Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mini cooper type s. The contact stated that while traveling at any speed, the power steering would suddenly stop functioning without warning; the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the failure could not be duplicated. The failure was 8,000 and the current mileage is approximately 143,000. Updated 01/04/11*lj updated 01/10/11
2004 MINI Cooper S steering complaints
Page 8 of 8: complaints 191 to 210 of 210, newest first, as owners wrote them.
2004 mini cooper s power steering failure after <50,000 miles very hard to steer. Had to replace the pump.
The power steering went out while going up hill on a curvy two lane road. The loss of power steering forced me to go into the other lane, where fortunately no cars were present. If I was going down hill on the same road I would have definitely gone against the side of the hill or off the side of the cliff if not hitting an on coming car first. The dealership charged me over $1000 to change the electro/hydraulic steering pump. The sudden loss of power steering seems to be an issue with many minis according to forum posts.
Power steering pump is failing. So far no major problems but I have had other mini owners report this same problem and worse. I am having my pump replaced this weekend with the hope of avoiding any further issues. Hopefully this one will last a long time.
Driving normally when suddenly power steering fails completely causing instant control issues. Power steering returns intermittently.
On a 2004 mini cooper s, intermittent failure of the power steering pump causing extreme difficulty steering. Car has 43,000 miles. Many similar cases reported in online forums.
Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) why has the federal safety agency administration taken no action against mini and bmw for the known defect in power steering systems. I am wondering, amid all the toyota controversy and recalls, especially now about the broken steering rods, why there has not been a recall, or at least a public warning of some kind about steering issues on the mini. The power steering pump in mini's of all ages and mileages are prone to fail while driving. This happened to me while driving my 2004 mini cooper s across a snowy and icy mountain pass here in washington state. It was quite a surprising, frightening, and unsafe experience to say the least. Others have filed complaints with you folks, as well as the company, but so far as I know nothing has been done. If injuries and fatalities are the criteria, how would anyone know the steering was an issue unless they had experienced the terror of losing steering at speed? This issue prompted a recall in great britain. Why not here. Even a cursory search of the internet reveals the depth of the problem, yet neither bmw nor mini have taken any steps to address the issue here in the us. Can you tell me why?? [xxx]
I was driving on I-95n when the steering became all tight like I couldn't turn the wheel. No indicatior lights came on. I reached my destination, shut the car off for several min, got in started it up and it was fine. Got back on I-95s and 5 min later the steering wheel felt like it was locked up I couldn't turn it. Again no warnings!!!!! Are you people going to wait till some one is killed to make bmw fix this!!!!!! I have read it's beein going on since 2002 power steering pump failures
Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). I have a 2004 mini cooper s (bmw) that I have owned for about a year and a half but recently, past 3 months., I have had the power steering quit suddenly on 3 separate occasions. Thankfully I was not on a high speed road at any of those times because when the power steering went out it I could barely turn the wheel and I'm a 36 yr. Old male with quite a bit more strength than my fiance who also drives the car. I believe this is a very serious flaw with the car as I have checked with other mini cooper owners across the country who each and everyone of them has experienced the same exact problem with the power steering failing suddenly. I can only imagine what would happen if this occurs at high speeds or during inclement weather, this is a safety hazard that should be recalled by bmw since I am not the only mini cooper owner with this problem. [xxx]
The power steering pump suddenly failed. This is an electric-hydraulic steering system and the car is not controllable when the pump fails. The car has been properly maintained and has less than 50,000 mile.
Intermittent power steering failure.
As an owner of a 2004 cooper s I was greatly disappointed to learn that I now need to replace my electric steering pump at only 55k miles. I have been told by the dealer that the part "goes regularly" and that "we keep a bunch in stock" and that it will cost me $600 for a new one not including labor. With this bit of information, I began to search mini cooper fansites and blogs to see how often this problem occurs. I wasn't surprised to find that many of the members and "fans" of the car have had multiple pump failures, and that there is a growing number of those who are discussing the failure issue. I believe this is both a costly fix as well as a safety problem. The sudden loss of a steering pump is quite dangerous and may cause some drivers to lose control. I am fortunate that I noticed the problem and understood what the failure was, so I personally did not have an accident, but for those who are less car savvy, they may not notice the noise of the failure that is about to occur.
I own a 2004 mini cooper s and the power steering pump has failed after only 4 years and 65,000 miles. This seems to be a very common occurrence with this vehicle and the manufacture is acutely aware of the issue, but will not issue a recall or warranty the item.
(1) on thursday, july 3rd, I attempted to manipulate a 90 degree righthand turn in my 2004 mini cooper s during my very short commute to work and did so only with great difficultly. From that point forward my car turns neither left nor right properly and only with great difficulty. There was no warning or noises of any kind to alert me to the problem. My significant other, who is a trained mechanic, inspected the vehicle and identified the power steering pump as the problem. I also spoke with several individuals herb chambers bmw mini of boston who acknowledged that the power steering pump was either a known and/or common problem. The parts department explained that the pump manufacturer who made the pump in my mini is no longer making pumps for mini. (2) the power steering pump has failed therefore my mini is relying on the rack and pinion to turn. The mini turns only with great difficulty and requires two hands on the wheel at all times; this is exceedingly difficult to do while navigating corners as I have a standard transmission. The mini is unsafe to drive, so I am forced to borrow another vehicle. (3) my car has approximately 57,000 miles on it and mini's warranty only covers problems up through 50,000 miles despite the fact that the pump is a known problem and safety hazard. Nothing has been done by the dealership to correct the problem. My mini remains parked while I await the new power steering pump that I ordered and paid for. The new pump is manufactured by a different company than the defective pump that has failed.
My 2004 mini cooper s lost steering control approaching a very dangerous corner on california sr 330. It took all my strength to turn the wheel and I nearly avoided a serious accident, but was able to get through the turn and then get the car off the road. Searching on the web, I seen hundreds of reports of steering failure in 2002 through 2006 mini coopers. My dealer was knew about the issue and replaced the steering pump. My mini has 58,000 miles on it.
Complete and instantaneous power steering failure. There is plenty of fluid in the reservoir and there are no blown fuses.
2004 mini cooper s power steering pump failure three times while driving vehicle not yet replaced no consequences yet beyond frightening.
Driving down road started to make a left turn and the power steering assist fails. I barely managed to keep car on the road. Unbelievable difficult to steer and crucial turn. Have yet to replace part and upon research find mini knows of this problem and put out a duct work and improved pump. They however have not voluntarily recalled vehicles to retrofit.
1) no significant event leading up to failure 2) power steering pump failure, no steering ability in vehicle 3) no correction known for sudden loss of steering. Parts to be repaired believed to be steering pump and potential steering rack.
The steering failed on my 2004 mini cooper s with 84k mile. The power steering fan failed causing the power steering pump to burn out. This problem occurred without warning. The vehicle was nto drivable as a result of the failure fortunately the failure occured after the vehicle reached it destination and was parked.
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