Power steering failed while I was driving the vehicle and I almost crashed.

- Tampa, FL, USA

Hello, I had been experience problems with the power steering (loosing power) of my MINICooper S 2004 model. In Jan 2013, I brought my 2004 MINICooper S for the replacement of the power-assist steering function, which include power steering hose ($56.25), power steering pump ($710) and labor ($315). In May 2013, I received a notice for the repair expense reimbursement from MINIApparently this problem is known (but unknown to me) for MINImodel year 2002-2205. I submitted the reimbursement request and received the return receipt on June 10, 2013. Since then I have attempted to reach to MINIcustomer relation by phone (1-866-275-6464) 4 times and still have not received the reimbursement. I am writing this letter to ask for your assistance. MINIshould live up to standard and reimburse my expense. Please let me know if you need any additional information from me. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Mission Viejo, CA, USA

Yesterday I was driving home from work and as I was turning onto the access road to get on the highway my steering wheel locked up and forced me to hit a curb. I was able to take side roads to avoid the highway and make it home safely. The curb did do some damage to my car. Man date is Oct 2004.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

The car loses power steering intermittently and it makes it extremely difficult to turn. It is very dangerous when it happens on the intersection and I can't turn the car. I drive with my child and this freaks me out. It happened several times and in May 2013 I received MINIrecall/extension of warranty letter and called MINIdealer in sacramento ca and they put me to the recording machine, where I left a message regarding extension of warranty by MINIand to schedule replacement of power steering - no reply. Called them twice, they seem to ignore my calls. Very upset with dealer's ignorance.

- Auburn , CA, USA

Exiting the interstate, I almost went off the road when steering the car became very difficult and turning the car was almost impossible. I parked the car for about 6 hours, tried it again, steering seemed to have returned to normal.

- New Albany, IN, USA

Heard click while turning wheel was advised steering hose needed replacement last July 12 2012 had repair made. Now with only 78K on car hearing click again - took to mechanic advising whole power steering pump needs replacement.

- Citrus Heights, CA, USA

The power steering system failed. It appears to be an electrical issue because once I restarted the vehicle the power steering system returned to normal. I almost ran into a parked car because I could not turn without a lot of effort.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

Lost all power steering.

- Fall River, MA, USA

The power steering pump on my 2004 MINICooper has gone out now four times. It becomes very hard to steer and impossible to make a U-turn or parallel park. It happens intermittently and without warning and is very dangerous.I have contacted MINIof san francisco and they refuse to make the repair because the car is not under warranty. This is despite acknowledgement from BMW/MINIthat the part is faulty.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

First incident: Vehicle mileage 37004 (12/31/2009): 2004 MINICooper S was being driven on surface streets and power steering was lost without warning making the vehicle exquisitely difficult to turn. Upon arrival at a mechanic, the power steering pump was determined to be faulty and both the pump and fan were replaced. There were no accidents or injuries associated with this injury. Second incident: Vehicle mileage ~55,000 (1/19/2013): Same vehicle as above was being driven onto a sharp right banking on ramp to the I-10E freeway when the power steering suddenly failed without warning. The car was occupied by a driver and a passenger. Despite the driver's quick reactions, the car hit the curves outer concrete retaining wall nearly head on. The wall could not be avoided because of the lack of warning of the power steering failure, as well as the minimal space on the shoulder of the outside of the curve, estimated by the driver as less than a car width wide. The driver was estimated by a police officer to be driving below the speed limit. The driver received chemical burns to his upper extremity from the airbag, the passenger was hospitalized for three days with a pneumothorax and required a chest tube to be placed. An extended warranty will not prevent people from being injured, but a recall will. Updated 06/12/13 updated 07/10/13

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2004 MINICooper. The contact stated that while exiting a residential driveway, the power steering failed without warning. The vehicle was not repaired and the problem persisted. The manufacturer was notified. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000.

- Pacifica, CA, USA

I was driving 45-50 miles an hour on I95S over the Q bridge near new haven. I turned gently to the right hand lane and could not steer the car to straighten up. I was unable to steer the car at all. I tried to brake but it did not help. Nothing like this happened before. My car was bounced from one side of the concrete barrier to the other. All airbags were deployed. The car was totaled. I was deemed to be at fault. I sustained severe spinal injury and required major surgery immediately. I was unable to work for over 3 months. I got reimbursement from my insurance for the car, S kbb value. I think the car was taken to hartford. I have not been able to file this complaint until now due to my physical disability. Please investigate this case for steering failure.

- Branford, CT, USA

I was driving to work my steering all of a sudden became hard to turn I hit the curb and blew two tires.

- Huger, SC, USA

The contact owns a 2004 MINICooper. The contact stated that while driving 70 mph, the steering system seized while the contact was changing lanes. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic however, no details regarding the steering system defect was provided by the mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Pasadena, CA, USA

My daughter had been driving my car with no problems, when she parked to pick me up I put the car in reverse and was barely able to get out of the parking stall the steering was so hard. I then had to drive home using every ounce of strength I had, while making sure not to hit anything. I too have researched this and am truly disappointed with BMW.

- Sandy, UT, USA

I was on an exit ramp from the highway and around the curve I felt the steering stiffen. When I had to turn right I had to swing very wide into the other lane because I had no power steering. Thank god no one was there! it returned after I shut my car off after pulling into a parking lot. Then the next day it did it again. Today it went out and hasn't returned yet. My husband checked to make sure the fan worked and it does. This is a known to BMW problem and no recall in the usa. Canada has a recall. Tell me please, why we do not?

- Arlington Heights, IL, USA

I was exiting interstate and slowing to a stop when steering wheel no longer worked easily. The steering wheel became hard to turn, I was able to pull over and avoid an accident.

- Alta, CA, USA

I drove my sister's 2004 MINICooper sometime in spring of 2012 to check on work done from the dealership. As I yielded into a roundabout and entered it, the power steering cut off which steering effort became very heavy and very nearly had a collision with another vehicle. I sister informed me afterwards that the issue just happen recently occurred to her too, as she exited a highway exit ramp at nearly 55mph, and power steering had failed. Luckily, she was able to react quickly with the power steering loss. Pulled to the side, shut the vehicle, and turned on the vehicle again, and power steering came back on. It has intermittently going off/on w power since then which the dealer recognizes, but warranty has been expired since it's 9 years and over 100,000 mi. And we are left with a bill at around $1,400 average. $800 in parts alone. There are many MINIcustomers known to have this issue of power steering loss in their early models too, same as my sister's year model. So far fortunately, there are no injuries nor fatalities directly from this power steering loss from what I know of. But many are faced with this large repair with we're facing, and some may forego/ delay repairing it. Transport Canada, recognizes this as a safety issue, and recalled about 9,000 MINIs last year. And the power steering pump part is no different than theirs. When are we going to act like our neighbors" until we get someone horribly injured or killed?! or have MINIcustomers such my sister facing this large repair order on this defective part that's known to fail prematurely" this is a serious gamble with lives.

- Towson, MD, USA

I had parked my car at a donut shop and when I came out and started the car and go, it was very hard to turn. I had to call a friend to help me tow it to my house.

- Levittown, PA, USA

Power steering pump failure.

- Berkeley, CA, USA