NHTSA complaint #11307202

Owner complaint summary

A BACKSEAT SPILL CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE TO COMPLETELY FAIL. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON A FRONTAGE ROAD, THE MINI JERKED STARTED SHAKING AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. A "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION" WARNING CAME UP. THE VEHICLE, ONCE STOPPED, BEGAN WORKING AGAIN WITH NO ELECTRIC WARNING. THE NEXT DAY, THE CAR WOULD START, DRIVE FOR 10 FEET, THEN STOP, WITH THE "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION" WARNING. WE TOWED THE CAR TO A MINI DEALER, WHO INFORMED US THAT A SPILLED DRINK IN THE BACKSEAT DESTROYED THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE. IT SEEMS COMPLETELY UNSAFE THAT A CHILD'S SPILL (MAYBE 1/4 OF A DRINK) COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE TO STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, BUT IN DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES, IT COULD HAVE--OR COULD HAVE LEFT US STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. (WE ALSO HAVE A MP4 VIDEO OF THE INSPECTION SHOWING THAT A SPILL IN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE TO FAIL, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHARE)