NHTSA Complaint #10399444 — 2003 MINI COOPER

THE CAR, A 2003 MINI COPPER, SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN WHILE I APPLIED BRAKE IN A EVENING TRAFFIC THAT WAS SLOWING DOWN NEAR A LIGHT/SIGNAL. IT FELT LIKE A STALL AND A LOSS OF POWER. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, AND ON CONFUSION, I TRIED TO ADJUST THE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE. AT THAT POINT, THE CAR'S POWER CAME BACK AND THE CAR ROLLED FORWARD AND HIT THE TRAILER HITCH OF THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME, CAUSING A 2' DENT AND CRACK ON THE FRONT BUMPER. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS A LOW-SPEED IMPACT AND DID NOT CAUSE ANY PERSONAL INJURY. SINCE THIS WAS AN UNUSUAL EXPERIENCE, I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER CHECKING THE WEB. THEY SUGGESTED CHECKING THE SOFTWARE VERSION ($90) AND A REVISION ($180). THE COST OF FIXING THE BUMPER WOULD BE MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT. *TR