NHTSA Complaint #10456305 — 2003 MINI COOPER

THE XENON IGNITER COMPONENT IN THE LEFT HEADLAMP HAS INTERMITTENT FUNCTION, FREQUENTLY CAUSING THE BULB NOT TO LIGHT. THE QUOTED REPAIR COST BY THE DEALER IS IN EXCESS OF $800 BECAUSE THE IGNITER PART IS NOT A REPLACEABLE COMPONENT (THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSY IS REPLACED). THE ORIGINAL OEM BULB IN THE AFFECTED LEFT HEADLAMP WAS REPLACED BY MINI DURING ITS WARRANTY PERIOD AND THIS WAS NOT REPORTED TO ME (THE LEFT AND RIGHT BULBS DID NOT MATCH UPON MY EXAMINATION OF THEM WHEN FIRST OBSERVING THIS PROBLEM). $800 TO FIX A LIGHT BULB IS RIDICULOUS, AND I'VE BEEN LIVING WITH THIS SAFETY HAZARD SINCE I OBSERVED IT IN SEPTEMBER 2010. BMW USA SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE COMPONENT. *TR