Mini Cooper S seat problems

SEATS

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT SENSOR IS FAILING. THE DASH LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTINGLY WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED AND THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. THE PROBLEM STARTED 03/19/2021. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG(S) MAY NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. MINI HAD A RECALL IN 2015 FOR 2005-2008 CARS. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS.*DT

NHTSA complaint #11405023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

WARNING MESSAGE FOR SEAT BELT TENSION/AIR BAG MALFUNCTION AND BOTH LIGHTS ARE ON. THE VEHICLE HAS 40+ THOUSAND MILES ON IT, I AM A SECOND OWNER. THIS PROBLEM JUST STARTED ON MAY 29, 2020. NO ACCIDENTS FOR THIS VEHICLE. COST FOR REPAIR IS OVER $2000 AND SO FAR THERE'S ONLY RECALLS FOR 2008 CONVERTIBLE WHICH I TOTALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND. THIS LOOKS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE MINI AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED DUE TO THE AIR BAGS BEING AFFECTED. I CURRENTLY HAVE NO PHOTOS BUT CAN READILY SUPPLY PHOTOS UPON REQUEST. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT/AIR BAG EMBLEM SHOWS ON THE DASH SCREEN WHEN ENTERING THE KEY WHILE STATIONARY, NO ONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND DOES NOT GO AWAY WHEN OCCUPIED.

NHTSA complaint #11327289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON THREE OCCASIONS, THE MAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE WARNING LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MINI OF BIRMINGHAM LOCATED AT 2001 TOM WILLIAMS WAY, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35210, 205-267-4505. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,200. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE PART MAY ALSO BE AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL JUNKYARD. THE MAT SENSOR WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT SHOULD BE REPLACED WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA complaint #11319813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

WAS PARKED AND WENT TO START IT AND NO WARNING CHIMES SEAT BELT SEAT RADIO AIR BAGS

NHTSA complaint #11297681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT WAS REPLACED BY RECALL ON 10/28/2016. ON 10/2018 I NOTICED THAT WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT WITH THEIR SEAT BELT ON THE AIR BAG WAS OFF, IN 1 WEEKS TIME THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME AND THE AIR BAG IS OFF ALL THE TIME WITH OR WITHOUT SOMEONE OCCUPING THE SEAT. REGUARDLESS IF THE CAR IS IDILING OR GOING DOWN THE RODE. AT LEAST BEFORE THE RECALLED MAT SENSOR WAS REPLACED THE SEAT MAT SENSOR WORKED MOST OF THE TIME. NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TESTED THE OC3 MAT (PASSENGER SIDE MAT SENSOR) AND SAID THERE ARE MULTIPLE CODES FOR THE OC3 MAT AND THEY FOUND INTERNAL FAULTS AND IT REQUIRES REPLACEMENT AGAIN. THEY SAID THIS RECALL IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRENTY AND I NEED TO PAY OVER 1500.00 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. IT IS UNSAFE FOR ME TO HAVE A PASSENGER IN MY CAR IF WE GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT THEIR AIRBAG WOULD NOT BE ON, THERE FOR THEY WOULD HAVE NO AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY TO TRY AND PROTECT THEM. HOW IS THIS MY FAULT? THEY REPLACED MY MAT SENSOR WITH ANOTHER FAULTY ONE THAT IS WORSE THEN THE FIRST ONE. HOW LONG ARE THE WARRENTIES FOR RECALLS AND THE PARTS REPLACED? I HAVE THE PAPERS FROM THE DEALERSHIP STATING WHAT I JUST REPORTED TO YOU.

