2006 MINI Cooper: loss of power steering

Filed Jul 7, 2020 · Steering, Transmission · 68,000 miles · FL

The air conditioning had stopped blowing cool air. Then when I was parked, and idled, my power steering stopped working while trying to back out. After wrestling with the wheel for a minute to get out of a parking lot area, the power steering came back on. The mechanic said one of my coolant fans does not work. This may be part of a recall that affect 2005 minis with coolant fan/power steering, however my car was made just a few months past the recall.

Filed Jun 6, 2016 · Steering · 60,000 miles · TX

My '06 mini cooper s with about 87,000 miles is leaking power steering fluid and has been doing so for the last 3 years or 20,000 miles. I've been told I need to replace the electric power steering pump. I believe mini should have to repair/replace the power steering pump unit because is likely a failure similar to the power steering failure documented and covered by the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v660000. While the steering mechanism is still functioning, can a catastrophic power steering failure be far off?

Filed May 26, 2016 · Airbags, Electrical · 118,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mini cooper. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, there was a loss of power steering. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the power steering pump was replaced however the failure recurred the next day. The vehicle was taken back to the mechanic and unknown repairs were performed. In addition, the air bag warning indicator illuminated continuously. On a separate occasion, the alternator failed and was not replaced. The contact mentioned that the engine cooling fan also failed to function, which caused the radiator to be replaced twice. The engine was replaced at a different time. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.

Filed Mar 25, 2015 · Steering · 35,477 miles · WA

The power steering on my 2006 mini cooper spontaneously combusted, melting the power steering harness and draining the battery. The incident went like this: when we returned from an extended vacation, the car wouldn't start because of a dead battery. We jumped started it using jumper cables. When I tried to drive away, there was no power steering. We had the car towed to the mini dealership, where they discovered that the wiring harness had "melted into the pump." because of the "known defect" in similar mini models and the car's low mileage, mini USA and the dealership replaced the power steering kit and the battery for no charge.

Filed Aug 11, 2014 · Steering · 60,000 miles · TX

Backing out of my long residential driveway, the power steering failed. Since my mileage was out of standard warranty and since I didn't purchase extended warranty, I used the "bentley publisher's" comprehensive mini cooper service manual to investigate the trouble. I tested the power steering cooling fan and the pump for operation. The fan was ok, but the pump wasn't getting any power. I removed the 100-amp fuse from the fuse block aside the battery compartment, inspected it for failure, but it looked good, wiped it clean with alcohol, and re-installed it. After everything was reconnected, the power steering returned to full operation. Several times from 2008 to 2014, the power steering failed, usually at slow speeds or upon start up of the vehicle, but it was always intermittent and returned to full operation on its own within a few days or weeks. It failed once again about two months ago, and has not returned to operation on its own since then. Although the federal safety agency website shows 122 complaints on 2006 mini's, of which about 25% of the complaints are for failed power steering, and since I can't locate any official manufacturer's recall on the internet for repeated 2006 mini power steering failures, I guess I'll take it to my local repair guy for a fuse or pump replacement.

Filed Jul 29, 2014 · Steering · 99,105 miles · TX

Power steering completely quit working. Car was very difficult to steer. Stopped and turned off car for a while. Started car again and power steering was ok. Now power steering is very difficult until car has been running for a few minutes.

Filed Jul 25, 2013 · Steering · 100,000 miles · CA

Power steering failed while attempting to turn in an intersection. Almost caused an accident.

Filed Nov 15, 2012 · Steering · 100,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mini cooper. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the power steering failed as the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was exiting the highway when the power steering failed and caused and increase in steering efforts. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection where they advised the contact that the power steering pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and advised that there were no recalls for the vehicle and that they were aware of the failure that existed with the steering. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Sep 26, 2012 · 82,000 miles · CT

Loud and persistent whinning noise from power steering pump, intermittent power steering failure. Had past problems with the power steering fan (june 2011).

Filed Jul 20, 2011 · Steering · 77,000 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mini cooper. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the power steering malfunctioned. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic who performed a diagnostic test but could not diagnose the failure. The contact reviewed numerous complaints online regarding the power steering failure. The contact restarted the vehicle and the power steering system began to function again. The contact did not notify the manufacturer of the failure. The contact stated the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The failure mileage was 77,000.