# 2004 MINI COOPER — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
> NHTSA complaint `892925` · 2011-11-30 · BMW of North America, LLC
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** MINI
- **Model:** COOPER
- **Year:** 2004
- **Manufacturer:** BMW of North America, LLC
- **Component:** ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- **Speed:** 35 mph
## Narrative
WHILE DRIVING IN A 35MPH ZONE, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD (BONNET). DRIVER NOTICED ODD STEERING RESPONSE SHORTLY BEFORE SMOKE APPEARED. REPAIR SHOP NOTED POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE CAUSING WIRING LOOM FIRE. RESEARCH HAS FOUND NUMEROUS POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURES ON MINI COOPERS. WHEN POWER STEERING FAILS, DRIVING IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE GIVEN SIZE OF STEERING WHEEL AND POWER ASSIST DESIGN.  *KB
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*