NHTSA Complaint #10897925 — 2011 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN

A JUNE 2016 LEAK IN THE OIL PUMP SOLENOID VALVE RESULTED IN REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE DME (INCLUDING PROGRAMMING) AND THE ENGINE HARNESS. THIS ISSUE PRESENTED A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE IT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND RESULTED IN EXTREME SLUGGISHNESS OF THE ACCELERATOR. SAFECAR.GOV IDENTIFIED MINI SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETINS THAT ADDRESS THE LEAK FROM THE SOLENOID AS EARLY AS 2012. MORE THAN ONE SERVICE BULLETIN (SI M11 01 12 DATED 6/2012, 1/2013, 1/2014) WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO DEALERSHIPS THAT OUTLINED THE PROBLEM AND REPAIR FOR THIS ISSUE. SINCE THIS ISSUE PRESENTS SAFETY PROBLEMS WHEN DRIVING THE CAR, WE ASSERT THE PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROACTIVELY FIXED. SINCE MINI USA HAS NOT DONE SO, THERE SHOULD BE A GOVERNMENT RECALL TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. FURTHERMORE, WHEN THE PROBLEM MANIFESTED IN OUR CAR WE WERE EXPECTED TO COVER THE REPAIR COST. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE TO US SINCE THE DEALERSHIP KNEW ABOUT YET WAS NOT PROACTIVE IN PREVENTING THE SAFETY ISSUE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT WHEN WE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY REIMBURSED LESS THAN HALF OF THE REPAIR COSTS.