What 119 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Mini Cooper Countryman

Mini BMW is fully aware of an issue with their OC3 detection mat on the passengers side and offered a extended warranty of 10 years/ 100k miles. This is insufficient coverage for a crucial saftey part and has led to a grey market production of occupancy detection mats "emulators" which are being sold online as the only way to have your airbag system "functional".

NHTSA ODI 11628890

NHTSA recall 15V-205: OC3 Seat Occupancy Mat is missing other model years. my 2012 R56 was just diagnosed by a garage as having exactly this error. Why isn't NHTSA also recalling the other model years impacted by this safety issue? As the NHTSA must know, this safety issue is impacting many Mini Cooper model years, to the extent that a secondary market for bypass devices has emerged [XXX] ). Additionally, people have reported this safety issue to NHTSA since at least 2019 [XXX] and [XXX] ). Consider this communication as a formal report to the NHTSA of this instance of a safety issue and of the NHTSA inaction in face of this board and well-documented Mini Copper safety issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11537671

Passenger side airbag light on with no one in seat. The repair shop stated that there is a seat sensor fault code is 93c3(passenger seat occupancy detector). If there is an accident the airbag may not deploy. I was told to by the BMW of Hawaii in Kona that it will cost $2030 for parts and labor.

NHTSA ODI 11531633

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.

NHTSA ODI 11458234

The front passenger occupancy detector (or OC3) failed, making the passenger airbags inoperable. This is a common problem with minis and many other models have had the mat warranty extended. The dealer confirmed that the OC3 is bad but wanted $800 just to order the part which is embedded in the seat cushion. Consumers shouldn't have to bear the cost of a defective vital safety component that should last the life of the car.

NHTSA ODI 11428626

MINI COOPER BASE MODEL WITH 90K MILES HAS SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WARNING LIGHTS STARTED INTERMITTENTLY GOING ON AND OFF AND NOW STAY ILLUMINATED CONTINOUSLY WHEN IGNITION IS ON. NO VEHICLE ACCIDENTS OR INCIDENTS TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11377428

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING SAFETY LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON WHEN NO-ONE OR SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WITH AND WITHOUT THEIR SEATBELT FASTENED. I SEARCHED ONLINE REGARDING THIS AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. SINCE THIS IS POTENTIALLY A SAFETY HAZARD TO A PASSENGER IT MUST BE RECALLED SINCE MULTIPLE MINI COOPERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ERROR.

NHTSA ODI 11360812

THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR MAT IS FAULTY. THIS ISSUE WAS LISTED AS A RECALL ON PREVIOUS MODELS OF MINI COOPERS FROM NHTSA.

NHTSA ODI 11228391

THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2011 AND HAS REQUIRED A MULTITUDE OF MAINTENANCE /REPAIRS DUE TO MANUFACTURER ISSUES. THE DEALERSHIP OF ORIGINAL PURCHASE WAS INCREDIBLY RESPONSIBLE AND TOOK RESPONSIBILITY OF THESE REPAIRS. I MOVED TO ANOTHER AREA TWO YEARS AGO AND RIGHT ABOUT THIS TIME, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT BEGAN TO RANDOMLY GO ON AND OFF INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT BE ENGAGED. THE LIGHT WILL GO ON AND OFF WHEN IN MOTION OR JUST IDLING. THIS HAS CONTINUED TO GO UNRESOLVED AS I TEND TO MOST OFTEN RIDE ALONE AND DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL $$$ FOR THE REPAIR AT THIS TIME. I DID JUST FINISH REPLACING THE CLUTCH IN THIS VEHICLE WHICH CURRENTLY ONLY HAS 51K MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11204487

PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING LEADING TO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG BEING DISABLED WHILE IN MOTION. A PERSON SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT TRIGGERS THE AIRBAG SENSOR WARNING AND DISABLING OF THE AIRBAG. WHILE THE PERSON IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE WARNING CAN COME ON AND OFF, AND THE ERROR DOES NOT OCCUR WHILE THE SEAT IS UNOCCUPIED. THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED YET IT IS NOT AVAILABLE TO BE SOLD SEPARATELY AND REQUIRES REPLACING OF THE ENTIRE SEAT CUSHION (COST PROHIBITIVE) AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE 2012 MINI COOPER MODEL IS NOT COVERED BY THE MINI RECALL FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUE WHICH HAS AFFECTED THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 11184296

THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON ONE DAY WHEN STARTING THE CAR. I TOOK IT INTO A MINI SPECIALIST AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE INDICATOR SENSOR IN THE SEAT. OTHER MINI MODELS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE BEEN RECALLED. HE QUOTED $600-700 TO REPAIR IT. HE COULD NOT GUARANTEE THE AIR BAG WOULD DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS SEEMS LIKE A NO BRAINER.

NHTSA ODI 11075336

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.

NHTSA ODI 11063326

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.

NHTSA ODI 10925054

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR HAS BEEN ON SINCE THE DATE POSTED. IT WOULD RESOLVE ON ITS OWN SOMETIMES BUT NOT IT NEVER TURNS OFF, HINDERING MY ABILITY TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER. I HAVE NOT SHELLED OUT THE THOUSANDS TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE I AM HOPING BMW WILL RECALL FOR THIS APPARENTLY COMMON PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI 10906380

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG ABRUPTLY DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK, AND ARMS, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. PRIOR TO THE DEPLOYMENT, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONCLUDED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WAS NOT CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

NHTSA ODI 10863369

BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILING AT 23,000 MILES... RIDICULOUS.

NHTSA ODI 10846247

MY MINI WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT BEHIND A TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM THE BACK BY A CARELESS DRIVER IN A MIDSIZE SEDAN WHO HAD FAILED TO SEE THE CARS IN FRONT OF HER STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE DAMAGE DONE TO BOTH THE CAR THAT STRUCK MINE FROM BEHIND AS WELL AS THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE 4 RUNNER WERE MINIMAL BY COMPARISON. THE MINI INCURRED IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND THE DRIVER OF THE 4 RUNNER PULLED ME OUT OF THE CAR DUE TO FIRE HE SAW COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE OF THE MINI, BEFORE LONG THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. SHOULD THE VEHICLE HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE? SHOULDN'T THE AIRBAGS HAVE DEPLOYED WITH THE GRAVITY OF THE DAMAGE? *TR

NHTSA ODI 10468763