Minis that could catch fire
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The Mini is one famous car, with one small part which has two big problems. In February 2009, we revealed the first. A fault with the power steering pump in many petrol Minis made between 2001 and 2007 was leaving some drivers fighting to control their cars. The manufacturers BMW insisted the issue didn't make them unsafe to drive but on a test track, Paul Heiney saw how difficult the Mini was to steer after we replicated a power steering pump failure.
Another fault
But now another fault could leave you with more to worry about than finding your
Mini difficult to steer. This time, the steering pump could actually be on fire.
When it happened to Lisa Rowland's car on a journey home from work, she fell out of
love with her Mini.
"I was driving down a dual carriageway and I smelt like... a smoke smell." Lisa told Watchdog. She pulled over and called her breakdown company because she thought she saw steam coming from under her bonnet. "While I was on the phone to them a guy
came running over to tell me that it wasn't steam coming from the bonnet it was smoke from a fire!"
They managed to put the flames out with an extinguisher before the fire brigade arrived. The cause of the fire Her power steering pump had overheated, burning wiring and plastics in the engine causing nearly £600 worth of damage. And because the car was out of warranty, BMW refused to pay.
The same thing happened to police officer Lisa Tibbitts. She parked her Mini just around the corner from the police station where she works.
"I went into work, I'd probably been there about 20 minutes when a work colleague shouted to me 'Your car's on fire!' I just thought they were joking." Lisa said.
They weren't joking, her car was on fire, and when she got outside, the fire brigade was in the process of putting the flames out.
"You could see there was still smoke coming from the engine. The closer I got there was just a really strong smell of burning. I just couldn't believe it, I remember having this nervous laugh. Because I'd had no problems with it, and it was just real shock."
A known fault
The new problem is a known fault, that can affect power steering pumps fitted to
petrol Minis produced between 2001 and August 2003. BMW insists at worst it will only cause overheating and smouldering - not a fire.
We asked forensic fire investigator Steve Hannaford to look at photos of some of the burnt parts from Lisa Tibbitt's Mini. He was sure that there had been a fire. "We can see we've got an electrical wiring harness here with some damage at one end. The close up view shows that the connector where it was attached to the pump has started to melt. This is copper and it melts at over 1000 degrees centigrade. I'd say if you've got temperatures in excess of 1,000 degrees centigrade with these sorts of flammable materials around it, you've got the basis of a fire."
But a spokeswoman for The Vehicle Operator & Services Agency (VOSA) says they don't believe a fire danger is posed. "We know of no cases where a fire has occurred as a result of any problems with a power steering pump on these vehicles. We understand that the German and American type approval authorities are also unaware of any cases where a vehicle fire resulted from such a problem. Our view is also based on the fact that the power steering pump is located in a heat-resistant environment."
BMW statement
"MINI UK strives to provide the best possible service to its customers and is concerned when they are not completely satisfied with their cars. Thorough investigation of cases relating to the corrosion of wiring looms fitted to the power steering pumps of petrol-fuelled MINI cars produced from 2001-August 2003 shows no evidence of fire occurring as a result.
"Water ingress may have caused shorting and the eventual overheating of the pump, leading to smouldering. At no point did any MINI investigated by MINI UK catch fire as the pump as the pump is situated in a virtually fire-proof location near the exhaust system and does not, itself, feature any flammable materials.
"However, MINI UK takes such incidents very seriously and reports to independent
regulatory bodies on technical matters. No recalls or actions have been issued as
BMW Group does not believe that power-steering failure is a safety issue. All new MINIs on sale today feature new power steering mechanisms completely
unaffected by these issues.
"We would advise that if any owner of a petrol-engine MINI produced between 2001-
August 2003 has experienced a similar situation, they should contact their dealer or
a dedicated MINI UK Customer Service line on 0800 777 129. This line is available from
9am to 6pm Monday to Friday."
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~10~RS~)
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I used to do vehicle recovery in lincolnshire up untill 04/08 and i recovered 4 minis that had been written off by fire due to this power steering fault, to the point of being totally burnt out on 2 of them
[Note from Watchdog: supramat2000 responded "There is no proof that the fires were the result of the steering pump - this is effectively hearsay"
Best regards, web team]
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My 02 plate mini is being worked on at the moment after the police called the fire brigade when I'd parked it in the High Street while I was shopping.
It is having a new power steering box!!
Guess I'll be ringing customer services in the morning
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My mini is a 2001 model. I bought it off the previous owner with 1 year of warranty left. Within my first year of owning my mini i experienced an issue with the air bag (the air bag warning light appeared but not following any impact), i took this back to the mini dealers and as it was under warranty they sorted this problem... or so i thought! As soon as i drove it off the fore court the air bag light came back on. Again it went back, a new air bag loom was fitted but still the air bag light came on. I was told this was an electrical fault and even though the air bag light stays on constantly it will still work... you would hope so, luckily i have not had to test that yet and obviously it does not make my passengers feel at ease!! Since then i have had issues with the tyre lights coming on constantly (spent lots of money having tyre's changed and again told this is an electrical fault). I have also had issues with the window's getting stuck and the passenger seat getting stuck!! My boyfriends mum and my friend have also got mini's and both have experienced the same problems! suppose it's a coincidence!! However in the past year or so i have experienced problems with the power steering, i have been pulling into parking spaces, turning onto streets/main roads and the steering has become really heavy/stiff to the point where i cant move. I then have to turn the car off and try and move but it is usually so stiff it takes some time and will also often reset all the mileage/timers etc. In fact my boyfriends mum just over a month ago was driving round a roundabout when her car suddenly cut out, she was then hit up the back by a van and suffered whiplash. she was told it was the gear box that failed and had to replace it. I'm looking to sell my mini soon but not sure whose going to want to buy a car thats got the air bag warning light staying on, tyre warning light reappearing and the window/ passenger seat becoming stuck constantly!
