2005 MINI Cooper: battery drain or dead battery

Filed Mar 19, 2016 · Steering · 140,230 miles · LA

Power steering pump went out while driving and it stays on when the engine is off. I was on a city street when it happened. I have to disconnect battery cable so it doesn't drain the battery.

Filed Sep 11, 2012 · Steering · 71,100 miles · TX

When turning off the engine, the fan won't turn off and keeps running. It drains the battery very quickly. I took it to auto shop and the report says steering pump internal failure.

Filed Aug 27, 2012 · Steering · 50,000 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH making a left turn the power steering failed. As a result, it became very difficult to maneuver the steering. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 80,000. ..updated 11/29/12 *bf the consumer also stated the power steering pump would come on periodically when the vehicle was off and would run, until the battery drained. Updated 12/03/12

Filed Jul 18, 2012 · Electrical, Steering · 71,000 miles · MA

Intermittently and rarely, when the car first starts, the power steering does not work. It is very difficult to move the steering wheel at all, and there is no apparent effect on the wheels of the car. Each time this has happened, I have immediately turned off the car and restarted. Restarting the ignition has been enough to regain the power steering. After this happened between 5 and 10 times over the past year, I realized it was a pattern and decided to lodge a complaint. I also realized that the louder-than-ordinary steering fan noise might be another symptom of problems with the power steering. In mid-september 2011, the car battery died. The steering fan was very loud. I now wonder if the battery failure was due to the steering fan, although no one at the dealership commented on the very loud fan that was extremely noticeable when they restarted the car.

Filed Sep 15, 2011 · Steering · 104,366 miles · CA

Power steering went out while driving on the freeway. Has been happening for several months, but usually when this happens I can turn the car off and when the car is turned on again it is fine for a while. I had power steering fluid topped up but apparently it didn't fix the problem. I was told it is a power steering pump that needs to be replaced and costs approximately $1,000.00- 1,2000.00. Today the power steering went out completely and would not return to normal after above said actions. I read that continuing to drive the car in this state can cause battery drainage/failure, fan problems, and/or electrical fires.

Filed Jun 18, 2011 · Steering · 65,000 miles · CT

We have a 2005 mini cooper. On 16jun11, my wife was driving back from her shift at the hospital at around 9am when while taking a turn the steering wheel suddenly became very heavy. She had to make the car turn with a lot of force. The next day, 17jun11, when we tried to open the car, it didn't respond to the key remote, and we have to open it manually. The car didn't respond, and wouldn't start. Today, 18jun11, we called aaa va our insurance, and they came over jump started the car. I took the car to the mini service center (new country bmw), and they said I would have to come back on monday, 20june. They did take a quick look under the hood, and even when the car is switched off, a cylinder behind the battery makes a continuous hissing sound. They said the problem would most certainly be related to the power steering pump/assembly. So, when in its turned off state, the pump somehow drains the battery. I will take my car to them in a few days again when they are free, but meanwhile, when I park, I park with the battery connections removed, so atleast I don't have to ask aaa to jump start it everytime. I am not sure if this is a manufacturing defect, and mini would be taking care of it. But I am worried about the costs!

Filed May 17, 2011 · Steering · 52,000 miles · CA

My 2005 mini cooper VIN # [xxx] just lost power steering while driving on the side street, tried to shut off the engine and restart, it works but decided to just park in the garage since I was afraid to get involve in a accident. Then suddenly, a weird sound coming from the engine compartment, left it overnight , next thing my car battery died and could not start the car. Jumped start it let my husband drove it around the block and exactly the same problem occurred. The power steering became stiff and very hard to maneuver even just making a 45 degrees angle and returned to a driving position. I just decided to just park it and wait until a possible recall. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Feb 9, 2011 · Steering · 36,600 miles · CA

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 only one that has had the same problem. There are hundreds of complaints about the power steering pump failing on mini coopers. I have requested assistance from the dealership and ultimately mini USA for the repair as I believe it is a safety issue that needs to be addressed.

Filed Jun 6, 2008 · Steering · 65,000 miles · TN

Power steering pump on 2005 mini cooper convertible started making noise (even with engine turned off, draining the battery), then ultimately failed. An internet search indicates that this repair costs approx $2000 to fix, and that replacement power steering pumps fail regularly, so we've been driving without power steering in the vehicle.