NHTSA Complaint #10823672 — 2015 MINI COOPER

THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT STANDING WATER FROM THE CUP HOLDER HAD SPILLED DOWN INTO THE SHIFTER CONTROL BOX AND RUINED THE ASSEMBLY. FURTHERMORE, BECAUSE THIS WAS DEEMED TO BE 'EXTERNAL FORCES' THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WILL COST ME OVER $1100.00 TO FIX IT . I COULDN'T IMAGINE THAT I HAVE HAD 'STANDING WATER' IN MY CUPHOLDER, AND THAT THIS WATER COULD HAVE SOMEHOW DAMAGED A SHIFTER CONTROL BOX THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SEALED INT THE FIRST PLACE. WITH FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MINI AS THE CUP HOLDERS HAVE TWO SCREWS IN THE BOTTOM THAT ALLOW FOR LEAKAGE DIRECTLY INTO THE SHIFTER CONTROL BOX THAT IS PLACED DIRECTLY UNDER IT. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE MINI; 1. THE CUP HOLDER LEAKS, 2. THE SHIFTER CONTROL BOX IS LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDER THIS POTENTIAL LEAK, AND 3. THE SHIFTER CONTROL BOX IS NOT SEALED. I SPOKE WITH BOTH MY SERVICE MANAGER AT MINI OF MURRY IN SALT LAKE CITY AS WELL AS TWO CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES (1866- ASK-MINI) WHO INFORMED ME THAT THERE WOULD BE NO RESOLUTION WITH THIS MATTER AND THAT I WOULD INDEED HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIR. MY MINI HAS LESS THAN 16,000 MILES ON IT, AND I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED WITH THE DESIGN FLAW OF THIS CAR. CLEARLY IF THERE IS A LEAK IN A CUP (FROM THE TEETH OF THE CUPHOLDER!) THAT COULD DAMAGE THE SHIFTER CONTROL, THIS COULD LEAD TO A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE DRIVING.