Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 MINI Cooper S submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 210 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 210, in the owner's own words
WAS DRIVING CAR ON 18 JULY 2020 AND POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING AND MADE STEERING DIFFICULT, ALSO COOLANT FAN,LOW SPEED AND HIGH SPEED STOPPED WORKING SAME TIME AS POWER STEERING QUIT. THE ASC LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WILL NOT TURN OFF. NO BLOWN FUSES IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR BY DRIVERS KICK PANEL. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON A STATE ROAD WHEN THIS OCCURRED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK PRESENT. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MINI OF STEVENS CREEK LOCATED AT (4201 STEVENS CREEK BLVD, SANTA CLARA, CA 95051), AND DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.
THE POWER STEERING IS VERY STIFF TO DRIVE AND CANNOT DRIVE MY COOPER BECAUSE I CAN NO LONGER STEER THE VEHICLE.
WHEN YOU TURN WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT IT MAKES A NOISE AND IT'S VERY HARD TO TURN. SO I THINK IT'S THE STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM. RECALL ID # 240625.
THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. TOOK THE CAR HOME, DID NOT SEE FLAMES, PARKED CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY SWITCHED CARS AND LEFT. RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT MY MINI WAS ON FIRE AND I NEEDED TO RETURN TO MY HOUSE.
THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2004 MINI COOPER S FAILED LAST MONTH, PROMPTING ME TO RESEARCH WAYS TO FIX THE VEHICLE ONLINE. I FOUND THAT MINI USA HAD ISSUED A RECALL ON MY CAR, BUT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THEN MINI THAT MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT FALL AMONG THOSE VEHICLES RECALLED. I'M WONDERING WHETHER MINI APPROPRIATELY LIMITED THEIR RECALL CONSIDERING MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT PROMPTED THE RECALL, AND FALLS WITHIN THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR RANGE. I THINK THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD INVESTIGATE WHETHER TO EXPANDING THE RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROGRESSING CONDITION IN WHICH THE STEERING WHEEL MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
I WAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, THE WHEEL GOT SO TIGHT AND I HIT THE CURB. THANK GOD I WAS IN A SCHOOL ZONE AND THEREFORE I WAS DRIVING SLOW. AFTER THAT, I NOTICED THAT SAME DAY THAT MY BATTERY WAS DRAINED WHEN I WAS LEAVING FROM WORK. I GOT A JUMP BUT THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHEN I STOPPED FOR GROCERIES. I FIGURED SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG WITH THE BATTERY (WHICH IS FAIRLY NEW) OR THE ALTERNATOR. I TOOK MY CAR TO A SHOP AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS FINE. BUT THEY ALSO SAID THERE WAS A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM MY POWER STEERING PUMP. I BOUGHT POWER STEERING FLUID THINKING THAT WAS THE REASON, BUT AFTER I POURED SOME ITS STILL THE SAME. I STARTED RESEARCHING AND I FOUND OUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE AND ITS A DEFECTIVE ISSUE FOR THIS MINI GENERATION. *TR
I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ON MY VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY THIS DID NOT RESULT IN A CRASH BUT IT SURE SCARED ME. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND MAY CONSIDER GETTING RID OF IT. I AM DISAPPOINTED IN MINI'S UNRESPONSIVENESS TO THIS ISSUE. *TR
WAS ABOUT TO PARK MY CAR AND ALL OF SUDDEN THE STEERING BEGAN FEELING TIGHT. IT SEEMS THAT ALL ASSISTANCE WITH THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST. UPON INVESTIGATION OVER THE INTERNET IT SEEMS THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS BLOWN. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT DRIVING FAST,BUT THIS CAN CAUSE A POTENTIAL FATAL INJURY. *TR
3 MONTHS AGO I BECAME AWARE OF A FAULT IN MY MINI COOPER 2004 REGARDING THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN. STEERING HAD BECOME OVERLY DIFFICULT, AND AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO MY USUAL MECHANIC AND THEN BMW, THIS WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. I THEN DISCOVERED THE ISSUE HAD BEEN THE SUBJECT OF AN UNOFFICIAL RECALL BY MINI USA (BMW), AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, IN BEVERLY, MA, A ROUND TRIP OF 200 MILES, TO HAVE THE ITEM FIXED. AFTER THIS, THE CAR BECAME HARD TO CONTROL ON CURVES. IT APPEARS THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN PUT UNDUE STRAIN ON THE STEERING KNUCKLE, AND AT 80,000 THIS HAS BECOME PREMATURELY WORN. CONSEQUENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS VERY HARD TO HANDLE PROPERLY ON TURNS, AND IS BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE. FOR THREE MONTHS MY MECHANIC HAS BEEN TRYING TO SECURE THIS PART FROM MINI USA TO NO AVAIL. MEANWHILE MY CAR IS BECOMING MORE UNDRIVABLE BY THE DAY. THIS PART IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE PETITIONED BMW FOR AN ANSWER, AND AFTER TWO WEEKS OF PEOPLE AVOIDING THE ISSUE, IT SEEMS THE PART REMAINS UNAVAILABLE. MINI USA(BMW)'S BEST RESPONSE WAS TO ASK ME TO DRIVE BACK TO MA TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT, WHICH POINT THEY MAY OFFER ME A LOANER. BUT THIS IS BESIDE THE POINT: ASIDE FROM NOT PROVIDING AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT THAT AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, THEY WANT ME TO WASTE A DAY DRIVING TO MA, THEN PAY THE DEALER'S OVER-INFLATED SERVICE CHARGES, BECAUSE THEY MADE IT CLEAR ON THE PHONE THEY WILL NOT SELL THIS PART TO NON-MINI REPAIR FACILITIES WHEN IT FINALLY DOES ARRIVE (THERE IS STILL NO DATE FOR THIS, BY THE WAY). ESSENTIALLY THEY ARE COVERING UP AN ISSUE BY KEEPING THE MATTER IN-HOUSE, FAILING TO PROVIDE A COMPONENT, AND FORCING CUSTOMERS TO DRIVE HUNDREDS OF MILES AND USE ONLY THEIR FACILITIES. CLEARLY THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND ILLEGAL. ANY ASSISTANCE FROM YOUR OFFICE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR
THE STEERING KNUCKLE ON MY CAR HAS BECOME PREMATURELY WORN FOLLOWING A STEERING PUMP FAILURE, AND CONSEQUENTLY, THE STEERING HAS BECOME IMPRECISE AND THE CAR HARD TO CONTROL AROUND CURVES. I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DESIGN DEFECT (DOCUMENTED BY DOT) OF THE STEERING PUMP UNTIL I RESEARCHED THE STEERING ISSUE AND DISCOVERED THERE WAS AN 'UNOFFICIAL' RECALL TO FIX THE PUMP. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT FOR TWO MONTHS, BMW USA STILL HAS THE STEERING KNUCKLE ON BACK ORDER. MEANWHILE MY VEHICLE IS BECOMING HARDER TO DRIVE AND WILL SOON BE A SAFETY CONCERN. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT DOT FORCE BMW USA TO MAKE THIS PART AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE IT IS A CRUCIAL COMPONENT IN THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING MAKING THE CAR VERY HARD TO TURN. IT WAS NOT NOTICEABLE DRIVING STRAIGHT, BUT WHEN TAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN YOU ALMOST CANNOT MAKE THE TURN UNLESS YOU REALLY CRANK ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT NO WARNING. IN ORDER TO GET THE POWER STEERING BACK, THE IGNITION HAS TO BE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, AND THEN RESTARTED. *TR
STEERING FAILURE WHILST ON HIGHWAY, HEADED TO THE GRASS CURB, SMOKE IN CABIN (SMELT OF BURNING WIRE INSULATION). DID MANAGE TO RELEASE THE HOOD AND OPEN TO SEE IF I COULD EXTINGUISH, FIRE WAS FOCUSED DIRECTLY BEHIND THE ENGINE UNDER EXHAUST MANIFOLD. NOTHING TO DUE BUT WAIT FOR THE FIRE TRUCK, CAR COMPLETELY BURNED FRONT TO BACK, NOTHING LEFT TO SALVAGE. *TR
