NHTSA Complaint #10401227 — 2005 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE

BOUGHT MINI COOPER USED FROM DEALER JUST PRIOR TO GOING TO FLORIDA FOR 2 WKS. WHEN ALMOST HOME FROM FLORIDA POWER STEERING WENT OUT. MY 3000 MILE USED CAR WARRANTY HAD JUST RAN OUT SO CHECKED ON RECALLS, FOUND NONE. BUT I DID FIND OUT THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS. CONTINUED TO DRIVE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY AND FOUND THE STEERING SOMETIMES WORKED AND AGAIN WOULD CUT OUT WITH NO WARNING, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER WHEN NOT EXPECTED. THEN ONE DAY I CAME HOME AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF BUT THE STEERING PUMP WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO GET IT TO STOP. WHEN I RECONNECTED THE BATTERY IT WOULD START RIGHT BACK UP AGAIN. THAT'S WHEN I DECIDED I NEEDED TO BITE THE BULLET AND TAKE IT IN TO BE FIXED. I RECONNECTED THE BATTERY AND DROVE IT TO A MINI COOPER DEALER WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE STEERING PUMP THAT WAS BAD, THAT IT HAD INTERNAL ELECTRONICS THAT FAIL. I HAD THEM REPLACE IT FOR A TOTAL COST OF $1072.38 AND THAT CAME WITH A 2 YR WARRANTY. PLEASE NOTE ~ THE VEHICLE HAD A WHIRRING NOISE WHEN I BOUGHT IT THAT I THOUGHT WAS FROM THE TURBO. I FOUND OUT LATER IT WAS THE STEERING PUMP MAKING THE NOISE. WHEN THE NEW PUMP WAS INSTALLED IT WAS A LOT QUIETER. *TR