I was driving along and lost the power steering. It was very difficult to steer. I got home parked the car and let it go. The next morning it was fine. However, this morning, 6/8/2012, it happened again as I was turning in an intersection. Fortunately for me there weren't many cars on the road, as it was very difficult to turn. If this had happened in even a semi-busy intersection, I would have been in trouble.

- Bedford, TX, USA

While driving steering became stiff. Almost unable to turn wheel when I slowed to park. After turning car off and back on, problem resolved. Still happens at least once per day usually while slowing or downshifting. Always resolves after restarting car.

- Del Mar, CA, USA

Power steering pump stopped functioning making car unsafe to drive.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

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.

- Brinnon, WA, USA

While on a short vacation out of town, close to 230 miles from my home, my Cooper S' power steering failed and almost cause me an accident. I immediately checked the fluid and saw that there were no visible leaks present. After making arrangements for a rental vehicle, I noticed that the power steering started working correctly again. Because of that I proceeded to return home and the steering did not fail for the remainder of the trip. During March of 2012, the power steering failed again, during a commute home from work on Friday, May 3rd. To this day, I have no been able to afford additional repairs or diagnostics, because of the monthly payments, insurance, fuel and previous issues of repairs under 75,000 miles including the head gasket, and heater core. Regardless of the policies that BMW/MINIand the NHTSA have concerning used vehicles, and warranties, absolutely no vehicle produced by an internationally known company or business should be producing such unreliable, unsafe and potentially dangerous motor vehicles and not take immediate responsibility to isolate and terminate the issue rather than ignore and deny responsibility for poorly manufactured products.

- Antioch, TN, USA

Complete loss of power steering while in oncoming traffic lane during overtaking on two lane road. Steering required an extreme amount of effort. Barely managed to move back to right hand land before getting dangerously close to oncoming traffic. Power steering did not recover for another 2.5 mins of driving. Pulled over to side of road, turned car off, on again, power steering returned. Electric power steering pump now runs continuously even when key is turned off. Indicative of electric power steering pump controller failure. I continue to have concerns that power steering may cut out at any time again, and that if the pump continues running constantly even when the key is removed it may start a fire at some point. I have to disconnect the negative terminal of the battery to prevent the pump from running continuously.

- Frederick, MD, USA

Power steering failed while car was being driven. Luckily the car was at low speed at the time and I was able to get to a safe stop by using brute force to steer the car. Power steering than reappeared intermittently over the next few days, finally failing completely. Mechanic says power steering pump failed and that it is a common problem with minis. Cost will be over $1200 to repair. It appears the issue is already being investigated by BMW, yet they have taken no action to recall or fix.

- Chicago, IL, USA

I would like to report a power steering failure on my pregnant wife's 2002 MINICooper. The car only has 61K miles on it. She was driving last night, in the rain, and the power steering pump went our as she was on a freeway transition ramp at a speed of 40-50 mph. She almost lost control of the vehicle and almost hit the side rails. Fortunately she was able to avoid crashing. The power steering pump started to work intermittently after the car was shut off and restarted. This is a huge safety problem and MINIBMW needs to address this problem before somebody gets seriously hurt or dies.

- Spring Valley, CA, USA

Power steering failure--the power steering in my MINICooper S 2002 began "cutting out" and became more frequent over a few days. The "cutting out" happens without warning and is potentially quite dangerous as the vehicle becomes almost unmanageable when making a turn. This makes driving the vehicle very unsafe. Upon researching this problem, this is a very common problem which will eventually occur with most MINICoopers even through fairly recent years of manufacture and often at fairly low mileage accumulation.

- Highland, UT, USA

The contact owns a 2002 MINICooper. 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.

- West Hampton , VA, USA

The power steering failed when driving. It became impossible to steer. It was as though the car steering became locked. I was very lucky to have a police car stop to assist me to move me to a safe spot on the street.

- Washington, DC, USA

Power steering failure. This occurs intermittently. Most recently, last week, it was out for 3 days and then it started working again.

- Mazomanie, WI, USA

I bought a 2002 MINICooper S almost a month ago and lost the power to steer my car in a turn at almost 50 mph. If Toyota would have had this problem I'm sure some one would be in jail or maybe you would here it on the news. This is my third MINIin 6 years and I never heard a peep about this scarey problem. I would like to thank are government for making the roads so safe. At least they are taking the effort to stop those pesky kids and there texting. Thanks again!

- Indianapolis , IN, USA

I was exiting the freeway when my battery indicator light went on; I lost power steering and saw a large amount of smoke coming from under the hood. The MINIdealership has determined that the power steering module failed, and subsequently burned the wiring harness. There have been several reports of faulty manufacturing in regard to this part from bbc in uk, as well as on many forums, in particular North american motoring.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

The power steering fails with no warning. The car becomes extremely difficult to control. It happens without warning and at various speeds. It may last just a few minutes or much longer - hour or so. Usually does not occur when just starting the car but no other known pattern. It happens 1 to 2 times a month or more.

- Terre Haute, IN, USA

Heard of powersteering issue but still purchased car. Driving to work smelled burning and lost powersteering, if this happens to a woman driving around a rotary and kills someone will you wait for 50 people to get killed before something is done. This is complete inadequate research on your part Ford recalls due to electricalshort of the idle air control valve and cruise control cut pressure switch had to burn down houses when they had the cruise control issue which no recall till months after they knew it was a fault. By the way I am a mechanic ase certified own a shop in wakefield [xxx]. information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Stoneham, MA, USA

There have been three instances when my power steering went out on me...I could have had an accident had I not been in a residential area during those times.

- Pearl City, HI, USA

Power steering failed while going down a multi-story parking lot. Very scary. Car corrected itself. Later that day it happened again. Called my mechanic (a MINImechanic) and was told this happens all the time with 2002-2005 MINICoopers. Will need to replace pump and fan which will cost me $1200 Inc. Labor. This is a problem that MINIusa is very aware of. They released a car with known problems (Inc. Cvt transmission issues) how can they do this? so far O one has been killed (that we know of) but I know it will happen one day. This is a very dangerous issue.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2002 BMW MINICooper. 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 07/20/11 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

- Saint Louis , MO, USA

Driving approximately 25 mph and vehicle lost power steering....made it home...checked all fluid levels...all okay....got back in the vehicle the next morning to take to service station and power steering was working again...garage could not find problem...scared to drive it now for fear of loss of steering again!

- Wa, WA, USA