2005 MINI COOPER Steering Problems

THE POWER STEERING PUMP STOPS OPERATING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES TO DATE: THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS AT LOW SPEED IN A PARKING STRUCTURE; THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED AT FREEWAY SPEED; THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A SURFACE STREET WHILE DECELERATING TO A STOP. IN EACH CASE, CONTROL OF THE CAR WAS MAINTAINED BUT WAS VERY DIFFICULT. THE PUMP FUNCTION WAS RESTORED BY STOPPING AND CYCLING THE VEHICLE IGNITION TO OFF AND THEN RESTARTING THE ENGINE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING UNIT MIGHT BE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, THE FAN WON'T TURN OFF AND KEEPS RUNNING. IT DRAINS THE BATTERY VERY QUICKLY. I TOOK IT TO AUTO SHOP AND THE REPORT SAYS STEERING PUMP INTERNAL FAILURE. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED, CALLED DEALER TWICE AND BMW COMPANY TWICE, KNEW ABOUT PROBLEMS, BUT SENT ME IN A CIRCLE. DEALER SAID TO GO TO COMPANY FOR HELP AND INFO, COMPANY SAID TO GO TO DEALER, VERY DECEPTIVE PRACTICES. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. *TR

GENERALLY, I LOVE THE MINI COOPER HAVING PURCHASED IT IN THE AFTER MARKET. HOWEVER, NOT LONG AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT, I HAD PROBLEMS FOR SEVERAL WEEKS WITH MY STEERING WHEEL SEIZING UP BUT AN INCIDENT IN FEBRUARY 2012 STICKS OUT MOST IN MY MIND SINCE I WAS ON I-95 IN THE RAIN AND COULD NOT ADEQUATELY STEER THE CAR TO TAKE AN EXIT. MY 11 YR OLD DAUGHTER WAS WITH ME AT THE TIME. I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND RESUME DRIVING. FINANCIALLY, I COULD NOT AFFORD TO TAKE THE CAR INTO THE DEALER BUT THE CONDITION AND WORK AROUND CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY FOR A FEW WEEKS WHEN I COULD AFFORD THE REPAIR. IN EARLY MAY 2012, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AND IT COST OVER $1300 TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. AT THE TIME...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH MAKING A LEFT TURN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. AS A RESULT, IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER 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 80,000. ..UPDATED 11/29/12 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD COME ON PERIODICALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OFF AND WOULD RUN, UNTIL THE BATTERY DRAINED. UPDATED 12/03/12

I CANNOT REMEMBER EXACT DATES AS THIS PART HAS BEEN BAD FOR SO LONG. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHINES VERY LOUDLY. A COUPLE TIMES THE POWER HAS GONE OUT AND THE CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE PROBLEM IS VERY INTERMITTENT AND ONLY LASTED A FEW SECONDS EACH TIME. *TR

JUST GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY CAUSE THE STEERING STARTED TO GET VERY DIFFICULT. AFTER WE LOOKED IN THE MANUAL AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING ABOUT POWER STEERING FLUID LEVELS WE HEADED TOWARDS OUR DESTINATION ABOUT 10 OR SO MINS. LATER. STEERING WAS FINE AFTER THAT, THEN ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO WE HAD THE SAME ISSUE, THANKFULLY WE WERE ON A LOCAL ROAD AND IT LASTED ABOUT 3 MINS. THEN STEERING BECAME NORMAL AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING CAPABILITIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,207. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN PARKING THE CAR. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER AND WHEN I SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT AND ENTER A SHOPPING CENTER, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS REALLY HARD, THERE WAS ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND I FELT VERY UNSECURE AND IN DANGER. I TOOK MY CAR TO AN AUTO PARTS SHOP AND CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND IT WAS OK. I TURNED THE ENGINE ON AND DROVE AWAY AND THE POWER STEERING WHEEL WAS OK. 3 DAYS LATER I NOTICED A BUZZING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE, IT WOULD NOT STOP EVEN WHEN I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND REMOVED THE KEYS. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. I AM RELUCTANT TO ENTER THE FREEWAY, I FEEL THE CAR MIGHT FAIL AND I CAN GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

INTERMITTENTLY AND RARELY, WHEN THE CAR FIRST STARTS, THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL, AND THERE IS NO APPARENT EFFECT ON THE WHEELS OF THE CAR. EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, I HAVE IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED. RESTARTING THE IGNITION HAS BEEN ENOUGH TO REGAIN THE POWER STEERING. AFTER THIS HAPPENED BETWEEN 5 AND 10 TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR, I REALIZED IT WAS A PATTERN AND DECIDED TO LODGE A COMPLAINT. I ALSO REALIZED THAT THE LOUDER-THAN-ORDINARY STEERING FAN NOISE MIGHT BE ANOTHER SYMPTOM OF PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. IN MID-SEPTEMBER 2011, THE CAR BATTERY DIED. THE STEERING FAN WAS VERY LOUD. I NOW WONDER IF THE BATTERY FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE STEERING FAN, ALTHOUGH NO ONE AT THE DEALERSHIP COMMENTED ON THE VERY LOUD FAN THAT WAS EXTREMELY NOTICEABLE WHEN THEY RESTARTED...

INTERMEDIATE POWER STEERING FAILURE , RAN OFF THE ROAD HIT A FENCE TO AVOID ON COMING CAR,THANK GOD I WAS NOT HURT ,WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK, AFTER 8 HRS AT WORK GOT IN IT STEERING WAS WORKIN ALMOST TO MY DRIVE WENT OUT AGAIN NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN BUT HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN LATELY COME DRIVE IT WILL SCARE YOUR PANTS OFF. *TR

I SLOWED DOWN FROM APPROXIMATELY 40MPH TO 35MPH AS I ENTERED A SHOPPING MALL PARKING LOT FROM THE MAIN STREET WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. IT WAS ALMOST LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP OR SHUT OFF. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND COASTED TO A SAFE STOP BARELY MISSING PARKED CARS. SIMILAR SITUATIONS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND SPORADICALLY WITH NO RECOGNIZABLE PATTERN THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. I MENTIONED THE STEERING LOSS AT THE SERVICE APPOINTMENTS, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SITUATIONS. THE MINI SERVICE AT THE DEALER NEVER MENTIONED ANY PROBLEMS TO ME SO I ASSUMED IT WAS JUST AN ELECTRONIC GLITCH. MOST RECENTLY THE BATTERY WAS RUN DOWN AND WOULD NOT HOLD A CHARGE. WHILE PURCHASING A NEW BATTERY THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS STUCK OR STAYING ON AFTER THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF THUS RUNNING DOWN THE NEW BATTERY. WHEN I...

DRIVING AROUND A CORNER, POWER STEERING DROPPED OUT. RESTARTING SOLVED THE PROBLEM. HAS OCCURRED OCCASIONALLY SINCE THEN. ALSO, OCCASIONALLY THE PUMP CONTINUES AFTER THE CAR STOPS. SEEMS RELATED TO EA11005. *JS

MY POWER STEERING UNEXPECTEDLY STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. STEERING FLUID LEVEL IS FINE AND WHEN I LEFT WORK IT WAS BACK ON. IT IS CONTINUING TO STOP AND START WORKING AT UNEXPECTED TIMES AND WITHOUT WARNING WHICH MAKES STEERING HARD WHEN IT GOES OUT. *TR

WHEN THIS HAPPENS, IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, THE POWER STEERING WAS FINE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN BECAME STIFF. I WAS DRIVING UP A CURVY MOUNTAIN ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENED AND I HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE SURE I COULD NAVIGATE THE TURNS. THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED 8-10 TIMES SINCE - SOMETIMES WITH A COMPLETELY COLD CAR, OTHER TIMES AFTER DRIVING 25-30 MILES, TURNING OFF THE CAR AND THEN TURNING IT BACK ON AGAIN. IF, WHEN I TURN THE CAR ON, THE POWER STEERING ISN'T WORKING, I TURN THE CAR OFF, LET IT SIT FOR 10 SECONDS OR SO AND RESTART IT. THIS PROCESS FAILED ONCE, BUT AFTER TURNING IT OFF AND ON AGAIN, THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THE POWER STEERING FAILING WHILE DRIVING SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT. HOWEVER, MY PARTNER HAS...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND WHILE AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 44,000.

