NHTSA complaint: 2016 MINI COUNTRYMAN — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON FEBRUARY 8, 2021 9:00AM DROVE MINI APPROXIMATELY 24 MILES, RETURNED HOME. PARKED CAR, TURNED OFF ENGINE, WENT INTO HOUSE AND LESS THAN 3 MINUTES LATER, NEIGHBOR SAYS MY ENGINE IS SMOKING FROM UNDER HOOD. WITHIN SECONDS IT WENT FROM HEAVY, WHITE SMOKE TO FIRE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AND ENGULFED FRONT OF VEHICLE, BREAKING WINDSHIELD, MELTING TIRES. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS THAT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, NO SMELLS, NOTHING TO WARN OF IMPENDING FIRE. LUCKILY, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE IN A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF HOME RATHER THAN IN COVERED GARAGE. I KEPT A HOSE GOING ON HOOD AND SURROUNDING BUSHES TO KEEP FIRE FROM ESCALATING TO BUILDINGS OR HILLSIDE UNTIL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE MINI WAS KEPT IN GOOD WORKING ORDER, ALL MAINTENANCE DONE ON TIME. SO LUCKY WE WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT OCCURRED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS CONSIDERED UNKNOWN.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation