. THE PROBLEM BEGAN WITH AN INCREASED DRONING NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION WHICH WOULD DIMINISH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, AND THEREFORE, I THOUGHT IT WAS RELATED TO A LOW FLUID LEVEL ISSUE. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND PURCHASED "SPECIAL" STEERING FLUID, AND NO MENTION WAS MADE TO ME ABOUT ANY STEERING PUMP DEFECT. I INSTALLED THE FLUID TO THE RECOMMENDED LEVEL WITH NO CHANGE IN RESPONSE. I TELEPHONED THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE PERSON WHO ANSWERED THE PHONE SAID HE KNEW THE PROBLEM, AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW STEERING PUMP, COOLING FAN, HOSES, AND RESERVOIR, AND THE COST OF THE WORK WAS $1600.00. I THEN DID INTERNET RESEARCH AND LEARNED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCED IN 2004 AND 2005 MINI COOPER MODELS. I THEN TELEPHONED MINI COOPER'S CORPORATE COMPLAIN DEPARTMENT AND I WAS TOLD TO SPEND THE MONEY TO REPAIR THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM IS UNDOUBTEDLY A PERSISTENT DEFECT, AND SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF RECALL REPAIR PROGRAM. *TR

2005 MINI COOPER 2 DOOR STANDARD VEHICLE HAS A POWER STEERING FAILURE. IT STARTED 2 MONTHS AGO WITH AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING AT ANY GIVEN TIME OF THE VEHICLE IN USE. 60% OF THE TIME THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER OR TURN CORNERS. IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING AND IS VERY SCARY AS THE DRIVE HANDLING IS IMMEDIATELY CHANGED AND THE MANEUVERING TO THE END OF THE CURVE CHANGES DRASTICALLY. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOW INCREASED AS OF LATE TO THE POWER STEERING NOT TURNING OFF, EVEN AFTER THE KEY HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE POWER STEERING MOTOR HUMS AND WHINES LOUDLY AS THE CAR SITS PARKED AND WITH NO KEY INSERTED. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO TURN THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF. I CALLED CONCORD, CA. MINI (BMW), AND AFTER HAVING EXPLAINED TO THEM THE ABOVE MENTIONED PROBLEMS, THEY STATE THAT THERE ARE NO BULLETIN CLAIMS FOR THIS AND MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THEY FURTHER STATE THAT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WILL COST ME AT LEAST $1200. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND 225,000 OTHER FOLKS WITH THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I AM HOPING THAT THIS FORUM AND MY ADDED COMPLAINT WILL GENERATE ENOUGH CONCERN FOR DRIVER SAFETY AND BRING ABOUT A RECALL OR SOME LEVEL OF OWNERSHIP ON MINI TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION. FOR NOW I WILL KEEP MY MINI COOPER OFF THE STREET AND BATTERY DISCONNECTED AS IT IS A DANGER TO THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND OTHER DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT FAILED AROUND 50,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1400.00. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR OF MINI COOPER S. DEALSHIPS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND MINI/BMW NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND THE STEERING PUMP STAYED ON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF CAUSING THE BATTERY TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THEN CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, BUT REPAIRS WERE NOT PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH AND TURNING RIGHT, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 117,000.

MINI COOPER 2005: AT 60,000 PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. LIGHT STAYS ON NO MATTER IF SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT OR NOT. MINI SERVICE SAYS IT WILL COST $1,000 PLUS TO REPAIR SENSOR, AND THAT THE BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AND LOST STEERING ABILITY. THE RELAY FOR THE COOLING FAN REMAINED IN THE CLOSED POSITION CAUSING THE BATTERY TO FAIL. I HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND BATTERY. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.

