2003 MINI COOPER Steering Problems

ON THE MORNING OF SUNDAY MAY 13TH 2012 (MOTHERS DAY), I DROVE THE VEHICLE APPROX 11 MILES TO MY MOTHER-IN-LAW'S HOME. DURING THIS 11 MILE RIDE ALL SEEMED NORMAL WITH THE VEHICLE. AFTER VISITING FOR A FEW HOURS I DROVE IT APPROX 5 MORE MILES TO A STOP & SHOP, AGAIN ALL SEEMED FINE WITH THE VEHICLE. WITHIN THE 10-15MINUTES I WAS INSIDE PURCHASING MOTHERS DAY FLOWERS, STOP AND SHOP EMPLOYEES HAD NOTICED A FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. I WALKED INTO THE PARKING LOT TO FIND THE POLICE AND FIRE FIGHTERS APPROACHING MY CAR. WHEN I GOT TO IT THERE WAS NO MORE FIRE BUT STILL PLENTY OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL. I TOOK A LOOK UNDER THE CAR TO SEE THAT THERE WAS NO MORE FIRE, SO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT LEFT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO START THE CAR SO I...

MY POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING ON A WINDY BACK ROAD, ALMOST DIDN'T MAKE THE TURN, AND SINCE IT HAS FAILED COMPLETELY. WHEN I CALLED THE LOCAL MINI DEALERSHIP (MINI OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CT) LAST WEEK TO FINALLY GET THE PART REPLACED (QUOTED $1700 AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS) THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON REPLIED WITH, "HOW DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL?" OVERJOYED I DROVE MY MINI IN THIS MORNING AT 7AM ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THERE IS NO OFFICIAL RECALL AND I AM STILL ON THE HOOK FOR THE $1700. NOT PLEASED. CALLING MINI TODAY. *TR

DROVE 2003 MINI TO WORK 11.5 MILES. AS I WAS MAKING A TURN INTO THE PARKING GARAGE THE STEERING WENT OUT AND BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR PREVIOUS INDICATION THAT THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CHATTERING NOISE AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE WAS A MECHANIC. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND COOLING FAN WOULD HAVE TO ALSO BE REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

POWER STEERING FAILED. CAR IS RACK AND PINION STEERING AND CAN BE DRIVEN WITHOUT THE PUMP BUT HAD I BEEN GOING AROUND A CURVE WHEN IT FAILED, THE INCREASED WHEEL EFFORT REQUIRED COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT! *TR

POWER STEERING OCCASIONALLY FAILS DURING LOW SPEED TURNS, E.G. U-TURN OR DRIVING IN PARKING LOTS. *TR

WHILE I WAS DRIVING MINI 2003 (ODO: 74K) ON I-90 HIGHWAY AT 70MPH, SUDDENLY THE POWER STEERING WHEEL STOPPED WORKING ON JUNE 28, 2012. I BARELY MADE TO EXIT FROM THE HIGHWAY, AND GOT HOME. NEXT DAY, THE CAR WAS SENT TO THE BMW-MINI DEALERSHIP, AND ASSESSED THE FAILURE OF POWER STEERING PUMP. THEY KNOW THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WITH MINI, BUT IT WAS NOT COVERED BY MANUFACTURERS. THE ONLY OPTION WAS TO REPLACE THE PART. THE PART WAS REPLACED AND THE COST WAS $1,200. *TR

ON 6/12/12 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TOWARDS MY SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD AT SPEED OF 10-15 MILES AN HOUR. FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE STEERING WHEEL FELT AS IF IT WAS LOCKED IN PLACE. WITH ALL MY FORCE I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FAILED. THERE WAS NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON OR ANY WARNINGS WHAT SO EVER, THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. IF I WERE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS OF 70 MILES AN HOUR ON THE FREEWAY I COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY BEEN HURT.THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH THE POWER STEERING OF MY 2003 MINI COOPER ERRATICALLY ENGAGED AND DISENGAGED SEVERAL TIMES. I RESPONDED BY SLOWING DOWN AND TRYING TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ONCE STOPPED, I TURNED THE CAR OFF COMPLETELY. ONCE OUT OF THE VEHICLE I HEARD AN ELECTRIC MOTOR RUNNING. I OPENED THE HOOD TO INVESTIGATE AND NOTED A SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKE RISING FROM THE AFT PORTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WENT BACK TO THE IGNITION SWITCH TO CONFIRM IT WAS OFF AND REMOVED THE KEYS. THE ELECTRIC MOTOR CONTINUED TO RUN AND AS I WENT BACK TO THE OPEN HOOD THE SMOKE VOLUME HAD INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. THE SMOKE HAD A VERY CLEAR ELECTRICAL SMELL AND COLOR. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TRYING TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. WHILE OBTAINING TOOLS FROM THE HATCH OF THE CAR, THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP ASSEMBLY ERUPTED IN FLAMES. I OBTAINED MY FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY REGAINED POWER STEERING. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND STOOPED WORKING AS I WAS DRIVING THROUGH BOSTON. NOW, THE POWER STEERING PUMP STAYS ON EVEN WHEN THE KEY IS TAKEN OUT OF THE IGNITION. *JS

POWER ASSIST FOR STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY. SUBSEQUENT BRIEF (< 1 MINUTE) FUNCTION AFTER RESTARTING ENGINE ALSO ENDS UP IN FAILURE. BEHAVIOR IS CONSISTENT WITH FAILURE THAT CAUSED CANADA TO ISSUE RECALL FOR SAME MODEL VEHICLE FOR SAME ISSUE (TRANSPORT CANADA RECALL # 2003055). *TR

VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. I HAD THE POWER STEERING ASSIST COOLING FAN REPLACED TWICE AND THE RELAY SWITCH FOR THE COOLING FAN. IT WORKED FINE FOR A TIME. NOW (10,000 MILES LATER) IS INTERMITTENT. *TR

THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. IT COMES FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE AND ALSO MADE THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY GO BAD. IT BECAMES VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. *JS

MY 2003 MINI COOPER (R50), WITH MANUAL SHIFT AND 83,567 MILES, WAS PARKED ON A CITY STREET WHEN A PASSERBY NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE AREA. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE TIME FROM THE CAR BEING PARKED UNTIL THE FLAMES WERE EXTINGUISHED IS ESTIMATED AT 10 TO 20 MINUTES. THE CAR WAS TOWED THE FOLLOWING MORNING TO A MINI DEALER SERVICE CENTER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE AUXILIARY POWER STEERING COOLING FAN HAD FAILED. THE OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE ESTIMATED TO NEED REPLACEMENT ARE THE POWER STEERING PUMP, ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, AUXILIARY WIRING HARNESS, POWER STEERING PUMP RESERVOIR HOSE AND POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE. AT THE TIME I WAS ON A TRIP OUT-OF-TOWN 600 MILES AWAY FROM HOME AND THE CAR IS STILL AT THE OUT-OF-TOWN DEALER. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT NO SIGNS OF ANYTHING SUSPECT WITH THE...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED WITH EXTREME FORCE AS SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE INITIATED IN THE STEERING PUMP COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

WENT DOWN A DIRT RODE TO MEET A CLIENT. POWERSTEERING WAS WORKING. MET WITH CLIENT, GOT BACK IN THE CAR, AND THE POWERSTEERING WAS NO LONGER WORKING. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THIS CAR WHEN THERE IS NO POWERSTEERING. *TR

THE STEERING PUMP FAILED ON THE FREEWAY. *JS

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH WAY SPEED CAR LOST STEERING ASSIST, INTERMITTENTLY CAME BAD THEN FAILED, I THEN SLOWED DOWN STEERING DID NOT CAME BACK, ONCE STOPPED LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD THE SMELL OF ELECTRICAL BURNING, EVEN WITH KEY OFF I COULD HEAR ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP STILL TRYING TO RUN, THE FIRE WAS FROM THE HEAVY BATTERY FEED WIRES INTO THE POWER STEERING PUMP THE COMPOSITE END OF PUMP MELTED, ONCE I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY THE SOURCE OF FIRE WAS REMOVED, I HAVE SPENT THE LAST 4 YEARS WORKING IN A GM DEALER SHIP, MASTER ASE TECH, I FEEL IF I WAS A TYPICAL CONSUMER AND HAD NOT KNOWN TO PULL BATTERY POWER THE OUT COME COULD HAD BEEN WORSE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COPPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED THE WIRING HARNESS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,600.

WHILE DRIVING THE 2003 MINI, THE POWER STEERING FAILED MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. SINCE THE ORIGINAL INCIDENT, THE POWER STEERING WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. RESEARCH SHOWS THE LIKELY REASON FOR THE PROBLEM IS A POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. I AM ORDERING A NEW PUMP TO REPLACE THE FAILED PUMP. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH MINI FOR THIS YEAR MODEL. MINI SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR INCLUDING LABOR AS THE PUMP APPEARS TO HAVE HAD ISSUES SINCE 2002. *TR

MY POWER STEERING FIRST FAILED AS I WENT INTO A TURN ON A HIGHWAY. IT SUDDENLY BECAME VERY HARD TO CONTROL THE CAR, BUT LUCKILY IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN IN TIME FOR ME TO COMPLETE THE TURN AND NOT CRASH. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC, WHO SAID IT COULD BE THE POWER STEERING, BUT TO WAIT AND SEE IF IT DOES IT AGAIN, AS THIS IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. THEN, TWO WEEKS LATER, THE POWER STEERING FAILED PERMANENTLY AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN AFTER WAITING AT A STOPLIGHT. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE WHEELS TO TURN AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT, BUT NOW I WILL HAVE A COSTLY REPAIR BILL. I AM FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT INJURED IN THESE INCIDENTS BECAUSE I VERY EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY. *KB

THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING WHILE DRIVING. RESTARTING VEHICLE WOULD CORRECT PROBLEM ,DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT IS RE-OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY . DEALERSHIP PRESENTLY REPLACING FAULTY PUMP OUT OF WARRANTY . YOUTHFULL - INEXPERIENCED DRIVER WARNING TO ALL!!! *KB

I WAS DRIVING THE MINI COOPER ON A BUSY ROAD WHEN THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. WE WERE LUCKY NOT TO HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT OR HIT A PEDESTRIAN. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE DESIGN. THE VEHICLE SHOULD NEVER BE THAT HARD TO CONTROL EVEN WHEN THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THESE PARTS SHOULD BE RECALLED. I WOULD NOT ALLOW ANY OF MY FAMILY TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THERE IS A CHANGE IN DESIGN TO THE PART. SIMPLY REPLACING THE POWER STEERING PUMP WITH A NEW OR REFURBISHED PART WITH A SIMILAR DESIGN WILL NOT MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE. POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING,CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME UNRESPONSIVE TO NORMAL STEERING WHEEL OPERATION, RESULTING IN DRIVER HAVING TO TAKE UNEXPECTED AND SUDDEN STEERING CORRECTION TO AVOID RUNNING OFF THE ROAD OR COLLIDING WITH AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. *TR

2003 MINI COOPER, POWER STEERING PUMP JUST QUIT MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TOO DRIVE. WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON THING WITH THE MINI COOPER AND AFTER CHECKING ON LINE I SEE THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM! I THINK BMW NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND TAKE CARE OF THIS!!! AFTER ALL 800 DOLLARS FOR A NEW ONE IS A BIT MUCH!!! *KB

ON THE DATE OF INCIDENT I PARKED MY CAR IN A WELLS FARGO BANK PARKING LOT AFTER GOING TO THE GYM. UPON RETURNING TO MY CAR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD PARKED NEXT TO ME INFORMED ME THAT "YOUR CAR IS SMOKING" I LOOKED AND WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD TO INSPECT IT AND SAW WHITE SMOKE WHICH SMELLED ELECTRICAL. THE INDIVIDUAL WHO NOTICED SMOKE CAME OUT OF HER SUV TO HELP. SHE AND I LOOKED AND SHE INFORMED ME THAT SHE SAW A SMALL FLAME COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE. I SAW IT AND EXTINGUISHED IT WITH A BOTTLE OF WATER I HAD. I THEN HEARD AN ELECTRICAL SPINNING/HUMMING AS IF SOMETHING WAS STILL ELECTRICALLY CHARGED. THE SMOKE THEN BEGAN TO INTENSIFY AND GOT SO OUT OF CONTROL I WAS TEMPTED TO CALL 911 BUT THEN I THOUGHT TO DISCONNECT ANY POWER TO...

THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND PROCEEDED TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WITH NO WARNING, SOMETIMES AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED AND IN TURNS. THE POWER STEERING PUMP QUIT FOR GOOD APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER. I COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED - OR WORSE, HURT SOMEONE ELSE. THE MINI COOPER IS VERY HARD TO STEER WITHOUT POWER STEERING. I'M A STRONG WOMAN BUT IT TAKES SOME SERIOUS UPPER ARM STRENGTH AND CORE STRENGTH TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE MANUALLY. THE MOST DISTURBING PART IS THE LACK OF WARNING. THERE IS NO CLUE THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO LOSE POWER. THESE PARTS ARE PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE AND THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF MECHANICS WILLING TO WORK ON THESE CARS IN OUR AREA. I DON'T KNOW IF THE POWER STEERING FAN WAS AFFECTED, AS WELL, BUT I SUSPECT IT BROKE SOMEWHERE IN THAT TIME, TOO. I KNOW THERE ARE...

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED BACK IN JUNE 27, 2007. I PARKED MY CAR AND THEN NOTICED THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. OPENED THE BONNET AND THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE FIRST ATTEMPT AT USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TEMPORARILY PUT OUT THE FIRE, BUT IT RE-IGNITED AND AT THIS POINT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT IT OUT SAFELY. THE BMW DEALER KEPT SAYING THERE WAS NEVER A FIRE, JUST SMOLDERING. THE "SMOLDERING" WAS THE CAUSE OF A STEERING PUMP FAILURE WHICH OVERHEATS, WHICH IN TURN DAMAGED THE LOOM (HARNESS, OR MAIN WIRING FOR THE VEHICLE), WHICH ALSO RUINED THE BATTERY. THE COST WAS OVER $1000 TO REPAIR THE "SMOLDERING" DAMAGES. PRIOR TO THE STEERING PUMP FAILURE, THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THERE WERE STEERING PROBLEMS, NOR ANY POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. CAR MILEAGE WAS AT 65,525 AT THE TIME OF THE...

THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED TURNING RIGHT INTO PARKING GARAGE POWER STEERING FAILED AND ALMOST CAUSED VEHICLE TO CONTACT ANOTHER CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN THE PAST WEEK THAT THE POWER STEERING HAS RANDOMLY FAILED. TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED CAR AND STEERING STARTS WORKING CORRECTLY AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. HE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY TIGHT INDICATING THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE ANY WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

WE PURCHASED A 2003 MINI COOPER JUST WEEKS AGO FROM A PRIVATE PARTY. ALMOST INSTANTLY THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING. LUCKILY SHE WASN'T IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE LA FREEWAY. WE WERE TOLD BY THE SERVICE CENTER THAT WE NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. WE PURCHASED THIS AND HAD IT INSTALLED FOR APPROX.$1200.00. HOWEVER THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP FAN STILL WOULD NOT SHUT OFF WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, SO THIS ISSUE WAS STILL NOT RESOLVED. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS REPAIR MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED AND SLOWED TO A STOP. LUCKILY MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE AND COULD PULL OVER ON TO THE SIDE OF THE BUSY FREEWAY.(STILL NO POWER STEERING WORKING)THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE MINI DEALER. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED,...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COPPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, A SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CONTINUED IN OPERATION BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SHOULDER AREA ON THE ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ENGAGED FORCEFULLY IN ODER TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETECTED A FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS A CLOSED INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA07011 (STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: PUMP) WHICH THE CONTACT BELIEVED TO BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,450.

WHILE CRUISING 60MPH I WAS APPROACHING THE CURVED RAMP FROM I-26 TO THE COOPER RIVER BRIDGE IN CHARLESTON SC. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I HAD TO "MAN HANDLE" THE STEERING WHEEL TO ENTER THE LEFT CURVE. PART WAY THRU THE CURVE, THE POWER STEERING STARTED AGAIN AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN A SEVERE TURN TO THE LEFT. JUST ABOUT LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY SWERVED TO AVOID ME. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. STOPPED AT THE MINI DEALER IN CHARLESTON, SERVICE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO HELP. SPOKE WITH THE PARTS GUY AND WAS TOLD IT IS A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE MINI, THEY HAVE THEM IN STOCK AND MAY USUALLY GET ANOTHER DELIVERY EVERYDAY. I WOULD HOPE THAT THE MANUFACTURE STEP TO THE PLATE AND REMEDY THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION. *TR

I OWN A 2003 MINI COOPER AUTOMATIC AND I'VE ALREADY HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE COOLING FAN REPLACED TWICE, AND NOW, ONLY A YEAR LATER AFTER MY 2ND REPLACEMENT AND A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS LATER, IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR A THIRD TIME. THE CARE ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS COSTLY AND A SAFETY ISSUE FOR DRIVERS. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CAR BY MINI OR BMW. *TR

AFTER CAR WAS SITTING FOR 4 HOURS THE POWER STEERING DID NOT WORK; I MUSCLED THE CAR HOME AND WHEN I STARTED IT TO TAKE TO MY MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY IT WAS WORKING AGAIN; I REVIEWED THIS ON LINE AND DISCOVERED THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS (MINI COOPER, 56,000 MILES, '03. *TR

REPEATED POWER STEERING FAILURE. HAVE REPLACED PUMP (AS WELL AS BELTS, FLUIDS, ETC.) NEW PUMP FIXED PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS. NOW IT JUST STOPS WORKING AGAIN! NO COMPUTER CODE SHOWING PROBLEM. MAY WORK FINE ON START THEN JUST GO OUT A ANY POINT. MAY STAY OUT. MAY BE FINE AFTER RESTART. NO POWER STEERING WITHOUT NOTICE IS DANGEROUS! CAR HAS 90K MILES. SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM! THIS HAPPENS REPEATEDLY AT ALL SPEEDS, AT ALL DRIVING TIMES, AT MANY VARYING CIRCUMSTANCES (WET/DRY, HOT/NOT HOT, ENGINE COLD/ENGINE WARM, STRAIGHT ROADS/CURVY ROADS). DATE BELOW IS TODAY'S DATE, BUT THIS BEGAN HAPPENING 2 MONTHS AFTER BOUGHT CAR USED. DEALER HAS MADE NUMEROUS GOOD FAITH EFFORTS TO REPAIR, BUT THE PROBLEM KEEPS RETURNING. IT IS A DEFECT AND A DANGEROUS ONE!!!!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST AND THE WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 49,387. I STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT IN THE RIGHT LANE. I THEN ACCELERATED TO MAKE THE RIGHT TURN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THEN IT BARELY LET ME TURN IT TO DRIVE, AND PULL OVER. THE TOW TRUCK CAME AND TOOK IT TO MINI DEALER. IT COST 2240.00 TO FIX. THEY SAID IT WAS THE STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. UPDATED 10/07/2011 *LN *TR

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON MY 2003 MINI COOPER AT THE BEGINNING OF A 40 MINUTE DRIVE HOME. THE NEXT DAY, ALL WAS FINE AND CONTINUED TO BE SO UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON. BRIEFLY THIS AFTERNOON, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN, BUT RETURNED WHEN THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND TURNED BACK ON. HOWEVER, ONCE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AGAIN, THE FAN IN THE POWER STEERING COLUMN CONTINUED TO RUN FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS. THE CAR STARTED AND DROVE FINE, AND AGAIN UPON RETURNING HOME, THE FAN CONTINUED TO RUN. WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED BACK ON, THE POWER STEERING AGAIN DID NOT WORK, AND NOW THE FAN IS NOT RUNNING. I HAVE READ MESSAGE BOARDS DETAILING ALMOST THE SAME PHENOMENON AND DESCRIBING UPWARDS OF $1000 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THE MINI WAS JUST IN FOR IT'S 100,000 MILE SERVICE THREE WEEKS AGO AT THE COST...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME RESISTANT. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED AS THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY THE DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,512.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 82,500. UPDATED 06/13/11 *BF UPDATED 2/15/2012 *LN *TR

I OWN A 2003 MINI COOPER. I AM EXPERIENCING UNEXPECTED POWER STEERING LOSS THAT IS CURRENTLY A TEMPORARY CONDITION. IT OFTEN OCCURS WHILE EXITING ONTO HWY 10/61 CLOVERLEAF IN WOODBURY, MINNNESOTA. ON A COUPLE OCCASIONS I HAVE NEARLY DRIVEN OFF OF THE ROADWAY DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. IT IS AN EXIT THAT IS TAKEN AT 45-50 MPH AND AN HILL DOWNWARD. WHEN IT OCCURS THE CAR VEERS HARD LEFT AS THE POWER STEERING FAILS. THE STEERING REQUIRES A HEAVY DRIVER INPUT IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED I WAS OFF THE ROADWAY BRIEFLY UNTIL I COULD MUSCLE IT BACK ONTO THE ROADWAY. A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE. I AM SURE IF THIS OCCURRED WITH MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER BEHIND THE WHEEL, AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ISSUE IS, SO I CONDUCTED AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS...

POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN FAILED AT 55,000 MILES. WHILE IT HAPPENED IN MY CASE WHILE I WAS TRYING TO PARK, IT COULD EASILY HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND CREATED A SERIOUS HAZARD.

POWER STEERING FAILED AS CAR WAS MOVING. NO APPARENT REASON FOR FAILURE. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL CAR WITHOUT THE STEERING. I WAS NOT GOING TOO FAST BUT IF IT HAD HAPPENED AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. STEERING REMAINED UNUSUABLE UNTIL CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND COOLED SLIGHTLY. WHEN I STARTED IT, IT WAS FINE. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR OR SO.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COPPER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE ON THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD WHINING NOISE. THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE LAST TIME THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN AND DRAINED THE BATTERY. THE CONTACT HAD TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO START IT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE THEN JERKED VIOLENTLY FOLLOWED BY AN INDEPENDENT RESET OF THE POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT BARELY MISSED CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER NOR WAS THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND HARNESS WAS MELTED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 5/24/11 *CN THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 06/10/11

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WAS STIFF AND IT WAS SOON EVIDENT THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS STARTING TO FAIL. THE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN. AFTER PULLING BACK INTO THE PARKING SPOT, SHUTTING THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING BECAME FUNCTIONAL. AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. POWER STEERING NOW APPEARS TO BE COMPLETELY NON-FUNCTIONING. COINCIDENTALLY, THIS CAR HAS ALREADY HAD A STEERING PUMP REPLACEMENT IN DECEMBER 2004 WITH 23070 MILES ON IT. THE FIRST POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE WAS GRADUAL, BUT ALARMING FOR SUCH A LOW-MILEAGE VEHICLE. THIS MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED WITH LESS THAN 48000 MILES ON THE NEW PUMP AND SUGGESTS A FAULTY PART/DESIGN WHICH HAS...