2005 MINI Cooper: engine failure

Filed Feb 24, 2020 · Brakes, Steering · 77,500 miles · NJ

The power steering assist has all but stopped working, with steering now difficult at lower speed--especially when I first start the engine in the morning. The clutch doesn't respond well and the vehicle no longer goes into second gear. The rear left brake caliper seized in place, not allowing the brake pad to retract completely and therefore the brake pad continuously rubbed against the disc, but without noise. Not until the left rear brake made noise because of the metal on metal braking was the seized oem caliper identified, when I put on a set of new brake pads. None of the other three brakes had the seized oem caliper.

Filed Jun 10, 2016 · Steering · 115,000 miles · NJ

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2005 mini cooper. Without warning, the steering wheel was tight, extremely difficult to turn, and seized several times. The contact had to use extreme force to maneuver the vehicle each time the failure progressed. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v660000 (steering). The vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v205000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000. Parts distribution disconnect. Updated 08/03/16*lj updated 08/09/16.*jb

Filed Sep 23, 2014 · Steering · 145,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper. When the vehicle made a right turn at 50 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The contact had to use excessive force to get the steering wheel to straighten. The dealer stated that the steering pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000.

Filed Mar 1, 2013 · Steering · 65,000 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, the steering wheel seized without warning. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road and then towed to the contact's residence. The failure occurred five times. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.

Filed Dec 3, 2012 · Steering · 58,500 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH, the steering wheel seized without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was awaiting diagnosis. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure and the current mileage was 58,500.

Filed Mar 2, 2012 · Steering · 82,000 miles · UT

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where they advised her that the power steering pump failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contact and they offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Dec 7, 2011 · Steering · 80,781 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper. The contact was driving 45 MPH when the power steering seized and became extremely difficult to maneuver. The dealer was contacted who advised that there were no recalls for the vehicle and that he should bring the vehicle in for repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,781.

Filed Dec 5, 2011 · Steering · 55,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper. Then contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was stopped and shut off. The vehicle was then towed to an independent repair shop and the power steering pump was replaced. The failure recurred approximately one year later. The vehicle was taken back to an independent repair shop, but repairs were not performed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 55,000.

Filed Sep 15, 2011 · Steering · 65,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper. The contact stated that while turning at approximately 15 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was stopped and shut off. Upon restart, the vehicle operated as normal but the failure recurred on a daily basis. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,000.

Filed Nov 11, 2010 · Steering · 69,953 miles · PA

Over the course of about a month and a half, the power steering began to "stick" in that I could not steer right or left without physically forcing the wheel to the right or left, using all my strength to do it. I thought I lost control of the car. The first time, it was a terrifying event. Then it would go back to "normal" the next day, but then "stick" again on various occasions with no rhyme or reason; there was no pattern as to when it would occur. But it did happen at least once a week. The steering wheel would "stick" no matter if the car was at a complete stop, or while driving. After checking with local garages, they suggested to have my mini dealership repair it as no one could find the cause of the problem. Mini diagnosed the failed power steering, and installed a fan with protecting "gri" (part # 32-41-6-781-742 @ $222.43) and installed a repair kit, lower "sect" (part # 32-30-6-763-722 @ $186.63). Mini service found the steering shaft knuckle seized up, making it hard to turn the steering wheel. Mini replaced the steering shaft, and also found the power steering fan to be seized, so they also replaced the steering fan. Included in this diagnosis, mini found the control arm brackets, which are part of the steering of the car, needs repair in the near future too.

Filed Sep 30, 2010 · Steering · 55,000 miles · SC

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper. The contact stated that while trying to move out a parking lot, the power steering failed. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who could not duplicate the failure. On another occasion while driving 25 MPH, the power steering seized up. The replaced the power steering pump which corrected the problem. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000. The current mileage was approximately 58,000.

Filed Sep 29, 2010 · Steering · 75,000 miles · IN

My 2005 mini cooper lost powersteering functionality during a short interstate drive (indiana interstate 65 from exit 64 to exit 68) on september 15th, 2010 at 11:20am. Parking lot maneuvering and interstate on-ramp driving was normal, interstate off-ramp and subsequent in-town driving was with no powersteering assist, and therefore required a great deal of force to turn. The power steering pump cooling fan was later determined to have completely seized, presumably causing thermal shutdown of the powersteering pump. My analysis of the failure of the cooling fan leads me to conclude that the spal brand fan used was improperly applied to the application. The design and placement of the fan into the mini causes water and foreign material to pool into the blade housing and cause corrosion of the steel fan motor housing and eventual seal damage resulting in motor failure. This is obviously a common problem with these vehicles: the online message boards show numerous similar failures. I am waiting on a new cooling fan to arrive to fix the failure.