2004 MINI Cooper Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2004 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000(STEERING); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had experienced the failure, causing the driver to lose control of the steering and drive off the road. The exact cause of the failure was not determined, and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160.000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11661001

Incident

Aug 30, 2024

Mileage

160,000 mi

Mini felt like it was getting pushed by the wind . Realized wasn't wind Mini loss of completely all functions of steering wheel. On super busy highway. Devine intervention Was in far left car went left to right lanes then hit median gaurd rail spun around Finally got it to stop. Never Hitting and hurting anyone around me. Nobody hit me. Car is totalled ! Still at tow place. I saw my life flash as cars were zooming by me. Someone should be held responsible for my car and almost my life. Called out of work can't move upper body that well.

NHTSA ID

11462281

Incident

Apr 24, 2022

MAINLY WHILE COLD AND AT LOW SPEED'S THE WHEEL SUDDENLY BECOMES VERY HARD TO TURN AND I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC BUT IT'S A FAULTY HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

11209798

Incident

Apr 29, 2019

Mileage

201,000 mi

VERY HARD TO TURN STEERING WHEEL AT TIMES ESPECIALLY WHEN MOVING SLOWLY; COMING TO A TURN AT A LIGHT, BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, ETC.

NHTSA ID

11208085

Incident

Apr 28, 2019

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING) AND NHTSA ACTION NUMBERS: EA11005 (STEERING) AND PE10038 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11141289

Incident

Aug 1, 2017

POWER STEERING HAS BEEN AN ISSUE OVER A YEAR OR TWO. NO TOTAL FAILURES BUT IT DOES NOT QUALIFY AS POWER STEERING. THE COOLING FAN DOES NOT WORK. STEERING IS NOT GOOD....FOR POWERED STEERING THAT IS. SLOW SPEED STEERING IS HORRENDOUS AND NON EXISTENT.

NHTSA ID

11129929

Incident

Jul 28, 2015

Mileage

20 mi

I OWN A 2004 MINI COOPER. I WAS DRIVING AND LOST ALL POWER STEERING ALMOST CAUSING A ACCIDENT. THERE IS A OPEN RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. I CONTACTED MINI AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED WITH THE RECALL. I EXPLAINED THAT MY CAR WAS EXPERIENCING ALL THE ISSUES ADDRESSED IN THE RECALL, BUT THEY STILL WOULD NOT HELP ME OUT.

NHTSA ID

11096473

Incident

Apr 11, 2018

Mileage

148,000 mi

MINI COOPER POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY DRIVEN AND WAS PARKED ON THE STREET. WE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND BACKED UP TO PULL OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT. THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. WE HAD TO ATTEMPT TO BACK UP AGAIN TO GET OFF OF THE STREET AND IN TO THE PARKING SPOT. A BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND COOLING FAN HAD FAILED. THERE ARE DOCUMENTED ISSUES WITH THIS FAILURE. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE EXPIRED IN APRIL. THIS HAPPENED JUNE 12TH.

NHTSA ID

10994950

Incident

Jun 12, 2017

Mileage

130,051 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10892817

Incident

Oct 13, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR DUE TO THE UPDATED PART PREVIOUSLY BEING INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10884871

Incident

Jul 4, 2016

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REMEDIED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THEY DID NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED BY A TECHNICIAN THAT IT SHOULD HAVE TAKEN FOUR HOURS TO COMPLETE THE INSPECTION AND PERFORM ANY NECESSARY REPAIRS. THE CONTACT DID NOT BELIEVE THE REPAIR WAS ADEQUATELY PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 09/27/16*LJ CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERSHIP SAID CAR WAS FINE, CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW IT IF IT WAS RECALLED WHY THE PARTS WERE NOT REPLACED UPDATED 6/12/18*JB

NHTSA ID

10875543

Incident

Jun 16, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10850449

Incident

Dec 7, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10849706

Incident

Oct 31, 2015

Mileage

58,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING ELECTRIC PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10837660

Incident

Dec 26, 2015

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. . THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND SHUT IT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL. THE DEALER WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10836512

