NHTSA Complaint #10759867 — 2010 MINI COOPER S

I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 MINI COOPER S 50-55 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE COME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FROM THEN ON, THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A RATTLING AND CLACKING NOISE AND THE OIL LIGHT EVENTUALLY CAME ON. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GOT OUT TO LOOK AT THE CAR. OIL WAS ALL OVER THE FRONTSIDE AND WHEELWELL OF THE CAR. ALL THE OIL HAD CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE. TOWED THE CAR TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED AND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER HAD BROKEN LOSE AND SOMEHOW THAT ALLOWED ALL THE OIL TO POUR OUT OF THE ENGINE. HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED FOR A COST OF A LITTLE OVER $5,000. A BMW SPECIALIST WANTED $8,500 TO DO THE SAME JOB. NOW MY NEW ENGINE THEY JUST INSTALLED IS LEAKING OIL FROM SOMEWHERE AND THERE'S A LIGHT CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IM SO AFRAID IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AGIAN, AND I KNOW THAT MINI USA WILL BE OF NO HELP. IT'S A SHAME THAT I HAD TO FIND OUT WHAT A TERRIBLE COMPANY THEY ARE IN THIS WAY. I NEEDED A RELIABLE CAR FOR MY NEW JOB AND ENDED UP WITH THE EXACT OPPOSITE, AN UNRELIABLE VEHICLE FROM A MANUFACTURER THAT HAS NO INTEGRITY WHATSOEVER. I LOVED THESE CARS, NOW I JUST HOPE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE.