2011 MINI Cooper Airbags Problems

The passenger seat occupancy sensor has malfunctioned, causing the vehicle to believe that there is an infant car seat in the front passenger seat. This puts front passengers at risk because the air bags will not deploy in the event of a crash. While having body work done at Swartz's Ultimate Collison repair in Lewisburg, it was noted by the technician, however Mini does not cover repair by a non dealer or accept accounting of the defect from a non dealer. I was unaware that the vehicle was nearing the end of it's warranty and waited too long to inquire again. They will not fix it.

NHTSA ID

11596422

Incident

Jun 1, 2022

My passenger seat airbag warning is illuminated, with associated chime. I am also getting a orange warning light indicating the passenger airbag is inop. This is intermittent with a passenger occupying the passenger seat. lights go on and off with movement of the passenger. There is a current recall for the convertible model of the R56 Mini Cooper.

NHTSA ID

11582702

Incident

Oct 1, 2023

The passenger front seat airbag sensor is malfunctioning on a large number of these vehicles. Doing an Internet search for my fault code, 93C3 reveals a lot of discussion about the problem. there had been a recall on earlier Mini Coopers for the same problem. I suspect they have not solved the problem and there should be a recall for this R 56 model.

NHTSA ID

11581179

Incident

Mar 1, 2024

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? THE AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF, AS WELL AS THE SEATBELT LIGHTS. IT CAN BE INSPECTED IF REQUESTED. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? IF THE AIRBAGS OR SEAT BELTS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY THIS COULD RESULT IN INJURY UP TO AND INCLUDING DEATH. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? IT KEEPS HAPPENING, NOT BEEN TO A DEALER YET THOUGH. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? NO INPSECTION HAS BEEN DONE. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? IT APPEARS THAT THE SUNROOF HAS BEEN LEAKING DOWN THE DASH ON THE PASSENEGER SIDE. THAT LEAKS RIGHT ONTO THE FUSE BOX WHICH COULD BE CAUSING SOME OF THE ISSUES. IF THE FUSE BOX IS BEING LEAKED ONTO THIS COULD BE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD.

NHTSA ID

11555327

Incident

May 1, 2023

trouble code: 93C3 ACSM/MRS: Seat-occupancy detector, passenger

NHTSA ID

11544198

Incident

Sep 12, 2023

No incident yet. The airbag passenger side sensor keeps coming on constantly and I don't know if it is going to deploy or what. No one is sitting in seat but sensor constantly ringing. Started approximately 2-3 months ago intermittent and now happens daily.

NHTSA ID

11542869

Incident

Jul 6, 2023

Starting June 2023 the Airbag indicator light would turn on when I put a bag or even something light on the passenger seat. Now it randomly goes on if I hit a bump in the road. Keep in mind I don't have an actual passenger that sits in the "Passenger seat". Which is completely baffling me! Please create a recall MINI/BMW Corporation, because I see that the 2011 MINI's are all having this problem!

NHTSA ID

11532545

Incident

Jun 3, 2023

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS DISABLED IS ON, EVEN IF PASSENGER IS SEATED. THE WARNING WAS INTERMITTENT STARTING IN 2015 AND THE CONTINUOUS SINCE 2022. OUR MECHANIC TELLS US THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER SYSTEM NO LONGER RECOGNIZES THE PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG SENSOR. THEREFORE, THE AIRBAGS ARE BEING DISABLED FOR BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER.

NHTSA ID

11521556

Incident

Apr 11, 2022

There is a known issue with the passenger seat occupancy sensor that trips the airbag/seatblet lights and, I assume, doesn't turn off the airbag in the applicable situations.

NHTSA ID

11516087

Incident

Apr 7, 2023

The contact owns a 2011 Mini Cooper. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer stated that the air bag mat sensor on the passenger’s side needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted or notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 148,000.

NHTSA ID

11514824

Incident

Mar 10, 2023

Mileage

148,000 mi

The passenger seat occupancy detection module and program failed. The red airbag and seatbelt lights went on. According to the dealership, the default setting is that the airbag will not go off if the module is broken. A Google search suggests that this is a common problem; so much so that there is an electronic gadget you can buy and videos on YouTube on how to install it to do a "workaround" to get the light to go off without fixing the module.

NHTSA ID

11493526

Incident

Sep 5, 2022

Car shows signs of passenger seat occupancy sensor recall. Mini acknowledges the recall has not been performed. Mini expanded recall to 10 years from date of service but because previous owner didn't get recall done I cannot. This is a known issue with these cars and should not have an expiration date! Dealer I purchased car from used says that because recall isn't listed here then they aren't liable to fix it...

NHTSA ID

11492816

Incident

Oct 28, 2022

THE LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IN ON. (RED) EVERY TIME. 94,166 MLS

NHTSA ID

11291691

Incident

Jan 9, 2018

TAKATA RECALL...AIR BAG PASSENGER SIDE WARNING LIGHT IS ON. LOCAL DEALER WANTS $140 TO "LOOK" TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND $800. TO FIX IT. CAN'T AFFORD THIS. WHY CAN'T WE GET HELP FROM DEALER/MGR?.

NHTSA ID

10903257

Incident

Aug 1, 2016

MY VEHICLE STARTED EXPERIENCING MECHANICAL ISSUES AT 78000 MILES. THESE ISSUES INCLUDED THE WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT HOUSING AND MOST CONCERNING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM. I WAS ABLE TO AFFORD THE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES FOR THE THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP WHICH WAS AROUND 2500$ I LATER GOT A LETTER ABOUT THE WATER PUMP REGARDING A CLASS ACTION. WHICH I'M HOPING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR. SO THE AIRBAG ... =( ..I'VE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE MINI WILLINGLY LOOK INTO THE COMPLAINT WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. I CANNOT GET A REASONABLE RESPONSE FROM THEM REGARDING MY COMPLAINT. I AM DIRECTED TO GO TO MY LOCAL MINI DEALER. WHEN HAVING THE OTHER REPAIRS DONE THEY WOULD NOT PERMANENTLY ENABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM BUT COULD "LOOK" AT IT FOR 125$ SINCE OTHERS HAVE QUOTED THIS REPAIR COSTING UPWARDS OF 2000$ I DECLINED. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE OTHER REPAIRS. MANY OTHER VEHICLES HAVE AN OVER RIDE FOR THIS BEING A KEY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS ISN'T BEING ADDRESSED WITH PREVIOUS RECALLS AND MANY CONSUMER COMPLAINTS. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM COMES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AS DESCRIBED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS. I'M ONLY ADDING MY COMPLAINT IN HOPES THAT IT HELPS MYSELF AND OTHERS RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I WANT TO ALSO NOTE THAT I PURCHASED SEVERAL WARRANTIES WITH THIS VEHICLE. WHICH WERE NOT HONORED AND CANNOT GET A REFUND FOR. ONE WARRANTY INCLUDED DAMAGE TO THE SEATS AND WOULD BE REPAIRED. I FEEL LIKE THESE WARRANTIES SHOULD BE REIMBURSED SINCE NO WORK IS BEING DONE IN REGARDS TO ALL THE ISSUES I'VE HAD.

NHTSA ID

10892852

Incident

Nov 3, 2015

Mileage

78,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER NOT TO AFFECT THE AIR BAG FUNCTIONALITY. UPON SHIFTING THE WEIGHT ON THE SEAT, THE LIGHTS NEAR THE ODOMETER ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

NHTSA ID

10865070

Incident

Apr 28, 2016

Mileage

51,000 mi

I AM THE OWNER OF THIS CAR. I HAVE RESEARCHED ON LINE THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF THIS CAR. MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ARE LISTED AND YOU ARE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I SUPPOSEDLY NEED TO REPLACE SOME PARTS AND LABOR TO THE TUNE OF $1904!!! I AM ON A FIXED INCOME AND I DO NOT HAVE THIS MONEY. SINCE YOU HAVE ISSUED A RECALL FOR CONVERTIBLES IN THE MINI AND RECALLED CARS IN THE BMW LINE FOR THIS, WHY ISN'T THIS A COVERED EXPENSE? IT SEEMS LIKE THE CAR IS SET UP TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND THE CUSTOMERS ARE LEFT TO WORRY ABOUT FIXING IT. ANY PRODUCT THAT HAS A DEFECT AND IS STILL SOLD NEEDS TO SHOW RESPECT FOR THEIR BUYERS AND FIX THINGS THAT ARE WELL KNOWN AS PROBLEMS. I CAN NOT AFFORD THIS AND I AM OFTEN IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. IF ANYTHING HAPPENS DUE TO THE AIR BAG NOT CONNECTED CORRECTLY I FEEL THAT ANYONE INVOLVED IN THE MINI/BMW PLANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE. YOU HAVE FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM AND YOU ARE PUTTING PROFIT BEFORE CONSUMERS. THIS IS A DISGUSTING WAY TO RUN A BUSINESS.

NHTSA ID

10862893

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

Mileage

77,000 mi

I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON 12/15/11 BECAUSE THE PASSANGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT TURNED ON WHEN A PASSANGER WAS SEATED. THE LIGHT TURNED ON AGAIN JAN 7, 2012. HERE ARE THE DEALER'S NOTES FROM THE 12/15/11 VISIT: SEAT MAT SENSOR OC3 RECODING CHECK FAULT MEMORY NO RELEATING FAULT STORED. COMPLETED TEST PLAN B6577 ACM4. CHECK CONNECTOR TO SENSOR OK. TEST PLAN CONCUDED TO RECODE OC3. UPDATED VEHICLE. D6577 0000 57 310. RETEST OK. AT THE SAME TIME THE CAR ALSO ALERTED TO A TIRE INFLATION ISSUE. HERE ARE THE DEALER'S NOTES REGARDING THIS ISSUE (ALSO 12/15/11): PSI: TIRE INFLATION CHECK SET TIRES TO 33PSI *TT

NHTSA ID

10444480

Incident

Jul 10, 2011

Mileage

5,678 mi