NHTSA Complaint #10817863 — 2005 MINI COOPER

IN COLD WEATHER THE DRIVER SIDE PARKING BRAKE FREEZES/STICKS. ONE OF MANY EXAMPLES WAS THIS MORNING. IT WAS 27 DEGREES IN MY GARAGE AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE WITH NO PROBLEMS, I DROVE FOR A FEW MILES WITH THE CAR FULLY WARMED UP. I STOPPED FOR COFFEE AND LEFT THE CAR RUNNING (WIFE IN CAR) AND RETURNED NO MORE THAN 5 MINUTES LATER. WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT RELEASED ALL THE WAY. AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE THE PASSENGER REAR BRAKE WAS COOL TO THE TOUCH BUT THE DRIVER SIDE WAS RADIATING HEAT AND SMELLED OF BURNING BRAKES. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE FLAW AND CAN BE DANGEROUS. THE REAR CALIPERS ARE RELATIVELY NEW AND THE BRAKE FLUID IS FLUSHED EVERY TWO YEARS. I ALSO HAVE A 2006 MINI COOPER THAT DOES NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH PROVIDES NUMEROUS EXAMPLES ALL SEEM TO BE ISOLATED IN THE 2004-2005 YEARS AND IN COLD CLIMATES.