What 119 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Mini Cooper Countryman

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

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

PASSENGER SEATBELT ELEMENT SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION WITH NEW SENSOR FOR A COST OF $1843.00. A 2012 VEHICLE SHOULD NOR REQUIRE A NEW SEAT THROUGH ORDINARY USE. NOTE:MINI SEATBELT SENSOR IS MOLDED INTO THE CUSHION REQUIRING A NEW CUSHION AND NOT JUST REPLACING THE SENSOR RESULTING IN THE HIGH COST TO THE CONSUMER.

NHTSA ODI 10902056