Warning Light On problems of the 2006 Mini Cooper Convertible

The passenger side air bag sensor warning lights stay on all the time that ignition is on, even when no one is in the seat. You can sit in the seat and the light stays on. My concern is whether or not the air bag will still function.

Airbag warning light comes on when a passenger is in the front passenger seat. The dealer says the airbag sensor in the seat needs to be replaced. The cost is about $1000. In 2006 Mini issued an extended warranty for 2002 and 2003 models with the same defect. BMW's investigation of the same sensor under the passenger seats of BMW autos resulted in a recall of this part. Nhtsa action number: ea08001. This is a serious safety concern. Message boards have instances of people paying for this expensive safety defect at the dealer, and the problems returning after 1 to 2 years in some cases.