Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | ||||||
| PE10038 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC | 09/24/2010 | 05/10/2011 | Loss of Power Steering Assist | ||
| Odi has received 339 complaints alleging an unexpected loss of power steering assist while driving the vehicle.when the power steering assist stops working, drivers experienced difficulty in steering and/or controlling the vehicle.according to bmw drivers may experience either a temporary or permanent loss of power steering assist.bmw further advised that a temporary loss of power steering assist may be due to a malfunctioning cooling fan or an under-voltage condition in the power steering system.a permanent loss of power steering assist may be due to an error in the internal electronics, and may also result in the continuous running of the power steering pump.the voq complaints allege 5 minor crashes and 3 fires.the crashes are described as hit the curb.the fires are described as melted wires. there were no property damage claims.odi has received similar complaints for other model year mini.additional information is required to evaluate the frequency, consequence, and scope of this issue.accordingly the investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (see ea11-005). | ||||||
| EA11005 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC | 05/04/2011 | Loss of Power Steering Assist | |||
| Odi has received 339 complaints alleging an unexpected loss of power steering assist while driving the vehicle.when the power steering assist stops working, drivers experienced difficulty in steering and/or controlling the vehicle.according to bmw drivers may experience either a temporary or permanent loss of power steering assist.bmw further advised that a temporary loss of power steering assist may be due to a malfunctioning cooling fan or an under-voltage condition in the power steering system.a permanent loss of power steering assist may be due to an error in the internal electronics, and may also result in the continuous running of the power steering pump.the voq complaints allege 5 minor crashes and 3 fires.the crashes are described as hit the curb.the fires are described as melted wires. there were no property damage claims.odi has received similar complaints for other model year mini cooper vehicles.additional information is required to evaluate the frequency, consequence, and scope of this issue.accordingly, the investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis. | ||||||
| PE10038 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC | 09/24/2010 | Loss of power steering assist | |||
| The office of defect investigations has received 54 complaints and a confidential number of field reports alleging an unexpected loss of power steering assist while driving the vehicle. when the power steering assist stops working it requires increased force to steer the vehicle.some drivers reported experiencing difficulty while trying to steer or control the vehicle.the reports indicate that the loss of power steering assist may be related to a power steering pump failure. | ||||||
| STEERING - ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | ||||||
| PE10038 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC | 09/24/2010 | 05/10/2011 | Loss of Power Steering Assist | ||
| Odi has received 339 complaints alleging an unexpected loss of power steering assist while driving the vehicle.when the power steering assist stops working, drivers experienced difficulty in steering and/or controlling the vehicle.according to bmw drivers may experience either a temporary or permanent loss of power steering assist.bmw further advised that a temporary loss of power steering assist may be due to a malfunctioning cooling fan or an under-voltage condition in the power steering system.a permanent loss of power steering assist may be due to an error in the internal electronics, and may also result in the continuous running of the power steering pump.the voq complaints allege 5 minor crashes and 3 fires.the crashes are described as hit the curb.the fires are described as melted wires. there were no property damage claims.odi has received similar complaints for other model year mini.additional information is required to evaluate the frequency, consequence, and scope of this issue.accordingly the investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (see ea11-005). | ||||||
| EA11005 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC | 05/04/2011 | Loss of Power Steering Assist | |||
| Odi has received 339 complaints alleging an unexpected loss of power steering assist while driving the vehicle.when the power steering assist stops working, drivers experienced difficulty in steering and/or controlling the vehicle.according to bmw drivers may experience either a temporary or permanent loss of power steering assist.bmw further advised that a temporary loss of power steering assist may be due to a malfunctioning cooling fan or an under-voltage condition in the power steering system.a permanent loss of power steering assist may be due to an error in the internal electronics, and may also result in the continuous running of the power steering pump.the voq complaints allege 5 minor crashes and 3 fires.the crashes are described as hit the curb.the fires are described as melted wires. there were no property damage claims.odi has received similar complaints for other model year mini cooper vehicles.additional information is required to evaluate the frequency, consequence, and scope of this issue.accordingly, the investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis. | ||||||
| PE10038 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC | 09/24/2010 | Loss of power steering assist | |||
| The office of defect investigations has received 54 complaints and a confidential number of field reports alleging an unexpected loss of power steering assist while driving the vehicle. when the power steering assist stops working it requires increased force to steer the vehicle.some drivers reported experiencing difficulty while trying to steer or control the vehicle.the reports indicate that the loss of power steering assist may be related to a power steering pump failure. | ||||||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - PUMP | ||||||
| PE10038 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC | 09/24/2010 | 05/10/2011 | Loss of Power Steering Assist | ||
| Odi has received 339 complaints alleging an unexpected loss of power steering assist while driving the vehicle.when the power steering assist stops working, drivers experienced difficulty in steering and/or controlling the vehicle.according to bmw drivers may experience either a temporary or permanent loss of power steering assist.bmw further advised that a temporary loss of power steering assist may be due to a malfunctioning cooling fan or an under-voltage condition in the power steering system.a permanent loss of power steering assist may be due to an error in the internal electronics, and may also result in the continuous running of the power steering pump.the voq complaints allege 5 minor crashes and 3 fires.the crashes are described as hit the curb.the fires are described as melted wires. there were no property damage claims.odi has received similar complaints for other model year mini.additional information is required to evaluate the frequency, consequence, and scope of this issue.accordingly the investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (see ea11-005). | ||||||
| EA11005 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC | 05/04/2011 | Loss of Power Steering Assist | |||
| Odi has received 339 complaints alleging an unexpected loss of power steering assist while driving the vehicle.when the power steering assist stops working, drivers experienced difficulty in steering and/or controlling the vehicle.according to bmw drivers may experience either a temporary or permanent loss of power steering assist.bmw further advised that a temporary loss of power steering assist may be due to a malfunctioning cooling fan or an under-voltage condition in the power steering system.a permanent loss of power steering assist may be due to an error in the internal electronics, and may also result in the continuous running of the power steering pump.the voq complaints allege 5 minor crashes and 3 fires.the crashes are described as hit the curb.the fires are described as melted wires. there were no property damage claims.odi has received similar complaints for other model year mini cooper vehicles.additional information is required to evaluate the frequency, consequence, and scope of this issue.accordingly, the investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis. | ||||||
| PE10038 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC | 09/24/2010 | Loss of power steering assist | |||
| The office of defect investigations has received 54 complaints and a confidential number of field reports alleging an unexpected loss of power steering assist while driving the vehicle. when the power steering assist stops working it requires increased force to steer the vehicle.some drivers reported experiencing difficulty while trying to steer or control the vehicle.the reports indicate that the loss of power steering assist may be related to a power steering pump failure. | ||||||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | ||||||
| PE10038 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC | 09/24/2010 | 05/10/2011 | Loss of Power Steering Assist | ||
| Odi has received 339 complaints alleging an unexpected loss of power steering assist while driving the vehicle.when the power steering assist stops working, drivers experienced difficulty in steering and/or controlling the vehicle.according to bmw drivers may experience either a temporary or permanent loss of power steering assist.bmw further advised that a temporary loss of power steering assist may be due to a malfunctioning cooling fan or an under-voltage condition in the power steering system.a permanent loss of power steering assist may be due to an error in the internal electronics, and may also result in the continuous running of the power steering pump.the voq complaints allege 5 minor crashes and 3 fires.the crashes are described as hit the curb.the fires are described as melted wires. there were no property damage claims.odi has received similar complaints for other model year mini.additional information is required to evaluate the frequency, consequence, and scope of this issue.accordingly the investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (see ea11-005). | ||||||
| EA11005 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC | 05/04/2011 | Loss of Power Steering Assist | |||
| Odi has received 339 complaints alleging an unexpected loss of power steering assist while driving the vehicle.when the power steering assist stops working, drivers experienced difficulty in steering and/or controlling the vehicle.according to bmw drivers may experience either a temporary or permanent loss of power steering assist.bmw further advised that a temporary loss of power steering assist may be due to a malfunctioning cooling fan or an under-voltage condition in the power steering system.a permanent loss of power steering assist may be due to an error in the internal electronics, and may also result in the continuous running of the power steering pump.the voq complaints allege 5 minor crashes and 3 fires.the crashes are described as hit the curb.the fires are described as melted wires. there were no property damage claims.odi has received similar complaints for other model year mini cooper vehicles.additional information is required to evaluate the frequency, consequence, and scope of this issue.accordingly, the investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis. | ||||||
| PE10038 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC | 09/24/2010 | Loss of power steering assist | |||
| The office of defect investigations has received 54 complaints and a confidential number of field reports alleging an unexpected loss of power steering assist while driving the vehicle. when the power steering assist stops working it requires increased force to steer the vehicle.some drivers reported experiencing difficulty while trying to steer or control the vehicle.the reports indicate that the loss of power steering assist may be related to a power steering pump failure. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||
| 09/10/2012 | 113250 | 1 | |
| Drove on the highway at 65 mph for about 15 mins. after exiting the highway, i realized the steering wheel was very difficult to turn. fortunately, i was coming to a traffic junction and i was able to stop the car and pull aside without any incident. from what i've read on the internet, there is an inherent problem with the power steering pump that causes the power steering to fail intermittently while driving. this is a very serious problem that can easily cause an accident. there is also a whining noise that i hear coming from the engine compartment while driving the car which i found is also related to the power steering pump problem. *tr | |||
| 09/10/2012 | 113250 | ||
| Drove on the highway at 65 mph for about 15 mins. after exiting the highway, i realized the steering wheel was very difficult to turn. fortunately, i was coming to a traffic junction and i was able to stop the car and pull aside without any incident. from what i've read on the internet, there is an inherent problem with the power steering pump that causes the power steering to fail intermittently while driving. this is a very serious problem that can easily cause an accident. there is also a whining noise that i hear coming from the engine compartment while driving the car which i found is also related to the power steering pump problem. | |||
| 08/25/2012 | 70595 | 1 | |
| Daughter/co-owner was driving car. shifting from 1st in to 2nd gear. loud clunk or rattle/clicking from unside. car lost power steering, battery light came on. could not control vehicle. had to call tow truck. *tr | |||
| 08/25/2012 | 70595 | ||
| Daughter/co-owner was driving car. shifting from 1st in to 2nd gear. loud clunk or rattle/clicking from unside. car lost power steering, battery light came on. could not control vehicle. had to call tow truck. | |||
| 02/02/2011 | 1 | ||
| The power steering has been going out for some time. often it will reset if i turn the vehicle off for a few seconds and restart, but recently it hasn't been resetting right away and often will be out for quite some time before resetting. there have also been strange creaking/groaning sounds every time i turn the wheel recently, as well as a whirring sound that goes on and off while the car is parked and turned off. the steering will go out when i start the car or when i'm driving. it's worrying to drive a vehicle where you can never be sure if a light turn of the wheel will do the trick to avoid another vehicle or if it will require all the strength i have--if i misjudge this by either applying too much force or too little, an accident is very likely. *tr | |||
| 02/02/2011 | |||
| The power steering has been going out for some time. often it will reset if i turn the vehicle off for a few seconds and restart, but recently it hasn't been resetting right away and often will be out for quite some time before resetting. there have also been strange creaking/groaning sounds every time i turn the wheel recently, as well as a whirring sound that goes on and off while the car is parked and turned off. the steering will go out when i start the car or when i'm driving. it's worrying to drive a vehicle where you can never be sure if a light turn of the wheel will do the trick to avoid another vehicle or if it will require all the strength i have--if i misjudge this by either applying too much force or too little, an accident is very likely. | |||
| 02/22/2012 | 78000 | ||
| I was turning the corner to pull into my street and the power steering went out. i barely managed to turn the vehicle into my driveway and then turned it off. when i went to try it again a few days later, i could not turn the steering wheel. | |||
| 05/10/2012 | 54000 | ||
| Last thursday may 10, 2012 i was driving home and suddenly and without any warning, i lost the steering power function; the steering wheel got totally rigid and almost impossible to manipulate; with a huge effort and very carefully, i could arrive at home. i am lucky that i am an experienced driver. after switching off and on the car the power steering was working fine again. the problem has been intermittent since then; we are dealing with mini cooper and its authorized dealer right now to get the car repaired but so far the experience with them has been traumatizing. i researched in internet and i found multiple complaints about this issue for the mini cooper models between 2002-2007; i contacted mini cooper and my husband took the car to the authorized dealer this morning but they do not want to assist us with this life- threatening issue; the customer service has been awful here and unconsidered. | |||
| 03/16/2012 | 88000 | ||
| I have lost power steering intermittently over the past two months. it causes loss of control and makes the car undrivable and there is no warning. i pull over and restart it and it has power steering again. i am afraid to drive it on the freeway. | |||
| 04/12/2012 | 92000 | ||
| Power steering went out while driving, has not come back | |||
| 10/15/2010 | 65500 | ||
| Was travelling at neighborhood speed, turned into driveway and power assist on the steering failed. had i been at speed this would have resulted in hitting a tree next tot he driveway. the car was essentially unsteerable without tremendous force, a condition completely unexpected. after turning off the vehicle and restarting it, the problem was no longer there, so obviously an electrical problem. the problem recurred about a month later while driving on an interstate highway. i have no idea where as i did not notice it until decelerating to exit the highway and the car was very difficult to steer. at the bottom of the ramp, it again became nearly impossible to maneuver. after turning it off and back on, the problem was gone. this has recurred on and off ever since. a local bmw/mini specialist mechanic informed me that this is not an infrequent problem with 2005 mini's. he indicated the power steering functions fine except for intermittent electrical problems that cause it to fail. the problem has now come back and is very frequent. this is particularly troublesome at low speeds, and while parking. i feel there is sufficient instance of this to warrant a recall as obviously something is not right with the design or engineering of the power steering in far more cases that just my vehicle. | |||
| 03/01/2012 | 68549 | ||
| Power steering started failing approx. 3000 mile ago, at lower speeds the power steering would fail. needed to restart the car to have power work agin. finally the power steering fan would stay on when the car was turned off. took the car to mini dealership, technician was approx. 30 feet from car and he had a diagnosis . power steering pump had failed and so did the power steering fan unit. since the car did not properly shut down i had to replace the battery. i had contacted mini usa whe the problem started and they would not do anything until the could replicate the issue of the power steering failing. this went nowhere fast. when pump and fan finally again they still would nothing for me and would not acknowledge any issues with the car. | |||
| 02/27/2012 | 79000 | ||
| The car lost power steering intermittently lasting different length of times. the steering was extremely hard to move. this occurred as i was driving 35 mph with no warning on a left hand turn. mini diagnostics identified the power steering pump and fan needed to be replaced and said it was infact the same issue being investigated by nhtsa but declined to assist in repairs.. $1200.00... standing only behind the 30,000mi/3 yr warranty expiration. please recall the 2005 mini for this issue... | |||
| 10/26/2011 | 64525 | ||
| Power steering failed on low and high speed.had to slow down to stop,key off and rekey several times to get power steering to return.this has happened many times since the first time.it happens without warning and with no notice.by looking at this website and online forums i see this is a ongoing concern,and that this concern resulted in a recall in canada.i would hope that nhtsa would adopt the same recal as canada,as this defect is not the fault of the consumer.the appx cost of a known defect in the 1200.00 to 2000.00 dollar range that is not the fault of the consumer seems grossly unfair. | |||
| 01/17/2012 | 58000 | ||
| After igniting my car, sometimes power steering doesn't work. all i can do at this moment is that i turn off and restart my car again. and most of times if i restart my car, power steering works fine. also power steering once in a while stops to work when i drive slowly, e.g when i drive local. i have to restart my car in this case too. until a couple of days ago, i felt this problem only happened when i ignited my car or drove local, so i thought this is a minor issue as long as i can restart my car safely. but the most dangerous moment occurred two days ago when i was making a turn to exit on parkway. suddenly it was very hard to control the car on highway, and i had to stop at side road and restart. i brought my car to local mechanic and had him examine it yesterday. he said power steering wheel pump needs to be replaced. | |||
| 10/23/2010 | 103320 | ||
| Power steering pump failed and lost steering ability. the relay for the cooling fan remained in the closed position causing the battery to fail. i had to replace the power steering pump and battery. there have been many complaints of the same problem. there should be a recall to fix this before someone gets killed. | |||
| 01/17/2012 | 58000 | ||
| After igniting my car, sometimes power steering doesn't work. all i can do at this moment is that i turn off and restart my car again. and most of times if i restart my car, power steering works fine. also power steering once in a while stops to work when i drive slowly, e.g when i drive local. i have to restart my car in this case too. until a couple of days ago, i felt this problem only happened when i ignited my car or drove local, so i thought this is a minor issue as long as i can restart my car safely. but the most dangerous moment occurred two days ago when i was making a turn to exit on parkway. suddenly it was very hard to control the car on highway, and i had to stop at side road and restart. i brought my car to local mechanic and had him examine it yesterday. he said power steering wheel pump needs to be replaced. | |||
| 10/23/2010 | 103320 | ||
| Power steering pump failed and lost steering ability. the relay for the cooling fan remained in the closed position causing the battery to fail. i had to replace the power steering pump and battery. there have been many complaints of the same problem. there should be a recall to fix this before someone gets killed. | |||
| 01/17/2012 | 58000 | ||
| After igniting my car, sometimes power steering doesn't work. all i can do at this moment is that i turn off and restart my car again. and most of times if i restart my car, power steering works fine. also power steering once in a while stops to work when i drive slowly, e.g when i drive local. i have to restart my car in this case too. until a couple of days ago, i felt this problem only happened when i ignited my car or drove local, so i thought this is a minor issue as long as i can restart my car safely. but the most dangerous moment occurred two days ago when i was making a turn to exit on parkway. suddenly it was very hard to control the car on highway, and i had to stop at side road and restart. i brought my car to local mechanic and had him examine it yesterday. he said power steering wheel pump needs to be replaced. | |||
| 10/23/2010 | 103320 | ||
| Power steering pump failed and lost steering ability. the relay for the cooling fan remained in the closed position causing the battery to fail. i had to replace the power steering pump and battery. there have been many complaints of the same problem. there should be a recall to fix this before someone gets killed. | |||
| 12/09/2011 | 75000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper convertible. the contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the power steering system malfunctioned and the steering wheel became very stiff. the contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic where the mechanic stated to the contact that the entire power steering system needed to be replaced. the contact did not take the vehicle to the dealer or call the manufacturer. the failure mileage was 75,000. kmj | |||
| 12/09/2011 | 75000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper convertible. the contact stated while starting the vehicle the power steering system malfunctioned. the contact stated the steering wheel became very stiff. the contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic. the mechanic stated the entire power system needed to be replaced. the contact did not take the vehicle to the dealer or call the manufacturer. the failure mileage was 75,000. jo | |||
| 10/09/2011 | 44776 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper convertible. the contact stated that while driving 45 mph the power steering became unresponsive. the vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the power steering pump was defective and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 44,776. | |||
| 10/09/2011 | 44000 | ||
| The power steering on my 2005 mini cooper convertible suddenly failed on a turn, nearly causing me to go into a ditch. my mini dealer told me it was probably the power steering pump & would cost $1400 to replace. i researched the problem on the internet & found this was a common issue with the mini cooper & that an investigation was taking place into the defective pump & that a recall might be forthcoming. i called mini usa's customer service dept. their rep told me that they were aware of the issue & that they might be able to offer goodwill assistance in getting it replaced if i took it to my dealer for verification that it was a pump failure. i took it to the dealer who verified that the pump needed replaced. their service department said this had been a common problem & that they were aware of the complaints made about the pump going bad. i called mini usa's customer service, spoke to a supervisor who told me she'd get back to me. a week later, she called & told me that my request for assistance has been denied & that i would be responsible for the replacement. i strongly feel that, in light of the numerous complaints about the power steering pump, bmw/mini should be held accountable for its replacement. $1400 is an incredible amount of money to replace something that shouldn't have gone bad in the first place. there are no local mechanics who can take repair this so mini usa/bmw has us right where they want us - powerless to fight a big company & helpless because we need our vehicles. i would have never expected this to happen on a car with less than 45,000 miles on it. suddenly losing one's power steering can be extremely dangerous. i encourage nhtsa to further investigate this vehicle's power steering pump defect & issue a recall to ensure the safety of the vehicle's drivers, passengers & anyone who could be injured due to sudden loss of its power steering. | |||
| 10/09/2011 | 44776 | ||
| Tl - the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper convertible. the contact stated that while driving 45 mph the power steering became unresponsive. the vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the power steering pump was defective and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 44,776. kmj | |||
| 10/09/2011 | 44000 | ||
| The power steering on my 2005 mini cooper convertible suddenly failed on a turn, nearly causing me to go into a ditch. my mini dealer told me it was probably the power steering pump & would cost $1400 to replace. i researched the problem on the internet & found this was a common issue with the mini cooper & that an investigation was taking place into the defective pump & that a recall might be forthcoming. i called mini usa's customer service dept. their rep told me that they were aware of the issue & that they might be able to offer goodwill assistance in getting it replaced if i took it to my dealer for verification that it was a pump failure. i took it to the dealer who verified that the pump needed replaced. their service department said this had been a common problem & that they were aware of the complaints made about the pump going bad. i called mini usa's customer service, spoke to a supervisor who told me she'd get back to me. a week later, she called & told me that my request for assistance has been denied & that i would be responsible for the replacement. i strongly feel that, in light of the numerous complaints about the power steering pump, bmw/mini should be held accountable for its replacement. $1400 is an incredible amount of money to replace something that shouldn't have gone bad in the first place. there are no local mechanics who can take repair this so mini usa/bmw has us right where they want us - powerless to fight a big company & helpless because we need our vehicles. i would have never expected this to happen on a car with less than 45,000 miles on it. suddenly losing one's power steering can be extremely dangerous. i encourage nhtsa to further investigate this vehicle's power steering pump defect & issue a recall to ensure the safety of the vehicle's drivers, passengers & anyone who could be injured due to sudden loss of its power steering. | |||
| 10/09/2011 | 44776 | ||
| Tl - the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper convertible. the contact stated that while driving 45 mph the power steering became unresponsive. the vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the power steering pump was defective and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 44,776. kmj | |||
| 10/09/2011 | 44000 | ||
| The power steering on my 2005 mini cooper convertible suddenly failed on a turn, nearly causing me to go into a ditch. my mini dealer told me it was probably the power steering pump & would cost $1400 to replace. i researched the problem on the internet & found this was a common issue with the mini cooper & that an investigation was taking place into the defective pump & that a recall might be forthcoming. i called mini usa's customer service dept. their rep told me that they were aware of the issue & that they might be able to offer goodwill assistance in getting it replaced if i took it to my dealer for verification that it was a pump failure. i took it to the dealer who verified that the pump needed replaced. their service department said this had been a common problem & that they were aware of the complaints made about the pump going bad. i called mini usa's customer service, spoke to a supervisor who told me she'd get back to me. a week later, she called & told me that my request for assistance has been denied & that i would be responsible for the replacement. i strongly feel that, in light of the numerous complaints about the power steering pump, bmw/mini should be held accountable for its replacement. $1400 is an incredible amount of money to replace something that shouldn't have gone bad in the first place. there are no local mechanics who can take repair this so mini usa/bmw has us right where they want us - powerless to fight a big company & helpless because we need our vehicles. i would have never expected this to happen on a car with less than 45,000 miles on it. suddenly losing one's power steering can be extremely dangerous. i encourage nhtsa to further investigate this vehicle's power steering pump defect & issue a recall to ensure the safety of the vehicle's drivers, passengers & anyone who could be injured due to sudden loss of its power steering. | |||
| 10/09/2011 | 44776 | ||
| Tl - the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper convertible. the contact stated that while driving 45 mph the power steering became unresponsive. the vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the power steering pump was defective and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 44,776. pm | |||
| 10/09/2011 | 44000 | ||
| The power steering on my 2005 mini cooper convertible suddenly failed on a turn, nearly causing me to go into a ditch. my mini dealer told me it was probably the power steering pump & would cost $1400 to replace. i researched the problem on the internet & found this was a common issue with the mini cooper & that an investigation was taking place into the defective pump & that a recall might be forthcoming. i called mini usa's customer service dept. their rep told me that they were aware of the issue & that they might be able to offer goodwill assistance in getting it replaced if i took it to my dealer for verification that it was a pump failure. i took it to the dealer who verified that the pump needed replaced. their service department said this had been a common problem & that they were aware of the complaints made about the pump going bad. i called mini usa's customer service, spoke to a supervisor who told me she'd get back to me. a week later, she called & told me that my request for assistance has been denied & that i would be responsible for the replacement. i strongly feel that, in light of the numerous complaints about the power steering pump, bmw/mini should be held accountable for its replacement. $1400 is an incredible amount of money to replace something that shouldn't have gone bad in the first place. there are no local mechanics who can take repair this so mini usa/bmw has us right where they want us - powerless to fight a big company & helpless because we need our vehicles. i would have never expected this to happen on a car with less than 45,000 miles on it. suddenly losing one's power steering can be extremely dangerous. i encourage nhtsa to further investigate this vehicle's power steering pump defect & issue a recall to ensure the safety of the vehicle's drivers, passengers & anyone who could be injured due to sudden loss of its power steering. | |||
| 02/15/2011 | 63000 | ||
| Intermittent loss of power steering, usually when making a turn - extremely dangerous in middle of intersection - have almost had two accidents when steering went out. it became progressively worse and as of may, 2011 the power steering was completely out - however as of august 22, 2011 it returned to full working order - and lasted for approx. 9 days and then started to pop in and out intermittently after starting and turning off the vehicle. as of approx. sept. 8, 2011 the power steering is completely out. | |||
| 08/05/2011 | 110242 | ||
| 2005 mini cooper power steering abruptly failed while driving at 55 mph on a winding 2 lane rural road. i was able to keep the car on the road and was able to drive the car home with great difficulty. had this been a heavily traveled highway, the results could have been much different. when it happened, it took a little time to figure out what was going on and i found myself in the oncoming lane before i was able to recover. | |||
| 05/31/2011 | 102000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper convertible. the contact stated the steering column locked and the vehicle would not move. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated there was a failure with the steering electric power assist. the cost would be $1000 for the repairs. the dealer stated they would give her a return call if they repair the vehicle under warranty. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure mileage was 102,000. | |||
| 04/19/2011 | 65000 | ||
| My power steering failed as i was making a turn in my neighborhood. the problem is intermittent and a little unnerving. i am strong enough to drive the car without the power assist, but this is not true of my wife. if the problem were to occur when she was driving she might lose control. | |||
| 03/11/2011 | 49148 | ||
| When i got in my 2005 mini cooper convertible to come to work today, i found that i didn't have power steering. i drove approximately 20 miles to a gas station and filled up the tank. when i started the car again, the power steering worked perfectly. after i got to work, i looked on the internet to see if anyone else had experienced this and there were many different people who had dealt with this and according to a few news sources, this could be close to a recall situation. the fix for this is extremely expensive according to the sites that i visited, but the safety of the situation is the over riding factor. if this would have happened with my mother or with my wife driving, i'm not sure if they would have been able to control the car. | |||
| 03/01/2011 | 95000 | ||
| Power steering stopped working. | |||
| 03/11/2011 | 49148 | ||
| When i got in my 2005 mini cooper convertible to come to work today, i found that i didn't have power steering. i drove approximately 20 miles to a gas station and filled up the tank. when i started the car again, the power steering worked perfectly. after i got to work, i looked on the internet to see if anyone else had experienced this and there were many different people who had dealt with this and according to a few news sources, this could be close to a recall situation. the fix for this is extremely expensive according to the sites that i visited, but the safety of the situation is the over riding factor. if this would have happened with my mother or with my wife driving, i'm not sure if they would have been able to control the car. | |||
| 03/01/2011 | 95000 | ||
| Power steering stopped working. | |||
| 03/08/2011 | 95000 | ||
| I had two separate incidents of losing power steering in my 2005 mini cooper convertible. about a month ago, i was driving and made a right turn. the steering wheel felt very heavy and it was extremely hard to make the turn - complete loss of power steering. the problem persisted for any turn on the way home. the next time i drove the car, the steering seemed fine, and continued to seem fine until yesterday afternoon (march 8, 2011). once again, i made a right turn and found that i had no power steering. i needed to stop for gas, so after some rather tricky manuevers to get parked by a gas pump, and shutting the car off, the power steering seemed ok again. i have seen where there are multiple reports of similar problems, so i wanted to add my incident to your database. | |||
| 03/11/2011 | 49148 | ||
| When i got in my 2005 mini cooper convertible to come to work today, i found that i didn't have power steering. i drove approximately 20 miles to a gas station and filled up the tank. when i started the car again, the power steering worked perfectly. after i got to work, i looked on the internet to see if anyone else had experienced this and there were many different people who had dealt with this and according to a few news sources, this could be close to a recall situation. the fix for this is extremely expensive according to the sites that i visited, but the safety of the situation is the over riding factor. if this would have happened with my mother or with my wife driving, i'm not sure if they would have been able to control the car. | |||
| 03/01/2011 | 95000 | ||
| Power steering stopped working. | |||
| 03/08/2011 | 95000 | ||
| I had two separate incidents of losing power steering in my 2005 mini cooper convertible. about a month ago, i was driving and made a right turn. the steering wheel felt very heavy and it was extremely hard to make the turn - complete loss of power steering. the problem persisted for any turn on the way home. the next time i drove the car, the steering seemed fine, and continued to seem fine until yesterday afternoon (march 8, 2011). once again, i made a right turn and found that i had no power steering. i needed to stop for gas, so after some rather tricky manuevers to get parked by a gas pump, and shutting the car off, the power steering seemed ok again. i have seen where there are multiple reports of similar problems, so i wanted to add my incident to your database. | |||
| 03/01/2011 | 95000 | ||
| Power steering stopped working. | |||
| 03/08/2011 | 95000 | ||
| I had two separate incidents of losing power steering in my 2005 mini cooper convertible. about a month ago, i was driving and made a right turn. the steering wheel felt very heavy and it was extremely hard to make the turn - complete loss of power steering. the problem persisted for any turn on the way home. the next time i drove the car, the steering seemed fine, and continued to seem fine until yesterday afternoon (march 8, 2011). once again, i made a right turn and found that i had no power steering. i needed to stop for gas, so after some rather tricky manuevers to get parked by a gas pump, and shutting the car off, the power steering seemed ok again. i have seen where there are multiple reports of similar problems, so i wanted to add my incident to your database. | |||
| 02/03/2011 | 82041 | ||
| Same issue as complaints 10378962 and 10380308, related to investigation 10-038. power steering failed while attempting to make a right hand turn | |||
| 01/27/2011 | |||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2005 bmw mini cooper. while driving approximately 35 mph, attempting to make a right hand turn, the steering being difficult to steer. the vehicle was taking to the dealer who contacted the manufacturer on her behalf. the manufacturer was notified who informed the contact that they will talk with the regional manner on her behalf and the contact was awaiting a response. the vehicle had not been repaired. the current and failure mileages were unknown. bw | |||
| 02/03/2011 | 82041 | ||
| Same issue as complaints 10378962 and 10380308, related to investigation 10-038. power steering failed while attempting to make a right hand turn | |||
| 01/27/2011 | |||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2005 bmw mini cooper. while driving approximately 35 mph, attempting to make a right hand turn, the steering being difficult to steer. the vehicle was taking to the dealer who contacted the manufacturer on her behalf. the manufacturer was notified who informed the contact that they will talk with the regional manner on her behalf and the contact was awaiting a response. the vehicle had not been repaired. the current and failure mileages were unknown. bw | |||
| 01/28/2011 | 69998 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper convertible. the contact stated that after she parked the vehicle and shut the vehicle off and she heard a loud noise still coming from the vehicle. the vehicle was driven home and unplugged the battery, which stopped the loud noise that she was hearing. the vehicle was taken to a dealer and informed the contact that she needed to replace the power steering pump due to it being defective. the manufacturer was contacted and informed her that there was nothing they could do. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 69,998. tb | |||
| 01/29/2011 | 33950 | ||
| The power steering pump failed suddenly and was un-able to turn the car. | |||
| 02/03/2011 | 82041 | ||
| Same issue as complaints 10378962 and 10380308, related to investigation 10-038. power steering failed while attempting to make a right hand turn | |||
| 01/27/2011 | |||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2005 bmw mini cooper. while driving approximately 35 mph, attempting to make a right hand turn, the steering being difficult to steer. the vehicle was taking to the dealer who contacted the manufacturer on her behalf. the manufacturer was notified who informed the contact that they will talk with the regional manner on her behalf and the contact was awaiting a response. the vehicle had not been repaired. the current and failure mileages were unknown. bw | |||
| 01/28/2011 | 69998 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper convertible. the contact stated that after she parked the vehicle and shut the vehicle off and she heard a loud noise still coming from the vehicle. the vehicle was driven home and unplugged the battery, which stopped the loud noise that she was hearing. the vehicle was taken to a dealer and informed the contact that she needed to replace the power steering pump due to it being defective. the manufacturer was contacted and informed her that there was nothing they could do. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 69,998. tb | |||
| 01/29/2011 | 33950 | ||
| The power steering pump failed suddenly and was un-able to turn the car. | |||
| 01/29/2011 | 54000 | ||
| Sudden steering failure | |||
| 01/27/2011 | |||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2005 bmw mini cooper. while driving approximately 35 mph, attempting to make a right hand turn, the steering being difficult to steer. the vehicle was taking to the dealer who contacted the manufacturer on her behalf. the manufacturer was notified who informed the contact that they will talk with the regional manner on her behalf and the contact was awaiting a response. the vehicle had not been repaired. the current and failure mileages were unknown. bw | |||
| 01/28/2011 | 69998 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper convertible. the contact stated that after she parked the vehicle and shut the vehicle off and she heard a loud noise still coming from the vehicle. the vehicle was driven home and unplugged the battery, which stopped the loud noise that she was hearing. the vehicle was taken to a dealer and informed the contact that she needed to replace the power steering pump due to it being defective. the manufacturer was contacted and informed her that there was nothing they could do. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 69,998. tb | |||
| 01/29/2011 | 33950 | ||
| The power steering pump failed suddenly and was un-able to turn the car. | |||
| 01/29/2011 | 54000 | ||
| Sudden steering failure | |||
| 01/27/2011 | 81948 | ||
| Same issue as complaint 10378962, related to investigation 10-038. power steering failed when attempting to make a left hand turn. | |||
| 01/28/2011 | 69998 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper convertible. the contact stated that after she parked the vehicle and shut the vehicle off and she heard a loud noise still coming from the vehicle. the vehicle was driven home and unplugged the battery, which stopped the loud noise that she was hearing. the vehicle was taken to a dealer and informed the contact that she needed to replace the power steering pump due to it being defective. the manufacturer was contacted and informed her that there was nothing they could do. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 69,998. tb | |||
| 01/29/2011 | 33950 | ||
| The power steering pump failed suddenly and was un-able to turn the car. | |||
| 01/29/2011 | 54000 | ||
| Sudden steering failure | |||
| 01/27/2011 | 81948 | ||
| Same issue as complaint 10378962, related to investigation 10-038. power steering failed when attempting to make a left hand turn. | |||
| 01/28/2011 | 69998 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper convertible. the contact stated that after she parked the vehicle and shut the vehicle off and she heard a loud noise still coming from the vehicle. the vehicle was driven home and unplugged the battery, which stopped the loud noise that she was hearing. the vehicle was taken to a dealer and informed the contact that she needed to replace the power steering pump due to it being defective. the manufacturer was contacted and informed her that there was nothing they could do. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 69,998. tb | |||
| 01/29/2011 | 33950 | ||
| The power steering pump failed suddenly and was un-able to turn the car. | |||
| 01/29/2011 | 54000 | ||
| Sudden steering failure | |||
