2002 MINI COOPER Steering Problems

SO I BOUGHT A 2002 MINI COOPER LESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND IT CURRENTLY HAS 74K MILES AND ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT AT THE GROCERY MY STEERING GOES COMPLETELY OUT WHILE I WAS TRYING TO TURN INTO MY SPOT AND RIPPED OFF A BLACK MOLDING THAT GOES OVER THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL AND A SIGNIFICANT DING AND SCRATCH.

Mileage: 75,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE CONTACT, A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD OVER HEATED CAUSING THE POWER STEERING FLUID TO EVAPORATE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT SINCE 2012 THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED FIVE SEPARATE TIMES AND RECENTLY WITH THE NEW REDESIGN PUMP BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME FAILURE OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

Mileage: 30,000

DRIVING CAR NORMALLY WHEN POWER STEERING WENT OUT CAUSING A GREAT DEAL OF LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, MAKING TURNING VERY DIFFICULT. ENDED UP SWERVING INTO OTHER LANE, FORTUNATELY NO CARS WERE IN THE LANE AT THE TIME. HAD TO RE-START VEHICLE TO GAIN STEERING BACK. HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE THIS DATE. MINI USA KEEP DODGING THE ISSUE FOR A FULL ON RECALL, INSTEAD EXTENDING THE WARRANTY, BUT MY VEHICLE MISSED THE WARRANTY BY 3 MONTHS SO THEY WILL NOT REPLACE WITHOUT A HEFTY AMOUNT OF MONEY INVOLVED.

Mileage: 126,000

POWER STEERING PUMP IS VERY LOUD WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. CAN BE VERY HARD TO TURN WHEEL AT TIMES AND SOMETIMES THE POWER STEERING HAS CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING. MINI HAS A RECALL BUT WONT FIX FOR ME. *JS

Mileage: 80,346

WHILE DRIVING EAST ON SHERIDAN DR. IN THE TOWN OF TONAWANDA, I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING. I WRESTLED WITH THE CAR FOR THE REST OF THE DAY, AND WHEN I GOT HOME, I HEARD THAT THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN WAS RUNNING CONTINUOUSLY, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF IN THE DRIVEWAY. I ASSUMED IT WOULD STOP EVENTUALLY, BUT WAS WRONG AND RETURNED TO A TOTALLY DEAD BATTERY. I CALLED THE DEALER, TOWNE MINI IN WILLIAMSVILLE, NY, AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE BOOKED TO JUNE 17TH, BUT THAT I COULD BRING IT IN. MIDWAY BETWEEN MY HOME AND TOWNE, WHILE ON THE 290, MY POWER STEERING RETURNED. WHEN I GOT TO TOWNE, THEY AS MUCH AS CALLED ME A LIAR, AND REFUSED TO REPLACE THE PUMP AND FAN. THEY DID HOWEVER, FIND $1300 WORTH OF OTHER WORK THAT "NEEDED" TO BE DONE TO PASS NYS INSPECTION. *TR

Mileage: 92,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

Mileage: 107,000

I HAVE 2002 MINI COOPER ORIGINAL OWNER AND I HAD WINDSHELD, TRANSMISSION REPLACED. MAIN ISSUE I STILL HAVE IS STREERING LOOSE POWER. I GOT A LETTER FROM MINI SAID IT EXTENDED WARRANTY NOT A RECALL. MINI CO. NEVER RECALL ANY ISSUES. CALL DEALER FOR THIS STREERING PROBLEM BUT MY 2002 MINI IS NOT UNDER THIS CAMPAIGN. I HAVE THAT STREERING LOOSE POWER MIDDLE OF DRIVING BUT THIS IS NOT EVEN RECALL? I HAVE TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSE FEE FOR EXTENSION WARRANTY PER DEALER. MINI/BMW WILL NOT RECALL THIS ISSUE UNTIL DRIVERS GET SERIOUSLY HURT. *TR

THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED IN MY 2002 MINI COOPER FOR THE SECOND TIME. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS IN 2011 AND I GOT A NEW PUMP AND HAD IT PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED. TODAY, 08/26/2013 MY SECOND POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. I DO NOT HAVE THE TIME OR THE MONEY TO KEEP REPLACING A PART THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO. *TR

Mileage: 106,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT NO CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE WAS IDENTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

