2005 MINI Cooper Airbags Problems

WHILE DRIVING CAR MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HEAVY AND HARD TO STEER.

NHTSA ID

11051394

Incident

Nov 10, 2017

Mileage

168,000 mi

FRONT DRIVER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING CORRECTLY AS IT DOESN'T DETECT SOMETIMES WHEN THERE IS AN OCCUPANT. SECOND ISSUE IS THE CVT TRANSMISSION OF THIS VEHICLE. I GET A JERKING MOTION EVERY NOW AND THEN AND FOUND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT LINKED WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. I PURCHASED THIS CAR AFTER THIS LAWSUIT BUT APPARENTLY THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT AND FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE.

NHTSA ID

10884074

Incident

Jun 24, 2016

Mileage

69,791 mi

POWER STEERING PROBLEMS, AIR BAG OFF AND ON, CLUTCH WENT OUT NEAR ACCIDENT, ELECTRICAL ISSUES(MANY) WINDOWS UP AND DOWN ON THEIR OWN, EVER BRAKE NOT WORKING PROPERLY NUMEROUS ITEMS I HAVE THEM DETAILED ON PAPER

NHTSA ID

10788409

Incident

Apr 15, 2015

Mileage

95,000 mi

I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM MINI COOPER IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL NOTICE BY MAIL AND CALLED TO TRY AND SCHEDULE A REPLACEMENT OF THE SEAT SENSOR. I WAS TOLD THAT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST MIGHT BE CHARGED FOR THIS AND IT WOULD BE $150.00 FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THIS IS FREAKING RIDICULOUS, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THEY TRY TO CASH OUT AT MY EXPENSE... NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: OPENS NEW WINDOW TAKES AWAY FROM VIN LOOKUP SECTION> 15V205 RECALL DATE: APRIL 3, 2015 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: NA

NHTSA ID

10785438

Incident

Oct 21, 2015

Mileage

184,000 mi

THE WRITTEN "SAFETY RECALL NOTICE" THAT I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL YESTERDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015, OF WHICH BMW/MINI LIKELY PROVIDED NHTSA A COPY IS BOTH FALSE AND MISLEADING. FOUR MONTHS AFTER BMW/MINI NOTIFIED ME NOT TO ALLOW AN ADULT-SIZE PERSON TO RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OF THIS FOUR-SEAT, TWO-DOOR AUTOMOBILE, THE CURRENT WRITTEN NOTICE INDICATES THAT BMW'S MINI DEALERS "ARE NOW READY" AND I SHOULD "SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR RECALL REPAIR SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE." IN USING THE WEBSITE PROVIDED IN THE NOTICE TO LOCATE THE NEAREST DEALER, I WAS UNABLE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE DEALER HAD NO PARTS AND WOULD NOT EVEN SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO OCCUR IN THE FUTURE. A CALL TO THE BMW/MINI TOLL-FREE NUMBER INCLUDED IN THE NOTICE CAUSED THE BMW/MINI "CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES" REPRESENTATIVE TO ADMIT THAT THE NOTICE WAS FALSE AND THAT MANY DEALERS ARE NOT READY TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS FOR THIS SERVICE. THE NOTICE FOR RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 15V-205 INDICATES THAT IT WAS SENT TO ME "IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT." DOES NHTSA REALLY CONDONE FALSE AND MISLEADING WRITTEN NOTICES PURPORTED TO BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL SAFETY LAW?

NHTSA ID

10782537

Incident

Oct 14, 2015

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COPPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10778446

Incident

May 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10778383

Incident

Jul 7, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION IN JUNE OF 2015. HOWEVER, THE DEALER ADVISED THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HE WILL RECEIVE A CALL BACK WHEN THE PART WAS AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/01/15*LJ UPDATED 4/9/18*JB (INVALID VIN) *TR

NHTSA ID

10778075

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LIGHT ILLUMINATED EVEN WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000. MA 10/14 *CN

NHTSA ID

10758904

Incident

May 6, 2015

Mileage

86,000 mi

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARD TO THE CURRENT RECALL CAMPAIGN 15V-205; FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER IS DELINQUENT IN MAKING THIS CRITICAL SAFETY UPDATE. THE PART 573 REPORT INDICATED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION DATE OF MAY 01 -- JUNE 01; THE NOTIFICATION CAME IN LATE JUNE. THE LETTER FROM THE USDOT OF APRIL 17, 2015 INDICATED THAT THE RECALL WAS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON MAY 1. AS IT IS NOW AUGUST, I WOULD ASK THE AGENCY CONTINUE PUTTING APPROPRIATE PRESSURE ON THE MANUFACTURER. WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST SURFACED YEARS AGO, THE DEALER DID NOT SEEM TO INDICATE THERE WOULD BE ANY TROUBLE GETTING THOSE PARTS---BUT THEY WANTED ALMOST $1500 TO REPAIR. I APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED EFFORTS IN GETTING MY CAR REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID

10746523

Incident

Feb 2, 2015

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER :15V205000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10733099

Incident

Apr 6, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,629. UPDATED 09/10/15*LJ UPDATED 11/07/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10732400

Incident

May 12, 2015

Mileage

70,629 mi

MINI HAS ANNOUNCED RECALL NO. 15V-205 REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT SENSOR ON MINI COOPER. MY MINI HAS THIS DEFECT AND IN ORDER TO VALIDATE THIS AIR BAG RELATED DEFECT, MINI REQUIRED ME TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. NOW, MINI IS REFUSING TO REIMBURSE DIAGNOSTIC FEE NEEDED TO DETERMINE THAT AIRBAG LIGHT WAS DUE TO THE DEFECT ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT SEAT DETECTION MAT SENSOR. THIS FEE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED SINCE MINI ACKNOWLEDGES THIS IS A DEFECT FOR THE FRONT SEAT MAT SENSOR.

NHTSA ID

10724323

Incident

Jun 3, 2013

Mileage

76,136 mi

REPORTED TO MINI OF DALLAS : ITEM C : CLIENT STATES THE DASH AIRBAG LIGHT AND OFF AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON RANDOMLY WHILE AN ADULT IS SITTING AND NOT SITTING IS PASSENGER SEAT. THIS LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON AND OFF . 12/16/2014 REPORTED SAME THING TO PARKER MINI OF LITTLE ROCK, ADVISED REPAIR WOULD COST $1236.88. THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANY MORE. ASKED FOR A TRADE IN PRICE, THOROUGHLY INSULTED BY AMOUNT OFFERED, DUE TO AIRBAG PROBLEM. 1/22/2015 MINI OF LITTLE ROCK GOT PARTS IN AND FAULT WAS RESOLVED AT OWNERS EXPENSE OF $ 1236.88 INVOICE # 1MCS11292. PLEASE NOTE : THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FROM 2/9/2009 THRU 1/22/2015 WITH A PASSENGER AIRBAG THAT WAS NOT WORKING, THE VEHICLE BEING ILLEGALLY DRIVEN, NOT TO MENTION IF WE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DURING THAT TIME. WE WERE FORCED FOR OUR OWN SAFETY TO SPEND $1236.88 WHICH WE FEEL SHOULD BE REIMBURSED UNDER THIS RECALL. [XXX] [XXX] HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE, AR 71909 [XXX] [XXX]@SBCGLOBAL.NET INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB

NHTSA ID

10717283

Incident

Feb 9, 2009

Mileage

23,764 mi

PLEASE NOTE THAT BOTH MINI COOPER USA AND NW MINI (FIFE WASHINGTON) ARE DENYING THAT RECALL 15V205000 EXISTS. BOTH HAVE REFUSED TO HONOR THIS RECALL. I SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE AT 866-825-1525 AND HE INDICATED THAT MINI VIEWS THIS AS "MEDIA HYPE" AND THAT THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION ABOUT AN ACTUAL RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10717162

Incident

Oct 1, 2009

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT, NOTING THAT THE AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF, REMAINS ON EVEN WITH A PASSENGER PRESENT. WITH NO PASSENGER PRESENT IN THE SEAT, IT STILL REMAINS ON, TELLING ME THE AIRBAG IS INACTIVE. THERE IS A WEIGHT SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THAT TRIGGERS THIS LIGHT, AND IT APPEARS THIS SENSOR IS FAULTY. IT STARTED OUT WITH THE LIGHT COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY, BUT NOW HAS REMAINED ON FOR A LENGTHY PERIOD OF TIME. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX FOR A VERY CHEAP PART, AND THAT THE REPAIR MUST ONLY BE DONE BY THE DEALER. I FEEL THAT MINI SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS FIX, AS IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE ON THE CAR, AND IT HAS AFFECTED MANY OTHER MINI OWNERS, WITH CARS BUILT AFTER JANUARY 2005. *TR

NHTSA ID

10663389

Incident

Sep 15, 2014

Mileage

62,000 mi

AIRBAG SENSOR MAT IS FAULTY. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. FOR ONE THING, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THE PART; INTERNET FORUMS AND THE DEALERSHIP INDICATE THERE IS A BACKLOG FOR THIS PART. THIS SUGGESTS THAT IT IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. ALSO, THE PART IS $900.00. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGES $1,348.00 FOR LABOR. NO WONDER BMW/MINI ARE NOT INTERESTED IN EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO COVER AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. CAN YOU FOLLOW UP ON THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM? *TR

NHTSA ID

10662658

Incident

Dec 7, 2014

Mileage

93,545 mi

RED AIR BAG LIGHT ON CENTER DASH AND YELLOW AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OUT. THIS HAS BEEN ON GOING PROBLEM FOR YEARS BUT JUST RECENTLY THE LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10654842

Incident

Oct 2, 2014

Mileage

97,000 mi

AROUND THIS TIME MY AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS ASKED ABOUT THIS DURING MY SERVICE VISIT (OCT 2009) AND I WAS TOLD THAT TO INVESTIGATE THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR WOULD BE OVER $100 IN LABOR AS IT WOULD REQUIRE REMOVING THE SEAT. I DECLINED THE SERVICE. WITHIN THE LAST YEAR THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS REMAINED ON PERMANENTLY EVEN WITH PASSENGERS IN THE SEAT. I'VE RECENTLY DONE SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF MINI RELATED TO A FAILURE OF THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR OF THE PASSENGER SEAT. I HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH SIMILAR MODEL YEARS OF BMW HAS RECENTLY RESULTED IN A RECALL. AS THIS IS LIKELY THE SAME PROBLEM I AM EXPERIENCING, AND AS THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN, I AM REPORTING THIS TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE AIRBAG AND OCCUPANCY SENSOR ISSUE FOR MINI COOPER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10649484

Incident

Oct 1, 2009

Mileage

39,700 mi

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT (TYPICALLY ONLY ON WHEN SOMEONE UNDER-WEIGHT IE. CAR SEAT IS PRESENT) REMAINS ON REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE SEAT OR NOT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10628824

Incident

Aug 21, 2014

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE FAILURE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10617917

Incident

Oct 1, 2013

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS REMAIN ON WITH OR WITHOUT SOMEONE IN THE SEAT. CAUSES CONCERN IF AIRBAGS WILL OPERATE IN A CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10610971

Incident

Jan 15, 2014

Mileage

73,000 mi

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT APPEARED AND OVERHEAD LIGHT SIGNALED PASSENGER AIRBAG "OFF" EVEN THOUGH AN ADULT MALE (168 POUNDS) WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. MULTIPLE EXPERIENCES OVER SEVERAL DAYS. NO MALFUNCTION OCCURRED WHEN THE SEAT WAS EMPTY, ONLY WHEN OCCUPIED BY A BONAFIDE ADULT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10607631

Incident

Jun 29, 2014

Mileage

29,000 mi

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON! PASSENGER LIGHT TURNS OFF AND ON WITH PASSENGER IN SEAT. PASSENGER WARNING LIGHT GOES OFF WITH OUT PASSENGER IN SEAT. I LOOKED ON SEVERAL INTERNET FORMS AND THIS SEAMS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT MINI HAS HAD FOR SOME TIME WITHOUT A RECALL. THE FIX FOR MOST PROBLEMS IS AN EXPENSIVE 1200.0 TO 1400.00 SEAT SENSOR . I FILL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN WHICH MINI SHOULD ADDRESS . *TR

NHTSA ID

10576424

Incident

Mar 25, 2014

Mileage

105,530 mi

MY CAR STARTED WITH A LOW HUM AND AS TIME HAS GONE BY THE SOUND HAS GOTTEN LOUDER AND EVER SINCE THE SOUND HAS BEEN THERE THE POWER STEERING HAS INTERMITTENTLY GONE OUT, BUT NOW IS OUT ALMOST ALL THE TIME. MY WIFE DRIVES THE VEHICLE THE MOST BUT WE WERE PLANNING ON GIVING IT TO OUR 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER FOR HER GRADUATION PRESENT BUT NOW THAT THIS PROBLEM IS AN ALL THE TIME THING WE WILL HAVE TO GO PURCHASE A DIFFERENT VEHICLE FOR HER. IT IS JUST FRUSTRATING THAT AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND THEM BEING THE SAME IT ALMOST SEEMS USELESS TO FILE A COMPLAINT DUE TO MINI NOT WANTING THEIR VEHICLES TO BE GOOD. ALSO ABOUT 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT IS ALWAYS LIT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10564533

Incident

Oct 1, 2013

Mileage

98,000 mi