NHTSA Complaint #10382631 — 2003 MINI COOPER S

MINI COOPER DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED USING EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES UNDER CERTAIN FREEZING CONDITIONS. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES DURING FREEZING WEATHER, USUALLY WHEN SNOW OR ICE IS PRESENT. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE DOORS. AT TIMES, IT OCCURS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR MANY HOURS WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW FREEZING. HOWEVER, IT CAN ALSO OCCUR AFTER THE DOOR HAS BEEN OPENED AND THE VEHICLE DRIVEN FOR 30 MINUTES OR MORE. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS, NEITHER THE INSIDE NOR OUTSIDE HANDLES WILL OPEN THE DOOR. THE ONLY RECOURSE IS TO EXIT (OR ENTER) THE VEHICLE USING THE OTHER DOOR (SO FAR THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN INSTANCE WHEN BOTH DOORS FROZE) AND WAIT FOR THE CONDITION TO RECTIFY ITSELF. *TR