Power steering has failed on 2004 MINIcopper twice. This is the second occurrence in 1.75 years. This is a safety concern especially as a city driver where the need exists to parallel park, park in parking decks, and driving and turning on narrow streets with traffic. There is not always the option to make a wide turn. Model years 04 and 05 have this issue and MINIhas not addressed. In addition they have not made it an affordable repair.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

Backing out of parking space and upon shifting from reverse to drive and starting forward power steering went out. Very difficult to operate car due to difficulty steering.

- Coweta, OK, USA

My 2004 MINICooper has had multiple incidents where the power steering pump fails. It has failed numerous times, some even while driving. The problem starts if the steering wheel is cranked all the way for a tight turn, gradual turn or does not turn on when the car starts. Sometime the pump will reset if the car if shut off then on again or the pump regains pressure. I have checked the pump itself, there are no leaks, fluid is filled to the appropriate level and no other issues have come up. This is a very dangerous thing to have happen while driving and needs to be resolved. It is a costly repair that I find BMW should assist with being that the pump appears to be faulty.

- San Luis Obispo, CA, USA

Power steering wheel suddenly failed and became stiff while getting off freeway. Took great force to turn steering wheel to steer car. Luckily able to stop car safely.

- San Jose, CA, USA

While driving home as I turned into my street the steering power suddenly went out causing me to drive into the incoming traffic lane, luckily there were no vehicles but if there would have been any vehicles I could have been in a front collision. The fact that this happens while driving makes this issue extremely dangerous.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

Left home with no power steering issues. Half way to work, driving on the highway and began to take a right hand curve in the road and out of no where there is no power steering. No warning or indication that anything was wrong prior to this. Luckily I reacted quickly and the curve was not too sharp because I was in the right hand lane with cars to the left of me and behind me. Would have been bad news had the curve been a little sharper. I checked the power steering fluid level and it was full. When I turned the car off and back on again, the power steering was working again. Drove the car again later in the day, when I started the car everything was working perfectly and then part way to my destination the power steering went out again.

- Fishers, IN, USA

The power steering cut out while driving around town. After driving further about 20 minutes, power steering returned. Power steering now acts erratically, operating sometimes and not others. Power steering periodically does not operate.

- Starkville, MS, USA

The contact owns a 2004 MINICooper. While driving approximately 40 mph, the power steering failed without warning. The contact was able to continue driving. On a separate occasion the contact noticed that the electric power steering pump remained in continuous operated although the engine was turned off. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who advised that the power steering pump would need to be replaced, which posed a fire hazard. The power steering pump was disconnected. There was a concurrent investigation under NHTSA action number: EA11005 (steering:electric power assist system) that could have been related to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

- Sparks, NV, USA

While taking a corning my power steer abruptly vanished almost causing me to crash. Very dangerous. Have heard of this happening with many other minis around the same age.

- Clarksville, TN, USA

The contact owns a 2004 MINICooper. While driving approximately 65 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The contact shut off the engine and after restarting, the vehicle regained power steering capabilities. The power steering continued to fail intermittently. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 96,000.

- Brunswick, GA, USA

12-4-10: The power steering pump kept running after the car was off and drained the battery in 2 hours. Sept., 2012: Two incidents of power steering loss while driving. First time I had no power steering when I started the car. I drove a short distance, stopped and restarted the car and the power steering worked. Second time I lost power steering briefly while driving at low speed. My mechanic found that the power steering fan had seized and replaced it. When he took it for a test drive, the power steering pump was making a loud noise. He replaced the pump as well and the problems were corrected.

- East Lansing, MI, USA

Power steering goes out suddenly and unexpectedly making the vehicle extremely hard to turn and steer. Has happened 3X in two days. Happened one time a year or more ago and I thought it was a fluke. This is now no fluke. When I restart the vehicle (so far) it has come back, but I cannot reliably drive this vehicle this way. Canada ordered a recall on this same issue and MINIis fixing and extending the warranty to 200,000km. Seems only fair that us drivers get the same treatment. It is a dangerous situation and not one we can afford to let go unsolved.

- Portland, ME, USA

The contact owns a 2004 MINICooper S. the contact stated that the electrical power steering pump caught on fire, melting all of the wires. The fire department was not contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 110,000.

- Bedford, KY, USA

As I was driving 40 mph on my local 2-lane road, my power steering suddenly failed with no warning whatsoever. I returned carefully home and left the car parked in my driveway until I could contact my local MINIdealer (prestige MINIin Mahwah, NJ). When I got into the car to take it to the dealer, the power steering was suddenly working again. Prestige MINIclaims that my strut towers ($645) and lower control arm bushings (also $645) were shot and needed replacing. The advisor told me verbally that it had nothing to do with the power steering pump and/or the power steering pump fan, but so far I cannot get prestige to reply via email (in writing) that this is true.

- Cornwall, NY, USA

As I was driving on local road I noticed a car double parked I tried to pass the vehicle when I noticed my steering wheel was stiff it was very hard to turn it at all I almost slammed into double parked car that I could not pass and had no control of my vehicle. Its very uncomfortable to drive a vehicle that way so its parked for now if I knew that it would be that dangerous to drive this vehicle I would never bought it.

- Rego Park, NY, USA

My power steering failed. Cause unconfirmed as yet, but this apparently is a known problem. Power steering started again when I restarted the car, but now the pump motor (or perhaps the fan) won't shut off and there is no fuse to disable. Must disconnect the battery to shut it off and avoid draining the battery. Steering did not lock up, but very difficult to overcome the rack-and-pinion steering linkage resistance.

- Ludington, MI, USA

Power steering failed as I was returning from taking my child to the airport. The car power steering cooling fan stayed on after I turned off the car and drained the battery. The problem was diagnosed as a failed power steering pump. The car was towed to a mechanic and the power steering pump was replaced as was the dead battery. The total cost was over $1700.

- Kensington, CA, USA

Intermittent problem with the power steering going out after the engine warms up. This has happened now 4 times with very difficult steering. No loss of fluid on the pavement or squealing noises. After engine cools down, power steering again works.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

Had just made minor engine repairs - hoses - belt - thermostat - water pump - oil change - oil filter - air filter - less then one week - 30mp making left turn - gripping very hard on the wheel to finish the turn - no power steering - tested fan - fan ok - pulled steering pump off - what do I do now - buy pump - call dealer - wait to here from you

- Stevens, PA, USA

The power steering failed, common problem in 2004 MINICooper. Canada has issued a recall in January 2012.

- Flushing, NY, USA