NHTSA Complaint #10240178 — 2004 MINI COOPER

POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN EARLY 2008. LUCKILY THE CAR WAS PARKED WHEN THAT HAPPENED OR ELSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER SINCE MINI STEERING WHEEL IS ALREADY HEAVIER THAN OTHER CARS. HAD IT FIXED (REPLACED) AT THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD TO PAY AROUND $1000 SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE THAT THE STEERING POWER PUMP DIED THIS EARLY ONLY AFTER 4 YEARS. IT'S A RIPOFF FOR THE CONSUMERS. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT THIS. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE LOWER SHAFT STARTED TO HAVE ISSUES AS WELL. THEY STARTED TO MAKE CREAKING NOISES. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY QUOTED AT ALMOST $1000 TO REPLACE THE PARTS. THE STEERING COLUMN AND POWER PUMP SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY FOUR YEARS! *TR