NHTSA Complaint #10464185 — 2005 MINI COOPER

I SLOWED DOWN FROM APPROXIMATELY 40MPH TO 35MPH AS I ENTERED A SHOPPING MALL PARKING LOT FROM THE MAIN STREET WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. IT WAS ALMOST LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP OR SHUT OFF. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND COASTED TO A SAFE STOP BARELY MISSING PARKED CARS. SIMILAR SITUATIONS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND SPORADICALLY WITH NO RECOGNIZABLE PATTERN THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. I MENTIONED THE STEERING LOSS AT THE SERVICE APPOINTMENTS, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SITUATIONS. THE MINI SERVICE AT THE DEALER NEVER MENTIONED ANY PROBLEMS TO ME SO I ASSUMED IT WAS JUST AN ELECTRONIC GLITCH. MOST RECENTLY THE BATTERY WAS RUN DOWN AND WOULD NOT HOLD A CHARGE. WHILE PURCHASING A NEW BATTERY THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS STUCK OR STAYING ON AFTER THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF THUS RUNNING DOWN THE NEW BATTERY. WHEN I RESEARCHED THE PRICE OF A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP ONLINE I FOUND SITES WITH COMPLAINTS THAT WERE VERY SIMILAR, IF NOT EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE PROBLEMS I HAD EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST WITH STEERING POWER LOSS. THE MINI DEALER THAT INSTALLED THE NEW POWER STEERING PUMP WAS NOT WILLING TO OBLIGE ME DUE TO MY MINI BEING 8,000 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY. AFTER READING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE, AND I FEEL THAT MINI SHOULD REFUND ME THE MONEY SPENT REPLACING THIS DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. *JS