10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 2 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 57,719 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
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. This issue started right after the warranty was over. This is a safety hazard, as none of the airbags will deploy in case of impact. I fear for my safety. This is a manufacturing defect.
- Miami, FL, USA
The car has 55000 miles and the airbag light is on. After research the problem seems to be with the passenger occupancy sensor, also known as a passenger occupancy mat. MINIhas recalled many vehicles for this reason, however they continue to refuse the problems continues with the 2009 model. This is a safety and costly issue.
- Miami, FL, USA
Faulty seat belt light/ airbag on.
- Fremont, CA, USA
I had an accident on 6-30-2016 where I lost control of my car due to hitting first a soft shoulder of the hwy. SR145 travelling at a speed of approx. 50-55 mph. I grazed a power pole on driver's side door and ran through three large wooden posts on a ranchers property. The car spun at AN180 angle leaving me in the field facing the opposite direction for which I was headed. Not one airbag deployed on impact!!! I am concerned that these airbags and/or installation is faulty and chp office said I could have been killed if the right front tire had not blown causing me to veer just to the right of the power/telephone pole. Power to the area was knocked out for approx. 1 hour. I do have copies of the police report and about 18 pictures of the accident with two pictures being a closeup of my 2009 MINIcooper. Please let me know if you need anything else?
- Fresno, CA, USA
Car was taken in to dealer just after report of MINIairbag recall of earlier models [including 2006]. since car wasn't listed on recall list but I had experienced several months of passenger airbag light problems [ for no apparent reason]; I was concerned and asked for repair. The piece removed and replaced looked like it had melted. I was told if my model was ever recalled they would reimburse me the cost of the repair. I do not see my complaint on your list and surprised as I thought I was told it would be reported by the dealer. After the repair, I asked for the damaged part; however, it mysteriously could not be found. My question would be are these safety type issues required to be reported by dealers? I reviewed your list of complaints and there are a number of similar complaints to mine [8 postings by owners and 2 manufacturer comments]. I hope my drivers side components never fail as I am not sure it was replaced. Mechanic diagnosis; ran short test found passenger seat mat sensor bad. Replaced seat mat sensor no fault found after repair.
- College Station, TX, USA
Passenger seat air bag alarm is on constantly. We were told by MINIdealer that the pad that controls the air bag is faulty, or cracked. They also informed us that this exact problem is under recall for models 2005 to 2008, but not our 2009. We contacted MINIusa and they said they don't control recalls.
- Terrell, TX, USA
Occupancy sensor 15V/205 R56 is busted
- Roswell, GA, USA
Takata recall....my passenger air bag light has been on for two yrs now and for no reason I'm a single man with no dependent children so rarely is anyone sitting on the passenger side. Dealership want 100's for repair.rreally..so I have let it on.
- Lake Worth, FL, USA
Takata recall: The airbag light came on over a year ago and it says that the passenger air bag is turned off. It will come on and off randomly. I brought it in to the certified independent MINImechanic in town who said the passenger occupancy sensor is faulty and will need to be replaced. As it is right now, the passenger airbag would not deploy in the case of an accident.
- Jackson, MS, USA
Air bag warning light flashing on intermittently during operation of vehical and passenger air bag overhead status light coming on saying air bag is deactivated while an adult passenger is sitting in the front passenger seat. This happens both when vehicle is moving and stopped. Problem is ongoing.
- Titusville, FL, USA
Airbag occupancy light stays on when passenger is no longer in car, sometimes occupancy light goes on and turns back off while passenger is sitting in car and driving at speed. MINIBMW claims that the 2009 hardtops are not included in their recent recall for earlier models, but the problem obvious still exists. Really dangerous to have passengers in the car!
- Raleigh, NC, USA
The contact owns a 2009 MINICooper. While driving at various speeds, the passenger side air bag warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently and became worse over time. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the air bag module failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,000.
- Oakland, CA, USA
Timing chain, passenger airbag sensor when in motion.
- Los Angeles, CA, USA
Passenger air bag not working
- Tavares, FL, USA
I took my car into the auto shop for routine oil change and to check the air bag light since it came on at 56,000 miles. I figured it was an error and just needed to be reset, after a diagnostic was done I was told I would need to pay $1,100 for a air bag mat sensor front seat part that's currently on back order in germany and I wouldn't be able to buy one till April 2016. This is a major problem for a number of reasons. One, it is a safety hazard and somebody can die. Two I cannot see my speedomoter when I am driving so I no longer know how fast I am going. I am very upset whe ni expressed this concern to MINICooper corporate customer service and they didn't seem to care and told me the 2009 is not part of the 2008 air bag recalls. Are you serious? this is a safety issue. I never expected this from BMW/MINIThere needs to be a recall on this before there is serious injury or death!
- Sherman Oaks, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2009 MINICooper. While driving at any speed, the passenger side air bag light remained illuminated. The failure recurred numerous times when a passenger occupied the seat. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 29,000.
- San Juan, PR, USA
Passenger seat occupancy sensor malfunction. Airbag error lights on dash and intermittent disabling the airbag when person is sitting in passenger seat while driving. The seat sensor causes the airbag to deploy dependent on if there is someone sitting in seat. This could cause non deployment of airbag in an accident when a passenger is in the seat.
- Flagstaff, AZ, USA
The contact owns a 2009 MINICooper. The contact started the ignition and the front passenger's side air bag warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed that the front passenger side occupant detection mat would need to be replaced which involved disabling the seat. The vehicle was not included under NHTSA campaign number: 15V205000 (air bags). The contact mentioned that the part needed to perform the repair was unavailable. The dealer was unable to provide an expected date for the part to become available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000.
- Orlando, FL, USA
Passenger side airbag light on. Has been on for months
- Lake Worth, FL, USA
- Decatur, GA, USA