2004 MINI COOPER S Steering Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT DRIVING SO HE DID NOT KNOW THE FULL DETAILS OF THE FAILURE. THE PERSON DRIVING WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THEIR RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN PULLING OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,400. UPDATED 09/07/11 *BF

2004 MINI COOPER S - POWER STEERING FAN/PUMP FAILURE VIN# [XXX] MY POWER STEERING STOP WORKING COMPLETELY. THIS POWER STEERING WOULD GO "ON" AND "OFF: INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE PAST YEAR A HALF (4-7 TIMES A WEEK OVER THE LAST 8-10MONTHS). I'D PARK THE CAR WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE, NO POWER STEERING. THIS HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND NOW THE POWER STEERING HAS STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD!!I HAVE ONLY HAS THE CAR FOR 2 YEARS AND IT HAS 70K MILES. I BROUGHT THE INTERMITTENT FAILURES TO THE DEALERSHIPS ATTENTION NUMEROUS TIMES BUT THEY NEED TO "SEE IT HAPPENING" TO FIX IT. NOW THAT MY POWER STEERING HAS COMPLETELY FAILED, THEY NOW TOLD ME TO ITS THE POWER STEERING FAN/PUMP THAT HAS FAILED. I CAN NOT AFFORD THE REPAIRS AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH NO POWER STEERING FOR OVER 3 MONTHS. I SEE THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN DISCUSSED...

MY 2004 MINI COOPER S SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING LOST ITS POWER STEERING. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE MECHANIC WHO SAID THE WHOLE STEERING WAS SHOT. THAT IS WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT MINI HAS HAD A LOT OF THESE FAILURES. IF I HAD BEEN ON A CURVE AND AT ANY FASTER SPEED I MAY HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT, AND NOW BMW WON'T EVEN FIX THE CAR! THIS IS NOT RIGHT ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAVE KNOWN THERE IS PROBLEM, WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE A FEW PEOPLE GETTING KILLED LIKE WITH THE TOYOTA BRAKE PROBLEM? MAKE THEM DO SOMETHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

MY CAR HAS HAD INTERMITTENT POWER FAILURE SINCE 2008, USUALLY LASTING A FEW DAYS. MORE RECENTLY MY POWER STEERING HAS BEEN OUT FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS. TODAY IT STARTED WORKING ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK BUT THE POWER STEERING FAN REMAINS ON AFTER I TURN THE CAR OFF. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO KEEP THE FAN OFF. CONSEQUENCES HAVE RESULTED IN NEAR ACCIDENTS ON THE HIGHWAY AND ROAD WHEN FAILURE OCCURS (FAILURES HAPPENED WHEN I HAVE GONE INTO TURNS). POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED DURING CORNERING. REQUIRED ME TO APPLY EXTRA FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL AT WHICH POINT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST RE-ENGAGED CAUSING THE CAR TO OVER STEER. I NEEDED TO MAKE A QUICK CORRECTION IN ORDER TO AVOID CROSSING OVER THE CENTERLINE AND HITTING AN ON COMING VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS BEEN ON AND OFF FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS SINCE THAT TIME AND HAS BEEN COMPLETELY NON FUNCTIONAL FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SO.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY TIGHT. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED BEFORE BUT NOT AS EXTREME AS THE MOST CURRENT FAILURE. THE CONTACT COULD BARELY MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN AND ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING PUMP WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILURE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,053 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 4,509 UPDATED 02/03/11*LJ ALSO, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER GRID BURNED THROUGH THE COVER AND THE DRIVERS JACKET. THE SECOND SEAT COVER BURNED THROUGH ALSO AND MADE A HOLE IN THE PASSENGERS COAT. UPDATED 03/18/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER S FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAR IS EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING SHAFT STARTED TO MAKE ODD NOISES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND PUM WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. UPDATED 4/11/2011 *CN UPDATED 07/11/11

