My Power Steering pump started acting up today, damn near got in an accident.

Since Canada was able to get a recall in January, we should all report issues to the NHTSA here is the US to force their hand.

Everyone should report any failure or complaint to the NHTSA here: https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/Vehicl...nt/index.xhtml

They will respond if they get numerous complaints. The issue was raised to an investigation last year about this time, any more failures and it can become a recall.

If you own a Gen 1 car, its not a matter of if it will fail, its when it will fail. That when could be at highway speeds on an off ramp or in traffic...very dangerous.

 

nearly t-boned a guy the other day.. As I was making a right out of an interstate I lost all of my power steering and ended up hoping over the median straight into a few bushes, thank god I wasn't doing any more than 40.. The lip on the bumper was junked and got a few scratches on the hood and lower part of the bumper, my exhaust also broke before the catalytic converter from the impact. I'm going to have to replace the header assembly, that's a $1k+ part from MINI which doesn't include the cost of labor..

 

Definitely report it with accident. Hold a lot of weight.

 

BMW is known to be a conservative company... they're waiting for coffins to roll in first before they do something.

 

Filed a complaint last week

 

Its too bad your power steering is really not a factor @ highway speeds, and because its not 100% Hydraulic controlled (Electro/Hydro) you do not loose complete power to steer, but enough that its definitely noticeable (trust me, i've driven a ton of 1st gens with pwr steering failures, and I agree that it can become hard to turn @ slow speeds). The real problem isn't the pump, but the fan that cools the pump. It often becomes contaminated and damaged due to debris (or idiot owner driving over parking lot blocks) or other fluids (oil, pwr steering fluid) which causes a failure of the fan, which ends up allowing the pump to overheat, then ultimately fail.

As for your guys attempt @ hoping to spark the NHTSA to consider issuing BMW with a notice to perform a recall or revamp of the Power Steering Pump, I just don't see it happening. But hey, I hope you guys get it, as it will bring technicians a tap load of work that is quite frankly easy.