HELLO, I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING (LOOSING POWER) OF MY MINI COOPER S 2004 MODEL. IN JAN 2013, I BROUGHT MY 2004 MINI COOPER S FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER-ASSIST STEERING FUNCTION, WHICH INCLUDE POWER STEERING HOSE ($56.25), POWER STEERING PUMP ($710.00) AND LABOR ($315.00). IN MAY 2013, I RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR THE REPAIR EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT FROM MINI. APPARENTLY THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN (BUT UNKNOWN TO ME) FOR MINI MODEL YEAR 2002-2205. I SUBMITTED THE REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST AND RECEIVED THE RETURN RECEIPT ON JUNE 10, 2013. SINCE THEN I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO REACH TO MINI CUSTOMER RELATION BY PHONE (1-866-275-6464) 4 TIMES AND STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE REIMBURSEMENT. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO ASK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. MINI SHOULD LIVE UP TO STANDARD AND REIMBURSE MY EXPENSE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM ME. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE CAR LOSES POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY AND IT MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT HAPPENS ON THE INTERSECTION AND I CAN'T TURN THE CAR. I DRIVE WITH MY CHILD AND THIS FREAKS ME OUT. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND IN MAY 2013 I RECEIVED MINI RECALL/EXTENSION OF WARRANTY LETTER AND CALLED MINI DEALER IN SACRAMENTO CA AND THEY PUT ME TO THE RECORDING MACHINE, WHERE I LEFT A MESSAGE REGARDING EXTENSION OF WARRANTY BY MINI AND TO SCHEDULE REPLACEMENT OF POWER STEERING - NO REPLY. CALLED THEM TWICE, THEY SEEM TO IGNORE MY CALLS. VERY UPSET WITH DEALER'S IGNORANCE. *TR
THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. IT APPEARS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE BECAUSE ONCE I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM RETURNED TO NORMAL. I ALMOST RAN INTO A PARKED CAR BECAUSE I COULD NOT TURN WITHOUT A LOT OF EFFORT. *TR
FIRST INCIDENT: VEHICLE MILEAGE 37004 (12/31/2009): 2004 MINI COOPER S WAS BEING DRIVEN ON SURFACE STREETS AND POWER STEERING WAS LOST WITHOUT WARNING MAKING THE VEHICLE EXQUISITELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. UPON ARRIVAL AT A MECHANIC, THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DETERMINED TO BE FAULTY AND BOTH THE PUMP AND FAN WERE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS INJURY. SECOND INCIDENT: VEHICLE MILEAGE ~55,000 (1/19/2013): SAME VEHICLE AS ABOVE WAS BEING DRIVEN ONTO A SHARP RIGHT BANKING ON RAMP TO THE I-10E FREEWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR WAS OCCUPIED BY A DRIVER AND A PASSENGER. DESPITE THE DRIVER'S QUICK REACTIONS, THE CAR HIT THE CURVES OUTER CONCRETE RETAINING WALL NEARLY HEAD ON. THE WALL COULD NOT BE AVOIDED BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF WARNING OF THE POWER STEERING FAILURE, AS WELL AS THE MINIMAL SPACE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE OUTSIDE OF THE CURVE, ESTIMATED BY THE DRIVER AS LESS THAN A CAR WIDTH WIDE. THE DRIVER WAS ESTIMATED BY A POLICE OFFICER TO BE DRIVING BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT. THE DRIVER RECEIVED CHEMICAL BURNS TO HIS UPPER EXTREMITY FROM THE AIRBAG, THE PASSENGER WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR THREE DAYS WITH A PNEUMOTHORAX AND REQUIRED A CHEST TUBE TO BE PLACED. AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL NOT PREVENT PEOPLE FROM BEING INJURED, BUT A RECALL WILL. UPDATED 06/12/13*LJ UPDATED 07/10/13*LJ *TR
I WAS ON AN EXIT RAMP FROM THE HIGHWAY AND AROUND THE CURVE I FELT THE STEERING STIFFEN. WHEN I HAD TO TURN RIGHT I HAD TO SWING VERY WIDE INTO THE OTHER LANE BECAUSE I HAD NO POWER STEERING. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS THERE! IT RETURNED AFTER I SHUT MY CAR OFF AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT. THEN THE NEXT DAY IT DID IT AGAIN. TODAY IT WENT OUT AND HASN'T RETURNED YET. MY HUSBAND CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THE FAN WORKED AND IT DOES. THIS IS A KNOWN TO BMW PROBLEM AND NO RECALL IN THE USA. CANADA HAS A RECALL. TELL ME PLEASE, WHY WE DO NOT? *TR
I BOUGHT MY USED MINI COOPER S (64,686 MILES) FROM HONDA DEALERSHIP - SERRAMONTE (DALY CITY, CA) ON MARCH 13, 2012. I'M THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. THE STEERING PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED ON JUNE 2012, BUT IT WAS TEMPORARY. WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO MANEUVER FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND STOPPED THE CAR TO SEE WHAT'S WRONG. IT CAME BACK TO NORMAL AFTER I TURNED ON THE ENGINE. THE STEERING PROBLEM WOULD HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY, I WOULD DO THE SAME PROCEDURES AND THE STEERING WOULD GO BACK TO NORMAL AGAIN. TODAY (3/27/13), WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREA, I NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL STIFFEN LIKE LAST TIME. I STOPPED AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND FIRED IT BACK UP. THIS TIME, IT STAYED STIFF PERMANENTLY. I HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR BACK HOME DURING RUSH HOURS. LUCKILY I MANAGED TO GET HOME WITHOUT GETTING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I CHECKED THE STEERING FLUID LEVEL UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS FULL. I GOOGLED THE STEERING PROBLEM ON THE 2004 MINI COOPER S, I CAME TO FIND OUT THE SAME PROBLEMS WERE EXPERIENCED BY MANY MINI OWNERS. I NEED YOUR ADVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ON HOW I CAN GET MY CAR REPAIRED BEFORE IT CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD. THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE TO MAKE A LIVING. BECAUSE OF THESE COMMON STEERING PROBLEMS, I HOPE MINI WOULD TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. *TR
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING, COULDN'T TURN WHEEL ,HIT CURB. *TR
POWER STEERING RANDOMLY GOES OUT ON CAR. LOW-SPEED FAN HAS SEIZED, DAMAGING POWER STEERING PUMP. CAR HAS NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. *TR
I STOPPED MY CAR IN A PARKING LOT TO RUN SOME ERRANDS. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR AND GOT IT STARTED, I REALIZED THAT THE POWER STEERING OF MY CAR BECAME REALLY STIFF. IT WAS REALLY HARD FOR ME TO STEER MY CAR LEFT AND RIGHT. THE POWER STEERING OF MY CAR NO LONGER FUNCTION AS BEFORE AND IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO DRIVE ON THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT AT A ROAD JUNCTION. *TR
MY POWER STEERING IS FAILING. IT CAUSES MYSELF OR WHEN MY WIFE DRIVES (WITH BOTH MY YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR) TO COME AND GO INTERMITTENTLY. AT TIMES IN PARKING LOTS OR EVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT WILL GO FROM NORMAL USAGE AND EASE OF USE TO HEAVY MANUAL STEERING. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED MORE THEN JUST "BEING LOOKED INTO." THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD/WILL CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE IF NOT RESOLVED PER BMW/MINI COOPER AND IT'S OWNERSHIP. I LISTED IT AS "CRASH" IN THE YES FORM. SO FAR IT HAS ONLY BEEN INTO THE CURB A FEW TIMES AT TYPICAL PARKING SPEEDS. SO FAR IS THE STATEMENT HERE. THIS WILL BECOME AN ISSUE IF NOT RESOLVED AND I HOPE THAT IT IS JUST A CURB AND NOT ANOTHER CAR/FAMILY THAT ARE AFFECTED DUE TO THIS "KNOWN" ISSUE. *TR
POWER STEERING ASSIST INTERMITTENTLY FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES TODAY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN SEEMS TO TEMPORARILY FIX THE PROBLEM BUT AFTER SOME TIME, THE POWER ASSIST WILL FAIL AGAIN. CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER WITHOUT POWER ASSIST. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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