MINI Cooper S steering lock-up problems

Filed Jan 21, 2025 · Steering · 43,000 miles · WA

The contact owns a 2002 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45-55 MPH, the steering wheel seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road. The contact restarted the vehicle and continued driving normally. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 15V660000 (STEERING). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 43,000.

Filed Nov 23, 2015 · Airbags, Steering · 103,000 miles · KS · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mini cooper s. While driving at 60 MPH and attempting to avoid hitting an animal, the steering wheel seized without warning and the vehicle struck the animal. The air bags did not deploy; however, the air bag warning light illuminated. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries reported. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Oct 28, 2015 · Steering · 126,000 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mini cooper s. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH and making a turn, the steering wheel seized without warning. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who stated that the power steering pump would need to be replaced. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v66000 (steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000.

Filed Sep 9, 2013 · Steering · 51,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mini cooper s. The contact stated that when turning in either direction, the power steering assist would sporadically fail as the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis where it was stated that the power steering pump and fan needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 51,000.

Filed Feb 5, 2013 · Steering · 110,000 miles · CA

Was driving along the road and came up on a turn when the steering locked up. Put all of my weight into the steering wheel to keep from jumping the median. Scared the life out of me. Immediately pulled over to figure out what happened. Turned the car off, then back on and it seemed fine. Then getting on the freeway, I was on the clover-leaf and it locked up again so I put all of my weight into it again, then it suddenly released. With the sudden jerk/movement (and it has done this a few times) someday I know it will cause the car to flip. The power steering seems to work in phases: it will be fine for a couple days, then its intermittent/gone for a week or 2. The past few days, it has sounded like the engine fan was engaged even though I had not been for a strenuous drive. I think it was actually the pump not turning off when the car was turned off. This morning I got to my car to find the battery completely drained... An apparent short in the power steering pump (and/or fan) killed it.

Filed May 21, 2012 · Steering · 128,000 miles · OR

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mini cooper s. While driving approximately 65 MPH the steering wheel locked and became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 128,000.

Filed Mar 28, 2012 · Steering · 84,000 miles · WA

On date of incident, was attempting to park when the steering wheel locked up (became very difficult to move). I managed to get the car into a spot and called for tow assistance. The repair shop diagnosed as a power steering pump failure and had to replace that and other affiliated components (cooling fan, etc.). Approximately 4 days before the failure, the power steering fan was uncharacteristically whinny, but went away after a few minutes and was not heard again before the failure.

Filed Jan 3, 2012 · Steering · 79,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mini cooper s. While driving approximately 30 MPH and making a turn, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing where the technician advised that the power steering pump failed and would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000.

Filed Jan 3, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 74,000 miles · VA

While driving in heavy traffic following extended highway speed, stopped at traffic light and engine died with no warning and would not restart. Car had to be towed a considerable distance to original dealership. Learned that the vacuum pump seized / locked up, causing a chain reaction of catastrophic results that totally destroyed engine. Car needs complete new engine at 74,000 miles (out of warranty)and mini USA attitude is that such engine failure is not their responsibility even though this particular mini was impeccably maintained beyond mini servcie requirements, but to no avail as engine blew at a very young 74,000 miles of age and there are repeated instances of same engine failure on internet bmw/mini blogs. Note: this catastrophic damage follows last year's large out of warranty expense of replacing the entire electronic steering lock system as vehicle could not be driven safely and again mini felt no responsibility for equipment failure even though the problem was subsequently acknowledged by the fact that electronic steering lock is no longer installed in new mini coopers!

Filed Dec 22, 2011 · Electrical, Engine · 69,540 miles · OH

I have had previous issues with the panoramic sunroof, I had to get it replaced. Then I had issues with the chain and chain tensioner and had to get that replaced too. Now the steering has failed on me, I can't start the car or even move the steering wheel. My steering is locked now; I had the car running, everything seemed to run fine and the steering worked fine. Once I shut the car off I couldn't start the car back up and my steering locked up. I had to get my car towed home. I wish bmw would do some kind of a recall on this car so we wouldn't have to pay so much money out of our own pockets!