NHTSA Complaint #10251884 — 2003 MINI COOPER

MY CAR'S RIGHT REAR CONTROL ARM HAD BROKEN IN HALF. THIS ARM PREVENTS THE TIRE FROM SWINGING SIDEWAYS. LUCKY FOR ME, I WAS GOING SLOWLY AT THE TIME. THE CONTROL ARM CONSISTS OF TWO 1/4" PIECES OF METAL WITH HOLES IN THEM AT EVENLY SPACED POINTS. BOTH OF THE METAL ARMS WERE BROKEN IN LINE WITH THE HOLES THAT WERE PART OF THE MANUFACTURED DESIGN. I PAID $1900 FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH UNIVERSAL UNDERWRITERS(NOW CALLED ZURICH) AT MINI OF CONCORD, CALIFORNIA. CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT IS LISTED AS COVERED. THEIR REASON FOR NOT COVERING IT IS BECAUSE IT HAS A SLIGHT BEND IN IT (I DON'T SEE IT) AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THAT IT EVENTUALLY BROKE. THE METAL THAT MAKES UP THIS ARM IS NO MORE THAN 1/4" THICK: POORLY MADE, ESPECIALLY WHEN COUPLED WITH THESE HOLES THAT ARE IN IT. THIS PART SHOULD BE MADE TO WITHSTAND IMPACT. TO ME IT IS OBVIOUS THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND I AM APPALLED THAT NEITHER THE DEALER OR THE INSURANCE COMPANY THAT I BOUGHT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM WILL PAY FOR IT. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD I BEEN ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I HAVE GONE FROM A MINI LOVER TO ONE WHO WILL SELL IT AFTER I'M ABLE TO AFFORD TO REPAIR IT. I AM CURRENTLY PRICE COMPARING IN PRIVATE REPAIR SHOPS. *TR