I was driving around and I began loosing power to my car, so I stopped and then I couldn't get it started again. I was in the process of calling a tow company when I popped the hood and when I lifted it up I could smell gasoline and noticed a cloud of fumes so I backed up and it caught fire so I called 911 and now my cars virtually gone. I come across some MINICooper owners club forum and its apparently happened to other people and also on youtube. Or it seems like it was the same thing since they caught fire in the engine first too. I called MINIand they are going to have me tow it there so they can diagnose it to determine what happened.

- Zionsville, IN, USA

2008 MINICooper S. the vehicle had a complete electrical and engine failure with no notice. While driving on interstate 287 in NJ with absolutely no notice the car lost total power. Every warning light illuminated on the dash, all gauges dropped to zero, no power whatsoever from the engine, no way to open windows or door locks as their was a complete and total electrical and mechanical failure of this vehicle - there was absolutely no notice. One moment the vehicle was operating normally and the next I had complete and total mechanical, engine and electrical failure rendering the car disabled and without power in the middle lane of interstate 287 South in morristown NJ. Vehicle brought to MINIdealer; vehicle there for almost 2 weeks-supposedly "fixed". the same problem happened a second time within 100 miles of that first service. Vehicle brought to MINIdealer again. Happened a third time for the service technician while he drove the car home from princeton to pa. Vehicle was at MINIfor another 2 and one half weeks. Now they say it is fixed and I do not feel confident they are correct. This problem is without warning and leaves the vehicle permanently disabled in a total and complete way that can lead to serious injury or death for the occupants. MINIcustomer service was abhorrent. They would not return calls and stalled time and again when asked to repurchase this vehicle which is clearly unsafe. They will do nothing. The NHTSA must investigate. The only part they tell me is wrong is the footwell module but will be no more specific. MINImust be held accountable for this defect and failure; this is of very serious nature. Again, the car completely fails-everything-engine, electrical, all power you can not open door locks, windows or the rear hatch. The engine losses all power. Please investigate.

- Basking Ridge, NJ, USA