What 119 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Mini Cooper Countryman

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I WENT IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. I LIVE 2.5 HOURS FROM A MINI SERVICE CENTER. THE DIAGNOSTIC AT AUTOZONE JUST LISTED A BUNCH OF MISFIRES AND NOTHING ELSE. THAT EXPLAINED THE HARSH SOUNDING START AND SPUTTERING. AS DAYS HAVE GONE BY, CAR WILL LOSE POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, STRUGGLE UP HILLS, FAIL TO MAINTAIN SPEED LIMIT, AND STRUGGLE TO START IN THE MORNING. ALL THESE EVENTS HAVE OCCURRED LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER BEING SERVICED AT SEATTLE MINI. I'M SURE I'M UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT HAVING TO DRIVE 2.5 HOURS IF I CAN MAKE IT THERE, FOR SOMETHING THEY SEEM TO HAVE BEEN HAVING COMPLAINTS ABOUT. *TR

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STARTED CAR, RED SERVICE ICON ON DASH ALTERNATING WITH DRIVER DOOR OPEN ICON. THIS WAS A LOSS OF INTERIOR LIGHTS, SIGNAL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, HAZARD LIGHTS, WINDOW UP/DOWN CONTROLS, AND DOOR LOCK FUNCTIONS. CAR OTHERWISE OPERATED NORMALLY. THIS MALFUNCTION REQUIRES DEALER ONLY REPAIR. *TR

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OUR 2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN WAS PARKED IN PARKING GARAGE. WITHIN MINUTES OF SHUTTING IT OFF THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHICH SPREAD QUICKLY. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. OTHER CARS NEXT TO IT WERE AFFECTED AND THE FLOOR OF THE PARKING GARAGE WAS CLOSED DUE TO DAMAGES. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS. *TR

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RIGHT AND LEFT SEATBELT A JAMMED. WILL NOT RELEASE. THIS WAS REPAIRED AND THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON MAY 14, 2014. *TR

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2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN MANUAL TRANSMISSION. LIVE IN A MOUNTAINOUS REGION IN COLORADO. NOTICED A PECULIAR SMELL COMING FROM THE CAR AFTER BEING STUCK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. HAD THE CAR SERVICED AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS GOOD TO GO. FEW DAYS LATER WHEN ON VACATION DRIVING THROUGH NEVADA, THE CLUTCH COMPLETELY GAVE OUT & LEFT US STRANDED FROM 8:30 AT NIGHT UNTIL 2:30 IN THE MORNING BEFORE THE TOW TRUCK COULD GET TO US. DEALER VERIFIED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS INOPERABLE AND REPLACED THE CLUTCH DISK, FLYWHEEL, AND PRESSURE PLATE UNDER WARRANTY. MANAGER SAID THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THEY HAVE SEEN A FEW TIMES PREVIOUSLY. NOW, 12,000 MILES (41,000 TOTAL) AND 6 MONTHS LATER, THE SAME THING AS HAPPENED. BUT NOW, MINI IS SAYING THAT IT'S "DRIVER ERROR" OR "WEAR AND TEAR" AND NOT COVERED. DEALER SERVICE MANAGER STILL ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR THE REGION WE LIVE IN. HOWEVER, I AM EXPECTED TO COME UP WITH $3,000 TO FIX THIS PLUS KEEP PAYING A NEW CAR PAYMENT. I HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS/TRUCKS/MOTORCYCLES/SPORTS CARS FOR 35 YEARS AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH A CLUTCH GOING OUT ON ME BEFORE. THIS IS MY 3RD MINI, AND IT WILL BE THE LAST I WILL EVER OWN, I CAN'T WAIT TO GET RID OF IT. MINI HAS HAD ENOUGH TROUBLE WITH THIS THAT THEY CHANGED THE CLUTCH IN THE 2013 MODELS. EXTREMELY UPSET WITH THEM AS A COMPANY THAT THEY CAN'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND FESS UP THAT THEY DIDN'T PUT A CLUTCH IN A CAR THAT WAS APPROPRIATE TO HANDLE THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. DON'T BUY ONE UNLESS YOU LIVE IN THE FLATLANDS AND DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH TRAFFIC! *TR

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ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP FAILED TWICE WITHIN A YEAR. MANUAL TRANSMISSION - CLUTCH DOES NOT ENGAGE GEARS PROPERLY. FRICTION POINT IS VAGUE AND UNENGAGING. GEAR SLIPS. REQUIRES EXCEEDINGLY HIGH REV. COUNTS/GAS TO ENGAGE IN GEAR PROPERLY. CAR STALLS MORE THAN NORMAL/OFTEN. OVERALL FUEL INJECTION/ECU MAPPING/CLUTCH ISSUES ARE EVIDENTLY AND REPEATS TO BE PROBLEM AREAS DESPITE PARTS REPLACEMENT AND ADJUSTMENT (ECU RE-MAP). FROM THE OWNER'S EXPERIENCE, THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING ON THE FREEWAY DUE TO FUEL PUMP FAILURES (TWICE) THUS CREATING ROAD HAZARD FOR FELLOW DRIVERS ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEED AS WELL AS MY OWN PERSONAL SAFETY. ALSO, DUE TO STALLING ISSUES OFF THE LINE, ENTERING FREEWAY AFTER METER-SIGNAL IS ALSO DANGEROUS IN MULTIPLE OCCASIONS CREATING POTENTIAL THREAT TO SAFETY. MANUFACTURER NEED TO ADDRESS BROAD ISSUE OF FUEL SYSTEM/POWERTRAIN/CLUTCH BEFORE ANYONE GETS SERIOUS HURT OR INJURED TO SUDDEN IMMOBILITY/STALLS. IN PARTICULAR, THE CLUTCH IN MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS SO BAD THAT IT DOES NOT FULFILL THE INTENDED FUNCTION OF ENGAGING GEARS. *TR

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PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED MINI NEXT 2012 CLUBMAN 6-SPEED WITH 6,498 MILES ON IT 08/2013. * 10/14/2013 AROUND 9K MILES LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE, MANEUVERED TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. TOWED CAR IN TO DEALER WHO REPLACED 4 SPARK PLUGS SAID ALL WAS OK. * 10/17/2013 I PICK THE CAR UP, GET 3 MILES FROM DEALER ON INTERSTATE AND THE CAR DOES IT AGAIN SO I MANEUVERED OFF THE CLOSEST EXIT AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. TOWED BACK INTO DEALER AND THEY KEPT CAR UNTIL 26TH. THEY SAID THE DME WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT AND 4 FUEL INJECTORS. * 10/30/2013 CAR DID IT AGAIN AND I DROVE HOME IN LIMP MODE, CAR WAS SHAKING AND SOUNDED LIKE A 1970 VW BEETLE, NEARLY DIED AT EVERY IDLE, ROUGH, ACCELERATION AND I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY HAD CAR TOWED FROM MY DRIVEWAY BACK TO DEALER. *11/5/2013 DEALER STILL HAS CAR. *TR

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VEHICLE HAS NON-HEATED SIDE MIRRORS. AT TEMPERATURES BELOW 60F THEY FOG OVER OR ICE OVER WHEN COLDER. VISIBILITY IS LITERALLY ZERO ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT ALARM WOULD SOUND WHEN NO ONE WAS OCCUPYING THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE DEALER DID NOT REQUIRE ANY REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

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I PURCHASED THE 2012 MINI NEW AND TOOK DELIVERY 12/20/2013. THE FIRST ISSUE INVOLVED THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT AND ALARM. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE FASTEN SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE AUDIBLE ALARM. THE SEAT BELT WAS SECURELY FASTENED, I HAD NO PASSENGERS AND THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. I PULLED OVER AGAIN, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, AND UNFASTENED THE SEAT BELT. AFTER 5 MINUTES I FASTENED THE SEAT BELT AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE WARNING RESUMED IMMEDIATELY AND CONTINUED FOR THE ENTIRE 1 HOUR DRIVE HOME. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE SERVICE MANAGER DISMISSED MY CONCERN AND INSISTED THERE MUST BE A HEAVY PURSE OR GROCERY BAG ON THE SEAT. THIS ISSUE CONTINUES. THE 2ND PROBLEM WAS STEERING FAILURE. ONE MORNING I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEELS TO LEAVE MY DRIVEWAY. THE CAR WAS RUNNING. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED AGAIN.I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAD SPOKEN TO HIS "TOP MECHANICS" AND NONE OF THEM COULD THINK OF A SINGLE THING THAT WOULD CAUSE THE PROBLEM. HE INSISTED IT WAS DRIVER ERROR: I HAD STALLED THE CAR, THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ON, OR THERE WAS SOMETHING UNDER THE CAR PREVENTING THE WHEELS FROM TURNING. NO, NO AND NO. THE ISSUE APPARENTLY FIXED ITSELF LATER THAT DAY. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR A CHECK OF THESE PROBLEMS. THE SCAN INDICATED A FAULTY POWER STEERING MODULE. THE FOREMAN OF THE SERVICE DEPT TOLD ME THIS WAS A FREQUENT PROBLEM IN THE 2011 MODELS. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS TO THIS DAY INTERMITTENTLY. THE LAST TIME I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER HE TOLD ME TO TAKE A PHOTO OF THE INFORMATION DISPLAY THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED TO "PROVE THAT THE CAR IS RUNNING WHEN THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON" - HE WANTS TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER. *TR

