NHTSA Complaint #10680181 — 2009 MINI COOPER

THE ENGINE WAS RATTLING HEAVILY WHEN THE CAR IGNITION WAS ON AROUND 5 PM AT THE WORKPLACE PARKING LOT . IN THE MEANTIME, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THE CAR FAILED TO DELIVER THE POWER TO THE TRANSMISSION. A FEW DAYS LATE, MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND DIAGNOSED WITH LEAK OIL FROM ONE OF TIMING BELT TENSIONERS AND A BROKEN TENSIONER. THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACE THE BROKEN ONE WITH A NEW TIMING BELT KIT TOGETHER WITH TENSIONERS AS A GOODWILL FROM THE MINI COOPER USA (85% WARRANTY DEDUCTIBLE). EVEN THOUGH, I FELT THE QUALITY OF THIS IMPORTANT ENGINE PARTS WAS UNACCEPTABLE WITH SUCH A LOW MILEAGE ON THE CAR. THE TIMING BELT OF THIS MODEL WAS A METAL CHAIN LOCATED INSIDE THE ENGINE BOX AND SUPPOSED TO LAST LIFE-LONG WITHOUT WORRY. I WAS LUCKY THAT THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED JUST IN THE PARKING LOT. I COULD NOT IMAGINE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES IF THIS INCIDENT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I SINCERELY BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURE BMW/MINI SHOULD BE FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH A DEFECT PRODUCT AND A PROPER ACTION BY THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TO AVOID SUCH AN INCIDENT HAPPENING TO OTHER CUSTOMERS WHO OWN THIS MODEL. *TR