NHTSA Complaint #10197289 — 2003 MINI COOPER S

WE HAVE A 2003 MINI COOPER S THAT SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE TODAY. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN I SMELLED SOMETHING AND THE POWER STEERING JUST QUIT WORKING. I CAME TO A STOP, THEN SMOKE CAME OUT FROM THE SIDE OF THE CAR. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND OPENED THE HOOD - THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE EXHAUST BY THE POWER STEERING PUMP. I WAS ABLE TO GET A BUCKET OF WATER AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. I GOT ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO SITES (SEE: HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/MINI.HTML HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=015B1E186260B0639D13CF8A7D6522DD&T=73527&PAGE=8 WHERE MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES. WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR A RECALL? I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY DEATHS, BUT SEVERAL REPORTS OF FIRES. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING 70 ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE POWER STEERING QUIT AND THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. I SEE WHERE AN INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED IN APRIL (PE07022), BUT PLEASE MOVE ON THIS. I AM VERY AFRAID THE NEXT PERSON WILL NOT BE SO LUCKY. *JB