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IMPORTANT. Have you had a power steering/pump failure? YES or NO only please.

IMPORTANT. Have you had a power steering pump failure? Please vote YES or NO!!!

576K views 1K replies 491 participants last post by  ABSDBS 
#1 · (Edited)
Hi,

I have owned TWO MINI Cooper S's over the past 18 months.
In that time I have suffered a total of THREE power steering failures needing the car to be recovered by MINI Emergency Services because it is unsafe to drive.

- My first MINI was built SEPTEMBER 2002 and broke-down at 6 months and 11 months old
(BK52MXM, see problem list in my signature block),

- My second MINI was built SEPTEMBER 2003 and broke-down at 2 months old
(BN53ZDZ, steering column replaced, dashboard replaced, etc.).

In all cases I was told by the BMW/MINI dealer that the power steering pump had failed.

QUESTION:
- Have you had a similar problem?
- If so, can you please please please answer this poll?

*** STOP PRESS *** STOP PRESS *** 13TH JULY 2004 ***
Could all people with a steering failure PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE call the government safety body VOSA (Vehicle Operator Safety Agency) on
+44 (0)117 954 3300 to report your problem.
They are currently collating driver reports and as of today (13th July 2004), they need as much information as YOU can offer. PLEASE DO IT NOW - BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED - THANKS.

Please feel free to comment if you have any further information. :)

Thank you all so very much,
 
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#1,001 ·
Yup - power steering pump failure for me too!

Hey all

Not been on here in ages - but have now voted... YES of course I have had a power steering pump failure - I own a mini!

Bought my 54 plate Mini One on New Year's Eve 2010, with only 37000 miles on the clock; then the 2nd day I drove it, it suddenly went really really heavy and made me think I had a flat tyre or something (new to the run-flat malarkey).. thankfully wasn't on the motorway put it that way. I've had non-power steered cars before but this was ridiculous!

At the time I was a 24 year old female, living away from home, didn't know the area and the fricking thing failed on the way to work.... got it rescued (and the rescue guy took one look and said "prob the power steering pump love") and taken to the local Mini Specialist who assessed it, told me the PSP had failed and it would cost about £750 to fix.. NOT good news.. but because it had such low mileage; good history in approved garages etc etc BMW would pay a goodwill fee.. advised usually about 50% as was a known fault (YEP they admitted it). Not great news but better than forking out the lot.

Anyway they came back to me after speaking with BMW and told me the goodwill payment was 100%, they'd do the replacement for nothing. Thank **** for that!
 
#1,002 · (Edited)
Advice please!

Hello,
I've only just come across this issue re the PSP, and wondered if fellow mini2ers could give me a bit of advice. My power steering went last night as I was turning right at a junction. I can still turn left and right, but arm muscles are growing alarmingly :) No warning light came up, and there was no indication that there was anything wrong. Minor steering adjustments while driving on a reasonably straight road are fine.

Have just discovered where the power steering reservoir is, and will top up if needed. But if there is plenty of fluid in there, does this mean that the PSP has gone on my Mini Cooper 2004 too? It's done around 140k miles, so am not sure how helpful the dealership are going to be in getting it repaired at a reasonable price. Are there any other possibilities as to why it's seized up like this?
Thanks for any advice.
 
#1,003 ·
Can anybody with experience of PSP failures give me their opinion!

I've got a 2003 Mini Cooper S. It was serviced 2 months ago at a specialist, and one of the things I got them to look at was a whining noise. My steering has always had a bit of a whine, but it was starting to get louder, and not just when I turned the wheel. They service the car and checked everything but couldn't find an actual fault. When I asked about the noise they said the power steering pump could be on it's way out - but don't do anything yet as it's expensive to replace. (Everything else was fine on the Service - and it was a major one, so everything was checked/replaced as needed).

Anyway a couple of months later and now a loud awful whine/clattering noise has appeared. It comes on as soon as you start the car, doesn't change with speed, doesn't seem to be linked to the fan etc. The only time the noise changes is when I turn the wheels and then the pitch of the noise changes slightly, or it may pause for a second or so. People on the street are even helpfully telling me my car sounds awful - so it must be pretty loud!

