2005 MINI COOPER Steeringelectric Power Assist System Problems

2005 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CATASTROPHIC ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY, RAPIDLY MOVING TRAFFIC, THE ELECTRIC STEERING FAILED. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR HAD STOPPED, QUITE LIKELY DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE AUXILIARY FAN. THE CONSUMER WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $ 1100 FOR THE PARTS ALONE.

WITHOUT WARNING, IN MARCH 2011, MY POWER STEERING FAILED. SERVICE DETERMINED THE COOLING FAN FOR THE ELECTROHYDRAULIC STEERING PUMP MOTOR IN MY 2005 MINI COOPER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED--INTAKE MANIFOLD AND FAN WITH PROTECTING GRILLE. NO MENTION WAS MADE THAT A FURTHER FAILURE, OF THE PUMP ITSELF, COULD OCCUR. IN JUNE 2011, THE ELECTROHYDRAULIC STEERING PUMP MOTOR FAILED WHILST I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. SERVICE REVEALED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT AND SAID PUMP WAS REPLACED. *KB

UNEXPECTED AND PERMANENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. *KB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE PARKED OUTSIDE OF A RETIREMENT CENTER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND UNPLUGGED THE BATTERY BECAUSE IT APPEARED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL POWER ASSIST ON HIS RACK AND PINION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,000.