Feds Look into Complaints of Exhaust Pipe Burns from Mini Cooper S

WASHINGTON — The federal government is looking into complaints from some consumers that they have received leg burns from contact with the exhaust pipe in the 2007-'08 Mini Cooper S. The engineering analysis, which is sometimes a precursor to a safety recall, involves up to 20,000 vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The agency's Office of Defects Investigation said it opened the investigation "based on three consumer reports on the 2007 [Mini Cooper S].... The complainants reported being burned on their legs by the hot exhaust pipe tip while they were removing cargo items from the rear hatch," said the defect investigations summary posted on the NHTSA Web site recently. "The Mini Cooper S model has dual exhaust pipe tips that are located at the center line of the vehicle under the rear bumper. The exhaust pipe tips extend beyond the edge of the bumper."

NHTSA pointed out that the scope of the investigation has been expanded to include the 2008 Mini Cooper S.

BMW and the federal government count a total of 32 injuries related to the engineering analysis, and no fatalities. Inside Line previously reported the same issue with its 2007 Mini Cooper S long-term test car.

What this means to you: No recall as of yet on the 2007-'08 Mini Cooper S, but Inside Line will keep you posted about further developments. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent