2004 Mini Cooper Complaints

WHEN YOU TURN WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT IT MAKES A NOISE AND IT'S VERY HARD TO TURN. SO I THINK IT'S THE STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM. RECALL ID # 240625.

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2004 MINI COOPER HOME TRAVELING UPHILL ON A STEEP PAVED MOUNTAIN ROADWAY TRAVELING A MAXIMUM OF 15 MPH WHEN FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROADWAY; STRUCK A TREE WITH ITS LEFT FRONT AND BURST INTO AN EXPLODING FIRE KILLING MY WIFE WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO ESCAPE THE BURNING VEHICLE. THE NC STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AND DEATH. THEY DO NOT KNOW YET WHETHER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE PRIOR TO STRIKING THE TREE BUT, FEEL THE FIRE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE VEHICLE STRIKING THE TREE AT A LOW IMPACT AND SPEED. NC MV ACCIDENT REPORT#[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

ALL MODELS FROM 2005 ONWARD HAVE BEEN RECALLED, YET EARLIER MODELS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH NON FUNCTIONING AIRBAGS. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON CONTINUALLY, AND THERE ARE KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH WIRING, PRESSURE MATS AND CONNECTORS IN THESE VEHICLES. BMW IS INTENTIONALLY IGNORING THESE ISSUE. MY OWN PERSONAL VEHICLE HAS THIS PROBLEM AND AS A GOVERNMENT MANDATED SAFETY DEVICE I BELIEVE THAT EARLIER MODELS OF MINI COOPERS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL!

MAINLY WHILE COLD AND AT LOW SPEED'S THE WHEEL SUDDENLY BECOMES VERY HARD TO TURN AND I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC BUT IT'S A FAULTY HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING PROBLEM

VERY HARD TO TURN STEERING WHEEL AT TIMES ESPECIALLY WHEN MOVING SLOWLY; COMING TO A TURN AT A LIGHT, BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, ETC.