Seats Problems of Mini Cooper - part 1

The seatbelt and air bag warning light for the passenger front seat stays on.

See all problems of the 2009 Mini Cooper 🔎.

There is a leak which affected the control unit fuel pump. The leak is ongoing throughout many of these cars yet there has not been a recall to fix it. More than $3k in damages. It's something a modern car should not be facing.

See all problems of the 2017 Mini Cooper 🔎.

On almost all r56 model Mini Coopers the passenger seat occupancy sensor has a major malfunction that causes it to fail and pop up an airbag sensor light even when someone is sitting in the seat, Mini USA did not issue a recall but rather a reimbursement form for owners in 2017 the last year of production for that car and did not publicly disclose this. I feel as though this should be a recall as it is common enough for bypass devices to be normal for this car.

See all problems of the 2007 Mini Cooper 🔎.

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".

See all problems of the 2013 Mini Cooper 🔎.

Passenger 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.

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.

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.

See all problems of the 2002 Mini Cooper 🔎.

Trouble code: 93c3 acsm/mrs: seat-occupancy detector, passenger.

See all problems of the 2011 Mini Cooper 🔎.

Passenger seat occupancy sensor failure. This is a very common fault in the r56 series Mini Cooper. The manufacture has not initiated a recall. There are vendors selling "bypass" kits which will cause unsafe air bag deployment in an infant is in the seat.

See all problems of the 2010 Mini Cooper 🔎.

There is a known issue with the passenger seat occupancy sensor that trips the airbag/seatblet lights and, I assume, doesn't turn off the airbag in the applicable situations.

BMW issued a recall 15v-205 safety recall, to cover the airbag sensor in the passenger seat of my vehicle, a 2006 Mini Cooper s. The failure error was in the airbag sensor in the passenger seat, and the system warned of potential hazard with the passenger airbag. My car had a recall fix in 2018 for this fault. Now some 4 years later the same fault has arisen in the same sensor and system. I returned to BMW Mini who carried out the previous recall to have this fixed again. They said that while their repairs and parts generally carry an 8-year warranty, they do not warrant recall repairs. They wanted over $2,000 to fix this issue. As this is a repeat of the original fault, and the car has under 100,000 miles I believe it should be covered, as their repair and or part has again failed. The date below is when I took it for the recall and was refused the warrenty repair.

See all problems of the 2006 Mini Cooper 🔎.

Passenger seat occupancy sensor has failed, rendering the airbag system permanently turned off until it is replaced. This is an issue that is so common that people are purchasing bypass units off of ebay to trick the computer into thinking the passenger is there. A quick google search will confirm this. It cannot be condoned that a company as large as BMW gets a free pass on refusing to fix this while companies on ebay profit on a device that is clearly not safe to use.

I purchased the car in dover PA . Inspection sticker had same milage as on car so I shoulda knew he slapped a sticker on . Drove 150 miles dash lit ip like chrismas tree. 1st thing left window wont work , then left lock wont work had to lock from passenfger dide. Then door wont open at all . Have to get ou t passenger door . Know that wont open have to put down passenger window pull handel to get out . Car is possessed light work whren they want does all kinda crazt stuff . Batter has problems . Charge and still cant start it . And hatch locks so I cant get to battery. Power steering leaking going bad . Timing belt making noise . No power on hills . Cracking noise in right front pulls to right had . Hazard to me ive been locked inside three times could get out of car I coulda sat in heat and died or cold and froze . Cant get out of car when it ts electric doors dont work . Car sucks . This has been gradual thing these events from Feb to may . Now I just hate the car.

See all problems of the 2003 Mini Cooper 🔎.

The passenger seat occupancy detection module and program failed. The red airbag and seatbelt lights went on. According to the dealership, the default setting is that the airbag will not go off if the module is broken. A google search suggests that this is a common problem; so much so that there is an electronic gadget you can buy and videos on youtube on how to install it to do a "workaround" to get the light to go off without fixing the module.

The airbag occupancy detection switch in the passenger seat is defective. This is occurring so often on Mini Coopers (r56 models from 2007-2013) that a passenger occupancy defeat switch is being openly sold and youtube videos are available showing how to fit this device. This disables the occupancy detector switch, causing grave danger of death to infants or children seated in the passenger seat during a collision. Mini is currently charging nearly $1,000 to rectify this common fault. This defect has been confirmed multiple times by Mini, including on my vehicle on 7/8/2022. The component has been inspected by the manufacturer and confirmed to be defective. There were warning lights displayed on the central console, as well as on the driver tachometer every time the car is started. This warning cannot be defeated. This youtube video (and many others…) have been posted more than 3 years ago about the issue, showing how to disable the warning. This one has over 74,000 views! https://youtu. Be/gdlmtyguipm it is well overdue that you do something about this clear, present and deadly danger to children! thank you.

Seat back mechanism failed. Could not latch in place. Failed with no warning while driving. Motor mount broken with milage only at 56,000 miles.

See all problems of the 2016 Mini Cooper 🔎.

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.

Passenger side airbag light on with no one in seat, had it checked, the repair shop stated that there is a seat sensor fault, the code is 93c3(passenger seat occupancy detector). I have done some research on this and it seems that this a common problem, but there hasn't been any recalls by Mini, and if there is an accident the airbag may not deploy. I was told to by the dealer that it will cost $2300 for parts and labor.

See all problems of the 2012 Mini Cooper 🔎.

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.

My air bag warning light is always on. The machanic said I need to replace the whole passenger seat to replace the airbag sensor. A new seat will cost $1500 and labor will cost $500. I was not in an accident.

See all problems of the 2008 Mini Cooper 🔎.

The passenger seat occupancy detector is broken. This is apparently a common problem with bmws and Mini Coopers. Some models have been recalled. But many have not, including mine. The symptom is that seat belt and airbag warnings light up.

I have a 2010 Mini Cooper hardtop. This is an ongoing problem of the last three years. The passenger airbag alert goes on when I have a passenger in the seat saying passenger airbag is off. I've taken it to a repair shop and they will need to dismantle the seat to see if the sensor is defective and replace. I see that other models of Mini Coopers have had recalls for this defect in seat sensors. Models in years before and after 2010. It is an expensive procedure, and dangerous if I have a passenger.

Passenger seat got wet window left open while parko.

Warning lamp for "airbag system failed" illuminated one day while driving on a straight street "in town" approx 25mph. At first light went off if I buckled passenger seatbelt (even when seat was empty) now it won't go off even doing that. . . Also doesn't matter if driving at high or low speeds, road types, turning, stopping, parked, driving, passenger in rider's seat, no riding passenger, etc, it will illuminate (& I never place anything on my passenger seat). Took to a mechanic - he checked & provided code 9435. Stated airbags might not deploy when this warning lamp is illuminated. Said this is a common problem with Mini Coopers & is a safety issue that he thinks probably should be covered under a recall. Contacted Mini dealership - said no recall for my vehicle. From what I have found there are almost 100,000 other Minis that have had a recall for this same problem, however, they tell me my vehicle is not included in the recall - want to charge me Minimally $65 just to re-diagnose the code, then labor & parts to fix! called Mini customer service - told me no recall for my vehicle & they referred me here.

What is the preferred mandatory placement of a seat belt holder/adjustor for the vehicle that is within the regulatory safety standards? this vehicle does not have a holder and currently the belt lays across the consumers neck, which is not safe.

The contact owns a 2007 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that the seat belt indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Mini of nashville (located at 1572 memory lane nashville, TN 37027 615-340-7098) where it was diagnosed that the seat mat sensor needed to be replaced; however, the part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not offer any assistance. The failure mileage was 46,000.

The "pass air bag off" with seat icon/2 light (located on the driver's side above the rear view mirror) began to come on intermittently with or without a passenger in the front passenger seat when the odometer read about 50,000 miles. The light came on permanently at around 70,000 miles. The dealership checked, did not find a loose connection, and said the sensor needed to be replaced. We contacted the Mini corporation but were informed that although there was a recall for other 2007 Mini Cooper passenger seat sensors for the air bag system, there was no recall for the two-door hardtop. We replaced the passenger seat occupancy sensor for the air bag system at our own expense.

Passenger side airbag is randomly disabled (with warning light/tone) when my 63# dog is sitting in the seat. Cause is a faulty "passenger seat occupant mat" that others have reported will cost over $1500 to replace. This has happened numerous times but only while driving so can't really get a picture of the warning light safely.

Faulty front passenger seat weight sensor for airbag. Weight sensor fails to distinguish when someone is or is not in the seat, causing the airbag for the front passenger constantly read "passenger air bag off. ".

Passenger seatbelt element sensor malfunctioned. We had to replace the entire passenger seat cushion with new sensor for a cost of $1843. 00. A 2012 vehicle should nor require a new seat through ordinary use. Note:Mini seatbelt sensor is molded into the cushion requiring a new cushion and not just replacing the sensor resulting in the high cost to the consumer.

Airbag sensor mat does not recognize whether a person is sitting on the passenger side thereby not activating the airbag; this has been happening on & off for months; passenger airbag light comes on immediately despite occupancy while parked and during driving (all conditions-highway, city street, turning; etc. Started approximately from 75k miles; now constant from 85k on.

The contact owns a 2011 Mini Cooper convertible. While driving at an unknown speed, the lights on the instrument panel illuminated without warning. The passenger seat sensor malfunctioned and needed to be replaced in order not to affect the air bag functionality. Upon shifting the weight on the seat, the lights near the odometer illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing, but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 51,000.

My 2008 Mini Cooper was in accident in Jan 2016. The (passenger) light came on and it was immediately take to autobody shop. The passenger airbag warning light was evaluated and added to repairs. The seat map sensor is the chief problem. The car is undrivable. The dealership in sterling indicated that it would take 15-30 day to received the part. The part was delayed until March 24,2016. Three days prior to delivery it was updated to Jul 13, 2016. At this point my rental car from the insurance company ran out. I contacted customer care but was not able to receive a date nor assistance about my part and lost of vehicle. After conversation with liberty mutual, auto shop and dealership, we were told that the vehicle was safe to drive without a passenger in the seat. No resolution has been made, many individuals ( consumer, insurance company and auto shop) involved in the situation stated it was not safe nor could loss be guaranteed. As of the 4/18/2016, the part has been put on indefinite back order. Currently there is no known time frame return of vehicle. I am without transportation and I will need to purchase another car. Additionally I have heard from other repair facilities, Mini's passenger seat occupancy sensor affects far more model years than those for which BMW has already announced recalls. I am also aware that more than 60 Mini owners are waiting on this part as well.

I was informed by my Mini service department that the passenger side air bag sensor located under the passenger seat was malfunctioning and needed to be replaced. This exact part has been the cause of a recall for Minis made the same year as mine, but my car is not included in the recall. This is obviously the same problem that generated the recall. I cannot afford to make this repair myself, and neither the Mini dealer nor Mini corporate has been helpful in resolving this issue. I feel that my car should be included in this recall and therefore should be repaired at no cost to me. I'd like to request that my car be included in the recall officially, so that I can complete these repairs. Otherwise, I risk driving unsafely, without the function of the passenger side airbag.

Passenger airbag warning light is illuminated and cannot be fixed. Paasenger seat weight wiring harness is defective. The replacement parts cannot be purchased (6 month backlist). This is a very dangerous defect.