NHTSA Complaint #10373009 — 2005 MINI COOPER S

THE POWER STEERING FAILED DURING A LEFT TURN, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HEAD STRAIGHT INTO OPPOSING TRAFFIC WAITING AT THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL OPPOSITE ME. I MANAGED TO PULL THE WHEEL HARD ENOUGH TO GET IT TO THE CURB. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT WAS FINE. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN MONTHS LATER ON A CANYON ROAD AND FINALLY ON A 2 HOUR ROAD TRIP WHERE I WAS FREEWAY DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN I FELT THE WHEEL TIGHTEN. AS I WAS ON STRAIGHTAWAY, IT WASN'T OBVIOUS UNTIL I HAD TO EXIT. AGAIN, I PULLED OVER, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED WITH NO PROBLEM. I BROUGHT IT IN ON 11/30/2010 AND HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED. NOW I HAVE TO GO IN BECAUSE THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL CURRENT COMING THROUGH MY STEERING WHEEL. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL THAT ARE NOT LIFE THREATENING BUT HAVE BEEN AN UNNECESSARY EXPENSE. WITHOUT QUICK REFLEXES AND, QUITE FRANKLY, A BIT OF STRENGTH, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT.