R50, R52 & R53 Steering Pump Warranty Extended in Canada

Sections: Recalls/Campaigns Feb 2nd, 2012 20 Comments

Transport Canada has issued the need for an extended warranty for all 2002-2005 MINI steering pumps. It’s a common problem that has plagued R50, R52 and R53 MINIs for years. Here’s the official description:

On certain vehicles, the electro-hydraulic power steering pump could fail temporarily or permanently due to problems with the electronics that control the function of the pump, a failure of the pump cooling fan, or a loss of power to the pump. A vehicle experiencing a loss of steering power assist would revert to a manual steering mode which would require greater driver effort, especially at low vehicle speeds.

Nevertheless, a loss of steering power assist could ultimately result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: The electro-hydraulic power steering pump, as well as the pump cooling fan, will be subject to special extended warranty coverage of 12 years or 200,000 km from first in-service date of the vehicle.

So what about the US? As we’ve reported, the NHTSA is investigating the issue and will likely make a decision whether or not to announce an action of their own later this year.

Written By: Gabe

Bee1000

I think I might have experienced this a few times recently (04 MCS), but it “fixed itself” before my service appointment came around so it wasn’t officially diagnosed yet. The steering wheel would be really reluctant to unwind at low speeds. Hopefully it either doesn’t return or it gets recalled.
- Dr Obnxs
  
  If it was intermittant it will come back. It’s a build up of wear debris and eventually packs in so many spaces that it shorts out and then no more power steering. But even if there is a recall, I wonder what will actually happen. I took mine apart and cleaned it out after 80k miles and a couple intermittant events, but now the car has 122k on it. Really, it’s good that there is some action here. What is bad is that this is a known defect in the pump, and a lot of honest owners paid out of pocket because of the corporate position that it wasn’t a problem…
  - Bob Hayhurst
    
    Well said. Bad corporate decision making is just that; bad. It makes no friends and lots of enemys. The default setting should be, recognize mistake, own it, fix it, move on.
Jorge L Sanchez

BMWNA replaced the Pump and Fan in my ’04 R53 after I filed a complaint with the NHTSA after it failed and I almost ran off the highway, but the dealer ended doing more damage then good to the car, and now my ECU can’t be read. BMW said it wasn’t their problem, they only wanted to replace the pump to check it since it had failed and the dealer said they didn’t touch the ECU, even though they said they ran the codes before hand. So now I have a check engine light and no idea what it is :/ At least my power steering works.
Volkan

Finally someone did something about the first generation power steering pumps!

Didn’t they conclude in US that the “issue” didn’t warrant a recall? Or was that for the engine bay fires?

I have my receipt from a local shop for the replacement of the failed power steering pump #3 (#2 was replaced by the dealer under warranty) on my R53. I’m not holding my breath for any reimbursement, but who knows, since at this point in the game most of the failed pumps were probably replaced by non-dealer locations.

Let’s hope that the “later in the year” doesn’t become December 1st, 2012.
Volkan

Finally someone did something about the first generation power steering pumps!

Didn’t they conclude in US that the “issue” didn’t warrant a recall? Or was that for the engine bay fires?

I have my receipt from a local shop for the replacement of the failed power steering pump #3 (#2 was replaced by the dealer under warranty) on my R53. I’m not holding my breath for any reimbursement, but who knows, since at this point in the game most of the failed pumps were probably replaced by non-dealer locations.

Let’s hope that the “later in the year” doesn’t become December 1st, 2012.
jbkONE

200,000 km is 124,000 miles. The longer they hold out the fewer cars they have to fix. It’s just sad. I’ve got well over that mileage threshold and I’m sure many others do too. I wonder if they’ll reimburse me for the one I had to replace a few years ago (on #3 now).
Gary

Transport Canada always seems to be out in front of the NHTSA. I suppose it’s a function of having a smaller, leaner organization with fewer decision layers and less red tape…
AgentCoop

Hey guys, I’m in Canada but I’m surprised the recall doesn’t include R53 2006 models?
Adam S

Ha! Ironically I had this problem about 4 1/2 years ago on a trip to Toronto. I broke down on a Friday so I had to rent a Hyundai Elantra for the weekend. MINI of Toronto was great! They made me a priority so I could get back home to Connecticut on schedule.
R53tuning

This is not a recall, it’s an extended warranty added to each vehicle that falls with in the guidelines. Please change!!
- R53tuning
  
  Thank you :)
jwardell

For those of us who have shelled out money out of pocket to replace our pumps out of warranty, would we get some kind of reimbursement if this were enacted in the US?
- that.guy
  
  You so funny!
Anonymous

Unfortunately this is 2 years too late and in the wrong country to make me happy.
http://www.facebook.com/people/John-Stramiello/537056067 John Stramiello

From what i’ve read this problem was fixed in 2005, so why is an 05 in the extended warranty but not the 2006? They put a cover over the steering pump fan to filter out debris, and changed the wiring to prevent fires. Or was that done specifically to prevent MINI fires and this issue is totally different.
- Cinimin
  
  This issue is the sudden loss of powersteering boost leaving the car very difficult to steer and putting the occupants in danger.
Johnna

If the extended warranty in Canada is 12 years or 200,000km, it should be 12 years or 120,000 in the US. I spoke to the service departments of two different dealers in my state and they both said that they’ve never seen MINI USA extend a warranty beyond 10 years or 100,000 miles.

My PS pump started leaking just shy of 100,000 miles. :(
Frank Granados

Knocking on wood here…. 89K miles and not a problem with my PW (2005 R53 S). The pump is original as well as the fan. Last year a few leaks were detected in the PW hydraulic lines and these hoses were promptly replaced.

Having said this, I hope MINIUSA does the right thing and extends the pump’s warranty to 10 years/100K miles, just like they did with the oxygen sensors…
Michael Lang

I just bought a 2002 Mini Cooper and the first day I drove off the lot I noticed an intermittent loss of power steering driving home. It is rediculous to think that 220,000+ minis sold all have an inherent problem and nobody knows about it until you buy one. It is even more rediculous that Mini refuses to rectify the situation or build a better pump and pump fan to eliminate the problem. I only hope they wise up and do the right thing before someone gets killed. Its very unethical to sell something and charge so much for parts. I just had to pay $1530.00 to fix it and I have only owed it 4 days. When I looked at the parts the fan looks little more than a computer cooling fan. Why should a plastic fan cost $311.00?? If you not going to fix the problem then lower the cost of the parts. $800 for the pump? Its like spitting in your customers faces. I should have bought the Fiat 500!

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