2004 MINI COOPER Steering Problems

TECHNICALLY THERE WERE 3 INCIDENTS WITH MY 04 MINI COOPER. OUT OF NOWHERE, WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BUSY STREET, THE POWER STEERING JUST STOPPED WORKING. LUCKILY I WAS IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE, AND SLOWED ENOUGH TO VEER TO THE ROADSIDE AND CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, I WAS TOLD THAT IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WITH MINI'S. HOWEVER, I DID NOT ASK THEM TO REPLACE MY PUMP, I WANTED A SECOND OPINION. OUT OF NOWHERE MY CAR STARTED TO DRIVE WITHOUT ANY ISSUE WHATSOEVER. I GOT A SECOND OPINION AND WAS TOLD IN ABOUT A YEAR, IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THEY TOO MENTIONED THIS ISSUE WITH MINI'S. I WAS SHOCKED. WEEKS LATER, I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I BARELY MISSED...

WITH OUT ANY ADVICE, THE STEERING TURNS RIGID AND HARD TO MANIPULATE,I CHECKED THE FLUID AND IT LOOKS FINE AND CLEAN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, I NOTICED IT BECAME MARKEDLY MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. I WAS ABLE, WITH EFFORT, TO DRIVE SAFELY TO MY DESTINATION. WHEN IT WAS TIME TO RETURN HOME, THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING FOR THE FIRST 4 OR SO MILES, THEN IT GAVE OUT AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING AND WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 98,000.

TOOK CAR INTO DEALER AND THEY SAID THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDS TO REPLACED, WHICH WOULD COST $1050.00 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. PRIOR TO TAKING IT INTO DEALER, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHICH CAUSED ME TO USE ALL MY STRENGTH TO GET THE CAR TO STEER. ON FEBRUARY 5, 2012, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, I PARKED THE CAR, AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAN RAN CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL IT DRAINED THE BATTERY. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT MINI COOPER OWNERS ARE TRYING TO GET BMW TO RECALL THIS DEFECT, BUT THEY WILL NOT. I ALSO READ THAT NHTSA CHECKED INTO THIS, BUT I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME WAS. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING AS I WAS DIVING AT A LOW SPEED. STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN, MAKING THE CAR VERY DANGEROUS TO MANEUVER OUT OF TRAFFIC AND PARK SAFELY. NARROWLY AVOIDED HITTING PEDESTRIANS DUE TO MY INABILITY TO TURN STEERING WHEEL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ONLY FUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER .THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED MOMENTARILY BEFORE RESUMING NORMAL OPERATION INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE AT LEAST TWICE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

POWER STEERING FAILED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE/ TURN VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. TYPICALLY THE POWER STEERING COMES BACK AFTER A MINUTE OR TWO BUT DURING THE LATEST INCIDENT IT DID NOT COME BACK ON. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE ON A HIGHWAY. *TR

LENT CAR TO BOYFRIEND TO DRIVE ME TO BOSTON (100 MILE ONE WAY). ON THE WAY HOME HE STOPPED AT A STORE APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES FROM THE HOUSE. WHEN HE CAME BACK OUT OF THE STORE ( WAS IN STORE APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES) THE POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKED. IT WAS LIKE TRYING TO STEER THROUGH CONCRETE FOR HIM. A FEW DAYS LATER HE TRIED THE CAR AND IT ALL WORKED FINE AGAIN. BASED ON PRIOR COMPLAINTS FILED, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE ISSUE WILL REOCCUR WHEN I AM DRIVING CAUSING OBVIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS, OR THAT IT MAY CATCH FIRE (BASED ON OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED FOR SIMILAR ISSUES) AND THAT I WILL BE FACING THE COST OF REPLACING THE POWER STEERING UNIT (WHICH DOES NOT SOUND LIKE IT HAS BEEN REENGINEERED SINCE THIS ISSUE BECAME KNOWN).

POWER STEERING FROZE UP AS WE TURNED A CORNER AND THEN DIED OUT COMPLETELY. IT HAS NEVER RETURNED. VERY CLOSE TO CAUSING A COLLISION BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING CUT OUT CREATING AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. OVER THE NEXT 20,000 MILES THE POWER STEERING WOULD INTERMITTENTLY COME BACK AND GO OUT MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES UNTIL EVENTUALLY FAILING COMPLETELY. *TR

THE CARS POWER STEERING STARTED FAILING FOR A FEW SECONDS WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 20 OR MORE TIMES OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS. THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE BECOMES EXTREMELY HARD. THERE IS NO WARNING THAT THIS WILL OCCUR, SO CLEARLY IT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, THE POWER STEERING HAS STARTED TO FAIL WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED, BUT STARTED WORKING AGAIN IF THE CAR WAS RESTARTED OR AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THIS WEEK, AFTER 3 HOURS OF DRIVING, THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR 15 MINUTES, WHEN THE CAR WAS RESTARTED THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING AT ALL DURING ANOTHER 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THE CARE WAS STOPPED FOR ANOTHER 20 MINUTES AND WHEN RESTARTED POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS FAILURE COULD OCCUR DURING HIGH SPEED MANEUVERING AND COULD RESULT IN...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN STEERING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

STEERING FLUID PUMP WAS JUST REPLACED A FEW WEEKS AGO, PROBLEM HAS RETURNED AND WILL NOT GO AWAY... STEERING WHEEL VERY RIGID HARD TO TURN. VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE TURNS, ALOT OF EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. TRYING TO MAKE A SHARP OR QUICK TURN IF NEEDED, WOULD BE DANGEROUS & ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. I RECENTLY RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OF 04 MINI COOPERS HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR

POWER ASSISTED STEERING WILL CEASE WORKING WHILE DRIVING, MAKING THE CAR VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER/CONTROL. THIS PROBLEM IS CURRENTLY INTERMITTENT, BUT WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN IT IS VERY SCARY. CURRENTLY, I WILL NOT ALLOW MY WIFE OR GRANDCHILDREN IN THE CAR UNTIL I FIX THIS PROBLEM. MINI USA THRU MAIN LINE MINI, BALA CYNWYD, PA STATED NO RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE VIA EMAIL. RESEARCH OF NHTSA ONLINE DATA BASE SHOWS 113 REPORTED COMPLAINTS FOR YEAR 2004 MINI'S AND 120 FOR YEAR 2005 FOR STEERING PROBLEMS AND NO FIX BY BMW. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND SUGGEST READERS FILE COMPLAINTS AND HOPE IT DOES NOT TAKE A DEATH TO GET SOMEONE'S ATTENTION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. DURING THE MOST RECENT FAILURE, THE POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2004 MINI COOPER S, NOW WITH A POWER STEERING PROBLEM. THE POWER STEERING REPEATEDLY FAILS FOR NO DETECTABLE REASON--THIS ACCORDING TO MY MINI/BMW MECHANIC. I DRIVE THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES AND THE POWER STEERING FAILS. I SHUT THE CAR OFF, LET IT COOL AND RESTART IT. IT RETURNS TO NORMAL AND THEN AGAIN FAILS AFTER A FEW MILES. THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER RECORDS THE FAILURE, BUT DOES NOT EXPLAIN IT IN A WAY THAT WOULD SUGGEST A SOLUTION. THE CAR'S COMPUTER READS: "FAULT STORED: SHORT CIRCUIT/OPEN CIRCUIT AT CONTROL UNIT." HENCE, MY MECHANIC HAS NO IDEA OF HOW TO FIX IT SHORT OF REPLACING THE ENTIRE SYSTEM WHICH, AS HE SAYS, IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE PROBLEM WILL STOP. AS IT IS, THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AND I WILL NO LONGER PERMIT MY WIFE TO DRIVE IT. I DO HOPE...

ABOUT A YEAR AND HALF AGO THE CAR WAS LEAKING STEERING FLUID, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE COOLING FAN ON THE STEERING PUMP WAS A BAD DESIGN, HE ADJUSTED IT AND IT LASTED UNTIL NOVEMBER OF 2011 AGAIN THE LEAKING STARTED, GRINDING NOISE FROM THE FRONT LEFT,STEERING WAS DIFFICULT ON TURNS. I HAD ALL THE STEERING COMPONENTS REPLACED AT A COST OF @ $1,100. MECHANIC STILL BELIEVED IT IS A DESIGN FLAW, SHOULD HAVE A RECALL. *TR

PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO A SPOT AND LOST ALL STEERING. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED AND IT WORKED AGAIN, BUT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER WITHOUT THE POWER ASSIST. I SEE THIS MORNING THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOW COMMON AND I HESITATE TO GO INTO MINI TO HAVE IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY SINCE IT WILL COST MORE THAN $1000 TO FIX! WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL? *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING; HAD NEW STEERING RACK/PUMP INSTALLED AT 90,000, WORKED FINE FOR A YEAR AND NOW THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME; A NEW STEERING PUMP/RACK NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED... *KB

DRIVING TO WORK AND TRIED TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN. THE POWER STEERING FAILED MAKING THE WHEEL VERY HARD TO TURN. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND SHUT THE CAR OFF, AND WHEN I RESTARTED IT, THE POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN. IT DOES THIS INTERMEDIATELY A FEW TIMES A WEEK SINCE THEN... MINI SAYS ITS AN INTERNAL FAULT IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR

FAILURE OF POWER STEERING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE POWER OF STEERING WOULD STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,377.

