NHTSA Complaint #10457436 — 2005 MINI COOPER S

THE CAR HAD BEEN PERFORMING NORMALLY AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE IT WAS SUDDENLY EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. AFTER COMING OUT OF THE STORE THE CAR RESUMED STEERING CORRECTLY. THEN A FEW DAYS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED-IT WAS TERRIBLY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE VEHICLE. I CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO SUGGESTED CHECKING THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL. I WAS UNABLE TO FIND IN MY OWNERS MANUAL WHERE THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR WAS LOCATED. THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE FLUID THE FOLLOWING WEEK AND FOUND THE LEVEL TO BE NORMAL. HE INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING IN OTHER CARS OF MY TYPE. I ENDED UP HAVING TO HAVE EVERYTHING REPLACED-PUMP, FAN AND RESERVOIR AT A COST FOR PARTS ALONE AT $1033. I FEEL THAT IF THIS PROBLEM WAS KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURING COMPANY THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALLED ITEM FOR SAFETY SAKE. THE RECALL EXTENDED ONLY TO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2004. MY VEHICLE WAS MADE IN FEBRUARY 2005. *TR