Fire safety fears for Mini Cooper S cars
US road safety experts are studying complaints that engines could catch fire in 36,000 Mini Cooper S cars.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into models from 2007 and 2008.
The federal safety agency said that it has received 12 complaints of fires. Five of the blazes destroyed the cars. Eight fires happened when the engines had been shut off.
No injuries have been reported, NHTSA said.
The agency said there was an increasing trend of fires, with most of the complaints coming in the past year.
It opened a preliminary evaluation on October 11 and will try to find the cause of the blazes.
Depending on the findings, a recall could be ordered.
The fires could affect S models of the Mini Cooper, Cooper Clubman and Cooper Convertible, the agency said.
Mini, which is owned by BMW, had no comment.
