NHTSA Complaint #10437734 — 2005 MINI COOPER

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT ABOUT 70 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I WAS GOING AROUND A BEND IN THE ROAD WHEN SUDDENLY THE POWER STEERING FAILED THAT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. WITHOUT NOTICE THE CAR REVERTED TO "RACK-AND-PINION" MODE. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT TIME TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR AND DID NOT GO OVER THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR HIT ANOTHER CAR. I DIDN'T DRIVE THE CAR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS THEN TOOK IT TO A FEW MECHANICS FOR AN ESTIMATE. DEALER SAYS REPLACE THE STEERING PUMP AT $1200 BUT THEY WILL NOT HONOR ANY ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE STEERING PUMP OR THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO THE COOLING FAN FAILURE. THE POWER STEERING FAN QUITS THEN THE PUMP GETS HOT AND SHUTS OFF. I CALLED MINI USA TODAY AND THEY SAID THEY WILL NOT ASSIST ME IN PAYING FOR THE MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MY PUMP FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT SUGGESTING THAT THE PROBLEM IS ELECTRICAL AND ON POINT FOR A RECALL ON 2004 MINI COOPERS. MY CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2004, BUT IS THE 1707 CAR OUTSIDE THEIR "OFFICIAL" RECALL RANGE. MINI/BMW SENT A "MR. DRIVER" LETTER OUT ON 12/2004 FOR THIS "RECALL." MY CAR HAD NOT BEEN PURCHASED YET. THE DEALER SAYS THAT REPLACING THE STEERING PUMP WILL SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS INCLUDING THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE. APPARENTLY, THE NEW STEERING PUMP HAS A DESIGN FEATURE THAT ELIMINATES THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE PROBLEM (DEFECT CODE: 0032630100 & LABOR CODE: 0055719). THE MORE THE PUMP OVERHEATS BECAUSE OF THE FAN NON-OPERATION PROBLEM, THE PUMP WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED, IT WILL BE BURNT OUT. ONE THING IS SURE, I HAVE A PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE STEERING PUMP MAKING MY CAR DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT. NOR DO I BELIEVE, I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANUFACTURES DESIGN FAILURE. THE CAR IS NOT FIT TO DRIVE AS INTENDED. WHY IS BMW GETTING AWAY WITH THIS? MANY THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. *KB