2005 MINI Cooper Complaint Log

INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. AFTER LONG DRIVE ~150 A LOUD BUZZING UNDER CAR CONTINUED AFTER CAR ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL MADE THE BUZZING CHANGE SOUNDS. STARTING AND SHUTTING THE CAR'S ENGINE DID NOT RESOLVE THE BUZZING. DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY TO AVOID BATTERY FAILURE. *TR

TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH. FINGER WAS CUT 2MM DEEP BY DEFECTIVE PEELING/FLAKING CHROME ACCENT ON MANUAL TRANSMISSION SHIFT KNOB. AS A RESULT, FINGER WAS BLEEDING AND EXPERIENCED A SHOCK FROM THE AFFECTED NERVE THROUGHOUT THE BODY WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. ATTENTION TO THE ROAD WAS LOST FOR A MOMENT CAUSING ME TO NEARLY GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SHE NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A STRONG BURNING ODOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITH A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAULTY COOLING FAN, WHICH CAUSED THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM TO OVERHEAT AND EXPOSE MELTED WIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,057.

SON RETURNED FROM TOWN, A 10 MINUTE DRIVE, PARKED CAR IN GARAGE. NEXT MORNING THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE COMING FROM THE CAR. OPENED THE HOOD AND THE SMELL OF FIRE WAS OVERWHELMING. TOP OF STEERING FLUID PUMP APPEARED TO BE CHARRED. FAMILY AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR TO DEALER, SOME 35 MILES AWAY. AFTER STARTING CAR, ELECTRICAL FIRE SMELL RETURNS. *TR

LAST DECEMBER MY STEERING WENT OUT ON MY CAR. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT A POSSIBLE CLASS ACTION SUIT WAS IN THE PROCESS. I CALLED MINI NORTH AMERICA TO DISCUSS MY FINDINGS AND TO SEE IF A RECALL WAS IN THE WORKS. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT STATED SHE WASN'T AWARE OF ANY. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALER AND HAD TO HAVE 4,000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. WATER PUMP, SUPER CHARGER AND SEVERAL BEARINGS. I THEN GET A LETTER IN EARLY JUNE OF 2013 STATING THAT A RECALL WAS IN THE WORKS AND TO SEND ALL MY INFORMATION IN FOR POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT I QUALIFY AND THAT A CHECK WAS GOING TO BE CUT AND SENT OUT BY THE END OF JUNE OR EARLY AUGUST. WHEN THE CHECK DIDN'T ARRIVE, I CONTINUED TO CALL MINI NORTH AMERICA AND I KEEP GETTING THE RUN AROUND. I WAS TOLD IT WAS GOING TO BE LATE SEPTEMBER OR EARLY OCTOBER. I JUST CALLED AGAIN TODAY AND NOW I'M TOLD IT WILL BE CUT BEFORE THE NEW YEAR. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE PUT SOMEONE'S HAND ON THE FIRE AND GET THIS RESOLVED? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

AT LOW MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. NO FORE WARNING JUST GONE. I'M TRYING TO DRIVE AND AT 10 MPH I'M REVVING AT UP TO 3000 RPM'S. THIS SHOULD DEF NOT BE HAPPENING! I'M FUMING BEING THAT I HAVE TO NOW REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WHEN I HAVE NOT BEATEN ON IT OR ANYTHING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. SO FAR MY EXPERIENCE WITH BMW HAS NOT BEEN GOOD. I WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER BUYING ANYTHING ELSE. *TR

ON MY DRIVE TO WORK ON THE THIRD OF DECEMBER THE STEERING ASSIST WENT OUT WHILE ON THE FREEWAY AND TRYING TO EXIT ONTO AN OFF-RAMP. THE TURN WAS VERY SHARP AND I NEARLY DIDN'T MAKE IT. THANK GOODNESS IT WAS A SLOW TIME IN THE DAY FOR IF IT WASN'T I MAY HAVE HIT SOMEONE ELSE. THIS IS A LARGE SAFETY ISSUE AND HAVING READ THAT THIS COMPLAINT IS BECOMING WIDE SPREAD I WOULD HATE TO SEE ANYONE GET HURT. THE STEERING IS STILL AN ISSUE AND I MADE SURE TO TAKE PRECAUTION ON MY DRIVE HOME NOT TO TAKE ANY ROUTE THAT WOULD PRODUCE A SHARP TURN IN FEAR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE IT QUICK ENOUGH. THE STEERING IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, AND I STRESS EXTREMELY AS IF YOU ARE WORKING AGAINST THE CAR TO TRY TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE AND THE CAR WILL NOT TAKE SHARP CORNERS AS IT ONCE DID, BUT RATHER MUST TAKE LONG SHALLOW TURNS, WHICH IS NOT ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT ON CENTER DISPLAY AS WELL AS YELLOW AIRBAG OFF LIGHT ON OVERHEAD CONSOLE INTERMITTENTLY APPEAR AND DISAPPEAR FOR NO APPARENT REASON. MINI WANT OVER $1500 TO REPLACE A SEAT BOTTOM PAD SENSOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,500.

