2005 MINI Cooper airbags complaints

Filed Feb 3, 2009 · Airbags · 81,000 miles · TX

I have a 2005 mini cooper. The airbag sensor in the passenger seat failed after 60,000 miles, just after the car went out of warranty. This is a known defect that many mini and bmw owners have experienced. The sensor in the passenger seat has failed causing the airbag to be permanently deactivated, even when a passenger is sitting in the seat. The dealer charges $1100 to fix the defect. I feel like the airbag should work for the life of the car, or at least up to 100,000 miles. This car has never been in an accident or had any other mechanical issues that would affect the airbag. My car is in good condition and has approximately 80,00 miles on it. This is a huge safety issue and the manufacturer should be responsible for fixing this. I would like to file a complaint against bmw and mini cooper and I would like the manufacturer to fix this defect at no charge to the owner of the car. Thank you.