Why Did Mini Go Up In Flames?

Mar 2 2008 Additional Reporting By Jane Barrie

Terrified Laura Is Told There Is No Fault In Car

NURSE Laura Miller got the shock of her life when her Mini Cooper burst into flames on the motorway.

Frantic Laura, 27, lost all power, the steering went wonky and smoke and flames were belching from under the bonnet in seconds.

She said: "I was in a blind panic. I could have been killed."

Somehow she managed to pull off the M8 in Glasgow into a side street.

Laura, of Baillieston, Glasgow, said: "I jumped out and was shaking like a leaf as I tried to phone 999.

"A man saw what was happening from his house and ran out with a fire extinguisher. He opened the bonnet and put the fire out. But who knows what could have happened?"

Mini told Laura it wasn't down to a fault with the power steering and referred her to her insurer.

But she surfed the net and found Mini owners reporting 19 steering pump failures, nine of which resulted in a fire. Laura said: "The mechanic from Direct Line said he had seen three Minis in the last six months with the same problem."

Laura paid £9000 for her car less than a year before and had taken out a £300 extended warranty with the dealer.

They said they would pay some of the £1200 bill then changed their tune and refused.

She said: "They said they would cover the power steering pump but not the rest of the wiring or the labour. Then they said they were not paying at all."

Laura, a staff nurse at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, has a fully comprehensive policy.

But Direct Line also passed the buck, saying a mechanical fault was the cause of the fire and Mini should cover it. That's when Laura called me in. She said: "I am going round in circles and paying £200 a month for a car I can't drive.

"The engineer said the power steering pump overloads and goes on fire. In his opinion it's a manufacturing fault and should be covered. Mini say they are not liable. It's a joke."

I got on to Mini, who would not comment on reports of other cases.

They said: "Once we get the report fromMsMiller's insurers we will review the details and find a resolution.

"We're disappointed she is unsatisfied with her Mini."

Direct Line said: "We are in contact with the engineer who assessed the damage and hope to resolve it as soon as possible."

This is no Mini adventure. It's a real nightmare...and if it's not sorted you'll be the first to know.