This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2002 MINIcooper. The contact stated that when traveling at various speeds, he would lose power steering intermittent without warning. He noticed that the power steering cooling fan would remain active without power to the vehicle. The dealer or manufacturer was not notified nor was the failure diagnosed or the vehicle repaired. The current mileage was 65,096. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000. Updated 06/24/11 updated 06/30/11
Power system on my 2002 MINICooper 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...
The contact owns a 2002 MINICooper S. the contact stated while driving approximately 45 mph a sudden loss of power steering occurred without prior warning. The vehicle was driven to the side of the road with difficulty in turning the steering wheel. The contact restarted the engine and was able to resume normally. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the power steering pump would be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 132,000. Updated 07/08/11 the consumer stated the power steering goes out intermittently at random times. Updated 07/18/11
The contact owns a 2002 MINICoopers. 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 updated 08/08/11
Power steering pump in 2002 MINIcooper failed while making a right hand run, caused me to drift into the oncoming lane, almost hitting the oncoming traffic.
- Lander, WY, USA
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I always maintained my 2002 MINICooper 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? MINIturns 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 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 MINIknows about their MINImechanical problems. Also when the new ($4350) transmission was purchased, la, MINItold 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.
A fire was caused by the failure of the power steering cooling fan. At some point the day of the incident the fan seized and the resulting electrical resistance in the main wiring harness caused the wiring harness to heat to a point of melting some of the plastic wire insulation allowing for direct wire to wire contact and resulted in an electrical fire between the engine and the passenger compartment. The resulting fire completely disabled the vehicle's electrical system and requires at minimum the replacement of the entire main wiring harness. Event description after a short drive (less than 2 miles on a cold engine) the vehicle was parked. After the engine was turned off smoke was seen rising from the vehicle engine compartment. Upon raising the hood, flames were seen between the engine and the passenger compartment reflecting off both fire walls. 2 fire extinguishers were required to put out the flames after the battery was disconnected. Total loss of the vehicle to fire was prevented by the owners actions.
The contact owns a 2002 MINICooper. 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 updated 05/16/11
After picking my sister up from the train station I noticed a loss of power steering. Steering is now very difficult around corners and in city driving. No repairs made yet.
I bought a 2002 MINICooper and while driving the power sterering quit working. I contacted a MINIrepair 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.
The second power steering pump on my 2002 MINICooper S has failed. The first time when it happened I had loss of steering while doing a low speed turn and hit a curb.
2002 MINICooper S. power steering pump failure with 55K miles on the highway. Caused loss of powersteering making the car difficult to control. Upon stopping the power steering pump wouldn't go off and drained the cars battery. This is a well publicized problem on the web, yet MINIdenies any fault.
The contact owns a 2002 MINICooper S. the contact stated while entering a residential garage driving 5 mph, the power steering failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the steering pump. There were no recalls for the failure. The manufacturer was contacted offered no further assistance. The failure mileage was 51,000. Updated 03/08/11 the consumer stated the vehicle was extremely difficult to steer and if it failed in a turn, the vehicle would inevitably steer very wide from the intended course. Updated 03/09/11.
Power steering failure on my 2002 R50 MINICooper. 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.
I drive a 2002 MINICooper 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 MINICoopers and yet no recall has been made.
Power steering failed in the middle of a curve in the road, resulting in a loss of control and nearly causing the car to go into a ditch. #20 the car is nearly impossible to steer without the power-assisted steering. #20 MINIusa denies any knowledge of this problem, yet there are in excess of 1,600 reports on one internet forum alone. #20 the british government has officially acknowledged this issue, and in europe BMW/MINIhas acted, but in the usa the company denies any awareness. #20 this failure could have cost me and my wife our lives if I were a less skilled driver who managed to force the car back onto the road.
The contact owns a 2002 MINICooper S. the contact was driving approximately 60 mph when there was a complete loss of power steering without warning. The contact pulled over to the side of the road with difficulty. The engine was turned off and restarted. The power steering became functional. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The technician was unable to duplicate the problem. The failure continued. The failure mileage and VIN were unavailable.
My 2002 MINICooper'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.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Ceres, CA, USA