NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
21 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Nov 28, 2020
Air BagsSeats
I HAVE A 2010 MINI COOPER HARDTOP. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM OF THE LAST THREE YEARS. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG ALERT GOES ON WHEN I HAVE A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT SAYING PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF. I'VE TAKEN IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY WILL NEED TO DISMANTLE THE SEAT TO SEE IF THE SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACE. I SEE THAT OTHER MODE…
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I HAVE A 2010 MINI COOPER HARDTOP. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM OF THE LAST THREE YEARS. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG ALERT GOES ON WHEN I HAVE A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT SAYING PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF. I'VE TAKEN IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY WILL NEED TO DISMANTLE THE SEAT TO SEE IF THE SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACE. I SEE THAT OTHER MODELS OF MINI COOPERS HAVE HAD RECALLS FOR THIS DEFECT IN SEAT SENSORS. MODELS IN YEARS BEFORE AND AFTER 2010. IT IS AN EXPENSIVE PROCEDURE, AND DANGEROUS IF I HAVE A PASSENGER.
NHTSA ODI #11376890
65,915 miles · May 21, 2020
Air BagsElectrical SystemExterior Lighting
AIR BAG PASSENGER LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. WINDOWS DOWN GO UP OR DOWN. TURN SIGNALS DON'T WORK. AC STOP WORKING. IT BLOWS OUT HOT AIR IN THE FRONT. A LOUD THUD NOISE HAPPENS ONCE IN A WHILE FROM THE BACK. SOMETIMES WON'T START LIKE IF THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. SOMETIMES ENGINE WON'T TURN OFF AND WILL RUN WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE I…
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AIR BAG PASSENGER LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. WINDOWS DOWN GO UP OR DOWN. TURN SIGNALS DON'T WORK. AC STOP WORKING. IT BLOWS OUT HOT AIR IN THE FRONT. A LOUD THUD NOISE HAPPENS ONCE IN A WHILE FROM THE BACK. SOMETIMES WON'T START LIKE IF THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. SOMETIMES ENGINE WON'T TURN OFF AND WILL RUN WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I'VE ONLY HAD IT SINCE OCT 2019. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11325466
72,000 miles · Mar 1, 2020
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeats
THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR IS BROKEN. THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMWS AND MINI COOPERS. SOME MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED. BUT MANY HAVE NOT, INCLUDING MINE. THE SYMPTOM IS THAT SEAT BELT AND AIRBAG WARNINGS LIGHT UP.
NHTSA ODI #11315369
Mileage unknown · May 22, 2019
Air BagsSeat Belts
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND SEAT BELL LIGHT REMAINS ON ENTIRE TIME. THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON 2009 AND EARLIER MODELS BUT NOT 2010'S, HOWEVER IT'S THE SAME ISSUE. I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE CAR HOWEVER THE ORIGINAL OWNER HAD THE REPLACED IN 2015 BUT NOW THE LIGHTS ARE BACK ON.
NHTSA ODI #11209383
Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2018
Air Bags
WHEN YOU TURN ON THE CAR THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF RANDOMLY ON MY DASHBOARD AND THE YELLOW PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING SIGNS ON THE TOP OF THE CAR ALSO COMING ON AND OFF, SOMETIMES IT DISAPPEAR WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. I CALLED MINI COOPER LOCAL DEALER, NO RECALL NOTED INCLUDING IN YOUR WEBSIT…
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WHEN YOU TURN ON THE CAR THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF RANDOMLY ON MY DASHBOARD AND THE YELLOW PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING SIGNS ON THE TOP OF THE CAR ALSO COMING ON AND OFF, SOMETIMES IT DISAPPEAR WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. I CALLED MINI COOPER LOCAL DEALER, NO RECALL NOTED INCLUDING IN YOUR WEBSITE.
NHTSA ODI #11128220
70,000 miles · Oct 21, 2016
Air Bags
"PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT WITH THE SEAT BELT ON, AND VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS WAS EXPRESSED TO MINI, WHO HAS A RECALL FOR EXACTLY THIS PROBLEM ON EARLIER MODELS, AND MINI HAS EXPRESSED THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. I HA…
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"PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT WITH THE SEAT BELT ON, AND VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS WAS EXPRESSED TO MINI, WHO HAS A RECALL FOR EXACTLY THIS PROBLEM ON EARLIER MODELS, AND MINI HAS EXPRESSED THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. I HAVE VIDEO OF THIS OCCURRING IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN WATCHING IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10917762
36,000 miles · Oct 20, 2016
Air BagsElectrical System
WHILE ON A RECENT ROAD TRIP, PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LAMPS BEGAN TO COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. AT FIRST, THE SYSTEM SEEMED TO RESET WHEN THE ENGINE WAS SWITCHED OFF, BUT OVER THE COURSE OF 2 DAYS, IT STOPPED RESETTING AND THE WARNING LIGHTS, AS WELL AS THE WARNING TONES, WOULD JUST GO ON AND OFF SPONTAN…
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WHILE ON A RECENT ROAD TRIP, PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LAMPS BEGAN TO COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. AT FIRST, THE SYSTEM SEEMED TO RESET WHEN THE ENGINE WAS SWITCHED OFF, BUT OVER THE COURSE OF 2 DAYS, IT STOPPED RESETTING AND THE WARNING LIGHTS, AS WELL AS THE WARNING TONES, WOULD JUST GO ON AND OFF SPONTANEOUSLY WITH THE SEAT OCCUPIED. NOW THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" INDICATOR LAMP ABOVE THE REARVIEW MIRROR, WARNING LAMP NEAR TACHOMETER (AREA 1 AS INDICATED BY MINI OWNER'S MANUAL), AND AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILURE LAMP (AREA 2) ARE CONTINUOUSLY LIT WHEN PASSENGER SEAT IS UNOCCUPIED. I HAVE NOT HAD THE SYSTEM CHECKED BY A MECHANIC YET; CURRENTLY, THE NEAREST MINI DEALERSHIP/SERVICE CENTER IS 202 MILES FROM ME. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON ISSUE REPORTED HERE AND ON SEVERAL ONLINE FORUMS. THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER ALSO FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED IN SPRING OF 2015.
NHTSA ODI #10917464
68,000 miles · Sep 21, 2016
Air BagsSeats
FAULTY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR FOR AIRBAG. WEIGHT SENSOR FAILS TO DISTINGUISH WHEN SOMEONE IS OR IS NOT IN THE SEAT, CAUSING THE AIRBAG FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER CONSTANTLY READ "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF."
NHTSA ODI #10908587
69,500 miles · Mar 23, 2016
Air Bags
THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY, EVEN WHEN AN ADULT PASSENGER IS SEATED THERE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND SEE THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR EARLIER MODEL COOPER AND COOPER S MODELS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS THAT ARE LISTED IN THAT RECALL, AND ACCORDING TO THIS SITE SO HAVE …
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THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY, EVEN WHEN AN ADULT PASSENGER IS SEATED THERE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND SEE THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR EARLIER MODEL COOPER AND COOPER S MODELS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS THAT ARE LISTED IN THAT RECALL, AND ACCORDING TO THIS SITE SO HAVE 2009 COOPER OWNERS. THIS RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED ACCORDINGLY.
NHTSA ODI #10851275
80,000 miles · Feb 11, 2016
Air Bags
PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR WILL NOT RESET AND LIGHT IS ON CONTINUOUSLY. DON'T KNOW IF SYSTEM IS WORKING OR NOT.. NO FIX AVAILABLE AND NO PARTS AVAILABLE ANYWHERE. DEALER SAYS, TRY IN A MONTH. FROM WHAT I READ EARLIER MODELS WERE RECALLED DO TO THIS DEFECT. WHY NOT ALL OF THEM. NO ONE CAN TELL ME THAT THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE.
NHTSA ODI #10825704
Official recalls
2May 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.
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 ↗