I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER HARD TOP AND I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM STATE COLLEGE WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THIS MADE THE CAR EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. SINCE THIS HAPPENED, I AM ALL BUT TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I HAVE DONE SOME INVESTIGATION INTO THIS, AND I SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY MINI OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE SOMETHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR

MY 2004 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING PUMP JUST FAILED AND HAS TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 45K MILES. *TR UPDATED 08-29/11 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH CAUSING LIMITED STEERING CAPABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED AT THAT TIME. THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NEAR THE END OF A 500 MILE TRIP FROM NORTHERN TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I COMPLETED THE TRIP WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 MINI COOPER S BUILT IN LATE SEPTEMBER OR EARLY OCTOBER 2003. AT APPROXIMATELY 54,000 MILES IN SPRING OF 2010, I LEFT TO GO ON A TRIP ACROSS TOWN. AFTER ABOUT 2 MILES OF THE UP TO THEN NORMAL DRIVE, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF A CURVE. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO RETAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR AND MAKE IT TO MY DESTINATION A COUPLE MORE MILES AWAY. AFTER SITTING ABOUT 15 MINUTES, UPON RESTART, THE CAR PERFORMED NORMALLY AS FAR AS I CAN TELL. CHECKING THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A SOMEWHAT COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THAT IT WILL CONTINUE ON AND OFF UNTIL THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. THIS CAN ALSO LEAD TO A FIRE AT THE POWER STEERING PUMP THAT MAY LEAD TO COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE AND OR...

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY ON THE FREEWAY AND IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR. POWER STEERING RETURNED AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT IN A PARKING LOT, BUT FAILED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING HOME. WE HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR SINCE. THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WE HAVE TALKED TO MINI, BUT THEY HAVE NOT OFFERED TO HELP REPAIR THE CAR. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WILL COST AROUND $1500 TO REPLACE THE MALFUNCTIONING PARTS. *TR

I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER S AND WHEN DRIVING THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN OFF RAMP AND THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY HARD. I WAS UNABLE TO NAVIGATE THE TURN AND WENT OFF THE ROAD. LUCKILY I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. FROM TIME TO TIME NOW I LOOSE THE POWER STEERING. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND DO NOT LET MY WIFE OR CHILD RIDE IN THE CAR. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE. WHEN DRIVING POWER STEERING WILL UNEXPECTEDLY STOP WORKING. USUALLY AFTER DRIVING FOR AN HOUR OR SO. WHEN POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING THE CAR IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL. *TR

I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER S. ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2010, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THIS WAS OUT OF THE BLUE, AND I HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT TO MY MECHANIC THE SAME DAY AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY POWER STEERING FAN WENT OUT, THEREFORE CAUSING MY POWER STEERING PUMP TO FAIL. AFTER I HAD EVERYTHING REPLACED FOR AROUND $900, I SAW AN ARTICLE IN USA TODAY THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO OTHER 2004 AND 2005 MINI'S. I THINK MINI SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. IT WAS VERY SCARY TO DRIVE MY MINI WITH NO POWER STEERING, AND I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT; THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO RESET IT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000. UPDATED 01/20/11 *BF UPDATED 01/31/11

2004 MINI COOPER S - POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN FAILURE. POWER STEERING QUITS WORKING CAUSING INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT STEERING. SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE PUMP AND FAN AND THE EXPENSE OF THE OWNER, ME. I BELIEVE THIS PUMP AND FAN SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AND ALSO THAT THERE SHOULD BE A NATIONWIDE RECALL SINCE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MINI COOPER DRIVERS WITH THIS SAME ISSUES. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE 2004 MINI COOPER S TO PICK UP OUR SON FROM SCHOOL. AFTER SHE RETRIEVED HIM, SHE WENT AROUND A CORNER AND THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING CAUSING HER TO CRASH INTO A CURB. SHE DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL AND THERE WAS NO WARNING OF A POSSIBLE FAILURE. I AM FEARFUL TO REPLACE THE PART AND CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON A VEHICLE I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE PUTTING MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN IN DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE NEW POWERING STEERING PUMP WILL FAIL IF REPLACED. *TR

UNEXPECTED AND INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. INTERMITTENT FAILURES FIRST STARTED AROUND 2008, THE FAILURES WOULD LAST FOR MINUTES TO HOURS LONG, DAYS, WEEKS, AND MONTHS WOULD GO BY BETWEEN FAILURES. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE CAUSE WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THE REPAIR WOULD COST ~$700 TO REPLACE. WHEN THE PUMP FAILS THE CAR IS *VERY* DIFFICULT TO STEER AT SLOW AND MODERATE SPEEDS. ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS A SURPRISE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NARROW, WINDY ROAD AND IT WAS A STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN THE LANE, AVOID HITTING ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND STAYING ON THE ROAD. THE PUMP WAS REPLACED AND AS OF THIS WRITING IS NEW ONE IS NOW INTERMITTENTLY FAILING. I JUST EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE WHEN TURNING FROM A STOP AND NARROWLY MISSED HITTING A CURB AS I STRUGGLED TO COMPLETE A TURN. THE PUMP FAILURE LASTED ABOUT 10 MINUTES. *TR

SUDDEN TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING ON A 2004 MINI COOPER S IN A PARKING AT LOW SPEED. CAR WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO DRIVE BACK TO DEALER DUE TO HIGH GRIP THE CAR HAS. DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP FOR POWER ASSISTED GEAR. COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS IN A CORNER. MILEAGE 20,257. *TR

ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2010 2004 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON SAN FRANCISCO/OAKLAND BAY BRIDGE. ABLE TO SAFELY EXIT BRIDGE AND HAD CAR TOWED TO AUTO SHOP IN BERKELEY, CA WHERE THEY "PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TIME CHECK FOR NO POWER STEERING. FOUND PUMP COMING ON, NO PRESSURE TO SYSTEM". THEY REMOVED AND REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP INCLUDING BLEEDING THE SYSTEM. *TR

I WANT TO REPORT PROBLEM WITH STEERING COMPONENTS IN MY 2004 MINI COOPER S (BASED ON ARTICLE IN USA TODAY). IN JULY OF THIS YEAR, 2010, MY STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. I STOPPED, CALLED MY DEALERSHIP, HAD THE CAR TOWED IN. THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR. THIS WEEK, SEPT. 2010, I HEARD A STRANGE SOUND. TOOK IT BACK IN, THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING FAN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING WAS ABSENT. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 102,000. UPDATED 01/03/11

INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED POWER STEERING FAILURE ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER S (R53). WE PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 69,000 MILES AND WITHIN A WEEK HAD OUR FIRST POWER STEERING PROBLEM. WE GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WHEN WE TURNED IT BACK ON THE STEERING WAS FINE. THIS OCCURRED RANDOMLY FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. POWER STEERING WOULD QUIT WITHOUT WARNING AT SLOW AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FINALLY TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND THE MECHANIC SAID THE POWER STEERING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. REPAIR WAS DONE THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER AND WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY POWER STEERING PROBLEMS SINCE. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER: POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND THAN IT WAS JUST GONE. ON SUNDAY 9-26-10 STARTED THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED FINE, UNTIL I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 70MPH AND IT WENT OUT AGAIN FOR GOOD.. DONE NOTHING YET TO FIX IT. *TR

LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING. *TR

POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING, REPAIR COST APP. $ 2.000.-, NO HELP FROM MINI USA. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED ON MINI COOPER S WITH APPROXIMATELY 71,000 MILES LAST WEEK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER TYPE S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY STOP FUNCTIONING WITHOUT WARNING; THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE WAS 8,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 143,000. UPDATED 01/04/11*LJ UPDATED 01/10/11*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WOULD MALFUNCTION WHICH ALMOST LED TO A CRASH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AND THE COOLING FAN REPLACED. SINCE THE REPAIRS, THE CONTACT HAD NOT NOTICED ANY POWER STEERING ISSUES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

