NHTSA Complaint #10246582 — 2004 MINI COOPER S

AS AN OWNER OF A 2004 COOPER S I WAS GREATLY DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THAT I NOW NEED TO REPLACE MY ELECTRIC STEERING PUMP AT ONLY 55K MILES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE PART "GOES REGULARLY" AND THAT "WE KEEP A BUNCH IN STOCK" AND THAT IT WILL COST ME $600 FOR A NEW ONE NOT INCLUDING LABOR. WITH THIS BIT OF INFORMATION, I BEGAN TO SEARCH MINI COOPER FANSITES AND BLOGS TO SEE HOW OFTEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS. I WASN'T SURPRISED TO FIND THAT MANY OF THE MEMBERS AND "FANS" OF THE CAR HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PUMP FAILURES, AND THAT THERE IS A GROWING NUMBER OF THOSE WHO ARE DISCUSSING THE FAILURE ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS IS BOTH A COSTLY FIX AS WELL AS A SAFETY PROBLEM. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF A STEERING PUMP IS QUITE DANGEROUS AND MAY CAUSE SOME DRIVERS TO LOSE CONTROL. I AM FORTUNATE THAT I NOTICED THE PROBLEM AND UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE FAILURE WAS, SO I PERSONALLY DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT, BUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE LESS CAR SAVVY, THEY MAY NOT NOTICE THE NOISE OF THE FAILURE THAT IS ABOUT TO OCCUR. *TR