IllustrationError code is 93C3 Passenger Seat Occupancy Detector. This seems to be a known problem on almost every Mini Cooper and should be recalled and replaced. Car barely has 63k miles on it.
2013 Mini Cooper
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2013 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
Limited mileage data: 19 of 47 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
12 reportsPassenger occupancy sensor malfunctions all the time and there are hundreds of claims regarding this issue but was never addressed by the manufacturer The same issue prompted a recall in older models but has not been corrected in newer ones
As per NHTSA there was a recall the replace OC3 SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT but I never received recall notice and just passed 10 years with 40K millage and started getting air bag light, dealer is not replacing it under warranty, if they was a recall they should have replaced my seat earlier so that I would not have this issue today. is…
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As per NHTSA there was a recall the replace OC3 SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT but I never received recall notice and just passed 10 years with 40K millage and started getting air bag light, dealer is not replacing it under warranty, if they was a recall they should have replaced my seat earlier so that I would not have this issue today. is there a way to extend warranty to longer time or recall all the cars and replace them so that we do not have to spend 2k to replace it? "01 11 16_OC3 SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT: LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 10 YEARS/120,000 MILES"
The contact owns a 2013 Mini Cooper. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the passenger's side seat occupancy sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but …
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The contact owns a 2013 Mini Cooper. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the passenger's side seat occupancy sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 106,000.
BMW/MINI have known about a faulty airbag sensor in the seats, yet never did a recall. The passenger side airbag does not operate when someone sits in the seat due to a faulty sensor on the seat cushion. BMW was around $1600 to replace this. Big safety concern if a crash happens and air bag does not go off. Should be a factory r…
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BMW/MINI have known about a faulty airbag sensor in the seats, yet never did a recall. The passenger side airbag does not operate when someone sits in the seat due to a faulty sensor on the seat cushion. BMW was around $1600 to replace this. Big safety concern if a crash happens and air bag does not go off. Should be a factory recall.
There have been at least 7 write-ups about air bag failure on this model reported to you. When a passenger sits in the seat of my car, with the seat belt on, 01 the airbag light and seat belt light come on. If I have an accident the airbag on the passenger side will not deploy, leading to death or injury to the passenger. This…
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There have been at least 7 write-ups about air bag failure on this model reported to you. When a passenger sits in the seat of my car, with the seat belt on, 01 the airbag light and seat belt light come on. If I have an accident the airbag on the passenger side will not deploy, leading to death or injury to the passenger. This has been reported to a MINI dealership. They will inspect it at my cost to see if it rates as a safety item. It is available for inspection as I can't drive it with a passenger and I can't leave my disabled wife alone at home. The car has 92323 miles on it. [XXX]--- [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
When passenger is seated with safety belt on the seat belt light comes on along with a message that the passenger seat air bag will not deploy.
The vehicle has a faulty seat sensor that causes the vehicle to default to having a non-occupied seat with warning lights. In this situation, a passenger will not have an air bag deploy even if they’re heavy enough to otherwise trigger the weight sensor. This is happening on my vehicle and, based on internet research, most other…
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The vehicle has a faulty seat sensor that causes the vehicle to default to having a non-occupied seat with warning lights. In this situation, a passenger will not have an air bag deploy even if they’re heavy enough to otherwise trigger the weight sensor. This is happening on my vehicle and, based on internet research, most other R56 models to the point of a market existing for electronic bypass modules. Mini will not repair for a reasonable cost.
The passenger seat OC3 Occupancy Sensor has malfunctioned, leading to the ECU to believe the seatbelt is unbuckled and disabling the passenger airbag while the car is in motion. This is a frequent occurrence which can be seen across all of the Mini/BMW forums for an untold number of owners of this build.
TAKATA RECALL: THE WARNING LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON THE PAST 6 MONTHS SAYING MY AIRBAG ON PASSENGER SIDE IS NOT OPERATIONAL. MINI DEALERS WANT TO CHARGE ME $145 PLUS TO CHECK IF THE AIRBAG IS DEFECTIVE. DON'T THEY HAVE TO CHECK THIS AT NO CHARGE FOR ME? I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY PASSENGERS, BUT CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THIS.REPAIR SHOP SA…
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TAKATA RECALL: THE WARNING LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON THE PAST 6 MONTHS SAYING MY AIRBAG ON PASSENGER SIDE IS NOT OPERATIONAL. MINI DEALERS WANT TO CHARGE ME $145 PLUS TO CHECK IF THE AIRBAG IS DEFECTIVE. DON'T THEY HAVE TO CHECK THIS AT NO CHARGE FOR ME? I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY PASSENGERS, BUT CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THIS.REPAIR SHOP SAID RF SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR NEEDS REPLACEMENT. COST $1082. ADVISED ME TO CHECK WITH YOU IF THAT IS COVERED BY MINI. ISSUE #2: HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 FAULTY IGNITION COILS. SERVICED THROTTLE BODY. COST ME MANY $$$$
Official recalls
123V337000 · 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.
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.