Power Steering Pump problems of the 2002 Mini Cooper

Power steering pump is very loud when turning the vehicle. Can be very hard to turn wheel at times and sometimes the power steering has cut out while driving. Mini has a recall but wont fix for me.

While driving east on sheridan dr. In the town of tonawanda, I experienced a complete failure of the power steering. I wrestled with the car for the rest of the day, and when I got home, I heard that the power steering cooling fan was running continuously, even though the car was shut off in the driveway. I assumed it would stop eventually, but was wrong and returned to a totally dead battery. I called the dealer, towne Mini in williamsville, NY, and was told they were booked to June 17th, but that I could bring it in. Midway between my home and towne, while on the 290, my power steering returned. When I got to towne, they as much as called me a liar, and refused to replace the pump and fan. They did however, find $1300 worth of other work that "needed" to be done to pass nys inspection.

After a short trip, I had just parked the Mini. Fortunately, it was outdoors and within 50ft of my tool chest. On turning off the ignition and removing the key, I noticed an unusual noise; the [electric] power steering pump continued to run. A few seconds later, smoke appeared. I raced to my tool drawer, grabbing the first suitable tool, channel lock pliers, and proceeded to hastily disconnect one of the battery terminals. Smoke was heavy at that point. Disconnecting power prevented further damage, and was fortunately done in time, before the wiring harness was incinerated, or the situation became a self-sustaining conflagration. Apparently, although there is a 100a fuse present, the fault protection on the power steering pump circuit is inadequate. I removed the power wire to the pump, to allow the vehicle to be driven, with heavy [non-assisted] steering, pending service. Since the outcome is not so bad, why should I complain? consider if the vehicle were parked indoors, and/or if the same event were to happen to someone with less electrical aptitude. I don't expect accessories to last forever; the vehicle is 11 years old with 123k miles. I do object to the failure mode, in which the power steering pump circuit becomes an incendiary device. . .

My power steering fan continues to run even after the care is turned off. It completely drained my battery so I replaced the battery. Two weeks later the same thing happened and I learned that my power steering pump and fan are defective. Also intermittent loss of power steering while driving and needless to say this can be very dangerous.

Faulty power steering pump causing a loss of complete control of the vehicle. 80,000+ incidents reported with this make/model of vehicle with the knowledge of vehicle manufacturer. The pump has since been re-manufactured to fix the issues but Mini of north America refuses to issue a recall for the serious safety aspect of their failing part.

Power steering pump stopped functioning making car unsafe to drive.

I was driving the car in lacey wa. Smoke started issuing from the car. I immediately pulled into a parking lot. I opened the hood and smoke was issuing forth. After 5 minutes, I spotted flames. I had a small fire extinguisher but it was insufficient to put out the flames. A passing motorist arrived with a larger extinguisher and put out the flames. An insurance adjuster informed me that the fire was due to a faulty power steering pump.

The contact owns a 2002 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that the power steering pump continued to run while the engine was turned off. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer nor repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure and the current mileage was 49,000.

The contact owns a 2002 BMW Mini Cooper. The contact stated the steering failed while driving at a low speed and had to be held with force with both hands in order to turn it, or keep the vehicle under control. There were no warning lights before or after the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who performed a diagnostic test that located the failure in the power steering pump. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer stated the failure was not recalled, and they would not assist with the repair. The failure and the current miles were 114,000. Updated 07/20/lj the consumer stated the vehicle then began to make a humming sound in which the power steering pump was running when the vehicle was off, which caused the battery to die. Updated 08/01/11.

The contact owns a 2002 Mini Cooper. While driving approximately 25 mph and attempting to make a left or right turn the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle will be taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The failure and the current mileage was 82,426. Updated 05/03/lj updated 05/16/11.

I bought a 2002 Mini Cooper and while driving the power sterering quit working. I contacted a Mini repair shop and found that the power steering pump is electric and it's relay or or one for it's cooling fan might have failed. They told me that it is very common and would cost over $1000. To fix it. Had I been in the wrong mode of driving this failure could have killed me.

Power steering in my 2002 Mini Cooper failed. Steering vehicle became very difficult with little ability to turn vehicle. Repair required a new elec. Stg pump and cooling fan ($602) plus labor of $384 for a total of $986.

2002 Mini Cooper, power steering pump shorted out causing a small fire which destroyed the pump,fan,wiring harness,power steering line. Car had less than 50,000 miles on it. Cost of repair over 1200 dollars.

I always maintained my 2002 Mini Cooper and at 80k miles the transmission blew up just before I was to enter a very busy freeway in los angeles, downtown area. There was plenty of oil in the transmission. I was told it was not a fault of my care after the mechanic looked at it upon tow in. It just stopped fast and short with a huge jerk forward and explosive noise. The mechanic said it blew in big chunks. I couldn't move it from traffic in neutral and had it towed to the shop. 80k is early for something like this and I see many people are reporting this happened with even less mileage, 34k, 48k . . . No replacements and so many failures like this? Mini turns their heads; would not replace or even talk to me. Previously too the power steering pump also just stopped and no movement on the wheel. Seriously dangerous. I was told by the dealership one time in mountain view, I had an oil leak. At the time the amount they wanted me to pay was high, 700. 00 or so (just after warranty ended). I took it to another mechanic. He took me under the car and showed me there was not a spot of oil under that car in any nook or cranny. In thinking about this after transmission problem I realize these things are telling me Mini knows about their Mini mechanical problems. Also when the new ($4350. 00) transmission was purchased, la, Mini told the mechanic they had 5 transmissions in stock in their parts department at all times because this was so common. That's proof they know it's a problem. Yet no recall to people with these issues and these can cause serious life threatening problems.

My 2002 Mini Cooper electrohydraulic power steering (ehps) pump will not shut off causing associated wiring to become dangerously hot (smells like an electrical fire). This is a common problem with the Mini Cooper and there needs to be a recall. I am trying to figure out how to keep my Mini from catching fire.

I recently had a 60k service on my 2002 Mini Cooper. A couple days later I drove from monterey, CA to los angeles, CA and my car was running fine. All of a sudden out of the blue, my power steering went out. I was driving on the 101 freeway and could not turn my car. I was able to get it to a repair shop where they told me my power steering pump had broke. $1,000 later the part of replaced. Luckily I was safe, as was the passenger in my car. But what if I had been on a very cury, busy highway? I could have driven off a cliff! this is not a part that should simply wear out or break, we are talking people's lives! I love my Mini and am a proud Mini owner and driver but after this I don't think I will ever buy another Mini or BMW.

The contact owns a 2002 BMW Mini Cooper. While driving 35 mph he noticed smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle, as well as pieces of burning plastic falling from the vehicle. He attempted to apply the brakes however, the vehicle would not stop. He then noticed flames coming from the engine. He was able to pull over and tried to contain the fire however, the fire continued to spread into the interior of the vehicle. The fire department extinguished the fire. The fire destroyed the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 86,000.

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 operator, based upon the condidtion of the wiring harness, if the battery had not be disconnected quickly, the car would have caught on fire. The dealer informed us that the power steering pump motor had failed and that Mini would replace the parts at no charge, but labor would be at our cost. Total parts were approximatley $1,000. 00 with labor totaling about $400. 00. The car is now fixed and operating properly.

The contact owns a 2002 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the power steering would suddenly malfunction causing the steering wheel to become very difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the power steering pump had over heated causing the power steering fluid to evaporate. The contact indicated that since 2012 the power steering pump had been replaced five separate times and recently with the new redesign pump but the vehicle continued to have the same failure occur. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,000.