2003 MINI COOPER Steering Problems

YESTERDAY I WAS DRIVING HOME NORMALLY. WHEN I SLOWED TO TURN INTO THE ALLEY WHERE I PARK MY CAR MY POWER STEERING FAILED. I MISSED SLAMMING INTO THE CORNER OF THE BUILDING BY A COUPLE INCHES AND WAS ABLE TO PARK. I CHECKED THE FLUID LEVEL AND EVEN PUT A LITTLE IN. SINCE THE THEN THE POWER STEERING IS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE, BUT "CATCHES" EVERY NOW AND THEN. THIS MAKES IT EXTREMELY HARD TO DRIVE. AFTER READING OF NUMEROUS OTHERS HAVING THIS ISSUE, I CALLED BMW TODAY. THEY RECORDED MY INFORMATION AND SAID I WOULD BE INFORMED IF THERE WAS A RECALL BY NHTSA, BUT THAT NOTHING WAS BEING DONE AT THIS TIME. *TR

THERE WERE NO WARNINGS OR EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. FORTUNATELY, IN MY CASE THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES RESULTING FROM THE FAILURE. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED AS SHE WAS CLOSE TO HOME. SHE DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH STRENGTH TO MAKE THE TURN WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING SO HAD IT OCCURRED ON HER WAY TO WORK AROUND A CURVE, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A CRASH FOR SURE. A COUPLE OF TURNS SHE NEEDS TO MAKE HAVE STEEP DROP OFFS AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC THAT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN DEATH. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY DEATHS HAVE BEEN REPORTED DUE TO THIS, BUT I CAN SEE WHERE IT COULD EASILY HAPPEN AND NOT BE PINPOINTED AS THE CAUSE SINCE THE FAILURE WAS IMMEDIATE AND WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING, NOT AFTER BEING STOPPED. *TR

HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 7 YEARS AND IT HAS NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE. I WAS TAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO MY WORK WHEN MY POWER STEERING FAILED WITH NO WARNING. THIS CAUSED ME APPLY THE BRAKES HARD AND TURN THE WHEEL WITH A GOOD AMOUNT OF FORCE TO MAKE THE TURN. IT WAS LUCKY THERE WASN'T ANYTHING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD OR I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM. IT HAPPENED AT THE END OF A 50 MILE DRIVE, NO ISSUES UNTIL THEN. I STOPPED THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT AN HOUR LATER AND I WORKED FINE. I DROVE IT BACK HOME THE NEXT MORNING 50 MILES WITH NO ISSUES. MY MAIN CONCERN IS HAVING HAD THE CAR FOR THIS AMOUNT OF TIME IT CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE, AND MY WORRY NOW IS WHEN WILL IT HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

DRIVING NORMALY POWER STEERING FAILED ON FREEWAY CURVE, HAD TO FIGHT TO GAIN CONTROL. *TR

WHEN I BOUGHT THE MINI BACK IN MARCH THE NIGHT I BROUGHT IT HOME THE STEERING SUDDENLY GOT REALLY STIFF. THEN WENT AWAY FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS WORKING FINE, THEN ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO GOT STIFF AGAIN, WENT AWAY AND NOW IS COMPLETELY OUT. *TR

2003 MINI COOPER. POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY THEN COMPLETELY. STEERING FAILED BUT WOULD RESTART AFTER CAR WAS RESTARTED. STEERING SHUT OFF AND CAME BACK ON SUDDENLY DURING A LONG SWEEPING CURVE CAUSING A NEAR LOSS OF CONTROL. I THINK THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT. REPLACE THE PUMP WITH A REBUILT AT MY OWN EXPENSE SINCE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT USED. SECOND PUMP HAS ALSO FAILED AFTER ABOUT A YEAR. *TR