NHTSA complaint #11151353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

UPON STARTING MY CAR, AFTER BEING IN A STORE, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE A PASSENGER WAS IN THE SEAT. THE INDICATOR STAYED ON AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. I RESEARCHED TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS FOR A FAULTY PASSENGER AIRBAG COVERING MY YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL, AND FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL MINI DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO INFORMATION PERTAINING TO MY CAR AND THAT I NEEDED TO CONTACT MINI USA DIRECTLY. I DID SO AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY ALSO COULD NOT FIND ANY INFORMATION PERTAINING TO MY CAR AND THAT THEY NEEDED TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE STATUS OF MY VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE MY CAR WAS PURCHASED THROUGH AN OVERSEAS MILITARY PROGRAM THE SYSTEMS WERE NOT THE SAME AND THAT A SUPERVISOR WOULD HAVE TO TRY AND FIND THE INFORMATION AND MANUALLY ADD IT TO THE MINI USA SYSTEM. I WAS ALSO ASKED, REPEATEDLY, IF MY CAR WAS A CANADIAN SPEC VEHICLE. IT WAS NOT ORDERED AS SUCH. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF WAITING, I CALLED MINI USA TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE INVESTIGATION. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD ALREADY BEEN NOTIFIED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL FOR THE AIRBAG SENSOR ISSUE. WHEN I INQUIRED AS TO WHY MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM FOR WHICH THE RECALL WAS ISSUED, I WAS TOLD THAT MY CASE WAS NOW CLOSED AND IF I HAD ANY OTHER QUESTIONS I NEEDED TO CONTACT MINI CUSTOMER SERVICE.

NHTSA complaint #11124323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

VEHICLE RECALLED 2015 FOR FRONT PASSENGER SENSOR MAT (RECALL 15V205) STILL NOT REPAIRED. LOCAL MINI DEALER HAS SERVICED THE CAR SO THEY HAVE CONTACT INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #11001810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG REMAINS OFF DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #10958926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT MAT FOR DETECTING PASSENGERS PRESENTS, INTERMITTENTLY FAILS CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO BE DEACTIVATED WHEN A PASSENGER IS PRESENT AND THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.

NHTSA complaint #10839829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT ON. HAS BEEN ON FOR MONTHS

NHTSA complaint #10810059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

MY AIRBAG LIGHT/SEAT SENSOR WARNING LIGHT CAME ON BOTH CENTER CONSOLE AND DRIVER'S CONSOLE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. BOTH LIGHTS STAY ILLUMINATED. PROPER OPERATION OF SEAT SENSOR IN PASSENGER SEAT MAT WHICH ACTIVATES PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS NOW IN QUESTION.

NHTSA complaint #10795342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

AIR BAG LIGHT TURNED ON. PERFORMED A FAULT SURVEY AND FOUND THERE IS 1 RELATED FAULT CODE IN THE MRS CONTROL UNIT. PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR, NOT CURRENTLY PRESENT, OCCURRED 12 TIMES. NEED TO REPLACE THE SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR AND RE PROGRAM THE MRS CONTROL UNIT. TOTAL REPLACEMENT COST: $1,164.47 CALLED MINI HEADQUARTERS AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO WARRANTY OR RECALL FOR MY SPECIFIC CAR. HOWEVER, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE 2005, 2006 MINI COOPER HAD A RECALL FOR THE SEAT SENSOR. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THE 2007 MODEL AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10762152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE SEAT CUSHION HAS FAILED AND A WARNING LIGHT NOW PERMANENTLY SHOWS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG MAY NOT FUNCTION AS DESIGNED. UPDATED 11/25/15*LJ UPDATED 2/5/2016 *JS UPDATED 11/07/2017

NHTSA complaint #10732348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. I WAS ADVISED BY AN AUTHORIZED MINI COPPER MECHANIC THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR IS BAD. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MINI COOPER USA IS NOT OWNING UP TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO RECALL AND REPAIR WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE A LIFE SAFETY PROBLEM. THE LEATHER SEAT IS PRACTICALLY NEW AND THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR THIS FAULTY AIR BAG SENSOR SEAT/EQUIPMENT. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR BMW'S WITH THE SAME ISSUE. IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING.

