NHTSA Complaint #10458606 — 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE

LAST THURSDAY MAY 10, 2012 I WAS DRIVING HOME AND SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, I LOST THE STEERING POWER FUNCTION; THE STEERING WHEEL GOT TOTALLY RIGID AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MANIPULATE; WITH A HUGE EFFORT AND VERY CAREFULLY, I COULD ARRIVE AT HOME. I AM LUCKY THAT I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER. AFTER SWITCHING OFF AND ON THE CAR THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING FINE AGAIN. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT SINCE THEN; WE ARE DEALING WITH MINI COOPER AND ITS AUTHORIZED DEALER RIGHT NOW TO GET THE CAR REPAIRED BUT SO FAR THE EXPERIENCE WITH THEM HAS BEEN TRAUMATIZING. I RESEARCHED IN INTERNET AND I FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR THE MINI COOPER MODELS BETWEEN 2002-2007; I CONTACTED MINI COOPER AND MY HUSBAND TOOK THE CAR TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER THIS MORNING BUT THEY DO NOT WANT TO ASSIST US WITH THIS LIFE- THREATENING ISSUE; THE CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BEEN AWFUL HERE AND UNCONSIDERED. *JS