NHTSA Complaint #10205137 — 2003 MINI COOPER

PARKED MY 2003 MINI COOPER ON THE STREET. SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE. POPPED THE HOOD AND SAW THE SMOKING CONTINUOUSLY EMANATING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP IN PRINCETON. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED; THAT IT LEAKED AND MELTED THE ENGINE HARNESS AND POWER SUPPLY CABLE AND POWER STEERING FAN CONNECTORS. ALSO, THE MAIN COOLANT FAN WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY; AND THERE WAS ANOTHER LEAK IN MY VALVE COVER GASKET. I HAVE READ MANY INSTANCES WHERE FIRES HAVE BEEN STARTED FOR THE SAME REASON, AND AM LUCKY THAT DID NOT HAPPEN TO ME. HOWEVER, THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR TOTALED OVER $3400. I HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED; ALONG WITH THE ENGINE HARNESS, POWER SUPPLY CABLE, POWER STEERING FAN AND MAIN COOLING FAN. IF THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH MANY MINI COOPERS ESPECIALLY 03 AND 04 EDITIONS, I THINK THE MANUFACTURERS SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND ENSURE THAT IT DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. *TR