NHTSA complaint #10692253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON FULL TIME, AFTER A PERIOD OF INTERMITTENT ACTIVITY. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB. THE HIGH COST OF REPAIRS SEEMS TO HAVE RESULTED IN A THRIVING BUSINESS SELLING REPLACEMENT "EMULATORS" THAT IMITATE THE SENSOR PAD ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS. THIS IS THE SAME PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT FAILURE FOR WHICH THERE HAVE BEEN EXTENSIVE RECALLS FOR BMW VEHICLES MADE BY THE SAME MANUFACTURER. OWNER CALLED MINI, WAS STONEWALLED AND TOLD THERE WAS NO INTEREST IN HEARING ABOUT THE PROBLEM, JUST TAKE IT TO A DEALER. ASKED DEALER SERVICE REP IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION, WAS TOLD "I'M NOT ALLOWED TO ANSWER THAT." THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT RISES TO THE LEVEL OF REQUIRING A RECALL, AS WAS DONE FOR EARLIER MINI YEARS. MINI DOES NOT OFFER THE SENSOR MAT AS A SEPARATE PART, INSTEAD REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE SEAT UPHOLSTERY, A $600+ BMW PART NUMBER WHICH IS BACK ORDERED WITH NO CERTAIN DELIVERY DATE OR PRICE. INCLUDING LABOR, THE COST TO REPAIR IS 10% TO 20% OF THE CURRENT SALES PRICE OF THIS YEAR MINI. PLEASE, THERE CAN BE NO EXCUSE FOR NOT RECALLING VEHICLES WITH THIS SIGNIFICANT AND EXPENSIVE SAFETY DESIGN FLAW. (TR

NHTSA complaint #10676225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND SEAT OCCUPANCY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE- TOLD SEAT OCCUPANT MAT (FRONT PASSENGER SEAT) HAS FAILED AND MUST BE REPLACED. REPLACEMENT IS COST PROHIBITIVE ($1700). SAFETY RISK PRESENT BECAUSE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IN EVENT OF CRASH. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL AND WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART UNDER ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10654212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

AIRBAG PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR IS BAD $1500 TO REPAIR AND NO GUARANTEE IT WILL WORK CORRECTLY IN THE FUTURE. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED??? BMW WHO OWNS MINI COOPER RECALLED THIS SENSOR FOR THEIR CARS BUT WHY NOT THE COOPERS? I'M SO ANGRY THAT THEY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT MY FAMILIES SAFETY. AUTOMOBILES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE AIRBAG SYSTEMS BUT THEY AREN'T REQUIRED TO WORK PROPERLY??

NHTSA complaint #10651954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR WENT BAD. SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. $1,500 TO HAVE DEALER REPAIRED. CAR IS NOT REPAIRED YET.

NHTSA complaint #10650246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

THE PASSENGER'S SEAT MAT AIRBAG SENSOR HAS FAILED IN MY CAR AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS LIT AT ALL TIMES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW, THE FIRST TIME AT 28801 MILES AND NOW AGAIN AT 52300 MILES. I PAID $1200 FOR A FULL SEAT BOTTOM REPLACEMENT AT THE MINI DEALERSHIP TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND NOW, 3 YEARS LATER, THE NEW SEAT HAS FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER. BMW HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE FOR THEIR CARS FROM THE SAME YEAR WHICH USE THE SAME MALFUNCTIONING PARTS AND MINI NEEDS TO DO THE SAME FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE AND RECURRING KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE THAT CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR. I HAVE HAD 2 DIFFERENT MINI DEALERSHIPS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IN COUNTLESS 2005 AND 2006 MODEL YEAR MINIS, YET THERE IS NO OFFER TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE DESPITE THE FACT THAT I ALREADY HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET ONCE.

NHTSA complaint #10629412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

WHEN PASSENGER EXITED VEHICLE, LIGHT AIRBAG OFF NOTIFICATION CAME ON. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME SOMEONE EXITS THE PASSENGER SEAT. ALSO AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT & SEATBELT NOT BUCKLED LIGHT COME ON.

NHTSA complaint #10627166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.