DETROIT -- Bayerische Motoren Werke AG will notify buyers of its new
Mini Cooper cars that a faulty transmission cable in vehicles will have to
be replaced, a spokesman said.
Michael McHale, Mini spokesman, said the cable is popping out of place,
a failure that makes shifting gears in the car impossible. He said the
problem is occurring in less than 10% of the Cooper models. It doesn't
affect Cooper models with automatic transmissions or the Mini Cooper S
models, which have a different gear box configuration, he said.
Dealers say the glitch isn't dangerous, but they say drivers can burn
out the clutch if they continue to drive in the wrong gear. A dealer said
people should have the car towed once they encounter the problem. No
accidents, injuries or deaths have been related to the problem, Mr. McHale
said.
Expectations run high for Mini, which BMW reintroduced in the U.S. this
spring as its first new car brand. The little, retro-styled cars have been
selling well.
Mr. McHale said Mini had no plans to recall the vehicle. Mini will
begin mailing letters to owners in the next few weeks with instructions to
contact their dealers for the free replacement cable installation, he
said.
-Write to Sholnn Freeman at sholnn.freeman@wsj.com