MY 2003 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT WHILE ROUNDING A CORNER. BARELY GAINED CONTROL IN TIME TO STOP. I WHEN TO THE MINI DEALER AND THE MECHANIC SAID " THIS IS A COMMON FLAW IN MINIS FROM 2002-2005. I SEE IT ALL THE TIME". THEN I FIND OUT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT ON THE DEFECT. SOME CARS HAVE EVEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. CAR ONLY HAS 63K IN IT. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE CAR WAS DRIVING. IT FRIED ONE BATTERY. PLACED SECOND BRAND NEW BATTERY IN TO CONFIRM THE FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMP DEFECT. LEARNED FROM CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT POSTED ONLINE THAT BMW KNEW OF THE DEFECTIVE PROBLEM. BMW CLAIMED THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM IN 2007 TO GET NHSTA TO STOP INVESTIGATION. HOWEVER, I WAS NEVER CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM BY BMW BETWEEN 2003 TO 2010. BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME THEIR INVESTIGATION FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP THEREFORE NO RECALL! THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY PART OF REPAIR AFTER THEY TOLD ME TO TOW MY CAR TO THE DEALER. IF THE CAR FAILED DURING HIGH SPEED ON FREEWAY I WOULD HAVE BEEN HURT. NO WARNING OF WHEN THE POWER STEERING PUMP WILL FAIL SO CONSUMERS WILL HAVE NO WARNING OF THIS PROBLEM UNTIL IT HAPPENS. IF I DID NOT STOP THE...

HI THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY MINI COOPER LOSING POWER STEERING , I HAVE LOST THE POWER STEERING FEW TIMES THIS WEEK AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE BMW NEAR MY AREA THEY TOLD ME ITS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MINI CARS FROM 2001 TO 2005 AS THE PSP ( POWER STEERING PUMP ) ON THE MODELS HAVE A FAULT AND YOU MAY LOSE THE STEERING POWER AT ANY TIME . I ALMOST HAD 2 ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS WEEK AND THEY ARE ASKING MY TO PAY 550 FOR A NEW PUMP . IF THEY HAVE A FAULTY PUMP AND THEY NOW IT CAN RISK LIVES THEY SHOULD RECALL IT OR OFFER TO FIX THIS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED . *TR

MY 2003 MINI COOPER HAS ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE SEVERAL TIMES, REPLACED TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL HARNESS, POWER STEERING PUMP, A/C HOSES AND A/C SERVICE, WHEEL BEARINGS, INJECTION PLUGS ETC....... I STILL CANNOT FIND THE REAL PROBLEM WHY IS CAUSING A SHORT, IT HAS ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE SEVERAL TIMES, THIS CAR HAS BEEN THE MOST DANGEROUS CAR I HAVE EVER OWN, I HAVE NEVER SPEND SO MUCH MONEY ON TRYING TO FIX ANY VEHICLE, RIGHT NOW I'M ABOUT $11,500 IN COSTS OF REPAIRS, THIS IS A CRIME TO THE CONSUMER, I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT IS IN PROGRESS, I HOPE AND PRAY THAT WE GET JUSTICE FROM THE MAKER OF MINI. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE DRIVER WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AND HAD TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL WITH BOTH HANDS. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,651.

DRIVING HOME FROM DROPPING MY CHILDREN OFF FROM SCHOOL AND THE STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. THIS WAS AS I WAS GOING AROUND A CORNER. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND NOT MY TEENAGE SON OR DAUGHTER AS THEY WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE STRENGTH TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE DONE SOME ONLINE RESEARCH ON MINI COOPER FORUMS AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO FAILURE OF A ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING PUMP. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER MINI OF MURRAY UTAH TO SEE IF THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL IN FORCE AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NONE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOW MINI COOPER ISSUE. THE SERVICE REP SAID THAT HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS OWN VEHICLE. THIS A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD HAVE...

ON SEP 5, 2010 AROUND 2:40PM, I PARKED MY 2003 MINI COOPER IN FRONT OF THE LOWE'S STORE IN SAN BRUNO, CA AND WENT INSIDE FOR SHOPPING WITH MY WIFE. AFTER 20 MINUTES LATER WE HEARD A STORE EMPLOYEE CALLED 911 FOR THE SMOKE/FIRE CAME OUT FROM MY CAR. I WENT OUT THE STORE IMMEDIATELY AND SAW THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE ABOUT TO PUT OUT THE SMOKE. THE FIREFIGHTERS OPENED THE HOOD AND HEARD THE NOISE UNDER THE CAR. NEXT, THEY DISCONNECTED THE CAR BATTERY AND THE NOISE WAS GONE. THE MINI COOPER WAS TOWED TO THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS. HERE IS THE DIAGNOSTICS RESULT: "INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND THE POWER STEERING INOPERATIVE. INSPECTED POWER STEERING PUMP AND WIRING. FOUND WIRING MELTED AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. FOUND OVER CURRENT DAMAGE DUE TO POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE CAUSING BATTERY LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP,...

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE THAT ENDED UP IN FIRE. POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE BATTERY ICON LIGHT WENT ON, AFTERWARDS IT BEGAN TO SMELL LIKE BURNT, I STOPPED THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AND OPEN THE BONNET, EVERYTHING WAS COVERED ON AN ASHES LAYER. THE PUMP WIRES AND CONNECTIONS WERE ALL MELTED ALONG THE PUMP. *TR

2003 MINI COOPER HAD POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE BEING DRIVEN. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 MINI COPPER. I AM EXPERIENCING THE POWER STEERING SHUTTING OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES USUALLY WHEN STARTING OR STOPPING THE CAR. AND DURING HOT WEATHER IN THE SUMMER. I ALSO HAD THE POWER STEERING FAN REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS BAD. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, I NOTICED HOW DIFFICULT IT HAD BECOME TO TURN THE WHEEL OF THE CAR WHEN COMPLETING A TURN. THIS OCCURRED THREE TIMES IN SUCCESSION AT WHICH POINT I WAS ABLE TO PARK THE CAR SAFELY OUT OF TRAFFIC IN A PRIVATE PARKING LOT. AFTER OPENING THE HOOD AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING VISUALLY WRONG, I.E., NOTHING BROKEN, LEAKING, EMPTY, ETC. I CALLED MY HUSBAND WHO CAME TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME. NO WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AT ANY TIME WHEN EITHER OF US DROVE THE CAR. MY HUSBAND DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE WHEEL WHEN DRIVING THE CAR HOME. HOWEVER, MY HUSBAND THEN DROVE THE CAR THE SAME DAY A FEW HOURS LATER AND ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I HAD. IT WAS HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL - THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. THIS DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE WHEEL HAPPENED...

INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING (PS) FAILURE. APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES INTO A DRIVE, POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL (AT ANY SPEED), MAKING CAR EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL; A FRAIL PERSON COULD KILL SOMEONE. TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND ON AGAIN WOULD RESET POWER STEERING ASSIST. HAD TO REPLACE PS PUMP FAN AND PS PUMP (DAMAGED BY OVERHEATING), AT GREAT EXPENSE (>$1100), TO DRIVE SAFELY AGAIN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING A 2003 MINI COOPER VEHICLE STEERING MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. AUTO BARELY MADE IT TO DEALERSHIP. DETERMINED TO BE A FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMP WITH ADJOINING PARTS. VEHICLE HAD 46,594 MILES AND MINI WOULD NOT COVER DEFECT EVEN THOUGH OTHER OWNERS COMPLAINED OF PROBLEM. REPAIR TO ME WAS $979.01 + 6% CONNECTICUT SALES TAX! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY FOR TWO MILES, AND THEN THE FAILURE REOCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

DRIVING 55MPH ON HIGHWAY. CAR STARTS PULLING LEFT AND RIGHT AS IF CAUGHT IN A GROOVE. PULL OFF NEXT EXIT AND NOTICE I HAVE NO POWER STEERING AS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER AS CAR COMES TO A STOP. *TR

WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED I WAS APPROACHING A CORNER FOR A TURN AND WITHOUT WARNING THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. ANOTHER CAR WAS AT THE CORNER AND I ALMOST HIT IT BECAUSE I WASN'T EXPECTING TO HAVE TO MANUALLY FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN THE CAR. THERE IS NO SET TIME OR LENGTH OF DRIVE FOR THE POWER STEERING TO JUST QUIT. NOW EVEN GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD I CAN SOMETIMES FEEL THE STEERING STIFFEN UP SO I WILL MAKE A TURN TO CHECK AND SURE ENOUGH NO POWER STEERING. SOMETIMES WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN THE CAR WILL FEEL LIKE IT JUMPS A LITTLE SIDEWAYS AND I'M NOT SURE IF ITS THE POWER STEERING TRYING TO ENGAGE OR WHAT. I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO REPLACE THE PUMP YET BUT I TRY NOT TO DRIVE IT AS OFTEN TO DECREASE THE CHANCES OF HITTING SOMETHING OR...

LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. *TR

2003 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY QUITS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. IT WILL WORK ON AND OFF. *TR

MY 20 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER HAS A 2003 MINI COOPER WITH APPROXIMATELY 47,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED VERY WELL, INCLUDING OIL CHANGES, A 100 POINT INSPECTION AT 25,000 MILES, COOLANT FLUSH, BRAKE SYSTEM FLUSH, ETC. SHE WAS DRIVING IT HOME FROM WORK ON A COUNTY ROAD. AS SHE ROUNDED A CURVE THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THE FAILURE HAD NEVER OCCURRED BEFORE THIS TIME. SHE COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL, ACCORDING TO HER DESCRIPTION AND NARROWLY MISSED HITTING AN ONCOMING CAR. SHE DROVE IT TO THE NEAREST PARKING LOT AND CALLED ME AT WORK. I LEFT WORK AND EXCHANGED CARS WITH HER. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND THEN THE POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT. I CALLED THE MINI DEALER, WHICH IS ABOUT 50 MILES AWAY AND THEY CLAIMED THE PROBLEM WAS NOT VERY COMMON BUT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THEY...

MINI COOPER POWER STEERING FAILURE. NEED TO MANEUVER VEHICLE TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER AND ON COMING VEHICLE. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED-UP AND DRIVER WAS DISTRACTED. THIS POWER STEERING FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF FAILED POWER STEERING PUMP. THIS FAILURE WAS CORRECTED BY A REPAIR. COSTING 850.00 US DOLLARS. OLD PART IS AVAILABLE

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2003 MINI COOPER STOPS WORKING WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. IT HAPPENS WHEN GOING STRAIGHT ,AS WELL AS MID-TURN. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. I WAS TOLD I MUST REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR

2003 MINI COOPER. POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. IT WORKS, THEN STOPS. . CUTS OUT MOSTLY DURING TURNS. DANGEROUS! TOLD BY MINI DEALER THAT NO RECALL WAS INVOLVED. PARTS AND LABOR WAS OVER $1200.00 TO REPAIR. NEW POWER STEERING PUMP LASTED 2 YEARS BEFORE SAME EXACT PROBLEM OCCURRED. *TW

THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND RELATED PARTS IN MY 2003 MINI COOPER HAD TO BE REPLACED IN 2006 AND AGAIN IN 2009. THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC INCIDENT THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM: THE POWER STEERING JUST STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. 4/26/2006 38,492 MILES POWER STEERING FAN SEIZED - REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY 5/03/2006 38, 709 MILES POWER STEERING PUMP FAULTY -REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY 11/19/2009 89,305 MILES POWER STEERING PUMP, POWER STEERING RACK AND STEERING SHAFT DEFECTIVE - REPAIR PAID FOR BY CAR OWNER. MECHANIC RETURNED DEFECTIVE PARTS TO MINI COOPER. *TR

SPONTANEOUS ENGINE BAY FIRE IN 2003 MINI COOPER WITH 60,000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN NORMALLY TO WORK, TURNED OFF, PARKED, LOCKED AND LEFT. UNATTENDED CAR CAUGHT FIRE SEVERAL MINUTES LATER. SEATTLE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO EMERGENCY CALL, BUT FIRE SELF-EXTINGUISHED WITHIN 10 MINUTES. SOOT COVERED ENGINE BAY AND ACRID SMOKE PERMEATED VEHICLE. INSPECTION REVEALED MELTED CONNECTION BETWEEN WIRING HARNESS AND POWER STEERING PUMP, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF PUMP, COOLING FAN, WIRING AND OTHER PARTS. INTERNET COMMUNITIES OF MINI OWNERS CONTAIN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF SUDDEN ENGINE BAY FIRES IN 2002 AND 2003 MINI COOPERS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL SHORTS LINKED TO FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMPS OR FANS. FREQUENTLY THESE FIRES OCCUR AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SWITCHED OFF. THEY ALWAYS RESULT IN MODERATE VEHICLE DAMAGE AND MAJOR REPAIR COSTS (MINE IS ESTIMATED @ $1,600). OCCASIONALLY THEY RESULT IN TOTAL VEHICLE LOSS AND / OR ADDITIONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE. HAD THIS FIRE OCCURRED IN...

ON AUG. 9, 2008, I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING ON MY 2003 MINI COOPER WAS EXTREMELY TIGHT WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. AS I DROVE IT, IT LOOSENED UP. THE NEXT DAY, AUG. 10, THE SITUATION WORSENED--EVERY TIME THE CAR WAS STOPPED, THEN STARTED, THE STEERING TIGHTENED. THERE WAS NO LOOSENING UP AT ALL. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A LOCAL PEP BOYS TO SEE IF ANYTHING COULD BE DONE. THEY DIAGNOSED A POSSIBLE PSP FAILURE. THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING AS ONLY MINI HAS THE SCHEMATICS FOR THIS REPAIR. I CALLED THE MINI DEALERSHIP IN PEABODY, MA FIRST THING MONDAY AND GOT AN APPT. FOR TODAY, AUG. 14. SINCE I HAVE NO OTHER VEHICLE, I HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR WHEN NECESSARY. SOMETIMES THE STEERING WAS FINE. OTHER TIMES, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FAULTY PSP TODAY. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED A COMPLETE FAILURE. I'VE OWNED SEVERAL...

THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY MINI COOPER CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING PUMP STOPPED WORKING ALL OF A SUDDEN. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN IT WENT OUT, AND I FREAKED OUT. I COULD HARDLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND STARTED IT BACK UP, AND IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED FOR ABOUT A WEEK WHERE IT WOULD KICK ON EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, AND THEN IT WENT OUT FOR GOOD. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED FOR AROUND $1000 TO GET IT REPAIRED. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AROUND WITH THIS ISSUE FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW. THE ONLY GOOD THING, IS THAT IT HAS GREATLY STRENGTHENED MY ARM MUSCLES... *TR

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED IN MARCH 2008. LUCKILY IN MASSACHUSETTS THEY HAVE A LAW REQUIRING WARRANTIES FOR ALL USED CARS FOR X NUMBER OF MILES/MONTHS DEPENDING ON MILEAGE AT TIME OF SALE AND ALL THAT. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE MUFFLER RE-WELDED INTO PLACE WHERE ITS MOUNTS FAILED. THE ONLY REASON IT DIDN'T FALL OFF IS BECAUSE MINI INCLUDED A SAFETY "CATCH" BAR FOR WHEN/IF THIS HAPPENS. BUT MY BIG PROBLEM NOW IS THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS GONE OUT; IT HAPPENED VERY SUDDENLY. THE REPAIR COULD BE DONE OUTSIDE OF THE DEALERSHIP BUT I'M AFRAID TO TAKE A GERMAN MADE MACHINE OF THIS QUALITY TO A CHOP-SHOP AND HOPE THEY CAN GET IT DONE. I CALLED A VW DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY SAID THEY WERE UNSURE THEY KNEW HOW TO DO THE REPAIR. *SHIVER* MINI IN BOSTON WANTS $900-1000.00 TO DO THE REPAIR AS...

1. THE MALFUNCTION HAPPENS SPONTANEOUSLY 2. THE POWER STEERING PUMP MALFUNCTIONS AND CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE STIFF PLACING ME OR ANYONE ELSE DRIVING/ON THE ROAD IN DANGER DUE TO THE RELUCTANCE OF THE WHEEL TO TURN. 3. THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED NO MONETARY SUPPORT BUT INSTEAD TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO ABOUT IT BUT TO REPLACE IT AND ATTEMPTED TO CHARGE ME $1000 DOLLARS IN CASH. INSTEAD I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS CHARGED $700. A RIDICULOUS PRICE TO PAY FOR MY SAFETY. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHEN THE CONTACT WOULD TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, SHE COULD STILL HEAR THE MOTOR FAN RUNNING. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. ALSO, ALL OF THE WINDOWS ON HER VEHICLE WOULD SPONTANEOUSLY OPEN. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN DEACTIVATED THE CONVENIENCE POWER SYSTEM FOR THE POWER WINDOWS. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

OVERHEATING OF POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR

MY CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 65K MILES ON IT. AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING ON THE HIGHWAY, GOING APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH, MY POWER STEERING FAILED. MY RESERVOIR IS FULL, AND I HAVE YET TO FIND A GARAGE WHO IS WILLING AND/OR ABLE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM (HAVING ALREADY STOPPED AT 3 TODAY). *TR

PARKED MY 2003 MINI COOPER ON THE STREET. SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE. POPPED THE HOOD AND SAW THE SMOKING CONTINUOUSLY EMANATING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP IN PRINCETON. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED; THAT IT LEAKED AND MELTED THE ENGINE HARNESS AND POWER SUPPLY CABLE AND POWER STEERING FAN CONNECTORS. ALSO, THE MAIN COOLANT FAN WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY; AND THERE WAS ANOTHER LEAK IN MY VALVE COVER GASKET. I HAVE READ MANY INSTANCES WHERE FIRES HAVE BEEN STARTED FOR THE SAME REASON, AND AM LUCKY THAT DID NOT HAPPEN TO ME. HOWEVER, THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR TOTALED OVER $3400. I HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED; ALONG WITH THE ENGINE HARNESS, POWER SUPPLY CABLE, POWER STEERING FAN AND MAIN COOLING FAN. IF THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH MANY MINI COOPERS ESPECIALLY 03...