MY 2004 MINI COOPER S, OF WHICH I AM THE SECOND OWNER HAS DEVELOPED PROGRESSIVELY WORSENING STEERING CHARACTERISTICS. MOST TIMES THE STEERING IS HARD AND TYPICALLY ITS HARDEST AT LOW SPEED. THE STEERING UNDER ACCELERATION IS NOTABLY OF GREAT CONCERN AS I HAVE EXPERIENCED ERRATIC AND UNPREDICTABLE SUDDEN PULLS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT WITHOUT ANY DRIVER INPUT. THE SERVICE HISTORY FOR THIS VEHICLE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE SUGGESTED SERVICE INTERVALS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME. *TR

ELECTRIC/HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AFTER ONLY 43,000 MILES ON THE CAR. IT STUCK IN THE "ON" POSITION EVEN WHEN KEY REMOVED FROM THE CAR, DRAINING MY BATTERY AND CAUSING A HEAT BUILDUP UNDER THE BONNET. 2004 MINI COOPER S. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ALONG A STREET ABOUT TO NEGOTIATE A TURN WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. HAD IT HAPPENED A FEW SECONDS LATER, I PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE TURN AND MAY HAVE CRASHED. *TR

MY 04 MINI S JUST HIT 90K AND RUNS GREAT UNTIL I WAS ON THE FREEWAY OVERPASS THE OTHER DAY. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT SUDDENLY ON A 55 MPH TURN AND ALMOST RAN ME RIGHT INTO THE SHOULDER BARRIER WHICH HAPPENS TO BE 50 FEET ABOVE THE LOWER FREEWAY. THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. MINI COOPER IS A GREAT CAR, BUT THIS POWER STEERING ISSUE IS A WELL KNOW ISSUE AMONGST THE COMMUNITY OF OWNERS AND MINI NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE AND HELP OWNERS WHO ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. ONCE YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT THE STEERING COMES BACK TO NORMAL. WHEN ITS HOT OUT THE STEERING SEEMS TO FAIL AND IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE CAR ONCE THIS HAPPENS WHICH WAS THE RESULT IN MY ABOVE EXPERIENCE. THIS POWER STEERING FAILURE IS WELL KNOW AND HAS MANY MANY ACCOUNTS...

2004 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING FAILURE AFTER <50,000 MILES VERY HARD TO STEER. HAD TO REPLACE THE PUMP. *TR

THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE GOING UP HILL ON A CURVY TWO LANE ROAD. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FORCED ME TO GO INTO THE OTHER LANE, WHERE FORTUNATELY NO CARS WERE PRESENT. IF I WAS GOING DOWN HILL ON THE SAME ROAD I WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY GONE AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE HILL OR OFF THE SIDE OF THE CLIFF IF NOT HITTING AN ON COMING CAR FIRST. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME OVER $1000 TO CHANGE THE ELECTRO/HYDRAULIC STEERING PUMP. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH MANY MINIS ACCORDING TO FORUM POSTS. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP IS FAILING. SO FAR NO MAJOR PROBLEMS BUT I HAVE HAD OTHER MINI OWNERS REPORT THIS SAME PROBLEM AND WORSE. I AM HAVING MY PUMP REPLACED THIS WEEKEND WITH THE HOPE OF AVOIDING ANY FURTHER ISSUES. HOPEFULLY THIS ONE WILL LAST A LONG TIME. *TR

DRIVING NORMALLY WHEN SUDDENLY POWER STEERING FAILS COMPLETELY CAUSING INSTANT CONTROL ISSUES. POWER STEERING RETURNS INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