THE POWER STEERING IN MY CAR HAS FAILED CONTINUOUSLY. WE HAD THE ENTIRE RACK REPLACED IN 2011 - THE STEERING FLUID CONSTANTLY LEAKS, OR BURNS DRY - FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS, THE POWER STEERING PUMP DOES NOT STOP RUNNING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED - REQUIRING FOR THE BATTERY TO BE DISCONNECTED AT EVERY STOP, OR RISK A DEAD BATTERY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED I OR MY HUSBAND HAVE LOST POWER STEERING IN OUR 2005 MINI COOPER S. THIS ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC POWER STEER PUMP & FAN HAS BEEN A LONG STANDING PROBLEM IN THESE MINIS. (THIS HAS BEEN A COMPLETE RECALL IN CANADA.) THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING MAKES THE VEHICLE VERY UNSAFE AS IT IS A SUDDEN ONSET. IT IS PROBLEMATIC AT SLOW OR FAST SPEEDS. I CAN BARELY STEER THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURS. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IN/OUT OF OUR GARAGE OR IN/OUT OF PARKING SPACES. I HAVE HAD TO FIND PARKING IN STRATEGIC AREAS MOST OFTEN WHERE I COULD PULL STRAIGHT IN A SPOT AND PULL STRAIGHT OUT. IT IS ALSO SCARY ON RAMPS OR INTERSTATE AS INSTEAD OF HAVING A RESPONSIVE SPORTY CAR IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE DRIVING A TANK THAT YOU CANNOT CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES IN LAST 10-12 MONTHS. IT HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT IN LAST FEW MONTHS. WE RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR "WARRANTY EXTENSION/ REPAIR REIMBURSEMENT" AND CALLED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BUT WERE TOLD MINI HAD BEEN UNABLE TO GET THE PARTS. WE CALLED AND THEY NOW SAY THEY HAVE THE PARTS SO WE DROVE NEARLY 1 HOUR TO DEALERSHIP AND NOW THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT BECAUSE THE PART HAS NOT FAILED. THEY STATE THEY DROVE IT AND THERE HAS BEEN NO FAILURE. I WOULD GUESS IT HAS STOPPED WORKING WHILE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT ABOUT AVERAGE 1X/WEEK BUT MORE FREQUENT AS TIME PROGRESSES. THE FAILURE MAY END UP BEING ME... IN A CASKET! *TR

STARTED VEHICLE IN THE MORNING OF 11/14/2012. THE SHIFT INDICATOR ON THE DASH SHOWS EP MODE INSTEAD OF D,R,N,ETC. THE CAR SEEMED TO DRIVE FINE BUT THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SHIFTER ELECTRONICS. THE CAR DOES NOT SEEM TO KNOW WHAT DRIVE MODE IS IN. PUTTING THE AUTO MANUAL TRANSMISSION INTO SPORTS MODE DOES NOT CHANGE THE SHIFT INDICATOR ON THE DASH. IN SPORTS MODES IT STILL SHOWED EP. IN EP MODE THE CAR DOES NOT REV BEYOND 3000RPM AND DRIVES ROUGH AT CERTAIN SPEEDS. THIS MAY BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WITH A TRANSMISSION SENSOR, OR THE SHIFTER ELECTRONICS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THE VEHICLE WOULD WARM UP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,500.

