general problems of the 2002 Mini Cooper

Unoccupied passenger side airbags; all front & backseat bags deployed after passenger side tires hit pothole on road. Pieces of interior, including decorative plastic, interior light covers were projected across cabin & hit me. I had no idea what had happened. Car shut off shortly after incident. It was night, I was sitting in middle of my lane, unable to start Mini. Good samaritans helped push it into parking lot while waiting for assistance. After 15 minutes, car started and was driven home. I had slight injuries from being hit by hard material projectiled across cabin. Very thankful I was the only occupant because if a passenger had been in the seat, they would have most definitely sustained injuries. I had to cut the airbags out in order to have clear lines of sight before driving the following day. I’m fearful that the drivers side air bags may do this as well. I have owned this vehicle since 2004. Not aware of history prior to 2004;(accidents, original airbags?). Only know it came from a dealer in CA. (possibly “friendship” may be name of town or dealership). I have not had repairs made yet. I don’t drive this vehicle daily. There are no police reports since there was no need. No insurance claims since 2002 model. There were no malfunctions with the warning light prior to incident. However, the following day when I drove, the airbag indicator light came on for passenger side. I did not find a recall but not sure if I would for a 22 year old vehicle.

I purchased the vehicle used with airbag light showing on the speedometer gauge cluster. Searched with VIN for recalls but showed 0 unrepaired recalls. Tried clearing the light with my launch creader BMW v2 scan tool. Light flashes a few times and goes away but immediately appears on the speedometer gauge cluster. This would happen everytime. Wires are intact with no signs of damages to all 3 wire connectors under the seat.

I was exiting from 35th street in newport news, va onto the warwick blvd off ramp in traffic, coasting with the brakes at about 5 mph, when I was rear ended by a navy operated flat nose school bus, which forced my vehicle into a late model chevy trailblazer. My air bags (front and side) did not deploy, and when I came to rest my seat back had reclined against my child's car seat (child was not in vehicle). The right rear unibody was creased due to the impact from the bus. I suffered neck, back, and spine trauma. The driver of the trailblazer complained of neck pain at the scene. Local newport news fire and rescue units arrived on scene, as well as a virginia state trooper. The trooper handled the accident.

This is a follow-on to investigation pe05053 originally opened on 09/27/2005. I too have experienced intermittent illumination of the air bag warning lamp on my my 2002 Mini Cooper. The incidents of intermittent airbag warning lamp illumination started on 12 Feb 06 and have continued since that time. The lamp illumination is intermittent and not steady. Since I live 220+ miles from the nearest BMW/Mini dealer I have not brought the car in for service or further investigation. No consequences other than the minor annoyance of the illuminated light on have occurred, although I am concerned that one or more airbags may not inflate in case of impact or crash.

Two-car crash at an intersection - airbags in 2002 Mini Cooper s failed to deploy. Car 1 (2002 Mini Cooper s) was driving west on totten pond rd. In waltham, MA at approx. 30 mph, approaching green light at intersection of totten pond rd/winter st and wyman st. Car 2 (2001 chevy van) was traveling in opposite direction on same road (mph unknown - approximated at 25 mph) and attempted to make a left hand turn onto wyman st. In front of car 1, striking car 1 in the front driver's side quarter panel and causing damage to entire driver's side of car1 (front and rear quarter panels, driver's door and tires). I was the occupant of car 1 and because I was not wearing a set belt, I was thrown into the driver's side door and window, shattering the window completely with my head and was then thrown into the passenger seat after impact. None of the six airbags in the 2002 Mini Cooper s deployed. At a Minimum, from the angle of the accident, the driver's side seat airbag and driver's side curtain airbag should have deployed from the impact. I was transported to the hospital by ambulance and sustained minor head injuries (minor concussion), minor cuts to my hands and bruising to my left leg. The 2002 Mini Cooper s was undriveable and was towed from the scene of the crash. Insurance company claim has been filed with my insurance company (liberty mutual) and the driver of car 2's insurance company (amica mutual) will be notified. A police report is on file with the waltham police dept. In waltham, MA. It is unknown what will be done to correct the failure, until the insurance claim is processed.

2002 Mini Cooper s has had a second airbag system failure. When electronics associated with the airbag system detect a failure, the airbag system is disabled until taken to the dealer to have fixed. Looking under the seats to see what the issue could be, discovered the "fix" performed by the dealer to fix the problem the first time the problem occurred. The intial fix was to compress the plug together with "wireties" - not to replace the plugs with a better design. Both the workmanship of the repair of the airbag system and the system itself are faulty.

Air bag failure light. 2nd time in 2 years. Wiring harness connector separated when the driver side seat moves all the way backward. Dealer installed longer harness.