2002 MINI COOPER Steering Problems

MY 2002 MINI COOPER ELECTROHYDRAULIC POWER STEERING (EHPS) PUMP WILL NOT SHUT OFF CAUSING ASSOCIATED WIRING TO BECOME DANGEROUSLY HOT (SMELLS LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE). THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MINI COOPER AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP MY MINI FROM CATCHING FIRE. *TR

ABRUPT FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM IN A 2002 MINI COOPER. *TR

BACK IN FEB 2008 THE STEERING ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER JUST WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING. I WAS LEFT WITHOUT POWER STEERING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 101 FREEWAY, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS! I FIXED THE PROBLEM, WHICH WAS VERY EXPENSIVE AS IT WAS THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM THAT FAILED AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH MINI, I NEVER HEARD BACK BUT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR. RECENTLY, SEPTEMBER 2008 THE TRANSMISSION IN THAT SAME CAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND FEEL IT MAY BE A LEMON. MINI IS UNWILLING TO HELP ME AS MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I FEEL AS THOUGH THESE PROBLEMS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY AS THERE IS NO PRIOR WARNING AND I AM CONCERNED FOR ALL PRESENT AND FUTURE MINI COOPER DRIVERS. *TR

CLUTCH AND CABLES FAIL AT 100 000KM. RATTLING NOISE AT START UP. VERY LOUD HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING. TRANSMISSION GONE AT 103 000KM. *TR

I RECENTLY HAD A 60K SERVICE ON MY 2002 MINI COOPER. A COUPLE DAYS LATER I DROVE FROM MONTEREY, CA TO LOS ANGELES, CA AND MY CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. ALL OF A SUDDEN OUT OF THE BLUE, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE 101 FREEWAY AND COULD NOT TURN MY CAR. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY TOLD ME MY POWER STEERING PUMP HAD BROKE. $1,000 LATER THE PART OF REPLACED. LUCKILY I WAS SAFE, AS WAS THE PASSENGER IN MY CAR. BUT WHAT IF I HAD BEEN ON A VERY CURY, BUSY HIGHWAY? I COULD HAVE DRIVEN OFF A CLIFF! THIS IS NOT A PART THAT SHOULD SIMPLY WEAR OUT OR BREAK, WE ARE TALKING PEOPLE'S LIVES! I LOVE MY MINI AND AM A PROUD MINI OWNER AND DRIVER BUT AFTER THIS I DON'T THINK I WILL EVER...

(1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE - NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, CAR DRIVEN 40K+ MILES (2) FAILURE & CONSEQUENCE - BOTH BEARINGS IN THE STEERING COLUMN BEGAN TO FAIL. DETAILS NOT EXACTLY AVAILABLE SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INSPECT THEM, BUT BEARINGS WOULD GRIND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER TOLD ME THAT THESE WOULD NOT IMPACT DRIVING SAFETY, IF NOT, WHAT IS THEIR PURPOSE? (3) CORRECTIVE ACTION - DEALER REPLACED BOTH BEARINGS SINCE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY (50K MILES). I INQUIRED WITH DEALER IF MINI HAS EITHER IMPROVED THE DESIGN OF THE REPLACEMENT BEARINGS OR IF THE ORIGINAL BEARINGS HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. DEALER STATED THAT NEITHER WAS THE CASE AND THAT IT ISN'T/WOULDN'T BE UNUSUAL FOR STEERING BEARINGS TO FAIL AFTER 40K MILES, WHICH BY TODAY'S STANDARDS IS COMPLETELY FALSE!. *JB