NHTSA Complaint #10437787 — 2004 MINI COOPER STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Complaint Details

ODI Number	10437787
Vehicle	2004 MINI COOPER
Component	STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Date of Incident	November 10, 2011
Date Filed	November 30, 2011
Mileage	63,000 miles
Crash	No
Fire	No
Injuries	0
Deaths	0
Vehicle Towed	No
State	MD

Consumer Description

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2004 MINI COOPER S, NOW WITH A POWER STEERING PROBLEM. THE POWER STEERING REPEATEDLY FAILS FOR NO DETECTABLE REASON--THIS ACCORDING TO MY MINI/BMW MECHANIC. I DRIVE THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES AND THE POWER STEERING FAILS. I SHUT THE CAR OFF, LET IT COOL AND RESTART IT. IT RETURNS TO NORMAL AND THEN AGAIN FAILS AFTER A FEW MILES. THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER RECORDS THE FAILURE, BUT DOES NOT EXPLAIN IT IN A WAY THAT WOULD SUGGEST A SOLUTION. THE CAR'S COMPUTER READS: "FAULT STORED: SHORT CIRCUIT/OPEN CIRCUIT AT CONTROL UNIT." HENCE, MY MECHANIC HAS NO IDEA OF HOW TO FIX IT SHORT OF REPLACING THE ENTIRE SYSTEM WHICH, AS HE SAYS, IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE PROBLEM WILL STOP. AS IT IS, THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AND I WILL NO LONGER PERMIT MY WIFE TO DRIVE IT. I DO HOPE THE NHTSA WILL LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. I READ ONLINE THAT ALLEGEDLY IS INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE, AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE MY MECHANIC'S WRITTEN EVALUATION IF IT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR RESEARCH. THE STEERING NOW FAILS EACH TIME I DRIVE THE AUTOMOBILE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. *KB

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