2008 MINI COOPER Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTH BAY MINI (18900 HAWTHORNE BLVD, TORRANCE, CA 90504) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,072. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

8;30 AM THREE CAR INTERSECTION ACCIDENT. TRAFFIC LIGHT CONTROLLED 4 WAY INTERSECTION, AUTO TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND RAN RED LIGHT AND COLLIDED WITH TWO CARS TRAVELING EAST BOUND THROUGH INTERSECTION AT APPROX 35 MPH.. 1ST CAR IMPACTED TOYOTA MINI VAN DRIVERS SIDE. FORCE OF ACCIDENT SO SEVERE THAT IT FORCED MINI VAN INTO MY AUTO. THE MINI VAN IMPACTED MY MINI PRIMARILY INTO MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. ALL THREE VEHICLES HAD TO BE TOWED FROM SCENE OF ACCIDENT. MY MINI COOPERS DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DEMOLISHED. FORCE OF IMPACT SO GREAT THE IT BENT THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE DRIVERS DOOR 3-4 INCHES ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR FACILITY IT WAS TOWED TO. VIP AUTO BODY. THE WINDOW THAT WAS APPROX 1/3 OPEN SHATTERED THE WINDOW. I SUSTAINED INJURIES TO NECK, BACK,SHOULDER AND RIGHT SIDE OF HEAD WHICH HIT THE DOOR PANEL UPON IMPACT. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH SINCE THIS ACCIDENT AND THERE...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, AND UPON RESTART THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000.

MINI COOPER POWER STEERING PROBLEMS (2007 AND 2008 MODELS) - I NOTICED THE REPORTS ON POWER STEERING. I HAVE LEASED 2 MINIS AND FOUND THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO PARALLEL PARK IN NEW YORK CITY. WHEN TRYING TO FIT INTO A SMALL SPACE--WHICH REQUIRES LOTS OF TWISTS, TURNS OF THE STEERING WHEEL REPEATEDLY UNTIL CAR IS SQUEEZED IN--THE POWER STEERING ON BOTH YEARS OF BOTH CARS THAT I HAD--AND THE 2007 I TEST DROVE AT THE DEALER--ALL POPPED OUT. IT SEEMS THAT REPEATED TURNING MAKES THE POWER STEERING TURN OFF. IF YOU WAIT A FEW SECONDS ONCE IT STARTS GETTING HARDER TO TURN, THEN IT WILL LOOSEN UP AGAIN. I ONLY HAD THIS PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO PARK--SO NOT A DANGEROUS SITUATION, JUST ANNOYING. *TR