2019 Mini Countryman 5 HB AWD

WHILE DRIVING MY COUNTRYMAN ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 50 MPH, I MY STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY AND RANDOMLY JERKED TO THE RIGHT. THE JERK WAS SEVER ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE CAR TO SWERVE INTO THE NEXT LANE CUTTING OFF A CLOSE BY VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN MY LINE, AND THE ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN CAUSING MY CAR TO SWERVE AN ADDITIONAL TIME. THIS IS OF SERIOUS CONCERN FOR ALL DRIVERS THAT THIS HAPPENS TO AND I AM AFRAID THAT THIS WILL RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH. DURING THIS TIME THE ELWEATHER WAS DRY AND ABOUT 60F.THE ROAD WAS CLEAR OF DEBRIS, POTHOLES AND BUMPS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN WHICH THIS ISSUE OCCURRED FOR ME IN MY +1 YEAR OF OWNERSHIP.

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)

I PURCHASED MY CAR FOR SCHOOL AND TO COMMUTE TO WORK FROM NEW JERSEY TO CONNECTICUT AND SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED MY CAR, I HAD NOT ONCE FELT SAFE IN MY OWN CAR. I TOWED MY CAR IN 3 TIMES (9/15/18, 4/8/19, AND 6/10/19) BECAUSE MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP AND FREEZE. IT WAS LIKE DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINES OFF. NON-DRIVEABLE INSTANCES WERE 3 TIMES. HOWEVER, THERE WERE MANY INSTANCES WHEN I WOULD BE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OVER 50MPH AND IF I HAD GONE OVER A SMALL POTHOLE OR I AM TURNING MY VEHICLE ON A CURVED AREA OR IF I AM DRIVING ON LOCAL ROADS AND I AM MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JERK AND LOCK FOR A BRIEF MOMENT AND THEN RELEASE. TO BE FRANK, IF I HAD NOT DRIVEN WITH BOTH HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL TIMES, I WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN NUMEROUS AUTO-ACCIDENTS THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES TO ME AND OTHER CIVILIANS ON THE ROAD. THERE WAS ANOTHER INCIDENT TWO DAYS AGO ON 6/26/19 (AFTER THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE MINI MANUFACTURERS TOLD ME MY CAR WAS FIXED FOR THE 3RD TIME) WHERE I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC AND WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY SO I HAD TO SLAM THE BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP. THEN I SAW NOTIFICATIONS (FRONT COLLISION MALFUNCTION AND BRAKE INTERVENTION NOT POSSIBLE). THIS WAS THE 4TH TIME I EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE AND IS NOW EVEN WORSE BECAUSE THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, AND THIS TIME THEY SHOULD NOT GET AWAY WITH THIS ISSUE. AFTER THE 3RD INCIDENT, I ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE TO THE MINI/BMW MANUFACTURER AND THEY ARE BEING RUDE AND INCONSIDERATE OF MY SITUATION. THIS VEHICLE IS A SAFETY THREAT TO ME AND MANY OTHER CIVILIANS ON THE ROAD. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME.