2004 MINI Cooper: battery drain or dead battery

7 of the 282 complaints about the 2004 MINI Cooper describe battery drain or dead battery.

owner complaints: 7
of this car's complaints: 2%
typical mileage: 62,000
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 7 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Battery drain or dead battery by model year

2021
1
2017
1
2011
2
2010
1
2007
1
2006
2
2005
9
2004
7
2003
3
2002
3

What owners say

Filed Oct 20, 2012 · Electrical, Steering · 38,000 miles · MI

12-4-10: the power steering pump kept running after the car was off and drained the battery in 2 hours. Sept., 2012: two incidents of power steering loss while driving. First time I had no power steering when I started the car. I drove a short distance, stopped and restarted the car and the power steering worked. Second time I lost power steering briefly while driving at low speed. My mechanic found that the power steering fan had seized and replaced it. When he took it for a test drive, the power steering pump was making a loud noise. He replaced the pump as well and the problems were corrected.

Filed Sep 21, 2012 · Steering · 700,040 miles · MI

My power steering failed. Cause unconfirmed as yet, but this apparently is a known problem. Power steering started again when I restarted the car, but now the pump motor (or perhaps the fan) won't shut off and there is no fuse to disable. Must disconnect the battery to shut it off and avoid draining the battery. Steering did not lock up, but very difficult to overcome the rack-and-pinion steering linkage resistance.

Filed Sep 6, 2012 · Steering · 62,000 miles · CA

Power steering failed as I was returning from taking my child to the airport. The car power steering cooling fan stayed on after I turned off the car and drained the battery. The problem was diagnosed as a failed power steering pump. The car was towed to a mechanic and the power steering pump was replaced as was the dead battery. The total cost was over $1700.

Filed Mar 10, 2012 · Steering · 73,682 miles · MN

Intermittent power steering failure. Power steering pump remains on after shutting off the car and drains the battery.

Filed Feb 8, 2012 · Steering · FL

Took car into dealer and they said the power steering pump needs to replaced, which would cost $1050.00 for parts and labor. Prior to taking it into dealer, the steering wheel locked up on several occasions, which caused me to use all my strength to get the car to steer. On february 5, 2012, the steering wheel locked up, I parked the car, and the power steering pump fan ran continuously until it drained the battery. I have read online that mini cooper owners are trying to get bmw to recall this defect, but they will not. I also read that the federal safety agency checked into this, but I do not know what the outcome was.

Filed Nov 2, 2010 · Steering · 58,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mini cooper. The contact stated that the power steering intermittently malfunctioned causing a loss of power steering assist capabilities. On one occasion, the contact stated that the power steering cooling fan remained on after the vehicle was shut off and drained the battery. The vehicle was towed to a local repair facility where the contact was awaiting repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000 and the current mileage was approximately 58,325.

Filed Aug 17, 2008 · Electrical, Steering · 45,000 miles · IL

At first my battery died after I came out of work. I couldn't understand why since I didn't leave anything on. So I got the battery replaced for $200. Recently the steering has been cutting out while driving. If you pull off into a parking lot and turn off the car you can still hear the cooling fan going. After approx 30 min the power steering will return to normal until it overheats again. So my battery was being drained by the power steering cooling fan.