Power steering failure. When driving power steering will unexpectedly stop working. Usually after driving for an hour or so. When power steering stops working the car is very hard to control.

- Chicago, IL, USA

The contact owns a 2004 MINICooper S. the contact stated that while driving 10 mph, the steering wheel locked up and it was difficult to steer. The contact turned the vehicle off and restarted it; the power steering seemed to reset it. The failure occurred two additional times. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000 and the current mileage was approximately 67,000. Updated 01/20/11 updated 01/31/11

- Norwalk, CT, USA

The contact owns a 2004 MINICooper. The contact stated that when traveling at any speed, the steering wheel would intermittently become difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where the contact was informed that the power steering pump would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and there were no prior warnings of the failure. The failure mileage was 69,000 and the current mileage was 72,000.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

I was driving down a side streets when all of a sudden I couldn't steer the car after stopping at an intersection. I later found out that the power steering pump had suddenly gone back on my 2004 minicooper. II was at a 4-way intersection at the time and was nearly crushed by two other cars. After getting the car home I wrote to MINIs corporate to see if it would be covered since there had been a lot of online complaints about the pump, but they wouldn't cover it. Instead I was forced to shell out over $700 for it (exact price I will have to look up). I just read about an investigation that the NHTSA was doing and wanted to make sure you heard by story. I purchased the car new in 2004 from MINIof peabody, MA. And will try to get my money back, but so far I haven't had any luck. [xxx]2004 minicooper (non "S" model) here is the email that I sent to minicooper ------------------------- I am writing to see if MINIwill cover the cost of the power steering pump that died yesterday without any advance warning in my 2004 MINIThe car was fine all day and then as I went to take a turn at a busy intersection I couldn't turn the wheel and almost got crushed by other cars heading toward me. From the research I have done this is a known failure and one that MINIseems to avoid absorbing the cost to fix / replace. From what I read a recall was done in britain, but not here in the U.S. please let me know how MINIwill help me in this situation. I surely don't have the money for a new or refurbished power steering pump and with the huge risk of injury / and or death that this problem could cause I would hope that MINIcares less about profits and more about their customers - and covers the cost to fix this problem. Please respond back as soon as possible. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- North Hampton, NH, USA

My wife was driving the 2004 MINICooper 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.

- Tacoma, WA, USA

2004 MINICooper S - power steering pump and fan failure. Power steering quits working causing incredibly difficult steering. Solution is to replace pump and fan and the expense of the owner, me. I believe this pump and fan should not have failed and also that there should be a nationwide recall since there are hundreds of thousands of MINIcooper drivers with this same issues.

- Avon Lake, OH, USA

After several months of intermittent power steering problems, the power steering pump on my car failed completely while trying to enter a rest stop on the New York state thruway. Upon bringing the car to a mechanic, it was determined that the power steering cooling fan had been jammed, causing the pump to overheat. I then researched the issue online and found that several MINICooper models from 2002 to 2006 had been suffering from this issue, and that the only way to prevent it from happening a second time was to install an expensive fan guard on the new cooling fan. More recently, I found out about NHTSA research concerning the problem, and wanted to submit the experience I had with the problem.

- Massapequa Park, NY, USA

Unexpected and intermittent power steering failure. Intermittent failures first started around 2008, the failures would last for minutes to hours long, days, weeks, and months would go by between failures. The dealership stated the cause was the power steering pump and since the car was out of warranty the repair would cost ~$700 to replace. When the pump fails the car is *very* difficult to steer at slow and moderate speeds. On a number of occasions a surprise failure occurred on narrow, windy road and it was a struggle to maintain the lane, avoid hitting oncoming traffic and staying on the road. The pump was replaced and as of this writing is new one is now intermittently failing. I just experienced an intermittent failure when turning from a stop and narrowly missed hitting a curb as I struggled to complete a turn. The pump failure lasted about 10 minutes.

- Portland, OR, USA

MINICooper (2004 with ~74K miles) with intermittent power steering problems. Steering wheel would randomly become very stiff when turning and then free up unexpectedly. When this would occur, the car would understeer (not turning as far as intended) and I would find myself reacting by turning harder, usually resulting in oversteering and erratic turns. It felt like something was binding and then letting go but it wasn't predictable or repeatable with consistency. Dealership determined that 'power steering pump was cutting out. Replaced the faulty ps pump to resolve.' Cost was $1009.94. One week later, exactly same condition returned. Dealership now determined 'found steering shaft from steering wheel to steering rack to be seized and binding. Replaced steering shaft and aligned steering wheel to front tires.' No additional charge; problem has been fixed.

- Topsfield, MA, USA

On September 8, 2010 2004 MINICooper S power steering went out while driving on san francisco/oakland bay bridge. Able to safely exit bridge and had car towed to auto shop in berkeley, ca where they "performed a diagnostic time check for no power steering. Found pump coming on, no pressure to system". they removed and replaced power steering pump including bleeding the system.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

My car started to make a whirring sound, I wasn't sure what it was so my dad had a look and wasn't sure. The next day I was driving along a 60mph road and as I went to turn a sharp corner my power steering failed. I had to manually pull the car round the corner with all my strength so as not to hit the oncoming traffic. It then kept failing intermittently for the rest of the drive home. I typed MINIpower steering into google when I got home and found page after page of people having problems just like mine. I rang MINIand they told me to take the car into the dealership in cheltenham which I did. I left the car with them and the next day they got back to me to say it definitely was the power steering pump. I asked it they would fix this as it was a dangerous fault with the car. They said they would speak to MINIone and get back to me. I eventually heard back from them and the answer was no, they wouldn't fix it as I didn't buy the car from a MINIdealership. I was unhappy with this decision as it was clearly a dangerous manufacturing fault so went into the dealership in cheltenham to speak to someone face to face. I spoke to the manager there and was told the same things, that I didn't buy it from a MINIdealership, it was over 5 years old and over 30000 miles on the clock. It was a pristine 2004 MINICooper convertible with 35000 miles on the clock. Had always been serviced with MINIand I had only owned the car 3 months. They told me it would cost me 800 to fix it. I complained about this and told them how unhappy I was and they offered me half off the labor taking the price to 590 approx. I was still unhappy so they offered to ring MINIone again and put my case forward. 2 days later we got a call and the answer was again no. I then found a company online who restore faulty power steering pumps with a 2 year warranty for a fraction of the price so went with that. It was fixed in June and have had no problems since.

- Winchcombe, 00, USA

Sudden total loss of power steering on a 2004 MINICooper S in a parking at low speed. Car was extremely hard to drive back to dealer due to high grip the car has. Dealer replaced power steering pump for power assisted gear. Could have been dangerous in a corner. Mileage 20,257.

- Weston, FL, USA

1. power steering failed and steering became excessively hard to turn the wheel especially in low speed turns sometimes couldn't make the turns in time. 2. several times. Parked the car 3. waiting for Consumer Affairs to help with replacing defective parts.

- Mailbu, CA, USA

The power steering in my 2004 MINICooper began malfunctioning last year. This makes it difficult to steer and control the vehicle. It malfunctions every time I drive the car, the pump stops working a few minutes or immediately after I start the engine. I have not had an accident due to the malfunction, but one could be possible, if I were to have to make a sharp turn at a moment's notice. Since this part is a dealer only part, it is extremely expensive and I have not been able to afford it since I was laid off last year. Help!

- Decatur, GA, USA

The contact owns 2004 MINICooper. While the contact was driving approximately between 25 to 30 mph, there was a slight loss of power steering without warning. The failure was a continuous occurrence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,441 updated 02/01/11 the power steering pump had to be replaced. 03.22.11

- St.Clair Shores, MI, USA

2004 MINICooper, coupe has intermittent power steering, which began suddenly on a circular freeway on ramp at about 40mph, during which I nearly lost control of the car. The failure seems to be triggered by U turns (round-about, spiral ramps, maneuvering out of a small parking space.) I have had the power steering pump investigated as the cause and it is working normally. I believe it is a problem with either the computer or steering assembly. It is possible to drive the car with the failed power steering, but quite disconcerting when it fails in the middle of a turn. I am still driving the car - but carefully. Update - while driving the car this morning, the power steering suddenly failed on a curve at 50 mph. I momentarily lost control, but regained it without accident. The power steering became functional again within about 100 yards of driving.

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

Power steering wheel goes on and off. When I turn the wheel I can feel it go from heavy resistance to regular in seconds, which has been more than once in a day. If there is a car coming from the opposite direction, it could easily crashed into my side. Due to this suddenly wheel malfunction, I had to slow down because I was at the corner of the road, trying to turn. This is so dangerous, and it will only take seconds to kill people in this situation. I did research online and found out this is a pretty common issue for the MINICooper.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

After driving 5 miles and stopped at a traffic light, when the light turned green I began a left turn and had no power steering, I had to pull the steering wheel with all my strength to keep from causing a wreck. I drove 5 more miles to work and parked. 2 hours later I went outside and heard a motor running in my car. The running motor had drained my battery, I had to jump start the car to get home. The MINIdealer in charleston SC said I had to bring the car to them to replace a rmfd power steering part which was a dealer only part. I live 100 miles from the dealer, I had to take car to my local mechanic so he could unhook the motor so the battery would not be drained while I parked until I could get a day off work to drive the MINIto charleston. Parts needed for the fix: Intake manifold; hose clamp; rmfd power steering; core return. The total repair costs $969 and a day off work. I have a 2 year guarantee on this fix.

- Columbia, SC, USA

Intermittent and unexpected power steering failure on my 2004 MINICooper S (R53). We purchased the car with 69,000 miles and within a week had our first power steering problem. We got the vehicle to the side of the road, turned the car off and when we turned it back on the steering was fine. This occurred randomly for the next few weeks. Power steering would quit without warning at slow and highway speeds. Finally took the car to the shop and the mechanic said the power steering unit needed to be replaced. Repair was done the first week of September and we have not had any power steering problems since.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

The contact owns a 2004 MINICooper S. the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the power steering was absent. There were no prior warnings before the failure. The current and failure mileages were approximately 102,000. Updated 01/03/11

- Carmel, IN, USA