The contact owns a 2005 MINICooper S convertible. The contact stated that the electric power steering was faulty. MINIof loveland (4055 byrd dr, loveland, co 80538, (970) 292-5020) was notified of the failure, but a diagnostic appointment was not scheduled. The dealer indicated that the vehicle was excluded from extended warranty program: Si M32 02 15 (steering and wheel alignment). An independent mechanic diagnosed that the power steering pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was also not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V660000 (steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 133,000.

- Loveland, CO, USA

Electric power steering pump has loud whine or moaning sound with only 42,000 miles on it. Fluid level is good and so far the power steering is still working. It does get louder while turning but also annoying when just idling.

- Sioux Falls, SD, USA

The contact owns a 2005 MINICooper S convertible. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, it was difficult to turn the steering wheel. The contact stated that the power steering assist function failed to operate as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the electro hydro power steering system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V660000 (steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 22,000.

- Peoria, AZ, USA

The contact owns a 2005 MINICooper S convertible. The contact observed fluid leaking from the vehicle without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering hoses needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the power steering pump failed previously. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was 70,000.

- Santa Teresa, NM, USA

My MINIcooper S conv, 2005, has been having steeering issues for some time now. It will randomly lose what seems like the power steering while I am driving! I have found that by turning the car off (if I am stopped and in area with time to turn off my car) that it works again for 10 minutes to 30 minutes. Other times I can drive for 45 minutes no problems at all. However, more often than not the steering goes out is not working as soon as I turn the car on. I K now that I have to select a date of when this happened and I am putting today's date since it happens daily. However, I want it noted it is not only today.

- Honolulu, HI, USA

I was leaving work late at night when I tried to drive the car out of the parking lot the steering disappeared. It was difficult to maneuver the car. I had the car at the MINIdearlship earlier in the week to replace light bulbs so I called the dealership to find out where what this could be, where I could check the power steering fluid levels. They were not that helpful. Then later I looked online at all the steering complaints and called the dealership back and was told that there was a problem and my car (VIN#) would be covered for 13 years/150,000. I am reporting this because all MINIs with this problem should be covered. Dealerships should check vehicles for recalls when customers call with problems. I like my dealership but I am disappointed that I had to research this dangerous problem.

- Arlington, MA, USA

I was driving when I suddenly loss my power steering, making it difficult to steer the car.

- Orocovis, PR, USA

On the first day of occurrence, there was loss of power steering. Very difficult and hard steering. No warning lights or no check engine lights came on. Managed to park safely. Stopped car and turned off ignition. Waited a few minutes. Turned on ignition and normal power steering resumed. Occurred one more time about 1 hour later. Occurred multiple times in the coming days. If ignition is shut off then turned back on, it will resume normal operation. This has almost caused accidents because of the difficult steering and maintaining of lane especially on curved roads and turns.

- Daly City, CA, USA

Power steering pump failure resulting in hard to steer situation.

- Massillon, OH, USA

Power steering suddenly failed resulting in near accident. Upon review of this site warranty extension on power-assist steering pump and cooling fan pump was issued. Despite the extension of warranty and lack of dealer or authorized service facility in lexington, Kentucky, MINIrefused to honor warranty unless customer towed vehicle, at customer's expense, to nearest authorized dealer which was approximately 80 miles away. Leaving warranty extension on known probable defective condition worthless. Believe investigation should be performed to determine if recall should be issued relating to power assist steering pump failures.

- Lexington, KY, USA

Driving approx. 15 miles - mostly interstate - to attend a friend's birthday dinner. While pulling into the parking lot, lost power steering and all indicator warning lights started flashing. I proceeded to a parking space and saw smoke pouring out from under the hood. When I released the hood I could see an orange glow at the bottom of the engine (night time). Within 30 seconds it burst into flames. A 911 call to local fire fighters was placed who responded within 15 minutes. Since there were two restaurants in the complex, employees of each one had come out with fire extinguishers and put out the fire. The car had to be towed to my work place, from my work place to another city for repairs. Only the actual repairs were covered under warranty, but not the towing or rentals. I had to rent a car for two weeks and a week after picking my car up, I had other things to go out on the car caused by the heat from the fire. (domino effect). The car had to go back into a shop where it took more than 3 weeks to get all parts in and repairs made, while I incurred yet more expense of a rental car. I am now in debt almost $3,000 as a directly result of this faulty system.

- Madison, AL, USA

Came home on Tuesday night from my girlfriends house then in the morning my battery was dead. As confused as I was since I knew I didnt leaave any lights or anything on went ahead and decided to jump the car and as soon as I connected the cables I heard a noise almost like a fan noise coming from under the car. I then proceeded to open the hood and see or try and hear where the noise was coming from. Decided to lift the car up and get underneath to see where the noise was coming from and sure enough it was from inside the power steering pump. Checked fluids and was ok but for some odd reason the pump just stays on when the ignition is turned off so to prevent battery drainage I have to disconnect a battery terminal every time I need to use the car. Im requesting that miniusa take care of this being that there is a widespread problem with this issue.

- Edinburg, TX, USA

Power steering pump on my daughter's car caught on fire about three (3) weeks ago while she was stopped at a red light, luckily she thought enough and turned the car off so the damage was only to the power steering pump and wiring harness. Once we discovered what had caught fire we did research on how to make the repair(s) and came across the recall for 2005 MINICooper S convertibles power steering pumps, they are recalling them because they fail and sometimes catch fire. The recall is for cars produced until February 2005 and mine, according to the door sticker, was produced in March 2005 so MINIwill not make the necessary repairs because they say they 'fixed' the issue. Once we got under the car and pulled the power steering pump off you could clearly see it was burned, the larger power steering pump connector was completely burned and melted together, we couldn't even remove the pump without cutting the wiring harness. When we got the pump off you could see the pump was burned on the inside as well so apparently there is still an issue with the power steering pumps failing and catching fire. I have been in touch with MININorth America again and again they refuse to fix the issued because well, there's not an issue, again according to them. There is a class action lawsuit regarding this issue so I will researching that avenue.

- Bartlett, TN, USA

My brother was driving my 2005 MINICooper S convertible when he smelled wires burning and smoke, went to pull over and the car was hard to control. Upon inspection the mechanic said that the power steer pumps electronics had caught fire and burned the adjacent parts. Upon contact raulph schomp MINIcooper dealer I was told that my VIN number was not included in the cars being replaced for similar problems. The car just had major work done to the power steering system a year and half ago by the same dealer. Spoke with the MINIusa rep and was told that this was not being covered.

- Aurora, CO, USA

I had a temporary lost of power steering assist. I drove to a few blocks to stop. The problem disappeared after I restarted the car again. This happened twice before while my wife was driving a month earlier or so. This is very dangerous, I had a very hard time to steer the car and find a safe place to park.

- Tigard, OR, USA

Power steering pump comes on a short time after parked and will not shut off. Have to disconnect battery in order to avoid draining power. Power steering whine pronounced, power steering beginning to work intermittently. Common problem among model.

- Santa Maria, CA, USA

Bought the vehicle in Feb. 2012 a few months later on several occasions 15-20 times, to date. I have lost full control of the vehicle, no steering capability. Several time has been while turning or exiting the freeway, vehicle becomes difficult to control. I have been close to causing several accidents due to the same problem.

- Denver, CO, USA

Drove 8 miles to work. Parked car and turned it off. Something kept running under hood. I could hear it. Sounded like a fan. When left work at end of day, battery was drained. Had to use key manually to get into car. Car would not start. Called aaa. Aaa tried to jump start the car. The guy got it started, but then it shut down while he still had the jumper cables on it. He said that wasn't good and car was not safe to drive, even if it could be started. Car was towed to my home. And the next day car was towed to MINIdealership. MINIservice diagnosed and found that the root cause of the problem was that the power steering pump had shorted out. MINIservice replaced the power steering pump at a total cost to me of $1,162.77.

- Phoenixville, PA, USA

Was driving on an overpass between freeways when my power steering went out without warning. I was beginning my turn, and could not control or move the steering wheel and hit the railing. Cars had to Dodge quickly to not hit me. Turned off ignition and turned back on and it was fine - but was really shook up. Continued driving to work 3 miles later and it did it again pulling into the parking lot. Later that day, started the car and once again no power steering. Had it towed home, and checked it throughout the weekend, without success (to get it to a garage) then this morning it started working. Drove 1/2 mile to garage, and it did it again. Called BMW service and the manager acted like this was unusual and said to make an appointment. Called another BMW and the same story. Checked with my german mechanic down the street and he said that is the #1 reason he sees MINIs 2005 in the stop. 2nd was my convertible top, which quite ironically broke the same day as my power steering. The passenger side won't disengage. I'm looking at over $3000 to fix a car with only 42K miles on it. Shouldn't these parts be recalled? I was scared for my life driving on the freeway and almost caused a major accident!

- Corona, CA, USA

Electric power steering pump failed while driving, making the car undriveable.

- Farmington, UT, USA