Under pressure from U.S. safety regulators, Mini is recalling more than 86,000 cars because the power steering could fail.
The recall covers the Mini Cooper and Cooper S models from 2002 to 2005. BMW says in documents filed with the U.S. NHTSA that the power steering can fail because of manufacturing or other issues. If that happens, manual steering remains but it would take greater effort to steer.
The NHTSA began investigating the cars in 2010 after getting 339 complaints including five minor crashes and three fires involving melted wires.
Parent company BMW at first extended steering warranties, but last month the agency sought a recall. BMW agreed but said the problem wasn’t an unreasonable safety risk. Dealers will replace power steering parts – if needed – starting in December.
Mini said in a statement that owners will be notified by letter when they can take cars to dealerships and repairs will be made at no cost to owners. The cars currently are covered by a 13-year, 150,000-mile power steering warranty.
