# 2003 MINI COOPER S — STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
> NHTSA complaint `631657` · 2007-07-23 · BMW of North America, LLC
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** MINI
- **Model:** COOPER S
- **Year:** 2003
- **Manufacturer:** BMW of North America, LLC
- **Component:** STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
- **Miles at failure:** 69,813
- **Speed:** 40 mph
## Narrative
WE HAVE A 2003 MINI COOPER S THAT SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE TODAY.  I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN I SMELLED SOMETHING AND THE POWER STEERING JUST QUIT WORKING.  I CAME TO A STOP, THEN SMOKE CAME OUT FROM THE SIDE OF THE CAR.  I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND OPENED THE HOOD - THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE EXHAUST BY THE POWER STEERING PUMP.  I WAS ABLE TO GET A BUCKET OF WATER AND PUT THE FIRE OUT.  I GOT ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO SITES (SEE:    HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/MINI.HTML  HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=015B1E186260B0639D13CF8A7D6522DD&T=73527&PAGE=8    WHERE MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES.  WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR A RECALL?  I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY DEATHS, BUT SEVERAL REPORTS OF FIRES.  IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING 70 ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE POWER STEERING QUIT AND THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER.  PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.  I SEE WHERE AN INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED IN APRIL (PE07022), BUT PLEASE MOVE ON THIS.  I AM VERY AFRAID THE NEXT PERSON WILL NOT BE SO LUCKY. *JB
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*