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2003 MINI COOPER — STEERING

fire · 941292 · 2012-09-26

Vehicle

Make
MINI
Model
COOPER
Year
2003
Manufacturer
BMW of North America, LLC
Component
STEERING
Miles at failure
89,000

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
Yes
Crash
No
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

ON THE MORNING OF SUNDAY MAY 13TH 2012 (MOTHERS DAY), I DROVE THE VEHICLE APPROX 11 MILES TO MY MOTHER-IN-LAW'S HOME. DURING THIS 11 MILE RIDE ALL SEEMED NORMAL WITH THE VEHICLE. AFTER VISITING FOR A FEW HOURS I DROVE IT APPROX 5 MORE MILES TO A STOP & SHOP, AGAIN ALL SEEMED FINE WITH THE VEHICLE. WITHIN THE 10-15MINUTES I WAS INSIDE PURCHASING MOTHERS DAY FLOWERS, STOP AND SHOP EMPLOYEES HAD NOTICED A FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. I WALKED INTO THE PARKING LOT TO FIND THE POLICE AND FIRE FIGHTERS APPROACHING MY CAR. WHEN I GOT TO IT THERE WAS NO MORE FIRE BUT STILL PLENTY OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL. I TOOK A LOOK UNDER THE CAR TO SEE THAT THERE WAS NO MORE FIRE, SO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT LEFT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO START THE CAR SO I JACKED UP THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHAT HAD CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE HAD ORIGINATED FROM THE ELECTRIC/HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING PUMP. THE SOCKET ON THE PUMP WAS STILL SMOKING A LOT AND VERY MELTED. THE PLUG CONNECTOR ON THE 12V/GROUNDING CABLES FEEDING THE PUMP WAS ALSO VERY MELTED. SINCE THIS FIRE OCCURRED ON A 12V LINE IT ALSO SHORTED OUT THE BATTERY COMPLETELY. I WAS ABLE TO JUMP THE CAR STARTED IN ORDER TO DRIVE IT ABOUT 15-16 MILES HOME. SINCE THEN THE PUMP HAS BEEN DISASSEMBLED TO FIND THAT THE ENTIRE CIRCUIT BOARD WAS COMPROMISED (BURNED/ASHES). I DECIDED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT AFTER I HAD RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE EXTENSIVELY. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. MOST SIMPLY FAIL, EITHER CAUSING ACC

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10477149
Machine
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