2004 MINI COOPER Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED YET THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND POWER STEERING COOLING FAN WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,500. UPDATED 09/07/11 *BF UPDATED 10/31/11

I HAD DRIVEN MY CAR ~ 40 MILES AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 45 MPH TO 70 MPH. THE LAST 20 OR SO MILES HAD BEEN ON AN INTERSTATE. SHORTLY AFTER I EXITED THE FREEWAY, MY STEERING BECAME VERY TIGHT AND HARD TO MANIPULATE. THIS CONTINUED UNTIL I PARKED THE CAR, ABOUT 5 MILES LATER. WHEN I RE-STARTED THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING HAD RETURNED TO NORMAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED NO LESS THAN 15 TIMES SINCE THEN. IT OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND USUALLY WILL CORRECT ITSELF IF I TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT.

OCCASIONAL DIFFICULTY IN STEERING MY 2004 MINI COOPER. THE STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT AND I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT FOR IT TO WORK AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE A WEEK. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 MINI COOPER HOME FROM WORK ONE AFTERNOON, I BEGAN HAVING DIFFICULTY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURE, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO REMAIN A CONSTANT WHEN TURNING AT ANY SPEED. THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR HAS BEEN CHECKED AND IS LOW, BUT NOT EMPTY. I UNDERSTAND THAT A POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE IS COMMON IN THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL OF MINI COOPER VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS JUST OVER 80K MILES. NO REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE BEEN ORDERED AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER 110K MILES LOST POWER STEERING WHEEL CONTROL, VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

POWER STEERING ASSIST IN MY 2004 MIN COOPER FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT-HARD TO STEER CAR. I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER. *TR

THE POWER STEERING UNIT IN MY 2004 MINI COOPER HAS BEEN ACTING STRANGE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. IT WOULD SPORADICALLY CUT OFF MAKING THE CAR DIFFICULT TO STEER. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. LUCKILY, ALL OF THE INCIDENTS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS MOVING SLOW. NOW THE CAR HAS NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. IT COMPLETELY FAILED TODAY. OUR MINI COOPER ONLY HAS 43,000 MILES ON IT. IMAGINE IF I WAS DRIVING OVER 30 MILES AND HOUR AND THE POWER STEERING CUT OFF! I FEEL LIKE THE CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I AM VERY NERVOUS ABOUT PARKING THE CAR SINCE THE POWER STEERING IS INTERMITTENT, I HOPE THAT IT DOESN'T CUT OUT WHEN I TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE, WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE CHANCE OF HITTING A PARKED CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND GOT A QUOTE FOR $1200 IN PARTS ALONE....

2004 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING RANDOMLY STOPS WORKING MAKING THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER. EMERGENCY MANEUVERS WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE. MUST SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART TO GET STEERING BACK, WHICH IS NOT EASY TO DO IN MANY SITUATIONS. WILL WORK MOST OF THE TIME BUT FAIL ONCE PER DAY OR SO. MY MECHANIC HAS ORDERED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN FROM BMW WHICH HE SAYS IS THE FIX FOR THIS WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM. IF A LIGHT PERSON WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS I SERIOUSLY DOUBT THEY COULD KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD DUE TO THE ARM STRENGTH REQUIRED TO CONTINUE STEERING THE CAR. PROBLEM COULD HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED. *TR

MY CAR KEEPS HAVING INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE, IT HAS BEEN QUITE SPONTANEOUS, ALWAYS WHILE I AM DRIVING. *TR I HAVE HAD MORE THAN 10 INSTANCES, SOME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING A TURN WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AS OF YET; I AM PLANNING TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ONCE I HAVE THE MONEY TO DO SO.