POWER STEERING SUDDENLY DOES NOT SEEM TO WORK. THE STEERING IS DIFFICULT AND JERKY. *TR

PARKED CAR ON CITY STREET AND TURNED OFF CAR. HEARD HIGH-PITCHED NOISE LIKE SOMETHING WAS STILL RUNNING. TURNED CAR ON AND BACK OFF AGAIN. STILL HEARD NOISE. SAW GRAY, ACRID SMOKE BILLOWING FROM BENEATH HOOD. CAR STARTED BUT POWER STEERING WAS OUT. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. HIGH-PITCHED NOISE WAS POWER STEERING PUMP FAN WHICH DIDN'T TURN OFF WHEN CAR WAS TURNED OFF WHICH BURNT OUT THE POWER STEERING PUMP, WIRES, HARNESS AND OTHER RELATED PARTS. $2000 REPAIR MADE AT MINI/BMW DEALER IN SAN FRANCISCO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE CONTROLLED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURVE AND PUNCTURED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. IN ADDITION, THE WAS AN ABNORMAL HUMMING HEARD FROM THE ENGINE AND THE BATTERY FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER ON TUESDAY, THE STEERING FELT ODD. WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE THE CAR THE FOLLOWING DAY THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. I FELT I DIDN'T HAVE CONTROL. WHEN MAKING A TURN I HAD TO PHYSICALLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE CAR TO STRAIGHTEN OUT. IT WAS FRIGHTENING. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO HIM BY OTHER MINI OWNERS. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND ALOT OF INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET FROM OTHER 2005 MINI COOPER OWNERS. I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE SITUATION CHECKED OUT AT MY MINI DEALER IN FREEPORT,NY. ON MONDAY. WHEN INFORMING THEM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WHAT MY MECHANIC AND THE INTERNET HAVE STATED, I WAS TOLD THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF SUCH PROBLEMS AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME $130 JUST TO GET A DIAGNOSIS FROM THEM....

THE POWER STEERING FAILED DURING DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO ACCESS HOW MUCH CONTROL I STILL HAD. THE CAR CONTINUED TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER BUT I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. *JS

WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 MINI, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS OCCURED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. ONCE THE VEHICLE COOLS OFF, THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. *TR I HAVE CONTACTED THE MINI DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS PROBLEM TO SEE IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY RECALLS ISSUED, WHICH THERE HAVE NOT. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED IT AS WELL. CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY A "RECALL" HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED?

POWER STEERING INTERMITTENT. GENERALLY, IT WILL GO OUT AFTER DRIVING 20-30 MINUTES, HOWEVER, IT HAS FAILED TO TURN ON WHEN STARTING IN THE MORNING ON OCCASION. IN BOTH CASES, TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING BRINGS THE POWER STEERING BACK ON. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS RELATED TO INVESTIGATION EA11005. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT. IT IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE, WHERE I WILL BE DRIVING FOR SEVERAL MILES WITH THE POWER STEERING INTACT, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT GOES OUT MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO TURN AND CONTROL. LATER THE POWER STEERING RETURNS. I HAD THE VEHICLE EXAMINED BY THE MINI DEALER, THE INSURANCE COMPANY MECHANIC, AND MY PERSONAL MECHANIC. NONE OF THEM WERE ABLE TO NOTICE ANY DAMAGE TO THE POWER STEERING. THE FLUID LEVEL IS INTACT AS WELL AS THE PUMP. THE MINI DEALER STATED THAT THEY'VE "SEEN A LOT OF THIS" ISSUE, BUT THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR OPEN CAMPAIGNS. THE DEALER BELIEVES THE ISSUE IS DUE TO AN INTERNAL ELECTRONICS FAILURE AND WILL NOT AGREE TO FIX IT IN GOOD FAITH. IN CALLING MINI USA, THERE ARE NO OPEN CAMPAIGNS OR RECALLS FOR THE ISSUE EITHER, DESPITE OVER ~50,000 CARS OF...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT STOPPED ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. ONCE RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE REGAINED POWER STEERING FUNCTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,774.

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR LOST ALL POWER STEERING. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING MADE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE CAR. THE CAR WAS MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN THAN A CAR THAT HAS NO POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IT WAS WORKING ONE MOMENT, THEN AFTER A SHORT DRIVING FOR A SHORT PERIOD IT JUST CEASED TO WORK. CHECKED POWER STEERING FLUID AND THE FLUID LEVEL WAS OK. AFTER RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. THE POWER STEERING WILL JUST QUIT WORKING WHILE DRIVING. YOU ARE GIVEN NO WARNING THAT IT IS NO LONGER WORKING, UNTIL YOU ATTEMPT TO TURN AND THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND. *JS

HAVE BEEN NOTICING MY MINI'S FAN HAS BEEN SOUNDING LOUDER THAN NORMAL THOUGHT MAYBE A COOLING ISSUE GOING ON HOWEVER LAST WEEK THE POWER STEERING RANDOMLY WENT OUT IN THE CAR WHILE DRIVING. I MANAGED TO PULL THE CAR OVER AND TRIED TURNING CAR OFF AND RESTARTING IT, POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. I THOUGHT IT WAS A WEIRD FLUKE AND CHECKED ALL MY ENGINE FLUID LEVELS WHEN I GOT HOME. ALL FLUIDS WERE AT NORMAL LEVEL AND THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT. TODAY AGAIN POWER STEERING QUIT THIS TIME EARLY IN THE MORNING AS I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE FOR WORK (CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE PREVIOUS NIGHT). I HAD TO DRIVE INTO WORK WITH NO POWER STEERING AS I COULD NOT CALL OUT AND SAME THING DRIVING HOME TODAY POWER STEERING WAS STILL OUT. I STARTED SEARCHING ONLINE AND SAW THERE HAD BEEN SUPPOSEDLY A "SAFETY RECALL"...

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER FAILED AND I HAD TROUBLE TURNING THE CAR. THE POWER STEERING FAILURE CONTINUED UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I LET THE CAR TO COOL DOWN FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR BEFORE RESTARTING IT AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED FINE THE REST OF THE TRIP HOME. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME I EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE, BUT DID NOT RECORD THE DATE, ETC. OF THE FIRST INCIDENT SO AM UNABLE TO ACCURATELY REPORT THAT. BOTH TIMES THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED, IT WAS ONLY DUE TO MY DRIVING VIGILANCE AND ARM STRENGTH THAT I WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE LOCAL MINI DEALER CANNOT LOOK AT MY CAR FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR FEARING ANOTHER FAILURE OF...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000. UPDATED 03/15/12 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACT AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

POWER STEERING FAILURE. VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER TO BACK UP OR DRIVE. AFTER SHUTTING OFF AND RESTARTING CAR TWICE THE POWER STEERING IS WORKING AGAIN. CAR IS UNSAFE IF POWER STEERING FAILS AT ANY SPEED. COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM BEGAN OPERATING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,192.

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND AS I MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN,I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING HAD FAILED AND I HAD TO FIND THE STRENGTH TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BEFORE I RAN INTO THE BUILDING ON THE NAVY BASE WHERE I WORK. I HAD A POWER STEERING PUMP PUT ON. IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN A YEAR AND ALREADY I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. I DO NOT THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO BUY A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP EVERY YEAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS EMITTING A NOISE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,800. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

ON THREE OCCASIONS, MY 2005 MINI COOPER HAS HAD POWER STEERING FAILURE. EACH TIME, I WAS DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35-45MPH AND HAS PUT ME IN DANGEROUS POSITIONS WHERE I WAS UNABLE TO STEER MYSELF OUT OF MAJOR MATERIALS AND ONTO A SAFER ROAD. I AM NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO EASILY OVERPOWER MY VEHICLE'S STEERING. MY FIRST EXPERIENCE HAPPENED AS I WAS DRIVING 35MPH ON A BUSY ROAD AT PEAK HOUR. I WAS ON A FOUR LANE ROAD, TWO IN EACH DIRECTION. I WAS IN THE LEFT HAND LANE COMING UP TO MY APT WHEN MY STEERING WENT OUT. I WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE RIGHT LANE TO PULL OVER DUE TO THE SHEER STRENGTH NEEDED AND HIGH TRAFFIC VOLUMES. I IMMEDIATELY PUT MY HAZARDS ON TO ALERT MOTORISTS AND SLOWED DOWN MY SPEED. I WAS LEFT STRANDED BEFORE A MAJOR CURVE IN THE ROAD. I WAS UNABLE TO...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE WITHOUT APPLYING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE BUT REPLACED THE POWER STEERING FAN AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE POWER STEERING ALL OF A SUDDEN WENT OUT THUS MAKING THE STEERING EXTREMELY HEAVY. IT CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE. COULD BE DANGEROUS TO DRIVERS IF FAILURE OCCURS ON A TURN. POWER STEERING SHOULD NOT FAIL. *TR