WAS DRIVING ALONG THE ROAD AND CAME UP ON A TURN WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED UP. PUT ALL OF MY WEIGHT INTO THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP FROM JUMPING THE MEDIAN. SCARED THE LIFE OUT OF ME. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED. TURNED THE CAR OFF, THEN BACK ON AND IT SEEMED FINE. THEN GETTING ON THE FREEWAY, I WAS ON THE CLOVER-LEAF AND IT LOCKED UP AGAIN SO I PUT ALL OF MY WEIGHT INTO IT AGAIN, THEN IT SUDDENLY RELEASED. WITH THE SUDDEN JERK/MOVEMENT (AND IT HAS DONE THIS A FEW TIMES) SOMEDAY I KNOW IT WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO FLIP. THE POWER STEERING SEEMS TO WORK IN PHASES: IT WILL BE FINE FOR A COUPLE DAYS, THEN ITS INTERMITTENT/GONE FOR A WEEK OR 2. THE PAST FEW DAYS, IT HAS SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE FAN WAS ENGAGED EVEN THOUGH I HAD NOT BEEN FOR A STRENUOUS DRIVE. I THINK IT WAS ACTUALLY THE PUMP NOT TURNING OFF WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. THIS MORNING I GOT TO MY CAR TO FIND THE BATTERY COMPLETELY DRAINED... AN APPARENT SHORT IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP (AND/OR FAN) KILLED IT. *TR

THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND WAS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. *TR

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF WARNING LIGHT ON. DEALER WANTS $1800 TO FIX DEFECTIVE SYSTEM. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT AND PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND MANEUVER, AS IF THE POWER STEERING FEATURE HAD BEEN DISABLED. INITIALLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE SURFACE OF THE ROAD MAKING HANDLING OF THE CAR DIFFICULT, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO PERSIST EVEN AFTER I EXITED THE FREEWAY. WHILE PERFORMING LEFT-TURNS AND RIGHT-TURNS ON THE SIDE STREETS, I HAD TO EXERT TREMENDOUS LABOR TO COMPLETE THE TURN, AND ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS I ALMOST HIT ADJACENT CARS ON THE ROAD BECAUSE I COULDN'T FORCIBLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL ENOUGH. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION, I TURNED OFF MY ENGINE, RE-STARTED IT, AND TO MY RELIEF AND AMAZEMENT, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EASY TO MANEUVER AGAIN, WITHOUT A TRACE OF THE STEERING PROBLEMS THAT HAD JUST OCCURRED. *TR

WHEN PASSENGER EXITED VEHICLE, LIGHT AIRBAG OFF NOTIFICATION CAME ON. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME SOMEONE EXITS THE PASSENGER SEAT. ALSO AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT & SEATBELT NOT BUCKLED LIGHT COME ON. *TR

AIRBAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY IN DASH AND PASSENGER AIRBAG "OFF" ILLUMINATES ABOVE REAR VIEW MIRROR IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. WHEN SOME SITS IN THE SEAT IT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN YOU CHECK THE CONNECTORS UNDER THE SEAT IT GOES OFF WITH WIGGLING. DIAGNOSED BY MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP AS "CRACKED SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR" INSIDE THE SEAT. NOT REPAIRABLE ONLY REPLACEABLE. AIRBAG WILL NOT GO OFF IF PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. MINI COOPER HAS COVERED THIS FOR OTHER MODELS, BUT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. INCURRING ME A $1600 QUOTE FOR MAKE MY CAR SAFE FOR PASSENGERS. *TR

HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES WAS GOING WEST ON A BUSY FOUR LANE CITY STREET, PREPARING TO TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET AND THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I COULD HARDLY TURN THE MINI INTO THE SIDE STREET AND CAME CLOSE TO HITTING ANOTHER CAR TURNING BESIDE ME. WAS ABLE TO PARK AND AN HOUR LATER TRIED TO DRIVE HOME, POWER STEERING WORKED FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND THEN QUITE AGAIN. DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT BUT IT WAS CLOSE SEVERAL TIMES. IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO STEER THE CAR AT SLOW SPEEDS AND I AM 6'2 AND 205 POUNDS A WOMAN WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IT IN ALL PROBABILITY. *TR

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BACK FROM COLLEGE AND THE POWER ON THE STEERING WENT OUT ON HER. IT STARTED COMING BACK ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND SHE WAS ABLE TO STEER IT SLOWLY BACK HOME FROM THERE. *TR