AFTER STARTING THE MINI, WHICH IS PARKED IN A PARKING GARAGE, I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN, AS IF THE POWER STEERING WASN'T WORKING. THIS HAD HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE, BUT THAT TIME THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AFTER A FEW MINUTES. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 70 OUTSIDE, AND THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS FULL. I DROVE THE CAR TO DO ERRANDS, APPROX 10 MILES ROUND TRIP, AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED EVEN AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AND LETTING IT SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES WHILE I WENT TO THE STORE. THE STEERING FUNCTIONED WHEN I USED A LOT OF FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL, BUT I WAS WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY IF I HAD TO SWERVE OR TURN THE WHEEL QUICKLY FOR ANY REASON; I WOULD BE UNABLE TO DO SO. *TR

POWER STEERING IN 2004 MINI COOPER ALMOST COMPLETELY LOCKS UP WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR OTHER VISUAL INDICATORS DEPICT THE STATUS OF THE POWER STEERING FLUID OR OVERALL STEERING SYSTEM. ABILITY TO STEER CAR CHANGES INSTANTANEOUSLY FROM FULL "NORMAL" CONTROL TO NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PARALLEL PARK (AT EXTREMELY SLOW SPEED) OR MAKE A BASIC 90 DEGREE TURN (AT ANY RELEVANT SPEED). MAKES THE CAR DANGEROUS AND STRESSFUL TO DRIVE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL BEING INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

PURCHASED A USED 2004 MINI COOPER FROM A DEALERSHIP. 7 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE THE STEERING BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT AT TIMES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS. TAKING IT ON MONDAY BUT THE "STEERING" ISN'T COVERED UNDER THEIR 9 MONTH, 9000 MILE WARRANTY. TAKING IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY FOR THEIR SERVICE DEPT TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. HOPING IT'S COVERED BUT I DOUBT IT. *TR

SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AND HAD SUBSTANTIAL DIFFICULTY TURNING TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. IT HAPPENED A FEW TIMES, THEN TOOK IT FOR REPAIRS. WAS TOLD THAT THE PUMP AND FAN WERE BAD AND THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2004 MINIS. *TR

LAST NIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY STREET IN ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE U.S., I EXPERIENCED COMPLETE POWER STEERING FAILURE - WHICH BECAME EVIDENT TO ME ONLY WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND FOUND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, NO WARNING LIGHTS BECAME ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH & NOTHING ABOUT THE CAR'S PERFORMANCE SUGGESTED A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE - THERE WAS SIMPLY NO WARNING OF ANY KIND. AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR LESS THAN 15 MINUTES @ APPROX. 35 MPH & I HAD MADE SEVERAL TURNS (RIGHT & LEFT) DURING THE COURSE OF THIS TRIP WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS - THE LAST OF WHICH HAD BEEN ONLY 2 OR 3 MINUTES PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. THOUGH I WAS ULTIMATELY ABLE TO COMPLETE THE TURN WITHOUT LEAVING THE ROAD BY USING ALL OF...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 20 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST POWER STEERING WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF; AND AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE SIMILAR FAILURE RECURRED ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. CONTINUES TO OCCUR ALMOST DAILY. TO DATE, I HAVE NOT HAD TROUBLE DRIVING THE CAR, BUT THE POWER STEERING GOES ON AND OFF WITH NO APPARENT REASON. *TR

MY POWER STEERING FAILED IN THE MIDDLE LEFT TURN CAUSING ME TO WRECK RIGHT INTO A SIGNAL LIGHT. I HAVE A 2004 MINI COOPER 5SPD TRANSMISSION NON-S. *TR

POWER STEERING IN MY 2004 MINI COOPER WENT OUT WHILE GOING AROUND A TURN AND CAUSED ME TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD. *TR

I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER. I'VE HAD A COUPLE INCIDENTS WITH THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING WILL CEASE TO OPERATE. THE RESULT IS A STEERING SYSTEM THAT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY BMW. I'VE READ A FEW ONLINE ARTICLES ON THIS MATTER AND NOW REALIZE THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP IS GOING BAD. IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND I PLAN TO DO SO. I WAS SURPRISED HOWEVER BY THE NUMBER OF ONLINE ARTICLES I FOUND ON THIS TOPIC. OPERATING A VEHICLE WITH A RANDOMLY FAULTY POWER STEERING SYSTEM IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE WORST SHOULD THE POWER STEERING FAIL ON MY MINI COOPER ON A WINDING ROAD WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT IS A COMPLETELY RANDOM FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE PROBLEM FIRST...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF. UPON RESTART THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINED DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000. THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED INTERNALLY. THE POWER RETURN LINE WAS LEAKING. ALSO, BOTH STRUTS WERE LEAKING. UPDATED EVOQ 02/02/11

THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED ON MY MINI COOPER AT HIGH SPEED, CURVY ROAD AT NIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. I HAD TO REPLACE THE PUMP AND THE COOLING FAN TO THE TUNE OF $900. THIS HAPPENED JUST OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY AT 60K MILES. MECHANIC SAID THAT HE REPLACES ABOUT 10 A MONTH...ALL MINI'S PUMPS FAIL UNDER 80K MILES. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER INTERMITTENTLY FAILS. TO DATE, 5 FAILURES HAVE HAPPENED LASTING FROM 10 TO 30 MINUTES IN DURATION. LAST FAILURE WAS DECEMBER 3, 2010. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED, MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO WAS UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,900. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

STARTED TO HAVE INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE IN JANUARY 2010, THEN IT FINALLY STOPPED WORKING IN JULY 2010, HAVEN'T HAD POWER STEERING SINCE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COPPER. WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHICH MADE THE STEERING WHEEL DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE FAILURE ONLY LASTED FOR A SHORT TIME AND BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 44600.

THE STEERING IS SO HARD AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO MOVE WHILE DRIVING, I HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR LAST FEW MONTH BUT EVERY TIME WHEN I TURN OFF/ON, THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY FOR A DAY OR TWO. SINCE LAST WEEK, IT BECOME PERMANENT. I SURF ON INTERNET AND CALL MINI CUSTOMER SERVICES, THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS ISSUE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION AND IF I FIXED THE PROBLEM AND IF THERE WILL BE A RECALL, THEY WILL COVER ONLY PARTS NOT LABOR. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AND UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING. *TR

WHILE PARKING AND WHILE DRIVING, STEERING FUNCTION HAS BEEN LOST. THE STEERING WHEEL GETS HEAVY, SEEMING TO BE STUCK AND UNABLE TO TURN. THIS HAPPENED TWICE, AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR OR PULL OFF TO THE SIDE AND STOP WITHOUT INJURY. THE STEERING FLUID WAS FINE, AN ALTHOUGH THE STEERING PUMP DOESN'T MAKE NOISE OR CONTINUE TO RUN AFTER THE CAR IS SHUT OFF, IT IS ASSUMED THE STEERING PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED (A COMMON FAULTY PART IN MINI COOPERS). THERE IS CONCERN FOR SAFETY OVER WHEN AND WHERE I MIGHT LOSE STEERING AGAIN AND WHETHER THIS WILL CAUSE AN INCIDENT ALONE OR WITH ANOTHER CAR. I HAVE READ THAT MY CAR MIGHT START ON FIRE IN CONNECTION WITH THE STEERING PUMP, EVEN WITH A REPLACEMENT OF THE PUMP. *TR

NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. 2004 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING FAILED. NO LEAKING FLUIDS, NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ABNORMAL SOUNDS TO HINT THAT THIS WAS AN IMPENDING ISSUE. CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN PARKING LOTS, WITH PEDESTRIANS OR AT SPEED AROUND OTHER VEHICLES. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ASSIST ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER STARTED FAILING VERY SPORADICALLY OVER ONE YEAR AGO BECOMING MORE AND MORE FREQUENT UNTIL FINALLY I EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE POWER ASSIST. SOMETIMES THIS WOULD OCCUR WHEN I WAS FIRST STARTING THE CAR BUT THEN AS THE FREQUENCY INCREASE, IT WOULD ALSO JUST STOP WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING, SOMETIMES GOING AS FAST AS 50-60 MILES PER HOUR, MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED WITH A BRAND NEW ONE, WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE CAR ONLY HAD 83,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED, WHICH, I BELIEVE, IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STEERED THE VEHICLE TO A PARKING LOT WHERE HE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE STEERING RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 01/13/11 *BF UPDATED 01/24/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED; THE FAILURE LASTED ANYWHERE FROM A FEW MINUTES TO 45 MINUTES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SIX TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE DIFFERENT STEERING PARTS WERE REPLACED (THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHICH PARTS). THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000. UPDATED 2/17/11 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST CAPABILITIES. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN REMAINED ON AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND DRAINED THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,325.