AFTER RUNNING ERRANDS IN THE MORNING I PARKED MY CAR IN MY SPOT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. WHEN I WALKED AWAY THE CAR WAS SILENT. TWO HOURS LATER MY NEIGHBOR KNOCKED ON MY DOOR TO LET ME KNOW THAT MY CAR (WHICH HAD BEEN OFF AND PARKED FOR TWO HOURS) WAS MAKING A LOUD WHINING NOISE. I WENT OUTSIDE TO CHECK IT OUT, AND DETERMINED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM MY CAR WHILE IT WAS OFF. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR, WHICH WAS DRIVING WELL AT THE TIME, TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND RECOMMEND THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT IMMEDIATELY TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE MINI DEALERSHIP THEY IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY CAR BACK. I WAS TOLD THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FAILING AND OVERHEATING, WHICH CAUSED THE POWER STEERING FAN TO KEEP RUNNING WHILE...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED A CONCURRENT INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11005 (STEERING STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

WHILE DRIVING 2005 MINI COOPER, I WENT AROUND A CORNER AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND WHEN I TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE POWER STEERING HAD QUIT WORKING. IT ALMOST PUT ME IN THE DITCH ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD. JUST THANKFUL OF NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR

MY WIFE WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN TURNED OFF. SHE RE-STARTED THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED FINE AFTER THAT. IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHEN I WAS ALSO BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT LAST NIGHT. I AM AFRAID THIS COULD BECOME A BIG ISSUE IF THIS HAPPENS IN TRAFFIC THUS THE REPORT. FROM AN INTERNET SEARCH, IT SEEMS THAT NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE SO THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WHICH MINI NEEDS TO FIX BEFORE THIS ENDS TRAGICALLY FOR SOMEONE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED.THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MERGE TO THE SHOULDER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. ONCE RESTARTED, THE STEERING RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF POWER STEERING BEGINNING AT APPROXIMATELY 48,000 MILES, WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY AND DURATION UNTIL COMPLETE FAILURE OF POWER STEERING AT APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES, DESPITE FULL POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR AT ALL TIMES. MINI DEALER ADVISES NEW POWER STEERING PUMP REQUIRED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND THAT HE SHOULD BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,781.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THEN CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, BUT REPAIRS WERE NOT PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

I RECENTLY BOUGHT MY 2005 MINI COOPER, AFTER MOVING TO TACOMA, WA. ONLY AFTER A WEEK OF DRIVING I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. I HAVE NOT EVEN MADE A PAYMENT ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED UKMINI AND MY INFORMATION WAS FORWARD TO BMW HEAD OFFICE IN GERMANY. MINIUSA CONTACTED ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE INTO A LOCAL DEALER TO VERIFY THE FAULT. THEY DIDN'T SAY THEY WOULD COVER THE COST. BUT BEING IN THE MILITARY I WILL ENSURE THAT SOLDIERS ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS THEY MAY FACE WITH THIS COMPANY. *TR

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT ABOUT 70 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I WAS GOING AROUND A BEND IN THE ROAD WHEN SUDDENLY THE POWER STEERING FAILED THAT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. WITHOUT NOTICE THE CAR REVERTED TO "RACK-AND-PINION" MODE. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT TIME TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR AND DID NOT GO OVER THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR HIT ANOTHER CAR. I DIDN'T DRIVE THE CAR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS THEN TOOK IT TO A FEW MECHANICS FOR AN ESTIMATE. DEALER SAYS REPLACE THE STEERING PUMP AT $1200 BUT THEY WILL NOT HONOR ANY ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE STEERING PUMP OR THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO THE COOLING FAN FAILURE. THE POWER STEERING FAN QUITS THEN THE PUMP GETS HOT AND SHUTS OFF. I CALLED MINI USA TODAY AND THEY SAID THEY WILL NOT ASSIST ME IN PAYING FOR THE MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MY PUMP...