The BMW MINICooper 2006 has the same safety problem as described in the NHTSA action number : EA08001, NHTSA recall campaign number : 08V384000 but was not included in the vehicle recall list. There are many many owners having to pay $1000 - $2000 for repairs concerning defects to the front passenger seat air bag occupant detection mat. The broken circuit can lead to the deactivation of the passenger air bag and the illumination of both the air bag warning light and the passenger air light. The repair of the detection mat forces the replacement of the passenger seat. My vehicle is now one of the increasingly large number of MINICoopers with the failed safety system. Many states have yearly safety inspections and the airbag safety situation needs to be corrected before the inspection passes. The MINICooper "R" series vehicles need to be added into the EA08-001 NHTSA recall 08V384000.

- Haleiwa, HI, USA

Passenger airbag failure sensor show failure. Have had it "repaired" 3 times. Sensor shows problem within 3 weeks of repair each time. Does the passenger airbag work?

- Bothell, WA, USA

2006 MINIcooper, faulty wiring on passenger seat mate sensor, the wiring harness that comes out of the floor and connects to the sensor mate in the seat is to short and becomes damaged when you slide the seat back. This causes an error in the air bag system making it thinks there is a small child or no one in the seat and turn the passenger air bag off. This is a problem when there is an adult in the seat, the air bag system will not protect them. This needs to be a recall, being that the repair can cost up to $1000 if the seat mat sensor is damaged. The cost may cause owners not to repair it. This is a design flaw and the manufacture should fix this problem before someone is seriously injured or killed from this.

- Pensacola, FL, USA

Issues with airbag light in 2006 MINICooper S, when someone is in the seat if they are not sitting just the right way the light will go on, warning us the airbag is deactivated, sometimes the airbag light will go on for the passenger seat with nobody in the seat. Sometimes the seatbelt warning light will come on with no one in the seat as well. Moving the seat will sometimes correct the issue. Complaints to MINIand dealer were on deaf ears.

- Phoenix , AZ, USA

1/10/2010, I my heater was blowing cold air and my engine temp indicator was jumping around. I called MINIof towson and took my car in for service. I reminded them that both air bag and flat tire indicators had been flickering on and off since the last time I came in on June of 2009 and that as of a few weeks ago they had both remained on. At that time, no one took my inquiry seriously and I was told the lights were coming on as a result of the past required engine work for the cooling system and engine, and a slow leak in one of my tires, which I was instructed too monitor by filling-up when low and to ignore. I was informed recently that I now have to replace my passenger side air bag seat sensor ($1000). I have read many of posts on the miniusa website that say this as a common problem with MINIs being wired incorrectly form the manufacturer; something that could be avoided with early detection by the dealership at the time of the initial faulty indicator lighting. I was also told my water pump is now leaking coolant and needs to be replaced ($900); something I have been told may be attributed to the earlier manufacturing defects I had. Also, I am enrolled in their tire and rim protection warranty that states any tires or rims that are damaged by nails, pot holes, etc are replaced for free. They have patched 4 of my tires for nail damage; 3 out of the 4 tires continue to leak and I feel should be replaced. Lastly, my MINIappraised $6,500 by this dealer. I asked how much the value increases if I completely service the car and was told it would increase the value of services rendered ($3,100) a total est.value of $9,600. When asked why my MINIhad depreciated so much I was told because of the cars extensive service record. She said because of the deplorable service record, my car could not be kept by the MINIdealer and that it had to be sold at wholesale because the car is considered faulty. She said my MINIwas not safe according to the dealer resell standard.

- Baltimore, MD, USA