I WAS ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY POWER STEERING FAILED AND I NEARLY CRASHED WHILE TRYING TO CHANGE LANES AND EXIT THE FREEWAY. *TR

Mileage: 109,235

POWER STEERING FROZE UP CAR COULD NOT BE STEERED IN ANY DIRECTION. *TR

Mileage: 41,225

I WAS TRYING TO GET ONTO AN OFF RAMP AND WHEN I WAS INTO THE TURN I ALMOST RAN INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER BECAUSE THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE STEERING WHEEL ALWAYS LOCKS UP SOMETIMES IT WITH A FEW MILES AND OTHERS IT IS GOOD UNTIL IT LOCKS UP. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

Mileage: 123,000

AFTER A SHORT TRIP, I HAD JUST PARKED THE MINI. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS OUTDOORS AND WITHIN 50FT OF MY TOOL CHEST. ON TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND REMOVING THE KEY, I NOTICED AN UNUSUAL NOISE; THE [ELECTRIC] POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN. A FEW SECONDS LATER, SMOKE APPEARED. I RACED TO MY TOOL DRAWER, GRABBING THE FIRST SUITABLE TOOL, CHANNEL LOCK PLIERS, AND PROCEEDED TO HASTILY DISCONNECT ONE OF THE BATTERY TERMINALS. SMOKE WAS HEAVY AT THAT POINT. DISCONNECTING POWER PREVENTED FURTHER DAMAGE, AND WAS FORTUNATELY DONE IN TIME, BEFORE THE WIRING HARNESS WAS INCINERATED, OR THE SITUATION BECAME A SELF-SUSTAINING CONFLAGRATION. APPARENTLY, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A 100A FUSE PRESENT, THE FAULT PROTECTION ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP CIRCUIT IS INADEQUATE. I REMOVED THE POWER WIRE TO THE PUMP, TO ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN, WITH HEAVY [NON-ASSISTED] STEERING, PENDING SERVICE. SINCE THE OUTCOME IS NOT SO BAD, WHY SHOULD I COMPLAIN? CONSIDER IF THE VEHICLE WERE PARKED INDOORS, AND/OR IF THE SAME EVENT WERE TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE WITH LESS ELECTRICAL APTITUDE. I DON'T EXPECT ACCESSORIES TO LAST FOREVER; THE VEHICLE IS 11 YEARS OLD WITH 123K MILES. I DO OBJECT TO THE FAILURE MODE, IN WHICH THE POWER STEERING PUMP CIRCUIT BECOMES AN INCENDIARY DEVICE... *TR

Mileage: 123,400

POWER STEERING FAILS- CAR LOSES ALL POWER ASSISTED STEERING PUPM CONTINUES TO RUN AFTER ENGINE SHUT OFF, POSSIBLE FIRE RESULT. *TR

Mileage: 48,900

MY POWER STEERING FAN CONTINUES TO RUN EVEN AFTER THE CARE IS TURNED OFF. IT COMPLETELY DRAINED MY BATTERY SO I REPLACED THE BATTERY. TWO WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND I LEARNED THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN ARE DEFECTIVE. ALSO INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AND NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

Mileage: 86,156

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE BUT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING HAD BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,065.

Mileage: 45,065

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 20 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66,000.

Mileage: 66,000

FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMP CAUSING A LOSS OF COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. 80,000+ INCIDENTS REPORTED WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL OF VEHICLE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF VEHICLE MANUFACTURER. THE PUMP HAS SINCE BEEN RE-MANUFACTURED TO FIX THE ISSUES BUT MINI OF NORTH AMERICA REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE SERIOUS SAFETY ASPECT OF THEIR FAILING PART. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE STEERING RACK, POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE FAN MIGHT HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 102,000.

Mileage: 102,000

MY WIFE HAS BEEN COMPLAINING OF INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER ASSIST. I DRIVE HER CAR VERY LITTLE HOWEVER I RECENTLY HAD THE PROBLEM HAPPEN TO ME. ONE OF MY HOBBIES IS SPORT CAR RACING (MOST RECENTLY AT SUMMIT POINT RACEWAY IN WV) SO I DO EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED HOWEVER IT IS SO INTERMITTENT IT IS OFTEN FORGOTTEN. IT WILL BE FINE FOR WEEKS THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THOUSANDS OF REPORTS IN THE UK AND CANADA ISSUED A RECALL. YOU DON'T LOSE YOUR STEERING JUST THE ASSIST. NEXT TIME YOU ARE ALONE ON A BACK ROAD WITH A CURVE TURN YOUR CAR OFF AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT THE DESCRIBED PROBLEM FEELS LIKE. LETS NOT HAVE A SERIOUS INCIDENT BEFORE BMW RESOLVES THIS ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. *TR

Mileage: 48,000

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND LOST THE POWER STEERING. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I GOT HOME PARKED THE CAR AND LET IT GO. THE NEXT MORNING IT WAS FINE. HOWEVER, THIS MORNING, 6/8/2012, IT HAPPENED AGAIN AS I WAS TURNING IN AN INTERSECTION. FORTUNATELY FOR ME THERE WEREN'T MANY CARS ON THE ROAD, AS IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN EVEN A SEMI-BUSY INTERSECTION, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN TROUBLE. *JS

Mileage: 89,000

WHILE DRIVING STEERING BECAME STIFF. ALMOST UNABLE TO TURN WHEEL WHEN I SLOWED TO PARK. AFTER TURNING CAR OFF AND BACK ON, PROBLEM RESOLVED. STILL HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE PER DAY USUALLY WHILE SLOWING OR DOWNSHIFTING. ALWAYS RESOLVES AFTER RESTARTING CAR. *TT

Mileage: 88,670

POWER STEERING PUMP STOPPED FUNCTIONING MAKING CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

Mileage: 39,087

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN LACEY WA. SMOKE STARTED ISSUING FROM THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SMOKE WAS ISSUING FORTH. AFTER 5 MINUTES, I SPOTTED FLAMES. I HAD A SMALL FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT IT WAS INSUFFICIENT TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. A PASSING MOTORIST ARRIVED WITH A LARGER EXTINGUISHER AND PUT OUT THE FLAMES. AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER INFORMED ME THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR

Mileage: 60,500

COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE DURING OVERTAKING ON TWO LANE ROAD. STEERING REQUIRED AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF EFFORT. BARELY MANAGED TO MOVE BACK TO RIGHT HAND LAND BEFORE GETTING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. POWER STEERING DID NOT RECOVER FOR ANOTHER 2.5 MINS OF DRIVING. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, TURNED CAR OFF, ON AGAIN, POWER STEERING RETURNED. ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP NOW RUNS CONTINUOUSLY EVEN WHEN KEY IS TURNED OFF. INDICATIVE OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP CONTROLLER FAILURE. I CONTINUE TO HAVE CONCERNS THAT POWER STEERING MAY CUT OUT AT ANY TIME AGAIN, AND THAT IF THE PUMP CONTINUES RUNNING CONSTANTLY EVEN WHEN THE KEY IS REMOVED IT MAY START A FIRE AT SOME POINT. I HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE NEGATIVE TERMINAL OF THE BATTERY TO PREVENT THE PUMP FROM RUNNING CONTINUOUSLY. *TR

Mileage: 73,000

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN. LUCKILY THE CAR WAS AT LOW SPEED AT THE TIME AND I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A SAFE STOP BY USING BRUTE FORCE TO STEER THE CAR. POWER STEERING THAN REAPPEARED INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, FINALLY FAILING COMPLETELY. MECHANIC SAYS POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MINIS. COST WILL BE OVER $1200 TO REPAIR. IT APPEARS THE ISSUE IS ALREADY BEING INVESTIGATED BY BMW, YET THEY HAVE TAKEN NO ACTION TO RECALL OR FIX. *TR

Mileage: 58,000

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A POWER STEERING FAILURE ON MY PREGNANT WIFE'S 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CAR ONLY HAS 61K MILES ON IT. SHE WAS DRIVING LAST NIGHT, IN THE RAIN, AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUR AS SHE WAS ON A FREEWAY TRANSITION RAMP AT A SPEED OF 40-50 MPH. SHE ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST HIT THE SIDE RAILS. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS ABLE TO AVOID CRASHING. THE POWER STEERING PUMP STARTED TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AFTER THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM AND MINI/BMW NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR DIES.

Mileage: 61,000

POWER STEERING FAILURE--THE POWER STEERING IN MY MINI COOPER S 2002 BEGAN "CUTTING OUT" AND BECAME MORE FREQUENT OVER A FEW DAYS. THE "CUTTING OUT" HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING AND IS POTENTIALLY QUITE DANGEROUS AS THE VEHICLE BECOMES ALMOST UNMANAGEABLE WHEN MAKING A TURN. THIS MAKES DRIVING THE VEHICLE VERY UNSAFE. UPON RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY OCCUR WITH MOST MINI COOPERS EVEN THROUGH FAIRLY RECENT YEARS OF MANUFACTURE AND OFTEN AT FAIRLY LOW MILEAGE ACCUMULATION. *TR

Mileage: 118,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUED TO RUN WHILE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

Mileage: 49,000

POWER STEERING FAILURE. THIS OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. MOST RECENTLY, LAST WEEK, IT WAS OUT FOR 3 DAYS AND THEN IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 106,871

THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN DRIVING. IT BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. IT WAS AS THOUGH THE CAR STEERING BECAME LOCKED. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE A POLICE CAR STOP TO ASSIST ME TO MOVE ME TO A SAFE SPOT ON THE STREET. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE GOING DOWN A MULTI-STORY PARKING LOT. VERY SCARY. CAR CORRECTED ITSELF. LATER THAT DAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN. CALLED MY MECHANIC (A MINI MECHANIC) AND WAS TOLD THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WITH 2002-2005 MINI COOPERS. WILL NEED TO REPLACE PUMP AND FAN WHICH WILL COST ME $1200 INC. LABOR. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MINI USA IS VERY AWARE OF. THEY RELEASED A CAR WITH KNOWN PROBLEMS (INC. CVT TRANSMISSION ISSUES) HOW CAN THEY DO THIS? SO FAR O ONE HAS BEEN KILLED (THAT WE KNOW OF) BUT I KNOW IT WILL HAPPEN ONE DAY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 78,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED AND HAD TO BE HELD WITH FORCE WITH BOTH HANDS IN ORDER TO TURN IT, OR KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE FAILURE WAS NOT RECALLED, AND THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILES WERE 114,000. UPDATED 07/20/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO MAKE A HUMMING SOUND IN WHICH THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS RUNNING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OFF, WHICH CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DIE. UPDATED 08/01/11

Mileage: 114,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED AND HAD TO BE HELD WITH FORCE WITH BOTH HANDS IN ORDER TO TURN IT, OR KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE FAILURE WAS NOT RECALLED, AND THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILES WERE 114,000. UPDATED 07/20/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO MAKE A HUMMING SOUND IN WHICH THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS RUNNING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OFF, WHICH CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DIE. UPDATED 08/01/11

Mileage: 114,000

POWER SYSTEM ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER WENT OUT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE. AND VERY DANGEROUS AND COSTLY. BMW HAD BETTER DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I ALMOST CREAMED A COP... *TR

Mileage: 150,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPERS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP WHERE THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE FUSE THAT CONTROLLED THE POWER STEERING CHARGING SYSTEM HAD BLOWN. THE COMPONENT WAS REPLACED AT A THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. UPDAT ED 06/03/11 *BF UPDATED 08/08/11

Mileage: 36,000

I ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY 2002 MINI COOPER AND AT 80K MILES THE TRANSMISSION BLEW UP JUST BEFORE I WAS TO ENTER A VERY BUSY FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES, DOWNTOWN AREA. THERE WAS PLENTY OF OIL IN THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A FAULT OF MY CARE AFTER THE MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT UPON TOW IN. IT JUST STOPPED FAST AND SHORT WITH A HUGE JERK FORWARD AND EXPLOSIVE NOISE. THE MECHANIC SAID IT BLEW IN BIG CHUNKS. I COULDN'T MOVE IT FROM TRAFFIC IN NEUTRAL AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP. 80K IS EARLY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND I SEE MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THIS HAPPENED WITH EVEN LESS MILEAGE, 34K, 48K ...NO REPLACEMENTS AND SO MANY FAILURES LIKE THIS? MINI TURNS THEIR HEADS; WOULD NOT REPLACE OR EVEN TALK TO ME. PREVIOUSLY TOO THE POWER STEERING PUMP ALSO JUST STOPPED AND NO MOVEMENT ON THE WHEEL. SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP ONE TIME IN MOUNTAIN VIEW, I HAD AN OIL LEAK. AT THE TIME THE AMOUNT THEY WANTED ME TO PAY WAS HIGH, 700.00 OR SO (JUST AFTER WARRANTY ENDED). I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC. HE TOOK ME UNDER THE CAR AND SHOWED ME THERE WAS NOT A SPOT OF OIL UNDER THAT CAR IN ANY NOOK OR CRANNY. IN THINKING ABOUT THIS AFTER TRANSMISSION PROBLEM I REALIZE THESE THINGS ARE TELLING ME MINI KNOWS ABOUT THEIR MINI MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. ALSO WHEN THE NEW ($4350.00) TRANSMISSION WAS PURCHASED, LA, MINI TOLD THE MECHANIC THEY HAD 5 TRANSMISSIONS IN STOCK IN THEIR PARTS DEPARTMENT AT ALL TIMES BECAUSE THIS WAS SO COMMON. THAT'S PROOF THEY KNOW IT'S A PROBLEM. YET NO RECALL TO PEOPLE WITH THESE ISSUES AND THESE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING PROBLEMS. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,426. UPDATED 05/03/11*LJ UPDATED 05/16/11

Mileage: 84,426

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,426. UPDATED 05/03/11*LJ UPDATED 05/16/11

Mileage: 84,426

I BOUGHT A 2002 MINI COOPER AND WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STERERING QUIT WORKING. I CONTACTED A MINI REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS ELECTRIC AND IT'S RELAY OR OR ONE FOR IT'S COOLING FAN MIGHT HAVE FAILED. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT IS VERY COMMON AND WOULD COST OVER $1000. TO FIX IT. HAD I BEEN IN THE WRONG MODE OF DRIVING THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE KILLED ME. *TR

Mileage: 59,957

POWER STEERING FAILURE ON MY 2002 R50 MINI COOPER. THE POWER STEERING WOULD ACT UP THE PREVIOUS COUPLE OE WEEKS BY THEN RESUME AS IF EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THEN PRIOR TO FIRST OF THE YEAR, IT JUST WENT OUT TOTALLY. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

I DRIVE A 2002 MINI COOPER AND AT 9:50AM THIS MORNING I DROVE MY CAR ABOUT A MILE TO MY OPTOMETRIST APPOINTMENT AND ALL WAS WELL WITH MY POWER STEERING. I WAS THERE FOR 45 MINUTES, LEFT, AND GOT IN MY CAR PULLED OUT OF MY SPOT WITH NO TROUBLE AT ALL, BUT ABOUT 20 FEET AWAY FROM MY PARKING SPOT I WENT TO TURN ONTO A THOROUGHFARE ONLY TO FIND THAT MY POWER STEERING HAD FAILED. I HAD TO WRENCH THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MUCH STRENGTH TO AVOID TRAFFIC AND PULLED OVER. I CHECKED THE STEERING FLUID AND THERE IS PLENTY IN THERE. I BELIEVE IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM REMAINS CONSISTENT AFTER TURNING MY CAR ON AND OFF. I'VE CHECKED ONLINE TO FIND THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM IN THEIR 2002 MINI COOPERS AND YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE. *TR

Mileage: 116,469

MY 2002 MINI COOPER'S POWER STEERING FAILED SILENTLY AS I DROVE HOME FROM WORK A WEEK AGO, THOUGH WAS FINE AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR. SINCE THEN, IT HAS STARTED FAILING CONSISTENTLY. THIS LEADS TO VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA HOW HARD I WILL HAVE TO TURN ON THE WHEEL FOR ANY GIVEN TURN AND THUS MAKES ME HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE FOR HITTING A PEDESTRIAN OR ANOTHER CAR.. INVESTIGATIONS IMPLY THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP, WHICH COST $1000+. MY CAR HAS ROUGHLY 36,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

Mileage: 36,000

2002 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING FAILURE AFTER POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED. THE CAR HAD NO POWER STEERING WITHIN 700 MILES OF HAVING THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND PUMP FAN REPLACED AND NOW AM TOLD IT IS THE POWER STEERING PUMP CABLE. *TR

Mileage: 13,500

RECENT NEWS REPORTS ALERTED ME ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION INTO MINI POWER STEERING FAILURES IN 2004-05 MINI COOPERS. I AM WRITING TO REPORT THAT A FEW YEARS AGO, I EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE IN MY 2002 MINI COOPER (AT ABOUT 70K) MAKING STEERING VERY DIFFICULT. BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WOULD COME AND GO, IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR MY REPAIR SHOP TO FIND THE ROOT CAUSE. EVENTUALLY, THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

POWER STEERING IN MY 2002 MINI COOPER FAILED. STEERING VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT WITH LITTLE ABILITY TO TURN VEHICLE. REPAIR REQUIRED A NEW ELEC. STG PUMP AND COOLING FAN ($602) PLUS LABOR OF $384 FOR A TOTAL OF $986. *TR

Mileage: 32,421

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHICH CAUSED DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING FLUID READING WAS AT THE CORRECT CAPACITY LEVEL. ALSO, HE MENTIONED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAN MOTOR COULD HAVE POSSIBLY OVERHEATED, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,500.

Mileage: 98,500

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. HE STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILURE OCCURRED NO MATTER THE SPEED AND HAS OCCURRED AT OTHER SPEED LEVELS. HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HIM PAYING A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPPROXIMATELY 67,500.

Mileage: 67,000

2002 MINI COOPER, POWER STEERING PUMP SHORTED OUT CAUSING A SMALL FIRE WHICH DESTROYED THE PUMP,FAN,WIRING HARNESS,POWER STEERING LINE. CAR HAD LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. COST OF REPAIR OVER 1200 DOLLARS. *TR

Mileage: 49,989

2002 MINI COOPER. POWER STEERING QUIT (MY WIFE DRIVING AND BY HERSELF) IN A TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. NO INJURIES BUT VERY CLOSE. *TR

Mileage: 43,000

2002 MINI COOPER POWER STEERING HYDRAULIC ASSIST FAILS WITHOUT WARNING MAKING CAR DIFFICULT TO STEER. FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT AND MAY OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY OR ON SURFACE ROADS. IN EITHER CASE THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. *TR

MY 2002 MINI COOPER ELECTROHYDRAULIC POWER STEERING (EHPS) PUMP WILL NOT SHUT OFF CAUSING ASSOCIATED WIRING TO BECOME DANGEROUSLY HOT (SMELLS LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE). THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MINI COOPER AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP MY MINI FROM CATCHING FIRE. *TR

Mileage: 82,000

ABRUPT FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM IN A 2002 MINI COOPER. *TR

Mileage: 51,000

BACK IN FEB 2008 THE STEERING ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER JUST WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING. I WAS LEFT WITHOUT POWER STEERING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 101 FREEWAY, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS! I FIXED THE PROBLEM, WHICH WAS VERY EXPENSIVE AS IT WAS THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM THAT FAILED AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH MINI, I NEVER HEARD BACK BUT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR. RECENTLY, SEPTEMBER 2008 THE TRANSMISSION IN THAT SAME CAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND FEEL IT MAY BE A LEMON. MINI IS UNWILLING TO HELP ME AS MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I FEEL AS THOUGH THESE PROBLEMS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY AS THERE IS NO PRIOR WARNING AND I AM CONCERNED FOR ALL PRESENT AND FUTURE MINI COOPER DRIVERS. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

CLUTCH AND CABLES FAIL AT 100 000KM. RATTLING NOISE AT START UP. VERY LOUD HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING. TRANSMISSION GONE AT 103 000KM. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

I RECENTLY HAD A 60K SERVICE ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER. A COUPLE DAYS LATER I DROVE FROM MONTEREY, CA TO LOS ANGELES, CA AND MY CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. ALL OF A SUDDEN OUT OF THE BLUE, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE 101 FREEWAY AND COULD NOT TURN MY CAR. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY TOLD ME MY POWER STEERING PUMP HAD BROKE. $1,000 LATER THE PART OF REPLACED. LUCKILY I WAS SAFE, AS WAS THE PASSENGER IN MY CAR. BUT WHAT IF I HAD BEEN ON A VERY CURY, BUSY HIGHWAY? I COULD HAVE DRIVEN OFF A CLIFF! THIS IS NOT A PART THAT SHOULD SIMPLY WEAR OUT OR BREAK, WE ARE TALKING PEOPLE'S LIVES! I LOVE MY MINI AND AM A PROUD MINI OWNER AND DRIVER BUT AFTER THIS I DON'T THINK I WILL EVER BUY ANOTHER MINI OR BMW. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

POWER STEERING PUMP IS NOISY ALL THE TIME. I AM AFRAID THIS MAY LEAD TO FAILURE OF MY ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE . THE CAR IS A 2002 MINI. *TR

Mileage: 126,800

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER S, 62,000 MILES, FAILS INTERMITTENTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING AN INSTANT AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER ASSISTED STEERING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND CAN CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH SHOULD LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. FURTHER RESEARCH OF ONLINE FORUMS (MINI2.COM, NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM, ROADFLY.COM) INDICATES THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AFFECTING MANY MINI OWNERS, AND POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE HAS ALSO BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE ENGINE BAY FIRES. *CN

Mileage: 62,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, AS WELL AS PIECES OF BURNING PLASTIC FALLING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. HE THEN NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND TRIED TO CONTAIN THE FIRE HOWEVER, THE FIRE CONTINUED TO SPREAD INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,000.

Mileage: 86,000

POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILURE ON MINI COOPER. 1 - WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT, AT TIMES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. 2 - ONCE HOME WHILE PARKING THE CAR, SMOKE STARTED TO BILLOW OUR FROM UNDER THE HOOD. TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, SMOKE CONTINUED TO BILLOW AND GET THICKER, OPENED THE HOOD, HEARD A SIZZLING SOUND AND NOTICED THAT SOME OF THE WIRES WERE MELTING. IMMEDIATELY DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, THE SMOKE STARTED TO DISSAPATE, THE NOISE STOPPED ETC. 3 - THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. ACCORDING TO THE TOW OPERATOR, BASED UPON THE CONDIDTION OF THE WIRING HARNESS, IF THE BATTERY HAD NOT BE DISCONNECTED QUICKLY, THE CAR WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE DEALER INFORMED US THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP MOTOR HAD FAILED AND THAT MINI WOULD REPLACE THE PARTS AT NO CHARGE, BUT LABOR WOULD BE AT OUR COST. TOTAL PARTS WERE APPROXIMATLEY $1,000.00 WITH LABOR TOTALING ABOUT $400.00. THE CAR IS NOW FIXED AND OPERATING PROPERLY. *NM

Mileage: 60,000

(1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE - NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, CAR DRIVEN 40K+ MILES (2) FAILURE & CONSEQUENCE - BOTH BEARINGS IN THE STEERING COLUMN BEGAN TO FAIL. DETAILS NOT EXACTLY AVAILABLE SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INSPECT THEM, BUT BEARINGS WOULD GRIND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER TOLD ME THAT THESE WOULD NOT IMPACT DRIVING SAFETY, IF NOT, WHAT IS THEIR PURPOSE? (3) CORRECTIVE ACTION - DEALER REPLACED BOTH BEARINGS SINCE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY (50K MILES). I INQUIRED WITH DEALER IF MINI HAS EITHER IMPROVED THE DESIGN OF THE REPLACEMENT BEARINGS OR IF THE ORIGINAL BEARINGS HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. DEALER STATED THAT NEITHER WAS THE CASE AND THAT IT ISN'T/WOULDN'T BE UNUSUAL FOR STEERING BEARINGS TO FAIL AFTER 40K MILES, WHICH BY TODAY'S STANDARDS IS COMPLETELY FALSE!. *JB

Mileage: 40,000

DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 BMW MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED STEERING FAILURE. THE STEERING WAS NOT OPERATING. . COULD DRIVE BUT COULD NOT STEER BECAUSE THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. THE STEERING SYSTEM WAS BROKE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO , AND THEY REPAIRED IT. CURRENTLY, THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPAIR CAR ANYMORE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE STEERING BECAME VERY HEAVY, HAD TO MUSCLE THE STEERING IN ORDER TO TURN THE CAR. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN COULD NOT STEER THE CAR, AND IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. DID HAVE ONE STEERING FAILURE BEFORE, AND HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING MECHANISM. CURRENTLY, HE COULD NOT STEER UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. *AK