10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
32,200 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #5

Jan 102022

Cooper

  • miles
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.

- Oakridge, NJ, USA

problem #4

Aug 092017

Cooper

  • miles
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 MINICoopers & is a safety issue that he thinks probably should be covered under a recall. Contacted MINIdealership - 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 MINIcustomer service - told me no recall for my vehicle & they referred me here.

- Mendota, IL, USA

problem #3

Nov 082016

Cooper

  • 83,000 miles
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.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #2

Jul 112016

Cooper

  • 54,000 miles
Passenger seatbelt element sensor malfunctioned. We had to replace the entire passenger seat cushion with new sensor for a cost of $1843. A 2012 vehicle should nor require a new seat through ordinary use. Note:MINIseatbelt sensor is molded into the cushion requiring a new cushion and not just replacing the sensor resulting in the high cost to the consumer.

- The Villages, FL, USA

problem #1

Jun 222014

Cooper

  • 24,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 MINICooper S. the contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, there were strong gasoline fumes emitting from the front of the vehicle. The contact noticed that the front passenger side seat had caught on fire and extinguished independently. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, who diagnosed that the seat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 24,000.

- Bedminster, NJ, USA