2008 Mini Cooper

AIR BAG SENSOR GOES OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. THERE IS A CURRENT RECALL FOR 2005-2008 MINI COOPERS, BUT NOT ALL MAKES. THE 2005-2006 MODELS ARE THE MINI COOPER, MINI COOPER S, MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE AND MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE S. THE RECALL IS EXTENDED THROUGH 2008 MODELS BUT THOSE MODELS ONLY INCLUDE THE CONVERTIBLE AND THE CONVERTIBLE S. THE 2007-2008 MINI COOPER AND MINI COOPER S ARE ALSO HAVING THIS AIR BAG ISSUE, AS NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED ON VARIOUS MINI FORUMS, AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. ..UPDATED 09/03/15 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V1205000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE CLOSEST DEALER WAS EIGHTY MILES AWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR, BUT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT OF THE LABOR FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WOULD BE MADE FREE OF CHARGE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

PASSENGER SIDE HEAD AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON AND CANNOT BE RESET. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT THE DEALERSHIP (WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW) WILL NOT WARRANTY OR REFER TO MANUFACTURER, BUT WILL CHARGE OVER $1,200.00 TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG AND/OR SENSOR NOT KNOWING IF IT IS ACTUALLY DEFECTIVE. THE CAR (NOT EVEN SIX YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 47K MILES) SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. OTHER RECALLS FOR AIR BAGS HAVE NOT INCLUDED MY VEHICLE MAKE/MODEL...YET. *TR

8;30 AM THREE CAR INTERSECTION ACCIDENT. TRAFFIC LIGHT CONTROLLED 4 WAY INTERSECTION, AUTO TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND RAN RED LIGHT AND COLLIDED WITH TWO CARS TRAVELING EAST BOUND THROUGH INTERSECTION AT APPROX 35 MPH.. 1ST CAR IMPACTED TOYOTA MINI VAN DRIVERS SIDE. FORCE OF ACCIDENT SO SEVERE THAT IT FORCED MINI VAN INTO MY AUTO. THE MINI VAN IMPACTED MY MINI PRIMARILY INTO MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. ALL THREE VEHICLES HAD TO BE TOWED FROM SCENE OF ACCIDENT. MY MINI COOPERS DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DEMOLISHED. FORCE OF IMPACT SO GREAT THE IT BENT THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE DRIVERS DOOR 3-4 INCHES ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR FACILITY IT WAS TOWED TO. VIP AUTO BODY. THE WINDOW THAT WAS APPROX 1/3 OPEN SHATTERED THE WINDOW. I SUSTAINED INJURIES TO NECK, BACK,SHOULDER AND RIGHT SIDE OF HEAD WHICH HIT THE DOOR PANEL UPON IMPACT. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH SINCE THIS ACCIDENT AND THERE ARE SEVERAL AIR BAGS AND SIDE DOOR IMPACT BAG CURTAINS IN THE MINI COOPER AND NONE OF THEM DEPLOYED. THERE IS AN ACTUAL SENSOR IN THE MIDDLE OF EACH DOOR TO ACTIVATE THE AIR BAGS, OBVIOUSLY THE ONE IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAS NOT WORKING. THIS CAR SUPPOSEDLY HAS A 5 STAR CRASH RATING ACCORDING TO MINI USA AND MY ORIGINAL WINDOW STICKER. I CONTACTED MINI USA THE DAY AFTER THE ACCIDENT, AND THEY INSTRUCTED ME NOT TO HAVE ANY REPAIRS DONE UNTIL ONE OF THERE TECH'S CAME OUT TO INSPECT THE MINI AND DO A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. I DID SO. THE TECH CAME OUT 5 DAYS LATER, AND A WEEK AFTER THAT THE RESULTS CAME IN AND MINI USA SAID EVERYTHING WAS WORKING PROPERLY AS FAR AS THE AIR BAGS. LIARS. ANYONE WITH ANY COMMON SENSE CAN SEE THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED WITH THE FORCE OF THIS IMPACT. THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ACCIDENT. MY MINI COOPER WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. ANY INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ACCIDENT WOULD BE VERY APPRECIATED MAYBE EVEN SAVING A LIFE IN THE FUTURE ....UPDATED 04/23/15 *BF

I TOOK MY 2008 MINI COOPER IN FOR ITS ANNUAL SAFETY CHECK AND IT DID NOT PASS. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IS FAULTY, IT DOES NOT DETECT THAT THERE IS IN FACT A PERSON OCCUPYING THE SEAT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT MINI COOPER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE, AGAIN, IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. THE PART TO REPLACE THIS SENSOR RANGES FROM $1200-$1400 DEPENDING ON THE RETAILER. THE COST OF THIS PART IS OUTRAGEOUS. THE LABOR HAS BEEN ESTIMATED TO BE 2-4 HOURS DEPENDING ON WHETHER OR NOT THE SEAT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY RE-UPHOLSTERED. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS FAULTY SENSOR AND THAT MINI COOPER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT THEIR VEHICLE IS SAFE. *TR

"DEATH RATTLE" NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AS REPORTED BY MANY OTHERS ON ONLINE FORUMS. NOW ENGINE IS THROWING CODES INDICATING CRANKSHAFT OUT OF POSITION. OBVIOUS RELATED ISSUE TO A DEFECTIVE TIMING BELT OR TENSIONER. TOLD BY DEALERSHIP NOT A COVERED REPAIR, ALTHOUGH I'VE READ THAT SIMILAR REPAIR HAS BEEN COVERED BY MANUFACTURER FOR OTHERS AND FOR OTHER MODELS. AS THIS VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN BY MY YOUNG DAUGHTER, OUT OF STATE, I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WHILST SHE IS ON THE HIGHWAYS IN THE MOUNTAINS WHERE SHE LIVES, WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS ISSUE AS A SERIOUS POTENTIAL LIFE SAFETY ISSUE, AS A FAILURE AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS COULD CERTAINLY ENDANGER NOT ONLY MY DAUGHTER, BUT THE LIVES OF OTHERS ON THE HIGHWAY. THANK YOU.

LOW MILEAGE 2008 VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING LOUD NOISES FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DIAGNOSED AS TIMING CHAIN/TENSIONER FAILURE. APPEARS TO A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST OVER $2000. MECHANICS SAY NOT "IF" BUT "WHEN" THIS WILL HAPPEN TO ALL 2008 MCS. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE REPAIRED ON A RECALL. VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY UNTIL REPAIRED; DELAY WILL RESULT IN TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. *TR