NHTSA Complaint #10643598 — 2005 MINI COOPER

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 MINI COOPER FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. FORTUNATELY I WAS TRAVELING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM IN A MINI AND THAT MINI IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS PART IS READILY AVAILABLE IN ALL DEALERSHIPS AND PARTS STORE INVENTORIES. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THROUGH READING DISCUSSION ON THE INTERNET THAT MINI HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY IN 2002 TO 2005 MINIS UP TO 13 YEARS AND 100,000 MILES. MINE IS NOT COVERED AND I INCURRED A COST OF ALMOST $1,300 FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. I HAVE NEVER IN MY 50 YEARS OF DRIVING HAD A POWER STEERING FAILURE UNTIL THIS INCIDENT. IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED THIS POWER STEERING FAILURE MAY HAVE RESULTED IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY TO MYSELF OR OTHERS. SINCE THIS IS A FAIRLY LOW VOLUME VEHICLE THE PROBLEM MAY NOT BE AS QUICKLY NOTICED BY YOUR DEPARTMENT AS IF IT WERE A FORD FOCUS OR HONDA CIVIC. .I HAVE GREAT CONCERN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.. *TR