2009 MINI Cooper S Airbags Problems

The contact owns a 2009 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that an airbag warning light would intermittently flash on the instrument panel. The contact also stated that the passenger’s side airbag would remain off with or without a passenger seated in the passenger’s side seat. The dealer had been notified of the failure and informed him that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The contact was also informed that there was a 10-year warranty placed on the vehicle for the airbag; however, the 10-year warranty had expired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

NHTSA ID

11440703

Incident

May 1, 2021

Mileage

79,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR. LIGHT DOES NOT GO OFF. DEALER ADVISES THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THEY EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT FOR 10 YRS BUT DID NOT RECALL EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW IT'S A DEFECT. WE PURCHASED OUR 2009 MINI IN OCT 2008 SO NOT COVERED BY THEIR EXTENSION. SHOULDN'T IT BE SINCE THEY ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM?

NHTSA ID

11242477

Incident

Feb 2, 2019

Mileage

35,000 mi

AT 40K MILES ON A 2009 MINI COOPER S (R56); SRS AIRBAG AND SEATBELT WARNING LIGHTS APPEAR ON LCD SCREEN / SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER AND ROOF; LCD WARNING READS "FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER..." WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AT STARTUP AND REMAIN PERMANENTLY ON WHILE AT IDLE AND DURING DRIVE, AS WELL AS ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS AND CONDITIONS UNTIL SHUT OFF. TECHNICIAN SCANNED AND RETRIEVED FAULT CODE 93C3 ("SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR, PASSENGER") AND ESTIMATED A COST OF $1,950 TO REPLACE ENTIRE SEAT CUSHION, BY A SPECIAL ORDER FROM THE FACTORY, WHICH HAS THE OCCUPANCY DETECTOR BUILT INTO THE LINING. THE COMPONENT WAS NOT REPLACED. UPON INVESTIGATION ONLINE, THERE EXIST THOUSANDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS TO THE NHTSA FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE FOR THIS CHASIS MODEL; IT IS EVIDENT THAT THIS IS A FUALTY SAFETY COMPONENT THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I URGE THE NHTSA TO PRESS EVEN HARDER ON THIS MATTER BEFORE ANY SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATHS OCCUR AS A RESULT OF EITHER NEGLIGENCE ON THE MANUFACTURER'S BEHALF, OR FOR A LACK OF RESPONSE BY THE NHTSA, OR WORSE: BOTH. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY RISK, IT IS A SERIOUS LIABILITY CONCERN, AND I FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS. I HOPE TO BE CONTACTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO DISCUSS FURTHER.

NHTSA ID

11206143

Incident

Apr 26, 2019

Mileage

40,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL. PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT PERMANENTLY ON. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AND SAY IT WILL BE $1400 TO REPLACE.

NHTSA ID

11111783

Incident

May 15, 2018

Mileage

96,000 mi

I OWN A 2009 MINI COOPER AND THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT WARNING LIGHTS COME ON WHENEVER I GET IN THE CAR. THE LIGHT CAME ON RECENTLY WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AND IT NOW OCCURS EVERY TIME I TURN THE MOTOR ON. I'VE BEEN ONLINE RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS MAY MEAN THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF I HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM FACING A NUMBER OF MINI COOPER OWNERS AND BMW HAS NOT RESOLVED THIS PROBLEM AFTER MANY COMPLAINTS.

NHTSA ID

11031812

Incident

Oct 4, 2017

Mileage

65,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10958926

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Mileage

45,000 mi

2009 MINI COOPER PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT USE TO COME ON FREQUENTLY WHILE STATIONARY AND IN MOTION, WITH OR WITHOUT PASSENGER, AND NOW STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. THE ALARM LIGHT COMES ON AS SOON AS THE CAR IS STARTED. THE WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED ON THE TACHOMETER GAUGE AND CENTER SPEEDOMETER GAUGE AND AN OVERHEAD LIGHT WARNED THAT "PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF" THE ALARM TAKES OVER THE DISPLAY ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AND MAKES IT SO YOU CAN NO LONGER SEE YOUR SPEED OR ANY OTHER INFORMATION. STARTED AT ~ 55,000 MILES ON THE CAR. MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR MAT PROBLEM. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT RESULTED IN A RECALL FOR 2005-2008 MODELS IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 15V205000. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, AS NONE OF THE AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY IN CASE OF IMPACT. THIS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE ARE AVAILABLE ALL OVER THE INTERNET.

NHTSA ID

10958248

Incident

Jul 15, 2016

Mileage

55,000 mi

I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON 6-30-2016 WHERE I LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR DUE TO HITTING FIRST A SOFT SHOULDER OF THE HWY. SR145 TRAVELLING AT A SPEED OF APPROX. 50-55 MPH. I GRAZED A POWER POLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND RAN THROUGH THREE LARGE WOODEN POSTS ON A RANCHERS PROPERTY. THE CAR SPUN AT AN180 ANGLE LEAVING ME IN THE FIELD FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FOR WHICH I WAS HEADED. NOT ONE AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON IMPACT!!! I AM CONCERNED THAT THESE AIRBAGS AND/OR INSTALLATION IS FAULTY AND CHP OFFICE SAID I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD NOT BLOWN CAUSING ME TO VEER JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE POWER/TELEPHONE POLE. POWER TO THE AREA WAS KNOCKED OUT FOR APPROX. 1 HOUR. I DO HAVE COPIES OF THE POLICE REPORT AND ABOUT 18 PICTURES OF THE ACCIDENT WITH TWO PICTURES BEING A CLOSEUP OF MY 2009 MINI COOPER. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED ANYTHING ELSE?

NHTSA ID

10883627

Incident

Jun 30, 2016

Mileage

41,513 mi

CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO DEALER JUST AFTER REPORT OF MINI AIRBAG RECALL OF EARLIER MODELS [INCLUDING 2006]. SINCE CAR WASN'T LISTED ON RECALL LIST BUT I HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERAL MONTHS OF PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT PROBLEMS [ FOR NO APPARENT REASON]; I WAS CONCERNED AND ASKED FOR REPAIR. THE PIECE REMOVED AND REPLACED LOOKED LIKE IT HAD MELTED. I WAS TOLD IF MY MODEL WAS EVER RECALLED THEY WOULD REIMBURSE ME THE COST OF THE REPAIR. I DO NOT SEE MY COMPLAINT ON YOUR LIST AND SURPRISED AS I THOUGHT I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE REPORTED BY THE DEALER. AFTER THE REPAIR, I ASKED FOR THE DAMAGED PART; HOWEVER, IT MYSTERIOUSLY COULD NOT BE FOUND. MY QUESTION WOULD BE ARE THESE SAFETY TYPE ISSUES REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED BY DEALERS? I REVIEWED YOUR LIST OF COMPLAINTS AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS TO MINE [8 POSTINGS BY OWNERS AND 2 MANUFACTURER COMMENTS]. I HOPE MY DRIVERS SIDE COMPONENTS NEVER FAIL AS I AM NOT SURE IT WAS REPLACED. MECHANIC DIAGNOSIS; RAN SHORT TEST FOUND PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR BAD. REPLACED SEAT MAT SENSOR NO FAULT FOUND AFTER REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

10872546

Incident

May 27, 2015

Mileage

44,037 mi

PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MALFUNCTION. AIRBAG ERROR LIGHTS ON DASH AND INTERMITTENT DISABLING THE AIRBAG WHEN PERSON IS SITTING IN PASSENGER SEAT WHILE DRIVING. THE SEAT SENSOR CAUSES THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY DEPENDENT ON IF THERE IS SOMEONE SITTING IN SEAT. THIS COULD CAUSE NON DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT.

NHTSA ID

10817435

Incident

Dec 30, 2015

Mileage

95,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT ON. HAS BEEN ON FOR MONTHS

NHTSA ID

10810059

Incident

Jun 11, 2015

Mileage

43,000 mi

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 ID

10795342

Incident

Nov 11, 2015

Mileage

52,000 mi

PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG DISABLED LIGHT REMAINS ON EVEN WHEN SEAT IS OCCUPIED. MECHANIC RAN DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND CODE FOR PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR. CALLED MINI AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR SINCE MODEL YEAR 2009 IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10730503

Incident

Jun 25, 2015

Mileage

39,932 mi

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. BMW NORTH AMERICA HAD ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE 2005 - 2008 MODELS, BUT NOT AFFECTED 2009 (2008 PRODUCTION DATE) MODELS. PERSISTENT OIL LEAKS FROM AND AROUND OIL FILTER HOUSING AND TURBO OIL LINES. OIL LEAKS DIRECTLY ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD DOWN PIPE, POTENTIALLY STARTING A FIRE, HASN'T YET, BUT THERE HAS BEEN PLENTY OF SMOKE AND IN ONE INSTANCE, A SMALL FLARE-UP WHEN OIL DRIPPED ON THE PIPE AS THE CAR WAS IDLING IN THE GARAGE AFTER A SHORT TRIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10712346

Incident

Jan 15, 2015

Mileage

64,500 mi

I HAVE BEEN GETTING THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT (IN RED) COMING ON WHILE DRIVING THE CAR STARTED IN FEBRUARY, 2015. I'VE TOLD THAT MINI/BMW IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT IS NOT MAKING ANY MOVEMENT ON ESTABLISHING A SAFETY RECALL ON AFFECTED CARS. WARNING LIGHT COMES ON REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY PASSENGERS ARE IN THE VEHICLE. SOMETIMES THE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON, OTHER TIMES IT CYCLES THROUGH ON-OFF, WITH THE AUDIBLE WARNING, SEVERAL TIMES A MINUTE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10693596

Incident

Feb 7, 2014

Mileage

64,500 mi

YELLOW PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUES TO INDICATE A WARNING SIGNAL AND ILLUMINATE, ALTHOUGH THERE IS NOT A PASSENGER AND THE SEAT IS COMPLETELY EMPTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10524755

Incident

Feb 4, 2013

I WAS INVOLVED IN A MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENT. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD ME APPROPRIATELY RESULTING IN HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY FACE. I HAD HEAD CONCUSSION AND MULTIPLE FACE BRUISES, INCLUDING A DEEP CUT IN MY LIP. MINI (BMW) IS INVESTIGATING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10340585

Incident

Jun 11, 2010

Mileage

30,010 mi