I was driving my vehicle and the driver's side airbag in the seat went off unexpectedly during normal driving operation. I was the only person in the vehicle and was able to stop quickly and safely. The problem has not been checked or inspected by anyone. There was no warnings that had indicated a problem.

- Sharon, MA, USA

The passenger occupancy seat sensor is defective (as reported by many other owners of this vehicle model). The sensor is very costly to replace in terms of parts ($1,500) and labor ($1,500) and MINI does not sell the sensor separately as it is embedded in the seat foam. The defective sensor does not recognize a passenger sitting in the passenger seat and deactivates the passenger airbag which is an essential, lifesaving device fitted to a small vehicle. When involved in a major vehicle collision, without a working airbag, the risk of fatality drastically increases. The sensor is also responsible for NOT deploying the airbag if a passenger under 100lbs is sitting in the seat ie. a child. Again, this is a massive safety concern especially due to other owners resorting to a cheap aftermarket bypass module which will always deploy the airbag. This solution could seriously injure or cause fatalities for passengers under 100lbs. Other MINI models with the same electronic occupancy sensor problems have had recalls issued by the NHTSA and has not issued recalls for vehicles with the same issue consistently. It is the NHTSA's responsibility to hold the manufacturer accountable for ALL vehicle models with similar defects impacting the safe and consistent operation of life preservation devices such as airbags especially when repair costs for these defective devices are cost prohibitive for vehicle owners to replace.

- Austin, TX, USA

Passenger Seat Occupancy Sensor fails There's a warning light for passenger airbag off, and also the airbag light on the dash panel never goes away, even when a passenger is sitting on it. Is a common thing on minis, the dealer charges $100 to reset it within obd tool

- Deltona, FL, USA

Unknown. I purchased a used 2009 mini cooper in 2013. The airbag light went on for the passenger front side shortly after. I took it to be looked at and was told it would cost around 1,000 to be replaced. I couldn't afford that and felt that since it was never in an accident it must be defective. I contacted Mini cooper via email and phone calls and was told that since there wasn't any recalls, they couldn't do anything. I have always been uneasy driving with passengers, including my grandson in the car. I honestly expected Mini cooper to replace the airbag, but here we are, hoping nothing happens to the safety of my passengers... please reply with any information for me.

- Fort Lauderdale , FL, USA

SRS warning light on. Intermittent at first. Passenger seat occupancy light on and off intermittently, occupied or not. SRS code reader indicates the problem is the passenger seat occupancy sensor. Mini dealer states the repair is not covered under warrantee. I fear for the safety of my front seat passenger if airbag does not deploy and/or the safety of a smaller child if it does deploy.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that an airbag warning light would intermittently flash on the instrument panel. The contact also stated that the passenger-??s side airbag would remain off with or without a passenger seated in the passenger-??s side seat. The dealer had been notified of the failure and informed him that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The contact was also informed that there was a 10-year warranty placed on the vehicle for the airbag; however, the 10-year warranty had expired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

- Newhall, CA, USA

Red airbag warning light and white warning too" passenger airbag off" warning always on when ignition is on.

- Solana Beach, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2009 MINICooper. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the air bag and the seat belt warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.

- Gilroy, CA, USA

Passenger side air bag not activated when sit is occupied. Airbag warning light on all times.

- Centerville, OH, USA

Passenger airbag light stays on and it is deactivated when I am driving. This appears to be a known problem with no recall in effect. I am seeking bypass options online to buy to always keep the airbag on regardless of having a passenger sitting there. Still very unsafe if a kid sits in that seat. This needs to be recalled

- Yucaipa, CA, USA

The airbag for the passenger seat stopped working 3 years ago. I checked several times for a recall but couldn't find anything. I went to a dealership and was told that if there isn't a recall, there was nothing MINICooper could do about it. I took it to a mechanic and it will be over $900 to fix the problem. Isn't it the responsibility of the car manufacturer to fix something that just stopped working (no accidents or any reason), especially since it is such a major safety issue?

- Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

The contact owns a 2009 MINICooper. The contact stated that the passenger seat occupant warning light illuminated intermittently. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with a defective OC3 seat occupancy mat. MINIof stevens creek located at (4201 stevens creek blvd, santa clara, ca 95051) was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure. There was no assistance provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 95,000.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

Passenger airbag 'off' warning light stays on at all times even when someone is sitting in the seat.

- Norfolk, VA, USA

A warning light came on the display screen saying there is an error with the airbag. I had just turned on the car, wasn't moving when it beeped and turned on. I have driven with it, and it is still on.

- Chandler, AZ, USA

My passenger side airbag light stays on constantly, even if someone is sitting there

- Cumming, GA, USA

Passengers OC3 seat occupancy mat failed causing the passenger side air bag to be deactivated. MINIhad extended the warranty on this for 10 years and 120,000 miles. My MINIwas less than 10 years old but did have 130,000 miles on 4/3/2019 when I took it into the dealer. MINIhas refused to replace this defected part even thought they know it was defective because they extended the warranty. They also know that on previous years models they were forced to recall this part as I also own a 2006 MINIthat went bad and it took over a year before they finally did a recall. MINIdoes not have a workable customer relations system that allows the customer to appeal this safety defect replacement rejection. The bottom line is that MINIknow they have a defective safety sensor and have a history of this being a bad part but are unwilling to do the right thing and replace it. They instead want the customer to spend over $1,000 dollars to replace it for their own safety. This is a bad company dynamic and shows no corporate responsibility.

- Fort Myers, FL, USA

Passenger side airbag sensor. Light does not go off. Dealer advises this is a known problem and they extended warranty on it for 10 yrs but did not recall even though they know it's a defect. We purchased our 2009 MINIin Oct 2008 so not covered by their extension. Shouldn't it be since they acknowledge problem?

- Delray Beach, FL, USA

At 40K miles on a 2009 MINICooper S (R56); SRS airbag and seatbelt warning lights appear on lcd screen / speedometer, tachometer and roof; lcd warning reads "fault in passenger-restraint system affecting airbag, belt tensioner or belt-force limiter..." warning lights illuminate at startup and remain permanently on while at idle and during drive, as well as all other functions and conditions until shut off. Technician scanned and retrieved fault code 93C3 ("seat occupancy detector, passenger") and estimated a cost of $1,950 to replace entire seat cushion, by a special order from the factory, which has the occupancy detector built into the lining. The component was not replaced. Upon investigation online, there exist thousands of other complaints to the NHTSA for the exact same issue for this chasis model; it is evident that this is a fualty safety component that needs to be recalled by the manufacturer. I urge the NHTSA to press even harder on this matter before any serious injuries or deaths occur as a result of either negligence on the manufacturer's behalf, or for a lack of response by the NHTSA, or worse: Both. This is a major safety risk, it is a serious liability concern, and I fear for the safety of my passengers. I hope to be contacted as soon as possible to discuss further.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

Airbag passenger light stays on when a passenger is in the seat and also stays on when is nobody in the passenger seat. And the passenger light turns on in the RPM gage (in the RPM gage )

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

Passenger 2 airbag is off-yellow warning light above mirror and airbag warning on instrument panel-red warning light remains on when the passenger seat is occupied or empty. These light are on when the vehicle is started and remains on. We have researched this issue and see this is a common issue with the MINIcooper.

- Yuma, AZ, USA