| 01/27/2011 | 81948 | ||
| Same issue as complaint 10378962, related to investigation 10-038. power steering failed when attempting to make a left hand turn. | |||
| 01/29/2011 | 54000 | ||
| Sudden steering failure | |||
| 01/27/2011 | 81948 | ||
| Same issue as complaint 10378962, related to investigation 10-038. power steering failed when attempting to make a left hand turn. | |||
| 01/15/2011 | 81500 | ||
| Power steering failed while attempting to turn corner. failure continued for several miles/hours and then began working again after a period of inactivity | |||
| 01/07/2011 | 65125 | ||
| While driving my 2005 mini cooper, my power steering went out. i was in the middle of a right turn from a very busy street when the steering went out in the middle of the turn. i nearly crashed head-on into oncoming traffic and the steering was so difficult, i pulled a shoulder and back muscle just trying to complete the turn. the power steering was out for the rest of my trip. since then, the power steering has failed intermittently on a daily basis and comes with no warning. it will drive for several miles with no problem and then suddenly stop working. | |||
| 12/03/2010 | 72000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper convertible. the contact could hear a high pitched squeaking noise while making turns. the vehicle was taken to an authorized where she was told the power steering pump was failing. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 72,000. the vin was unavailable. sm. | |||
| 10/16/2010 | 68000 | ||
| I own a 2005 mini cooper. it has a power steering pump fan that has gone out, and is causing unsafe steering issues. i understand nhtsa is investigating this issue. | |||
| 11/26/2010 | 56123 | ||
| Mini cooper 2005 california usa. loss of power steering problem - currently, intermittent loss of power steering, either from cold-start, or while driving on short or long distances. can happen for only a few seconds or remain for minutes. once the power loss is realized, it is possible to switch engine off then on again to regain power - sometimes - but problem can return after minutes or hours. it is very scary to be driving on busy roads when cornering is required, lacking faith whether one will be able to steer the vehicle out of the path of other road-users... internet searches show other people experiencing similar problems but dealers and manufacturers are ignoring or side-stepping this serious safety issue. | |||
| 10/16/2010 | 68000 | ||
| I own a 2005 mini cooper. it has a power steering pump fan that has gone out, and is causing unsafe steering issues. i understand nhtsa is investigating this issue. | |||
| 11/26/2010 | 56123 | ||
| Mini cooper 2005 california usa. loss of power steering problem - currently, intermittent loss of power steering, either from cold-start, or while driving on short or long distances. can happen for only a few seconds or remain for minutes. once the power loss is realized, it is possible to switch engine off then on again to regain power - sometimes - but problem can return after minutes or hours. it is very scary to be driving on busy roads when cornering is required, lacking faith whether one will be able to steer the vehicle out of the path of other road-users... internet searches show other people experiencing similar problems but dealers and manufacturers are ignoring or side-stepping this serious safety issue. | |||
| 11/15/2010 | 77800 | ||
| After about 77,000 miles on my 2005 mini cooper, i encountered sudden and intermittent difficulty with the steering wherein the power steering would abruptly fail. the first two incidents occurred ~3-4 months ago, both directly after starting the vehicle's engine and pulling out of parking. the most recent incidents occurred within the past 6 weeks, randomly during the first 40 miles of my commute. after each incident, i was able to regain full control of the steering by pulling over and shutting off the vehicle's engine and then reengaging it. there have now been a total of 6 incidents. the most recent incident, a few days ago, occurred while i was driving the vehicle on a winding highway and was making a turn. when the power steering failed, it was extremely difficult to correct the angle/speed of the vehicle's turn and a crash into the oncoming traffic lane seemed extremely likely. after cautious braking and relying on the remaining manual steering, using very firm and swift hand-over-hand motion on the steering wheel, i was able to maintain some control over the vehicle's wheels. then, engaging the vehicle's hazard lights, i was eventually able to pull over at the next available highway's shoulder, but it was an extreme awkward maneuver requiring some of the drivers of vehicles around me to adjust their own speeds and turns. i have since brought the vehicle to the dealership's service center and am awaiting the results of the vehicle inspection in response to my complaints. i do not intend to drive the vehicle again until the issue with the power steering is completely resolved, for my own safety and the safety of other drivers. a crash in the future would seem inevitable, otherwise, with inconsistent power over the steering during any commute that involves many winding turns. (if the power steering could be completely disengaged, allowing only manual steering, it would seem far safer than for it to randomly turn off in the midst of driving). | |||
| 11/30/2009 | 87000 | ||
| I have a 2005 mini cooper convertible - r52. the power steering does not work well. it started being problematic about a year ago right after i purchased the car. while driving the powersteering goes very stiff. it is difficult to turn and sometimes when turning off a highway while the power steering is not working, it comes back on, and i end up oversteering off the road and then back on to the road. this has been happening with increasing frequency during the time i have owned this car. i was told by mini that this is not a common problem, but my research seems to indicate that there are 10's of thousands of mini owners from 2002 to 2006 who have this problem. ottos mini in west chester pa quoted me over $1000 do repair it...and they do not seem to see the scope of the problem. i am considering buying the new parts (fan, motor and circuit board) and installing my self. i just cannot spend 1000-1500 bucks to fix this. the parts are about $500 bucks and the install hopefully is pretty easy from what i have read. i hope that your testing does prove this problem needs to be resolved by a recall. it appears that they made a design change that has eliminated the problem in the 2006 or 7 model year. that alone is enough for me to believe that, while i love my mini, i am driving a time bomb, that will cause and accident due to poor engineering. please help me. dave ostrow 484 947 1253 | |||
| 10/03/2010 | 122000 | ||
| Twice, while parallel parking my 2005 mini cooper convertible, i lost power steering. it seems to happen intermittently and restores when i restart my car. dealer says i need to replace my power steering pump | |||
| 03/22/2010 | 27850 | ||
| Power steering in my 2005 mini cooper with 28,000 miles sometimes functions and other times does not-mostly though it does not function. this issue has been ongoing since march, 2010. on rare occasions, i will start the car and the power steering will function as normal. | |||
| 09/17/2010 | 15000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper s. the contact stated the power steering goes in and out on the vehicle. there is no warning prior to the failure. when this happens it is extremely hard to turn the vehicle. the vehicle had not been inspected by the dealer at the time of the complaint. the vin was not available at the time of the complaint. the failure mileage and current mileages was 15000.rl | |||
| 09/20/2010 | 74000 | ||
| 2005 mini cooper convertible at first intermittent power steering failure and now complete power steering failure. the first time it happened very suddenly while making a left turn, i almost ran into another car. now i am not driving the car until i can afford to have it repaired. | |||
| 09/17/2010 | 15000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper s. the contact stated the power steering goes in and out on the vehicle. there is no warning prior to the failure. when this happens it is extremely hard to turn the vehicle. the vehicle had not been inspected by the dealer at the time of the complaint. the vin was not available at the time of the complaint. the failure mileage and current mileages was 15000.rl | |||
| 09/20/2010 | 74000 | ||
| 2005 mini cooper convertible at first intermittent power steering failure and now complete power steering failure. the first time it happened very suddenly while making a left turn, i almost ran into another car. now i am not driving the car until i can afford to have it repaired. | |||
| 09/04/2010 | 55000 | ||
| Mini cooper , power steering froze up and came back while driving at highway speed , | |||
| 09/17/2010 | 15000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper s. the contact stated the power steering goes in and out on the vehicle. there is no warning prior to the failure. when this happens it is extremely hard to turn the vehicle. the vehicle had not been inspected by the dealer at the time of the complaint. the vin was not available at the time of the complaint. the failure mileage and current mileages was 15000.rl | |||
| 09/20/2010 | 74000 | ||
| 2005 mini cooper convertible at first intermittent power steering failure and now complete power steering failure. the first time it happened very suddenly while making a left turn, i almost ran into another car. now i am not driving the car until i can afford to have it repaired. | |||
| 09/04/2010 | 55000 | ||
| Mini cooper , power steering froze up and came back while driving at highway speed , | |||
| 09/26/2009 | 55000 | ||
| 2005 mini cooper - sudden loss of steering on interstate highway at 70 mph. dealer stated power steering pump failure & not uncommon in 5 year old car. not covered under warranty. power steering pump replaced. | |||
| 09/18/2010 | 66890 | ||
| Loss of power steering and power brakes in a 2005 mini cooper convertible. no warning and intermittant occurrance. sometimes would happen while driving and some times would be immediately after turning car on. took car to mechanic and he could not find cause. no computer damage, no codes present to indicate that any thing unusual had occurred. i traded the car in for a different maker and model. | |||
| 09/20/2010 | 74000 | ||
| 2005 mini cooper convertible at first intermittent power steering failure and now complete power steering failure. the first time it happened very suddenly while making a left turn, i almost ran into another car. now i am not driving the car until i can afford to have it repaired. | |||
| 09/04/2010 | 55000 | ||
| Mini cooper , power steering froze up and came back while driving at highway speed , | |||
| 09/26/2009 | 55000 | ||
| 2005 mini cooper - sudden loss of steering on interstate highway at 70 mph. dealer stated power steering pump failure & not uncommon in 5 year old car. not covered under warranty. power steering pump replaced. | |||
| 09/18/2010 | 66890 | ||
| Loss of power steering and power brakes in a 2005 mini cooper convertible. no warning and intermittant occurrance. sometimes would happen while driving and some times would be immediately after turning car on. took car to mechanic and he could not find cause. no computer damage, no codes present to indicate that any thing unusual had occurred. i traded the car in for a different maker and model. | |||
| 09/04/2010 | 55000 | ||
| Mini cooper , power steering froze up and came back while driving at highway speed , | |||
| 09/26/2009 | 55000 | ||
| 2005 mini cooper - sudden loss of steering on interstate highway at 70 mph. dealer stated power steering pump failure & not uncommon in 5 year old car. not covered under warranty. power steering pump replaced. | |||
| 09/18/2010 | 66890 | ||
| Loss of power steering and power brakes in a 2005 mini cooper convertible. no warning and intermittant occurrance. sometimes would happen while driving and some times would be immediately after turning car on. took car to mechanic and he could not find cause. no computer damage, no codes present to indicate that any thing unusual had occurred. i traded the car in for a different maker and model. | |||
| 09/26/2009 | 55000 | ||
| 2005 mini cooper - sudden loss of steering on interstate highway at 70 mph. dealer stated power steering pump failure & not uncommon in 5 year old car. not covered under warranty. power steering pump replaced. | |||
| 09/18/2010 | 66890 | ||
| Loss of power steering and power brakes in a 2005 mini cooper convertible. no warning and intermittant occurrance. sometimes would happen while driving and some times would be immediately after turning car on. took car to mechanic and he could not find cause. no computer damage, no codes present to indicate that any thing unusual had occurred. i traded the car in for a different maker and model. | |||
| 02/18/2010 | 78000 | ||
| Nothing specific to lead up to failure power steering will intermittently fail, and occasionally be restored nothing has been done to correct the failure | |||
| 04/04/2010 | 52000 | ||
| I was driving on the highway when i noticed my steering felt tight. it was difficult to navigate a curve. i tried to pull into a rest area when i realized i had almost no steering ability. i was able to turn the car by using both hands. i almost crashed on the ramp. it was a very scary experience. the problem is still there. i spoke with the dealer. it is my power steering pump. it is a very expensive repair and it seems there are lots of complaints. i am very glad i did not have to do any emergency turns, i would not have been able to steer the car. this could have been a disaster. | |||
| 01/12/2010 | 84000 | 1 | |
| 2005 mini cooper power steering pump failure, while making a turn, without notice my power steering pump failed my vehicle has aprox. 80k miles on it. mini is remanufactuing the pump with design improvements this tells me they know something is wrong with the original pump, they should be made to repair the original pumps fee of charge not the $800.00 they want just for the pump. this is not an isolated incident. *tr | |||
| 10/13/2009 | 50250 | 1 | |
| 2005 mini cooper s convertible. just over 50,000 miles. today, whilst driving to lunch, my power steering failed. there was no warning, it just quit, mid-drive. the car is now very difficult to steer. this could have easily caused an accident. looking online, i see that this is a common failure, yet there have been no recalls. http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-generation-faults-fixes/49527-important-have-you-had-power-steering-pump-failure-please-vote-yes-no.html. *tr | |||
| 06/09/2009 | 45000 | 1 | |
| Regular driving at around 6pm at about 40mph around a bend, complete power steering failure, the car became very heavy to steer, with no prior warning, and no warning lights. almost caused an accident as the car failed to steer. nothing has been done, the warranty has been over for 3 months and mini are saying a goodwill repair might be available, but will not do a free diagnostic, help us get to a dealership or promise anything beforehand. a new power steering pump is likely needed, as per the evidence of the european recall, and other mini driver testimony. *tr | |||
| 06/09/2009 | 45000 | 1 | |
| I was driving down the street at about 40 mph and my steering became extremely hard and almost refused to completely work as i was rounding a bend! i had to slam on my brakes to avoid an accident and slowly inch to a safe parking spot. after being scared out of my wits, i calmed down and parked my car. i let the car sit overnight and checked power steering fluid and it was full. i then looked online and found many mini owners with the same problem. mini says they will not fix it. *tr | |||