Having major problems with your Mini?

You’re not alone.

A class action lawsuit filed by the national firm of Baron and Budd alleges that BMW of North America knew that the transmissions installed in some Mini Cooper models were prone to premature failure. Models include the 2002 through 2006 Mini Cooper Coupes and the 2005 to 2008 Mini Cooper Convertibles. This is the first class action lawsuit filed against the company regarding this issue.

The lawsuit, filed in the Central District of California, alleges that the transmission failures present a safety issue and place the vehicle’s occupants at risk of serious harm. Imagine driving down the highway and the transmission fails without warning. You lose power to the drive wheels, and you are exposed to speeding traffic as you try to find a safe place for your Mini to coast to a stop. Or, you’re in a busy intersection waiting to make a left turn. Just as the light turns yellow, you start to turn, but when you press on the gas pedal, nothing happens. Now, stranded in the middle of the intersection, you brace for impact and watch helplessly out the window as cars begin to approach from the opposite direction.

BMW Group concealed the faulty transmissions so that the warranty would expire before owners became aware of the problem, forcing them to repair the defect out of their own pocket, the suit states.

The first Generation Minis were introduced in the United States in 2002. The car had gained popularity in Britain during the 1960s for its unconventional small design. At the time of its American debut, the Mini was heralded as a stylish, affordable compact car under $20,000. An advertising blitz in America hyped the vehicle so much that BMW couldn’t keep up with demand and churned out a substandard, shoddy product, the lawsuit alleges.

The company even purchased the first-ever centerfold spread in Playboy magazine to show off the car’s beauty. A Playboy photographer was hired to show off the vehicle’s assets in the pictorial.

The beauty, however, was only skin deep. Owners of the first generation of Minis were duped into believing that their vehicles were not only beautiful but well-crafted. Instead, BMW left the owners of these faulty cars to foot the bill.

When the transmissions fail, Mini enthusiasts are required to spend $6,000 to $9,000 (a third to half of the Mini’s purchase price) to repair or replace the transmissions.

Not long after its American debut, BMW issued several technical service bulletins on the faulty transmissions. Instead of disclosing the problem to its loyal customers, BMW attempted to resolve the issue by simply replacing the transmission oil.

When more Mini owners began bringing their broken vehicles back to the dealership for service, BMW told its mechanics to only replace certain parts. The company knew about the problem, didn’t tell its customers and failed to replace shoddy workmanship that should’ve never come off the assembly line.

Contact Baron and Budd at 1.866.844.4556 or via email here to learn more about the Mini Cooper lawsuit.