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We ahve an 02 mini as well, that has done just a smidge over 60000 miles and has a full service history and it has an extended TLC service program. In that time we have had a steering column failure, a clutch and gearbox failure, all replaced under warranty. However, we have just had the power assisted steering pump fail as well, which made steering extremely difficult through any speed range (it happened at about 50 mph as I was slowing down on a tightening bend. Fortunately there were no injuries or other damage. I have to say that had there been a situation where action was required to avoid an obstacle quickly, the sterring pump failure would have definately made a differnce to outcome of avoiding the obstacle. The dealership , and ourselves contacted Mini, and they told us that in no way would they contribute to the replacement of the pump, so we've had to pay to get it replaced. I cannot understand why BMW, as a prestigious munufacturer would not want to keep their reputation in tact by doing a recall on the Mini's suffering from this failure to replace the obviously problematic power steering pump. From our experience their attitude in this matter is 'this type of failure is totally acceptable and not our concern'. Buyer beware!
I would argue that if the pump failure is not 'dangerous' as quoted by both VOSA and Mini, then the vehicles would pass their MOT's with restricted steering, but I vey much doubt it.
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I am sure you ran a similar story about BMW Minis catching fire in 2002, is this the same fault?
[Note from Watchdog: At that time it was not clear exactly what caused the fault, best regards, web team]
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This exact same thing happened to my 51 plate mini, and even worse was that my insurance company wouldn't cover me! I had to fork out £1500 for a new steering pump and to replace all the wiring and parts destroyed by the fire!! Don't touch with a 20 foot pole! MONEY PIT!!!
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My 2002 mini one (petrol) caught fire last May as a result of the power steering pump. The only warning I got was that the steering became light as I turned. Fortunately I was collecting my daughter from dancing and was able to park. There were no warning indicator lights on, I only realised there was a serious problem when I got out and seen flames coming from underneath the car and smoke coming from the bonnet. This was very frightening as I had my son in the car.The fire brigade were called and the car was towed away. I had to pay for a new powersteering pump (£200) and my insurance excess (£100), with the repair work being covered by my insurance under fire damage.I reluctantly still have this car but am going to sell it as I have lost confidence in its safety.Otherwise I love the mini!!
I feel very disappointed as I feel that this is a serious safety issue and that these minis should be recalled. I will be phoning the customer care line as advised.
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Interestingly enough, I took my 52 plate Mini Cooper S in today to have its MOT and it failed as my power steering started to go last week. So no, they fail the MOT!!!!! Needless to say I have been on the phone to Mini Customer Services who were helpful but they referred me to my local dealership. The service chap there told me I would have to pay (even though customer services told me goodwill was dependant on many factors, such as age, where it was purchased, service history etc). I had a long argument with the service chap who was adamant that I would have to pay but when I said I had spoken to customer services suddenly changed his tune but told me there may be some contribution made but that was dependant on BMW who could take days to respond and not the dealership as they only represent them. The car is booked in on Monday, I will post the outcome!
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I wish you luck Hemminways... Mini customer services point blank refused to contribute to the cost of our 02 plate 60000 mile car with a FSH at a Mini registered dealership. Like you I am so disappointed in the brand. I'm doing what I can now to advise other unwary motorists by putting the fault details on motoring magazine websites so that every one can be made aware of the inherrant problems with this make and model of vehicle.
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My girl friends 03 mini one set on fire and BMW wouldnt addmit it was a fault .they just said it was an electrical problam so she lost 3 years no claims because the car was a right off this is a joke and unfair.her insurance is now sky high IT STINCKS.
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I have an 02 mini and my steering clunks when I turn. Should I get this looked into and will it cost me money?
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I had exactly this problem, i was driving my 51 plate mini when suddenly the power steering went, I had to phone my son to drive the car home as I rhumatoid arthritis and couldnt physically turn the wheel, we took it to the mini garage, once there we could smell smoke,it ended up costing me £1,900.
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further to my previous message of 26th april - I phoned mini and was told that because the repair had not been carried out by a mini dealer - they would not even consider a claim, I did explain that I had been told by the mini dealer at the time of the breakdown that there was no fault , and I therefore decide to leave it with the garage it had been taken to initially.
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I bought a Mini from the country garage, Northern Ireland. One day driving from work my steering locked (or tightened) to the point that I couldn't control the car. Thankfully I was on a dual carriage way and was able to slow down and pull over. The next minute the smoke and burning smell was awful...My car is 2003...I am sure i'm not the only one that has experienced this before...
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