2012 Mini Cooper Countryman

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

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

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