IN SEPTEMBER 2012 I NOTICED A LOUD FAN NOISE THAT WOULDN'T TURN OFF. THE CAR WAS ALSO OVERHEATING. I NOTICED THAT IT WAS VERY HARD TO STEER THE CAR, BUT I THOUGHT THAT WAS DUE TO THE OVERHEATING. MECHANIC DETERMINED FAILED CYLINDER HEAD GASKET IN 11/2012. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED AND THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. IN 11/2012 THE WATER PUMP WAS ALSO REPLACED. IN 12/2012 THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN 06/2013 THE HEATER CORE WAS REPLACED. I BELIEVE THAT THESE ISSUES ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE ASSOCIATED FAN FAILING, WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO OVERHEAT AND THE BATTERY TO FAIL. PLEASE SEE NHTSA COMPLAINTS 10453158, 10444328, 10379750, 10442431,10379459 FOR SIMILAR CASES OF THESE SAME ISSUES RELATED TO THE FAILURE OF POWER STEERING AND THE ASSOCIATED PUMP. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE RESULTING IN HARD TO STEER SITUATION. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON OUR 2005 MINI HAD BEEN SLIPPING BUT WE COULD NOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO VARIOUS LOCAL SHOPPING PLAZAS APPLYING FOR JOBS. SHE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN DRIVING OVER 45 MPH BECAUSE THAT WAS THE MAXIMUM SPEED ONE COULD DRIVE WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. THE CAR BEGAN TO MAKE A WHIRRING SOUND AND SMOKE. SHE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND SAFELY PARKED. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO SMOKE AND ALL OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO OUR HOME AND IT NOW SITS IN OUR GARAGE WHILE WE CONTINUE TO PAY FOR IT AND INSURE IT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL AREA, THE WHEEL OF THE CAR BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRIC HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING PUMP (EHPS) WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE FAN OF THE EHPS WAS NOT DISENGAGING WHEN THE CAR IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF, THEREFORE RUNNING DOWN THE BATTERY AND CAUSING THE EHPS TO NOT WORK CORRECTLY. THE NEXT DAY, WITH THE SAME EHPS, THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING FINE. *TR

WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, THE FAN WON'T TURN OFF AND KEEPS RUNNING. IT DRAINS THE BATTERY VERY QUICKLY. I TOOK IT TO AUTO SHOP AND THE REPORT SAYS STEERING PUMP INTERNAL FAILURE. *TR

DROVE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH FOR ABOUT 15 MINS. AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY, I REALIZED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. FORTUNATELY, I WAS COMING TO A TRAFFIC JUNCTION AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND PULL ASIDE WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT. FROM WHAT I'VE READ ON THE INTERNET, THERE IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP THAT CAUSES THE POWER STEERING TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT CAN EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE IS ALSO A WHINING NOISE THAT I HEAR COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WHICH I FOUND IS ALSO RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP PROBLEM. *TR

AFTER DRIVING ONE EVENING A SHORT DISTANCE TO THE STORE AND FEELING A STRANGE PULLING OF THE CAR BUT NOT REALLY MOVING AS FAST AS IT SHOULD, I TOOK IT TO BE CHECKED OUT AT THE MINI OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION BUT THAT I COULD STILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT SHORT DISTANCES. THIS COST $138. SO AFTER A COUPLE OF SHORT TRIPS TO WORK, I WAS ON MY WAY HOME ON MONDAY SEPTEMBER 10TH WHEN IT STARTED TO "SHUT DOWN", IT WAS REVVING VERY LOUDLY BUT ONLY MOVING AT ABOUT 20MPH AT THE MOST. I HAD TO PULL OVER MANY TIMES DUE TO ANXIETY, FEAR AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I HAD TO FIND A BACK WAY HOME BECAUSE I COULD NO LONGER DRIVE ON ANY OF THE MAIN ROADS SINCE IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT I WAS GOING TO GET HIT FROM BEHIND! *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS NOT GONE OFF. THIS HAS RENDERED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INOPERABLE . THE SEAT WAS RARELY USED AS MY WIFE USES THE CAR AS A SUMMER CAR. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##

I HAD A LITTLE WHINING SOUND WHEN I PUSHED ON THE CLUTCH. EVERYTHING WORKED FINE EVEN WITH THE WHINING SOUND. I STARTED DRIVING TO THE MECHANICS AND MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE TRANSMISSION CAME COMPLETELY APART. ALL THE TEETH ARE GONE FROM THE SECOND GEAR WITH NO WARNING. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT 2000.00, NOW I WILL HAVE TO EITHER SPEND ANOTHER 3000.00 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION, OR TRADE IN MY CAR AT A HORRIBLE LOSS AND I WILL BE UPSIDE DOWN ON THE NEXT CAR. I READ THAT THERE WERE CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS AGAINST MINI/BMW OVER THE TRANSMISSIONS. I WAS HOPING THAT I WOULD FIND A RECALL ON HERE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING PUMP STOPS OPERATING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES TO DATE: THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS AT LOW SPEED IN A PARKING STRUCTURE; THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED AT FREEWAY SPEED; THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A SURFACE STREET WHILE DECELERATING TO A STOP. IN EACH CASE, CONTROL OF THE CAR WAS MAINTAINED BUT WAS VERY DIFFICULT. THE PUMP FUNCTION WAS RESTORED BY STOPPING AND CYCLING THE VEHICLE IGNITION TO OFF AND THEN RESTARTING THE ENGINE. *TR

PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR LIGHTS STAY ON AT ALL TIMES, WHETHER THE SEAT IS OCCUPIED OR NOT. SEAT MAT SENSOR DEFECTIVE. THIS IS A COMMON SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS FULLY AWARE OF. REPAIR COST IS IN EXCESS OF $1,300 FOR A VERY SIMPLE PART. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. *TR

WHEN MY MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE ONLY HAD AROUND 85,000 MILE ON SPEEDOMETER MY TRANSMISSION WOULD SUDDENLY HAVE DIFFICULTY GOING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR AND STALL WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED BY CARS BEHIND ME NOT EXPECTING ME TO STALL. UPON RESEARCHING WEB THERE ARE MANY SAME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MODEL VEHICLE. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. MINI USA DID NOT AGREE TO FIX THE VEHICLE. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A RECALL BEFORE SOME ONE IS KILLED. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED, CALLED DEALER TWICE AND BMW COMPANY TWICE, KNEW ABOUT PROBLEMS, BUT SENT ME IN A CIRCLE. DEALER SAID TO GO TO COMPANY FOR HELP AND INFO, COMPANY SAID TO GO TO DEALER, VERY DECEPTIVE PRACTICES. *TR

PARKED THE CAR TO GO IN A STORE, IN THE STORE FOR 10 MINUTES. CAME OUT TO START THE CAR AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STIFF AND DID NOT WANT TO MOVE. CUT THE CAR OFF AND WAS LOOKING INTO WAYS TO GET THE CAR TOWED. I TRIED TO START THE CAR BACK UP MAYBE 15-20 MINUTES LATER AND IT WAS WORKING JUST FINE. EVER SENSE THEN, THE CAR'S POWER STEERING WOULD STOP FUNCTIONING AND THEN RESET ITSELF ONCE THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND IDLE. YOU CAN NEVER PREDICT WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN OR WHEN IT WON'T. THE POWER STEERING ISSUES HAVE GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE WITH LONGER INTERVALS OF WAIT TIME BEFORE THE POWER STEERING STARTS FUNCTIONING AGAIN. THE WHEEL WHEN THE POWER STEERING STOPS FUNCTIONING IS VIRTUALLY IMMOVABLE IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE TURNS UNLESS THEY ARE WIDE ONES. THIS IS A TREMENDOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. *TR

RIGHT AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME SUDDENLY VERY STIFF AS I WAS MAKING A STANDARD 90 TURN. I ALMOST HIT THE CAR NEXT TO ME BUT DIDN'T AS I MANAGED TO HIT THE BRAKES. I FINISHED THE CURVE ON THE VERY LAST LANE ON THE RIGHT. IF A CAR HAD BEEN ON MY WAY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A CRASH, FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NONE. MINI DIAGNOSED A POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. BROWSING ON THE WEB, I CAME ACROSS PAGES OF PEOPLE HAVING HAD THE SAME ISSUE FOR THIS YEAR'S MODEL (MINI COOPER S 2005). CANADIAN AUTHORITIES EVEN ORDERED A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT SAME FAILURE. I HAVE ALSO READ THAT NHTSA IS CURRENTLY STUDYING THIS ISSUE; COULD YOU PLEASE CONFIRM THIS IS TRUE ANY IDEA HOW LONG IS THE PROCESS TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT A RECALL WILL BE DECIDED IF A RECALL WAS DECIDED, WOULD WE GET REIMBURSE NOT MATTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE IN A MINI DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE ? THANK YOU *TR

I WAS EXITING THE INTERSTATE AND THE RAMP CURVED TO THE RIGHT, AS I BEGAN TO NEGOTIATE THE CURVE I NOTICED I HAD NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. I REACHED MY DESTINATION ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER AND HAD NO POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE AT ALL THE ENTIRE TIME. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT USE IT AGAIN UNTIL 9/3/12 AND THE STEERING APPEARED TO BE WORKING PROPERLY AGAIN. IN READING THE INVESTIGATIVE STUDY I NOTED THAT IT MAY BE DUE TO AN ERROR IN THE INTERNAL ELECTRONICS AND MAY ALSO RESULT IN A CONTINUOUS RUNNING OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP. LAST YEAR ALMOST TO THE DAY, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT HAYWIRE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STEER AND HAD WHAT SEEMED LIKE POWER SURGE AND AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF AND REMOVING THE KEY THE CAR CONTINUED TO MAKE A CLICKING SOUND AND THE WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN BY THEMSELVES. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO RESTART AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY,WHICH I DID, I NOW WONDER IF THAT WAS A RELATED INCIDENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING WITH EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING MALFUNCTION RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP WHERE THE POWER STEERING PUMP, FAN AND OTHER RELATED COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THERE WAS A CONCURRENT INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11005 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

DAUGHTER/CO-OWNER WAS DRIVING CAR. SHIFTING FROM 1ST IN TO 2ND GEAR. LOUD CLUNK OR RATTLE/CLICKING FROM UNSIDE. CAR LOST POWER STEERING, BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. COULD NOT CONTROL VEHICLE. HAD TO CALL TOW TRUCK. *TR

WAS DRIVING ON AN OVERPASS BETWEEN FREEWAYS WHEN MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS BEGINNING MY TURN, AND COULD NOT CONTROL OR MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AND HIT THE RAILING. CARS HAD TO DODGE QUICKLY TO NOT HIT ME. TURNED OFF IGNITION AND TURNED BACK ON AND IT WAS FINE - BUT WAS REALLY SHOOK UP. CONTINUED DRIVING TO WORK 3 MILES LATER AND IT DID IT AGAIN PULLING INTO THE PARKING LOT. LATER THAT DAY, STARTED THE CAR AND ONCE AGAIN NO POWER STEERING. HAD IT TOWED HOME, AND CHECKED IT THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND, WITHOUT SUCCESS (TO GET IT TO A GARAGE) THEN THIS MORNING IT STARTED WORKING. DROVE 1/2 MILE TO GARAGE, AND IT DID IT AGAIN. CALLED BMW SERVICE AND THE MANAGER ACTED LIKE THIS WAS UNUSUAL AND SAID TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. CALLED ANOTHER BMW AND THE SAME STORY. CHECKED WITH MY GERMAN MECHANIC DOWN THE STREET AND HE SAID THAT IS THE #1 REASON HE SEES MINI'S 2005 IN THE STOP. 2ND WAS MY CONVERTIBLE TOP, WHICH QUITE IRONICALLY BROKE THE SAME DAY AS MY POWER STEERING. THE PASSENGER SIDE WON'T DISENGAGE. I'M LOOKING AT OVER $3000 TO FIX A CAR WITH ONLY 42K MILES ON IT. SHOULDN'T THESE PARTS BE RECALLED? I WAS SCARED FOR MY LIFE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT! *TR

MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I MANAGED TO AVOID HITTING THE CURB AND PULLED OVER AFTER COMPLETING THE TURN. IT FELT LIKE DRIVING WITH FOUR FLAT TIRES. AFTER RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN TWO DAYS LATER. IN BOTH CASES, THIS HAPPENED SHORTLY AFTER STARTING UP. *TR

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WEIGHT SENSOR STOP WORKING. AS A RESULT MY VEHICLE DISPLAYS A WARNING THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS ARE OFF. MY DRIVER SIDE FOG LIGHT HOUSING MELTED AND CRACK APART. I USED STOCK 55W HALOGEN BULBS. MY PASSENGER SIDE FOG LIGHT HOUSING HAS ALSO BEGUN TO MELT. MY POWER STEERING IS NOT LEAKING NOW. BUT IT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY TO SACRAMENTO, CA FROM ALAMEDA, CA, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, MY RED DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE ROOF-MOUNTED YELLOW PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT BOTH CAME ON. THE ROOF-MOUNTED YELLOW LIGHT THEN WENT OUT AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES, BUT THE RED DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS REMAINED ON EVERY TIME THE IGNITION WAS TURNED ON. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING UNIT MIGHT BE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AT 66K MILES - AS I AM RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I CAN SEE THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURES WITH THEIR MINI COOPER AND BMW HAS NOT BEEN WILLING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THE COST TO US WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $10,000 TO REPAIR. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN PARKING THE CAR. *TR

THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR HAS FAILED. THIS CAUSES THE AIRBAGS TO BE UNARMED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE. I HAVE CONTACTED MINI ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY COVERED THE REPAIR ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, BUT NOT MINE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND IT SHOULD BE COVERED ON ALL VEHICLES THAT IT HAS OCCURRED ON, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. THE REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE, AND SHOULD BE COVERED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING CAPABILITIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,207. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.