I just bought a 2005 MINICooper and the power steering failed this morning. After researching this issue, I have found that this is a common complaint and that the NHTSA was looking into these issues already. Since I have had the vehicle one day, I do not have any other information about whether the power steering failure comes and goes or when it is most likely to occur. This morning it was not functioning properly.

- Champaign, IL, USA

Power steering pump failure while driving vehicle. While driving, my wife had to exert strength to drive vehicle to safe place when the power steering failed. Prior to this incident (reporting this as we are not sure if it is related) our 2005 MINIrequired replacement of the power steering pump fan (at cost of $245.60) on 8/21/2009, to fix a loud noise. On 1/12/2011 we had to replace the power steering pump due to power steering failure. MINIagreed to charge me only 1/2 the warranty part cost and reduced labor (total job cost me $443 versus almost $1200 until I complained). Given the number of incidents (and I read of similar concerns in britain), there should be a recall of this system and I should get a refund of what I paid for the pump and the fan I had replaced in 2009. I also had to have replaced front lower control arm bushings at a labor and parts cost of $767.24. Again, not sure if this is related to the power steering pump failure. Our car only has 46,500 miles, so these failures seem unusual for a car with such low mileage. We are original owners.

- Falls Church, VA, USA

While driving my 2005 MINIcooper, my power steering went out. I was in the middle of a right turn from a very busy street when the steering went out in the middle of the turn. I nearly crashed head-on into oncoming traffic and the steering was so difficult, I pulled a shoulder and back muscle just trying to complete the turn. The power steering was out for the rest of my trip. Since then, the power steering has failed intermittently on a daily basis and comes with no warning. It will drive for several miles with no problem and then suddenly stop working.

- Riverside, CA, USA

Power steering suddenly failed while driving and the vehicle became very difficult to steer at all speeds. Updated VIN. 02/22/11.

- Corona, NY, USA

After starting up my car I attempted to drive out of my driveway, but the power steering wasn't working. I restarted the car and tried driving again. It still didn't work. After about 15 minutes of trying this it finally started to work again. The next day this happened again both in the morning and again after the car had been sitting for 3+ hours. Later that night when I drove my car it worked fine. This has happened randomly approximately 8 times in the last 2 years, but the mechanic can never duplicate the incident nor find anything wrong with the power steering.

- Concord, CA, USA

Intermittent power steering loss resulting in several complaints to dealer. Dealer provided no working resolution. Power steering loss in this vehicle made steering very difficult and resulted in excessively dangerous driving conditions. Power pump finally failed and needed to be replaced.

- Santa Fe, NM, USA

My daughter is 18 years old she was driving home from work 2am raining out side when all of a sudden she started having steering problems real bad thank god her brakes worked. Come to find out her power steering box went out and her fan she has a 2005 MINICooper.

- Tampa , FL, USA

The contact owns a 2005 MINICooper. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the steering wheel locked up suddenly. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the power steering pump and gasket were replaced. The current and failure mileages were 56,954. Updated 3/7/11 updated 03/14/11

- Wylie , TX, USA

Power steering will go out without notice at all speeds. It will reset if the car is turned off and restarted, however the interval to the next power outage is unpredictable. It occurred the first time, and then didn't reoccur for a couple of months. Then when the problem returned it did this for approximately two weeks, then didn't happen again for another month. It has no been a fairly common problem. Have also had experiences where making a turn, the power assist will go out, and then return, which has me putting extra exertion into making the turn, only to have it come back on resulting in oversteer.

- Doraville, GA, USA

2005 MINICooper S. intermittent failure of power steering under varied driving conditions. Although NHTSA has opened investigation, BMW has not issued a recall yet. Local MINIservice department will change the electric steering motor at about $1000, but is unaware of the reason for the failures.

- Puyallup, WA, USA

The power steering suddenly went out on my 2005 MINICooper S as I was about to turn right onto a highway on ramp. I felt the lack of power and continued straight so I could pull into a service station up ahead. The power steering was intermittent for a bit then totally out, leaving me with a 45 minute drive down the mountains to home without power steering. I have had multiple incidents of the power steering fan running after the car was off. Now it looks as if the fan is no longer cooling the pump causing it to overheat which could start a fire. I am planning to try to replace the fan soon but I am just a broke college student so I really hope this recall goes through.

- Taylors, SC, USA

The contact owns a 2005 MINICooper. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph and trying to make a turn, the power steering failed making it very difficult to maneuver the vehicle. The failure was intermittent. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

- Santa Cruise, CA, USA

2005 MINICooper S power steering pump failure. This is the second time within a two year period that I had to replace the pump. The result is a sudden loss of steering control and degradation of the battery.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

The power steering failed during a left turn, almost causing me to head straight into opposing traffic waiting at the left turn signal opposite me. I managed to pull the wheel hard enough to get it to the curb. I restarted the car and it was fine. This happened again months later on a canyon road and finally on a 2 hour road trip where I was freeway driving approximately 70 mph when I felt the wheel tighten. As I was on straightaway, it wasn't obvious until I had to exit. Again, I pulled over, turned the car off and restarted with no problem. I brought it in on 11/30/2010 and had to have the power steering pump replaced. Now I have to go in because there is an electrical current coming through my steering wheel. There have been several other issues with this model that are not life threatening but have been an unnecessary expense. Without quick reflexes and, quite frankly, a bit of strength, this could have been a very serious accident.

- Venice, CA, USA

Drove car to work - someone came in a few minutes after I arrived at work and told me my car was smoking. Went out and looked but smoke had stopped by time got bonnet open. Came from front passenger side. When started car to leave work - had warning light and power steering would not work. MINImanual said to stop immediately. Had car towed to local german repair shop and the said power steering motor had burned up and melted all the adjacent wiring. Had to replace motor and wiring.

- Anacortes, WA, USA

2005 MINICooper S intermittently loses power steering, this happens without warning and renders the vehicle nearly impossible to steer. The first time it happened was on an elevated exit ramp and almost caused me to strike the safety wall. After a drastic slow down I was able to strong arm the vehicle back on course. This has happened several times since - most dangerous when it cuts out and the randomly comes back on causing severe over-steering.

- Belleville, IL, USA

While driving my 2005 MINICooper (approx 48,000 miles) our power steering intermittently seemed to cut out making the steering extremely heavy and unresponsive. While on the highway it made driving difficult, but not impossible. However, on arriving in town we were unable to make a turn without ending up in the lane of on-coming traffic! luckily there was little traffic around when we arrived at our destination. Turning the car off and back on again while stopped at a traffic light seemed to restore our power steering long enough to get to our final destination.

- Cincinnanti, OH, USA

Found need more turning of steering wheel at traffic light into the cross street, then parked the car, turned off engine but still found something running in engine bay. Thought it was the fan to cool the engine off, so didn't pay attention. At lunch, come back to pick up the car, and found its battery was drained almost totally. Jumped the car without issue and drove back home without issue. Turned off engine and still hear the noise of something running in the engine bay. Pulled all fuses to see if can identify the problem, doesn't help, something still run with load noise. Searched internet, found other owners also experienced the same and is the power steering pump failure, some even found failure while driving.

- Milpitas, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2005 MINICooper convertible. The contact heard a high pitched squeaking noise while making left and right turns. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where she was told that the power steering pump was failing. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 72,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Trebose, PA, USA

2005 MINICooper sudden loss of power steering. Due to defect in design power steering cooling fan fails, causing pump to overheat and relay gets fried. MINIrefuses to acknowledge problem, and fix. Cost for replacement of pump, fan, labor is $1300-$1400. Vehicle has 59000 miles. Curiously they have redesigned fan with cover to protect it and pump has also been redesigned. Why hasn't there been a recall.

- Spanaway, WA, USA