Power steering pump started working intermittently, then failed. Contacted local MINIdealer (midwestern auto group), who advised that I bring it in to "confirm" at the diagnostic cost of $140. When I inquired as to why I should pay a diagnostic fee when I had I identified the problem, mag service manager stated at that time that a full/partial repair by MINIusa was "highly likely" if I brought the vehicle in for dealer service and paid the fee. After nearly a month of back-and-forth between MINIusa, mag, and myself neither MINIusa nor mag would offer any repair assistance. Neither MINIusa nor mag would acknowledge the NHTSA investigation, the recall in Canada, or the numerous online complaints about this well-documented issue. Bottom line: I experienced a "shake down" from mag and MINIusa in an attempt to correct a known safety issue. Deplorable practice.

- Westerville, OH, USA

At random times, the power steering fails, mostly at start-up, but sometimes while driving the car. I always need to turn off the ignition, and restart the car, which seems to temporarily re-engage the power assist steering.

- Port Charlotte, FL, USA

While driving down straight road steering began to intermittently "tighten up" and become difficult to manage. Road and weather conditions were clear and dry. Next morning power steering assist failed completely while backing out of driveway, causing vehicle to almost hit a fence. Vehicle had been garaged all night at ambient temperatures. Power steering unexpectedly returned two miles later, causing driver to over-correct because of the sudden return of power steering assist. The intermittent nature of this failure is the most concerning safety issue, as the driver is unaware that effort required to change lanes or navigate a turn may change drastically and unexpectedly. Over-correction in traffic is frightening. Vehicle has not been subjected to unusual or extreme driving conditions.

- Garden City, KS, USA

Power steering randomly completely fails at lower speeds/ no assist at all.

- Marmora , NJ, USA

For the past 5 years, the power steering on our MINIwould go out at random times. This has happened on the freeway (at speeds of 60-70mph) and driving around town (speeds of 10-35). It would go out randomly with no warning. My wife could barely steer the car and almost got into a crash trying to turn right one day. Last weekend, the power steering went out for good. We are taking it in on Monday for MINIto look at. I have read countless articles of this problem and wanted to report it happening in our vehicle.

- Mercer Island, WA, USA

The power steering pump in my 2005 MINICooper S convertible intermittently stops working 1 to 5 times per week. There does not appear to be any pattern to it, it has happened at cold start, after warm start, hot/cold/wet/dry weather, level/sloped parking, while driving & stationary, etc. I've learned to live with it as an annoyance, until I recently had a very frightening failure that very nearly had *fatal* consequences. I was driving roughly 25 mph, the posted speed limit, in a residential area, when a young child (I estimate 4-5 years old) ran into the street from between two parked cars 5 or 6 car lengths in front of me. I slammed on the brakes (ABS fully engaged) and attempted to swerve into the oncoming [empty] lane at avoid... but my steering pump was out and I could not alter my course sufficiently. I came to a stop with the child barely three feet off my front bumper! so no damage or injury, but... this failure could easily have been much, much worse!

- Portland, OR, USA

My daughter experienced complete power steering failure while she was driving her MINIcooper, nearly causing a collision with an oncoming vehicle. I drove the car afterward and could not believe how hard it was to steer the car (compared to a manual steering vehicle). I called MINIat their toll free number and was told that they had no recall notice from the NHTSA, therefore they had no obligation to fix this incredible defect. I hope it doesn't take a body count for the NHTSA to recall the 223,000 MINIs effected by this extremely dangerous defect.

- Yardville, NJ, USA

My 2005 MINICooper S convertible had a fire in the engine compartment reportedly caused by the failure of the power steering pump. I pulled into my driveway and turned off my car. I had no problem steering the car up to that point. I got out and went into the house. My wife came inside and told me my car smelled funny and was smoking (light) under the hood. I raised the hood and smoke was coming out from under the heat shield in the rear of the engine, which is below the power steering reservoir and above the ps pump. I could hear sizzling, which I interpreted as water. I went inside to call a mechanic friend and then realized it wasn't a good idea to leave a smoking car alone. When I came outside again, the smoke had turned dark and heavier. When I reached the car, I could see a raging fire below the heat shield. I ran into my garage and returned with a fire extinguisher which I used to put out the fire. I have been told by my insurance adjuster that the pump caused the fire and they would only reimburse for the damage caused by the power steering pump, not for the pump itself. I was told that ps failure is a common problem on MINIcoopers of my year (as well as many others) and model. After checking the internet, I don't understand why there has not been a mfgr.'s recall and why there has not been a NHTSA investigation. This could have been very catastrophic!

- Portland, OR, USA

2005 MINICooper S convertible with 65K miles. Original owner. Yesterday my power steering went out as I drove home from work. No warning sign and it was hard to turn the steering wheel and maneuver the car. I was glad it was me driving and not my wife. Scary experience when driving at 65mph+ on the highway.

- Glen Ridge, NJ, USA

Bought MINIcooper used from dealer just prior to going to Florida for 2 wks. When almost home from Florida power steering went out. My 3000 mile used car warranty had just ran out so checked on recalls, found none. But I did find out there was an investigation in progress. Continued to drive vehicle occasionally and found the steering sometimes worked and again would cut out with no warning, making it difficult to steer when not expected. Then one day I came home and shut the vehicle off but the steering pump would not shut off. I had to disconnect the battery to get it to stop. When I reconnected the battery it would start right back up again. That's when I decided I needed to bite the bullet and take it in to be fixed. I reconnected the battery and drove it to a MINIcooper dealer who told me it was the steering pump that was bad, that it had internal electronics that fail. I had them replace it for a total cost of $1072.38 and that came with a 2 yr warranty. Please note ~ the vehicle had a whirring noise when I bought it that I thought was from the turbo. I found out later it was the steering pump making the noise. When the new pump was installed it was a lot quieter.

- Warren, MI, USA

Power steering failure.

- Arlington, VA, USA

The car ( 2005 MINIcooper) was completely dead overnight. We charged the battery and a fan wouldn't turn off which must have caused the drain. We had it fixed. It was a faulty relay in the power steering pump, which had also been leaking onto the engine. Read on the internet that thousands of people are having this very issue. We spent $1,000 to fix this on a car with 40,000 miles!

- Madison, WI, USA

2005 MINICooper S convertible - pending a second replacement of the power steering pump/cooling fan assembly due to failure - the whole assembly was replaced 18 months ago and the replacement fan has already stopped running, causing a severe leak of ps fluid (twice found completely empty) and resultant power steering failure. First failure summer 2008, repeat failure winter 2010.

- Farmington Hills, MI, USA

I own a 2005 MINICooper S convertible & noticed my power steering starting to make noise about a week ago. Now it is working very intermittently. I have noticed in doing some research that many others have had this problem. I took it to the dealer an they want to replace my power steering pump which is going to be very costly. I am to say the least a little disappointed that a car with the BMW name on it is having this many complaints.

- Ferndale, MI, USA

Power steering quit unexpectedly. I was in a parking lot, just started the car, and had no power steering. I drove it a few miles down the road to a gas station, turned it off, and when turned back on again it worked fine. Originally happened on 2/12/11 and has not recurred as of 2/22/11.

- West Chester, OH, USA

2005 MINIcooper 's' convertible. The power steering will occasionally stop working while driving making it difficult to steer. If you shut off the engine and restart the car it resets and works again. It normally happens when slowing for a stop or making a turn, which you don't notice until you start moving and find you are unable to turn the car. Luckily I haven't pulled out into oncoming traffic. The dealer said it was probably the pump and they would replace it for approximately $680.

- Columbia, SC, USA