2005 MINI COOPER Steering Problems

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AT ABOUT 35 MPH STEERING THROUGH A CURVE WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. IT REQUIRED MAJOR EFFORT TO KEEP THE CAR TURNING THROUGH THE CURVE TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS SEEMS TO BE COMMON OCCURRENCE ON FIRST GENERATION MINI COOPERS AND COULD EASILY RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IF MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO TYPICALLY DRIVES THE CAR HAD BEEN AT THE WHEEL AT THE TIME THIS COULD HAVE HAD CATASTROPHIC RESULTS BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THE STEERING OF THE CAR. A CAR SHOULDN'T BE AT RISK OF HAVING MAJOR COMPONENT FAILURES WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED I OR MY HUSBAND HAVE LOST POWER STEERING IN OUR 2005 MINI COOPER S. THIS ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC POWER STEER PUMP & FAN HAS BEEN A LONG STANDING PROBLEM IN THESE MINIS. (THIS HAS BEEN A COMPLETE RECALL IN CANADA.) THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING MAKES THE VEHICLE VERY UNSAFE AS IT IS A SUDDEN ONSET. IT IS PROBLEMATIC AT SLOW OR FAST SPEEDS. I CAN BARELY STEER THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURS. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IN/OUT OF OUR GARAGE OR IN/OUT OF PARKING SPACES. I HAVE HAD TO FIND PARKING IN STRATEGIC AREAS MOST OFTEN WHERE I COULD PULL STRAIGHT IN A SPOT AND PULL STRAIGHT OUT. IT IS ALSO SCARY ON RAMPS OR INTERSTATE AS INSTEAD OF HAVING A RESPONSIVE SPORTY CAR IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE DRIVING A TANK THAT YOU CANNOT CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES IN LAST 10-12...

I WAS DRIVING AND LOST ALL POWER IN MY STEERING. VERY HARD TO TURN, NEARLY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT CROSSING THE YELLOW LINE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. RECOVERED AND DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. *JB

MY COOLING FAN BURNED OUT CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO FAIL. I FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN MY MODEL YEAR AND THAT THE WARRANTY ON THAT PART HAD BEEN EXTENDED. HOWEVER, MINI CLAIMS THAT THEY STARTED PUTTING NEW PUMPS IN FEB OF 2005. MY CAR WAS MADE IN MAR OF 2005 AND THUS THEY WILL NOT COVER IT. I WENT THE EXTRA STEP AND HAD THE DEALER DO A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH FOUND THAT MY CAR HAS THE SAME PART WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE WARRANTY EXTENSION. STILL MINI WILL NOT COVER IT. ONE OF THE REPS TRIED TO COVER IT UP BY TELLING ME THAT THERE IS CONFUSION ON THE PART NUMBER MATCHING BECAUSE THEY USED THE SAME PART NUMBER WHEN THEY CHANGED THE OEM PART. THAT DOES NOT COMPUTE BECAUSE IF THAT WERE TRUE, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO ACCURATELY DISTINGUISH...

POWER STEERING IN THE VEHICLE WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE CORRECTLY. SINCE THIS DATE THE POWER STEERING COMES AND GOES INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

THE FIRST OF MULTIPLE STEERING FAILURES OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT, THANKFULLY. NONE HAS YET TO HAPPEN ON INTERSTATE OR AT A DEADLY RATE OF SPEED, WHICH THAT WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE VERY FAST IF A CHILD RIDING ON THEIR BIKE UNEXPECTEDLY DARTED IN FRONT OF YOU. IF THE STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AT THAT MOMENT IT WOULD BE OVER FOR THE KID. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A KNOWN, POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS, ISSUED GOES UNADDRESSED. I'M BEWILDERED. *TR

