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Steering

2005 Mini Cooper Steering problems

Owners have filed 600 complaints about the 2005 Mini Cooper's steering with NHTSA - 71% of all its complaints, most recently on June 2, 2026. They describe 12 crashes, 23 fires and 2 injuries. Loss of power steering, stiff or loose steering, wandering, column and rack problems.

Complaints
600
Recalls
1
Crashes
12
Fires
23
Injuries
2
Deaths
0

Steering recalls for the 2005 Mini Cooper

Steering: electric power assist system

15V66000086,018 vehicles affected

The problem
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 MINI Cooper and Cooper S vehicles and 2005 Cooper and Cooper S Convertible vehicles. The affected vehicles may experience temporary or permanent loss of the electro-hydraulic steering assistance.
The risk
If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The fix
MINI will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the electro-hydraulic power steering system, replacing the components and wiring, as necessary, free of charge. Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 10, 2015. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

Steering complaints

Steering

The contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated while driving 10-15 MPH, the steering wheel was significantly loose and turned excessively. Additionally, the contact stated that the steering wheel felt like it would detach from the column. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11741577
Steering

The contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The contact stated that the vehicle had lost power steering assist. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that a software update was performed on the back over prevention camera. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (STEERING); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 175,830.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11655045
Steering

The contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (Steering). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the power steering pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 117,300.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11650688
Steering

The vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The dealer informed me that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure is NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11516631
Steering

The contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper Convertible. The contact stated that she noticed a leak coming from the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a power of steering hose leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (Steering). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11510859
Steering

The contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The dealer informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 167,000.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11472748
Steering

The contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (Steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact also stated that he was advised by the dealer that he had to pay out of pocket for a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11458164
Steering

My son drives this car and the power steering went out twice on him while driving. I need to get the pump replaced via the recall, but the nearest location is 200 miles from me. It is not safe to drive this car that far and I would have to drop it off and make another trip to pick it up. Towing that far would cost a small fortune. I called every number and was transferred to several people to help with this issue. They say they can not and won't help me till I get the car to a dealership to fix it. One person from...

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Mini told me I might be able to go to a certified mechanic but when I asked the next person they said it had to be a dealership. I spent two days on the phone with several people from Mini and no one was willing to offer a solution. I drive this car to get the recall fixed and something happens and the car wrecks, or worse someone is killed, who would it be on then? No happy about this at all.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11444553
Steering

The contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper Convertible. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (Steering). The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering assist failed. The dealer was made aware of the recall but informed the contact that they do not service recall repairs. The nearest dealer that was able to service the recall repair was located 177 miles away. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11444173
Steering

2005 Mini Cooper S has power steering whine, hard to steer the wheel. Very unsafe.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11433934
Steering

Power steering pump stop working while driving turning in a city street

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11414376
SteeringCrash1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 2005 mini cooper convertible. The contact stated that while driving at 5 mph after exiting his driveway, he suddenly lost power steering without warning. As a result of the failure, the contact lost complete control of the vehicle as the vehicle veered off the road and into a utility pole. The contact was unaware if the air bags deployed upon impact. The contact stated that he exited the vehicle, walked back to his home and took a nap. An hour later, the contact stated that he was awoken by...

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a sheriff's deputy who asked him questions about the incident with his vehicle. A police report filed and the contact later went to a doctor where he was treated for injuries for his lower back which including a slipped disc and a bruised vertebrae. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was destroyed. Recently, the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign number: 15v660000 ( steering) which he linked to his vehicle failure. The contact reached out the manufacturer where he was asked questions about his vehicle failure; however, the contact refused to answer any questions and decided to seek legal advice. The vehicle was deemed destroyed. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11404624
SteeringElectrical system

Battery light flashing, power steering cutting out intermittently while driving. Alternator and serpintine belt replaced but problem continues. Electric power steering seems to be draining electrical system.

Filed Incident Steering · Electrical systemNHTSA 11362085
SteeringEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper s. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, the vehicle overheated and smoke began coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where the water pump was replaced. After the repair, the power steering ceased without warning upon starting the vehicle. The contact referenced nhtsa campaign number: 15v660000 (steering) as possible cause of the failure however, the vin was not included. Mini of des moines located at...

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(9900 hickman rd, des moines, ia 50325) was contacted and confirmed that the vin was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

Filed Incident Steering · EngineNHTSA 11317775
SteeringTransmission & drivetrainBrakes

The power steering assist has all but stopped working, with steering now difficult at lower speed--especially when I first start the engine in the morning. The clutch doesn't respond well and the vehicle no longer goes into second gear. The rear left brake caliper seized in place, not allowing the brake pad to retract completely and therefore the brake pad continuously rubbed against the disc, but without noise. Not until the left rear brake made noise because of the metal on metal braking was the seized oem caliper identified, when I put on a set of new brake pads. None of the other three brakes had the seized oem caliper.

Filed Incident Steering · Power train · Service brakesNHTSA 11311300
Steering

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper. While driving approximately 50 mph, the steering became very difficult to maneuver. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned the vehicle off. Once restarted, the steering operated normally. The contact also stated that the failure occurred approximately one and a half months and was getting worse. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic. Testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 92,500.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11244894
Steering

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper s. While driving various speeds, the contact experienced intermittent power steering failure. The contact associated the failure with nhtsa campaign number: 15v660000 (steering); however, mini of marin (5880 paradise dr, corte madera, ca 94925, (415) 887-2194) and the manufacturer were contacted and stated that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11243771
Steering

POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKS.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11242896
Steering

The car was in motion when suddenly the steering wheel became very hard and the driver lost control, almost causing an accident. There has been a recall for mini cooper s vehicles (15v-[redacted] safety recall) involving the electric-hydraulic power steering system. The recall includes 2002-2005 models, and extends the warranty up to 13 years or up to 150,000 miles. Our vehicle falls under those requirements, and is a 2005 model and has 69,751 miles, yet we were told that there are no existing recalls for our vehicle, even though we suspect that the incident we had involves the hydraulic steering system.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11230307
Steering

The power steering pump stops functioning intermittently when starting a stop.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11203879
Steering

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper s convertible. The contact stated that the electric power steering was faulty. Mini of 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.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11193136
Steering

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper s. When the vehicle was started, the steering wheel became very difficult to turn and the service engine soon warning indicator illuminated. The contact stated that the steering failure worsened since december of 2017. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised that the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 15v660000 (steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 63,000.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11171823
Steering

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper. After turning the vehicle off, the power steering pump continued to operate. Also, while operating the vehicle, the power steering pump sometimes failed and the steering wheel became very difficult to turn in either direction. Also, the low battery warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to orlando mini (350 lake destiny drive, orlando, fl) where it was diagnosed that the power steering pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 172,000.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11165764
Steering

Went to dinner and came out and started my car and it was super hard to steer

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11162607
Steering

STEERING WHEEL GOT STIFF WHEN I'M DRIVING.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11156975

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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