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FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, I HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY WITH MY 2012 COUNTRYMAN ALL4 S CLUTCH. THE CAR SIMPLY WILL NOT GO UP HILLS. LIVING IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST, THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN IN MULTIPLE SITUATIONS WHERE THE CAR WILL NOT ENGAGE, RESULTING IN STALLING AND A BURNING CLUTCH. I'VE HAD TO STOP AND MOTION FOR PEOPLE TO GO AROUND ME TO AVOID ROLLING BACK INTO THEM. I TOOK IT IN TWICE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. NOT SURPRISINGLY, AT 9,500 MILES, MY CLUTCH COMPLETELY BURNED OUT 200 MILES FROM HOME. AT FIRST, MINI SAID MY WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER AND TRIED TO CHARGE ME ~$3,000, BUT AFTER COMPLAINING, THEY AGREED TO COVER 75%. THEY TOLD ME THE NEW CLUTCH IS UPGRADED/IMPROVED; HOWEVER, I STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUES ON HILLS AND HAVE TO AVOID THEM, OR TAKE OUR OTHER CAR IF DRIVING INTO THE MOUNTAINS. THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AS CITED ON MULTIPLE AUTO REVIEW SITES. I RECENTLY ASKED MINI TO BUY-BACK MY COUNTRYMAN BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE CLUTCH PROBLEMS, AND BECAUSE IT'S TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ANYWHERE THERE IS A HILL (EVEN A SMALL ONE). THE ANSWER WAS SIMPLY "NO". I AM FRUSTRATED AND FED UP WITH THE LACK OF CONCERN BY MINI...THEY KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM AND ARE DOING NOTHING TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. I CANNOT KEEP THIS CAR, BUT CERTAINLY DO NOT WANT TO SELL TO AN UNSUSPECTING INDIVIDUAL. *TR

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2012 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A FAULTY SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP IN VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY ON AN INCLINE HILL. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DELIVERY OF FUEL TO THE GAS TANK AND THE VEHICLE HAD SIMPLY RUN OUT OF GAS. HOWEVER, THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWED THERE WAS AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF GAS.

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ONLY RUN 12000 MILE LESS THAN YEAR THERE IS RATTLE SOUND ON SPEEDOMETER" SPECIALLY NAVIGATION SCREEN. THEY TRY FIX THE PROBLEM, AND TELL ME , THEY CAN NOT FIX, BECAUSE IT COMING FROM SPEEDOMETER. AND PRINT OUR ONE PIECE PAPER, WHICH IS MINI OFFICIAL PAPER AS BELOW" SUBJECT: BUZZING NOISE FROM SPEEDOMETER SITUATION: WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DECELERATION THE CUSTOMER MIGHT EXPERIENCE A BUZZING NOISE FORM THE SPEEDOMETER, WHEN SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE IS BETWEEN 0 AND 12 MILES PER HOUR. GENERAL INFORMATION: THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION????. WHAT?? NORMAL? THIS SOUND MAKE ME CRAZY, SAME SOUND EVERYTIME I RUN. I WAS TALK TO MINI TEC PERSON, MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT MINI U.S.A DON;T RECALL ANYTHING. THEY SHOULD RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, SINCE THEY AGREE THERE IS NOISE FORM SPEEDOMETER" I HAVE PRINTED PAPER FROM MINI. ALSO THERE IS NOISE INSIDE OF CAR, THEY ALREADY FIX THE DASHBOARD, AND ,SIDE DOOR NOISE. *TR

