What 36 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Mini Cooper S Hardtop

I OWNED A 2011 MINI COOPER S ("MINI") VEHICLE THAT CAUSED A FIRE AND INJURIES AT OUR HOME. THE FIRE WAS DISCOVERED WHILE THE MINI WAS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE WITH THE IGNITION OFF. THE FIRE DESTROYED OUR RESIDENCE, PERSONAL PROPERTY AND TWO VEHICLES, INCLUDING THE AFOREMENTIONED MINI. FIRE AUTHORITIES DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE MINI'S ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND A SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION YIELDED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE TO AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION FOR THE CIRCUIT BOARD ON THE AUXILIARY WATER PUMP. THE FAILURE IGNITED NEARBY COMBUSTIBLES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FAILURE WAS DETERMINED TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THAT DESCRIBED IN NHTSA SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN 12V-008, WHICH AFFECTED 88,911 BMW VEHICLES. IT IS UNKNOWN WHY OUR MINI WAS NOT RECALLED AND OR INCLUDED IN THAT CAMPAIGN. BMW MANUFACTURES MINIS, AS WELL AS OTHER VEHICLES, AND IT HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF SEVERAL RECENT NATIONAL MEDIA REPORTS INVOLVING NUMEROUS "UNEXPLAINED" VEHICLE FIRES FOR WHICH THEY HAVE NOT ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY OR PROVIDED PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATIONS FOR. TO DATE, BMW HAS FAILED TO DO EITHER OF THE LATTER WITH REGARDS TO OUR FIRE. THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING FILED FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENABLING THE NHTSA TO THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND IN SUPPORT OF ITS MISSION OF SAVING LIVES AND PREVENTING ADDITIONAL INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI 11120962

MY MINI COOPER WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE FOR OVER TWO WEEKS. ON AUGUST 10, 2017 I MOVED IT OUT OF THE GARAGE TO GET TO SOME THINGS IN MY GARAGE. WHEN I BACKED IT BACK IN, I HEARD A POP AND WITHIN MINUTES I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO OPEN THE HOOD THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. WE HAD TO CALL 911 AND THEY TOLD US WE COULD NOT LEAVE THE CAR IN THE GARAGE BECAUSE OF THE FIRE INCIDENT. WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL SO THAT WE COULD MOVE IT OUT OF THE GARAGE WITHOUT STARTING THE CAR. ONCE PARKED ON THE DRIVE WAY, MY CAR PROCEEDED TO SMOLDER TWO MORE TIMES. WE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND FINALLY ALL THE SMOKING STOPPED. MY CAR HAS BEEN AT THE BMW MOMENTUM DEALERSHIP SINCE AUGUST 12, 2017 WITH NO RESOLUTION ON WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. ACCORDING TO MINI, THEY WERE SENDING A FIRE SPECIALIST TO SEE MY CAR WHICH THEY SAID WOULD TAKE SOME TIME. MY CAR WAS FINALLY LOOKED AT THE FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER AND AS OF THIS EMAIL, BMW HAS NOT INFORMED ME AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. THIS INCIDENT IS VERY CONCERNING TO ME. MY THREE KIDS WERE UPSTAIRS DOING HOMEWORK WHEN MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAD I NOT PAID ATTENTION TO THE POP I HEARD AND CLOSED THE GARAGE DOOR, THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN ON FIRE IN OUR ATTACHED GARAGE WITH ALL OF US IN THE HOUSE. THIS ALL TOOK PLACE ABOUT 8 PM AS WE WERE WINDING DOWN FOR THE DAY. THE OUTCOME OF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. I WANT RESOLUTION TO THIS WHOLE INCIDENT WHICH AS OF TODAY BMW HAS NOT GIVEN ME ANY INDICATION AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11044039