2006 MINI Cooper Convertible Airbags Problems

The contact owns a 2006 Mini Cooper Convertible. The contact stated that the front passenger’s seat occupant detection mat was replaced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V205000 (Air Bags) three years ago; however, the front passenger's side air bag warning light had been illuminating intermittently. The contact stated that the front passenger's side air bag warning light would illuminate whenever a lightweight passenger or a heavier passenger would sit in the front passenger’s seat. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

NHTSA ID

11457645

Incident

Mar 7, 2022

Mileage

125,000 mi

Passenger air bag light went on and i took it to Mini dealer who diagnosed that ht passenger seat matt sensor failed and recommendedreplacement of seatmatt sensor I called Mini about safetyrecall NHTSA15V20500 of 4/6/2015, and they informed me my VIN/vehicle was not part of thatrecall

NHTSA ID

11417687

Incident

Apr 8, 2020

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF. SEAT CANNOT DETECT PASSENGER AND DISABLE AIRBAG. THERE IS A RECALL GOING ON, BUT IT DID NOT INCLUDE MY VIN NUMBER. MINI USA REPRESENTATIVE GAVE NO ANSWER, NO TIMELINE, NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. JUST TOLD ME TO WAIT. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT'S BMW/MINI.

NHTSA ID

10721770

Incident

May 1, 2014

Mileage

42,000 mi

PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR SHOWS AIR BAG DISABLED INTERMITTENTLY, EVEN WHEN SEAT IS OCCUPIED BY FULL SIZED ADULT (OVER 140 POUNDS). THIS MEANS MY PASSENGER IS AT RISK OF SEVERE INJURY IN CASE OF CRASH, AS THE AIR BAG IS DISABLED. IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE, THE LIGHT IS OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY EVEN WHEN THE SEAT IS NOT OCCUPIED. DITTO IF A 5 POUND LUNCH BOX IS ON THE SEAT. BMW/MINI REFUSES TO CORRECT THIS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY DEFECT IN MINIS, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE MAKING FREE REPAIRS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IN MANY BMWS OF SIMILAR YEARS, AND HAVE EVEN MADE AN WARRANTY EXTENSION OF MANY YEARS AND UNLIMITED MILES FOR AFFECTED BMWS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10595532

Incident

Jun 1, 2012

Mileage

43,001 mi

PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT KEEPS FLICKERING ON AND OFF. THIS HAPPENS A LOT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10593713

Incident

Dec 30, 2013

Mileage

16,000 mi

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED LIGHT TURNS ON INTERMITTENTLY, EVEN WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED BY AN ADULT. THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT IN THE SEAT CUSHION. IT FAILED ONCE BEFORE AND WAS REPLACED BY THE CAR DEALER. NOW THE REPLACEMENT SENSOR MAT IS ALSO FAILING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10586000

Incident

May 1, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR ILLUMINATES AT ALL TIMES INDICATING NO PASSENGER EVEN WHEN PASSENGER IS PRESENT, THEREBY PREVENTING THE AIRBAG FROM DEPLOYING IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS INCIDENT IS EXTREMELY WIDESPREAD AND FOUND ON COUNTLESS BLOGS ON THE INTERNET. AT THIS POINT, PEOPLE ARE COMPLETELY DISABLING THE SYSTEM THROUGH A DEVICE FOUND ONLINE JUST TO TURN THE LIGHT OFF - MEANWHILE PUTTING THEIR PASSENGERS AT RISK. BMW (MANUFACTURER OF MINI) HAS RECALLED THE SAME ITEM ON NUMEROUS BMW'S AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THOSE PARTS DUE TO THE INHERENT SAFETY CONCERNS. HOW THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED YET OR LOOKED PAST FOR THE MINI IS COMPLETELY BAFFLING. SOMEBODY APPEARS TO NOT BE DOING THEIR JOB! SO ALONG WITH THE OTHER MULTIPLE POSTS ON THIS PARTICULAR SITE, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MINE AND REQUEST PLEASE THAT SOMEBODY LOOK INTO THIS SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS REPEATEDLY COSTING MINI CUSTOMERS LARGE SUMS OF MONEY OR THEIR SAFETY. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10583932