I've added a video on file so you can hear it:
youtube.com/watch?v=Xgk2dqv-uCQ&feature

I have read about the dreaded power steering pump issues, and can't help but think it may be connected. But at the moment my steering still works fine, and the noise stops when the engine is turned off. And so far I haven't found any posts about people with a noise in the run up to it failing.

Currently I can still steer properly, it's always been pretty stiff (and I'm used to old cars with heavy steering), but it certainly hasn't 'gone' yet. Checked all my fluids and they're fine.

Has anybody else had similar issues to these? Do you think it's the steering pump, or something else?

I have talked to the Mini dealer near me, but they want £90 for a Diagnostics session even before any work is done!
 
#1,004 ·
FYI - I paid for a 'Diagnostic check' at my local mini dealer for £45 (30 mins), and they confirmed it was the PSP. They called Mini HQ and it's being fixed today for free! Apparently the decision whether to do it for free depends on the age of the car, mileage and service history. But saved me about £600 from what I'm told. :D

The dealer didn't believe I'd get it paid for, and said he'd never heard of them failing (!!??) and didn't want to call mini HQ at first, but after a mini tantrum, they did, and seemed to work out well.

So if yours is failing (or failed) then call mini HQ for advice.
 
#1,005 ·
and more...

If any journalists are looking in on this forum you might want to look into this particular thread.Especially in light of the recent recall of 235,000 Minis recalled due to pump faults on later models.

BBC site :-

Mini recalls 235,000 cars worldwide due to a pump fault
The Mini Cooper S is one of the models known to be affected by the problem Mini is recalling 235,000 vehicles worldwide - 29,868 cars in the UK - due to a fault with an electric water pump.

The fault, which could be a fire risk is some is case, is known to affect vehicles, including the Cooper S and John Cooper Works models, built between March 2006 and January 2011.

Owners will be contacted in the coming weeks to arrange a part replacement.

The company said the issue had been picked up by internal quality control. The BMW-owned Mini is made in Oxford.

BMW said it was investigating one incident in the UK of an engine-related fire caused by the fault. There have been no reports of any injuries or road accidents resulting from it worldwide.

High temperatures

Customers should receive a letter inviting them to have the water pump replaced for free at a Mini dealership. The upgrade work takes about an hour.

The Mini plant in Oxford, which produces 250,000 vehicles a year, is the only place in the world where the cars are built.

A Mini spokeswoman said: "The turbocharged engine of the Cooper S and John Cooper Works engines is equipped with an additional water pump which draws residual heat out of the turbocharger after the engine has been switched off, to prevent carbon build-up of the oil in the bearing.

"Under high operating temperatures an electro-migration can occur at the circuit board installed in the additional water pump.

"The electro-migration is caused by plastic additives in conjunction with high temperatures and can lead to a failure of the additional water pump."
 
#1,006 ·
First the transmission, now the PSP

I have a 2002 Mini Cooper, 58K miles, and the power steering pump failed yesterday, finally and completely, after working intermittently for a week. My mechanic has quoted $1200 to repair; he can't find a refurbished pump. I called the dealer to try to get some of this "goodwill" help others have gotten, and they referred me to Mini corporate. Left a message there, but I won't hold my breath, since they seem to have backed off of the goodwill stuff on the older models.

I did file a complaint with the NHTSA, and I see there is a class action pending on this issue. Unlikely much will come of either of those things. I just wish I had sold the damn thing after I replaced the transmission last year. The transmission. On a manual transmission car with 55,000 miles on it. Good lord. I had no problems with this car for eight years, but it's really making up for lost time now.
 
#1,007 ·
I have a 2002 Mini Cooper, 58K miles, and the power steering pump failed yesterday, finally and completely, after working intermittently for a week. My mechanic has quoted $1200 to repair; he can't find a refurbished pump. I called the dealer to try to get some of this "goodwill" help others have gotten, and they referred me to Mini corporate. Left a message there, but I won't hold my breath, since they seem to have backed off of the goodwill stuff on the older models.

I did file a complaint with the NHTSA, and I see there is a class action pending on this issue. Unlikely much will come of either of those things. I just wish I had sold the damn thing after I replaced the transmission last year. The transmission. On a manual transmission car with 55,000 miles on it. Good lord. I had no problems with this car for eight years, but it's really making up for lost time now.
No idea why you are being quoted $1200! (£800) :confused: The pump is available refurbished from BBA Reman (UK and USA) amongst others and is approx 1 hour labour job to replace at any good garage/auto-shop, many home mechanics even swap it diy not really a big job.
More Details here:
Power Steering Pump replacement - Forums
 
#1,008 ·
My MINI Cooper 2003 sometimes encountered steering heavy for around 30 seconds. After I pushing the accelerate faster a bit, then it back to normal.

I only encountered the heavy steering once a while only, around 2-3 weeks once. Any idea? Does the power steering pump or anything need to change soon? :-(
 
#1,009 ·
Steering Faults

Hi

I'm not very good at navigating round these forums so I hope I've done this right :)

I'm looking to buy a 51 reg mini later this week and have just discovered all this info on the steering faults :O

I'm now really worried and it's putting me off. Will it always give a warning it's going e.g. become noisy?

Does replacing the pump (is that what fixes it?) fix it for good or could it happen again?

Should I be put off by this? The seller said it had a clunk on the steering which was being fixed ready for the MOT tomorrow which I didn't worry about until I read all this!

Thanks for any help

x
 
#1,010 ·
Hi

I'm not very good at navigating round these forums so I hope I've done this right :)

I'm looking to buy a 51 reg mini later this week and have just discovered all this info on the steering faults :O

I'm now really worried and it's putting me off. Will it always give a warning it's going e.g. become noisy?

Does replacing the pump (is that what fixes it?) fix it for good or could it happen again?

Should I be put off by this? The seller said it had a clunk on the steering which was being fixed ready for the MOT tomorrow which I didn't worry about until I read all this!

Thanks for any help

x
Don't worry, most cars have problems of some kind but car forums always tend to concentrate mainly on them because thats what many use them for...........not as many owners of the thousands of trouble free cars ever post to say everything is fine!

If the ps pump should fail it is not really that big a job in a good garage or for a good DIY mechanic to fix. :)
 
#1,012 ·
The steering does not fail completely, it just gets heavier to turn.........this can and does happen in any modern car with electric or hydraulic power assisted steering not just a Mini and is why it is not considered a safety recall. In the same way the servo power assistance on any modern cars brakes can fail........the brakes will still work they just become much harder to press which can catch you out.

This is a price we pay for convenience over the simple old style cars of the past but at the end of the day anything mechanical or electrical can fail without warning and does not work for ever. The idea of MOT's and service/maintenance checks is to spot problems developing before they happen, so maybe have your Mini checked over before you buy by the RAC/AA or someone who knows about cars. :)
 
#1,014 ·
What is your fault? The steering column cannot affect your power steering unless you have a later Mk2 Mini 2007 onwards with fully electric power steering. The earlier Mini's can have a clicking/clunking steering column bearing but this is nothing to do with the pump.

Despite the fault being obvious to a good mechanic BMW like most main dealers will charge you for a diagnostic investigation to confirm fault before doing the job. This is really just a further money making exercise but is impossible to avoid to get the free replacement!
 
#1,015 ·
Well I'm still planning on going ahead with it if everything checks out. Do you think it would be noticably not as nice to drive being an old 51 reg or should it be near as good as a newer one to drive? I am having it checked out before purchase and then a full service shortly after buying to make sure everthing is good with it but I'm expecting there to be some wear and effect due to the age.

x
 
#1,018 ·
I love my mini - but this steering issue is a huge conern for me ! My car is now almost 7 years old - however I have owned and used older cars in the past and never has the PSP been a problem. What is the usual life of these pumps ? Is 7 years a reasonable life?
 
#1,019 ·
It should not be a huge concern......if it really worries you have the pump replaced, it is only a 2 hour job in any good garage to replace, the existing one may last for years or it could start failing tomorrow but you usually get an intermittent warning of occasional heavy steering usually while parking.

We have 2 MINI's in the family, both 10 years old with 60,000 miles one had the pump replaced couple of years ago, the other is still going strong but has always had a louder whining noise! :)
 
#1,024 ·
Power Steering pump failure

My wife took her 2004 cooper on a short journey (young kids in car). After a few minutes of parking up she noticed plumes of smoke around the bonnet. After recovery and an independent garage inspection it was evident the power steering pump had burnt out. I called Mini (after checking out the internet) and stressed my anger and concern that they had failed to make an official recall with such a dangerous part that was known to fail. To cut a long story short they recovered the vehicle to their own main dealer, replaced the pump and burnt out wiring loom and covered 100% of the £1029 bill. Apart from the inconvenience of being without the car for a week, they did right in the end. Now however it appears that an engine mount and o/s rear caliper needs replacing !!
 
#1,027 ·
2003 Power Steering Failure

Hello all,

I've got a 2003 cooper that I've had for 5 year next week! Bought as a cherished with 36K now at 106K with full BMW service history at either cov or leics.

Pump seems to have gone this morning, although managed to come back on to get me the 1.5 miles home! Struggled to turn the wheel (spent all weekend plastering, arms are killing me!) worried that its about to completely go, or will be intermittent for a while. Surprised at how heavy it is, my mark 2 golf (no PAS) is not that heavy to steer!

Rang Mini customer service and they said I must get it to a dealer before they can decide if there will be any contribution.

Neither Cov or Leics Mini have any courtesy cars for 3 weeks!!!! They are saying they can't recover it, not sure I can drive it! AA will only recover if I'm away from home (extra £99 for home start). Coventry have apparently never heard of this fault (although Cov GSF said they sell loads of pumps! and now keep them in stock!).
Leics are offering me a hire car and being very helpful.
If they won't offer a contribution I don't want it fixed at BMW so will have to have it recovered home for me and the hubs to fix.

What do I do??????

Any help much appreciated! Thanks!
 
#1,029 ·
Mini Cooper 03 Pump failure


Hi Sarah

The EXACT same thing happened to me over the weekend and today!
My mini cooper 03 has 104k on the clock and the steering decided to just go on Friday! Luckily I was in a car park and so able to stop but the steering was impossible to move either way, like it was locked. Really dangerous!! Anyway, I did drive it since and it seemed fine, sometimes a little heavy but drivable. I was really nervous that it would just fail at any time though after reading this...

"The Mini is 50 in 2009. Once ever-so British, it was re-launched by BMW in 2001. Since then, more than a million have been produced worldwide and, as they say in their adverts, it's no ordinary drive, more a 'Mini Adventure'.

But some of you have found your 'Mini Adventure' is more a test of your nerves, because a crucial part of the steering system can fail without warning, and drivers can be left fighting for control of their car.

Frightening
It happened to Heather Hinam as she was driving her five-year-old Mini around a roundabout. Heather said: "I came to a roundabout, went to turn the wheel and there was nothing. It was just like the wheel was rigid. So, I wrenched on the wheel as hard as I could. I just managed to get a little bit of movement in it sufficient to get me around the roundabout. It was very frightening."

Heather had bought her Mini from a used car dealer but she took it directly to her local BMW garage for repair. They said that her power steering pump had failed. That's the crucial part that has made manoeuvring modern cars so much easier, and it's so essential that if it fails, steering becomes extremely difficult - far harder in fact, than an older car with no power steering at all.

BMW's customer service told Heather this wasn't a common fault, which is surprising because we've heard from dozens of other Mini owners who've told us they've had exactly the same problem, and have had to fork out anything up to £800 for the repair."

BBC Watchdog site.


and also that other guy said it can catch on fire too! I didn't want to risk carry on driving it so i called Mini customer service and they told me the same thing to take it in to the BMW dealer and then they would consider compensation.

So I went to my local one in Hampshire, they fixed it this morning, cost £575 all in, took 2-3 hours. They have sent a report to Mini/BMW to ask for compensation. I have to wait two days to hear. If they don't compensate I will have to get in contact with them and battle it out I would imagine.

I will let you know what happens. I didn't want a 'normal' mechanic to do it because it might take much longer and I want to claim some back from BMW.

Hope this helps!!

xLx



 
#1,030 ·
Remember nothing mechanical or electrical lasts for ever.........after 100k miles many things can fail on a car including electric steering pumps, when the pump fails the steering is not physically locked just hard to turn and this can and does happen on many modern cars with electric power steering. The price we pay for more convenience and less driving effort!

BMW seem to be paying compensation at lower mileages recently because of the publicity so anyone who gets this compensation after covering a 100k+ miles has done well! :)

If this really worries any driver they should have all safety critical components re-newed before total failure occurs based on time or mileage covered.
 
#1,032 ·
Great news. Sytner Leics have diagnosed the failure, contacted Mini and they are paying parts and labour!!! I'm really chuffed!!! Sytner were really helpful and I was really surprised at 106k that the would offer anything. Otherwise Id be doing it myself on Friday pm.
Spoke to someone at work, same thing happened to them in January on an 8 year old mini and Mini Cambridge got the parts and labour for them

Really pleased, if you don't try you won't get!
 
#1,033 ·
Dear all,
Setting the picture, I have a 53 plate Mini Cooper with 32,000 miles on it. I am the third owner and bought it privately in July 2010. it has FSH from Mini.

Two weeks ago on a Saturday I was exiting a car park and all of a sudden my steering wheel appeared to lock and I could'nt turn it. I was quite shaken thinking my car had just failed on me, and then 30 secs later had a realisation that it was the PSP. Managed to get it home with difficulty. At this point it was 6pm on Saturday so I knew nothing was being done about it until Monday. First thing I did was look here on the mini2 forum where I learned that it is a common fault for Mini's and was on Watchdog in 2009. I also learned that it was not deemed serious so therefore not recalled, and that Mini aren't liable to pay for it to be fixed. Possible cost to owner: up to £500.

Armed with this info I initiated contact on Mini's Facebook page. The only way I could reach out at the weekend. They responded asking me to email customer service which I did on Monday whilst also ringing my local dealership Sytner, Chigwell. They said they would have to do a diagnostic to identify what the issue was. Yardy yar, same old... They said the earliest they could look at it was Wednesday but if they had the opportunity they'd look before. I just wanted it out of sight as whilst I can't drive it, it was disheartening me to see it in pain. I took it there on Tuesday morning, they looked at it on Wednesday and I picked up on Weds evening. Job done.

If you would like to find out more information please contact me directly as I'm not willing to detail the nitty gritty of costs on here as credit to Mini, but considering how extremely concerned I was on Saturday and how much I had feared this might cost, I can say that once again I have had first class experience from Mini. Admittedly his issue should not be happening, however the costs etc really are on a case by case basis, my case was put across well to Mini and therefore the result was something I was 100% satisfied with. I would like to extend my thanks to Paul Trotter. Some dealerships get a hard bargain online. Rightly so for a lot of them but there are exceptions. I'm glad I have a good dealer on my doorstep.
 
#1,034 ·
Funny thing, but I started the car today and the pump started working. The only thing is that it still feels a little bit hard. The pump seems to be fine. THis is to weird . Any ideas?
I had powerflex wishbone bushes installed in february. Could that be something worth mentioning?
 
#1,037 ·
Many known problems.
- pump won't spool up to full speed (wire fallen off the back of the alternator - causes the ECU some confusion)
- power connector falls off the back of the pump (had this happen at 60mph heading into a big sweeping bend after crossing a railway line).
- total failure of the pump (doesn't come back to life)
 
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