2005 MINI COOPER Steering Problems

POWER STEERING VERY SUDDENLY FAILED! NEARLY CAUSED A SEROUS ACCIDENT WHEN NEGOCIATING A ROUNDABOUT. THE CAR IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO MANOEUVER, ESPECIALLY AT A DEAD STOP, OR ROUNDING CORNERS. STEERING IS VERY HARD TO RETURN TO "MIDDLE" POSITION. *TR

STARTED NOTICING THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN, USUALLY RIGHT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, BUT TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING WOULD RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. INITIALLY IT WOULD OCCUR EVERY 2 TO 3 MONTHES, BUT AS TIME WENT ON IT BECAME MORE FREQUENT. I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED OUT AFTER IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN ONE DAY - TWICE WHILE I WAS DRIVING CAUSING ME TO PULL TO THE SIDE OFTHE ROAD AND SHUT OFF AND RESTART THE CAR IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO EASILY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. ONLY AFTER GETTING THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED WAS I INFORMED OF THE THE FREQUENCY OF ISSUES LIKE THIS WITH OTHER CARS. THE DEALER DID FIX THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE POWER STEERING PUMP AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $900.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING A TURN, THE STEERING WOULD BECOME INCREASINGLY RESISTANT. THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR WHEN TURNING AND ONCE THE TURN WAS COMPLETE, THE STEERING WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE STEERING PUMP MAY BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,000.

LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. SIGNIFICANT FORCE WAS NEEDED TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM LASTED FOR ONE DAY. THE POWER STEERING RETURNED THE FOLLOWING DAY, BUT THE MOTOR STAYED ON AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR AND THE FAN. *TR

THE POWER STEERING PUMP IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING WHILE DRIVING. THIS MAKES TURNING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND HAZARDOUS AND HAPPENS AT WHAT SEEMS TO BE 'RANDOM' TIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE MINI DEALER AND THEY CHARGED ME $125 TO TELL ME THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FINE, BUT SHORTED OUT A COUPLE OF TIMES CAUSING THE DIFFICULTY IN STEERING. THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE $1060 FOR THE REPLACEMENT. FROM WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT EFFECTS 223,000 MINI DRIVERS AND YET THERE IS NO RECALL YET. *TR

THE FIRST TIME I HAD A PROBLEM, I WAS DRIVING AND MAINTAINING SPEED WHEN SUDDENLY THE POWER-STEERING FAILED. I JERKED THE STEERING WHEEL AND TURNED IT WITH FORCE, AND THEN THE POWER-STEERING RETURNED. ANOTHER TIME, THE POWER-STEERING FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND REMAINED OFF UNTIL I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND THEN TURNED THE IGNITION BACK ON.

2005 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES IN MY MINI COOPER. THE CAR BECOMES EXTREMELY HARD TO DRIVE WHEN IT FAILS (MUCH HARDER THAN AN OLD CAR WITHOUT POWER STEERING-ITS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILS). SEVERAL TIMES IT HAS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE MAKING A TURN. IF I TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT THE POWER STEERING WILL COME BACK FOR A WHILE. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION! *TR

POWER STEERING BEGAN INTERMITTENTLY FAILING ON OUR 2005 MINI COOPER AT APPROX. 88,000 MILES. STEERING WOULD BECOME VERY STIFF MAKING MANEUVERING THE CAR QUITE DIFFICULT. USUALLY WOULD GO OUT AFTER TRAVELING SOME DISTANCE ON THE HIGHWAY. VERY NOTICEABLE ONCE STOPPED AT INTERSECTION AND TRYING TO TURN TO NEW DIRECTION. DOES NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE. HAS OCCURRED ABOUT 10 TIMES NOW IN THE PAST 3 WEEKS. FAILED ON WAY TO MINI DEALER TODAY. MINI DEALER HAS INDICATED THE FAILURE OF THE MODULE IN THE POWERSTEERING PUMP. WILL REPLACE PUMP FOR $1,100.00 PLUS. HAVING THIS REPAIR DONE AS I WRITE. NO OFFER TO DISCOUNT EVEN THOUGH NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING THE FAILURE OF THIS PART. *TR

THERE WAS A STRANGE NOISE (LIKE A FAN RUNNING) COMING FROM MY 2005 MINI COOPER WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. IT CONTINUED TO MAKE THE NOISE UNTIL EVENTUALLY THE CAR BATTERY DIED. I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR IN FEAR OF LOSING THE POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO EVALUATE THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I AM NOT SURE WHY A 6 YEAR OLD CAR WITH 36,600 MILES WOULD NEED THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED OR WHY IT IS BROKEN IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WITH PARTS AND LABOR WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $1400. I HAD CONCERNS REGARDING THE REPAIR AND DECIDED TO RETURN HOME WITH MY CAR. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE ALL POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH CONCLUDED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND COMPLETED THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,648 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

WE BOUGHT THIS CAR 1 MONTH AGO FOR OUR 16 YEAR OLD TWINS TO LEARN TO DRIVE ON. TWICE WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING HAS LOCKED UP TO THE POINT THEY ARE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. BOTH TIMES THEY CALLED ME FROM THEIR CELL PHONES AND I INSTRUCTED THEM TO TURN ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND TRY AND GET TO A SAFE PLACE. THEY COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR FROM SIDE TO SIDE SO I INSTRUCTED THEM TO STOP PUTTHE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF AND TRY TO RE-START. EACH TIMES THIS SEEMED TO HELP BUT WHEN WE HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAD ONLY 27,982 MILES A MONTH AGO WHEN WE BOUGHT IT. *LN

I HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER I JUST HIT 55K MILES AND MY POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FAILED. MY BATTERY IS NOW DEAD, ALTERNATOR IS FRIED. IT WAS RUNNING FINE ONE DAY AND THE NEXT IT TURNED ON AND I COULDN'T GET IT OUT OF MY GARAGE AND THEN THE BATTERY COMPLETELY DIED. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND AN EXPENSIVE COST THAT IS THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT IN THE UK THEY ARE PAYING FOR PARTS BUT IN THE US IT IS A MINOR ISSUE. *TR

HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER WITH INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING, DRIVING ALONG AND OCCASIONALLY THE POWER STEERING JUST GOES. REQUIRES INCREASED FORCE TO STEER AND MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. STOP THE CAR RESTART AND ALL APPEARS OKAY AGAIN. *TR

I JUST BOUGHT A 2005 MINI COOPER AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED THIS MORNING. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND THAT THE NHTSA WAS LOOKING INTO THESE ISSUES ALREADY. SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE ONE DAY, I DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT WHETHER THE POWER STEERING FAILURE COMES AND GOES OR WHEN IT IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR. THIS MORNING IT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING, MY WIFE HAD TO EXERT STRENGTH TO DRIVE VEHICLE TO SAFE PLACE WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT (REPORTING THIS AS WE ARE NOT SURE IF IT IS RELATED) OUR 2005 MINI REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAN (AT COST OF $245.60) ON 8/21/2009, TO FIX A LOUD NOISE. ON 1/12/2011 WE HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP DUE TO POWER STEERING FAILURE. MINI AGREED TO CHARGE ME ONLY 1/2 THE WARRANTY PART COST AND REDUCED LABOR (TOTAL JOB COST ME $443 VERSUS ALMOST $1200 UNTIL I COMPLAINED). GIVEN THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS (AND I READ OF SIMILAR CONCERNS IN BRITAIN), THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OF THIS SYSTEM AND I SHOULD GET A REFUND OF WHAT I PAID FOR THE PUMP AND THE FAN I HAD REPLACED IN 2009. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE...

AFTER STARTING UP MY CAR I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, BUT THE POWER STEERING WASN'T WORKING. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND TRIED DRIVING AGAIN. IT STILL DIDN'T WORK. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF TRYING THIS IT FINALLY STARTED TO WORK AGAIN. THE NEXT DAY THIS HAPPENED AGAIN BOTH IN THE MORNING AND AGAIN AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING FOR 3+ HOURS. LATER THAT NIGHT WHEN I DROVE MY CAR IT WORKED FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED RANDOMLY APPROXIMATELY 8 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS, BUT THE MECHANIC CAN NEVER DUPLICATE THE INCIDENT NOR FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE POWER STEERING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP SUDDENLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND GASKET WERE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,954. UPDATED 3/7/11 *CN UPDATED 03/14/11

MY DAUGHTER IS 18 YEARS OLD SHE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK 2AM RAINING OUT SIDE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE STARTED HAVING STEERING PROBLEMS REAL BAD THANK GOD HER BRAKES WORKED. COME TO FIND OUT HER POWER STEERING BOX WENT OUT AND HER FAN SHE HAS A 2005 MINI COOPER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND TRYING TO MAKE A TURN, THE POWER STEERING FAILED MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER (APPROX 48,000 MILES) OUR POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY SEEMED TO CUT OUT MAKING THE STEERING EXTREMELY HEAVY AND UNRESPONSIVE. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY IT MADE DRIVING DIFFICULT, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE. HOWEVER, ON ARRIVING IN TOWN WE WERE UNABLE TO MAKE A TURN WITHOUT ENDING UP IN THE LANE OF ON-COMING TRAFFIC! LUCKILY THERE WAS LITTLE TRAFFIC AROUND WHEN WE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT SEEMED TO RESTORE OUR POWER STEERING LONG ENOUGH TO GET TO OUR FINAL DESTINATION. *TR

2005 MINI COOPER SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. DUE TO DEFECT IN DESIGN POWER STEERING COOLING FAN FAILS, CAUSING PUMP TO OVERHEAT AND RELAY GETS FRIED. MINI REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM, AND FIX. COST FOR REPLACEMENT OF PUMP, FAN, LABOR IS $1300-$1400. VEHICLE HAS 59000 MILES. CURIOUSLY THEY HAVE REDESIGNED FAN WITH COVER TO PROTECT IT AND PUMP HAS ALSO BEEN REDESIGNED. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL. *TR

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO MONTHS, I LOST POWER STEERING IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER. THE SECOND TIME HAPPENED AS I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE-84,OUTSIDE HARTFORD, IN CONNECTICUT. VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS! MY MECHANIC SAYS I HAVE A LEAK IN MY POWER STEERING ELECTRIC PUMP, AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR ALMOST $600 FOR A PUMP. HE SAYS THE MINI COOPERS HE'S WORKED ON ALL HAVE NEEDED THIS REPAIR. HOW CAN A COMMON POWER STEERING PROBLEM NOT BE DANGEROUS AND WARRANT A RECALL? *TRW

2005 MINI COOPER 2 DOOR STANDARD VEHICLE HAS A POWER STEERING FAILURE. IT STARTED 2 MONTHS AGO WITH AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING AT ANY GIVEN TIME OF THE VEHICLE IN USE. 60% OF THE TIME THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER OR TURN CORNERS. IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING AND IS VERY SCARY AS THE DRIVE HANDLING IS IMMEDIATELY CHANGED AND THE MANEUVERING TO THE END OF THE CURVE CHANGES DRASTICALLY. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOW INCREASED AS OF LATE TO THE POWER STEERING NOT TURNING OFF, EVEN AFTER THE KEY HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE POWER STEERING MOTOR HUMS AND WHINES LOUDLY AS THE CAR SITS PARKED AND WITH NO KEY INSERTED. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO TURN THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF. I CALLED CONCORD, CA. MINI (BMW), AND AFTER HAVING EXPLAINED TO THEM THE ABOVE MENTIONED PROBLEMS, THEY...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING; IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, AND COOLING FAN. THE COOLING FAN WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 113,306.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE STEERING COLUMN MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS AND ENGINE HARNESS TO IGNITE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE STEERING PUMP WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE. . THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,209. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY HER PERSONAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,528 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILS . POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTANTLY

AFTER MY 2005 MINI COOPER PASSED THE 60,000 MILE MARK, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FAIL ON A REGULAR BASIS. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT A HALF-HOUR, THE POWER STEERING WOULD SIMPLY STOP WORKING AND IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. PULLING OVER, SHUTTING DOWN AND RESTARTING THE CAR WOULD TEMPORARILY FIX THE PROBLEM. MY LOCAL BMW DEALER REPEATEDLY CHECKED THE CAR AND WAS NEVER ABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEM. A LOCAL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY COOLING FAN ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN OK SINCE. *TR UPDATED 08/03/11 *BF UPDATED 12/05/11

FOLLOWING REAR END IMPACT, THERE WAS AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, WHICH WAS LATER TRACED TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. TERMINALS WERE BURNED OFF THE PUMP, AND ALTERNATOR ALSO FAILED AS A RESULT. NOTE: THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO COLLISION DAMAGE TO FRONT END. *TR

OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO "STICK" IN THAT I COULD NOT STEER RIGHT OR LEFT WITHOUT PHYSICALLY FORCING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, USING ALL MY STRENGTH TO DO IT. I THOUGHT I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS A TERRIFYING EVENT. THEN IT WOULD GO BACK TO "NORMAL" THE NEXT DAY, BUT THEN "STICK" AGAIN ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS WITH NO RHYME OR REASON; THERE WAS NO PATTERN AS TO WHEN IT WOULD OCCUR. BUT IT DID HAPPEN AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD "STICK" NO MATTER IF THE CAR WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, OR WHILE DRIVING. AFTER CHECKING WITH LOCAL GARAGES, THEY SUGGESTED TO HAVE MY MINI DEALERSHIP REPAIR IT AS NO ONE COULD FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. MINI DIAGNOSED THE FAILED POWER STEERING, AND INSTALLED A...

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING. I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THE STEERING WAS ABOUT TO GO.

I OWN A 2005 MINI COOPER. AS I WAS DRIVING IT, I SUFFERED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I HAVE HAD LITTLE TO NO PROBLEM WITH MY MINI BEFORE THIS, BUT COMPLETELY LOST ABILITY TO STEER. LUCKILY I WAS IN AN ALLEY AT THE TIME AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP WHO WAS UNAWARE OF ANY INVESTIGATION INTO MINICOOPER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INCREASINGLY TIGHT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OIL LEAK ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. 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.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME ABNORMALLY STIFF MAKING CAUSING LIMITED CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. AFTER RESTARTING, THE STEERING RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING YET NO FAILURE CODES WERE GENERATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MODULE WOULD POSSIBLY NEED REPLACING. THE STEERING MODULE WAS REPLACED YET WITHIN SIX MONTHS, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT CALLED BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER REGARDING THE STEERING FAILURE AND WAS ADVISED BY BOTH PARTIES THAT THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REGARDING STEERING FAILURES WITHIN HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE STEERING FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH. THE CONTACT WAS NO LONGER DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH AND TURNING RIGHT, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 117,000.

I HAVE LOST THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER ABOUT SIX TIMES. THIS HAS BECOME A BIG, FRUSTRATING, AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND SHUT OFF. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DROVE NORMALLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE BEGAN TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY, SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 61,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE POWER STEERING IN OUR 2005 MINI COOPER HAS A RECENT HISTORY (WITHIN THE PAST YEAR) OF INTERMITTENTLY FAILING, MAKING THE CAR DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, FOR OUR SMALL-SIZED DRIVERS (ABOUT 100 LBS.) TO MANEUVER. THIS HAS PROVED DANGEROUS ON THE ROAD, BUT INJURIES HAVE SO FAR BEEN AVOIDED, JUST WHEN WE WERE GOING TO GET IT FIXED, THE PROBLEM APPEARED TO SELF-CORRECT. THIS WEEK, HOWEVER, THE CAR HAS FAILED TO START OR TAKE A CHARGE TO A ONE-YEAR-OLD BATTERY. OUR RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY MECHANIC CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WE ARE WONDERING IF THERE MAY BE A DRAIN ON THE BATTERY FROM THIS POWER STEERING PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE PICKING MY GRANDSON FROM SCHOOL ON OCT 18 2010 AT 2:30 PM I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE ONTO THE HIGHWAY , HALF STILL IN PARKING SPACE AND HALF ON THE HIGHWAY MY CAR STOPPED--- IT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD --- COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WOULD NOT TURN--THE MOTOR RUNNING ALL THE TIME --I TURNED THE KEY OFF AND ON TWICE BEFORE THE CAR WOULD MOVE .ONLY REASON WE WERE NOT HIT BY TRAFFIC IS BECAUSE WE WERE IN A SCHOOL ZONE AND TRAFFIC WAS SLOW AT THAT TIME. I CALLED MY MINI DEALER IN BATON ROUGE AND ASKED IF THEY HAD OTHER PEOPLE WITH TROUBLE WITH THEIR MINI THEY SAID NO-- ASKED THEY TO CHECK IF MINI HAD ANYTHING GOING ON WITH MINI S THEY WOULD NOT CHECK THEY JUST SAYING THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED AND OFFICIAL NOTICE THEY SAID I...

THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER HAS GONE OUT. IT STARTED FAILING INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS THEN AS OF SEPTEMBER 2010 HAS FAILED COMPLETELY. IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND TURN THE CAR. I TOOK IT IN TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHEN IT WAS FAILING INTERMITTENTLY AND THEY COULD NOT RECREATE IT. NOTHING HAS BEEN CHANGED/FIXED AT THIS TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER ASSIST LOCKED UP AND HE LOST POWER STEERING FUNCTIONALITY. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY STIFF, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED 15% OFF FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,389. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,370.

THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAD TO STOP SUDDENLY BECAUSE I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN SAFELY WITHIN A NORMAL TURN. I HAD TO TURN VERY HARD AND WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING AND INTERMITTENT STEERING SYSTEM DEGRADATION PRIOR TO TOTAL FAILURE. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE 2005 MINI WHEN STEERING STARTED FAILING. PULLED OVER AND WAS TOWED TO GARAGE FOR REPAIRS. POOR DESIGN AND NO ACCOMMODATION FOR SYSTEM FAILURE. *TR

I JUST BOUGHT A 2005 MINI COOPER WHICH IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION UPON BUYING. AFTER A WEEK, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON A TURN THAT I COULD BARELY MAKE. I COULDN'T MAKE ANY OF THE TURNS ALL THE WAY HOME! I THOUGHT MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE THE KEY WASN'T IN THE IGNITION RIGHT. I TOOK OUT THE KEY AND RE-STARTED MY CAR. IT WORKED AND THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON! WELL, A COUPLE DAYS LATER THIS ISSUE HAS NOW BECOME A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I WOULD MAKE A RIGHT TURN OFF A MAIN ROAD AND I WAS SHOCKED THAT MY CAR WOULDN'T TURN. TO MAKE THINGS EVEN WORSE, THERE WAS A SCHOOL BUS I ALMOST HIT! I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND TRY TO MAKE THIS IMPOSSIBLE TURN. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED EVERY TIME I HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR. ITS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT! IT GOES...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER BUT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 49,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 MINI COOPER TODAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AROUND SHARP TURNS AT SLOWER SPEEDS. I HAVE NOT YET CORRECTED THE FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECOME TIGHT AND WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO MOVE OUT A PARKING LOT, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED UP. THE REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.

PER THE MINI COOPER POWER STEERING PUMP INVESTIGATION - ON MARCH 24, 2010 I PAID TO HAVE MY POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED AFTER HAVING MY BATTERY DIE FOR A SECOND TIME. THE MINI DEALERSHIP FAILED THE FIRST TIME TO FIND THE PROBLEM BUT UPON THE SECOND BATTERY DYING THEY REPORTED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REMAINING ON AND DRAWING POWER FROM THE BATTERY EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. THIS ALSO EXPLAINED WHY I HAD BEEN NOTICING THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. *TR