Mini News Recall for Power Steering for First-Generation MINIs

Discussion in 'MINI News and Articles' started by JoeClubman, Oct 28, 2015.

  1. JoeClubman

    JoeClubman New Member

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    #1 JoeClubman, Oct 28, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 28, 2015
    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a new recall for the power steering for first-generation MINIs.

    MINI Cooper – 2002-2005
    MINI Cooper S – 2002-2005
    MINI Cooper Convertible – 2005
    MINI Cooper S Convertible – 2005

    SUMMARY:

    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.

    CONSEQUENCE:

    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.

    REMEDY:

    MINI will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the electro-hydraulic power steering system, replacing the components and wiring, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 1, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

    NOTES:

    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to Home | Safercar -- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
    Wait for your notice from the NHTSA or contact your local MINI dealer about a fix.
     
  2. BruceK

    BruceK Active Member

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    New recall? Isn't this the power steering recall that came out about 3 years ago for the same cars?

    What is different? Is this just an effort to get the MINIs that have not yet been updated with new p/s pumps during the last recall?
     
  3. Canusrufis

    Canusrufis RMW Powered R53
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    Doesn't look to be any different covering the same model months up to Feb 9th 2005. Beyond that date its a case by case.
     
  4. rkw

    rkw Well-Known Member

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  5. ZippyNH

    ZippyNH Well-Known Member

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    The difference is the Original extended warranty had time and Miles limits....so many cars were over the miles/time limit...
    with a recall....it JUST fits within the production date range...
    and the "new" pumps they install are not really new...just re-manufactured units, not redesigned....doubt they are TRULY "improved", just newer.....

    Guessing the number of complaints from failures passed some threshold, resulting in a recall, regardless of the extended warranty already in place...
     
  6. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    If there is not a redesign of some type why are 2006 Hardtop and 2006-2008 Convertibles not in the mix?
     
  7. fishmonger

    fishmonger Well-Known Member

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    I'll take a remanufactured part any day if it's free. Gotta see when my car was built, but I think it was in late 2004 as a 05 model. It has been rather noisy and I was going to replace it anyway.
     
  8. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    Nice........will wait for my letter and get mine finally replaced.
     
  9. BruceK

    BruceK Active Member

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    It wouldn't be a remanufactured part on a recall would it? I'm sure it would be brand new OEM parts.
     
  10. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    Bruce you should be able to be reimbursed for replacing yours, just send them the rec't under the first campaign.
     
  11. BruceK

    BruceK Active Member

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    Oh I was reimbursed for the new p/s pump you and I installed in my MINI at the end of 2012 - just about exactly 3 years ago.

    As I remember it, I submitted a claim with MINIUSA in March 2013 and they finally reimbursed me some 8 months later (!) after I hounded them for 6 months about them dragging their corporate feet. Not a pleasant experience. Apparently my claim was on the end of their little list as my p/s pump was owner-installed rather than dealer-installed.
     
  12. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    Yes, I know more than few people took many months to get reimbursed - in fact most had forgotten about it or figured they weren't going to get the money, and when the check came it was a pleasant surprise!

    But this will be different, since the dealer will be doing the work.....I'll bet those guys have figured out some short cuts and will be making good money replacing these.....
     
  13. beken

    beken Well-Known Member
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    Mine was replaced under the warranty extension 2 years ago. Will the replace it again under the recall?

    No power steering is not a major deal for me. I have another car that doesn't even have power steering.



    I think they should recall the top side engine mounts too. I'm more concerned about that. (sorry....deviated from topic at hand).
     
  14. Gil-galad

    Gil-galad Club Coordinator

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    There have actually been at least three or four changes in the part number for the EHPS Pump since 2005. One might deduce that ZF/MINI have quietly introduced minor improvements in the design over the years in an attempt to improve the pump/motor reliability. At one time you could track the lineage of part numbers on the RealOEM site but now that page shows only the part number for the remanufactured replacement pump. Perhaps they think a change made to the '06+ part mitigated the earlier issues.
     
  15. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    I think the only change they could make that would really mitigate the problem is to go to a brushless DC motor, cause that's what usually cause the problem, dust from the wear on the brushes. I've had enough of them apart to see this......
     
  16. Gil-galad

    Gil-galad Club Coordinator

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    #16 Gil-galad, Oct 30, 2015
    Last edited: Oct 30, 2015
    I've had one apart too (on my old '05) and I agree with you 100 percent. In my case the pump motor controller circuit card had that highly conductive brush dust all over it, presumably getting in via the connections from the card to the motor. It's not hard to see how that card can short out in different and interesting ways.

    Like many folks have observed during their own DIYs, my pump motor housing was packed full of that crap.
     
  17. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    I've also seen so much brush dust inside the motor that it locked the armature, keeping it from moving. I also saw deep commutator wear..... both those issues would be removed with a brushless motor - like the electric steering cars use.

    Notice you have no power steering issues with the 2007 and up cars that use the electric steering racks.....brushless DC motors is why......that and no fluid.
     
  18. shs123

    shs123 New Member

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    OF COURSE!! Now they want to make this an official recall!! Just last week, I FINALLY got my 3rd power steering unit to work on my 2005 R52. Ordered a Dorman re-manufactured unit. First one was DOA, second one had issues with electronics and wouldn't shut off, and the third one finally works (for the most part. Still seems a little noisy). I checked with Mini re: the covered replacement/repair that came out out a few years ago and my car was apparently out by a freaking month. Mini claimed that I had the new "fixed" PS unit. My "fixed" unit was filled with a load of reddish dust from the brushes.

    I will be anxious to see what actually gets published for the recall. Perhaps I will get lucky for a change!!
     
  19. rkw

    rkw Well-Known Member

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    Here is the recall:
    http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchResults?searchType=ID&targetCategory=R&searchCriteria.nhtsa_ids=15V660000#

    On that page, click on 6 Associated Documents to see the related documents. The bottom line is that to be included in the recall, your car must have a production build date of 2/2005 or earlier (i.e. same criteria as the extended warranty). Much of the 2005 model year doesn't qualify. My 2006 R52 had the supposedly "fixed" unit and it failed 2 years ago.
     
  20. Firebro17

    Firebro17 Dazed, but not Confused
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    Yep, this recall is pure fluff from MINI. Good for some, but not for those of us who may also have potentially defective units. Kind of a no-brainier, but if my car catches fire it'll give me good reason to get a new GP.
     

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