ON A 2004 MINI COOPER S, INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP CAUSING EXTREME DIFFICULTY STEERING. CAR HAS 43,000 MILES. MANY SIMILAR CASES REPORTED IN ONLINE FORUMS. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) WHY HAS THE NHTSA ADMINISTRATION TAKEN NO ACTION AGAINST MINI AND BMW FOR THE KNOWN DEFECT IN POWER STEERING SYSTEMS. I AM WONDERING, AMID ALL THE TOYOTA CONTROVERSY AND RECALLS, ESPECIALLY NOW ABOUT THE BROKEN STEERING RODS, WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL, OR AT LEAST A PUBLIC WARNING OF SOME KIND ABOUT STEERING ISSUES ON THE MINI. THE POWER STEERING PUMP IN MINI'S OF ALL AGES AND MILEAGES ARE PRONE TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 MINI COOPER S ACROSS A SNOWY AND ICY MOUNTAIN PASS HERE IN WASHINGTON STATE. IT WAS QUITE A SURPRISING, FRIGHTENING, AND UNSAFE EXPERIENCE TO SAY THE LEAST. OTHERS HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS WITH YOU FOLKS, AS WELL AS THE COMPANY, BUT SO FAR AS I KNOW NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. IF INJURIES AND FATALITIES...

I WAS DRIVING ON I-95N WHEN THE STEERING BECAME ALL TIGHT LIKE I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL. NO INDICATIOR LIGHTS CAME ON. I REACHED MY DESTINATION, SHUT THE CAR OFF FOR SEVERAL MIN, GOT IN STARTED IT UP AND IT WAS FINE. GOT BACK ON I-95S AND 5 MIN LATER THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LIKE IT WAS LOCKED UP I COULDN'T TURN IT. AGAIN NO WARNINGS!!!!! ARE YOU PEOPLE GOING TO WAIT TILL SOME ONE IS KILLED TO MAKE BMW FIX THIS!!!!!! I HAVE READ IT'S BEEIN GOING ON SINCE 2002 POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURES

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). I HAVE A 2004 MINI COOPER S (BMW) THAT I HAVE OWNED FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF BUT RECENTLY, PAST 3 MONTHS., I HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING QUIT SUDDENLY ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THANKFULLY I WAS NOT ON A HIGH SPEED ROAD AT ANY OF THOSE TIMES BECAUSE WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT IT I COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL AND I'M A 36 YR. OLD MALE WITH QUITE A BIT MORE STRENGTH THAN MY FIANCE WHO ALSO DRIVES THE CAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS FLAW WITH THE CAR AS I HAVE CHECKED WITH OTHER MINI COOPER OWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO EACH AND EVERYONE OF THEM HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING FAILING SUDDENLY. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THIS OCCURS AT...

THE POWER STEERING PUMP SUDDENLY FAILED. THIS IS AN ELECTRIC-HYDRAULIC STEERING SYSTEM AND THE CAR IS NOT CONTROLLABLE WHEN THE PUMP FAILS. THE CAR HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILE. *TR

INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR

AS AN OWNER OF A 2004 COOPER S I WAS GREATLY DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THAT I NOW NEED TO REPLACE MY ELECTRIC STEERING PUMP AT ONLY 55K MILES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE PART "GOES REGULARLY" AND THAT "WE KEEP A BUNCH IN STOCK" AND THAT IT WILL COST ME $600 FOR A NEW ONE NOT INCLUDING LABOR. WITH THIS BIT OF INFORMATION, I BEGAN TO SEARCH MINI COOPER FANSITES AND BLOGS TO SEE HOW OFTEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS. I WASN'T SURPRISED TO FIND THAT MANY OF THE MEMBERS AND "FANS" OF THE CAR HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PUMP FAILURES, AND THAT THERE IS A GROWING NUMBER OF THOSE WHO ARE DISCUSSING THE FAILURE ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS IS BOTH A COSTLY FIX AS WELL AS A SAFETY PROBLEM. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF A STEERING PUMP IS QUITE DANGEROUS AND MAY CAUSE SOME DRIVERS TO LOSE CONTROL....