NHTSA Complaint #10874574 — 2017 MINI COOPER

I RECENTLY TEST DROVE A MINI COOPER CLUBMAN S. I DID NOT LIKE THE VEHICLE, AND ONE OF THE REASONS IS THE WAY THE LIGHTING (FRONT AND REAR) IS DESIGNED. THE REAR OF THE CAR HAS VERY LARGE LIGHTS THAT GO ACROSS THE 'BARN DOORS' THAT APPEAR TO BE BRAKE LIGHTS. WHEN I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP I NOTICED ANOTHER CLUBMAN IN THE PARKING LOT BEING PARKED WASN'T LIGHTING UP THE LARGE LIGHTS AS IT SLOWLY BACKED INTO A PARKING SPACE. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION I REALIZED THE LARGE LIGHTS ON THE REAR DOORS ACTUALLY DO NOT LIGHT UP WHEN BRAKING. INSTEAD THERE ARE VERY SMALL LIGHTS AT THE ABSOLUTE BOTTOM OF THE BUMPER THAT INDICATE BRAKING. NOT ONLY ARE THE LIGHTS IN AN INAPPROPRIATE LOCATION BUT THEY ARE SO SMALL YOU DON'T EVEN NOTICE THEM. WHEN YOU EXPECT YOU ARE LOOKING AT BRAKE LIGHTS AND SOMEONE IN FRONT OF YOU BRAKES, YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW THAT ACTUALLY YOU HAVE TO LOOK DOWN ALMOST TO THE GROUND TO SEE THEIR INDICATOR LIGHT UP. THESE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WHY WOULD THE LARGE LIGHTS ON THE BARN DOORS IN YOUR LINE OF SIGHT THAT ARE PROBABLY 70% OF THE WIDTH OF THE CAR NOT BE THE BRAKE LIGHTS? IT IS DANGEROUS AND BMW-MINI SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL AND/OR STOP SELLING THESE VEHICLES UNTIL THIS ISSUE IS CORRECTED. I WOULD NOT PUT MYSELF OR MY FAMILY IN JEOPARDY DRIVING ONE OF THESE POORLY DESIGNED VEHICLES. PLEASE SEE THE LINK TO A WEBSITE WHERE OTHER PEOPLE EXPRESS THEIR CONCERN TOO. HTTPS://M.REDDIT.COM/R/CARS/COMMENTS/3MJ3XE/2016_MINI_CLUBMAN_HAS_THE_STUPIDEST_BRAKE_LIGHTS/?UTM_SOURCE=MWEB_REDIRECT&COMPACT=FALSE