2002 MINI Cooper airbags problems

Filed Feb 26, 2025 · Airbags, Electrical · GA

I purchased the vehicle used with airbag light showing on the speedometer gauge cluster. Searched with vin for recalls but showed 0 unrepaired recalls. Tried clearing the light with my Launch CREADER BMW V2 scan tool. Light flashes a few times and goes away but immediately appears on the speedometer gauge cluster. This would happen everytime. Wires are intact with no signs of damages to all 3 wire connectors under the seat.

Filed Nov 16, 2024 · Airbags · NC

Unoccupied passenger side airbags; all front & backseat bags deployed after passenger side tires hit pothole on road. Pieces of interior, including decorative plastic, interior light covers were projected across cabin & hit me. I had no idea what had happened. Car shut off shortly after incident. It was night, I was sitting in middle of my lane, unable to start Mini. Good samaritans helped push it into parking lot while waiting for assistance. After 15 minutes, car started and was driven home. I had slight injuries from being hit by hard material projectiled across cabin. Very thankful I was the only occupant because if a passenger had been in the seat, they would have most definitely sustained injuries. I had to cut the airbags out in order to have clear lines of sight before driving the following day. I’m fearful that the drivers side air bags may do this as well. I have owned this vehicle since 2004. Not aware of history prior to 2004;(accidents, original airbags?). only know it came from a Dealer in CA. (Possibly “Friendship” may be name of town or dealership). I have not had repairs made yet. I don’t drive this vehicle daily. There are no police reports since there was no need. No insurance claims since 2002 model. There were no malfunctions with the warning light prior to incident. However, the following day when I drove, the airbag indicator light came on for passenger side. I did not find a recall but not sure if I would for a 22 year old vehicle.

Filed Jun 29, 2016 · Airbags · 140,000 miles · VA

At 140,000 mile: + air bag light came on. Dealer said that the airbag computer module will cost $1,000 to replace. I see on-line blogs and the federal safety agency have had numerous complaints on the air bag dash light coming on and the federal safety agency is still investigating.

Filed Aug 11, 2015 · Airbags · 98,000 miles · WA

The vehicle was purchased used in 2011, soon there after the air bag light came on, it was taken to a local repair shop and the air bag light was reset, I was advised by the shop owner that this is a common problem in the older mini. He also advised that it is extremely expensive, as mini USA basically throws all new parts at it at the owners expense without really getting to the bottom of the problem. The air bag light illuminated again in july of 2015, right after I had returned from vacation, apparently the parking valet had slid the seat back and most likely stretched the air bag seat harness. This is a proven defect which mini USA has finally addressed with a recall of 2005 to 2008 models only. It is related to a faulty seat harness that cannot detect whether a passenger is in the right seat. It is also been shown that in most cases the airbags will not deploy in an accident.

Filed Nov 13, 2014 · Airbags · 100,000 miles · NJ

Ever since buying this car used in january of 2012, the SRS warning light has been on. The car store we bought the vehicle from did cancel the code when we discovered it was on after purchase. However, the code came back. We brought it to be fixed, and I believe someone eliminated the coupler under the passenger seat, wiring the seat to the ecu directly, by crimping wires together. Still, the light came back on. It has been on constantly for over a year now. I have soldered the wires under the passenger seat together, as one connection seemed broken, hoping this would eliminate the light. I bought a code reader to reset the light, but the codes only temporarily disappear and after blinking a few times the light is back on. I do not know, nor do I have confidence in knowing, whether or not the air bag would deploy in case of an accident. I hope never to find out, of course. But I do know that the air bag light being on is a consistent and persistent problem with mini coopers built from 2002 - 2006. And I know that there has been no recall, nor an extended warranty that would cover work that apparently will cost around $2,000 at a dealer repair shop. With the recent recall of air bags made by japanese air bag maker takata, including thousands of bmws made in a similar time frame as the air bags in my mini cooper, I am also wondering if the mini air bags are made by takata, and sensibly worry about their safety should the in fact deploy as designed. Bmw has recalled some of their own cars for air bag light issues, involving seat sensors, but not on the mini, even though both cars use identical components. It is time for bmw to take ownership of a serious problem the air bag systems in their early mini coopers. I would hope that you can force the issue, as this certainly is a safety issue which exists/persists on thousands of vehicles sold in the us.

Filed Oct 2, 2013 · Airbags, Body · 200,350 miles · VA · crash · 2 injuries

I was exiting from 35th street in newport news, va onto the warwick blvd off ramp in traffic, coasting with the brakes at about 5 MPH, when I was rear ended by a navy operated flat nose school bus, which forced my vehicle into a late model chevy trailblazer. My air bags (front and side) did not deploy, and when I came to rest my seat back had reclined against my child's car seat (child was not in vehicle). The right rear unibody was creased due to the impact from the bus. I suffered neck, back, and spine trauma. The driver of the trailblazer complained of neck pain at the scene. Local newport news fire and rescue units arrived on scene, as well as a virginia state trooper. The trooper handled the accident.

Filed Jun 18, 2013 · Airbags · 73,420 miles · MA

The car has gone back to a mini dealer 4 times since we've owned the car because of the air bag light on. Little did we realize when we took it on a trip to florida, the whole system was shut down. Took it to a mini dealer in fla. On feb. 15, 2012.....$2126.04 later. Drove it home to have the light go on again , took it to mini of bedford, nh on 5/28/13, picked it up on 6/4/2013.....$1527.09 later. Drove it home on 6/4/2013, only to have the light go back on approx 6/10/2013. Aaa had to use a ramp truck to bring it back to bedford, nh.....because the drivers seat tipped over backwards while driving & almost caused a serious collision. Also there is a new problem with steering wheel. Both later issues occurred after they had torn it apart in dealership & kept it for a week "fixing the problem". Now it sits at mini of bedford..& they are telling us another airbag sensor has to be replaced...it need a new seat....and they're not sure about the steering wheel, because they can't test until they put in a new seat. Everything is on hold at the moment...#1 we can't keep paying for shoddy workmanship...#2 we are very concerned about the safety of this car. Have been reading some websites & see stories similar to this air bag problem.

Filed Jul 12, 2012 · Airbags · 121,000 miles · FL

The airbag light was on in my mini. There was a recall on the cable tensioner, but on models of 2003 and above. I am wanting you to reconsider the year of this recall to include 2002. I needed to replace the rep cabe f seat side airbag, rep cable bel tensioner, cable strap, cable connector, shrinking hose and cable strap with bracket for a cost of 800. The affect of this defect in the car is for the car to be unable to determine the weight of the passenger in the car in order to deploy the airbag properly.

Filed Dec 14, 2010 · Airbags · 50,000 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mini cooper. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated and the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer. The dealer was unable to diagnose the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to a local repair shop where the air bag light was reset. The failure recurred within 28 miles of driving. The contact was informed that because the light was illuminated, the air bags would not function in the event of a crash. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000 and the current mileage was approximately 69,000.

Filed Jul 7, 2009 · Airbags · 85,000 miles · FL

I have a 2002 mini cooper, I purchased new. I have had an ongoing problem since it was under warranty. My air bag warning light comes on. I have had it back to the dealer at least 20+ times for the same problem. They still can not seem to get a permanent fix for this(next appointment july 9, 2009).