NHTSA Complaint #10442833 — 2006 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE

THE MOTOR MOUNT ON THE MINI COOPER IS NOTORIOUS FOR LEAKING HYDRAULIC FLUID AND NEEDING REPLACEMENT AFTER FEWER THAN 20,000 MILES OF SERVICE. MINE SHOWED FLUID LEAKAGE AT 18,000 MILES, AND MANY OTHERS ON THE INTERNET REPORT THIS DEFECT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 10,000 MILES. THE COMPANY HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN M22 01 06 FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT TREAT THIS CHRONIC AND DANGEROUS CONDITION AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THIS DEFECT COULD ALLOW THE MOTOR TO SHIFT, LEADING TO ACCIDENTS AND LOSS OF LIFE. HAVING BEEN AN AUTOMOTIVE MECHANIC FOR YEARS, I NORMALLY EXPECT A MOTOR MOUNT TO LAST ABOUT 75,000 MILES. THIS UNACKNOWLEDGED MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS UNSAFE AND COSTLY TO REPAIR. FOR EXAMPLE, I HAD IT REPAIRED AT MINI OF NORTH SCOTTSDALE (AZ) AND IT COST ME ABOUT $245. *TR