WHILE DRIVING ON I95 GOING AROUND A CURVE, MY STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. IT HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES BUT I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND WASN'T SURE WHAT TO TELL MY MECHANIC SINCE IT WAS SO RANDOM. THIS WEEKEND AS I DROVE THROUGH AN INTERSECTION MAKING A LEFT TURN, WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR, IT LOCKED UP AFTER MONTHS OF NOT RECURRING. I WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME BEFORE COLLIDING WITH ONCOMING CARS AT THE RED LIGHT BUT IT WAS VERY SCARY FOR ALL OF US. I AM APPALLED MINI HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL CONSIDERING THE PRECIOUS LIVES THAT ARE AT STAKE. I SUPPOSE IT WILL TAKE A FATALITY FOR SOMEONE TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
2003
STEERING
I OWN A 2003 MINI COOPER. I AM EXPERIENCING UNEXPECTED POWER STEERING LOSS THAT IS CURRENTLY A TEMPORARY CONDITION. IT OFTEN OCCURS WHILE EXITING ONTO HWY 10/61 CLOVERLEAF IN WOODBURY, MINNNESOTA. ON A COUPLE OCCASIONS I HAVE NEARLY DRIVEN OFF OF THE ROADWAY DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. IT IS AN EXIT THAT IS TAKEN AT 45-50 MPH AND AN HILL DOWNWARD. WHEN IT OCCURS THE CAR VEERS HARD LEFT AS THE POWER STEERING FAILS. THE STEERING REQUIRES A HEAVY DRIVER INPUT IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED I WAS OFF THE ROADWAY BRIEFLY UNTIL I COULD MUSCLE IT BACK ONTO THE ROADWAY. A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE. I AM SURE IF THIS OCCURRED WITH MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER BEHIND THE WHEEL, AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ISSUE IS, SO I CONDUCTED AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS. SEEMS CLEARLY TO BE A PROBLEM THAT IS MORE AN ISSUE OF DESIGN THAT WEAR AND TEAR. WHAT SHOULD I DO? *TR