NHTSA Complaint #10853923 — 2013 MINI COOPER S

ON SATURDAY MARCH 19TH, 2016 I EXPERIENCED A MAJOR VEHICLE MALFUNCTION WITH MY 2013 MINI PACEMAN S. WHILE TRAVELING NB ON THE 15 FREEWAY IN THE #1 OR FAST LANE, I SLOWED FOR TRAFFIC TO A STOP, IMMEDIATELY THE CAR TEMPERATURE LIGHT TURNED ON AND WITHIN SECONDS IT CHANGED TO THE HALF ENGINE LIGHT. DURING THIS TIME I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL 3 TIMES TO ATTEMPT TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC LANES TO PREVENT INJURY AND THE CAR DIED. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF THE FAST LANE ONTO THE SHOULDER WHERE I SAT WITH 3 CHILDREN INSIDE THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. WHILE WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK A CHP (CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL) OFFICER PULLED UP BEHIND ME AND CONTACTED ME AT THE DRIVER WINDOW WHICH I HAD ROLLED DOWN. HE ASKED WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE CAR AND I EXPLAINED THAT IT HAD DIED. HE ASKED ME TO MOVE IT TO A SAFER LOCATION AND I EXPLAINED THAT I COULDN'T. HE ASKED ME TO GET OUT AND HE GOT INTO THE DRIVER SEAT TO ATTEMPT TO GET THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. HE WAS ABLE TO, AND HE PUSHED IT MAYBE 5 FEET DOWN THE SLIGHT SLOPE. HE USED THE EMERGENCY BREAK TO STOP IT AND LEFT IT THERE TO WAIT FOR THE TOW TRUCK. LACK OF A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON A CAR WITH COMMON FAILURE ITEMS SUCH AS 'LEAKING OIL PUMP DRIVE UNITS' THAT ALLOW THE ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK OUT SHOULD HAVE AN INDICATOR LIGHT TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM BEFORE THE PROBLEM IS HUGE AND CAN'T BE FIXED. WHEN WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING OUT?