2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE Recalls, Complaints & Safety

The contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper Convertible. The contact stated that she noticed a leak coming from the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a power of steering hose leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (Steering). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.

The transmission will cycle first through third and when it tries to go into 4th it slips and will not operate higher gears it caused me to lose my forward drive momentum as I was switching lanes and the car I was getting in front of almost ran into me.

My son drives this car and the power steering went out twice on him while driving. I need to get the pump replaced via the recall, but the nearest location is 200 miles from me. It is not safe to drive this car that far and I would have to drop it off and make another trip to pick it up. Towing that far would cost a small fortune. I called every number and was transferred to several people to help with this issue. They say they can not and won't help me till I get the car to a dealership to fix it. One person from Mini told me I might be able to go to a certified mechanic but when I asked the next person they said it had to be a dealership. I spent two days on the phone with several people from Mini and no one was willing to offer a solution. I drive this car to get the recall fixed and something happens and the car wrecks, or worse someone is killed, who would it be on then? No happy about this at all.

The contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper Convertible. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (Steering). The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering assist failed. The dealer was made aware of the recall but informed the contact that they do not service recall repairs. The nearest dealer that was able to service the recall repair was located 177 miles away. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

POWER STEERING PUMP STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING TURNING IN A CITY STREET

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH AFTER EXITING HIS DRIVEWAY, HE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE EXITED THE VEHICLE, WALKED BACK TO HIS HOME AND TOOK A NAP. AN HOUR LATER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS AWOKEN BY A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY WHO ASKED HIM QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INCIDENT WITH HIS VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT FILED AND THE CONTACT LATER WENT TO A DOCTOR WHERE HE WAS TREATED FOR INJURIES FOR HIS LOWER BACK WHICH INCLUDING A SLIPPED DISC AND A BRUISED VERTEBRAE. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 ( STEERING) WHICH HE LINKED TO HIS VEHICLE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT THE MANUFACTURER WHERE HE WAS ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS VEHICLE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT REFUSED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND DECIDED TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Crash 1 injured

THE CAR STOPPED STEERING CORRECTLY. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEELS. THE POWER STEERING IS GONE. I STARTED NOTICING THE DIFFERENCE IN THE STEERING AND THEN THE STEERING PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE DEALERSHIP TO ASK IF THERE SHOULD BE A CONCERN BECAUSE THE STEERING STARTED AFTER I HAD THE RECALL SERVICE ON THE SEAT WARMMER.

POWER STEERING PUMP GOES OUT FROM TIME TO TIME, BROUGHT IT TO MINI DEALERSHIPS ONCE AND WAS WORKING FINE WHEN WE BROUGHT IT IN, AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG, AND WAS SENT ON OUR WAY. NOW HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY TO REPLACE A PART, AND WHEN RECONNECTING THE BATTERY, POWER STEERING PUMPS RUNS AND WONT SHUT OFF. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. PLEASE HEP, AND THANK YOU.

POWER STEERING ISSUES: MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE 2005. THE FIRST EVIDENCE OF MY PROBLEM WAS WHEN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMED TO BE FAULTY. I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, AND THAT FIXED THE CAR FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. AT THAT POINT, I NOTICED A FAN RUNNING A LOT, AND THEN FOUND THE BATTERY DEAD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. FINALLY, I FIGURED OUT THAT A FAN WAS CONTINUING TO RUN--AND I TRACED THE NOISE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, AND THEN DROVE TO THE SHOP. THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN. THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS. THIS WEEKEND, I PARALLEL PARKED IN A TIGHT SPACE WITH A SLIGHT DIP. I REALIZED WHILE PARKING THAT I SUDDENLY HAD NO POWER STEERING, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE WAY I PARKED. IT DID NOT GET BETTER AS I LEFT. I MUSCLED THE CAR OUT OF THE SPACE, AND DROVE IT TO MY LOCAL SHOP, WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FAN STILL WORKED, THAT THE FUSES STILL WORKED, BUT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD FAILED. HAD ALREADY READ EXTENSIVELY ABOUT POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE ISSUES WHEN I HEARD THE FAN RUNNING IN THE FIRST PLACE. BUT... I THOUGHT AFTER A FEW MONTHS THAT I WAS LUCKY TO AVOID THE PUMP FAILURE--IN CATCHING THE FAN FIRST-- BUT IT SEEMS THAT MANY HERE HAVE DESCRIBED. EXACTLY THE SAME TRAJECTORY. I CALLED MINIUSA AND A LOCAL DEALER, AND THEY REFUSE TO HELP, BECAUSE MY CAR'S MANUFACTURE DATE IS A LITTLE UNDER TWO MONTHS PAST THE DATE INCLUDED IN THE "EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTICE". THIS IS RIDICULOUS! IT IS EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL, IN EVERY DETAIL, AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY I WAS NOT HURT BY IT. I FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT DIRECTLY WITH MINI USA. IF I FELT IT WERE FOR LACK OF MAINTENANCE, OR NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, I COULD ACCEPT THAT, BUT THIS CAR HAS METICULOUS MAINTENANCE, AND RECORDS TO BACK IT UP.

MY VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED DIRECTLY AFTER DRIVING IT SIX MILES, SAVED BY FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND FIRE DEPARTMENT. CAUSE DETERMINED TO BE FAULTY POWER STEERING MODULE.

Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING UNIT FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAN AND STEERING PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000. ...UPDATED 01/05/17 *BF *TR

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 60K MILES BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT'S MADE IT HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FAULTY TRANSMISSION. BMW HAS TO PAY FOR IT.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V505000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN BACK FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

MY SON WAS DRIVING THE MINI COOPER AND THE STEERING STOPPED WORKING, HE HAD CALLED MINI WHEN HE GOT IT IN NOV 2015 ABOUT RECALLS AND THEY SAID THAT THE MINI WAS RECALLED FOR THE STEERING AND THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG. WHEN WE CALLED THE LOCAL MINI DEALER THEY SAID ONLY THE AIR BAG. I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH A CASSANDRA FROM MINI AND SHE SAID THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE STEERING FOR MINIS MADE BETWEEN MARCH 2005 AND FEBRUARY 2005 AND HIS CAR WAS ON THE TAIL END OF IT AND THEY WOULD NOT WARRANTY IT TO BE FIXED. I BELIEVE THAT THESE CAR DEALERS KNOW ABOUT SAFETY PROBLEMS BUT DON'T WANT TO FIX THEM PROPERLY. MY SON COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF NOT FOR THE FACT THAT IT CAME BACK LONG ENOUGH FOR HIM TO GET THE CAR STOPPED. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN GET THIS RESOLVED SO THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE

TAKATA RECALL.I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I LOST MY POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER BUT THE SLOWER I GOT THE HARDER IT WAS TO STEER THE CAR. I HAD TO BUY A NEW STEERING PUMP AND HAVE IT INSTALLED. MY STEERING FAILED FOR THE EXACT REASON MINI ISSUED THE RECALL BUT THEY WON'T REIMBURSE ME BECAUSE MY CAR IS NOT WITHIN THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE. MINI INSTALLED THE DEFECTIVE STEERING PUMP BUT WON'T DO THE PROPER THING AND LET ME RECOVER MY COSTS OF $795.00. AGAIN MY STEERING PUMP FAILED FOR THE EXACT REASON MINI APPROVED THE RECALL. I HAD 103,383 MILES ON THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED AND ONLY RECENTLY DID MINI FINALLY APPROVE A RECALL ON THE PUMP.

BATTERY DIED AND REPLACED. DROVE 2 DAYS AND BATTERY DIED AND AGAIN REPLACED. DROVE AND STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF. CHECKED FLUIDS AND NO POWER STEERING FLUID. HAPPENED AGAIN WITH BOTH BATTERY AND P/S FLUID. BECAME AWARE OF RECALL IN 04 AND 05 MINI COOPER'S AND TOOK TO DEALER. BAD POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN AS WELL AS 2 HOSES. WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL BECAUSE THE BUILD DATE IS MAY. WAS QUOTED $1300+ FOR REPAIRS.

POWER STEERING GOES OUT. VERY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. ITS LIKE HAVING NO STEERING AT ALL AT TIMES. I HAVE TWO MINI COOPERS. THIS ONE HAS NOT YET TO GET THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING PUMP. I HAVE A RECALL FOR THE OTHER MINI THAT I OWN BUT THAT ONE DOESNT HAVE A PROBLEM.

PARKED AT SHOPPING MALL AND NOT RUNNING FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES, COME OUT TO MINI COOPER ON FIRE. SMOKE COMING OUT OF ENGINE AREA, HIGH PITCH FAN WHIRLING, ELECTRICAL SMELL. POWER STEERING FAILED, SHORTED OUT, AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS NOT EVEN ON AND PARKED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. APPEARS TO BE A MAJOR FAILURE MANY OTHERS OWNING A MINI COOPER HAVE EXPERIENCED. BMW/MINI COOPER OF USA DID NOTHING FOR US AND PUT IT ALL ON OUR AND MY INSURANCES SHOULDERS. AMAZED SO MANY CASES OF THIS SAME ISSUE HAVE HAPPENED YET THEY DO NOTHING AND SEEM TO EXPECT EVERYONE ELSE TO FOOT THE BILL. GOT THE RUN AROUND BY BMW AND UNLESS IT WAS FOR MY INSURANCE COMPANY, THE MINI WOULD HAVE BEEN SCRAPPED. *TR

Fire

PARKED AT SHOPPING MALL AND NOT RUNNING FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES, COME OUT TO MINI COOPER ON FIRE. SMOKE COMING OUT OF ENGINE AREA, HIGH PITCH FAN WHIRLING, ELECTRICAL SMELL. POWER STEERING FAILED, SHORTED OUT, AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS NOT EVEN ON AND PARKED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. APPEARS TO BE A MAJOR FAILURE MANY OTHERS OWNING A MINI COOPER HAVE EXPERIENCED. BMW/MINI COOPER OF USA DID NOTHING FOR US AND PUT IT ALL ON OUR AND MY INSURANCES SHOULDERS. AMAZED SO MANY CASES OF THIS SAME ISSUE HAVE HAPPENED YET THEY DO NOTHING AND SEEM TO EXPECT EVERYONE ELSE TO FOOT THE BILL. GOT THE RUN AROUND BY BMW AND UNLESS IT WAS FOR MY INSURANCE COMPANY, THE MINI WOULD HAVE BEEN SCRAPPED. *TR

Fire

PARKED AT SHOPPING MALL AND NOT RUNNING FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES, COME OUT TO MINI COOPER ON FIRE. SMOKE COMING OUT OF ENGINE AREA, HIGH PITCH FAN WHIRLING, ELECTRICAL SMELL. POWER STEERING FAILED, SHORTED OUT, AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS NOT EVEN ON AND PARKED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. APPEARS TO BE A MAJOR FAILURE MANY OTHERS OWNING A MINI COOPER HAVE EXPERIENCED. BMW/MINI COOPER OF USA DID NOTHING FOR US AND PUT IT ALL ON OUR AND MY INSURANCES SHOULDERS. AMAZED SO MANY CASES OF THIS SAME ISSUE HAVE HAPPENED YET THEY DO NOTHING AND SEEM TO EXPECT EVERYONE ELSE TO FOOT THE BILL. GOT THE RUN AROUND BY BMW AND UNLESS IT WAS FOR MY INSURANCE COMPANY, THE MINI WOULD HAVE BEEN SCRAPPED. *TR

Fire

DRIVING UP A RESIDENTIAL STREET ON MY RETURN FROM WORK, STEERING VERY ABRUPTLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. APPARENT POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. *TR

MY 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE NEEDS THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. MY CAR HAS ONLY 92,000 MILES AND IT IS UNFAIR THAT ALREADY IT HAS TO BE REPLACE AT A RIDICULOUS COST. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT WITH BMW/MINI FOR THE TRANSMISSION THAT WENT WRONG. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE BESIDES MYSELF WHO WHERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS AND WERE LEFT OUT. MINI COOPER SHOULD RECALL THE TRANSMISSIONS .THERE ARE MANY FORUMS OF MINI COOPER OWNERS WHO ARE OUTRAGED AND HAVE SIMILAR SITUATIONS. PLEASE CONSIDER AND MAKE THIS COMPANY RECALL THE TRANSMISSIONS. THANK YOU *TR

WAS DRIVING AT 45MPH AND ALL OF SUDDEN COULD TELL SOMETHING WAS DIFFERENT WITH THE STEERING. SLOWED DOWN AND TURNED AT THE NEXT INTERSECTION AND IT WAS LIKE DRIVING A TANK. COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY BAD IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING FASTER. *JS

I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL CURVY HIGHWAY AT APPROX 35MPH WHEN MY POWER STEERING GAVE OUT GOING AROUND A CURVE. I ALMOST DROVE INTO THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN. *TR

POWER STEERING, PERIODICALLY STOPS WORKING. IT USUALLY DOES NOT WORK WHEN THE CAR STARTS UP AND WILL THEN START WORKING. IT HAS NOW STOPS WORKING AT UNEXPECTED TIMES AND SEEMS TO COME BACK ON AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME. *TR

AFTER I TURNED MY CAR OFF, A NOISE LIKE A FAN KEPT RUNNING. IT DRAINED THE BATTERY CAUSING ME TO GET MY CAR JUMPED. THEN POWER STEERING WENT OUT, AND WHEN I ARRIVED HOME AFTER STRUGGLING TO TURN VEHICLE AND OPERATE SAFELY, THE FAN DID IT AGAIN, AFTER 5 MINUTES BATTERY WAS DEAD. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR OF MINI I HAVE FOUND AFTER RESEARCHING TONIGHT, AND I AM VERY DISPLEASED TO SEE THAT CANADA HAS RECALLED THIS ISSUE AND THE USA HAS NOT! PEOPLE COULD GET SERIOUSLY INJURED. THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON AS TO WHY, OR WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS BMW IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY IN US AS THEY HAVE BEEN FORCED TO IN CANADA!!! I AM A YOUNG, FEMALE COLLEGE STUDENT AND IT WAS VERY SCARY BEING STUCK AND THEN NOT TO HAVE STEERING EITHER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SHE NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A STRONG BURNING ODOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITH A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAULTY COOLING FAN, WHICH CAUSED THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM TO OVERHEAT AND EXPOSE MELTED WIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,057.

Fire

THE POWER STEERING PUMP STARTS AND STOPS WHENEVER IT WANTS TO. YOU CAN BE DRIVING AND THE PUMP STOPS AND THE STEERING GETS VERY HARD. THE PUMP ALSO RUNS AFTER THE CAR IS SHUT OFF. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO COVER THE PROBLEM BUT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR IT FOR TWO MONTHS UNTIL PARTS CAME IN. I TOOK THE CAR BACK WHEN THE PARTS CAME IN AND THEN WHEN THEY RAN THE VIN THEY SAID THE CUTOFF WAS IN FEB AND MY CAR WAS BUILT IN APRIL SO IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY.I CALLED MINI AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WORKED EXTENSIVELY WITH YOU TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YEARS HAD THE BAD PARTS. WHEN I LOOK ON LINE I SEE MANY PROBLEMS NOTED FOR 2005 AND EVEN 2006 AND IT LOOKS LIKE CANADA MADE THEM RECALL THE CARS. WOULD YOU REVISIT AND SEE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE 2005 MODELS BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THANK YOU *TR

DRIVING ABOUT 10 MPH ON A ONE LANE STREET, I TRIED TO NEGOTIATE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CAR RAN OFF THE ROADWAY AND COLLIDED WITH SOME SHRUBBERY. *TR

Crash

MY WIFE BOUGHT A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE AND IT DROVE FINE FOR LIKE ONE DAY, THEN AFTER THAT IT STOPPED SHIFTING GEARS. WE NOTICED IT WOULD GO AROUND 35MPH THEN THE GEARS WOULD NOT SHIFT. AFTER AWHILE IT WOULDN'T EVEN GO OVER 15MPH. AFTER TAKING IT TO GET DIAGNOSED FOR SOME REASON IT RAN 40 MPH FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES THEN THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. *TR

THE MANUFACTURER HAS RECENTLY STATED THEY ARE GOING TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE WARRANTY FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP FOR MODELS RANGING FROM THE YEARS 2002-2005 AND SOME 2005 MINI CONVERTIBLES. I HAVE A 2005 MINI CONVERTIBLE, AND HAVE THE FAULTY POWER STEERING PUMP THAT THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY LIFE FOR. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY LOCAL MINI DEALERSHIP TO GET MY CAR FIXED AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A WAITING LIST TO GET THE WORK DONE. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE PARTS ARE ENTIRELY UNAVAILABLE, AND I CAN EXPECT TO WAIT UP TO A MONTH BEFORE I CAN EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO GET MY CAR FIXED. TILL THEN HOWEVER I CANNOT GET MY CARS INSPECTION RENEWED AS IN MY STATE A CAR CANNOT PASS WITHOUT POWER STEERING. I HAVE BEEN LEFT WITHOUT ANY FEASIBLE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, AND UPON BEGGING MINI TO HELP WITH MY PROBLEM WHICH THEY HAVE CREATED I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. THIS LEAVES ME WITH EITHER HAVING TO BREAK TEXAS STATE LAW AND DRIVE THE CAR WITHOUT CURRENT INSPECTION, OR DROP OUT OF SCHOOL AS I WILL HAVE NO WAY OF GETTING THERE UNTIL THE MINI FIXES THE PROBLEM. *TR

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR FOR AIRBAG ACTIVATION FAILED. DUE TO THIS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. THE ONLY FIX IS A $2000 REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. *TR

DROVE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH FOR ABOUT 15 MINS. AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY, I REALIZED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. FORTUNATELY, I WAS COMING TO A TRAFFIC JUNCTION AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND PULL ASIDE WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT. FROM WHAT I'VE READ ON THE INTERNET, THERE IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP THAT CAUSES THE POWER STEERING TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT CAN EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE IS ALSO A WHINING NOISE THAT I HEAR COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WHICH I FOUND IS ALSO RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP PROBLEM. *TR

DAUGHTER/CO-OWNER WAS DRIVING CAR. SHIFTING FROM 1ST IN TO 2ND GEAR. LOUD CLUNK OR RATTLE/CLICKING FROM UNSIDE. CAR LOST POWER STEERING, BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. COULD NOT CONTROL VEHICLE. HAD TO CALL TOW TRUCK. *TR

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR ACTIVATES, SAYING THAT THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT WHEN ONE IS NOT PRESENT. IT OFTEN REMINDS THIS "PASSENGER" TO BUCKLE THEIR SEAT BELT. OTHER TIMES IT IS SILENT BUT STILL INDICATES THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF WHEN THERE TRULY IS A PASSENGER. *TR

THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN GOING OUT FOR SOME TIME. OFTEN IT WILL RESET IF I TURN THE VEHICLE OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS AND RESTART, BUT RECENTLY IT HASN'T BEEN RESETTING RIGHT AWAY AND OFTEN WILL BE OUT FOR QUITE SOME TIME BEFORE RESETTING. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN STRANGE CREAKING/GROANING SOUNDS EVERY TIME I TURN THE WHEEL RECENTLY, AS WELL AS A WHIRRING SOUND THAT GOES ON AND OFF WHILE THE CAR IS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. THE STEERING WILL GO OUT WHEN I START THE CAR OR WHEN I'M DRIVING. IT'S WORRYING TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WHERE YOU CAN NEVER BE SURE IF A LIGHT TURN OF THE WHEEL WILL DO THE TRICK TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE OR IF IT WILL REQUIRE ALL THE STRENGTH I HAVE--IF I MISJUDGE THIS BY EITHER APPLYING TOO MUCH FORCE OR TOO LITTLE, AN ACCIDENT IS VERY LIKELY. *TR

I WAS TURNING THE CORNER TO PULL INTO MY STREET AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I BARELY MANAGED TO TURN THE VEHICLE INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND THEN TURNED IT OFF. WHEN I WENT TO TRY IT AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER, I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

LAST THURSDAY MAY 10, 2012 I WAS DRIVING HOME AND SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, I LOST THE STEERING POWER FUNCTION; THE STEERING WHEEL GOT TOTALLY RIGID AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MANIPULATE; WITH A HUGE EFFORT AND VERY CAREFULLY, I COULD ARRIVE AT HOME. I AM LUCKY THAT I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER. AFTER SWITCHING OFF AND ON THE CAR THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING FINE AGAIN. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT SINCE THEN; WE ARE DEALING WITH MINI COOPER AND ITS AUTHORIZED DEALER RIGHT NOW TO GET THE CAR REPAIRED BUT SO FAR THE EXPERIENCE WITH THEM HAS BEEN TRAUMATIZING. I RESEARCHED IN INTERNET AND I FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR THE MINI COOPER MODELS BETWEEN 2002-2007; I CONTACTED MINI COOPER AND MY HUSBAND TOOK THE CAR TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER THIS MORNING BUT THEY DO NOT WANT TO ASSIST US WITH THIS LIFE- THREATENING ISSUE; THE CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BEEN AWFUL HERE AND UNCONSIDERED. *JS

SEAT SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG CHILD DISABLING FEATURE FAILED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE SEAT. DEALER ESTIMATE WAS $1300 FOR THE REPLACEMENT SEAT AND LABOR. DEALER ADMITTED THAT IT HAS BEEN A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN SEVERAL BMW MODELS. THE CAR ONLY HAS 32000 MILES ON IT. NO WARRANTY COVERAGE WAS OFFERED. *TR

I HAVE LOST POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS. IT CAUSES LOSS OF CONTROL AND MAKES THE CAR UNDRIVABLE AND THERE IS NO WARNING. I PULL OVER AND RESTART IT AND IT HAS POWER STEERING AGAIN. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING, HAS NOT COME BACK. *JS

WAS TRAVELING AT NEIGHBORHOOD SPEED, TURNED INTO DRIVEWAY AND POWER ASSIST ON THE STEERING FAILED. HAD I BEEN AT SPEED THIS WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN HITTING A TREE NEXT TOT HE DRIVEWAY. THE CAR WAS ESSENTIALLY UNSTEERABLE WITHOUT TREMENDOUS FORCE, A CONDITION COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED. AFTER TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING IT, THE PROBLEM WAS NO LONGER THERE, SO OBVIOUSLY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM RECURRED ABOUT A MONTH LATER WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE AS I DID NOT NOTICE IT UNTIL DECELERATING TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAMP, IT AGAIN BECAME NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MANEUVER. AFTER TURNING IT OFF AND BACK ON, THE PROBLEM WAS GONE. THIS HAS RECURRED ON AND OFF EVER SINCE. A LOCAL BMW/MINI SPECIALIST MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS NOT AN INFREQUENT PROBLEM WITH 2005 MINI'S. HE INDICATED THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONS FINE EXCEPT FOR INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE IT TO FAIL. THE PROBLEM HAS NOW COME BACK AND IS VERY FREQUENT. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TROUBLESOME AT LOW SPEEDS, AND WHILE PARKING. I FEEL THERE IS SUFFICIENT INSTANCE OF THIS TO WARRANT A RECALL AS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH THE DESIGN OR ENGINEERING OF THE POWER STEERING IN FAR MORE CASES THAT JUST MY VEHICLE. *TR