2006 Mini Cooper

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.

EXITING THE HIGHWAY, THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2006 MINI COOPER STOPPED WORKING. I WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE PAVEMENT. THE CAR LEFT THE ROADWAY, NARROWLY MISSING A HIGHWAY SIGN (WOODEN POST), AND STOPPED IN A GRASSY AREA OFF THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. MY WIFE AND I WERE SHAKEN BUT UNHURT. THE VEHICLE BODY DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE DAMAGED. HOWEVER, THERE IS NOW A LOUD RATTLE COMING FROM THE REAR OR UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING IS ALSO COMPLETELY GONE. THE CAR CAN BE DRIVEN BUT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO SO. *TR

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

MY 2006 MINI COOPER AIR BAG LIGHTS (PASSENGER SEAT LIGHT AS WELL AS DASH BOARD AIR BAG SYSTEM LIGHTS) ARE INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON AND STAYING ON WHEN I START MY MINI. THE DASHBOARD LIGHT APPARENTLY COMES ON WHEN A FAULT IS DETECTED IN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM, AND AS A RESULT THE SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS SINCE I'M NOW DRIVING IN A MINI COOPER WITH NO AIRBAG PROTECTION. THE SEAT LIGHT INDICATES THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS TURNED OFF DUE TO SOMEONE OF LIGHT WEIGHT SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS LIGHT IS NOW COMING ON WITH ANY AVERAGE ADULT OR NO ONE AT ALL SITTING IN THAT SEAT. I DECIDED TO CHECK THE INTERNET FOR THIS ISSUE AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. EVEN MORE SHOCKING WAS REPAIR COST FOR THIS ISSUE. DEALERS ARE CHARGING CUSTOMERS $1000 TO $2000 TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR WHICH APPEARS TO BE THE MOST COMMON CULPRIT. INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE SENSOR ITSELF, THE ENTIRE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. EVEN SAW SOME CUSTOMERS HAD THE SAME ISSUE REOCCUR 1 TO 2 YEARS AFTER THIS FIX. SPOKE TO MY LOCAL BMW/MINI DEALERSHIP WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT BMW HAD THE SAME ISSUE WHICH IS NOW UNDER RECALL, BUT MINI DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED ... SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED BECAUSE OF IT! I LOVE MINI BUT AM HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED WITH HOW THIS ISSUE IS BEING HANDLED. MY DAUGHTER WANTS TO BUY A MINI ... I WILL STRONGLY RECOMMEND SHE DOES NOT. *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

THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. IT WON'T GO OUT. THE MINI DEALER IN BIRMINGHAM SAID IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. MINI USA SAID THE SAME THING. HOWEVER, BMW RECALLED THEIR 2006 MODELS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. SEVERAL OTHER MINI OWNERS ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE OWNERS' MANUAL STATES THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH IF THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND MINI USA NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT. *TR