NHTSA Complaint #11479295 — 2017 MINI COUNTRYMAN

On 3/24/22 I was driving on the highway at approximately 1:30am my car made a loud noise and dropped down a bit on the front passenger side. At the same there was a cloud of smoke that came up from the same side. I pulled my car slowly off into the breakdown lane. Got out of my car to see what happened. The passenger tire was blown out. Had the car towed to Bedford, NH mini. They determined the Right front Coil Spring had snapped and a piece of it blew out the tire. Of note, I had not hit a pothole. They replaced it. I returned to the same place within a week because I heard creaking in the same area of that coil Spring. They inspected it and said it was fine. Between that time and the electrical fire I had the front light bulb on the passenger side replaced as it had burned out. On 7/31 at approximately 5:30am I had called valet parking to bring my car around at the Hotel I had stayed at. My friend noticed that light bulb on the passenger was once again burned out. We got in the car and I noticed the smell of smoke. I looked at my dash quickly and saw nothing. Then I saw smoke coming up from under my hood. Got out to check and noticed flames under my hood. I quickly alerted the desk clerk to call 911. It took approximately 3 minutes for them to arrive. By then the front right end was fully engulfed ing flames.