2002 MINI COOPER S — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

The contact owns a 2002 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45-55 MPH, the steering wheel seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road. The contact restarted the vehicle and continued driving normally. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (STEERING). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 43,000.

THE VIN # OF MY 2002 MINI COOPER S WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE ELECTROHYDRAULIC STEERING FAILURE OF 2002 - 2005 MINI COOPER S BUT I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT ISSUE OUTLINED IN THIS RECALL. THE STEERING IS INCREDIBLY HARD TO TURN WHEN PARKED, AS WELL AS WHILE DRIVING. I NOTICED THAT THE RECALL HAD ABOUT 339 COMPLAINTS AND ROUGHLY 85,000 VEHICLES WERE RECALLED, SO MAYBE AT THE TIME NO ONE WITH A SIMILAR VIN AS ME COMPLAINED.

PURCHASED THIS CAR USED WITH LOW MILES. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE I NOTICED THE STEERING ON MY VEHICLE GOT A LITTLE HARDER TO STEER, DIDN'T THINK TO MUCH ABOUT IT. THEN THE RADIATOR FAN WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OFF. TOOK THE CAR IN TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS TO FIND THE PROBLEM. FOUND OUT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT CAUSING THE COOLANT RESERVOIR TO GO OUT. THIS COULD CAUSE EXTREME SAFETY HAZARDS WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE STEERING FREEZES!! I CONTACTED BMW AFTER HEARING THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD WE MISSED THE RECALL TIME FRAME. I HAVE LOW MILES, 60,000. THE RECALL EXPIRED IN 2017. WELL, MY CARE WAS NOT HAVING THE ISSUES. I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SELLING THE CAR AND HANDING THE PROBLEM TO ANOTHER CONSUMER. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED AS IT COULD BE AN UNPLEASANT RESULT.

PURCHASED THIS CAR USED WITH LOW MILES. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE I NOTICED THE STEERING ON MY VEHICLE GOT A LITTLE HARDER TO STEER, DIDN'T THINK TO MUCH ABOUT IT. THEN THE RADIATOR FAN WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OFF. TOOK THE CAR IN TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS TO FIND THE PROBLEM. FOUND OUT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT CAUSING THE COOLANT RESERVOIR TO GO OUT. THIS COULD CAUSE EXTREME SAFETY HAZARDS WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE STEERING FREEZES!! I CONTACTED BMW AFTER HEARING THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD WE MISSED THE RECALL TIME FRAME. I HAVE LOW MILES, 60,000. THE RECALL EXPIRED IN 2017. WELL, MY CARE WAS NOT HAVING THE ISSUES. I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SELLING THE CAR AND HANDING THE PROBLEM TO ANOTHER CONSUMER. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED AS IT COULD BE AN UNPLEASANT RESULT.

POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. MAKING A WHINING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL ITSELF IS HARD TO TURN. NOT LEAKING ANY FLUIDS AND THE POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR IS FULL.