NHTSA Complaint #10212868 — 2005 MINI COOPER

I COMPLAINED TO MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP ABOUT NOISE COMING FROM UNDERSIDE OF THE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND THE LAST TIME I COMPLAINED THEY BLAMED IT ON "WORN TIRES". AT 52,000 MILES I NOTICED A HIGH PITCH SQUEALING FROM UNDER THE CAR WHEN I HAD THE CLUTCH PRESSED IN. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO MINI SERVICE, THEY SAID THAT "CLUTCH MATERIAL PROBABLY GOT CAUGHT IN THE FINGERS OF THE CLUTCH". THEY SAID THAT SINCE MY WARRANTY WAS UP (OVER AT 50,000 MILES) AND THAT THIS WAS A "FRICTION MATERIAL" ISSUE, THE COST OF THE REPAIR ($2,200 - $2,800) WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. SINCE THIS COST WAS SO HIGH AND THE EARLY FAILURE SO FAR OUTSIDE OF NORMAL EXPECTED DUTY TIME, I REFUSED THE SERVICE. SINCE THERE ARE MANY REPORTED CASES OF EARLY CLUTCH FAILURE AND FLYWHEEL FIELD UPGRADES, I CONTACTED MINI USA AND ASKED FOR MY ISSUE TO BE REVIEWED AS A WARRANTY ISSUE. THEY WOULD NOT AGREE TO COVER THE REPAIR, BUT SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY AT LEAST $700 TO CHECK OUT TO EVEN CONSIDER THIS AS A WARRANTY. THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO BRING THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP FOR REVIEW. SINCE INDEPENDENT SHOPS CHARGE ABOUT HALF THE AMOUNT FOR CLUTCH REPLACEMENT, I WANTED THAT OPTION IN CASE MINI REFUSED TO COVER ANY COSTS. THE MINI CS REFERENCE NUMBER FOR THIS ISSUE IS 2000736002924. ON 12/25 (CHRISTMAS DAY) MY CLUTCH FAILED COMPLETELY. SINCE MINI IS NOT WILLING TO GIVE ANY MATERIAL SUPPORT TO THIS ISSUE, AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER CASES OF EARLY CLUTCH FAILURE REPORTED I OPENED THIS COMPLAINT TO SEE IF NHTSA COULD HELP RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR