NHTSA Complaint #10409399 — 2006 MINI COOPER S

A PROBLEM DEVELOPED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY MINI COOPER "S" (2006). THE PROBLEM STARTED SOMEWHAT GRADUALLY, OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL DAYS TO A WEEK, DURING WHICH THE WHEEL BECAME MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN. MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR IN ANY SORT OF INCIDENT. IT HAS LESS THAN THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND MILES ON IT. I TOOK MY MINI TO AN AUTHORIZED MINI-COOPER REPAIR FACILITY WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE KNOCK (SP?) SENSOR AND STEERING MOTOR HAD FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THIS WAS AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $2,000.00 DOLLARS, HOWEVER IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUES TO BE SLUGGISH AND DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT WHATEVER IS WRONG WITH THE STEERING IS A DESIGN FLAW, AS NO CAR WITH LESS THAN THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND MILES ON IT SHOULD EXHIBIT SUCH A STRANGE AND CRITICAL FAILURE. *TR