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.

- Odessa, FL, USA

The contact owns a 2013 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag and the seat belt warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken the BMW dealer and diagnosed with failed front driver's side door air bag sensor and a failed passenger occupancy sensor. The contact was informed that the front driver's side door air bag sensor and the passenger's occupancy sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure reoccurred with the driver's side door air bag sensor. The vehicle was taken back to the BMW dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed with a faulty front driver's side door air bag sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to a Mini dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to a Mini dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 61,180. The consumer stated that during the last diagnostic check on at the last dealership, it was found that the vehicle had a leaking valve cover gasket, coolant was leaking, as well was the thermostat needed to be replaced. The contact took the vehicle to Mini who contacted silver rock for approval of gasket and coolant repairs, but the items were not covered under the warranty contract.

- Yorktown, VA, USA

The passenger side air bag seat sensor has failed rendering the air bags in the car inoperable. This is a common complaint that many Mini Cooper and BMW owners are having. This problem has been known about by the manufacturer for many years and at one point they were repairing this issue at no charge for most models. I have and many other Mini Cooper and BMW owners have tried to have this issue repaired by the manufacturer and they are refusing. I filled out one of these forms a while ago and have seen no response from you about the status of this issue. This is a life safety system that is failing in many cars due to a design flaw that needs to be fixed.

- Coral Springs, FL, USA

The passenger side air bag seat sensor has failed. I don't know if that means the passenger air bag will not work or if it will activate incorrectly injuring a passenger due to air bag detonation. This sensor failure is common. Yes this vehicle can be inspected. The air bag warning light periodically turns on and off. I contacted mini cooper customer relations and they informed me that there was a time that they would repair this issue if reported to a dealer free of charge but that offer expired when the car turns 10 years old. Our mini is a little over 10 years old. Mini has been aware of this problem for many years and claims to have sent notification of warranty extension to all owners. I am unable to find any correspondence regarding this issue. Our vehicle has not been inspected by mini or anyone else. Mini knew what I was talking about without a question as they are familiar with this issue. The air bag warning light started coming on maybe a year ago and has become more common in the past approximately 6 months. We are not exactly sure the first time the wanrng light illuminated as it wil turn off after a while. This issue is not speed dependent, It seems to be activated when someone is sitting on the seat but not 100% sure that is the only time.

- Coral Springs, FL, USA

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)

- Groveland, CA, USA

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.

- Groveland, CA, USA

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.

- Lansing, MI, USA

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.

- Flagstaff, AZ, USA

Takata recall: The warning light is always on the past 6 months saying my airbag on passenger side is not operational. MINIdealers 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 MINIIssue #2: had to replace all 4 faulty ignition coils. Serviced throttle body. Cost me many $$$$

- Sarasota, FL, USA

I took my car in for servicing for an oil change and because the passenger airbag warning was displayed. Technician said the passenger seat occupancy has a sensor fault. No guarantee the airbag would inflate in an accident. $1123 plus tax to replace. Is there a recall notice on this" if so I have not seen it. Can not afford to replace that, it is a serious safety concern. Can you help me with this in some way" seems mandatory to me that MINICooper would cover this. My car has less than 35K on it mileage. I am very concerned for my passengers in front seat.

- Sarasota, FL, USA

Airbag light is showing that passenger airbag is off even though my 100 lbs daughter is sitting in the front seat. I've actually had a 2009 MINICooper S, 2011 MINICooper S and now my current 2013 MINIjohn cooper works with the same exact tail light issue. The driver side tail light burnt out in the exact same way on all 3 cars. My vehicle was stationary and in motion when the both issues occurred.

- Garland, TX, USA

The contact owned a 2013 MINICooper S. while driving approximately 30 mph on a hill, the driver drove down a small embankment, crashed into a barbed wire fence, drove into a pasture, and crashed into a tree. The tree fell on top of the vehicle. The side air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained multiple injuries to the left side of the body and brain injuries, which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a body shop where it was deemed destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000... updated 10/13/16

- Jonesborough, TN, USA

VIN: [xxx] airbag system malfunction warning lamp came on android stays on. Vehicle was being driven on interstate when the warning lamp came on. Odometer reading when the warning lamp came on was: 42630 miles. Called MINIcharleston of savannah and also MINIcustomer service and was informed that theory is no recall for this particular VIN despite other VIN's of the same model being affected by an airbag sensor malfunction. Am now faced with the potential for the airbags to inadvertently deploy during normal driving, or the airbags not deploying in the event of a crash. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Savannah, GA, USA

I was involved in a car accident on 10/15/2015 which I rear ended a pickup truck. I was going roughly 45-50 mph when the truck in front slammed their brakes which caused me to crash into his rear end of the truck. The front of the car is in bad shape and luckily I was not injured. However, the airbags in the car did not deploy which I find very disturbing.

- Duluth, GA, USA