2005 MINI Cooper Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (Steering). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the power steering pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 117,300.

NHTSA ID

11650688

Incident

Sep 1, 2024

Mileage

117,300 mi

The vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The dealer informed me that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure is NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall.

NHTSA ID

11516631

Incident

Feb 6, 2023

Mileage

99,000 mi

The contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The dealer informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 167,000.

NHTSA ID

11472748

Incident

Jul 7, 2022

Mileage

167,000 mi

2005 Mini Cooper S has power steering whine, hard to steer the wheel. Very unsafe.

NHTSA ID

11433934

Incident

Sep 8, 2021

THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS ALL BUT STOPPED WORKING, WITH STEERING NOW DIFFICULT AT LOWER SPEED--ESPECIALLY WHEN I FIRST START THE ENGINE IN THE MORNING. THE CLUTCH DOESN'T RESPOND WELL AND THE VEHICLE NO LONGER GOES INTO SECOND GEAR. THE REAR LEFT BRAKE CALIPER SEIZED IN PLACE, NOT ALLOWING THE BRAKE PAD TO RETRACT COMPLETELY AND THEREFORE THE BRAKE PAD CONTINUOUSLY RUBBED AGAINST THE DISC, BUT WITHOUT NOISE. NOT UNTIL THE LEFT REAR BRAKE MADE NOISE BECAUSE OF THE METAL ON METAL BRAKING WAS THE SEIZED OEM CALIPER IDENTIFIED, WHEN I PUT ON A SET OF NEW BRAKE PADS. NONE OF THE OTHER THREE BRAKES HAD THE SEIZED OEM CALIPER.

NHTSA ID

11311300

Incident

Feb 1, 2020

Mileage

77,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. ONCE RESTARTED, THE STEERING OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY ONE AND A HALF MONTHS AND WAS GETTING WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,500.

NHTSA ID

11244894

Incident

Aug 15, 2019

Mileage

92,500 mi

THE POWER STEERING PUMP STOPS FUNCTIONING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN STARTING A STOP.

NHTSA ID

11203879

Incident

Mar 12, 2019

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUED TO OPERATE. ALSO, WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING PUMP SOMETIMES FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. ALSO, THE LOW BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ORLANDO MINI (350 LAKE DESTINY DRIVE, ORLANDO, FL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000.

NHTSA ID

11165764

Incident

Jan 2, 2019

Mileage

172,000 mi

STEERING WHEEL GOT STIFF WHEN I'M DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11156975

Incident

Nov 28, 2018

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 90K AND FOR SOME REASON WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL PER MINI USA. MINI NEEDS TO REVIEW THE RECALL AND CORRECT ALL 2005 MINI COOPER'S WITH THIS DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

11054467

Incident

Nov 16, 2017

Mileage

90 mi

WHILE DRIVING CAR MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HEAVY AND HARD TO STEER.

NHTSA ID

11051394

Incident

Nov 10, 2017

Mileage

168,000 mi

STEERING IS DIFFICULT AND REQUIRES EXERTION WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL. I BELIEVE MY CAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL RECALL 15V-XXX: ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING (EHPS) SYSTEM M32 02 15 IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL BUT BECAUSE MY CAR EXHIBITS THE SAME ISSUE THAT IS RECALLED ON CARS MADE IN THAT YEAR, I FEEL THAT THE LIMITS SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MY CAR AND OTHER CARS MANUFACTURED WHEN MINE WAS.

NHTSA ID

11015581

Incident

Aug 10, 2017

Mileage

100,612 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE IN HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11012542

Incident

Jul 1, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER S IS ACTING UP/ FAULTY, MAKING A GROAN NOISE AND STEERING IS HARD AT TIMES.

NHTSA ID

11003244

Incident

Jun 24, 2017

Mileage

117,000 mi

THE POWER STEERING IN MY MINI COOPER 2005 HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT. THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES VERY HARD TO TURN ALL OF A SUDDEN, PARTICULARLY AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN IT IS NEEDED THE MOST TO MAKE TURNS OR TO PARK. THERE ARE NO FAULT INDICATORS FOR THIS ISSUE ON THE DASHBOARD EITHER. THE VERY FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED IN MARCH 2011 WHEN MY CAR HAD LESS THAN 80,000 MILES ON IT. THE POWER STEERING BECAME COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. AT THAT TIME THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN MINI COOPER AND THAT THE PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT COST WAS TOO HIGH THOUGH, HENCE I CHOSE TO THINK ABOUT IT BEFORE HAVING IT REPLACED. LUCKILY, THE POWER STEERING STARTED WORKING AGAIN AND EVEN THOUGH STEERING BECAME A LITTLE HARD AT TIMES I GOT USED TO IT. BUT SINCE END OF APRIL 2017 THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE. STEERING GETS TOO HARD AT TIMES AND REQUIRES A LOT OF FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS. GETTING IN AND OUT A COMPACT PARKING SPOT IS EXCEPTIONALLY HARD. MAKING LEFT, RIGHT AND U TURNS ARE ALSO VERY HARD. EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. OR IF THE RECALL IS ONGOING, WHY SHOULD IT TAKE SO LONG SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11002747

Incident

Apr 18, 2017

Mileage

175,900 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ABILITY HAD NOT RETURNED FOR ONE MONTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN ELECTRO HYDRAULIC STEERING SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING), BUT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

NHTSA ID

10958472

Incident

Dec 3, 2016

Mileage

110,000 mi

I REPORTED A FEW MONTHS AGO THAT MY POWER STEERING HAD FAILED. IT IS A 2005 MINI COOPER, AND SOME 2002-2005 MINI COOPERS WERE EFFECTED, BUT SUPPOSEDLY NOT MY MINI WITH MY VIN NUMBER. THE RECALL HAD ENDED IN FEBRUARY 2005 AND MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN APRIL 2005. HOWEVER I BELIEVE THAT BMW (MAKERS OF MINI COOPER) WERE USING FAULTY POWER STEERING UNITS AFTER FEBRUARY 2005. MY CAR HAS LOW MILES, I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND I TAKE PRISTINE CARE OF MY MINI. AS A RESULT, I HIT A CURB AND HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT LEFT TIRE CHANGED. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, NO RAIN AND MY TIRES ARE ALL JUST ABOUT BRAND NEW RUN FLAT TIRES. THE RANGE OF MINI COOPERS AFFECTED NEEDS TO INCREASED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM AND BMW (MAKERS OF MINI COOPER) SEEM TO NOT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. MY POWER STEERING IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP

NHTSA ID

10956026

Incident

Feb 20, 2017

Mileage

120,000 mi

ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM RECALL. MINI COMPANY AND DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO TOW OUR CAR FOR REPAIR. WE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE OF STEERING "FREEZING UP" - SEVERELY LIMITED, ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH WAS SCARY AND DID NOT FEEL SAFE. ALL DEALERSHIPS REQUIRE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FROM OUR HOME. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, BUT I DO NOT AGREE, HAVING EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM FIRST HAND. MINI REFUSES TO TOW BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. PLEASE NOTE: INCIDENT DATE IS AN ESTIMATE. WILL GET ACTUAL DATE ASAP. NOTE: THIS STEERING LIMITATION HAS ALSO HAPPENED LAST WINTER WHEN TRYING TO STEER THE CAR OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL (1/16). CALLED DEALERSHIP, BUT DID NOT HAVE NEW PART IN STOCK YET AND DID NOT KNOW WHEN IT WOULD BE AVAILABLE. CAR DID NOT DO IT THE NEXT TIME (FEW DAYS LATER). DEALERSHIP NEVER CONTACTED US TO ALERT THE PART WAS AVAILABLE (AS IT NOW IS).

NHTSA ID

10904462

Incident

Aug 24, 2016

Mileage

58,000 mi

THE POWER STEERING GOES IN AND OUT. SOMETIMES IT STEERS PROPERLY AND SOMETIMES IT IS LIKE TURNING A TRUCK. HAPPENS BOTH WHILE STATIONARY AND WHEN MOVING.

NHTSA ID

10899648

Incident

Aug 12, 2016

Mileage

67,545 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WITHOUT WARNING, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TIGHT, EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN, AND SEIZED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXTREME FORCE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE EACH TIME THE FAILURE PROGRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 08/03/16*LJ UPDATED 08/09/16.*JB *CN

NHTSA ID

10873597

Incident

May 23, 2016

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP CAUSED METAL FRAGMENTS TO ENTER THE RACK AND PINION, WHICH CAUSED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE OF THE TREAD ACT, THE MANUFACTURER WAS ONLY OBLIGATED TO REPAIR THE POWER STEERING PUMP UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,155.

NHTSA ID

10860322

Incident

Sep 10, 2015

Mileage

67,155 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE FAN FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

NHTSA ID

10853777

Incident

Apr 3, 2016

Mileage

86,000 mi

POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AND IT STAYS ON WHEN THE ENGINE IS OFF. I WAS ON A CITY STREET WHEN IT HAPPENED. I HAVE TO DISCONNECT BATTERY CABLE SO IT DOESN'T DRAIN THE BATTERY.

NHTSA ID

10850550

Incident

Mar 18, 2016

Mileage

140,230 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING). 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. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10846188

Incident

Mar 11, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRIC FAN KEPT RUNNING. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. WHEN ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ARRIVED, THE BATTERY WAS JUMPSTARTED AND THE FAN REMAINED ACTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE POWER STEERING FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000.

NHTSA ID

10839739

Incident

Feb 8, 2016

Mileage

67,000 mi