Minis checked for steering safety

Tens of thousands of Mini Cooper cars are being checked in America for potential power steering problems.

The government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said today it had received 54 complaints about the loss of power steering in the cars from the 2004-2005 model years.

When the power steering stops working, it becomes more difficult for the driver to steer or control the vehicle.

The preliminary investigation covers about 80,000 Mini Coopers.