Incident

Apr 1, 2013

Mileage

65,000 mi

AN ELECTRONIC BOARD IN THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT MALFUNCTIONS CAUSING THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG TO BECOME DISABLED. APPARENTLY, FROM ALL OF THE COMMENTS ON THE INTERNET AND YOUR SITE, THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN IN THAT THE ELECTRONIC BOARD HAS A FLAWED COMPONENTS. A REPLACEMENT BOARD FROM MINI WILL ALSO FAIL WITHIN TIME BECAUSE NO MODIFICATIONS OR IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THIS BOARD. I HAVE REVIEWED THE COMPLAINTS TO THE NHTSA AND YET YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS FAILED TO REQUIRE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10575763

Incident

Dec 1, 2009

Mileage

35,000 mi

WHEN YOU START THE CAR THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON, WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT OR NOT. THE LIGHT STAYS ON, I VISITED THE DEALERSHIP THE FIX COST $1241. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING. DEALER SHOULD FIX THIS ERROR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509153

Incident

Apr 30, 2012

Mileage

73,000 mi

PER MY RESEARCH, THIS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 MINI COOPERS. NUMEROUS BULLETIN BOARDS HAVE THE SAME QUESTIONS FOR A SAFETY CONCERN IF THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT. TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND THEY GAVE US A REPAIR PRICE OF $1200.00 TO REPLACE THE LOWER SEAT FOR THE OCCUPANCY PAD IS DEFECTIVE WHICH CAUSES THE LIGHT TO COME ON FOR THE PASSENGER BAG AND ALSO THE MAIN LIGHT IN THE DASH. NOT SURE IF BMW CARES ABOUT SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PURCHASED THEIR VEHICLES BUT IT IS A BIT CALLOUS ON THEIR PART FOR NOT DOING A RECALL ON THE 2006 MINI COOPER SEAT SENSOR. I HAVE SEEN A REGULAR BMW VEHICLE THAT HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM HAVE A RECALL FOR A BAD SEAT SENSOR. I AM CONCERNED FOR ANY PERSON WHO RIDES IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IF AN ACCIDENT WERE TO HAPPEN THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY CAUSING GREAT BODILY HARM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10505893

Incident

Jun 29, 2012

Mileage

28,000 mi

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHTS STAY ON ALL THE TIME THAT IGNITION IS ON, EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS IN THE SEAT. YOU CAN SIT IN THE SEAT AND THE LIGHT STAYS ON. MY CONCERN IS WHETHER OR NOT THE AIR BAG WILL STILL FUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10471640

Incident

Jul 6, 2012

Mileage

43,600 mi

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE DEALER SAYS THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE COST IS ABOUT $1000. IN 2006 MINI ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 2002 AND 2003 MODELS WITH THE SAME DEFECT. BMW'S INVESTIGATION OF THE SAME SENSOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEATS OF BMW AUTOS RESULTED IN A RECALL OF THIS PART. NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08001. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. MESSAGE BOARDS HAVE INSTANCES OF PEOPLE PAYING FOR THIS EXPENSIVE SAFETY DEFECT AT THE DEALER, AND THE PROBLEMS RETURNING AFTER 1 TO 2 YEARS IN SOME CASES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10445529

Incident

Sep 14, 2011

2006 MINI COOPER, FAULTY WIRING ON PASSENGER SEAT MATE SENSOR, THE WIRING HARNESS THAT COMES OUT OF THE FLOOR AND CONNECTS TO THE SENSOR MATE IN THE SEAT IS TO SHORT AND BECOMES DAMAGED WHEN YOU SLIDE THE SEAT BACK. THIS CAUSES AN ERROR IN THE AIR BAG SYSTEM MAKING IT THINKS THERE IS A SMALL CHILD OR NO ONE IN THE SEAT AND TURN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF. THIS IS A PROBLEM WHEN THERE IS AN ADULT IN THE SEAT, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL NOT PROTECT THEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL, BEING THAT THE REPAIR CAN COST UP TO $1000.00 IF THE SEAT MAT SENSOR IS DAMAGED. THE COST MAY CAUSE OWNERS NOT TO REPAIR IT. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED FROM THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10371115

Incident

Jun 1, 2010

Mileage

40,000 mi

PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHTS REMAIN ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10350542

Incident

Jul 15, 2010

Mileage

32,000 mi