2005 MINI COOPER S Steering Problems

MY 2005 MINI COOPER S SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING AS I WAS DRIVING ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I'VE NOT HAD IT IN FOR REPAIRS YET, BUT RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET IT SEEMS MANY CONSUMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE EVEN READ OF THOSE WHOSE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND AM FEARFUL OF THE SAME HAPPENING TO ME NOT TO MENTION THE EXTREMELY HIGH COST OF REPAIR. MINI SHOULD RECALL THE 2005 AND FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR

I HAVE AN 05 MINI COOPER S AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS DEFECTIVE ALONG WITH 80,000+ OTHERS. I AM ROUGHLY AROUND 90,000 MILES AND THE PUMP HAS JUST RECENTLY STARED GOING OUT DUE TO WHAT THE DEALERSHIP CALLED A "DEFECTIVE LEAK ON THE ACTUALLY BODY OF THE PUMP". I ASKED THEM WHAT I SHOULD DO AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $1100 TO "FIX IT" BUT SAID THAT IT COULD GO OUT AND FAIL AT ANYTIME WHILE I AM DRIVING. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE BECAUSE MY WIFE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR IF IT COULD GO OUT AT ANYTIME? THEY ALSO SAID THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN 04/05 MINI COOPERS. I REALLY WISH SOMEBODY WOULD MAKE THEM RECALL THIS POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM WITHOUT CHARGING US $1100 FOR THEIR MISTAKE IN DESIGNING/INSTALLING THE POWER STEERING PUMPS??? *TR

MULTIPLE POWER STEERING FAILURES. INITIALLY WHEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 1 HOUR, NOW (JAN. 2011) OFTEN GOES OUT WHEN DRIVING MORE THAN 10 MINUTES. SOMETIMES COMES/GOES DURING A TURN. EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE WHEN CORNERING IN THE CITY OR PARALLEL PARKING.

ON 1/14/11 WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON A HIGHWAY MY STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED UP AND MADE STEERING IMPOSSIBLE. I WAS ABLE TO GET BACK TO MY DRIVEWAY. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL 1/16/11 AND THEN 1/20/11, ALL WHILE DRIVING MY CAR AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, ALSO WHILE TRYING TO BACK INTO MY DRIVEWAY. IT HAPPENS WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR NOTIFICATION FROM THE MINI COMPUTER SYSTEM HAS ALERTED ME. *TR

POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AT ALL SPEEDS. UPDATED VIN. 02/22/11. *TR

INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING LOSS RESULTING IN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO DEALER. DEALER PROVIDED NO WORKING RESOLUTION. POWER STEERING LOSS IN THIS VEHICLE MADE STEERING VERY DIFFICULT AND RESULTED IN EXCESSIVELY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. POWER PUMP FINALLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT WITHOUT NOTICE AT ALL SPEEDS. IT WILL RESET IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, HOWEVER THE INTERVAL TO THE NEXT POWER OUTAGE IS UNPREDICTABLE. IT OCCURRED THE FIRST TIME, AND THEN DIDN'T REOCCUR FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. THEN WHEN THE PROBLEM RETURNED IT DID THIS FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS, THEN DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN FOR ANOTHER MONTH. IT HAS NO BEEN A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM. HAVE ALSO HAD EXPERIENCES WHERE MAKING A TURN, THE POWER ASSIST WILL GO OUT, AND THEN RETURN, WHICH HAS ME PUTTING EXTRA EXERTION INTO MAKING THE TURN, ONLY TO HAVE IT COME BACK ON RESULTING IN OVERSTEER.

THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER S AS I WAS ABOUT TO TURN RIGHT ONTO A HIGHWAY ON RAMP. I FELT THE LACK OF POWER AND CONTINUED STRAIGHT SO I COULD PULL INTO A SERVICE STATION UP AHEAD. THE POWER STEERING WAS INTERMITTENT FOR A BIT THEN TOTALLY OUT, LEAVING ME WITH A 45 MINUTE DRIVE DOWN THE MOUNTAINS TO HOME WITHOUT POWER STEERING. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF THE POWER STEERING FAN RUNNING AFTER THE CAR WAS OFF. NOW IT LOOKS AS IF THE FAN IS NO LONGER COOLING THE PUMP CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT WHICH COULD START A FIRE. I AM PLANNING TO TRY TO REPLACE THE FAN SOON BUT I AM JUST A BROKE COLLEGE STUDENT SO I REALLY HOPE THIS RECALL GOES THROUGH. *TR

2005 MINI COOPER S. INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF POWER STEERING UNDER VARIED DRIVING CONDITIONS. ALTHOUGH NHTSA HAS OPENED INVESTIGATION, BMW HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL YET. LOCAL MINI SERVICE DEPARTMENT WILL CHANGE THE ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR AT ABOUT $1000, BUT IS UNAWARE OF THE REASON FOR THE FAILURES. *TR

THE POWER STEERING FAILED DURING A LEFT TURN, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HEAD STRAIGHT INTO OPPOSING TRAFFIC WAITING AT THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL OPPOSITE ME. I MANAGED TO PULL THE WHEEL HARD ENOUGH TO GET IT TO THE CURB. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT WAS FINE. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN MONTHS LATER ON A CANYON ROAD AND FINALLY ON A 2 HOUR ROAD TRIP WHERE I WAS FREEWAY DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN I FELT THE WHEEL TIGHTEN. AS I WAS ON STRAIGHTAWAY, IT WASN'T OBVIOUS UNTIL I HAD TO EXIT. AGAIN, I PULLED OVER, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED WITH NO PROBLEM. I BROUGHT IT IN ON 11/30/2010 AND HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED. NOW I HAVE TO GO IN BECAUSE THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL CURRENT COMING THROUGH MY STEERING WHEEL. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL THAT ARE NOT LIFE THREATENING...

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

2005 MINI COOPER S INTERMITTENTLY LOSES POWER STEERING, THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING AND RENDERS THE VEHICLE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS ON AN ELEVATED EXIT RAMP AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO STRIKE THE SAFETY WALL. AFTER A DRASTIC SLOW DOWN I WAS ABLE TO STRONG ARM THE VEHICLE BACK ON COURSE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE - MOST DANGEROUS WHEN IT CUTS OUT AND THE RANDOMLY COMES BACK ON CAUSING SEVERE OVER-STEERING. *LN

DROVE CAR TO WORK - SOMEONE CAME IN A FEW MINUTES AFTER I ARRIVED AT WORK AND TOLD ME MY CAR WAS SMOKING. WENT OUT AND LOOKED BUT SMOKE HAD STOPPED BY TIME GOT BONNET OPEN. CAME FROM FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN STARTED CAR TO LEAVE WORK - HAD WARNING LIGHT AND POWER STEERING WOULD NOT WORK. MINI MANUAL SAID TO STOP IMMEDIATELY. HAD CAR TOWED TO LOCAL GERMAN REPAIR SHOP AND THE SAID POWER STEERING MOTOR HAD BURNED UP AND MELTED ALL THE ADJACENT WIRING. HAD TO REPLACE MOTOR AND WIRING. *LN

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.

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.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER AND TOOK A SWEEPING RIGHT TURN ONTO A FREEWAY ON RAMP. DURING THE TURN THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AND IT TOOK AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF FORCE ON THE WHEEL FOR ME TO AVOID HITTING THE SIDE OF THE OVERPASS AS THE CAR WANTED TO CONTINUE GOING STRAIGHT.. IT PROCEEDED TO CUT OUT AGAIN AS I TRIED TO GET IT HOME. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL IT AND PARK IT. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF THE PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN AND DRAINED THE BATTERY OVERNIGHT. THE CAR WOULD NOT START IN THE MORNING. *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

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

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...

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.

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 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...