1. POWER STEERING STARTED FAILING 2. OCCURS RANDOMLY THROUGHOUT MY DRIVING ~ DAILY 3. REPAIR/REPLACE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP STOPPED WORKING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING FAILED WHEN HE TRIED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND PULLED OVER. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED IT; THE STEERING SEEMED TO RESET ITSELF. THE FAILURE SEEMED TO OCCUR WHEN THE ENGINE WAS HOT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,140.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. HE CONTACT NOTICED AN UNKNOWN FLUID LEAK ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, STEERING HOSE, PRESSURE HOSE, RETURN HOSE, AND THE SUCTION HOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,400.

MY WIFE'S 2004 MINI COOPER (NON-S) HAS BEEN HAVING POWER STEERING FAILURES FOR THE PAST MONTH. I EXPERIENCED IT FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY DRIVING DOWN A BUSY DALLAS HIGHWAY. WHILE TRYING TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT AS I WAS YANKING ON THE WHEEL, "WHAT IF THE POWER STEERING KICKS BACK IN ALL OF THE SUDDEN, WE WOULD END UP IN AN ACCIDENT." THANKFULLY, THAT DID NOT HAPPEN AND AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF, CHECKING THE FLUID RESERVOIR, AND STARTING THE CAR AGAIN, THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE LOCAL MINI DEALERSHIP AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT, BUT AFTER RESEARCHING THIS I THINK WE MAY JUST PARK IT UNTIL AN OFFICIAL RECALL IS ISSUED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

MY 2004 MINI COOPER HAS HAD THE POWER STEERING FAIL INTERMITTENTLY, ALWAYS AFTER 20-30 MINUTES OF DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE CAR HAS 37,000 MILES. *TR

2004 MINI COOPER. INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURES. HAPPENS ON A HOT DAY OR IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. *TR

DAILY DRIVING MY 04 MINI COOPER LOSES POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT IS JUST FOR A MINUTE OR TWO AND OTHER TIMES IT LASTS HOURS. WHEN I'M DRIVING THE CAR IN TOWN I HAVE TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AS IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO STEER AROUND SHARP CORNERS. IF ON THE FREEWAY IT'S ALARMING HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO STEER. I TOOK IT TO THE MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED THAT IT NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. I HAD IT REPLACED 10/14/2010. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BECOME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A SIDE STREETS WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I COULDN'T STEER THE CAR AFTER STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD SUDDENLY GONE BACK ON MY 2004 MINICOOPER. II WAS AT A 4-WAY INTERSECTION AT THE TIME AND WAS NEARLY CRUSHED BY TWO OTHER CARS. AFTER GETTING THE CAR HOME I WROTE TO MINI'S CORPORATE TO SEE IF IT WOULD BE COVERED SINCE THERE HAD BEEN A LOT OF ONLINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PUMP, BUT THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT. INSTEAD I WAS FORCED TO SHELL OUT OVER $700 FOR IT (EXACT PRICE I WILL HAVE TO LOOK UP). I JUST READ ABOUT AN INVESTIGATION THAT THE NHTSA WAS DOING AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HEARD BY STORY. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 2004 FROM MINI OF PEABODY, MA. AND WILL TRY TO GET MY MONEY BACK, BUT...

AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING PROBLEMS, THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY CAR FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE TRYING TO ENTER A REST STOP ON THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY. UPON BRINGING THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN HAD BEEN JAMMED, CAUSING THE PUMP TO OVERHEAT. I THEN RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND THAT SEVERAL MINI COOPER MODELS FROM 2002 TO 2006 HAD BEEN SUFFERING FROM THIS ISSUE, AND THAT THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING A SECOND TIME WAS TO INSTALL AN EXPENSIVE FAN GUARD ON THE NEW COOLING FAN. MORE RECENTLY, I FOUND OUT ABOUT NHTSA RESEARCH CONCERNING THE PROBLEM, AND WANTED TO SUBMIT THE EXPERIENCE I HAD WITH THE PROBLEM. *TR

MINI COOPER (2004 WITH ~74K MILES) WITH INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. STEERING WHEEL WOULD RANDOMLY BECOME VERY STIFF WHEN TURNING AND THEN FREE UP UNEXPECTEDLY. WHEN THIS WOULD OCCUR, THE CAR WOULD UNDERSTEER (NOT TURNING AS FAR AS INTENDED) AND I WOULD FIND MYSELF REACTING BY TURNING HARDER, USUALLY RESULTING IN OVERSTEERING AND ERRATIC TURNS. IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS BINDING AND THEN LETTING GO BUT IT WASN'T PREDICTABLE OR REPEATABLE WITH CONSISTENCY. DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT 'POWER STEERING PUMP WAS CUTTING OUT. REPLACED THE FAULTY PS PUMP TO RESOLVE.' COST WAS $1009.94. ONE WEEK LATER, EXACTLY SAME CONDITION RETURNED. DEALERSHIP NOW DETERMINED 'FOUND STEERING SHAFT FROM STEERING WHEEL TO STEERING RACK TO BE SEIZED AND BINDING. REPLACED STEERING SHAFT AND ALIGNED STEERING WHEEL TO FRONT TIRES.' NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE; PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED. *TR

1. POWER STEERING FAILED AND STEERING BECAME EXCESSIVELY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL ESPECIALLY IN LOW SPEED TURNS SOMETIMES COULDN'T MAKE THE TURNS IN TIME. 2. SEVERAL TIMES. PARKED THE CAR 3. WAITING FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO HELP WITH REPLACING DEFECTIVE PARTS. *TR

MY CAR STARTED TO MAKE A WHIRRING SOUND, I WASN'T SURE WHAT IT WAS SO MY DAD HAD A LOOK AND WASN'T SURE. THE NEXT DAY I WAS DRIVING ALONG A 60MPH ROAD AND AS I WENT TO TURN A SHARP CORNER MY POWER STEERING FAILED. I HAD TO MANUALLY PULL THE CAR ROUND THE CORNER WITH ALL MY STRENGTH SO AS NOT TO HIT THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT THEN KEPT FAILING INTERMITTENTLY FOR THE REST OF THE DRIVE HOME. I TYPED MINI POWER STEERING INTO GOOGLE WHEN I GOT HOME AND FOUND PAGE AFTER PAGE OF PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEMS JUST LIKE MINE. I RANG MINI AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN CHELTENHAM WHICH I DID. I LEFT THE CAR WITH THEM AND THE NEXT DAY THEY GOT BACK TO ME TO SAY IT DEFINITELY WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP. I ASKED IT THEY...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE GOT IN THE VEHICLE AND STARTED IT, THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. SHE PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT. HOWEVER, THE POWER STEERING WAS STILL NON-FUNCTIONAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

AFTER DRIVING 5 MILES AND STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I BEGAN A LEFT TURN AND HAD NO POWER STEERING, I HAD TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL WITH ALL MY STRENGTH TO KEEP FROM CAUSING A WRECK. I DROVE 5 MORE MILES TO WORK AND PARKED. 2 HOURS LATER I WENT OUTSIDE AND HEARD A MOTOR RUNNING IN MY CAR. THE RUNNING MOTOR HAD DRAINED MY BATTERY, I HAD TO JUMP START THE CAR TO GET HOME. THE MINI DEALER IN CHARLESTON SC SAID I HAD TO BRING THE CAR TO THEM TO REPLACE A RMFD POWER STEERING PART WHICH WAS A DEALER ONLY PART. I LIVE 100 MILES FROM THE DEALER, I HAD TO TAKE CAR TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC SO HE COULD UNHOOK THE MOTOR SO THE BATTERY WOULD NOT BE DRAINED WHILE I PARKED UNTIL I COULD GET A DAY OFF WORK...