A Mini Cooper transmission lawsuit recently settled in California may bring some comfort to owners who have encountered a problem with their vehicles. The settlement was reached following a class action suit that was brought against BMW of America by the National Minimalist Auto Club (NMAAC). The plaintiffs were members of the plaintiffs’ club, who were experiencing problems with their Mini Cooper’s transmissions. The problem was one which involved a worn bearing that was causing the transmission to slip.
Owners of BMW who had their cars serviced by a licensed service center found that their car transmission worked once again after having it serviced under warranty. However, once they drove their cars back to BMW, they discovered that the car could not start without the belt tensioner. Owners also noticed that their cars drove worse without the tensioner. As a result, BMW offered to pay for the cost of the new or used parts needed to fix the problem and to also cover any labor costs associated with bringing the car to normal operation.
The problem was that although the car seemed to be operating correctly, the owner still believed that there were a number of other issues with the vehicle which were related to his or her driving and maintenance habits. So, the lawsuit was filed against BMW. According to the terms of the settlement, BMW must make all of its future claims under the name of “ownership” to all of its cars and to each individual owner of each of the cars. In other words, if an owner sells his Mini Cooper to someone else, it is required that the person buy back the car from the second owner according to the terms of the warranty.
The warranty protection in this agreement is now a statutory right provided by California Civil Code Section 101. It covers “all defects in material, workmanship, and process, which are likely to cause harm or injury to the person who owns the vehicle that is the subject of the claim.” Also covered is any damage that occurs to the property of an owner of the car or to any guest on the premises of the owner. The warranties also cover the owner’s repossession if the vehicle is not properly repaired within the agreed warranty period. Because of this, it is vital that you obtain the services of a qualified car and truck transmission specialist whenever your Mini Cooper is experiencing transmission problems.
If you are the victim of a defective product and feel that you have a valid case, then you must also check to see what the manufacturer is liable for under the terms of the warranty. Many manufacturers have stipulations in their warranty that relate to being “at fault” for some damages. You must investigate these possibilities. You should also ask your attorney whether you may be eligible for additional compensation because your Mini Cooper was damaged because of an error by the manufacturer. If so, then your attorney may file a lawsuit on your behalf in order to seek monetary compensation.
Some owners may not be aware that they are entitled to compensation because their car suffered an undiagnosed problem prior to the transmission going into the car troubleshooting process. This is a common problem that occurs when owners do not perform regular maintenance on their cars. Failure to change the oil and filter can result in serious problems for your car that will prevent it from being able to communicate with the steering wheel and other controls. Other possible causes include a buildup of dust inside the transmission that is preventing the transmission from working properly or loose bolts and connections. If you believe you have a valid case, then you must also consult with your attorney regarding the best way to handle your claim.