Passenger Airbag sensor is off even when passenger is in the seat and airbag should be on.
2010 Mini Cooper
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2010 Mini Cooper do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 40.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cooper years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
50 reports with mileage · 42 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
21 reportsThe passenger airbag with seat belt icon is always indicating no one is in the seat or not buckled. The alert icon for the lighting is also on and we have replaced bulbs and still won’t work and the windows at times just randomly stops would have to unplug battery for it to reset for the windows only. I just bought this car …
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The passenger airbag with seat belt icon is always indicating no one is in the seat or not buckled. The alert icon for the lighting is also on and we have replaced bulbs and still won’t work and the windows at times just randomly stops would have to unplug battery for it to reset for the windows only. I just bought this car and have registered since. Was told there was several recalls with the same issue I am experiencing. Please include my car for the proper recalls so I can have a safe reliable vehicle for my family.
Airbag light is deployed when passenger is sitting in seat. Module under seat is not recognizing the passenger and airbags are turned off. This is a safety concern in likeliness of an accident the passenger could be injured.
02/16/2023 i purchase mini cooper s from a private owner i paid cash 6,0000 for the car 2 months later my car broke down i had my car towed to a shop i was told that my motor mounts had no bolts or screws and that what cause my car to break down it also broke my intake and wheel bearings had to be replaced total cost 1,600.00 …
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02/16/2023 i purchase mini cooper s from a private owner i paid cash 6,0000 for the car 2 months later my car broke down i had my car towed to a shop i was told that my motor mounts had no bolts or screws and that what cause my car to break down it also broke my intake and wheel bearings had to be replaced total cost 1,600.00 On 08/04/2023 my car breaks down i was told that my valve broke and two cylinders needed to be replace the mechanic also told me that my card did not have the miles that it showing on the odometer when i purchase my car odometer read 156,000 miles i was told my mechanic that my car has almost 300,000 miles and the memory brain on my car is ready it a 2006 but my vin number said 2010 im having to replace my engine on my car still in th shop at i already paid up front 4200
Passenger seat occupancy sensor failure. This is a very common fault in the R56 series Mini Cooper. The manufacture has not initiated a recall. There are vendors selling "bypass" kits which will cause unsafe air bag deployment in an infant is in the seat.
Lights come on & off for airbags and or seat belts - randomly - unknown as to why - or if they are working - sometimes stay on - for 2 weeks - then go off and not on for quite awhile (weeks) brought up as to -why? with no resolution except may need repair? Does not seem to make sense - no accidents or even close to an accident e…
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Lights come on & off for airbags and or seat belts - randomly - unknown as to why - or if they are working - sometimes stay on - for 2 weeks - then go off and not on for quite awhile (weeks) brought up as to -why? with no resolution except may need repair? Does not seem to make sense - no accidents or even close to an accident ever occurring- local driving - car maintained.
Passenger seat occupancy sensor has failed, rendering the airbag system permanently turned off until it is replaced. This is an issue that is so common that people are purchasing bypass units off of eBay to trick the computer into thinking the passenger is there. A quick google search will confirm this. It cannot be condoned…
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Passenger seat occupancy sensor has failed, rendering the airbag system permanently turned off until it is replaced. This is an issue that is so common that people are purchasing bypass units off of eBay to trick the computer into thinking the passenger is there. A quick google search will confirm this. It cannot be condoned that a company as large as BMW gets a free pass on refusing to fix this while companies on eBay profit on a device that is clearly not safe to use.
The airbag occupancy detection switch in the passenger seat is defective. This is occurring so often on Mini Coopers (R56 models from 2007-2013) that a passenger occupancy defeat switch is being openly sold and YouTube videos are available showing how to fit this device. This disables the occupancy detector switch, causing grave…
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The airbag occupancy detection switch in the passenger seat is defective. This is occurring so often on Mini Coopers (R56 models from 2007-2013) that a passenger occupancy defeat switch is being openly sold and YouTube videos are available showing how to fit this device. This disables the occupancy detector switch, causing grave danger of death to infants or children seated in the passenger seat during a collision. MINI is currently charging nearly $1,000 to rectify this common fault. This defect has been confirmed multiple times by MINI, including on my vehicle on 7/8/2022. The component has been inspected by the manufacturer and confirmed to be defective. There were warning lights displayed on the central console, as well as on the driver tachometer every time the car is started. This warning cannot be defeated. This Youtube video (and many others…) have been posted more than 3 years ago about the issue, showing how to disable the warning. This one has over 74,000 views! https://youtu.be/gDlmtygUipM It is WELL overdue that you do something about this clear, present and deadly danger to children! Thank you.
my passenger airbag lights have been on for months .. cannot remove also my car has been burning oil since i got it
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS INOPERATIVE ANYTIME THE ENGINE IS RUNNING WHETHER THE CAR IS MOVING OR STATIONARY. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DOES NOT WORK ON A CITY STREET, HIGHWAY OR WHILE TURNING. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER YEAR MINI CO…
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THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS INOPERATIVE ANYTIME THE ENGINE IS RUNNING WHETHER THE CAR IS MOVING OR STATIONARY. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DOES NOT WORK ON A CITY STREET, HIGHWAY OR WHILE TURNING. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER YEAR MINI COOPER'S BUT FOR SOME REASON NOT THIS YEAR EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE PLENTY OF ONLINE REFERENCES TO THIS PROBLEM IN ONLINE MINI COOPER CHAT ROOMS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS FAULT WITH THE MINI COOPER. POTENTIAL WITH DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. THE ISSUE WAS PRESENT WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR USED APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO. I CONTACTED MINI COOPER (1-866-825-1525) TO SEE IF THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. APPARENTLY THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PASSENGER SEATBELT MALFUNCTION AND HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
Official recalls
223V337000 · Electrical System
May 11, 2023
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2014 MINI Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Clubman John Cooper Works, and 2007-2013 MINI Hardtop 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, and John Cooper Works vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. The electronic control module in the driver's side footwell area may short-circuit, due to corrosion from water and road salt.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the sunroof drains, interior footwell area, and FRM and, depending upon the results of the inspection, certain components will be replaced. Owner notification letters were mailed May 13, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
09V474000 · Equipment:other:labels
Dec 15, 2009
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 MINI COOPER AND COOPER S VEHICLES FOR FAILING COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH 17 INCH WHEELS, BUT THEIR LABEL STATES THAT THEY WERE EQUIPPED WITH 16 INCH WHEELS. ALSO THE TIRE PRESSURE STATED ON THE LABEL FOR THE COOPER S IS INCORRECT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: ERRONEOUS TIRE INFORMATION COULD LEAD TO IMPROPER TIRE FITMENT AND INFLATION WHICH COULD AFFECT THE DURABILITY OF THE TIRE AND THE STABILITY OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 4, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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