NHTSA Complaint #10705134 — 2008 MINI COOPER

8;30 AM THREE CAR INTERSECTION ACCIDENT. TRAFFIC LIGHT CONTROLLED 4 WAY INTERSECTION, AUTO TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND RAN RED LIGHT AND COLLIDED WITH TWO CARS TRAVELING EAST BOUND THROUGH INTERSECTION AT APPROX 35 MPH.. 1ST CAR IMPACTED TOYOTA MINI VAN DRIVERS SIDE. FORCE OF ACCIDENT SO SEVERE THAT IT FORCED MINI VAN INTO MY AUTO. THE MINI VAN IMPACTED MY MINI PRIMARILY INTO MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. ALL THREE VEHICLES HAD TO BE TOWED FROM SCENE OF ACCIDENT. MY MINI COOPERS DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DEMOLISHED. FORCE OF IMPACT SO GREAT THE IT BENT THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE DRIVERS DOOR 3-4 INCHES ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR FACILITY IT WAS TOWED TO. VIP AUTO BODY. THE WINDOW THAT WAS APPROX 1/3 OPEN SHATTERED THE WINDOW. I SUSTAINED INJURIES TO NECK, BACK,SHOULDER AND RIGHT SIDE OF HEAD WHICH HIT THE DOOR PANEL UPON IMPACT. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH SINCE THIS ACCIDENT AND THERE ARE SEVERAL AIR BAGS AND SIDE DOOR IMPACT BAG CURTAINS IN THE MINI COOPER AND NONE OF THEM DEPLOYED. THERE IS AN ACTUAL SENSOR IN THE MIDDLE OF EACH DOOR TO ACTIVATE THE AIR BAGS, OBVIOUSLY THE ONE IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAS NOT WORKING. THIS CAR SUPPOSEDLY HAS A 5 STAR CRASH RATING ACCORDING TO MINI USA AND MY ORIGINAL WINDOW STICKER. I CONTACTED MINI USA THE DAY AFTER THE ACCIDENT, AND THEY INSTRUCTED ME NOT TO HAVE ANY REPAIRS DONE UNTIL ONE OF THERE TECH'S CAME OUT TO INSPECT THE MINI AND DO A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. I DID SO. THE TECH CAME OUT 5 DAYS LATER, AND A WEEK AFTER THAT THE RESULTS CAME IN AND MINI USA SAID EVERYTHING WAS WORKING PROPERLY AS FAR AS THE AIR BAGS. LIARS. ANYONE WITH ANY COMMON SENSE CAN SEE THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED WITH THE FORCE OF THIS IMPACT. THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ACCIDENT. MY MINI COOPER WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. ANY INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ACCIDENT WOULD BE VERY APPRECIATED MAYBE EVEN SAVING A LIFE IN THE FUTURE ....UPDATED 04/23/15 *BF