IN SEPTEMBER 2012 I NOTICED A LOUD FAN NOISE THAT WOULDN'T TURN OFF. THE CAR WAS ALSO OVERHEATING. I NOTICED THAT IT WAS VERY HARD TO STEER THE CAR, BUT I THOUGHT THAT WAS DUE TO THE OVERHEATING. MECHANIC DETERMINED FAILED CYLINDER HEAD GASKET IN 11/2012. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED AND THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. IN 11/2012 THE WATER PUMP WAS ALSO REPLACED. IN 12/2012 THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN 06/2013 THE HEATER CORE WAS REPLACED. I BELIEVE THAT THESE ISSUES ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE ASSOCIATED FAN FAILING, WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO OVERHEAT AND THE BATTERY TO FAIL. PLEASE SEE NHTSA COMPLAINTS 10453158, 10444328, 10379750, 10442431,10379459 FOR SIMILAR CASES OF THESE SAME ISSUES RELATED TO THE FAILURE OF POWER STEERING AND THE ASSOCIATED PUMP. *TR

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH MY STEERING GAVE OUT AND LOCKED UP, ALMOST SLAMMING ME INTO THE GUARD RAIL. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO STOP BEFORE TRAGEDY. UNFORTUNATELY I WAS BLOCKING A LANE OF TRAFFIC UNTIL I COULD FORCE MY WAY OF THE ROADWAY. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED AS I WAS TURNING INTO MY OWN DRIVEWAY. THE STEERING LOCKED UP AGAIN CAUSING ME TO MISS MY DRIVEWAY AND CRASH INTO THE DITCH. THE OTHER SAFETY ISSUES WITH MY CAR IS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP WORKING AT RANDOM AND THE REVERSE AND TAIL LIGHTS WILL FAIL AT RANDOM. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE CODES READ EMISSIONS FAILURE. WHEN I TALK TO MINI COOPER CUSTOMER RELATIONS THEY GAVE ME AN EXTENDED 100,000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE POWER STEERING AND EMISSIONS. MINI COOPER CLAIMS THEY CAN'T DO THE SAFETY REPAIRS DUE TO A PART SHORTAGE....

CAR WAS MAKING A VERY LOUD NOISE. TOOK IT TO SHOP WHO IDENTIFIED IT AS A FAILING POWER STEERING PUMP COOLING FAN, AND REPLACED IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. *TR

POWER STEERING FAN BURNED OUT WHICH CAUSED THE PUMP TO FAIL. SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR. THE PLACEMENT OF THE FAN IS REALLY BAD BECAUSE IT'S SUBJECT TO CONSTANT ROAD GRIME, SALT, ETC. COST ME OVER $1,200 TO FIX. :( *TR

I HAD BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING IN MY CAR GOING IN AND OUT AT RANDOM TIMES. TO FIX THIS PROBLEM I WOULD JUST TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON. NOW, HOWEVER, THE POWER STEERING IS ALWAYS OFF. I HAVE MANAGED TO DRIVE JUST FINE FOR MONTHS WITHOUT, BECAUSE I SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GET THE SYSTEM REPLACED. IT HAS FINALLY COME TO THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN I HAVE TO GET MY INSPECTION RENEWED, AND I HAVE NOW LEARNED THAT THE CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION IN MY STATE BECAUSE OF ITS LACK OF POWER STEERING. IF THE CAR CANNOT PASS A STATE INSPECTION WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING, HOW IS IT THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL MADE BECAUSE OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE? THERE IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM....

WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2005 MINI COOPER (R50) WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED THUS CAUSING A VERY FRIGHTENING AND POSSIBLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A CURVY ROAD THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND IS VERY DANGEROUS! *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL STOPS TURNING WHILE MID-TURN. I TOOK THE CAR TO MINI OF SAN FRANCISCO AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THE STEERING CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM, HAPPENING RANDOMLY WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED UP. *TR

HELLO, OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS THE STEERING ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER CUTS OUT UNEXPECTEDLY. THE WHEEL IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN WHEN THIS HAPPENS, AND IT OCCURS WITH NO WARNING. IT APPEARS THAT THE STEERING PUMP FAILS WHEN THE CAR WARMS UP. I HAVE NOTICED MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL MAKING THE SAME COMPLAINT IN ONLINE FORUMS. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

LOSS OF POWER STEERING..NEARLY A COLLISION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 18 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE ALSO OVERHEATED AND A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000. *TR

PARKED THE CAR TO GO IN A STORE, IN THE STORE FOR 10 MINUTES. CAME OUT TO START THE CAR AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STIFF AND DID NOT WANT TO MOVE. CUT THE CAR OFF AND WAS LOOKING INTO WAYS TO GET THE CAR TOWED. I TRIED TO START THE CAR BACK UP MAYBE 15-20 MINUTES LATER AND IT WAS WORKING JUST FINE. EVER SENSE THEN, THE CAR'S POWER STEERING WOULD STOP FUNCTIONING AND THEN RESET ITSELF ONCE THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND IDLE. YOU CAN NEVER PREDICT WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN OR WHEN IT WON'T. THE POWER STEERING ISSUES HAVE GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE WITH LONGER INTERVALS OF WAIT TIME BEFORE THE POWER STEERING STARTS FUNCTIONING AGAIN. THE WHEEL WHEN THE POWER STEERING STOPS FUNCTIONING IS VIRTUALLY IMMOVABLE IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE TURNS UNLESS THEY ARE WIDE ONES. THIS IS A TREMENDOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND THE POWER...

WAS DRIVING ON NYS THRUWAY WHEN I THOUGHT I'D GOTTEN A FLAT TIRE DUE TO SLUGGISH STEERING NOW HOURS LATER AND A LITTLE INTERNET INVESTIGATION I THINK IT TO BE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON STRAIGHT ROAD THEN INTO CURVE...NOTICED THE STEERING WAS HARD TO TURN....WENT IN & OUT FOR A DAY THEN TOTALLY OUT...NO POWER STEERING...HAVE REPLACED THIS AND NOW IT'S OUT AGAIN!!!! *TR

THE POWER STEERING FAILED. SEARCHING, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED AS THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED A RIGHT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY NEEDED TO TURN THE WHEEL INCREASED. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AS IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE FUNCTION PROPERLY UNTIL THE FAILURE RECURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,600. RETURNED BY USPS ON 4/8/2013. 2ND ATTEMPT ON 4/9/2013. *KB

INTERMITTENTLY ON COLD START THE POWER STEERING IS INOPERATIVE. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN WILL USUALLY RESULT IN THE POWER STEERING BECOMING OPERATIVE AGAIN. DEALERSHIP SAYS PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURES WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. ONE MINUTE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONS, NEXT MINUTE, NO PS AT ALL. POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUES TO RUN EVEN WHEN ENGINE IS OFF AND KEY OUT OF IGNITION. AFTER RETURNING TO VEHICLE, BATTERY IS DEAD AS A RESULT OF CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING PUMP OR FAN. *TR

-MY DEPENDENT DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH DURING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS WHEN POWER STEERING ASSIST TURNED OFF. STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS. FOLLOW-ON OCCURRENCES WERE REGULARLY REPEATED AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 - 15 MILES. DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WAS CEASED UNTIL REPAIRS MADE THEREFORE WAS UNABLE TO COMMUTE TO / FROM SCHOOL OF HIGHER EDUCATION. VEHICLE BROUGHT TO LOCAL REPAIR STATION AND A FAULTY POWER STEERING MOTOR WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CAUSE. SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS TOTALLY 934.00 USD APPEAR TO HAVE FIXED PROBLEM. THE FACT THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THIS POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC CONDITION, AND CHOSE TO PUT MY DAUGHTER AT RISK OR HARMS WAY IS SHAMEFUL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

WHILE TURNING INTO A SHOPPING PLAZA PARKING LOT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL OR COMPLETE THE TURN. THANK GOD I WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED AND PEDISTRIANS WERE NOT NEAR BY. I EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING WHEN I WAS LEAVING TO RETURN HOME AND TWO MORE TIMES AFTER THAT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ,INNOCENT LIVES ARE AT RISK. *TR

AFTER DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, I SLOWED DOWN TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CAR COULD STILL BE TURNED, BUT ONLY WITH GREAT EFFORT AND HAD THERE BEEN ANY NEED TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE OR PEDESTRIAN, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE. AFTER TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTRARTING, THE POWER STEERING RESUMED WORKING. THE SAME FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS BUT IS ONLY INTERMITTENT. *TR

THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN GOING IN AND OUT FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH AND THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. TURNING TOOK A LARGE AMOUNT OF EFFORT. AFTER ARRIVING AT HOME AND TAKING IT OUT THE NEXT DAY IT WORKED FINE AND THEN WENT OUT AGAIN WHILE GOING 35 MPH AND TRYING TO MAKE A CURVE IN THE ROAD. WE TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS AND WAS TOLD THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN WORKED FINE BUT THE POWER STEERING WAS INTERMITTENT WHEN DRIVEN. A POWER CONNECTOR FOR THE PUMP WAS REPAIRED AND THE NEXT DAY THE CAR STARTING LOSING THE POWER STEERING AGAIN. IF THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED IT COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND/OR INJURIES. I'VE READ TOO MANY STORIES ONLINE FOR THIS TO BE A FAULT WITH THE DESIGN. *TR

AFTER DRIVING AROUND TOWN FOR 15 MINUTES POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AND HAD TO STRUGGLE TO TURN A CORNER. HAD TO MAKE A WIDE TURN. IF ANOTHER VEHICLE HAD BEEN APPROACHING, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A COLLISION. VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THIS VEHICLE WHEN POWER STEERING FAILS. THIS LOSS OF POWER STEERING HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES WITHIN LAST TWO WEEKS. RESEARCH ON INTERNET SHOWS THIS TO BE MORE THAN A COMMON PROBLEM; IT SEEMS TO BE WIDESPREAD. THIS MUCH I DO KNOW: IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME AND IS DANGEROUS. IF BMW DOESN'T VOLUNTARILY FIX THE PROBLEM, THEN THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FORCE A RECALL ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR DIES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING PUMP STOPPED WORKING . *TR

NO POWER STEERING. HARD TO STEER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT A PARKING LOT, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11005 (STEERING) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##

INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. AFTER LONG DRIVE ~150 A LOUD BUZZING UNDER CAR CONTINUED AFTER CAR ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL MADE THE BUZZING CHANGE SOUNDS. STARTING AND SHUTTING THE CAR'S ENGINE DID NOT RESOLVE THE BUZZING. DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY TO AVOID BATTERY FAILURE. *TR

ON MY DRIVE TO WORK ON THE THIRD OF DECEMBER THE STEERING ASSIST WENT OUT WHILE ON THE FREEWAY AND TRYING TO EXIT ONTO AN OFF-RAMP. THE TURN WAS VERY SHARP AND I NEARLY DIDN'T MAKE IT. THANK GOODNESS IT WAS A SLOW TIME IN THE DAY FOR IF IT WASN'T I MAY HAVE HIT SOMEONE ELSE. THIS IS A LARGE SAFETY ISSUE AND HAVING READ THAT THIS COMPLAINT IS BECOMING WIDE SPREAD I WOULD HATE TO SEE ANYONE GET HURT. THE STEERING IS STILL AN ISSUE AND I MADE SURE TO TAKE PRECAUTION ON MY DRIVE HOME NOT TO TAKE ANY ROUTE THAT WOULD PRODUCE A SHARP TURN IN FEAR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE IT QUICK ENOUGH. THE STEERING IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, AND I STRESS EXTREMELY AS IF YOU ARE WORKING AGAINST THE CAR TO TRY TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE AND THE CAR WILL...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THE VEHICLE WOULD WARM UP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. CAR DID NOT HIT OR COME IN CONTACT WITH ANYTHING WHEN POWER STEERING WAS LOST. FULL POWER STEERING AND FAN HAD TO BE REPLACED AS A RESULT. *TR

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BACK FROM COLLEGE AND THE POWER ON THE STEERING WENT OUT ON HER. IT STARTED COMING BACK ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND SHE WAS ABLE TO STEER IT SLOWLY BACK HOME FROM THERE. *TR

HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES WAS GOING WEST ON A BUSY FOUR LANE CITY STREET, PREPARING TO TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET AND THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I COULD HARDLY TURN THE MINI INTO THE SIDE STREET AND CAME CLOSE TO HITTING ANOTHER CAR TURNING BESIDE ME. WAS ABLE TO PARK AND AN HOUR LATER TRIED TO DRIVE HOME, POWER STEERING WORKED FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND THEN QUITE AGAIN. DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT BUT IT WAS CLOSE SEVERAL TIMES. IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO STEER THE CAR AT SLOW SPEEDS AND I AM 6'2 AND 205 POUNDS A WOMAN WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IT IN ALL PROBABILITY. *TR

POWER STEERING WENT OUT MAKING THE CAR VERY HARD TO STEER. THE FIRST TIME WAS JANUARY 2012, RANDOMLY OFF AND ON SINCE. I HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING RETURN AFTER SIMPLY TURNING THE CAR OFF THEN ON, OTHER TIMES AFTER A WEEK. IT APPEARS THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS DECIDED TO QUIT ALTOGETHER AT THIS POINT. *TR

IN 2009, THE POWER STEERING WOULD INTERMITTENTLY WORK, USUALLY RESTARTING RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. INCREASINGLY WORSENED. P PULLING OUT FROM THE BUSINESS TO A RESIDENTIAL STREET, VERY BUSY AFTERNOON TRAFFIC. I HURRIEDLY TURNED RIGHT ONTO THE STREET, THEN LEFT AT THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL. WHILE MAKING THE LEFT MY POWER STEERING DECIDED TO STOP COMING TOO CLOSE TO RUNNING STRAIGHT INTO A LIGHT STANDARD ON THE OPPOSITE CORNER. HITTING THE CURB VERY HARD AND STEERING WITH NO POWER, I CORRECTED MY DIRECTION TO AVOID HITTING OTHER VEHICLES, HIT THE CURB AGAIN, FOUND THE FIRST POSSIBLE PARKING LOT AND PULLED OFF AND THANK GOD I DIDN'T HIT ANYONE. MAY 2012 NO POW STEERING WED, OCTOBER 3, 2012 @ 117K MILEAGE, BELT BROKE, BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, OVERHEATED. MINIUSA TAKES PRIDE IN BEING RESPONSIBLE AND CARING ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS. THEIR JOVIAL, FREETHINKING, CLEAVER BANTER IS SO FALSELY REPRESENTED SINCE I CAN'T EVEN GET SOME...

I HAD JUST BOUGHT THE CAR AND FLEW TO NEW JERSEY TO GET IT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS OUT AND HE WAS NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I DROVE IT BACK TO FLORIDA AND DID NOT HAVE POWER STEERING THE WHOLE WAY. IN APRIL 2010, THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK. I CONTINUED TO HAVE POWER STEERING AND THEN IN OCTOBER 2010, IT WENT OUT AGAIN FOR TWO DAYS. THEN IT CAME BACK. THEN IN 2011, IT WENT OUT AGAIN FOR TWO DAYS DURING THE YEAR. AND NOW IT HAS BEEN OUT SINCE APRIL OF THIS YEAR. I HAD BEEN ON DISABILITY FROM JANUARY TILL JULY, SO I WAS NOT DRIVING MY CAR THAT MUCH. I HAVE NOT WORRIED ABOUT FIXING IT. ALSO, WHEN I PICKED MY CAR UP IN NJ, THEY HAD WRITTEN ON MY RECEIPT THAT THEY WOULD PAY $500 TOWARDS THE REPAIR...

THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULTY TO CONTROL, BUT EVENTUALLY THE STEERING STARTED WORKING AGAIN. IN AUGUST THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ONLY THIS TIME FOR AN HOUR. THIS MADE THE VEHICLE ALMOST USELESS. TODAY 10/2/2012 THE POWER STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE MY WIFE WAS ON THE INTERSTATE. IT WAS PHYSICALLY TIRING TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THIS TINY CAR. THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS AND WE NO LONGER FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING WITH EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING MALFUNCTION RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP WHERE THE POWER STEERING PUMP, FAN AND OTHER RELATED COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THERE WAS A CONCURRENT INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11005 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.