2009 MINI JCW

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SAME ISSUE AS COMPLAINT NHTSA ID NUMBER 10809500 AND 10250135

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI JCW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

THE OIL SUPPLY AND RETURN LINE CONNECTIONS AT THE TURBO HAVE FAILED AND SPRAYED OIL ONTO A VERY HOT TURBO CAUSING A HIGH RISK OF FIRE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI JCW. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE GARAGE IN HIS HOME WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND REPORTED TO THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FLAMES CAUSED DAMAGE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS ALSO PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE RESIDENCE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY OVERHEATING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V008000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO VERIFY IF HIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

TURBOCHARGER OIL LINE CRIMP FITTING FAILED DUE TO O RING BECOMING HARD FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM TURBOCHARGER RESULTING IN SPRAY OF ENGINE OIL ON HOT TURBOCHARGER. DEALER REPLACED INLET AND OUTLET OIL LINES WITH NEWER DESIGN AND THE ADDITION OF AN OIL LINE HEAT SHIELD NOW BEING USED IN PRODUCTION OF 2011 AND 2012 MODELS. OIL SPRAY COULD CAUSE A FIRE AND THE DESIGN CHANGE FROM MINI INDICATES TO ME THAT A PROBLEM WITH OLD DESIGN EXISTS AND HEAT ISSUE IS PRESENT FROM THEIR ADDITION OF A HEAT SHIELD. MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER REIMBURSEMENT OR POLICY REPAIR WHEN A REQUEST WAS MADE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE DUE TO VEHICLE FIRE EXPOSURE. *TR

DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF TWO DEFLECTORS (UNDER THE VEHICLE'S FRONT BUMPER ' ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE CAR) APPARENTLY DESIGNED TO FLEX WHEN, AS A RESULT OF THE VEHICLE'S LOW GROUND CLEARANCE, SUCH DEFLECTORS CONTACT THE GROUND DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE (E.G., ON DRIVEWAY APRONS, SPEED BUMPS, ETC.). INSTEAD OF FLEXING, THE DEFLECTORS REPEATEDLY FAIL AS A RESULT OF THEIR DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THE DEFLECTORS ARE OBVIOUSLY DESIGNED TO BE FLEXIBLE BY FUSING HARD RUBBER TO HARD PLASTIC. HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF FLEXING, THE DEFLECTORS FAIL AT THE SEAM WHERE THE HARD RUBBER IS FUSED TO THE HARD PLASTIC. MINI HAS REPLACED ONE SET OF DEFECTIVE DEFLECTORS, WHICH PROMPTLY FAILED WITHIN WEEKS UNDER NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. MINI REFUSES TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE DEFLECTORS. BMW NORTH AMERICA, LLC REPEATEDLY REFUSES TO RESPOND TO INQUIRIES REGARDING WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE DEFLECTORS IN PLACE. SUCH REPEATED REFUSAL BY BMW NORTH AMERICA, LLC IMPLIES THAT THE VEHICLE IS INDEED NOT SAFE TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE DEFLECTORS IN PLACE. BMW NORTH AMERICA, LLC REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THE DEFLECTORS ARE DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED, CITING 'OUTSIDE INFLUENCES' (WITHOUT EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT IS MEANT THEREBY) AS THE CAUSE OF THE REPEATED FAILURE OF THE DEFLECTORS. THE FUSING OF HARD RUBBER TO HARD PLASTIC ON A PART SUCH AS THE DEFLECTORS WHICH ARE TO BE FASTENED TO A CAR WITH SUCH A LOW GROUND CLEARANCE REPRESENTS A DESIGN SPECIFICALLY MEANT TO BE FLEXIBLE IN RESPONSE TO 'OUTSIDE INFLUENCES,' AND WHEN SUCH PART FAILS AT THE SEAM OF THE TWO DIFFERING SUBSTANCES, THE DESIGN IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST AND A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE FROM THE FRONT BRAKES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE DEFLECTORS AND POTENTIALLY CREATING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE RETAINED THE HARD RUBBER AND HARD PLASTIC PIECES OF THE DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED DEFLECTORS FOR INSPECTION. *TR

DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF TWO DEFLECTORS (UNDER THE VEHICLE'S FRONT BUMPER ' ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE CAR) APPARENTLY DESIGNED TO FLEX WHEN, AS A RESULT OF THE VEHICLE'S LOW GROUND CLEARANCE, SUCH DEFLECTORS CONTACT THE GROUND DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE (E.G., ON DRIVEWAY APRONS, SPEED BUMPS, ETC.). INSTEAD OF FLEXING, THE DEFLECTORS REPEATEDLY FAIL AS A RESULT OF THEIR DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THE DEFLECTORS ARE OBVIOUSLY DESIGNED TO BE FLEXIBLE BY FUSING HARD RUBBER TO HARD PLASTIC. HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF FLEXING, THE DEFLECTORS FAIL AT THE SEAM WHERE THE HARD RUBBER IS FUSED TO THE HARD PLASTIC. MINI HAS REPLACED ONE SET OF DEFECTIVE DEFLECTORS, WHICH PROMPTLY FAILED WITHIN WEEKS UNDER NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. MINI REFUSES TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE DEFLECTORS. BMW NORTH AMERICA, LLC REPEATEDLY REFUSES TO RESPOND TO INQUIRIES REGARDING WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE DEFLECTORS IN PLACE. SUCH REPEATED REFUSAL BY BMW NORTH AMERICA, LLC IMPLIES THAT THE VEHICLE IS INDEED NOT SAFE TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE DEFLECTORS IN PLACE. BMW NORTH AMERICA, LLC REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THE DEFLECTORS ARE DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED, CITING 'OUTSIDE INFLUENCES' (WITHOUT EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT IS MEANT THEREBY) AS THE CAUSE OF THE REPEATED FAILURE OF THE DEFLECTORS. THE FUSING OF HARD RUBBER TO HARD PLASTIC ON A PART SUCH AS THE DEFLECTORS WHICH ARE TO BE FASTENED TO A CAR WITH SUCH A LOW GROUND CLEARANCE REPRESENTS A DESIGN SPECIFICALLY MEANT TO BE FLEXIBLE IN RESPONSE TO 'OUTSIDE INFLUENCES,' AND WHEN SUCH PART FAILS AT THE SEAM OF THE TWO DIFFERING SUBSTANCES, THE DESIGN IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST AND A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE FROM THE FRONT BRAKES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE DEFLECTORS AND POTENTIALLY CREATING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE RETAINED THE HARD RUBBER AND HARD PLASTIC PIECES OF THE DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED DEFLECTORS FOR INSPECTION. *TR

DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF TWO DEFLECTORS (UNDER THE VEHICLE'S FRONT BUMPER ' ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE CAR) APPARENTLY DESIGNED TO FLEX WHEN, AS A RESULT OF THE VEHICLE'S LOW GROUND CLEARANCE, SUCH DEFLECTORS CONTACT THE GROUND DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE (E.G., ON DRIVEWAY APRONS, SPEED BUMPS, ETC.). INSTEAD OF FLEXING, THE DEFLECTORS REPEATEDLY FAIL AS A RESULT OF THEIR DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THE DEFLECTORS ARE OBVIOUSLY DESIGNED TO BE FLEXIBLE BY FUSING HARD RUBBER TO HARD PLASTIC. HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF FLEXING, THE DEFLECTORS FAIL AT THE SEAM WHERE THE HARD RUBBER IS FUSED TO THE HARD PLASTIC. MINI HAS REPLACED ONE SET OF DEFECTIVE DEFLECTORS, WHICH PROMPTLY FAILED WITHIN WEEKS UNDER NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. MINI REFUSES TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE DEFLECTORS. BMW NORTH AMERICA, LLC REPEATEDLY REFUSES TO RESPOND TO INQUIRIES REGARDING WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE DEFLECTORS IN PLACE. SUCH REPEATED REFUSAL BY BMW NORTH AMERICA, LLC IMPLIES THAT THE VEHICLE IS INDEED NOT SAFE TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE DEFLECTORS IN PLACE. BMW NORTH AMERICA, LLC REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THE DEFLECTORS ARE DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED, CITING 'OUTSIDE INFLUENCES' (WITHOUT EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT IS MEANT THEREBY) AS THE CAUSE OF THE REPEATED FAILURE OF THE DEFLECTORS. THE FUSING OF HARD RUBBER TO HARD PLASTIC ON A PART SUCH AS THE DEFLECTORS WHICH ARE TO BE FASTENED TO A CAR WITH SUCH A LOW GROUND CLEARANCE REPRESENTS A DESIGN SPECIFICALLY MEANT TO BE FLEXIBLE IN RESPONSE TO 'OUTSIDE INFLUENCES,' AND WHEN SUCH PART FAILS AT THE SEAM OF THE TWO DIFFERING SUBSTANCES, THE DESIGN IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST AND A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE FROM THE FRONT BRAKES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE DEFLECTORS AND POTENTIALLY CREATING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE RETAINED THE HARD RUBBER AND HARD PLASTIC PIECES OF THE DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED DEFLECTORS FOR INSPECTION. *TR

2009 MINI COOPER S, ONLY 3600 MILES, SUFFERS FROM WHAT IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS COLD START RATTLE/KNOCK. UPON STARTING DEAD COLD ENGINE, A LOUD AND VIOLENT SYNCOPATED KNOCK (SIMILAR TO A METAL HAMMER HITTING METAL) EMANATES FROM THE ENGINE ON THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT SIDE, AND LASTS FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN 3600 MILES, BOTH TIMES CAR PARKED WITH NOSE TILTING DOWN. AMBIENT TEMPS AROUND 30-40 DEGREES F. NOTIFIED DEALER BOTH TIMES. *TR

DURING HEAVY RAIN, THE FRONT WINDOWS OPEN COMPLETELY UNCOMMANDED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONLY ONE TIME. EVERYTHING IN THE CAR, EXCEPT THE HEADLINER, WAS WET. WATER WAS STANDING MORE THAN ONE INCH DEEP ON THE FLOOR. THE FRONT AND REAR SEATS HAD STANDING WATER. THE DASH BOARD WAS WET. THE DOOR STORAGE AREAS HAD STANDING WATER. THE DASH BOARD VENTS HAD WATER STANDING IN THEM. THE A AND B PILLARS WERE DRIPPING WATER. WATER WAS STANDING IN THE TRAY UNDERNEATH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SWITCHES ON IT WERE SOAKED. THE DEALER DRIED THE CAR AND REPLACED A SENSOR IN THE DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. THE DEALER SAID THAT A REDESIGNED PART FROM MINI WAS INSTALLED. *TR

I HAVE A 2009 MINI COOPER S. THE OVERHEAD PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THERE IS AN ADULT SIZED PASSENGER RIDING IN THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AND I HAVE WITNESSED IT ABOUT EIGHT TIMES BETWEEN 10/2/08 AND 11/26/08. WHEN THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, IT STAYS ON FOR THE DURATION OF THE TRIP. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO MINI SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON THREE OCCASIONS FOR A TOTAL OF 21 DAYS IN THE SHOP AND THEIR DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER CANNOT IDENTIFY AN ERROR SO THE PROBLEM REMAINS UNRESOLVED. THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY SYSTEM AND MAY CAUSE DEATH OR SERIOUS BODILY INJURY IF NOT ADDRESSED. *TR