NHTSA Complaint #10519389 — 2005 MINI COOPER

2005 MINI COOPER 2-DOOR CONVERTIBLE: THE LEFT REAR UPPER AND LOWER (ORIGINAL/FACTORY) CONTROL ARMS (METAL STRUT) FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD; WARNING SIGN WAS A SLIGHT NOISE FROM THE REAR LEFT TIRE, WHICH WENT AWAY WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL SLIGHTLY LEFT, THEN CAME BACK WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT. (SOUNDED LIKE INTERMITTENT RUBBING/ TIRE ISSUE.) THE CAR WAS DRIVING NORMALLY AND THE TIRE LOW PRESSURE INDICATOR LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. WHILE TURNING OFF MAIN ROAD TO INVESTIGATE, SECOND CONTROL ARM FAILED AND CAR CAME DOWN TO REST ON REAR TIRE AND WOULD NOT ROLL FORWARD. UNEXPECTED AND COMPLETE FAILURE WITH CLEAN FRACTURE TO BOTH CONTROL ARMS. NO COLLISION OCCURRED TO THE VEHICLE/PART. VEHICLE NOT RUSTED. GOOGLE SEARCH BRINGS UP MANY OTHER MINI COOPER POSTS OF THIS CONTROL ARM FAILING UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER IS VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY (THAT THEY HAD RECENTLY EXITED). OTHERS POSTING ONLINE HAVE EXPERIENCED 'UNCONTROLLED 180 SPINS' WHEN THEIRS FAILED. CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT THE ORIGINAL FACTORY CONTROL ARMS ON OTHER SIDE MAY EXHIBIT SAME UNEXPECTED FAILURE IN THE FUTURE. NOT CLEAR IF THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW OR MATERIALS/PARTS BAD BATCH. MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEE MENTIONED THE SAME FAILURE (TO HIS PERSONAL CAR) WITH NO WARNING RECENTLY. ONLINE POSTS OF CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME UNEXPECTED FAILURE: HTTP://WWW.MINI2.COM/FORUM/FIRST-GENERATION-FAULTS-FIXES/80969-REAR-SUSPENSION-FAILURE.HTML HTTP://WWW.MINI2.COM/FORUM/FIRST-GENERATION-FAULTS-FIXES/108796-REAR-CONTROL-ARM-ISSUES.HTML HTTP://WWW.MINI2.COM/FORUM/FIRST-GENERATION-FAULTS-FIXES/69981-BROKEN-PART-UNDERSIDE-WHATS-CALLED.HTML HTTP://WWW.PSMINI.ORG/FORUM/EXPENSIVE-REPAIR-CONTROL-ARM-BUSHINGS-AND-STRUTS_TOPIC6569.HTML