2006 Mini Cooper

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP IN AND OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT'S MECHANIC ORIGINALLY ASSUMED THE PROBLEM WAS THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SWITCH BUT AFTER SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SWITCH WAS NOT THE ISSUE. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HAVING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 84,000. UPDATED 4/2/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED HE LOST CONTROL OF PADDLE SHIFTER AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT DOWN SHIFT. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RE-STARTED, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT UP AND DOWN IN ALL GEARS, UNTIL IS SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. UPDATED 04/13/12

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.

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