I DRIVE A 2005 MINI COOPER S, WITH APPROXIMATELY 49,000 MILES DRIVEN. ON OCTOBER 22, 2010, THE POWER STEERING ON THE CAR COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, LEAVING BARELY ENOUGH CONTROL OVER THE CAR TO DRIVE VERY CAUTIOUSLY. THE CAR WAS DIAGNOSED BY TWO MECHANICS, ONE A REPUTABLE NEW ENGLAND CHAIN AND THE OTHER AN EXPERT MINI COOPER FACILITY, AND BOTH DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP, RACK AND FAN HAD ALL FAILED ON THE CAR. EVEN USING REFURBISHED PARTS, THE REPAIR IS COSTING $1,100; WITH NEW PARTS, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE REPAIR WOULD HAVE BEEN UPWARDS OF $2,000. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT NHTSA IS ALREADY INVESTIGATING FREQUENT POWER STEERING ISSUES FOR MINIS IN THIS DATE RANGE. THE MINI SHOP DOING THE WORK FOR ME CERTAINLY CONFIRMS THE STORIES I'VE READ ABOUT OTHER SHOPS AROUND THE COUNTRY - THE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THEY'RE DOING ABOUT 6-7 POWER STEERING JOBS PER MONTH ON THESE CARS. HOPEFULLY THE ADDITION OF MY SITUATION TO THE DATABASE CAN HELP JUSTIFY A RECALL - IT CERTAINLY SEEMS WARRANTED BASED ON THE VOLUME OF PROBLEMS THAT MINI OWNERS HAVE HAD. *TR

I HAVE LOST THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER ABOUT SIX TIMES. THIS HAS BECOME A BIG, FRUSTRATING, AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

POWER STEERING FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO ONLY WORKS A FRACTION OF THE TIME. THE FIRST TIME IT WENT OUT WAS WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. LAST WEEKEND IT STOPPED WORKING AND DIDN'T WORK AGAIN FOR A FULL WEEK. VERY HARD TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WHEN IT GOES OUT UNEXPECTEDLY. *KB

WHILE PICKING MY GRANDSON FROM SCHOOL ON OCT 18 2010 AT 2:30 PM I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE ONTO THE HIGHWAY , HALF STILL IN PARKING SPACE AND HALF ON THE HIGHWAY MY CAR STOPPED--- IT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD --- COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WOULD NOT TURN--THE MOTOR RUNNING ALL THE TIME --I TURNED THE KEY OFF AND ON TWICE BEFORE THE CAR WOULD MOVE .ONLY REASON WE WERE NOT HIT BY TRAFFIC IS BECAUSE WE WERE IN A SCHOOL ZONE AND TRAFFIC WAS SLOW AT THAT TIME. I CALLED MY MINI DEALER IN BATON ROUGE AND ASKED IF THEY HAD OTHER PEOPLE WITH TROUBLE WITH THEIR MINI THEY SAID NO-- ASKED THEY TO CHECK IF MINI HAD ANYTHING GOING ON WITH MINI S THEY WOULD NOT CHECK THEY JUST SAYING THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED AND OFFICIAL NOTICE THEY SAID I COULD BRING IT IN AND IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT 800.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. *TR

TAKATA RECALL.I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I LOST MY POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER BUT THE SLOWER I GOT THE HARDER IT WAS TO STEER THE CAR. I HAD TO BUY A NEW STEERING PUMP AND HAVE IT INSTALLED. MY STEERING FAILED FOR THE EXACT REASON MINI ISSUED THE RECALL BUT THEY WON'T REIMBURSE ME BECAUSE MY CAR IS NOT WITHIN THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE. MINI INSTALLED THE DEFECTIVE STEERING PUMP BUT WON'T DO THE PROPER THING AND LET ME RECOVER MY COSTS OF $795.00. AGAIN MY STEERING PUMP FAILED FOR THE EXACT REASON MINI APPROVED THE RECALL. I HAD 103,383 MILES ON THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED AND ONLY RECENTLY DID MINI FINALLY APPROVE A RECALL ON THE PUMP.

I OWN A 2005 MINI COOPER. IT HAS A POWER STEERING PUMP FAN THAT HAS GONE OUT, AND IS CAUSING UNSAFE STEERING ISSUES. I UNDERSTAND NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE. *TR

STARTED NOTICING THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN, USUALLY RIGHT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, BUT TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING WOULD RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. INITIALLY IT WOULD OCCUR EVERY 2 TO 3 MONTHES, BUT AS TIME WENT ON IT BECAME MORE FREQUENT. I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED OUT AFTER IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN ONE DAY - TWICE WHILE I WAS DRIVING CAUSING ME TO PULL TO THE SIDE OFTHE ROAD AND SHUT OFF AND RESTART THE CAR IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO EASILY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. ONLY AFTER GETTING THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED WAS I INFORMED OF THE THE FREQUENCY OF ISSUES LIKE THIS WITH OTHER CARS. THE DEALER DID FIX THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE POWER STEERING PUMP AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $900.

SEAT WARMER FAILED TO SHUT OFF AD BURNT A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND IN MY JACKET. MAY HAVE STARTED A FIRE IF I HAD NOT SHUT IT OFF. THIS CAR HAD BEEN IN FLA FOR MOST OF ITS YEARS AND ALSO HAD LOW MILEAGE - CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

WAS TRAVELING AT NEIGHBORHOOD SPEED, TURNED INTO DRIVEWAY AND POWER ASSIST ON THE STEERING FAILED. HAD I BEEN AT SPEED THIS WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN HITTING A TREE NEXT TOT HE DRIVEWAY. THE CAR WAS ESSENTIALLY UNSTEERABLE WITHOUT TREMENDOUS FORCE, A CONDITION COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED. AFTER TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING IT, THE PROBLEM WAS NO LONGER THERE, SO OBVIOUSLY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM RECURRED ABOUT A MONTH LATER WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE AS I DID NOT NOTICE IT UNTIL DECELERATING TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAMP, IT AGAIN BECAME NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MANEUVER. AFTER TURNING IT OFF AND BACK ON, THE PROBLEM WAS GONE. THIS HAS RECURRED ON AND OFF EVER SINCE. A LOCAL BMW/MINI SPECIALIST MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS NOT AN INFREQUENT PROBLEM WITH 2005 MINI'S. HE INDICATED THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONS FINE EXCEPT FOR INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE IT TO FAIL. THE PROBLEM HAS NOW COME BACK AND IS VERY FREQUENT. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TROUBLESOME AT LOW SPEEDS, AND WHILE PARKING. I FEEL THERE IS SUFFICIENT INSTANCE OF THIS TO WARRANT A RECALL AS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH THE DESIGN OR ENGINEERING OF THE POWER STEERING IN FAR MORE CASES THAT JUST MY VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND SHUT OFF. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DROVE NORMALLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE BEGAN TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY, SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 61,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE POWER STEERING IN OUR 2005 MINI COOPER HAS A RECENT HISTORY (WITHIN THE PAST YEAR) OF INTERMITTENTLY FAILING, MAKING THE CAR DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, FOR OUR SMALL-SIZED DRIVERS (ABOUT 100 LBS.) TO MANEUVER. THIS HAS PROVED DANGEROUS ON THE ROAD, BUT INJURIES HAVE SO FAR BEEN AVOIDED, JUST WHEN WE WERE GOING TO GET IT FIXED, THE PROBLEM APPEARED TO SELF-CORRECT. THIS WEEK, HOWEVER, THE CAR HAS FAILED TO START OR TAKE A CHARGE TO A ONE-YEAR-OLD BATTERY. OUR RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY MECHANIC CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WE ARE WONDERING IF THERE MAY BE A DRAIN ON THE BATTERY FROM THIS POWER STEERING PROBLEM. *TR

THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED TWICE, ONCE WHEN I PARKED WHILE RUNNING ERRANDS AND ONCE WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. ON-LINE, I READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT FOR MINIS PRODUCED BETWEEN 2001 AND 2007, BUT PRIMARILY THOSE FROM 2004-05 AND THAT IT IS RELATED TO THE HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING PUMP. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE LACK OF HEAT SHIELDING OF THE PUMP ELECTRONICS PERMITS FLAKING OF CARBON, THAT SETTLES ON THE CONDUCTORS AND FORCES THE PUMP TO FAIL, UNTIL IT COOLS OFF OR UNTIL THE FLAKES MOVE ON. MINI USA IS NOT OFFERING ANY SOLUTIONS, NOR IS THE DEALER THAT SOLD ME THE VEHICLE, TWO MONTHS AGO.

THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAD TO STOP SUDDENLY BECAUSE I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN SAFELY WITHIN A NORMAL TURN. I HAD TO TURN VERY HARD AND WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER TODAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AROUND SHARP TURNS AT SLOWER SPEEDS. I HAVE NOT YET CORRECTED THE FAILURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPERS S. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING BEGIN TO FAIL AND THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

THE SRS LIGHT WAS ON AND WOULDN'T GO OUT. THE DEALER CHECKED IT AND SAID THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT IS DEFECTIVE AND IT WAS A HARD FAULT WHICH PREVENTS THE AIR BAG FROM WORKING. THE LIGHT SOMETIMES GOES OUT BUT USUALLY STAYS ON. THEY WOULD NOT WARRANTY THIS AND WANTED $1330 TO REPAIR IT. THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS PROBABLY ONLY BEEN SAT IN 10% OF THE TIME. *TR

POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECOME TIGHT AND WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48000.

