NHTSA Complaint #10406086 — 2005 MINI COOPER

LOSS OF POWER STEERING IN 2005 MINI COOPER. 1. ON 06 APRIL 2011 AT 11:00, I HAD AN APPOINTMENT AT THE GRAND RAPIDS, MI MINI COOPER DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE. DURING THE ROUTINE INSPECTION CONDUCTED ALONG WITH THE OIL CHANGE, IT WAS REPORTED TO ME THAT MY POWER STEERING FAN HAD FAILED. FORTUNATELY, AS REPORTED AT THAT POINT, MY POWER STEERING PUMP LOOKED FINE. I PAID TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING FAN REPLACED AT THAT POINT. I EXPERIENCED NO ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE'S STEERING UNTIL 11 JUNE 2011 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:30PM WHEN, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING GARAGE, THE POWER STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY. THE RESULTING LOSS OF STEERING CAPABILITY CAUSED ME TO IMPACT A MOVABLE PARKING SIGN IN THE ADJACENT PARKING SPACE. HOURS LATER, AFTER COOLING DOWN, THE POWER STEERING CONTINUED TO FUNCTION, BUT HAS BEGUN TO FAIL AT RANDOM INTERVALS. I AM CURRENTLY AWAITING AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT REPLACED FOR APPROXIMATELY $1500. 2. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE FAILURE HAVE BEEN HEIGHTENED CONCERN WHILE DRIVING, AND A DYNAMIC COST OF $1500 TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR