CarComplaints.com Notes: Power steering problems are a major issue with the 2004 Mini Cooper, with hundreds of owners reporting complaints to the NHTSA about their power steering suddenly failing while driving.

Some power steering failures have caused crashes & injuries. Average mileage at failure is well under 100,000 miles & the repair cost is over $1,000. Not good.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
10 / 7
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
75,582 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.

2004 Mini Cooper steering problems

steering problem

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2004 Mini Cooper Owner Comments (Page 1 of 22)

problem #430

Apr 242022

Cooper

  • miles

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

Mini felt like it was getting pushed by the wind. Realized wasn't wind Mini loss of completely all functions of steering wheel. On super busy highway. Devine intervention Was in far left car went left to right lanes then hit median gaurd rail spun around Finally got it to stop. Never Hitting and hurting anyone around me. Nobody hit me. Car is totalled ! Still at tow place. I saw my life flash as cars were zooming by me. Someone should be held responsible for my car and almost my life. Called out of work can't move upper body that well.

- Woodlyn, PA, USA

problem #429

Jul 182020

Cooper

  • 116,543 miles
Was driving car on 18 July 2020 and power steering quit working and made steering difficult, also coolant fan, low speed and high speed stopped working same time as power steering quit. The asc light came on and it will not turn off. No blown fuses in engine compartment or by drivers kick panel. I was driving the car on a state road when this occurred.

- Greentown, PA, USA

problem #428

Feb 292020

Cooper

  • 156,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 MINICooper S. the contact stated that while driving at attempting to make a turn, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the steering column. The contact also stated that there was a power steering fluid leak present. The failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to MINIof stevens creek located at (4201 stevens creek blvd, santa clara, ca 95051), and diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 156,000.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #427

Dec 132019

Cooper

  • 0 miles

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

The power steering is very stiff to drive and cannot drive my cooper because I can no longer steer the vehicle.

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

problem #426

Nov 242019

Cooper

  • miles
When you turn wheel left or right it makes a noise and it's very hard to turn. So I think it's the steering: Electric power assist system. Recall id # 240625.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #425

Apr 292019

Cooper

  • 201,000 miles
Mainly while cold and at low speed's the wheel suddenly becomes very hard to turn and I was told by a mechanic but it's a faulty hydraulic power steering problem

- Longwood, FL, USA

problem #424

Apr 282019

Cooper

  • 200,000 miles

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

Very hard to turn steering wheel at times especially when moving slowly; coming to a turn at a light, backing out of a parking spot, etc.

- Longwood, FL, USA

problem #423

Aug 012017

Cooper

  • miles
The contact owns a 2004 MINICooper. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn in either direction. The electric power steering warning indicator was not illuminated. An unknown dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not under warranty, and was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 15V660000 (steering) and NHTSA action numbers: EA11005 (steering) and PE10038 (steering). The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was not available.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #422

Jul 282015

Cooper

  • 20 miles
Power steering has been an issue over a year or two. No total failures but it does not qualify as power steering. The cooling fan does not work. Steering is not good....for powered steering that is. Slow speed steering is horrendous and non existent.

- Lunenburg, MA, USA

problem #421

Apr 112018

Cooper

  • 148,000 miles
I own a 2004 MINICooper. I was driving and lost all power steering almost causing a accident. There is a open recall on this issue. I contacted MINIand they informed me that my vehicle was not included with the recall. I explained that my car was experiencing all the issues addressed in the recall, but they still would not help me out.

- Lebanon, PA, USA

problem #420

Aug 062017

Cooper

  • 165,000 miles

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

The vehicle was hard to steer and smoke was coming from the engine. Took the car home, did not see flames, parked car in the driveway switched cars and left. Received a call from the fire department that my MINIwas on fire and I needed to return to my house.

- Davenport, FL, USA

problem #419

Jul 062017

Cooper

  • 84,000 miles
The power steering in my 2004 MINICooper S failed last month, prompting me to research ways to fix the vehicle online. I found that MINIusa had issued a recall on my car, but was informed by the dealership and then MINIthat my VIN number did not fall among those vehicles recalled. I'm wondering whether MINIappropriately limited their recall considering my vehicle has the same problem that prompted the recall, and falls within the same model and year range. I think the department should investigate whether to expanding the recall.

- Arlington, MA, USA

problem #418

Jun 122017

Cooper

  • 130,051 miles
MINICooper power steering pump failure. Vehicle was recently driven and was parked on the street. We started the vehicle and backed up to pull out of the parking spot. There was no power steering. We had to attempt to back up again to get off of the street and in to the parking spot. A burning smell and smoke started from under the hood. The power steering pump and cooling fan had failed. There are documented issues with this failure. When I contacted the dealership, I was told the extended warranty for this issue expired in April. This happened June 12th.

- Olyphant, PA, USA

problem #417

Oct 132015

Cooper

  • miles
The contact owns a 2004 MINICooper. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 15V660000 (steering) and stated that the part needed was unavailable to perform the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Racine, WI, USA

problem #416

Jul 042016

Cooper

  • 180,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 MINICooper. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power steering and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V660000 (steering); however, the dealer refused to perform the repair due to the updated part previously being installed on the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Boise, ID, USA

problem #415

Jun 162016

Cooper 4-cyl

  • miles
The contact owns a 2004 MINICooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V660000 (steering). The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be remedied; however, the contact believed that they did not inspect the vehicle. The contact was notified by a technician that it should have taken four hours to complete the inspection and perform any necessary repairs. The contact did not believe the repair was adequately performed. The manufacturer was notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. Updated 09/27/16 consumer stated the dealership said car was fine, consumer wants to know it if it was recalled why the parts were not replaced updated 6/12/18

- Central Point, OR, USA

problem #414

Dec 072015

Cooper

  • miles
The contact owns a 2004 MINICooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V660000 (steering); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The VIN was unknown. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Malibu, CA, USA

problem #413

Oct 312015

Cooper

  • 58,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 MINICooper. The contact stated that while driving at 25 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact had to apply force to the steering wheel in order to steer the vehicle. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V660000 (steering) however, the part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,000. VIN tool confirms parts unavailable.

- Larchmont, NY, USA

problem #412

Dec 262015

Cooper

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 MINICooper. While driving at an unknown speed, the steering wheel seized without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering electric pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V660000 (steering); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Pacific Grove, CA, USA

problem #411

Feb 032016

Cooper

  • 145,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 MINICooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V660000 (steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available.. the contact stated that while driving at 55 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact was able to pull the vehicle over and shut it down. The vehicle was restarted and functioned as normal. The dealer was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 145,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

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