NHTSA Complaint #10167739 — 2003 MINI COOPER

DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW DOES NOT OPEN WHEN TOGGLE IS DEPRESSED, DUE TO MOTOR FAILURE INSIDE THE DOOR. THIS ELIMINATES A MEANS OF EMERGENCY IN SITUATIONS WHERE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN. IT ALSO REDUCES MEANS OF COMMUNICATION WITH PERSONS OUTSIDE THE CAR UNLESS DOOR IS OPENED --AGAIN A CONCERN IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, PARTICULARLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, OR IN A MOVING VEHICLE AS THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THEIR HANDS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND OPEN THE DOOR. WINDOW POWER FAILURES HAVE HAPPENED ONLY IN SUMMER SO FAR. OTHER SYMPTOMS INCLUDE WINDOW "STUTTERING" AS IT IS OPENED/CLOSED; WINDOW STICKING BRIEFLY BEFORE IT OPENS AND WINDOW TOP EDGE CATCHING EDGE OF CAR AS IT CLOSES SO THAT THE WINDOW DOESN'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY. --ALL ELECTRICAL ISSUES. ACTIONS TAKEN: THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM MANY MINI OWNERS HAVE, AND REPLACEMENT MOTORS APPEAR TO WORK TEMPORARILY THEN DEVELOP THE SAME SYMPTOMS. HOPEFULLY, WE WILL NOT BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE NEED TO USE THE WINDOW AS AN EMERGENCY EXIT BEFORE A DEPENDABLE MOTOR IS PRODUCED! QUESTION: DOES THE POWER WINDOW SYSTEM MEET THE NHTSA STANDARDS IN TITLE 49, PART 571.118? *JB