2005 MINI Cooper S Problems

The contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The contact stated that the vehicle had lost power steering assist. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that a software update was performed on the back over prevention camera. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (STEERING); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 175,830.

The contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (Steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact also stated that he was advised by the dealer that he had to pay out of pocket for a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

WHEN ADJUSTING THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, I CONDUCTED TROUBLESHOOTING. I VERIFIED THAT THE WIRING HARNESSES AND CONNECTORS FOR THE AIRBAG SENSORS UNDER BOTH SEATS HAD COME LOOSE, AND CERTAIN WIRES DE-PINNED. THE CAR WAS RUNNING, AND PARKED WHEN THIS OCCURRED.

2005 MINI COOPER S WAS TRAVELING 50MPH WHEN IT HIT ICY BRIDGE SPUN AROUND AND ROLLED 3 TIMES DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEATBELT AND PASSENGER WAS NOT AND GOT EJECTED AND DIED.NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HWY 299.*DT *JS

BATTERY LIGHT FLASHING, POWER STEERING CUTTING OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. ALTERNATOR AND SERPINTINE BELT REPLACED BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES. ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SEEMS TO BE DRAINING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

WHEN ADJUSTING THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, I CONDUCTED TROUBLESHOOTING. I VERIFIED THAT THE WIRING HARNESSES AND CONNECTORS FOR THE AIRBAG SENSORS UNDER BOTH SEATS HAD COME LOOSE, AND CERTAIN WIRES DE-PINNED. THE CAR WAS RUNNING, AND PARKED WHEN THIS OCCURRED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND SMOKE BEGAN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE POWER STEERING CEASED WITHOUT WARNING UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING) AS POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. MINI OF DES MOINES LOCATED AT (9900 HICKMAN RD, DES MOINES, IA 50325) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

2005 MINI COOPER S WAS TRAVELING 50MPH WHEN IT HIT ICY BRIDGE SPUN AROUND AND ROLLED 3 TIMES DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEATBELT AND PASSENGER WAS NOT AND GOT EJECTED AND DIED.NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HWY 299.*DT *JS

THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT WAS REPLACED BY RECALL ON 10/28/2016. ON 10/2018 I NOTICED THAT WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT WITH THEIR SEAT BELT ON THE AIR BAG WAS OFF, IN 1 WEEKS TIME THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME AND THE AIR BAG IS OFF ALL THE TIME WITH OR WITHOUT SOMEONE OCCUPING THE SEAT. REGUARDLESS IF THE CAR IS IDILING OR GOING DOWN THE RODE. AT LEAST BEFORE THE RECALLED MAT SENSOR WAS REPLACED THE SEAT MAT SENSOR WORKED MOST OF THE TIME. NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TESTED THE OC3 MAT (PASSENGER SIDE MAT SENSOR) AND SAID THERE ARE MULTIPLE CODES FOR THE OC3 MAT AND THEY FOUND INTERNAL FAULTS AND IT REQUIRES REPLACEMENT AGAIN. THEY SAID THIS RECALL IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRENTY AND I NEED TO PAY OVER 1500.00 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. IT IS UNSAFE FOR ME TO HAVE A PASSENGER IN MY CAR IF WE GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT THEIR AIRBAG WOULD NOT BE ON, THERE FOR THEY WOULD HAVE NO AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY TO TRY AND PROTECT THEM. HOW IS THIS MY FAULT? THEY REPLACED MY MAT SENSOR WITH ANOTHER FAULTY ONE THAT IS WORSE THEN THE FIRST ONE. HOW LONG ARE THE WARRENTIES FOR RECALLS AND THE PARTS REPLACED? I HAVE THE PAPERS FROM THE DEALERSHIP STATING WHAT I JUST REPORTED TO YOU.

WHEN PASSENGER EXITED VEHICLE, LIGHT AIRBAG OFF NOTIFICATION CAME ON. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME SOMEONE EXITS THE PASSENGER SEAT. ALSO AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT & SEATBELT NOT BUCKLED LIGHT COME ON. *TR

TAKATA RECALL. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE IN AUTOMATIC. SPENT $5,600 TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION. STILL HAVING INTERMITTENT ISSUES.

