Steering Failed problems of the 2005 Mini Cooper S

Tl the contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper S. When the vehicle was started, the steering wheel became very difficult to turn and the service engine soon warning indicator illuminated. The contact stated that the steering failure worsened since December of 2017. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15v660000 (steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 63,000.

I have had the steering pump fail twice in my 2005 r53 Mini, the 1st time the power steering would cut out at random while driving and the pump would continued to run after car was turned off (had to disconnect battery for it to stop). This was replaced in 2013 at a Mini dealership under an "extended warranty" at the expense of Mini. Now 3 years later I am having the same symptoms, the power steering cut out on while changing lanes on the highway and then the pump continued to run when I arrived home and turned the car off (had to disconnect battery). The next day the steering pump actually burnt itself out (smoked) while the car was idling in the driveway. I understand Mini has issued a more extensive recall however since mine was "fixed" already I am not covered - it seems as though the replacement parts are just as faulty as those they have replaced and will most likely experience the same dangerous failure.

The power assist for the steering fails intermittently. Often this occurs midway through a turn. Sometimes turning the car off and re-starting will resolve the problem, other times it does not. Reported the issue to the dealer service department and before I could finish the sentence the two service writers said there was not issue with the power steering pump! without the power assist the steering is very heavy. As a strong, experienced driver I knew what to do when the power assist failed, but this would be very dangerous for an older or less physical driver since the assist failure is sudden and without warning. As a driver you go from being able to casually steer with Minimal input to instantly needing to forcefully turn the steering wheel to maintain control of the car!!!! the car currently has 40,011 miles and continues to have this problem intermittently.