NHTSA Complaint #10532837 — 2009 MINI COOPER S CLUBMAN

AFTER COMPLAINING TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES PRIOR, WE BROUGHT IN OUR MINI FOR SERVICE WITH A COLD-START RATTLE THAT WAS RELATED TO THE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM. THE DEALERSHIP IN ST. LOUIS REPLACED ONLY THE TENSIONER, EVEN THOUGH ACCORDING TO STANDARD PROTOCOL (PUMA MEASURE #10686850-13) THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE ENTIRE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM. WHEN THE RATTLE RETURNED A COUPLE THOUSAND MILES LATER WE BROUGHT IT BACK AND THEY TOLD US THAT IT WAS A "NORMAL NOISE" AND SENT US ON OUR WAY. THE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM EVENTUALLY BROKE DOWN, BUT BECAUSE WE WERE NOW OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT. I WOULD ADVISE ANYONE DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE TO PURSUE THE LEMON LAW, BECAUSE MINI IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND ISN'T FIXING IT AS THEY KNOW THEY SHOULD. WE GAVE THEM AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX THE ISSUE, AND BECAUSE OF THEIR NEGLIGENCE WE ENDED UP WITH A VEHICLE THAT DIDN'T RUN. *TR