Maybe it is just me, but it seems that the internet has really changed the way we report motor vehicle defects and safety issues. I think the most obvious case of this is with Toyota and their floor mats that turned into “unintended acceleration” investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Don’t get us wrong, we aren’t saying this is a bad thing—in fact, we are saying that the change serves to get information out to the public faster. The unfortunate thing is that we don’t always hear the resolution to the problem as fast as we hear about the “potential” defects a vehicle might have.
Right along those lines, several sources, including Carscoop, are reporting that the 2004-2005 MINI Coopers are apart of an investigation that is looking at power steering complaints. According to the report from the NHTSA, 54 complaints from owners have been received that sight the loss of power steering during the operation of the vehicle. Of course this could leave to dangerous and costly accidents. This is an excerpt of what the NHTSA had to say on their website:
"The Office of Defect Investigations has received 54 complaints and a confidential number of field reports alleging an unexpected loss of power steering assist while driving the vehicle. When the power steering assist stops working it requires increased force to steer the vehicle. Some drivers reported experiencing difficulty while trying to steer or control the vehicle. The reports indicate that the loss of power steering assist may be related to a power steering pump failure."
More details are to come, so stay tuned to AllSmallCars.com for the latest news on this MINI NHTSA investigation. If you have concerns about your MINI, please contact your local MINI dealership.
[Source: Carscoop]
