NHTSA Complaint #10559198 — 2007 MINI COOPER S

THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES AND TENSIONER IN THE MINI COOPER ARE MADE FROM PLASTIC. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN CREATED BY MINI USA TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, BUT NO RECALL. AS I WAS DRIVING HOME, MAKING A TURN ACROSS A BUSY INTERSECTION, MY TENSIONER BROKE, WHICH CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAD TO GET OUT OF MY VEHICLE AND PUSH IT ACROSS THE INTERSECTION WHILE CARS WERE DRIVING BY. ALTHOUGH IT IS COMMON FOR VEHICLE ENGINES TO DIE OF DIFFERENT ISSUES, THIS IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED AND ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM FOR MINI COOPERS, BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH OF A PUBLIC OUTCRY FOR A RECALL. THE SITUATION IS DANGEROUS, AS IT CAN CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE WHICH CAN RESULT IN A COLLISION. THE REMEDY IS A REPLACEMENT OF A MANUFACTURER-ACKNOWLEDGED FAULTY PART. *TR