NHTSA Complaint #10446681 — 2003 MINI COOPER

MY POWER STEERING FIRST FAILED AS I WENT INTO A TURN ON A HIGHWAY. IT SUDDENLY BECAME VERY HARD TO CONTROL THE CAR, BUT LUCKILY IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN IN TIME FOR ME TO COMPLETE THE TURN AND NOT CRASH. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC, WHO SAID IT COULD BE THE POWER STEERING, BUT TO WAIT AND SEE IF IT DOES IT AGAIN, AS THIS IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. THEN, TWO WEEKS LATER, THE POWER STEERING FAILED PERMANENTLY AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN AFTER WAITING AT A STOPLIGHT. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE WHEELS TO TURN AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT, BUT NOW I WILL HAVE A COSTLY REPAIR BILL. I AM FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT INJURED IN THESE INCIDENTS BECAUSE I VERY EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY. *KB