2004 Mini Cooper S Steering Problems

Which parts fail

• Hydraulic power assist › Pump
  6
• Electric power assist system
  4
• Hydraulic power assist system
  3

Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  53%
• 25k–50k
  2613%
• 50k–75k
  6332%
• 75k–100k
  5528%
• 100k–150k
  3920%
• 150k+
  116%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Mini Cooper S owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

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.

I was driving my Mini Cooper s on the freeway going into a turn, the wheel became extremely hard to turn with no notice. I could not make the turn all the way and the drivers side tires and fender hit the curb on the freeway. I fought the car off the freeway and let it sit for 15 mins while I called Mini. The dealer said that my power steering had failed. After a wait of 15 mins the car started and drove just fine. I drove the car to the dealership and they tested the power steering pump and said that it was good at that time. They told me that it would continue to be a problem with just giving out at random times unless I spent $4000 and had all the components replaced even though it tested good at the time. They replaced all the bushings and struts in the front at that time for $2000. They told me not to replace the power steering unless it totally stopped working. …

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. …

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. …

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.

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.

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 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.

My wife was driving the 2004 Mini Cooper s to pick up our son from school. After she retrieved him, she went around a corner and the power steering stopped working causing her to crash into a curb. She does not have enough strength to turn the wheel and there was no warning of a possible failure. I am fearful to replace the part and continue to make payments on a vehicle I do not feel comfortable putting my children and grandchildren in due to the possibility that the new powering steering pump will fail if replaced.

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.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Steering complaints in other Cooper S years