Problems with 2006 MINI Cooper AIR BAGS

Passenger seat airbag sensor has triggered the red airbag light on the dash board instrument cluster. currently i am driving a vehicle without operating airbags as it is $1,000 for the part. it was already replaced twice in the past under warranty. i read that bmw just issued a recall for the passenger seat airbag sensor for their cars but not the mini which is owned by bmw. hopefully i am not going to fast when the power steering motor burns out... *tr

The air bag light is continuously lit on my 2006 mini cooper. initially the light was intermittently on; however now it remains permanently light. the dealer has indicated that the passenger oc3 mat is faulty and will be require a $1,000+ fix. internet searches have found that this is a common problem with this vehicle and the same issue has occurred multiple times on some vehicles, even after being repaired with new parts. additionally, bmw, the parent company of mini, had a similar problem with their bmw vehicles and a recall was issued. mini often uses bmw parts in their vehicles so it is possible and quite likely that similar parts were used. this is a genuine safety issue and one that is wide spread with this particular vehicle. *tr

Occupancy sensor mat bad and passenger air bag disabled light on. a known issue and bmw autos and suvs have been recalled for this issue. i believe the mini passenger seat occupancy sensor mat is the same design as the bmw 3 series and should also be recalled. from what i understand, this disables the passenger airbag putting a passenger in danger. the bmw recall campaign is no. 13v-564. *tr

From my research, the 2006 mini has a faulty passenger occupancy sensor in the passenger seat bottom requiring a replacement at a cost of over $1000. since 2006 was the first year for this requirement, i believe they did not properly test the device before releasing them into production as i have researched and read on many failures of this device. i cannot determine conclusively if the airbag will or will not deploy in this situation and mini will be liable in a situation if it does not deploy the airbag properly with a passenger seated. this is a situation that needs to be remedied through a recall. mini extended their airbag system warranty on the 2002 - 2005 models to 10 years or 150,000 miles and should do the same for the 2006+ models. *tr

Passenger airbag light on my 2006 mini cooper, above rearview mirror stays illuminated constantly, whether the passenger seat is occupied or not. after calling the nearby mini cooper dealer, and talking to the service manager he said yes we have a lot of problems with them. however there is no recall out for 2006 mini airbag problems but there has been for other model years. said the sensor and the whole seat may need to be replaced, bring it in and it will run you about $1200 to $1600. i asked does it mean my airbag will not function if i have an accident. the service manager laughed in a cavalier manner "well you always have your seat belt." after months waiting for an official recall, called the national mini customer relations who acted very non chalant and got no where. went to a local european car repair specialist who used a computer scanner that said the passenger seat sensor is defective. he then used a brand new scanner and this time it said the driver side is defective. said go on the internet i'm not the only one with the mini airbag problems. was shocked to see thousands, many who did spend the large amount of money and the problems keeps recurring. mini needs to extend the airbag warranty to 150,000 miles at least for 12 years. someone is going to suffer severe injury or death in a small car that definitely needs all the airbag protection available. $1600 is lot of money for a dealer fix that does not seem to work. *tr

Air bag light above rear view mirror illuminates when a passenger is seated. i have researched this and found many others having the same issue, but have not discovered a recall or any information to make the necessary repairs. seems it should be fixed as they did with the 2002 model, covering the repair to 10 years or 150,000 miles. *tr

My car is a 07/2006 mini cooper with only 22,900 miles as of 06/2013. when someone is seated in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag warning light and the passenger airbag disabled light are intermittently illuminated. the mini dealership said that the fault codes indicate an issue with the passenger seat occupancy sensor--which should be replaced. the cost cited for that operation was $900. the dealership speculated that, despite the indicator lights, the passenger airbag should still deploy if the passenger was wearing his seat belt. however, when bmw, manufacturer of mini, announced a recall in north america of front passenger air bag seat sensor mats involving approximately 200,000 model year 2004-06 bmws, affected owners were warned that they should contact their dealer "if the air bag warning lamp and the passenger air bag 'on-off' lamp are illuminated simultaneously." in that situation, bmw recommended that customers not use the front passenger seat and have the vehicle serviced immediately, warning that "a possible defect may keep the front passenger airbag from opening in a crash." thus, it seems evident that faulty seat occupancy sensors should be regarded as a significant safety issue. yet, despite the fact that there are numerous, well documented problems with the sensors in the mini, bmw has neither extended the warranty to financially compensate owners for an obvious manufacturer defect, nor issued a recall. the nhtsa should compel bmw to ensure the safety of mini passengers. *tr

Purchased car used. when passenger sits in front seat, airbag light intermittently goes on and off and then stays on. have searched online and the passenger seat sensor is likely broken and is a $1500 fix at the dealer. this is a safety issue and should be covered by manufacturer. *tr

During the past couple weeks, the air bag indicator light would come on. at times it would stay on for a long period, other times not as long. this week the seat belt indicator light came on after a passenger left the car and the alarm sounded for apx. 10 minutes until i stopped and shut off the car. the air bag indicator also came on. i took it for servicing today but the garage could not get any codes from the srs control unit. *tr

From my research, the 2006 mini has a faulty passenger occupancy sensor in the passenger seat bottom requiring a replacement at a cost of over $1000. since 2006 was the first year for this requirement, i believe they did not properly test the device before releasing them into production as i have researched and read on many failures of this device. i cannot determine conclusively if the airbag will or will not deploy in this situation and mini will be liable in a situation if it does not deploy the airbag properly with a passenger seated. this is a situation that needs to be remedied through a recall. mini extended their airbag system warranty on the 2002 - 2005 models to 10 years or 150,000 miles and should do the same for the 2006+ models. *tr

My 2006 mini cooper had a air bag light just turn on about a week ago for no reason for what i can tell. i called my mini dealer and they told me it was probably a worn out passenger seat sensor. they said it would cost about $900-1000 to replace the seat and the sensor. our mini only has a little over 50k miles and 50% of those miles there wasn't anyone ever sitting in the passenger seat to ware it out. i have seen on several other forums that this problem has been corrected by bmw but not by mini. i believe this issue should be a recall on all mini's as i have seen that hundreds of other people have the same issue. *tr

When i started my vehicle, 2006 mini cooper, the passenger airbag warning lights came on for no apparent reason there was no one in the passenger seat at the time. there was an august, 2008 bmw recall on 150,000 2002-2006 mini cooper's for this same passenger light airbag issue. bmw extended the warranty to 10 years on all of these recailed vehicles by vin#. i had this diagnosed by a bmw service center & a faulty passenger sensor pad in the passenger seat is causing the issue. the sensor pad is attached to the bottom of the passenger seat so both items have to be replaced which will cost approx.$1,200. i spoke to mini usa & my vin# was not on the 2008 recall. i then asked mini usa how do i get my vin# on the recall list & was to told to go to this website & file a complaint. after your investigation, mini usa told me that you can have my vehicle vin# added to the august, 2008 recall. mini usa was also unable to tell me if my passenger seat airbag will properly deploy in the event of a accident. i consider this an extremely serious safety issue (possible death) if the airbag does not properly deploy because of a faulty passenger seat sensor pad! please help.....thanks *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mini cooper. the contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who performed a diagnostic which located a failure code at the front passenger seat sensor. the passenger front seat needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 65,000 and the current mileage was 89,200.

I had to go ahead and have the air bag sensors in the passenger seat replaced last week, because i will have a passenger on a trip to utah soon. when i complained to one of the service people, that the passenger seat was rarely used, he started bloviating as to how heat can break down the materials in the sensors. *tr

The airbags light came on for no reason at all. doing research i found there's a lot of people with the same problem! and apparently mini usa is not taking responsibility for any of it. *tr

The air bag warning light came on. we contacted the dealer where we purchased the car and they said there was nothing they could do because it was not under warranty and there was no recall. they had repaired this previously under warranty. we then contacted mini usa and they said our vin# was not listed for a recall. i mentioned there are mini coopers in forums all over the internet with airbag light issues. *tr

The air bag warning light came on for the passenger side seat. the bmw dealer said that the seat sensor was faulty. *tr

Air bag system diagnosis returned fault code 71. tech check on srs system found passenger seat occupancy detector fault. passenger air bag system is disabled as a result. estimated repair cost is $1200. internet searches found this is a very common problem with mini cooper's and mini refuses to cover when out of warranty. *tr

The seat sensor is faulty. it reads that someone under 30lbs is in it (disabling the airbag) the dash light verifies it is off. this problem is intermittent to this day. so if a crash occurs the sensor won't read correctly if anyone is in the seat or not, the airbag may not deploy and if it does will do so possibly with too much force. *tr

Passenger seat air bag sensor warning light is lighting up. this has been diagnosed as a result of a defective passenger seat air bag sensor. there was no incident that caused this. it just went bad. this appears to be a known issue for min and bmw but they are not taking responsibility to replace the sensor which runs anywhere from $900 to $1600 to be repaired. this automobile has been very well maintained has less than 60k miles and is a one owner. there was no reason for this to have gone bad other than the part must be of poor quality or design. this is a safety issue and mini usa should step up and resolve this for their customers. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mini cooper. the contact stated that the front passenger's seat was occupied when the air bag deactivated warning message displayed. the contact stated that the dealer replaced the seat mat sensor but the repair did not remedy the issue. the contact took the vehicle back to the dealer for a diagnostic test, which confirmed that there was a defect in the seat mat sensor. the dealer did not replace the seat mat sensor. the failure mileage was 45,000.

Passenger seat airbag sensor failed and the airbag light stays on and the airbags in the front seat passenger and driver may be deactivated and not work in a crash. mini is aware of this problem has chose to ignore it. it is a great safety hazard. my wife has refused to ride in the car or let anyone else ride in it. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mini cooper. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the passenger's side air bag light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the front passenger's side seat cover would need to be replaced. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure and current mileage was 43,160.

airbag warning light indicates system is either off or inoperative - it does not matter if someone is sitting on the passenger seat or not. the airbag light is always on. after reviewing numerous complaints on mini forums, it appears that the problem is common and due to a defective sensor under the seat cover. since i rarely carry passengers, this condition is definitely not due to wear and tear. as it stands, i have no way to ascertain if the air bag will deploy in an accident situation. this could cause serious injury to anyone riding in the passenger seat or even the driver. a low mileage vehicle or even an older vehicle should not have this type of safety issue. mini customer support offered no help due to car being out of warranty. independent shop is doing the repair for $1210.00 due to lack of confidence in mini. *tr

The passenger airbag warning light indicates there is a problem with the passenger airbag system. the light illuminates continuously whether a passenger is in the seat or not indicating that the airbag is turned off for the passenger. mini cooper denies any problem with their safety airbag system, yet there are many people complaining about having the same issues. the problem occurred shortly after the warranty ran out. *tr

The right front occupant sensor for air bag appears to be defective. it had to be replaced. we have heard of several mini cooper's that have defective seat sensors. when this sensor fails, the air bags may not deploy as designed. this is a safety system failure. cost to replace this sensor was over $1,400.00. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mini cooper. the contact stated that the air bag indicator illuminated when the front passenger seat was occupied. the failure occurred multiple times. the dealer was unable to locate the cause of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. the approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

Driving along at 30 mph when air bag light illuminated and over head passenger air bag light came on and off. had passenger seat bottom replaced only to have the light come back on 3 days later. i have had the system checked 3 times ( with light turned off when returned) only to have the light come back on a few days later. *tr

Passenger side airbag seat weight sensor began to intermittently trip passenger side air bag light and air bag light. adjusting weight on seat would initially extinguish; however, problem is now constant. cost prohibitive to replace. *tr

Passenger side airbag failed. seat passenger detector failure is cause. a review of on line trouble sites show this to be a very common problem which manufacturer denies and delays repair. though mini has multiple reports of this, they refuse to repair as they state "out of warranty". this is a basic safety feature which is flawed and should be subject to immediate and broad recall. *tr

The airbag warning lights came on and stayed on. at first the lights were coming on and off now they just stay on. no incidents on a well maintained vehicle. both a mini dealership and another mechanic both say it is the air bag weight sensor in the seat and that the seat needs to be replaced. *tr

Our 2006 mini cooper hatchback's passenger side air bag indicator stays on with or without a passenger. sometimes with a passenger, it will go on and off sporadically. if the light is on when there is a passenger it would be logical to assume that the airbag will not deploy. after researching this problem on the internet, it would appear that this problem is wide-spread and dangerous. *tr

The srs light is on and the passenger airbag light is also on even with a passenger sitting in the seat. this is a known issue due to bad wiring harness under the seats but bmw, mini is refusing to rectify the faulty problems for 2005 and 2006 models of the 1st generation mini cooper. 2004 and 2003 mini coopers were honored with an extended warranty on the srs system for 150k miles or 10 years. with the srs light on, the airbag system and the seat belt activation system may fail on the passenger side even with a passenger in the car. the problem has already been reported with a service bulletin. the airbag warning light is on with a fault stored. the wiring under the seat may be pinched or damaged. service bulletin number:sim-65-06-11 nhtsa item number:10039593. *tr

Airbag warning light comes on whether or not a passenger is in the front passenger seat. the dealer says the airbag sensor in the seat needs to be replaced. this cost us over $1500. 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. someone with be seriously hurt or killed if the passenger airbag fails to deploy. *tr

Airbag passenger mat seat sensor . this has been a ongoing problem from the 2003 to present. seat sensor turns airbag light on and can disable air bag on passenger side and according to mini dealership, not on factory recall but they say get hundreds a year and charge to replace sensor at 1000.00. safety issue! someone really needs to have them fix a known issue at all dealerships and put peoples lives in danger. *tr

The air bag light is on above my rear view mirror and on my dash. i have found on multiple sites that this is a common issue. *js

Passanger air bag sensor failed-. *tr

Both the passenger seat belt light and the airbag system light illuminate while seat is occupied indicating the system is not operational and may not function in a crash. internet research reveals many complaints to bmw concerning this problem in the 2006 mini. manufacturer dealerships will not diagnose without a large fee. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mini cooper. the contact stated that the air bag sensor illuminated intermittently over an extended period of time. an authorized dealer stated that the failure was caused by the floor sensor mat. the vehicle was scheduled for diagnostic testing and to be repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 84,000.

The passenger air bag light comes on intermittently. it is not covered under warranty. mini service wants approximately $300 to diagnose the problem. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mini cooper. the contact stated that the passenger seat air bag sensor warning lamp was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the passenger sear air bag sensor was defective and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 82,000 and the current mileage was 83,400.

Recently, i've been getting both the yellow overhead airbag off light (above the rearview mirror) and the red warning light on the center dash. the warning lights will go off occasionally, but always seem to return. it does not matter whether i am carrying a passenger or not. the problem appears to be a defective seat sensor or a defect in airbag wiring harness. since this is a safety issue, i do not want to work on the system myself. mini websites discuss similar problems with the airbag lights on earlier model minis. i am certain a recall was issued for '02-'03 models. current recall does not include later build years such as my '06, but again, this is definitely a safety issue and should be addressed by the manufacturer. *tt

My mini cooper has air bag light on. no car accident before. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mini cooper. the contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated intermittently. the dealer advised the contact that it could possibly be the air bag sensor that was faulty. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure however, did not offer any assistance. no repairs were performed. the current mileage was 60,000 and the approximate failure mileage was 58,000.

Our 2006 mini cooper hatchback's passenger side air bag indicator stays on with or without a passenger. sometimes with a passenger, it will go on and off sporadically. if the light is on when there is a passenger it would be logical to assume that the airbag will not deploy. after researching this problem on the internet, it would appear that this problem is wide-spread and dangerous. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mini cooper. the contact stated that the passenger side air bag warning light was continuously illuminated. the contact stated that the sensor had failed. the manufacturer and dealer were contacted in regards to the failure but the vehicle was neither inspected nor repaired. the failure mileage was 71,000 and the current mileage was 71,800.

The passenger airbag light goes on and off randomly. the light will come on regardless of whether or not a passenger is seated.

On february 9, 2011, we were informed by mini service that the seat occupancy sensor was faulty and that it would cost us $1,245.00 plus tax to repair as it is not covered by the warranty package which they sold us when the vehicle was purchased in 2007. mileage of vehicle at that time was 46,810. the light indicating that there was a problem with the airbag sensor occurred months earlier, but we did not realize that it was indicative of a serious problem as small children did sit in that seat from time to time. on march 16, 2011, hydraulic power steering pump on vehicle failed. mileage was 47,895.

Passenger airbag problem indicator is on. the car only has 54811 miles. the dealer charged $118.37 to check. they stated a seat sensor pad was bad and would cost $1,200. to replace. they indicated the airbag system would still deploy. i contacted mini usa to file a complaint because i thought at this mileage and safety issue the repair should be covered as warranty (recall). they denied the request and also indicated the system would still deploy in an accident. after reading several blogs, everyone seems to indicate the bags will not function properly. this problem seems to be very common on mini coopers. i read several owners have had this issue repaired multiple times. i am concerned about the safety of this car. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 mini cooper. while driving approximately 35 mph, the front passenger air bag light illuminated although a passenger (who weighed over 200 lbs) was seated. the vehicle was taken to a local repair shop where the contact was informed that the sensor mat needed to be replaced. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 48,500 and the current mileage was approximately 153,600.