Mini COOPER steering problems
829 complaint narratives mention steering terms.
Key facts
2,235 owner complaints analyzed
27 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 1,716 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Steering behavior evidence
829 of 2,235 complaints match this topic (37.1%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10130869 · 2005-08-01 (August 1, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 BMW MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED STEERING FAILURE. THE STEERING WAS NOT OPERATING. . COULD DRIVE BUT COULD NOT STEER BECAUSE THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. THE STEERING SYSTEM WAS BROKE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO , AND THEY REPAIRED IT. CURRENTLY, THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPAIR CAR ANYMORE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE STEERING BECAME VERY HEAVY, HAD TO MUSCLE THE STEERING IN ORDER TO TURN THE CAR. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN COULD NOT STEER THE CAR, AND IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. D…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10130869 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143476 · 2005-11-22 (November 22, 2005)
(1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE - NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, CAR DRIVEN 40K+ MILES (2) FAILURE & CONSEQUENCE - BOTH BEARINGS IN THE STEERING COLUMN BEGAN TO FAIL. DETAILS NOT EXACTLY AVAILABLE SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INSPECT THEM, BUT BEARINGS WOULD GRIND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER TOLD ME THAT THESE WOULD NOT IMPACT DRIVING SAFETY, IF NOT, WHAT IS THEIR PURPOSE? (3) CORRECTIVE ACTION - DEALER REPLACED BOTH BEARINGS SINCE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY (50K MILES). I INQUIRED WITH DEALER IF MINI HAS EITHER IMPROVED THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10143476 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10175101 · 2006-12-04 (December 4, 2006)
POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILURE ON MINI COOPER. 1 - WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT, AT TIMES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. 2 - ONCE HOME WHILE PARKING THE CAR, SMOKE STARTED TO BILLOW OUR FROM UNDER THE HOOD. TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, SMOKE CONTINUED TO BILLOW AND GET THICKER, OPENED THE HOOD, HEARD A SIZZLING SOUND AND NOTICED THAT SOME OF THE WIRES WERE MELTING. IMMEDIATELY DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, THE SMOKE STARTED TO DISSAPATE, THE NOISE STOPPED ETC. 3 - THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. ACCORDING TO THE TOW OPE…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175101 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10213658 · 2008-01-04 (January 4, 2008)
THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER S, 62,000 MILES, FAILS INTERMITTENTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING AN INSTANT AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER ASSISTED STEERING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND CAN CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH SHOULD LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. FURTHER RESEARCH OF ONLINE FORUMS (MINI2.COM, NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM, ROADFLY.COM) INDICATES THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AFFECTING MANY MINI OWNERS, AND POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE HAS ALSO BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE ENGINE BAY FIRES. *…
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10213658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10214608 · 2008-01-12 (January 12, 2008)
POWER STEERING PUMP IS NOISY ALL THE TIME. I AM AFRAID THIS MAY LEAD TO FAILURE OF MY ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE . THE CAR IS A 2002 MINI. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 126,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214608 at NHTSA ↗