The power steering failed. Searching, this appears to be a very common problem.
2005 MINI Cooper steering complaints
Page 4 of 10: complaints 71 to 100 of 276, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I was driving on straight road then into curve...noticed the steering was hard to turn....went in & out for a day then totally out...no power steering...have replaced this and now it's out again!!!!
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, the steering became extremely difficult to maneuver. The failure recurred as the contact was driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The technician stated that the power steering pump would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 64,000.
Intermittently on cold start the power steering is inoperative. Turning the car off and then back on again will usually result in the power steering becoming operative again. Dealership says pump needs to be replaced.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, he attempted a right turn and the steering wheel failed. The contact stated that the amount of energy needed to turn the wheel increased. The contact powered off and restarted the vehicle as it resumed normal operation. The vehicle function properly until the failure recurred the following day. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. The manufacturer was notified but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 18,600. Returned by usps on 4/8/2013. 2nd attempt on 4/9/2013.
Intermittent power steering failures while car is in motion. One minute power steering functions, next minute, no ps at all. Power steering pump continues to run even when engine is off and key out of ignition. After returning to vehicle, battery is dead as a result of continuously running pump or fan.
-my dependent daughter was driving approximately 50 MPH during in normal conditions when power steering assist turned off. Steering became very difficult and dangerous. Follow-on occurrences were regularly repeated after approximately 10 - 15 miles. Due to safety concerns driving the vehicle was ceased until repairs made therefore was unable to commute to / from school of higher education. Vehicle brought to local repair station and a faulty power steering motor was determined to be the cause. Subsequent repairs totally 934.00 usd appear to have fixed problem. The fact that the manufacturer had prior knowledge of this potentially catastrophic condition, and chose to put my daughter at risk or harms way is shameful.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the steering wheel began to shake and became difficult to maneuver. The failure recurred numerous times intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the power steering pump would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 118,000.
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.
While turning into a shopping plaza parking lot the steering wheel locked up and I was not able to control or complete the turn. Thank god I was driving at a slow speed and pedistrians were not near by. I experienced the same thing when I was leaving to return home and two more times after that. Something needs to be done ,innocent lives are at risk.
After driving at highway speed, I slowed down to turn into a parking lot when the power steering failed. The car could still be turned, but only with great effort and had there been any need to avoid another vehicle or pedestrian, it would have been impossible. After turning off the vehicle and restrarting, the power steering resumed working. The same failure has occurred on several other occasions but is only intermittent.
The power steering has been going in and out for the last three weeks. When it first happened I was driving on the highway at 50 MPH and the steering became very difficult. Turning took a large amount of effort. After arriving at home and taking it out the next day it worked fine and then went out again while going 35 MPH and trying to make a curve in the road. We took the car in for repairs and was told the power steering pump and fan worked fine but the power steering was intermittent when driven. A power connector for the pump was repaired and the next day the car starting losing the power steering again. If this happened at highway speed it could easily cause an accident and/or injuries. I've read too many stories online for this to be a fault with the design.
After driving around town for 15 minutes power steering stopped working and had to struggle to turn a corner. Had to make a wide turn. If another vehicle had been approaching, there would have been a collision. Very difficult to control this vehicle when power steering fails. This loss of power steering has happened four times within last two weeks. Research on internet shows this to be more than a common problem; it seems to be widespread. This much I do know: it scared the hell out of me and is dangerous. If bmw doesn't voluntarily fix the problem, then the government should force a recall on all affected vehicles before someone is seriously injured or dies.
2005 mini cooper. Consumer writes in regards to catastrophic electric power steering pump failure. *smd the consumer stated while driving in heavy, rapidly moving traffic, the electric steering failed. An inspection revealed the electric power steering motor had stopped, quite likely due to the failure of the auxiliary fan. The consumer was quoted a price of $ 1100 for the parts alone.
While driving the power steering pump stopped working .
No power steering. Hard to steer.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper. The contact stated while attempting to exit a parking lot, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. There was an investigation under the federal safety agency action number: ea11005 (steering) that could have been related to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 67,000.
Power steering pump failure. *tr ## VIN failed ##
Intermittent power steering failure. After long drive ~150 a loud buzzing under car continued after car engine was shut off. Moving the steering wheel made the buzzing change sounds. Starting and shutting the car's engine did not resolve the buzzing. Disconnected the battery to avoid battery failure.
On my drive to work on the third of december the steering assist went out while on the freeway and trying to exit onto an off-ramp. The turn was very sharp and I nearly didn't make it. Thank goodness it was a slow time in the day for if it wasn't I may have hit someone else. This is a large safety issue and having read that this complaint is becoming wide spread I would hate to see anyone get hurt. The steering is still an issue and I made sure to take precaution on my drive home not to take any route that would produce a sharp turn in fear of not being able to make it quick enough. The steering is extremely difficult, and I stress extremely as if you are working against the car to try to get the steering wheel to move and the car will not take sharp corners as it once did, but rather must take long shallow turns, which is not always a possibility.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the contact was exiting the highway when the power steering failed. The contact was not taken to the dealer for inspection. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure recurred several times after the vehicle would warm up. The manufacturer was notified and they stated that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was 69,500.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper convertible. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH the power steering failed and all of the warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 88,000.
Loss of power steering while driving. Car did not hit or come in contact with anything when power steering was lost. Full power steering and fan had to be replaced as a result.
My daughter was driving on the highway back from college and the power on the steering went out on her. It started coming back on and off intermittently and she was able to steer it slowly back home from there.
Had been driving for about thirty minutes was going west on a busy four lane city street, preparing to turn onto a side street and the power steering stopped working. I could hardly turn the mini into the side street and came close to hitting another car turning beside me. Was able to park and an hour later tried to drive home, power steering worked for about 5 minutes and then quite again. Did not have an accident but it was close several times. It was all I could do to steer the car at slow speeds and I am 6'2 and 205 pounds a woman would not have been able to do it in all probability.
Power steering went out making the car very hard to steer. The first time was january 2012, randomly off and on since. I have had the power steering return after simply turning the car off then on, other times after a week. It appears the power steering pump has decided to quit altogether at this point.
In 2009, the power steering would intermittently work, usually restarting resolved the problem. Increasingly worsened. P pulling out from the business to a residential street, very busy afternoon traffic. I hurriedly turned right onto the street, then left at the traffic signal. While making the left my power steering decided to stop coming too close to running straight into a light standard on the opposite corner. Hitting the curb very hard and steering with no power, I corrected my direction to avoid hitting other vehicles, hit the curb again, found the first possible parking lot and pulled off and thank god I didn't hit anyone. May 2012 no pow steering wed, october 3, 2012 @ 117k mileage, belt broke, battery light came on, overheated. Miniusa takes pride in being responsible and caring about their customers. Their jovial, freethinking, cleaver banter is so falsely represented since I can't even get some one at mini to talk to me. Now, I'm waiting on finding the right repair shop that won't cost me my retirement. In 2007, I locked my glove compartment since I had just picked up the $2500 engagement ring my son had been paying on so he could propose to his girlfriend. When I got home the glove box wouldn't come unlocked, other than forcing it and risk breaking something I took it to the dealership where I purchased, the car, hoping they might have a known ways, secret solution. Unfortunately, a $80 service fee from just driving onto the lot, plus $350 for a new glove box! Just because I locked it for the first time for safety . Now undrivable, I shudder a the thought of repair bills for everything that's failing now, I am obviously not the only one. Not so funny now mini cooper!
I had just bought the car and flew to new jersey to get it. The mechanic told me that the power steering was out and he was not sure what the problem was. I drove it back to florida and did not have power steering the whole way. In april 2010, the power steering came back. I continued to have power steering and then in october 2010, it went out again for two days. Then it came back. Then in 2011, it went out again for two days during the year. And now it has been out since april of this year. I had been on disability from january till july, so I was not driving my car that much. I have not worried about fixing it. Also, when I picked my car up in nj, they had written on my receipt that they would pay $500 towards the repair of my power steering. I have not had a chance to ask my attorney if that would still be valid or not. But it seems that a lot of the mini's are having the same issue. I was wondering if mini will be recalling the power steering and I can have my car fixed?
The first problem was when the power steering failed for about 15 minutes. The vehicle became very difficulty to control, but eventually the steering started working again. In august the same problem occurred only this time for an hour. This made the vehicle almost useless. Today 10/2/2012 the power steering failed completely while my wife was on the interstate. It was physically tiring to maintain control of this tiny car. This vehicle is dangerous and we no longer feel comfortable driving it.
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