2006 mini cooper power steering pump recall

Angry drivers are urging Mini to recall almost a quarter of a million cars following a spate of sudden power steering failures.

Many motorists have had frightening experiences and near-miss crashes after the system abruptly cut out, making controlling their vehicles extremely difficult.

The fault is believed to be a problem in 223,000 Minis bought between 2001 and 2007.

At risk: Models of Minis bought between 2001 and 2007 can display the fault

Following an investigation by the BBC's Watchdog programme, makers BMW have urged drivers affected to contact them but have not issued an official recall.

Heather Hinam was driving her five-year-old daughter around a roundabout when, without warning, her power steering cut out.

She 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.’  

Mini, which is advertised with the slogan 'It's no ordinary drive, more a Mini Adventure' and celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, has been made by car giant BMW since 2001.

Mrs Hinam 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.

Power steering is crucial to manoeuvring modern cars and is so essential that if it fails, control becomes extremely difficult.

Experts say steering it would be far harder than an older car with no power steering at all.

Customers are forced to fork out up to £800 to repair the fault.

Natalie Redford was shocked to find the steering on her six-year-old Mini become hard to handle on her journey home from work.

As she turned right, she couldn't turn the steering wheel enough to make it around the corner and she mounted the pavement, narrowly missing a wall.

She said: ‘I was quite shook up - really shook up actually.

‘Someone could have been on that path and I could have gone into them, and there was nothing I could do about it at all.’  

Matt Pike, an independent Mini mechanic and a supplier of spare parts, said he can barely keep up with demand for replacement power steering pumps.

He said: ‘At least 60 per cent of our regular customers have all had pumps changed.

‘And we're getting at least two calls a day from people after power steering pumps because they're such a big failure.

‘I'd say it's the most common problem we have with the Minis.’  

And worried drivers have also contacted VOSA - the government body responsible for vehicle safety.

Motoring expert Mark Brown is surprised the Mini's power steering pumps are failing so early in the car's life and is concerned by the risks the failure can cause.

He said: ‘I'd expect power steering pumps to last virtually the lifetime of the car, with a few exceptions.

‘I think that because of the number of reported incidents, and the potentially dangerous situation it can leave a driver in when the failure does occur, that we're getting into the realms now where a safety recall ought to be seriously considered.’

But BMW insists that power steering pump failures is not common.

A spokesman said it was aware of an electrical issue which has the potential to affect the Electro Hydraulic Power Assisted Steering system fitted to more than 223,000 petrol-powered Minis sold between 2001 and 2007.

This includes:

• 175,000 Mini One, Mini Cooper and Cooper S cars sold between 2001 and 2005
• 9,000 convertibles and 32,000 Mini Hatch cars sold in 2006 and
• 7,800 Mini Convertibles sold in 2007.
  

BMW added that in January 2005 a modification was made to the pump supplied with all new Minis which virtually eradicated the issue.

In a statement the company said: ‘Mini UK strives to provide the best possible service to its customers and is concerned when they are not satisfied with their cars.

‘We can appreciate that the issues these Mini owners experienced can be disturbing, but we have thoroughly investigated the cases of each customer, and worked hard to eradicate the issues described.

‘As with all modern cars, power steering systems are an added support function that makes steering easier, especially at slow speeds, when parking for example.

‘They are not an essential component of steering systems and cars can be driven perfectly safely without power steering assistance.

‘All new Minis on sale today also feature new power steering mechanisms completely unaffected by these issues.

‘However, Mini UK takes such incidents very seriously and has worked closely with the independent regulatory bodies who have liased with us on the most appropriate route to take with this issue.

‘Furthermore, we would advise that if any owner of a petrol-engine Mini produced between 2001 and 2007 has concerns over this issue or has experienced a similar situation, they should contact our dedicated Mini UK Customer Service line on 0800 777129.’

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