NHTSA Complaint #10358426 — 2004 MINI COOPER

AFTER DRIVING 5 MILES AND STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I BEGAN A LEFT TURN AND HAD NO POWER STEERING, I HAD TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL WITH ALL MY STRENGTH TO KEEP FROM CAUSING A WRECK. I DROVE 5 MORE MILES TO WORK AND PARKED. 2 HOURS LATER I WENT OUTSIDE AND HEARD A MOTOR RUNNING IN MY CAR. THE RUNNING MOTOR HAD DRAINED MY BATTERY, I HAD TO JUMP START THE CAR TO GET HOME. THE MINI DEALER IN CHARLESTON SC SAID I HAD TO BRING THE CAR TO THEM TO REPLACE A RMFD POWER STEERING PART WHICH WAS A DEALER ONLY PART. I LIVE 100 MILES FROM THE DEALER, I HAD TO TAKE CAR TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC SO HE COULD UNHOOK THE MOTOR SO THE BATTERY WOULD NOT BE DRAINED WHILE I PARKED UNTIL I COULD GET A DAY OFF WORK TO DRIVE THE MINI TO CHARLESTON. PARTS NEEDED FOR THE FIX: INTAKE MANIFOLD; HOSE CLAMP; RMFD POWER STEERING; CORE RETURN. THE TOTAL REPAIR COSTS 969.00 AND A DAY OFF WORK. I HAVE A 2 YEAR GUARANTEE ON THIS FIX. *TR