2009 Mini Cooper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE SOUTH SHORE MINI COOPER WAS CONTACTED AND DIAGNOSED THE AIR BAG SENSOR MAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURERS WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,000....UPDATED 10/23/17 *BF UPDATED 10/24/2017*JS

34,000 MILES 2009 MINI COOPER. PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. QUOTED COST TO REPAIR ABOUT $800 JUST FOR THE PART, POSSIBILITY OF AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING WHEN IN AN ACCIDENT. SEEMS TO BE A TYPICAL MINI ISSUE WITH A SLEW OF SIMILAR ISSUES (SOMETIMES MULTIPLE REPLACEMENTS), SENSOR IN SEAT CUSHION AND ENTIRE SEAT WOULD NEED REPLACED. SAME PROBLEM THAT RESULTED IN 2005-2008 MODEL RECALLS, BUT NOT 2009? WITH THE ISSUE BEING THIS PREVALENT? VERY WORRISOME, PASSENGERS RIDING IN CAR WITHOUT THE PROTECTION OF AN AIRBAG DEPLOYING.

SHOCKED TO FIND AN 8-INCH HAIRLINE CRACK TO THE UPPER RIGHT PORTION OF MY WINDSHIELD (RIGHT ABOVE MY EYES ON DRIVER'S SIDE). THE WINDSHIELD GLASS SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED ON THE EXTERIOR, WITH ZERO EVIDENCE OF IMPACT, HARSH WEATHER OR TEMPERATURE CHANGES. IT'S BEEN 60 DEGREES FOR WEEKS NOW AND MY MINI HAD BEEN SAFELY PARKED, OUTSIDE OF MY HOME. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FROM MINI CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I WILL BE TAKING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST MINI FOR THEIR DISREGARD FOR MY OWN AND PUBLIC SAFETY. SHAME ON THE NHTSA FOR SETTLING WITH MINI ON CHARGES OF SUB-PAR GLASS INSTALLED IN MINI COOPER HATCHBACK MODELS UNTIL 2008, A FEW MONTHS BEFORE MY '09 MINI WAS PRODUCED.

AT ABOUT 65,000 THE CAR WOULD JUST RANDOMLY RATTLE & TURN OFF AT ANY STOP INCLUDING DURING RUSH HOUR WHEN CAR HAD TO COME TO A ROLLING STOP DUE TO TRAFFIC. CAR ALSO SKIPPED GEARS, ALSO JUST RANDOMLY. WE WERE UNABLE TO TAKE TO A MINI SERVICE CENTER DUE TO MY DAUGHTER HAVING IT AT COLLEGE WHERE MINI WAS NOT AVAILABLE. WE DID TAKE TO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC AND UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE SYMPTOMS AND DIAGNOSTICS NOT TELLING HIM ANYTHING HE COULD NOT "FIX" THE PROBLEM.....TWICE. WE KNOW THAT MINI HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THE TIMING CHAIN AND THEY CLAIM THAT OUR MODEL AND YEAR IS NOT PART OF THIS ISSUE. WELL WE ALSO HAVE A 2010 MINI COOPER AND THE SAME TIMING CHAIN ISSUE WITH SIMILAR SYMPTOMS HAS JUST BEEN REPAIRED FOR OVER $1800.

TAKATA RECALL THE WARNING INDICATOR THAT MY PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF COMES ON FREQUENTLY (WITH OR WITHOUT PASSENGER). I AM AFRAID TO LET ANYONE RIDE IN MY CAR. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS AN INTERNAL FAILURE OF PASSENGER SIDE FRONT MAT SENSOR, THAT I HAD NOT DONE ANYTHING TO CAUSE THE PROBLEM, THAT THERE WAS A WORLDWIDE SHORTAGE OF THE PART, AND THAT IT IS A $1200.00 FIX. I DO NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT REPAIR!! I WROTE TO BMW IN JULY---NO RESPONSE. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE SOMEWHERE---WITH OR WITHOUT PASSENGER. IT COMES ON AND OFF.....DRIVING OR STATIONARY, ALL SITUATIONS. THE ONLY DOCUMENTATION I HAVE IS COPY OF THE DEALERSHIP LABOR REPORT FROM THE DIAGNOSIS AND A COPY OF MY 7-19-2016 LETTER TO BMW SENT VIA EMAIL TO MINIUSA.COM. I HAVE NO WAY TO SCAN THOSE TO ATTACH.