NHTSA Complaint #11079020 — 2015 MINI COOPER

PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE 34,500 MILES, WHILE THE DEALER REPAIRED THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY THEY INFORMED ME ABOUT THE CLUTCH BEING TOO SMALL TO DOWNSHIFT THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN. I DIDN'T SPEND NORTHWARDS OF 40K ON A SPORTS CAR ONLY TO BE TOLD ALL SLOWING DOWN SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. YOU BUY A STICK SHIFT CAR TO BE ABLE TO DO THESE THINGS NORMALLY. TO BE TOLD BY THE DEALERS SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THE CLUTCH IS INADEQUATE FOR THIS NORMAL DRIVING PRACTICE WAS QUITE A SURPRISE HAD THE SALESPERSON TOLD ME THIS I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I GUESS THE REAL SURPRISE WILL BE WHEN IT GOES OUT AGAIN AND I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE A DESIGN FLAW REPAIRED AT MY OWN EXPENSE. THIS CLUTCH PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE PREVALENT IN THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE VERSION WHERE APPARENTLY THE FRICTION COEFFICIENT OF 4 WHEELS TO THE PAVEMENT EXCEEDS THAT OF THE CLUTCH.