Incident

Feb 3, 2016

Mileage

145,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AROUND 40 MILES PER HOUR AND THE CAR ABRUPTLY SLOWED DOWN THEN SPED UP WITHOUT ANY WARNING, IF ANOTHER CAR WAS BEHIND ME, IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED SOME SERIOUS DAMAGE. NOW MY CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION IS GONE. AFTER REACHING OUT TO MINI USA, THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION AND IT'S PASS THE WARRANTY DATE. IF THE FOLKS AT MINI USA HAD BEEN HONEST WITH ME I COULD HAVE MADE THE DEADLINE FOR A SETTLEMENT PERTAINING TO THE SAME PROBLEM THEY CLAIMED THEY HAD NO IDEA ABOUT. THIS PRODUCT NEED TO BE RECALLED! AFTER DOING EXTENSIVE RESEARCH THE CVT TRANSMISSION HAVE HAD PROBLEMS ALL ALONG AND THE COMPANY HAVE BEEN SETTLING CLAIMS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. WHY ARE THEY ALLOWED TO RUN HARD WORKING FOLKS INTO DEATH BECAUSE THEY KNOW MOST OF US CAN'T AND WOULDN'T PURSUE THIS MATTER. IT WILL COST ME 6500.00 FOR THE PART AND ANOTHER $2200 FOR LABOR, THE CAR IS NOW VALUED AT $5500.00. IT THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS?

NHTSA ID

10788053

Incident

Apr 30, 2015

Mileage

52,000 mi

VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER.

NHTSA ID

10779788

Incident

Aug 12, 2015

Mileage

88,000 mi

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER, BASE, SPORADICALLY QUITS WORKING, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. I WAS TOLD BY MINI DEALERSHIP THAT IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT BUT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT UNTIL IT FAILS COMPLETELY. VERY SUB-PAR CUSTOMER SERVICE, AS THEY KNOW IT IS A PROBLEM. UNHAPPY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10676502

Incident

Jan 13, 2015

Mileage

68,000 mi

I WAS CHANGING LANES IN A HEAVY TRAFFIC SITUATION AND MY POWER STEERING QUIT CAUSING THE CAR TO CONTINUE IN THE "CHANGING" DIRECTION. THIS NEARLY CAUSED ME TO HIT A CAR IN ANOTHER LANE BECAUSE I COULD NOT MOVE INTO THE INTENDED LANE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10664349

Incident

Dec 13, 2014

Mileage

86,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 125,000.

NHTSA ID

10626095

Incident

Mar 11, 2014

Mileage

125,000 mi

THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, CONTACT WAS MADE WITH THE MINI DEALER IN NASHVILLE TN AND I INQUIRED ABOUT A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING AND WAS TOLD NO RECALL WAS PLACED ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10586068

Incident

Apr 16, 2014

Mileage

37,245 mi

REPLACEMENT OF POWER STEERING PUMP PER RECALL, BUT UNABLE TO STEER WITHOUT REPLACEMENT OF U JOINT ALSO. *TT

NHTSA ID

10582931

Incident

Apr 15, 2014

Mileage

70,000 mi

1) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BUSTED. CAR STALLED DANGEROUSLY ON THE HIGHWAY. 2) POWER STEERING PUMP BUSTED. STEERING LOCKED DANGEROUSLY ON THE ROAD AND COULD NOT BE MOVED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10567652

Incident

Nov 5, 2012

Mileage

59,000 mi

AFTER DRIVING FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO BURLINGAME, CALIFORNIA, I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN I RETURNED 10 MINUTES LATER, I LOST POWER STEERING WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. ON THAT SAME DAY, I DROVE FROM BURLINGAME BACK TO SAN FRANCISCO. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. 5 MINUTES LATER, I LOST POWER STEERING AGAIN WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE. THE CAR IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN WITHOUT POWER STEERING, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10566785

Incident

Feb 15, 2014

Mileage

18,000 mi

2004 MINI COOPER STEERING BECOMES HARD TO STEER SUDDENLY DURING DRIVING AND ALSO AT TIMES AFTER A RESTART FROM PARKING. AFTER A COUPLE OF RESTARTS IT APPEARS TO BE BACK TO NORMAL BUT QUICKLY BECOMES HARD TO STEER AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. DURING TURNS I FEEL KIND OF BLOCKS IN THE STEERING DURING THE TURNING THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE COUNTERED WITH A LITTLE MORE HARD PRESSURE ON STEERING TO COMPLETE THE TURN. FEEL RISKIER TO TAKE IT FOR DOWNTOWN DRIVES THAT NEED SHARP AND PROPER TURNS INTO LANES. EVEN MORE RISKIER FOR HIGHWAY DRIVES AS NOT SURE HOW IT WILL REACT TO A QUICK LANE CHANGE OR DURING EXITS. POWER STEERING SEEMS TO NO LONGER EXIST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10551027

Incident

Nov 3, 2013

Mileage

81,300 mi