2012 MINI Cooper airbags problems

Filed Dec 4, 2024 · Airbags · CO

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".

Filed Aug 10, 2023 · