NHTSA Complaint #10329080 — 2005 MINI COOPER S

I BOUGHT A 2005 MINI COOPER IN SEPT 09 WITH 61,450 MILES. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE STEERING "CUT OUT" AS I TURNED A CORNER. I TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC WHO COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG & SAID THAT IT MAY JUST BE THAT A SPECK OF DIRT THAT GOT INTO THE SYSTEM. IT HAPPENED A COUPLE MORE TIMES AND I ASSUMED THAT THE "DIRT" WAS WORKING ITS WAY OUT. THEN I HAD A DRAMATIC INCIDENT WHERE NOT ONLY DID THE STEERING SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY CUT OUT, BUT THERE WAS TREMENDOUS "DRAG" ON THE SYSTEM AND IT TOOK ALL MY MIGHT & MAIN TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN I FOUND MYSELF IN THE OPPOSITE LANE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHO EVENTUALLY GOT THE CAR TO FAIL FOR HIM. HE TOLD ME TO GO TO A MINI SERVICE CENTER WHO COULD DEAL WITH THE FAULTY ELECTRONICS. I CALLED MINI OF AMERICA TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE IN MAKING THE CAR "RIGHT" BUT I WAS TOLD THAT CARS BREAK, THAT IT IS BEYOND THE 50,000 WARRANTY AND THAT IF THE CAR WAS UNSAFE, I SHOULD HAVE IT FIXED. THE REP SAID THAT "MAYBE" THEY WOULD PAY FOR PART OF THE PROBLEM AFTER IT WAS DIAGNOSED. I THEN SPOKE WITH A MECHANIC AT A MINI SERVICE CENTER WHO KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHAT WAS WRONG. HE SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MINIS BEFORE 2007 ----FIRST THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, THEN THE ELECTRONICS COMPLETELY FAIL. PAYING FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS FOR A CAR THAT I OWN IS MY RESPONSIBILITY BUT I BELIEVE THAT A CAR MANUFACTURER IS OBLIGATED TO PUT OUT A SAFE CAR. IF THIS IS A DESIGN ERROR, THEN THE COMPANY SHOULD MAKE IT RIGHT. WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL, I NEED TO TRUST THE ELECTRONICS TO RESPOND -- BECAUSE MY LIFE AND THE LIVES OF MY PASSENGERS DEPENDS ON IT. I THINK THAT MINI SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO INSURE THAT THE COMPUTER THAT GOVERNS STEERING OPERATES PROPERLY. AT PRESENT I HAVE A CAR THAT SITS DRIVEWAY BECAUSE IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I AM MAKING A TRIP TO A CITY THAT HAS A SERVICE CENTER IN TWO WEEKS AND I AM HOPING THAT MINI CORRECTS THIS PROBLEM WITH NO EXPENSE TO ME. *TR