2008 MINI Cooper Airbags Problems

NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V205000 , this recall was not for my vehicle. according to the numbers and years but, it was manufactured at the same time in 2007 . SAME AS CONVERTABLE BY THE SAME COMPANY... plus they have not fixed FRM.i boutght this car possibly 3rd hand but i regisdtered with Mini. so my codes are up and the wanring lights are there and i was wanting the information as to what the part number or serial number is for the recalled part, would that not be a way to confirm if it is part of a problem?

NHTSA ID

11601311

Incident

Jun 27, 2024

Occupant side airbag sensor is defective my mechanic put a code reader to verify it’s a 2008 hatchback and I see they have recalled all the convertibles but not the sedans I would think the same airbag sensor is in my car are there any updates to my car because the replacement is very very expensive and the airbag failure light is a pain to have displaying That contact added that the vehicle only had about 36,000 miles on it.

NHTSA ID

11528729

Incident

Jun 1, 2023

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Airbag Warning Light has come on indicating a malfunction with this safety system and consequently that the airbag safety system may not deploy in the event of an accident. This problem is not unique to my specific vehicle and appears to be a very common issue amongst BMW Mini vehicles as evidenced by much discussion on forums across the internet.

NHTSA ID

11496394

Incident

Nov 25, 2022

This vehicle just went over 66,000 miles and the airbag warning light started appearing. An independent mechanic and dealership both diagnosed and said it's a defective front passenger seat occupant detection mat and I'd need to replace the entire system/seat. Several other vehicles with the same part have recalls however my specific 2008 model is not included in this recall. I believe it should be included in the recall as this is clearly a known issue and an obvious safety system/design flaw. No sort of crash or collision occurred and now the vehicle will not pass safety inspection and is unusable because of this until I spent roughly $2000 on the repair.

NHTSA ID

11486102

Incident

Sep 23, 2022

Hello, An airbag sensor recall was issued in 2015 and Mini Cooper refuses to fix this safety issue. They are saying this recall is expired, but it has not been 10 years and the car only has 54,000 miles. This is a known defect. Car is currently broken. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a15355121/bmw-recalls-91800-mini-coopers-for-airbag-sensors/ https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/bmw-recalls-91-000-mini-coopers-over-air-bag-sensor-n344226 https://www.aboutlawsuits.com/minicooper-recall-81033/ https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/2005-08-mini-cooper-recalled-for-airbag-problem.html This should be covered by the manufacturer. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11471794

Incident

Jun 1, 2022

MY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. THE MACHANIC SAID I NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE PASSENGER SEAT TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG SENSOR. A NEW SEAT WILL COST $1500 AND LABOR WILL COST $500. I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11404715

Incident

Feb 1, 2021

PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG OCCUPANT SENSOR/MAT FAILED CAUSING AIRBAG LIGHT TO BE ON AND FOR AIRBAGS NOT TO DEPLOY INCASE OF A ACCIDENT . MINI DID NOT RECALL THIS ISSUES BUT PUT A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR 10YEARS FOR THIS DEFECT THEY ARE AWARE ABOUT. THIS HAS EXPIRED FOR MANY VEHICLES INCLUDING MINE . THIS IS SAFETY ISSUE THAT'S A POTENTIAL RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH INCASE OF A ACCIDENT AND THE FACT THAT MINI COOPER DOES NOT RECALL THIS MATTER IS INHUMAN . PLEASE HELP WITH THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ID

11398828

Incident

Feb 26, 2021

AIRBAG SENSOR FAILS TO PASS THE VEHICLE'S INTERNAL SAFETY CHECK AND A WARNING LIGHT IS DISPLAYED. THIS LIGHT INDICATES THAT THERE IS A FAULT WITH THE AIRBAG, AND IT WILL NOT DEPLOY IF INVOLVED IN A WRECK WHILE THIS LIGHT IS ON. FOR THE PAST 9 MONTHS, THIS SENSOR HAS BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST, AND NOW IT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. A SAFETY RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR OTHER MODELS/YEARS OF THE MINI COOPER, BUT WHEN I LOOK UP MY VIN IT SHOWS NO RECALL. IN ONLINE SEARCHES, I SEE MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SAME MAKE/MODEL OF MINI COOPER WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, ONE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER, NOT AN EXPENSE I SHOULD HAVE TO INCUR.

NHTSA ID

11389937

Incident

May 1, 2020

Mileage

72,000 mi

RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2008 MINI COOPER. PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHT IS ON AND ALWAYS STAYS ON. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT MINI HAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY/RECALL. I TOOK VEHICLE TO BMW/MINI DEALER IN BIRMINGHAM, AL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS PARTICULAR RECALL EXPIRED IN 2018, OR WITH VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 120,000 MILES. MINE HAS 123,000 MI. ALSO CALLED MINI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RECEIVED THE SAME INFORMATION. MANY VIDEOS EXIST ON INTERNET/YOUTUBE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR DEFECT AND HOW TO BYPASS PROBLEM BY INSTALLING A PART THAT BYPASSES THE SENSOR OR BY USING A SCAN TOOL TO ERASE THE CODE TO REMOVE THE WARNING LIGHT. NEITHER OF THESE SOLUTIONS SEEM SAFE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CAR'S PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD FAIL TO DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. HERE IS A VIDEO THAT EXPLAINS THE PROBLEM AND A POSSIBLE UNSAFE FIX: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=GDLMTYGUIPM&T=615S

NHTSA ID

11341850

Incident

Mar 15, 2020

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MINI OF BEDFORD (LOCATED AT 209 S RIVER RD, BEDFORD, NH 03110, (833) 785-4497) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE CONTACT ALSO WAS INFORMED BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED IF THEY REMOVED IT TO REPROGRAM THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ID

11232449

Incident

May 31, 2019

Mileage

92,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG, WHEN A PERSON IS SITTING IN THE SEAT, THE AIR BAG SENSOR INDICATES THE AIR BAG IS NOT ON.

NHTSA ID

11128523

Incident

Aug 24, 2018

Mileage

18,000 mi

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON SPEEDOMETER IS ON. I HAVE HAD IT RESET AND IT COMES BACK ON. THE FAILURE CODE IS "93B1 HEAD AIRBAG, FRONT PASSENGER." WHAT HAS FAILED HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED YET. THE VEHICLE MILEAGE IS 112,000 MILES. THIS WARNING CAME ON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, PARKED.WHEN THE CODE IS RESET, IT WILL STAY OFF FOR AWHILE AND THEN RETURN.

NHTSA ID

11111416

Incident

Jun 25, 2018

Mileage

112,000 mi

PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR MALFUNCTIONING WITH AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND NOT CERTAIN WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF AIRBAG NEEDS TO DEPLOY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM BASED ON INTERNET SEARCH. MINI RECALLED FIRST GENERATION MODELS FOR THIS ISSUE BUT DID NOT INCLUDE THE SECOND GENERATION VEHICLES (MINE).

NHTSA ID

11029952

Incident

Sep 20, 2017

Mileage

59,500 mi

TAKATA RECALL?? THE SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS - 3 WARNING LIGHTS - ALWAYS ON. TOOK MINI INTO DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM ON 9/17/15. THEY DIAGNOSED: J# 1 511MZOTHERDIAG GENERAL DIAGNOSIS VEHICLE NEEDS RIGHT SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR REPLACED. PART NEEDS TO BE ORDERED - $1493.47 PART COST - CUSTOMER ADVISED. NEITHER BMW/MINI CORPORATE OR THE DEALERSHIP CAN SAY WHEN THE REPLACEMENT PART WILL BE AVAILABLE - NOR CAN THEY GUARANTEE OCCUPANT SAFETY - AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. THE MILEAGE ON THE MINI IS 26,959. WHEN IS THIS VEHICLE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL? AND WHEN WILL THE PARTS BE AVAILABLE TO FIX IT?

NHTSA ID

10897250

Incident

Sep 17, 2015

SRS COMPUTER AND SENSORS ARE FAILING. NO ACCIDENT, NO FLOODING JUST FAILING SENSORS AND COMPUTER. MINI CLAIMS THIS IS A "MAINTENANCE" ITEM, YET THERE IS NO DOCUMENTED MAINTENANCE PROTOCOL FOR THESE ITEMS. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 100K MILES AND AIR BAG SYSTEM COMPONENTS ARE FAILING. HENCE WE DON'T KNOW IF THE SYSTEM WILL WORK OR NOT AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS OUR STATE INSPECTION.

NHTSA ID

10893298

Incident

Apr 5, 2016

Mileage

90,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED BY INTERMITTENLY TURNING ON> NOW ITS IS ON ALL THE TIME. SAME ISSUE AS OTHER MINI COOPERS THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. WAS TOLD I HAVE TO REPLACE THE SENSOR SEAT MAT. THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED BY MINI (BMW).

NHTSA ID

10888906

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

98,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR MAT FAULTY. SAME ISSUE AS OTHER MINI COOPERS THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. WAS TOLD I HAVE TO REPLACE ENTIRE SEAT. $1,000. WAS TOLD THERE IS A NATION WIDE BACK ORDER FOR THE SEAT. THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED BY MINI (BMW).

NHTSA ID

10883427

Incident

Feb 4, 2016

MY CAR ONLY HAS 47,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS THE SAME PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ISSUE. IT STARTED OFF AT TIMES HAVING THE PROBLEM, NOW IS ON ALL THE TIME. MINI WANTS $125 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, WHICH SEEMS EVIDENT. ALSO PAID $425 TO FIX ELECTRICAL WIRING THAT CORRODED AND $1,700 2 MONTHS EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN WHEEL SENSOR WENT BAD AND 3 LIGHTS WENT OFF IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10882134

Incident

Apr 7, 2016

Mileage

46,000 mi

AIRBAG SENSOR MAT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE WHETHER A PERSON IS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THEREBY NOT ACTIVATING THE AIRBAG; THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON & OFF FOR MONTHS; PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON IMMEDIATELY DESPITE OCCUPANCY WHILE PARKED AND DURING DRIVING (ALL CONDITIONS-HIGHWAY, CITY STREET, TURNING; ETC. STARTED APPROXIMATELY FROM 75K MILES; NOW CONSTANT FROM 85K ON

NHTSA ID

10876033

Incident

Jun 9, 2016

Mileage

88,000 mi

WE TOOK OUR 2008 MINI COOPER TO A MINI DEALER BECAUSE OF A WARNING LIGHT AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A SHORT IN THE SENSOR THAT DETECTS THE NEED FOR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THIS MEANS THAT AT TIMES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY, MAKING POSSIBLE A POTENTIALLY DEADLY CRASH.

NHTSA ID

10863353

Incident

May 3, 2016

Mileage

98,000 mi

FAULTY SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR IN PASSENGER SEAT. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS IN SEVERAL MODELS, BUT THEY DO NOT CURRENTLY INCLUDE THIS MODEL/YEAR. FAILURE OF THE SEAT SENSOR PREVENTS DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND CAN ONLY BE FIXED BY REPLACING THE ENTIRE SEAT (EXPENSIVE). NO USER-SPECIFIC ACTIONS HAVE CAUSED THIS DEFECT, IT'S A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. THE ISSUE WAS ORIGINALLY DIAGNOSED IN 2014, RE-DIAGNOSED 1/3/2016. THE BEST RESOLUTION WE HAVE BEEN OFFERED IS 10% OFF REPAIR COSTS.

NHTSA ID

10862977

Incident

Jan 13, 2016

Mileage

50,000 mi

MY 2008 MINI COOPER WAS IN ACCIDENT IN JAN 2016. THE (PASSENGER) LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKE TO AUTOBODY SHOP. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS EVALUATED AND ADDED TO REPAIRS. THE SEAT MAP SENSOR IS THE CHIEF PROBLEM. THE CAR IS UNDRIVABLE. THE DEALERSHIP IN STERLING INDICATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE 15-30 DAY TO RECEIVED THE PART. THE PART WAS DELAYED UNTIL MARCH 24,2016. THREE DAYS PRIOR TO DELIVERY IT WAS UPDATED TO JUL 13, 2016. AT THIS POINT MY RENTAL CAR FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY RAN OUT. I CONTACTED CUSTOMER CARE BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE A DATE NOR ASSISTANCE ABOUT MY PART AND LOST OF VEHICLE. AFTER CONVERSATION WITH LIBERTY MUTUAL, AUTO SHOP AND DEALERSHIP, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. NO RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MADE, MANY INDIVIDUALS ( CONSUMER, INSURANCE COMPANY AND AUTO SHOP) INVOLVED IN THE SITUATION STATED IT WAS NOT SAFE NOR COULD LOSS BE GUARANTEED. AS OF THE 4/18/2016, THE PART HAS BEEN PUT ON INDEFINITE BACK ORDER. CURRENTLY THERE IS NO KNOWN TIME FRAME RETURN OF VEHICLE. I AM WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION AND I WILL NEED TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR. ADDITIONALLY I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER REPAIR FACILITIES, MINI'S PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR AFFECTS FAR MORE MODEL YEARS THAN THOSE FOR WHICH BMW HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED RECALLS. I AM ALSO AWARE THAT MORE THAN 60 MINI OWNERS ARE WAITING ON THIS PART AS WELL.

NHTSA ID

10861529

Incident

Apr 26, 2016

Mileage

88,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY 2008 MINI COOPER BRAND NEW FROM MINI OF THE WOODLANDS IN TEXAS. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STARTED ILLUMINATING RANDOMLY, WHICH DISABLES THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WHILE IT IS ILLUMINATED. THIS HAPPENED MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY, UNTIL IT STAYS ILLUMINATED MOST OF THE TIME NOW. I BROUGHT IT TO MINI IF THE WOODLANDS FOR EVALUATION, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SEAT SENSOR HAD GONE BAD, AND IT WOULD COST $1,900 TO REPLACE IT. I FIND THIS FAILURE TO BE A LITTLE ODD, CONSIDERING THAT MY MINI'S PASSENGER SEAT HAS ALMOST NEVER HAD ANYONE IN IT! ALSO, SLIDING THE SEAT FORWARD/BACKWARD SEEMS TO AFFECT THE FREQUENCY & DURATION OF THE SENSOR FAILURES; THOUGH THE OVERALL FREQUENCY & DURATION CONTINUES TO INCREASE. FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN ONLINE, AND HEARD FROM OTHER REPAIR FACILITIES, MINI'S PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR AFFECTS FAR MORE MODEL YEARS THAN THOSE FOR WHICH BMW HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED RECALLS. I'D EVEN BE HAPPY IF MINI COULD JUST CIRCUMVENT THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR, AND HAVE THE AIRBAG DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THAT'S A FAR BETTER OPTION THAN HAVING IT DEACTIVATED WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A PASSENGER IN THE CAR! BUT MINI OF THE WOODLANDS TOLD ME THAT THERE'S NO WAY THEY CAN DO THAT.

NHTSA ID

10859855

Incident

May 8, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOTIFIED AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR THE PART TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10823673

Incident

Sep 15, 2015

Mileage

52,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER. WHEN SHIFTING INTO FIRST GEAR, THE VEHICLE EASILY SWITCHED INTO THE REVERSE POSITION. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ID

10808843

Incident

Dec 1, 2015

Mileage

46,000 mi