2003 MINI COOPER S Steeringhydraulic Power Assistpump Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO MANEUVER. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO A RECALL AND STATED ONLY A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT WAS IN PROGRESS. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED AT HER OWN EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. UPDATED 08/31/*LJ THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 09/12/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S PURCHASED NEW. HE STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE BATTERY CHARGING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT IMMEDIATLEY SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. HE PULLED OVER AND FOUND THERE WAS A FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED SHORTLY AFTER HOWEVER HE HAD ALREADY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS A RESULT OF A FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMP COOLING FAN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER HIS INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 88,000.THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY (NO WARNING) WHILE DRIVING, MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL SIGNIFICANTLY MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN AND DRIVING THE VEHICLE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE DANGEROUS. *TR

PARKING THE VEHICLE AFTER A 35 MI COMMUTE TO WORK WITH THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF THE ELECTRO HYDRAULIC STEERING PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN. THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THE PUMP OFF AND AVOID OVERHEATING WAS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED BY REPLACEMENT OF THE ELECTO HYDROLIC STEERING PUMP. OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *AK

PARKED VEHICLE OUTSIDE GROCERY STORE. RETURNED AFTER <5 MINUTES TO FIND SMOKE POURING FROM THE HOOD. OPENED HOOD TO DETERMINE CAUSE AND SMELT ELECTRICAL SMOKE, AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE. DOUSED FLAMES USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM STORE, AND DISCONNECTED BATTERY. INITIAL DEALER INVESTIGATION INDICATES THAT THE DAMAGE WAS TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND WIRING HARNESS. HAD I NOT STOPPED FOR GROCERIES, I WOULD HAVE BEEN UNLIKELY TO NOTICE THE SMOKE/FIRE EARLY ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE LOSS OF THE VEHICLE. INSURANCE AND DEALER ROOT CAUSE INVESTIGATION IS STILL PENDING, BUT AFTER SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET (MOSTLY HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=73527) I FOUND AT LEAST 10 OTHER INSTANCES OF A FAULT IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP CAUSING FIRES. BMW IS OBVIOUSLY AWARE OF SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS, AS THEY MADE CHANGES TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND POWER STEERING FAN WIRING HARNESS IN 04 MODELS ON. IT SEEMS TO...

WAS DRIVING DOWN A 2-LANE CURVY ROAD AT NIGHT, DRY WEATHER, 75 F AT 30 MPH WHEN CAR BEGAN TO WHINE WHENEVER STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. AS I DECELERATED TO 10-15 MPH TO MAKE A 90 DEGREE RIGHT TURN AROUND A CURVE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME SUDDENLY EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. ALMOST T-BONED A CAR TRAVELING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AROUND SAME CURVE. WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR BACK IN MY LANE, AND GET IT HOME, BUT NOT WITHOUT A LOT OF EFFORT. CALLED BMW SERVICE, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THEY'VE SERVICED A FEW MINIS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AND WAS MOST LIKELY A POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. CAR WILL BE TOWED TODAY. *JB