After National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued an initial decision that MY 2007 and some MY 2008 Mini Cooper S vehicles contained a safety-related defect that could result in burns due to contact with the tail pipes, BMW has decided to recall the vehicles rather than contest NHTSA's initial decision in a public hearing on the issue. As a result, the public hearing scheduled for December 17 has been cancelled. BMW will commence the safety recall in January 2009.