Table 1 shows one common seats related problems of the 2002 Mini Cooper S.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Seats problems |
The passenger side heated seat malfunctioned and burned a hole into the leatherette upholstery and my wifes sweater. She was sitting on the passenger side when it occurred. This could have caused a major fire a definite safety hazard.
The airbag sensor in the seat cushion has failed and a warning light now permanently shows on the instrument panel. The passenger airbag may not function as designed.
Driver and front passenger seats get stuck in position. Position for drivers seat is totally straight up. My brother repaired but seat still does not position correctly as I must use a pillow behind me in order to drive. The same thing happens to the passenger seat at least once a week. So far I have been able to get the passenger seat back into position as there is a "trick" posted online that instructs how to reposition the seat. You must sit on your knees on the seat and try to maneuver both seat controls at the same time to unlock the position. This trick does not always release the seat until tried many many times days apart.