NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE10-038: Loss of Power Steering Assist
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE10-038 on September 24, 2010 and closed it on May 10, 2011. NHTSA's investigations file lists 4 models from 2 makes for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE10-038 (also written PE10038)
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation The first stage of most defect investigations: NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation gathers basic information about a possible safety defect, including from the manufacturer.
- Status
- Closed May 10, 2011
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- BMW of North America, LLC
- Components
- Steering; Steering — Electric Power Assist System; Steering — Hydraulic Power Assist System; Steering — Hydraulic Power Assist — Pump
- Vehicles and equipment
- 4 models from 2 makes, including the Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S
A recall appears here only when NHTSA's investigations file links one to the investigation; NHTSA's summary or record can name others.
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Preliminary Evaluation PE10-038.
ODI has received 339 complaints alleging an unexpected loss of power steering assist while driving the vehicle.
When the power steering assist stops working, drivers experienced difficulty in steering and/or controlling the vehicle.
According to BMW drivers may experience either a temporary or permanent loss of power steering assist.
BMW further advised that a temporary loss of power steering assist may be due to a malfunctioning cooling fan or an under-voltage condition in the power steering system.
A permanent loss of power steering assist may be due to an error in the internal electronics, and may also result in the continuous running of the power steering pump.
The VOQ complaints allege 5 minor crashes and 3 fires.
The crashes are described as hit the curb.
The fires are described as melted wires. There were no property damage claims.
ODI has received similar complaints for other model year Mini.
Additional information is required to evaluate the frequency, consequence, and scope of this issue.
Accordingly the investigation has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (see EA11-005).
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE10-038. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
BMW
BMW Mini Cooper
Mini
All Mini recallsWhat an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for PE10-038
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.