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THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR DIED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSFER CASE AND DRIVE SHAFT BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 14000 MILES ON A 2012 VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAKING A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE AND RUSTING OUT FROM THE AXLES BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THEY COULD FIT ME IN FOR AN APPOINTMENT. THE GRINDING CONTINUOUSLY GOT WORSE UNTIL WHEN THEY TOOK IN THE CAR TODAY REALIZED THE PROBLEM WAS MUCH WORSE THAN ANTICIPATED. IT SEEMS I AM NOT THE FIRST INDIVIDUAL TO HAVE SUCH A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AS WELL. *TR

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ON A 2012 MINI COUNTRYMAN S ALL4 WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION, STARTING AT 15500 MILES ON THE CAR, BEGAN NOTICING ODD RESPONSE TO THE THROTTLE WHEN ACCELERATING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CLUTCH WOULD ENGAGE AND ENGINE INCREASE REVS (200-400 RPM) TO ACCELERATE WHILE NOT DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THIS WORSENED OVER THE NEXT 500 MILES UNTIL THE RPM DIFFERENCE WAS 2000-4000 RPM. FINALLY, THE CLUTCH GAVE COMPLETELY, WITH SMOKE BILLOWING FROM THE HOOD AND OBVIOUS SMELL OF BURNT PLATE, EVEN THOUGH I HAD NOT ENGAGED THE PEDAL WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY IN HIGH GEAR. AFTER ALLOWING THE CAR TO REST DURING THE DAY, I MANAGED TO GET MOVING FOR 1/4 MILE BEFORE STOPPING AT A LIGHT. UPON TAKEOFF, THE CAR SHUDDERED VIOLENTLY, AND THEN DISENGAGED FROM 1ST GEAR AND WOULD NOT RE-ENGAGE. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS NA 2012 MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE GAS SETTING AND FUEL PUMP WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,821.

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ON 3/6/12 (VEHICLE MILEAGE 4,743) MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE DRIVING IN OUR 2012 MINI COUNTRYMAN S AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY WENT INTO LIMP MODE WITH REDUCED POWER ON THE FREEWAY AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE ENGINE COMPUTER WAS RESET AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO US. ON 5/15/12 (VEHICLE MILEAGE 9,318) THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED AND THE CAR AGAIN WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE VALVTRONIC ACUTATOR. ON 7/27/12 (VEHICLE MILEAGE 13,140) THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN (ENGINE WENT INTO LIMP MODE WITH LOSS OF POWER AND MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE STRANDED ON THE FREEWAY 100 MILES FROM THE DEALER. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE VEHICLES COMPUTER WAS RESET. I REPORTED THESE SERIES OF INCIDENTS TO MINI USA CUSTOMER CARE AS I DO NOT BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO OPERATE FOR FEAR OF HAVING MY WIFE AND KIDS STRANDED AGAIN AND HAVE REQUESTED A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE OR REFUND. *TR

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MY MINI WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT BEHIND A TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM THE BACK BY A CARELESS DRIVER IN A MIDSIZE SEDAN WHO HAD FAILED TO SEE THE CARS IN FRONT OF HER STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE DAMAGE DONE TO BOTH THE CAR THAT STRUCK MINE FROM BEHIND AS WELL AS THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE 4 RUNNER WERE MINIMAL BY COMPARISON. THE MINI INCURRED IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND THE DRIVER OF THE 4 RUNNER PULLED ME OUT OF THE CAR DUE TO FIRE HE SAW COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE OF THE MINI, BEFORE LONG THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. SHOULD THE VEHICLE HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE? SHOULDN'T THE AIRBAGS HAVE DEPLOYED WITH THE GRAVITY OF THE DAMAGE? *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURBO CHARGER WAS NOT PROPERLY SHIELDED AND THE HOOD DID NOT HAVE ANY INSULATION. AS A RESULT, THE HOOD WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22. UPDATED 03/14/12*BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER PROVIDED ADDITIONAL HEAT SHIELDS. HOWEVER, IT DID NOT COMPLETELY CORRECT THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 05/10/10

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