TRANSMISSION PREVIOUSLY REPLACED AT 48K MILES BY MANUFACTURER DUE TO NOISE. MY TRANSMISSION IS BROKEN. MY TIRES CHIRP EVERY TIME I PUSH ON THE GAS BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT KNOW WHAT GEAR TO BE IN DUE TO THE BAD BODY CONTROL VALVE. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE I CANNOT VERIFY HOW MUCH MECHANICAL DAMAGE HAS TAKEN PLACE DURING THE TIME THAT THE VALVE BODY HAS BEEN BROKEN. ONCE THE VALVE BODY BREAKS DOWN, THE MECHANICAL UNIT ALSO BEGINS TO BREAK DOWN. MINI NEEDS TO ISSUE A SERVICE BULLETIN TELLING THE DEALERS TO COMMENCE SERVICING THE AISIN TRANSMISSIONS EVERY 40K BY REPLACING THE FLUID. BMW/MINI'S TRANSMISSION FLUID IS NOT LIFETIME. VOLKSWAGEN ISSUED A SIMILAR BULLETIN A FEW YEARS AGO BECAUSE IT ALSO USES THE AISIN TRANSMISSION. THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS MAY NOT REPLACE THE FLUID RIGHT BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS HARD TO DRAIN AND IN MANY CASES IF IT'S NOT DONE RIGHT, GREAT DAMAGE IS DONE THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER POWERED UPON ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK, AND BUCK. THE VALVE BODY IN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO BREAK DOWN BECAUSE THE SHAVINGS FROM THE TRANSMISSION GEARS BEGAN TO CLOUD THE FLUID AND INHIBIT COMMUNICATION FROM THE VALVE BODY SOLENOIDS TO THE MECHANICAL COMPONENTS. UPDATED 03/23/16.*JB

2005 MINI COOPER S WITH 42K MILES. DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILS TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. I CAN ONLY EXIT THE CAR BY USING THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE WHICH REQUIRES OPENING THE WINDOW. IF AN EMERGENCY OCCURS WHICH REQUIRES RAPID EXIT FROM THE CAR AND THERE WAS A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE. 42K MILES IS FAIRLY LOW AND THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED. MINI COOPER CLAIMS THIS IS 'NORMAL' WEAR. IT IS NOT 'NORMAL' WEAR AND IS INDEED A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT WHICH APPARENTLY HAPPENS TO MANY MINI COOPERS. *TR

BOTH DOOR HANDLES ARE INOPERATIVE FROM THE INSIDE. DEALER PER PHONE CALL DIAGNOSED "COMMON PROBLEM" AS THE BALLARD CABLE DISCONNECTING FROM THE LATCH. AFTER REMOVING THE DOOR PANEL IT WAS FOUND TO BE INTACT. PROBLEM IS YET TO BE DIAGNOSED. IT IS MY ASSUMPTION THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SECURITY SYSTEM SINCE THE DOORS DO NOT UNLOCK WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF AND THE DOORS DO NOT APPEAR TO TRY AND LOCK WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHES THE SET SPEED OF 15 MPH. THIS IS A DEFECT OF GRAVE CONCERN SINCE THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE CANNOT IMMEDIATELY EXIT THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR FIRE AND WOULD BE TOTALLY UNABLE TO EXIT IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. *TR

2005 MINI COOPER S WAS TRAVELING 50MPH WHEN IT HIT ICY BRIDGE SPUN AROUND AND ROLLED 3 TIMES DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEATBELT AND PASSENGER WAS NOT AND GOT EJECTED AND DIED.NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HWY 299.*DT *JS

DEFECT INITIALLY OCCURRED AT NIGHT TIME IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC: DASH-LIGHTS WENT OUT, TURN INDICATOR NOT FUNCTIONAL, HEATER BLOWER STOPPED WORKING (CAUSING FOGGING OF WINDSHIELD/WINDOWS), AIR BAG LIGHTS WENT ON, SEAT BELT LIGHT ON CONSEQUENTLY HAD TO PULL ON THE SIDE OF ROAD (LIMITED VISIBILITY, NO SPEED INDICATOR, COULD NOT OPERATE VEHICLE SAFELY). A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS AT IGNITION CYCLING PARTIALLY RESTORED FUNCTIONALITY. AFTER INITIAL DEFECT, PROBLEM COULD BE REPRODUCED INTERMITTENTLY (ALL/SOME OF THE COMPONENT LISTED ABOVE FAILED DURING COURSE OF NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE). VEHICLE INSPECTED BY MINI/BMW DEALER, ROOT CAUSE: INTERFERENCE ON K-BUS OF ONE OF THE AUDIO COMPONENT, RESULTING IN FAILURE/MALFUNCTION OF OTHER COMPONENTS ON THE BUS. ULTIMATELY COMPONENT (MINI I-POD INTERFACE) HAD TO BE REMOVED -- PART IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. REQUEST TO HAVE REPAIRS COVERED WAS REJECTED BY MINI/BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS ON GROUNDS THERE WAS NO RECALL (VEHICLE IS 5 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY --- 41K MILES). *TR

I NOTICED ON THE FRONT OF A SET OF A BRAND NEW TIRES THE TREAD ON LEFT TIRE WAS WORN TO THE CORE AND THE WAS SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE ON THE INSIDE, THE RIGHT TIRE HAD EVERY LITTLE TREAD LEFT. THE CAUSE OF THIS WAS THE STRUTS HAD DAMAGED THE UPPER STRUT PLATES ON BOTH SIDES, CAUSING IT TO BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT .THERE HAS BEEN 216 COMPLAINTS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; I.E,PARTS REPAIRED OR REPLACED. *TR

STRUT TOWERS DEFORMED. THIS IS A RESULT OF STANDARD EQUIPMENT RUN FLAT TIRES HITTING POT HOLES. THE FIX IS A REINFORCING PLATE ATTACHED TO THE TOP OF THE STRUT TOWER. EITHER THE RUN FLATS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE OR THE STRUT TOWERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN OF SUFFICIENT STRENGTH. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE "AIR BAG" OFF LIGHT IS ON ALL OF THE TIME AND THUS, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT BE DEPLOYED IN AN COLLISION. HAVE HAD SENSOR WORKED ON, SYSTEM FLASHED BY BMW, ETC TO RESOLVE ISSUE. BMW UNABLE TO RESOLVE WITHOUT EXTENSIVE COST. *TR

DEFECT INITIALLY OCCURRED AT NIGHT TIME IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC: DASH-LIGHTS WENT OUT, TURN INDICATOR NOT FUNCTIONAL, HEATER BLOWER STOPPED WORKING (CAUSING FOGGING OF WINDSHIELD/WINDOWS), AIR BAG LIGHTS WENT ON, SEAT BELT LIGHT ON CONSEQUENTLY HAD TO PULL ON THE SIDE OF ROAD (LIMITED VISIBILITY, NO SPEED INDICATOR, COULD NOT OPERATE VEHICLE SAFELY). A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS AT IGNITION CYCLING PARTIALLY RESTORED FUNCTIONALITY. AFTER INITIAL DEFECT, PROBLEM COULD BE REPRODUCED INTERMITTENTLY (ALL/SOME OF THE COMPONENT LISTED ABOVE FAILED DURING COURSE OF NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE). VEHICLE INSPECTED BY MINI/BMW DEALER, ROOT CAUSE: INTERFERENCE ON K-BUS OF ONE OF THE AUDIO COMPONENT, RESULTING IN FAILURE/MALFUNCTION OF OTHER COMPONENTS ON THE BUS. ULTIMATELY COMPONENT (MINI I-POD INTERFACE) HAD TO BE REMOVED -- PART IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. REQUEST TO HAVE REPAIRS COVERED WAS REJECTED BY MINI/BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS ON GROUNDS THERE WAS NO RECALL (VEHICLE IS 5 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY --- 41K MILES). *TR

THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING: HESITATION, WHEELS SKIDDING, ROUGH ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES AFTER 2 TRIPS TO MINI COOPER IN WHICH THE CAR'S COMPUTER WAS "RESET" BECAUSE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION WERE FOUND. THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED ABOVE PERSISTS, BUT THERE WAS ALSO ONE EPISODE WHERE THE CAR DID NOT START AND LATER TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING ON A CONGESTED NYC ROAD. *TR

I WAS TRAVEL AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH, WHEN MY VEHICLE LOST POWER IMMEDIATELY DOWN TO 15 MPH. THE ENGINE DID NOT SHUT OFF, BUT I COULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 15 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC FLOW WAS SPACED SO I COULD SAFELY PULL OVER. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THIS MALFUNCTION WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS SAID TO GONE INTO "LIMP MODE". THE ELECTRONIC BELT WAS REPLACED THAT APPARENTLY CONTROLS THE VEHICLE FUNCTION AT A COST OF $3400.00. *TR

24 DEGREE MORNING CAR'S MANUAL 6-SPEED TRANSMISSION FROZEN IN 1ST GEAR. TOOK OTHER CAR TO WORK. PROBLEM GONE AFTER RETURNING FROM WORK AT 40 DEGREES. LOOKED UP ONLINE. SAW MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS DUE TO WATER IN SHIFTER CABLES. *TR

2005 MINI COOPER S-BEGAN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CAR JERKING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS (NOT A MANUAL TRANSMISSION) IN EARLY 2009. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANICS. THEY HAD IT FOR QUITE AWHILE, TRYING TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE. THEY ADVISED THAT THEY EVEN CONSULTED WITH THE DEALERSHIP, BUT SAID THEY FELT LIKE THE DEALERSHIP WASN'T VERY FORTHCOMING IN THEIR INFORMATION. MY MECHANIC ULTIMATELY DECIDED THAT HE THOUGHT IT WAS A SENSOR THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. $500 TO REPLACE THIS SENSOR. THE ROUGH SHIFTING CONTINUED AND ON JUNE 2, 2009, WHILE I WAS OUT AT LUNCH, I LOST FIRST GEAR ALTOGETHER. THE CAR WOULD MOVE FORWARD, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO PICK UP ANY REAL SPEED UNTIL THE RPM'S GOT HIGH ENOUGH. I PULLED OVER INTO A PARKING LOT, PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. WHEN I STARTED IT AGAIN, I HAD THE USE OF FIRST GEAR AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME IT FELT AS THOUGH IT WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF THIRD. I DROVE IT VERY SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY BACK TO MY OFFICE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, TOLD THEM THAT I WAS GOING TO NEED TO HAVE IT TOWED IN, AND ASKED IF THEY HAD A TOWING SERVICE. SHE SAID NO, BUT RECOMMENDED A TOWING COMPANY. I HAD IT TOWED IT BUT DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING BACK FROM ANYONE UNTIL MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2009. MY HUSBAND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT WOULD BE $8,000 FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND $2000 FOR THE LABOR. HARD TO BELIEVE ANYONE COULD SAY THAT WITH A STRAIGHT FACE. AROUND JUNE 9, 2009, THE MINI SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE WAS GOING TO WORK WITH IT A LITTLE BIT AND SEE IF HE COULD GET ANY OF THOSE COSTS COVERED UNDER A SERVICE BULLETIN. TODAY IS JUNE 16, 2009. MY HUSBAND HAS CALLED, LEFT VOICEMAILS, AND EVEN GONE UP THE DEALERSHIP. WE HAVE HEARD NOTHING BACK FROM THE MINI SERVICE MANAGER. MY HUSBAND SPOKE TO THE BMW SERVICE MANAGER, WHO TOLD HIM THAT WE'D HAVE TO WAIT AND TALK TO THE MINI SERVICE MANAGER. *TR

TAKATA RECALL. DEALERSHIP WANTED TO CHARGE ME $1000 TO FIX THIS AIRBAG. STEERING ALSO STIFF AND AT TIME UNRESPONSIVE. NUMBER THREE MISFIRE IS A DESIGN FLAW. HORN DOES NOT WORK. LENS ON HEADLIGHTS MAKE LIGHT VERY DIM.

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WEIGHT SENSOR STOP WORKING. AS A RESULT MY VEHICLE DISPLAYS A WARNING THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS ARE OFF. MY DRIVER SIDE FOG LIGHT HOUSING MELTED AND CRACK APART. I USED STOCK 55W HALOGEN BULBS. MY PASSENGER SIDE FOG LIGHT HOUSING HAS ALSO BEGUN TO MELT. MY POWER STEERING IS NOT LEAKING NOW. BUT IT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. *TR

PULLED2005 MINI COOPER S IN GARAGE, BRAKES WORKED FINE. NEXT DAY, BACKED CAR OUT THE GARAGE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. NO BRAKES AT ALL! NO FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR SO I REFILLED IT BUT STILL NO BRAKES AT ALL. HAD CAR FLAT BEDDED TO WALSH'S GARAGE 7 MILE RD REDFORD,MI 313-532-2823 REAR BRAKE LINES WERE TOTALLY RUSTED THRU WHERE THE BRAKE LINES ARE HELD UP TO THE FRAME. LINES WERE RUSTED THRU UNDER THE BRACKET THAT IS TACKED TO THE FRAME. I DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR IN THE WINTER AND HARDLY EVER IN THE RAIN SO I CAN JUST IMAGINE WHAT THE BRAKE LINES WOULD LIKE IF I DROVE IT IN THE WINTER IN MICHIGAN?? I CONTACTED MINI USA AND THEY DID NOT SEEM TO CARE ABOUT MY BRAKE FAILURE?? THE REP STATED: " WHAT DO U WANT MINI TO DO ABOUT IT? *TR

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AND LOST POWER. I PULLED TO SHOULDER AND BLACK SMOKE CAME THRU AIR VENTS. I OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS FIRE. MY CAR COMPLETELY BURNED UP. I NEVER HAD ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID HE BELIEVED THE FIRE STARTED UNDER MY CAR.

DEFECT INITIALLY OCCURRED AT NIGHT TIME IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC: DASH-LIGHTS WENT OUT, TURN INDICATOR NOT FUNCTIONAL, HEATER BLOWER STOPPED WORKING (CAUSING FOGGING OF WINDSHIELD/WINDOWS), AIR BAG LIGHTS WENT ON, SEAT BELT LIGHT ON CONSEQUENTLY HAD TO PULL ON THE SIDE OF ROAD (LIMITED VISIBILITY, NO SPEED INDICATOR, COULD NOT OPERATE VEHICLE SAFELY). A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS AT IGNITION CYCLING PARTIALLY RESTORED FUNCTIONALITY. AFTER INITIAL DEFECT, PROBLEM COULD BE REPRODUCED INTERMITTENTLY (ALL/SOME OF THE COMPONENT LISTED ABOVE FAILED DURING COURSE OF NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE). VEHICLE INSPECTED BY MINI/BMW DEALER, ROOT CAUSE: INTERFERENCE ON K-BUS OF ONE OF THE AUDIO COMPONENT, RESULTING IN FAILURE/MALFUNCTION OF OTHER COMPONENTS ON THE BUS. ULTIMATELY COMPONENT (MINI I-POD INTERFACE) HAD TO BE REMOVED -- PART IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. REQUEST TO HAVE REPAIRS COVERED WAS REJECTED BY MINI/BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS ON GROUNDS THERE WAS NO RECALL (VEHICLE IS 5 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY --- 41K MILES). *TR

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER S BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING ON 8-9-2010. WHILE GOING LEFT ON A MIXMASTER, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HIT THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE AND PERHAPS DRIVE OFF OF THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE. THE PASSENGER IN MY CAR HELPED ME STEER (WITH FORCE) TO THE LEFT AND DRIVE TO THE STRAIGHTAWAY. THE POWER STEERING IS INTERMITTENT, WORKING FIVE PERCENT OF THE TIME. MY CAR WAS SERVICED IN JUNE OF 2010 DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE TENSION BELT, WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO HAVE A BURNING SMELL AND NO AIR CONDITIONING. THE "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHT IS ON TEN PERCENT OF THE TIME AND THE "CHECK TIRE PRESSURE" LIGHT IS ON OFTEN, THOUGH I NO LONGER HAVE RUN-FLAT TIRES. MY CAR IS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE DUE TO THE LACK OF POWER STEERING. AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST INCIDENT, MY CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES. *TR