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A class action lawsuit claims BMW has been selling 2002-2009 Mini Coopers with a defective steering system that makes the Mini “virtually uncontrollable in traffic and starts a potentially catastrophic fire in the engine compartment.”
The BMW Mini Cooper class action lawsuit, filed October 12 in Newark Federal Court, claims that the vehicles have an inherent defect that compromises and diminishes the quality, safety, durability, craftsmanship and performance of the Mini Cooper. The lawsuit claims the defect manifests in the steering pump of the vehicle and causes, among other things, the complete loss of power steering and control of the vehicle while it’s in motion, and often results in the ignition of a fire in the engine compartment.
According to the Mini Cooper class action lawsuit, internal BMW documents show the company knew about the problems with the power steering and/or power steering pump in the cars, but failed to correct the problems and continued to sell the Mini Coopers without telling consumers the full truth about the dangerous defect.
The National Highway Transportation and Safety Agency (NHSTA) opened an investigation into the matter in April 2007 after it received over 32 complaints about loss of power steering and fires in 2002-2004 Mini Coopers. In response, BMW acknowledged that the defect’s primary cause was an insufficient seal of the power steering pump ground cable at its attachment to the chassis, which results in water ingress that corrodes the power pump power cable connector and leads to loss of power steering and “localized smoldering.” The NHSTA closed the initial investigation after BMW claimed to have fixed the defects, but NHSTA opened a new investigation into the later Mini Cooper models after it received numerous complaints from car owners about the same problems.
The BMW Mini Cooper class action lawsuit is brought on behalf of a nationwide class of persons who purchased and/or leased a 2002-2009 model year Mini Cooper. It is seeking damages and restitution for class members, attorneys’ fees, and an order prohibiting BMW from selling, marketing or advertising the Mini Coopers without a detailed warning about the defect.
A copy of the BMW Mini Cooper Defective Steering Class Action Lawsuit can be read here.
Updated October 25th, 2010
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43 thoughts onMini Cooper Defective Steering Class Action Lawsuit
On May 13 2019 driving on a clear smooth highway my 2006 Mini Cooper S simply cut out – engine stopped running a split second after it was running flawlessly. Dash lights lit up like a Christmas tree. There was complete power loss so no power steering but I managed to get off the highway and the car stopped. A car pulled in behind me and the guy got out an shouted “GET OUT OF THE CAR!”. It was then I realized there was a larger problem. I turned to look for my backpack and iPhone on the passenger seat and saw smoke. I got out and the car was fully engulfed within 30 seconds. I’m lucky I was able to get out of the car. I’m lucky my son wasn’t with me strapped into his car seat behind me. This happened two weeks AFTER I asked my local Mini Dealership about the power steering pump “recall”. At that time the service person looked up my VIN and told me “Nope yours is a 2006. Your power steering pump is fine. Don’t worry about it.”
Well the power steering pump wasn’t fine. If the Driver side door failed to open like it did or if the smoke hit me earlier I wouldn’t be here, my family would have lost their Dad and my wife her husband. When I showed the images of the Mini on fire to the service person at the same Mini Dealer he chuckled and said “that’s not the first time I’ve seen an image like that nor the first time I have heard about this issue” if you look up “ Mini Cooper S R53 Power Steering Pump failure “ on Pinterest you will see the images of my car burning on the side of the highway.
I have a 2004 Mini S and having the same problems with the power steering not working at all times. Also making noise now. Was not able to open the Document for the Mini class action suit so not sure what the dates of closure are? Can I still be added to the suit? Now I am worried about a fire hazard.
Same issue. 2006 Mini Cooper S convertible. Power steering pump failure at 140K miles. My mechanic is struggling replacing the pump. The PS motor runs even with key out of the ignition.
’06 Cooper Convertible w/CVT. Smelled smoke in my house 6 hours after parking in my attached garage. Opened house side door to find garage filled with smoke, managed to open main garage door and get car into driveway with extremely tight steering. Battery warning indicator light came on, that’s it. Thank heavens I wasn’t asleep – this could have killed my entire family in a house fire if I wasn’t quick to act.
I have a 2004 mini cooper s. Almost hit a car when I was making a turn my steering wheel was hard to turn. A few weeks later after that incident. My power steering completely went out was making funny noises and was killing my battery. The pump was very hot to touch.
Almost hit a car when I was making a turn my steering wheel was hard to turn. A few weeks later after that incident. My power steering completely went out was making funny noises and was killing my battery. The pump was very hot to touch.
I have a 2005 mini cooper S and last Sunday as I was driving back on base my steering wheel locked up and almost went straight into the gate. Shortly after I parked the car and got out, I’m guessing that’s one of the reasons my battery caught fire as well. The car didn’t burn down but I’d like some information on suit.
I have had power steering problems with my 2003 Mini Cooper and would like information on suit I order to get problems resolved.
Just had a fire in my 2008 Mini Cooper Convertible and it ended up being the power steering pump. Insurance will not cover repairs as it is a mechanical failure. The previous recall only covers up to 2005s. I believe the same power steering pump was used in the Convertibles, would be nice to be included and not have to pay the $3000 out of pocket. Thank you.
Just about to pick mine up from shop They have put the second pump in BUT telling me they cannot get the light to go off. I’ve been smelling a burning smell for awhile. I have 2008 convertible.
My wife drove the car up north about 60 miles the night before last, when she made it back home she said the steering on ithad tightened up on her. So I took it to my company meeting the next morning 930am no problems however when I came out to the 03 mini there was a strong smell, I didn’t think anything of it until I pulled away from where I was parked to see a puddle half the size of the car in the mirror, I pulled the brake turned the car off, got out took pictures.I would like to take part in this lawsuit! I just purchased this car and had it into mini to do a diagnosis they gave me a $6,200 list of things to do on the vehicle including power steering. I feel cheated.