Part failure may make steeting difficult

Transport Canada annouced a recall on 9,254 MINI Coopers this week after an issue was discovered with the wiring in the car's electro-hydraulic power steering pump.  

MINI Coopers from model years 2002 through 2005 are affected, as are MINI Cooper Convertibles from 2005. In these cars, the power steering pump could temporarily or permanently fail, throwing the car into manual steering mode.

There's nothing particularly wrong with manual steering — it just requires greater driver effort. However, the loss of power steering while driving could inadvertently cause an accident.

MINI is extending its warranty coverage on the electro-hydraulic power steering pump, as well as the pump cooling fan, to 12 years or 200,000 km from the vehicle's first in-service date.

(Transport Canada)