10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 7
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
69,035 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2006 Mini Cooper steering problems

steering problem

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2006 Mini Cooper Owner Comments (Page 1 of 6)

problem #108

Nov 092014

Cooper

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Power Steering pump leaking failure

- Gautier , MS, USA

problem #107

Jul 092022

Cooper

  • miles
Power steering pump went out while driving the car. Car was extremely hard to steer. Almost hit a guard rail. Had the car towed home and then to a garage. This is a known problem with Mini Coopers from year 2002 to 2006. Websites and Mini Cooper Forums are loaded with Power Steering Pumps failing. No warning. Pump was confirmed to be the problem by an independent garage that only services high end german cars. Power Steering Pump was diagnosed to be bad on 8/04/2022. Car has a little over 60,000 miles on it.

- Whynantskill, NY, USA

problem #106

Jun 202020

Cooper

  • miles
It is very difficult to turn my steering wheel. It takes more energy than any other car I have ever driven

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #105

Jul 062021

Cooper

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The electro-hydraulic power steering system stopped working on my 2005 Mini Cooper. The was a recall for 2002 to 2005 mini power steering pump failures but the problem continued thru 2011 because the fix that mini Cooper came up with was inadequate. The essentially put a band-aid on the problem and left car owners holding the bag. I, in fact, had the auxiliary pump that mini came up with replaced and the power steering problem continued because their fix was no good. I have an appointment with the Mini Cooper dealership to look at my car in about 2 weeks. They've told me that I'm not covered by the recall even though they ordered a recall of 86,000 cars for the problem in 2015. Not having power steering in any vehicle is very dangerous. The problem first occurred and remains after 2 years. The problem was reproduced by an independent repair service that I have used for years.

- Schuylerville, NY, USA

problem #104

Nov 212020

Cooper

  • 0 miles
I drove the car earlier and it was fine. I returned home and then hours later tried to pull out of my driveway to find I couldn't turn the steering wheel. Thank goodness I wasn't driving when it went or I wouldn't have been able to turn the wheel. Apparently after reading online quite a bit this is a problem and there is no recall or even a campaign or bulletin. This is going to be a very expensive repair. Due to the safety issue alone I'm frankly shocked. Apparently BMW dealers are cleaning up due to the expense of the repair. I'm looking at a minimum of $1500. Apporx 60% of vehicles have had this issue.

- Centerville, MA, USA

problem #103

Oct 082020

Cooper

  • 186,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 MINICooper. The contact stated that the while driving approximately 50 mph, the power steering suddenly malfunctioned and the steering wheel became difficult to turn in either direction. After stopping the vehicle, the contact noticed smoke billowing from under the hood. After opening the hood, flames were present coming from the engine compartment. The neighbor assisted in extinguishing the flames. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 186,000.

- Fairview, NC, USA

problem #102

Jun 012020

Cooper 4-cyl

  • 68,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The air conditioning had stopped blowing cool air. Then when I was parked, and idled, my power steering stopped working while trying to back out. After wrestling with the wheel for a minute to get out of a parking lot area, the power steering came back on. The mechanic said one of my coolant fans does not work. This may be part of a recall that affect 2005 minis with coolant fan/power steering, however my car was made just a few months past the recall.

- Callahan, FL, USA

problem #101

Dec 142019

Cooper

  • 160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 MINICooper S. the contact stated that while attempting to make a right turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The seat belt and check-engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the brown motor works (803-551-0991, located at 4041 broad river rd, columbia, SC 29210) and it was diagnosed that the power steering needed to be services. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure was intermittent. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not subjected to a recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160.000.

- Columbia, SC, USA

problem #100

Oct 172019

Cooper

  • 1 miles
Power steering is malfunctioning. It come and goes for a couple of days while in a winding road. Took it to the dealer and they replace some lines. A few moths later it started having issues with at the beginning of the driving after the car has been idle for more than 2 hours. Now the power steering is totally not working at all.

- Midlothian, VA, USA

problem #99

Sep 012019

Cooper

  • 119,500 miles
Intermittent power steering failiure during driving, stiff steering wheel can cause a serious accident

- Dorado, PR, USA

problem #98

Apr 292019

Cooper

  • 78,603 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Power steering pump problem for MINICooper R50 bought my R50 pre-owned 125000 kms on the odo from a dealership(not a MINIdealership) as a present for my daughter in March 2019. I already knew there was something wrong. Observed a leak in the power steering reservoir. Dealer supposedly fixed the problem by replacing some hoses. After a month, I tried starting the car up and the car would not start. I was lucky to still be at home that time. Recharged the battery and started the car. Turned the engine off and noticed a sound. Traced the sound to the power steering pump not turning off even if the engine is turned off. Disconnected the battery so it will not do a full discharge. Bought it back to the dealership that I purchased it from and they confirmed that the issue was with the ps pump. Did research and found that there was a common issue related to this pump already and BMW has offered extended warranty on the pump and peripherals like hoses and reservoir covering 2003 to 2005 models due to the number of complaints and potential catastrophic issues a failed pump can bring. I asked the local BMW service center if I could avail but they said my VIN was not part of the coverage. I needed the car to work and I wanted it done right so I had them replace the pump. This costed me 1500 cad++ I believe that this should still be covered by the extended warranty because the symptoms are the same and that the pump is confirmed to be an original by the MINIservice and may very well still be the same one from the previous models and BMW should own up to this.

- North Delta, WA, USA

problem #97

Mar 062019

Cooper

  • 140,000 miles
Steering pump transmission weening not wanting to change gears right

- Wellington, AL, USA

problem #96

Jan 152019

Cooper

  • 65,000 miles
The steering feels very stiff. This is more noticeable when I start in the morning. It is extremely stiff to turn.

- Weaverville, NC, USA

problem #95

Sep 012018

Cooper

  • 103,500 miles
Power steering pump failing, creating a loud whine when running (moving, and stationary).

- Mchenry, IL, USA

problem #94

May 012018

Cooper

  • 110,000 miles
Good morning, I have a 2006 MINICooper and the power steering unit failed. I was driving and the steering wheel became very heavy (power steering fluid was ok) the unit just gave out. I read that the NHTSA issued a recall for the power steering unit for 2002 to 2005 Coopers recall 15V660000 (the 2002 thru 2006 are all first generation models). My question is why was the 2006 Cooper not included since it is also first generation model, and it is the same power steering unit used from 2002 thru 2006 atleast on the base models - not sure on the Cooper S model. Could you please let me know if this is something that can be added to the recall since it affects my car also, , it happened at 110K miles for me, I dont drive too much thus the low mileage. Thank you so much.

- Gainesville, VA, USA

problem #93

Mar 112016

Cooper

  • 55,000 miles
Was driving the car on local roads and all of a sudden had a loss of power and steering was extremely hard to steer/turn

- Chandler, AZ, USA

problem #92

Feb 072018

Cooper

  • miles
My electric power steering pump is failing. It whines when you turn the wheel and sometimes it does not work at all. Very scary to lose control of the car. There was an open recall thru 2005, but BMW says they wont help us 2006 owners.

- Arl Hts, IL, USA

problem #91

Jan 172018

Cooper

  • 50,000 miles
Power steering failure while driving both slowly pulling out of carport and at normal 35 miles per hour street speed. Steering became very difficult. Persisted until car was turned off for several minutes. Happened sporadically afterward. Issue returned and now affects the car most of the time while driving. Will happen upon starting the car, or while driving. Car only has 50,063 miles on it! looks like power steering pump failure is causing the loss of steering. Extreamly dangerous!

- Honolulu, HI, USA

problem #90

Oct 012017

Cooper

  • 105,000 miles
Power steering pump failed, they did not recall this year but the pumps still fail

- Sanford, NC, USA

problem #89

Aug 012017

Cooper

  • 125,000 miles
The power steering pump failed suddenly on the car. It has now happened multiple times including while driving. While driving it is extremely dangerous as you suddenly loose most of your ability to steer! this has happened both while the car was stationary, while it was in motion on a city street, and while it was in motion on the highway. One of the times was while I was turning. I believe this is a combination of problems relating to the power steering pump cooling fan, and the power steering pump itself. Now BMW/MINIhas admitted that they have a major problem with this thought the model year 2005. However from what I've read a lot of 2006 MINIs have experienced this problem as well. They should expand the recall/replacement procedure to at least the 2006 models as well.

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

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