NHTSA Complaint #10358301 — 2005 MINI COOPER S

DEAR SIR/MADAM, TODAY (9/29/2010) I SAW A NEWS ITEM, "(CNNMONEY.COM) -- THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION HAS OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO POSSIBLE POWER STEERING FAILURES IN MINI COOPER CARS" AND FELT COMPELLED TO ADD TO THE EXISTING COMPLAINS REGARDING THE DANGEROUSLY DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING ELECTROHYDRAULIC PUMP IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY, AVERAGE SPEED OF 25 TO 35 MPH, THE POWER ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY THE POWER STEERING WENT DOWN TO ZERO, TOTALLY UNASSISTED, WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS WARNING WHATSOEVER, MAKING THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE, WHILE GOING AROUND A ROUNDABOUT (TRAFFIC CIRCLE) AT NO MORE THAN 25 MPH. CONSEQUENTIALLY I WAS UNABLE TO STEER FIRST RIGHT AND THE LEFT AROUND THE CIRCLE, MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL STRIKING THE RIGHT SIDE CURB AT THE POINT THAT I NEEDED TO TURN LEFT, DAMAGING BOTH THE WHEEL AND THE TIRE, AND POSSIBLY THE SUSPENSION (MACPHERSON STRUT). AND I ASK YOU, WHAT IF I HAD TO STEER TO AVOID A MOTHER PUSHING A BABY STROLLER, OR EVEN AN ERRANT DOG OR CAT AT THE MOMENT THE POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE DECIDED TO QUIT? WHAT IF THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT A HIGHER SPEED WHILE MERGING ON A FREEWAY? I CONSIDER BMW/MINI TO BE TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DEATHS OR INJURIES AND PROPERTY DAMAGES RELATED TO THEIR NEGLIGENT FAILURE TO ENGINEER A PROPERLY WORKING POWER STEERING PUMP (AN KNOWN PROBLEM AS THE NEWER MODELS HAVE DONE AWAY WITH THE ELECTROHYDRAULIC PUMP IN FAVOR OF A TOTALLY ELECTRICAL ASSISTED STEERING). I ALSO URGE YOU TO LOOK INTO THE FAILURE RATE OF THE POWER STEERING FAN DUE TO ITS ABSURD LOCATION (UNDER THE CAR UNPROTECTED FROM THE DIRT, WATER, STONES,ETC. 5-6 INCHES FROM THE ROAD) AN AFTERTHOUGHT OF A SOLUTION THAT BMW/MINI USED TO RESOLVE THE PREVIOUSLY KNOWN TO THEM POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. MY CAR HAS 27,000 MILES, AND IS DEALER MAINTAINED SINCE NEW. I URGE YOU TO TAKE ACTION REGARDING THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMETHING MORE TRAGIC HAPPENS. THANK YOU. *TR