THE FIRST TIME THE POWER STEERING FAILED WAS WHEN I WAS EXITING OFF A HIGHWAY REST STOP. WHEN LEAVING THE STOP, THE POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN. FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, INCIDENTS OF STIFFNESS BECAME MORE FREQUENT ESPECIALLY AT THE END OF MY COMMUTE HOME FROM WORK. THREE MONTHS LATER IT LACKS POWER STEERING FULL TIME. AFTER ALL I'VE READ ABOUT THIS ONLINE, MY CONCERN IS THAT THE COST OF THE REPAIR MAY BE AROUND $1300. *TR

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ENTERING TURN, AND CAR WAS HARD TO STEER, HAD TO JERK WHEEL TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER CAR. WHEN WILL SOMETHING BE DONE WITH MINE AND OTHERS WHO HAVE THIS ISSUE. DOES IT TAKE A DEATH FOR CAR DEALERS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *KB

I WAS JUST DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND THE POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT, I DID SAFELY MAKE IT HOME AND GOT THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. IT HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE IT SEEMS THE POWER STEERING COMES AND GOES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE FOR SURE, BUT I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE FAN ASSEMBLY REPLACED DUE TO IT WOULD NOT CUT OFF, AND KILLED MY BATTERY, SO OF COURSE I HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. I AM TAKING THE CAR IN FOR A ESTIMATE FOR THE STEERING, BUT IT SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. IT CAUSE SOMEONE TO GET HURT OR EVEN KILLED. *KB

THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED AS THE VEHICLE APPROACHED AND ENTERED A "ROUNDABOUT" CIRCLE. THE SYSTEM NOT ONLY STOPPED PROVIDING STEERING ASSIST, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL STAYED IN THE RIGHT TURN POSITION (DID NOT RETURN TO CENTER) WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER OFF THE ROAD SURFACE. THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM HAS COMPLETED FAILED IN THE VEHICLE, WHICH MAKES THE CAR VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE (ESPECIALLY MY FOR WIFE WHO WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE INITIAL FAILURE OCCURRED). DO TO THE NON-FUNCTIONAL POWER STEERING SYSTEM, WHEN MAKING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL STAYS IN THE TURNED POSITION WHICH REQUIRES THE DRIVER TO QUICKLY MANEUVER THE CAR TO PREVENT IT FROM CONTINUING TO VEER OFF OF THE ROAD SURFACE ~ THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT AT ALL SPEEDS WITH ALL DEGREES OF STEERING INPUT. IN SIMPLE TERMS: IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS FULLY TURNED "HARD" TO THE...

THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER WITH NO NOTICE IN CITY TRAFFIC. I WAS DRIVING ALL OF A SUDDEN LOST POWER STEERING WHICH NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED FOR $1144.11 AND FOUND IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

IT WAS SO SCARY TO NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE TURNS ON FREEWAY! ON MY WAY BACK FROM WORK SAN FRANCISCO, I STARTED EXPERIENCING VERY STIFF POWER STEERING HALF WAY AND THE SITUATION GOT WORSE AND WORSE. TO THE END I ALMOST COULDN'T MAKE TURNS. I BARELY CAN FINALLY PARK THE CAR IN FRONT OF MY GARAGE AND I WAS HORRIFIED BY THE EXPERIENCE FOR THE WHOLE NIGHT. BROUGHT THE CAR TO GET CHECKED AND IT TURNED OUT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS WAY MORE EXPENSIVE THAN I CAN AFFORD BUT CAN I NOT TO GET THAT REPAIRED? I NEEDED THE CAR TO GO TO WORK ETC. MINI COOPER SHOULD RECALL THIS POWER STEERING PUMP. IT'S A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

BACKING OUT OF PARKING PLACE, CAR IS DIFFICULT TO STEER. THIS THE THIRD TIME IT HAS OCCURRED. I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE POWER STEERING YET DUE TO COST. *TR

ON MULTIPLE INCIDENTS, THERE IS NO INDICATION LEADING UP TO THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING TO THE POINT WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN OR MANEUVER. PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR DURING INITIAL STARTUP OF THE CAR, OR AFTER 15 MINS OF DRIVING, OR AFTER 2-3 HOURS OF DRIVING. SO FAR, ON ALL OCCURRENCES, ONCE THE CAR IS SHUT OFF AND TURNED BACK ON THEN POWER STEERING RESUMES. TOOK MY CAR TO MINI OF STEVENS CREEK ON 8/8/11 AND WAS QUOTED $180 FOR DIAGNOSTICS, $848 FOR PARTS, $253 FOR LABOR. MINI HAS DECLINED TO HONOR A NO-COST REPLACEMENT. I NEED TO FIND MORE REASONABLE PRICE FOR REPAIR AS I CANNOT AFFORD THE QUOTED $1300 AT THE MOMENT. I HAVE YET TO HAVE THIS POWER STEERING PROBLEM FIXED. *TR

POWER-ASSISTED STEERING FAILS ON 2004 COOPER MINI. VEHICLE NOT DRIVEN AGGRESSIVELY. SHUTTING VEHICLE OFF, THEN RESTARTING, WILL OCCASIONALLY RESTORE POWER STEERING BUT ONLY FOR A BRIEF PERIOD. POWER-ASSISTED STEERING WORKS WHEN FIRST STARTED FOR THE DAY, BUT QUITS ENTIRELY WITHIN 30 - 45 MIN. LATER. DRIVING WITHOUT POWER-ASSISTED STEERING IS POSSIBLE BUT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. *TT

CONTINUOUS RELAPSING/REMITTING PROBLEM. POWER STEERING HAS BEEN GOING OUT NEARLY ONCE A WEEK FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. 90% OF THE TIME THE POWER STEERING COMES BACK ON AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF AND ADDITIONAL FORCE HAD TO BE APPLIED IN ORDER TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND COOLING FAN. THE LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE COOLING FAN. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED AND THE STEERING CONTINUED TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER, THE POWER STEERING PUMP COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO EUREKA SPRINGS ARKANSAS WHEN THIS HAPPENED, LUCKILY MY HUSBAND WAS THE ONE DRIVING, I DON'T EVEN WANT TO IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT HAD BEEN ME. I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE THE CAR THROUGH THOSE CURVES. *KB

POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR

DRIVING UNDER NORMAL DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER. *TR

UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER STEERING ON 2004 MINI COOPER WITHOUT ANY WARNING. PURCHASED THE 2004 MINI COOPER BEING UNAWARE OF THE POWER STEERING FAILURES, AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND I ALMOST COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND ALMOST GOT REAR-ENDED WHILE STRUGGLING TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I HOPE THEY ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE WHEN I STARTED RESEARCHING HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS I FIND IT EXTREMELY DISTURBING THAT MINI HASN'T BEEN FORCED TO ISSUE ONE YET. THE POWER STEERING FAILURE HAPPENS DAILY SO TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE IN ALL OF THE CARS I HAVE PURCHASED THROUGH OUT MY ADULT LIFE. WHAT A SAFETY HAZARD! I AM SO THANKFUL MY GRANDCHILD WASN'T WITH ME THAT DAY. *TR

POWERS STEERING PUMP FAILURE, POWER STEERING PUMP COOLING FAN FAILURE

THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING CAR. HAPPENS AT DIFFERENT TIMES WITH NO WARNING. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE ON 2004 MINI COOPER. HARD TO STEER WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. ORDERED NEW PART FROM DEALERSHIP. *TR

MY 2004 MINI EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT STEERING PROBLEMS IN FEB. OF 2011. STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT AT TIMES AND THEN NEARLY ALL THE TIME. GOT NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. MOSTLY FIXED BUT FELT ODD AT TIMES. STEERING BECAME PERMANENTLY DIFFICULT IN JUNE 2011 AND HAD PUMP REPLACED BUT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. ADVISED TO REPLACE RACK AND PINION. PLAN TO DO SO. STEERING BILLS AT ABOUT $2,000. *TR

INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT TWICE, BOTH TIMES THIS WAS NOTICEABLE SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE (BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY). IN THE FIRST INCIDENT, POWER STEERING RETURNED AFTER DRIVING ABOUT HALF A BLOCK. IN THE SECOND INCIDENT (A COUPLE MONTHS LATER), POWER STEERING DID NOT RETURN WHILE DRIVING (1 MILE), BUT RETURNED WHEN CAR WAS STARTED THE FOLLOWING DAY. DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER IS CURRENTLY UNABLE TO PINPOINT ISSUE THROUGH CAR'S COMPUTER, BUT POWER STEERING PUMP IS SUSPECTED. CAR IS UNDER 30K MILES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED SEVERAL YEARS AGO BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE FOR A REPLACEMENT TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE RACK AND PINION. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WAS CONCERNED WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THE FAILURE CAUSING A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 06/24/11 *BF UPDATED 06/30/11. *JB

INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE CAUSING UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. *TR

1. NO EVENTS LED UP TO THIS FAILURE. IT OCCURRED SPONTANEOUSLY AFTER TURNING OFF MY CAR. 2. POWER STEERING PUMP STAYS ON AFTER CAR'S ENGINE IS OFF, AND THE PUMP WILL NOT SHUT OFF. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND PERSISTS UNTIL THE CAR IS RESTARTED OR THE BATTERY DIES. THE CONSTANTLY ON POWER STEERING PUMP IS KNOW TO LEAD TO FIRES OR SPONTANEOUSLY KILLING POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AROUND TURNS. 3. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS ISSUE IS TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP OR LEAVE THE BATTERY UNPLUGGED IN THE CAR. I CURRENTLY HAVE ORDERED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO MOVE. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,331.