TWICE, WHILE PARALLEL PARKING MY 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE, I LOST POWER STEERING. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY AND RESTORES WHEN I RESTART MY CAR. DEALER SAYS I NEED TO REPLACE MY POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR

COMPLAINT IN ASSOCIATION WITH NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE10038 2005 MINI COOPER S - POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. I OWN A 2005 MINI COOPER S WITH APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES ON THE CLOCK. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, IN THE PROCESS OF TURNING A CORNER, THE STEERING ON THE CAR BECAME INSTANTLY HEAVY CAUSING ME TO TEMPORARILY VEER IN TO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. FORTUNATELY AT THE TIME THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS COMING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND I WAS ABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND CORRECT THE DIRECTION OF THE CAR. THE SITUATION REMAINED FOR THE DURATION OF MY JOURNEY, BUT I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY NAVIGATE THE CAR HOME. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND THIS APPEARED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, DURING THE NEXT 2 CAR TRIPS SIMILAR FAILURES OCCURRED (FORTUNATELY I WAS PREPARED FOR THE POSSIBILITY AND SO DID NOT END UP IN THE OPPOSING TRAFFIC LANE). THE MINI DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THIS AS A FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP, A PROBLEM WHICH I UNDERSTAND TO BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECENTLY OPENED NHTSA INVESTIGATION (PE 10038). PERSONALLY I BELIEVE THIS SITUATION TO BE POTENTIALLY EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS GOING TO FAIL, AND WHEN IT DID, THE IMPACT WAS IMMEDIATE AND CAUSED ME TO STEER IN TO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC (AS A RESULT OF NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN THE CORNER AT THE REQUIRED ANGLE). DUE TO THE IMMEDIATE NATURE OF THE FAILURE I WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM SAFELY IN TIME. I AM WRITING THIS REPORT TO BE ADDED TO THE EXISTING NHTSA INVESTIGATION (PE 10038). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,304. UPDATED 01/20/11 *BF THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED ON OCTOBER 15, 2010. UPDATED 03/28/11 UPDATED 03/28/11

STEERING ON MY MINI COOPER 2005 FAILED THIS MORNING, RESULTING IN A NEAR ACCIDENT IN A PARKING GARAGE. IT FELT LIKE THE POWER STEERING WAS FAILING. IT CAME BACK BRIEFLY ON THE WAY TO THE REPAIR SHOP, BUT THE TECH CONFIRMED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. IT IS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED, BUT IT IS LIKELY THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER S. LAST YEAR THE POWER STEERING PUMP RANDOMLY STOPPED WORKING ON MY WAY TO SCHOOL. I DID NOT CRASH OR ANYTHING BUT IT WAS VERY HARD TO STEER MY CAR. I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE PUMP BECAUSE HONESTLY I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO AND I BELIEVE THE PUMP COSTS NEARLY $1000. THE PUMP ON MY CAR STILL WORKS FINE MOST OF THE TIME. NOW EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE ON SHARP CORNERS THE PUMP WILL GIVE OUT AND IF I PULL OVER, SHUT THE CAR OFF, AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON THE PUMP WILL WORK AGAIN. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY EITHER A DEFECT WITH THE PUMP ITSELF OR THE ELECTRONICS WHICH RUN THE PUMP. THE FACT THAT SHUTTING MY CAR OFF AND TURNING IT BACK ON MAKES ME THINK IT IS MOSTLY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, POSSIBLY INSIDE THE PUMP ITSELF. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED SUDDENLY WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 51,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OIL LEAK ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, STEERING HOSE, PRESSURE HOSE, RETURN HOSE, AND THE SUCTION HOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,400.

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILS . POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTANTLY

2005 MINI COOPER S. COMPLETE POWER STEERING FAILURE. SHUTTING OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTING CORRECTED PROBLEM FOR A SHORT TIME, THEN PROBLEM RESUMED. HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. *TR