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 OWN A 2005 MINI COOPER S 2 DOOR HARD TOP WITH CURRENTLY 90,000 MILES. JUST RECENTLY A SEMI LOUD WHIRRING SOUND STARTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AS SOON AS THE ENGINE IS STARTED. IMMEDIATELY I CAN NOTICE THAT THE PITCH OF THE NOISE SUBTLY CHANGES WHEN YOU GO TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. I HAD A CERTIFIED MECHANIC LOOK AT THE CAR AND HE CONFIRMED TO ME THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS FAILING. WHEN I AM DRIVING THE MINI COOPER THE STEERING WILL INTERMITTENTLY BEGIN TO GET A LITTLE HARDER TO STEER. THE PUMP IS ON THE WAY TO COMPLETE FAILURE AND HARD STEERING WILL END UP BEING THE RESULT. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE VIA THE WEB AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THE FAILING POWER STEERING UNIT IN MINI COOPERS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH BMW BUT I HAVE YET TO FIND ANY...

1 NORMAL DRIVING ALL THE SUDDEN STEERING WHEEL GOT HARD TO MOVE , THEN IT LOOSENED UP AND THEN CAUSED OVERSTEER 2 POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE PUT CAR INTO DITCH DAMAGED 2 TIRES/RIMS 3 REPLACED THE FAN UNIT ONCE THEN THE ENTIRE PUMP THE SECOND TIME IT IS CURRENTLY OUT FOR THE THIRD TIME. *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...

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER S BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING ON 8-9-2010. WHILE GOING LEFT ON A MIXMASTER, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HIT THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE AND PERHAPS DRIVE OFF OF THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE. THE PASSENGER IN MY CAR HELPED ME STEER (WITH FORCE) TO THE LEFT AND DRIVE TO THE STRAIGHTAWAY. THE POWER STEERING IS INTERMITTENT, WORKING FIVE PERCENT OF THE TIME. MY CAR WAS SERVICED IN JUNE OF 2010 DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE TENSION BELT, WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO HAVE A BURNING SMELL AND NO AIR CONDITIONING. THE "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHT IS ON TEN PERCENT OF THE TIME AND THE "CHECK TIRE PRESSURE" LIGHT IS ON OFTEN, THOUGH I NO LONGER HAVE RUN-FLAT TIRES. MY CAR IS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE DUE TO THE LACK OF POWER STEERING. AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST...

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

ON SEPTEMBER 12TH I WAS MAKING MY COMMUTE HOME FROM WORK IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER S. UPON MY RETURN HOME, MY BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT WENT ON. I PARKED AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AND THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I WENT TO RUN ERRANDS THE POWER STEERING WAS NON-EXISTENT. I HAD HE CAR TOWED TO THE BMW/MINI DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY GAVE ME A DIAGNOSIS OF A FAILING POWER STEERING PUMP AND A BAD ALTERNATOR. *TR UPDATED 09/08/11 *BF

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

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

MY 2005 MINI COOPER S HAS HAD THE POWER STEERING GO OUT SEVERAL TIMES. THIS HAPPENS WITH NO WARNING AND HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. AS I WAS CHANGING LANES ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL AND ALMOST WENT INTO A CONCRETE WALL. IT ALSO WENT OUT WHILE ON A TRIP IN THE MOUNTAINS, I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT GOING OFF THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN ROAD. THIS POWER STEERING PUMP ALSO HAS STAYED RUNNING AND KILLED MY BATTERY LEAVING ME TO FIND A JUMP. THE ISSUE IS THAT IT TURNS OFF AND ON AT RANDOM TIMES AND WITH NO WARNING. *TR

MY POWER STEERING IS GOING OUT. UPON MY OWN INVESTIGATION I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. SHOULD SUCH A VITAL PIECE TO HAVING CONTROL OF THE CAR BE A PROBLEM? NO. COST OF REPAIR IS $1,070 AS QUOTED FROM MY DEALER. *TR

ON SEPT. 19, 2010, MY 2005 MINI COOPER S HAD BEEN PARKED IN A GARAGE FOR ABOUT 10 HOURS. WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE, I FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL AND I HAD TO REALLY MUSCLE IT TO DRIVE IT. I'D NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT BEFORE. BECAUSE I HAD TO GET TO WHERE I WAS GOING, I DROVE IT VERY CAREFULLY. AFTER ABOUT FORTY MINUTES, I STOPPED AT A SERVICE AREA TO USE THE RESTROOM. WHEN I CAME BACK OUT AND STARTED MY CAR UP, THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. SINCE THEN, I'VE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH IT. I HAD PLANNED ON MENTIONING THIS TO MY MECHANIC WHEN I GO IN TO HAVE MY BRAKES DONE IN THE NEXT WEEK. BUT THEN MY HUSBAND FORWARDED ME A NEWS STORY ABOUT THE POWER STEERING ISSUE AND I FIGURED THAT I SHOULD REPORT MINE....

2005 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE SUDDENLY DISAPPEARING FROM TIME TO TIME, AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. SO FAR I AVOIDED ACCIDENT BUT THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS. I HEARD IT HAPPENS TO A LOT OF MINIS, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL ISSUED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND AT OTHER SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAN BECAME INOPERABLE AND POWER STEERING FUNCTIONALITY WAS LOST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE POWER STEERING FAN WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

DEAR SIR/MADAM, TODAY (9/29/2010) I SAW A NEWS ITEM, "(CNNMONEY.COM) -- THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION HAS OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO POSSIBLE POWER STEERING FAILURES IN MINI COOPER CARS" AND FELT COMPELLED TO ADD TO THE EXISTING COMPLAINS REGARDING THE DANGEROUSLY DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING ELECTROHYDRAULIC PUMP IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY, AVERAGE SPEED OF 25 TO 35 MPH, THE POWER ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY THE POWER STEERING WENT DOWN TO ZERO, TOTALLY UNASSISTED, WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS WARNING WHATSOEVER, MAKING THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE, WHILE GOING AROUND A ROUNDABOUT (TRAFFIC CIRCLE) AT NO MORE THAN 25 MPH. CONSEQUENTIALLY I WAS UNABLE TO STEER FIRST RIGHT AND THE LEFT AROUND THE CIRCLE, MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL STRIKING THE RIGHT SIDE CURB AT THE POINT THAT I NEEDED TO TURN LEFT, DAMAGING BOTH THE WHEEL AND THE TIRE, AND POSSIBLY THE...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING POWER. HE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED; AFTER THE RESTART, THE STEERING CAPABILITIES RETURNED. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND BECAME WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

2005 MINI COOPER INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING STARTED AT 55,000 MILES. DURING RIGHT HAND TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 30MI/HR HAD NEAR HEAD ON COLLISION WITH THE CAR IN THE LEFT HAND LANE DO TO THE UNEXPECTED POWER STEERING OUTAGE. REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY (5,000 MILES OVER) COST ESTIMATE AT $1,200. CAR IS SAFER WITHOUT POWER STEERING. PREDICTABLE, BUT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY OVER SNOQUALMIE PASS. SINCE IT IS A WINDY ROAD, STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. *TR

2005 MINI COOPER S (BMW) POWER STEERING UNIT FAILURE - VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. *TR

I NOTICED A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AREA. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED. *TR

I STARTED MY CAR AFTER IT HAD BEEN SITTING PARKED FOR A FEW DAYS, TO FIND THAT MY POWER STEERING HAD COMPLETELY FAILED. THE CAR WAS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE - BUT I HAD TO MOVE IT TO AVOID IT BEING TOWED. WHILE ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, THIS UNPREDICTABLE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC HAD I BEEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, OR IN A DENSELY POPULATED AREA REQUIRING QUICK STEERING REACTIONS. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ENDEMIC PROBLEM. SEE THIS THREAD ON THE MINI NORTH AMERICAN MOTORING DISCUSSION PAGES: HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/STOCK-PROBLEMS-ISSUES/74213-THE-GREAT-POWER-STEERING-PUMP-FAILURE-PROBLEMS-THREAD-22.HTML. *TR

POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY TURNED ON AND OFF DURING THE NORMAL OPERATION OF THE CAR THREE TIMES SINCE PURCHASE TEN MONTHS AGO. THE ACTUAL FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP OCCURRED ON 8/16/2010 WHEN THE RELAY WITHIN THE UNIT FAILED AND WOULD NOT TURN THE PUMP OFF EVEN WHEN THE CARS ENGINE WAS OFF. THE RESULT WAS A DRAINED BATTERY AND THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO BE JUMP STARTED BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING PUMP TURNED ON AND CONTINUED TO DRAIN POWER AS SOON AS IT WAS CONNECTED TO POWER EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN WHEN THE PUMP SHUTS DOWN AND ALL THREE OCCURRENCES WERE WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH. ALSO WHEN THE CAR IS OFF THE COOLING FAN IS ALSO OFF AND THE PUMP HEATS UP...

PULLED INTO A BOOKSTORE CAME BACK 30MIN LATER, TRIED TO PULL OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. MY WIFE ISN'T QUITE STRONG ENOUGH - SO I HAD TO DRIVE IT THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. VERY SUDDEN AND WITHOUT WARNING, COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. *TR

THERE WERE NO "EVENTS" LEADING UP TO THIS. SUDDEN FAILURE OF POWER STEERING PUMP AS I TURNED OFF THE HIGHWAY ONTO A CITY SIDE STREET - NO NOTICE, JUST COMPLETE FAILURE OF COMPONENT. THE FAILURE LEFT THE VEHICLE WITH NO POWER STEERING - ONLY MANUAL "ARM STRONG" STEERING UNTIL REPAIRED. PERSONALLY REPLACED THE PUMP WITH NEW PART - NO SUPPORT FROM DEALER OR MANUFACTURE. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2005 MINI COOPER IN SEPT 09 WITH 61,450 MILES. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE STEERING "CUT OUT" AS I TURNED A CORNER. I TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC WHO COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG & SAID THAT IT MAY JUST BE THAT A SPECK OF DIRT THAT GOT INTO THE SYSTEM. IT HAPPENED A COUPLE MORE TIMES AND I ASSUMED THAT THE "DIRT" WAS WORKING ITS WAY OUT. THEN I HAD A DRAMATIC INCIDENT WHERE NOT ONLY DID THE STEERING SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY CUT OUT, BUT THERE WAS TREMENDOUS "DRAG" ON THE SYSTEM AND IT TOOK ALL MY MIGHT & MAIN TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN I FOUND MYSELF IN THE OPPOSITE LANE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHO EVENTUALLY GOT THE CAR TO FAIL FOR HIM. HE TOLD ME TO GO TO A MINI SERVICE CENTER WHO COULD DEAL...

INTERMITTENT COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. NOW IS NO LONGER WORKING. HAS CAUSED VERY SERIOUS SITUATIONS AND POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. *TR

2005 MINI COOPER S; WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED 60 MPH GOING AROUND A BEND ON THE HIGHWAY COMPLETE FAILURE OF POWER STEERING CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND ALMOST CRASHED INTO MEDIAN. *TR

OWNER PARKED MINI COOPER AT STORE WENT INSIDE. WHILE IN STORE, HEARD OVER INTERCOM THAT HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. SHE WENT OUTSIDE AND SAW FLAMES UNDERNEATH FRONT OF VEHICLE. FIRE WENT OUT BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM WIRING HAD OVERHEATED AND BURNED ONLY - NOTHING ELSE IGNITED. THE DAMAGE WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE PREVIOUS EA ANALYSIS EA07-011 PERTAINING TO 2002-2003 MINI COOPERS. *TR