While driving home Thursday night I received left tail light malfunction waring on my dash panel with the turn signal blinking extremely fast. After arriving home I checked the light and found that the tail light inoperative and the turn signals were extremely dim. The next morning I called tucson MINIand told them the problem. The sa stated to bring the car in and they would check out the problem. Upon inspection they found that the L/H tail light ground connector and the bulb connector melted. I ask the sa what would cause this problem and she could not answer this problem. But she did make a comment that she had seen hundreds of these problems. Some which caused enough damage that required the whole tail light to be replaced. She also stated that I was luck that the damage to my car limited to only the ground connector and the light bulb holder. I did some research on the internet and found several instances where the same problem had occurred. In one case the person had to replace both tail lights. I believe this is considered a safety hazard and could possibly cause a fire.

- Sahuarita, AZ, USA

Rear light connector over heating, melting and shorting.

- San Jose, CA, USA

This is in regards to the rear brake lights on the 2016+ MINICooper clubman models. The design of the rear brake lights can not be seen while following the vehicle at a cars length of distance. The largest tail lights on the rear hatch of the vehicle are not the actual brake lights where you assume you would see brake lights illuminate. Instead they are on the bumper below the rear doors. When in traffic or following less than 2 car lengths behind the cehicle the only way you can tell the vehicle is even stopping is the small 3rd brake light. Prior to anyone being seriously injured in a rear collision I would like to make the suggestion that BMW and MINIilluminate the large tail lights if the rear barn doors are closed and illuminate the lower lights only when the barn doors are open during driving. I've made this formal claim on record in case anything happens to my family in this vehicle in the future. I've included the following photos for reference: 1. following at 2 car lengths with brake lights illuminated 2. following at 1 car lengths with brakes illuminated 3. side view of distance when brake lights were completely obscured due to location.

- Corning, NY, USA