2004 MINI COOPER Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF AND ADDITIONAL FORCE HAD TO BE APPLIED IN ORDER TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND COOLING FAN. THE LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE COOLING FAN. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED AND THE STEERING CONTINUED TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER, THE POWER STEERING PUMP COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO EUREKA SPRINGS ARKANSAS WHEN THIS HAPPENED, LUCKILY MY HUSBAND WAS THE ONE DRIVING, I DON'T EVEN WANT TO IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT HAD BEEN ME. I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE THE CAR THROUGH THOSE CURVES. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

UNABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR FROM THE INSIDE; IMMEDIATE FAILURE. AT ABOUT 36,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 60,000 MILES, THE DRIVER'S DOOR COULD ONLY BE OPENED BY PULLING ON THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE MULTIPLE TIMES OR OPENING THE WINDOW & USING THE OUTSIDE HANDLE. THE ISSUE APPEARS TO BE A CABLE THAT COMES OFF A PULLEY IN THE OPENING MECHANISM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CABLE IN ITS PROPER POSITION; THE FIX LASTED ABOUT 2 YEARS BEFORE RE-OCCURRING CAUSING THE CAR TO FAIL STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. THIS IS A PROBLEM KNOWN TO MINI/BMW AND IS REPORTED IN MANY ONLINE MINI COOPER FORUMS. *TT

LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR. AT TIMES, THERE WOULD BE NO POWER STEERING ASSIST; RESTARTING THE CAR WOULD SOLVE THE ISSUE. ULTIMATELY, THE ISSUE APPEARED TO BE A BUILT-IN ELECTRICAL RELAY IN THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP THAT STICKS. ONLY REPLACEMENT OPTION WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PUMP. *TT

THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2004 MINI COOPER S FAILED, LEADING TO EXTREMELY DIFFICULT OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. AT SPEED THE CAR IS OK, IF A BIT CUMBERSOME. AT LOW SPEEDS OR IN A PARKING LOT, A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR. AT FIRST, THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT - RESTARTING THE CAR SOMETIMES RESTORED CONTROL. HOWEVER, FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS THE POWER STEERING IS COMPLETELY DEAD.

I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT MY 2004 MINI COOPER S POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. I HAVE DONE HOURS OF RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE CONTACTED HALF A DOZEN MINI DEALERSHIPS TO FIND OUT, THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM (ON 2001-2005 MODELS) AND CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. THERE IS NO WARNING (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT) WHEN THIS PART GOES DEFECTIVE, SO BASICALLY WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING JUST SHUTS OFF LEAVING ABOUT 30LBS OF PRESSURE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. GOOD THING I AM A STRONG MALE, BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR ASSISTANCE. BY NO MEANS AM I SEXIST, BUT BELIEVE ME THIS CAR IS REALLY HARD TO MANEUVER WITHOUT POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE. THE COST OF REPAIRS RANGES FROM $1000-$1500 ($800 JUST FOR THE PUMP), PLUS $200 FOR HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST GARAGE. I BELIEVE SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE BEFORE THERE ARE SOME SERIOUS INJURIES OR EVEN DEATHS. *TR

WHILE LEAVING A SHOPPING CENTER MY POWER STEERING FAILED. I WAS ABOUT 15 MILES FROM HOME AND I VERY CAUTIOUSLY PROCEEDED HOME. WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THERE IS EXTENSIVE EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE 2003-2006 MINI COOPER. SOME HAVE NARROWLY ESCAPED INJURY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON I-65 AT 62 MPH. RIGHT AS I APPROACHED THE ON RAMP TO I-265, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I ALMOST DID NOT GET THE WHEEL TURNED IN TIME TO MAKE THE CURVE. I HAD NO WARNING. *TR

THE POWER STEERING FAILS ON THE CAR. IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. IT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU FIRST START THE CAR, OR IT CAN HAPPEN AFTERYOU HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR SOME TIME. ALL OF THE SUDDEN YOU LOSE YOUR POWER STEERING AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. I AM A FEMALE AND I HAVE TO USE BOTH ARMS TO GET THE CAR TO TURN WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. I AM AFRAID THAT THE POWER STEERING IS GOING TO GO OUT AT A BAD TIME AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO TURN QUICK ENOUGH AND I COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.