[HARMINI]

NHTSA - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (U.S. Department of Transportation) has a website for complaints . I tried to register a complaint for my CVT stalling problems, both with the secure and non-secure forms, but their program has a bug and when I try to submit the info, I get an error message stating that the Vehicle/year/make is invalid. Upon searching for other 2003 MC complaints, I found one, but it was for tires on a Mobile home, not an MC. I will call NHTSA later to see if this can be corrected and then all of us with stalling problems can submit claims. If enough of us do this, NHTSA will investigate further.

I believe that those of us with problematic CVTs have been more than patient with MINI, but stalling while driving is a major safety issue and should be documented.

EDIT>> I just called NHTSA 1-888-DASH-2-DOT(1-888-327-4236)
and was able to register a complaint over the phone. They will be mailing me a copy of the complaint for me to sign and return.

[Smokey 4]

That they don't list the Cooper S as a model for the 2002 build year. When I submitted mine concerning the windshield I used the Cooper as my Base model and stated in the description that it was for a MCS.

I don't know how or if you'd want to adjust your entry, but agree that others need to post data so that these problems get the same coverage as the "Cup Holder" concerns noted in the JD Powers survey.

[cooper4us]

Get MINIUSA involved. Call Jenn at 1-866-ASK-MINI ext #8474.

[BruceK]

Will the MINIUSA site work to report a faulty NHTSA ?

[HARMINI]

I was wondering the same thing Bruce. How is Jenn at MINIUSA gonna help me with problems at the NHTSA site?

MINIUSA has also been notified of my problem, Cooper4us. They received a letter from me stating that I believe my vehicle is a lemon and that they have 10 days to remedy the stalling problem.

[cooper4us]

Hmm OK, I was not implying that MINIUSA was going to fix the NHTSA website, rather, to have them get involved in your case in addition to your NHTSA vehicle complaint.

Best of luck.

[Smokey 4]

MINIUSA knows about my issue

Talking to them was pointless. So much so it still bothers me to see them post replies like this one "I’m with MINI USA. I’m sorry to read about your problem with your MINI. If you want our assistance, please phone us at (866) ASK MINI." on these message boards. A more accurate message might be: "I hear you but I can't help you, that's a dealer issue"

Sorry for the crankiness, but check out anyone of the broken/cracked windshield threads to see where I'm coming from.

[mr.bill]

When I wrote to BMW and expressed my concerns about some of the obvious design flaws on the MINI, the only letters I received were essentially "Thank you for contacting us. Your letter has been forwarded to the appropriate department." I never received any further replies. That's another way of saying "Your letter has been forwarded to the trash can." Apparently they don't want me as a customer because I won't tolerate low quality. In the case of MINI USA, I have long suspected they hired "Sgt. Schultz" (I know nothing, nothing...) of "Hogan's Heroes" and "Manuel" (Que?) of Fawlty Towers to handle complaints. Admitting there are problems is the first step in solving them.

[cooper4us]

9 months of ownership and ZERO problems, Billy.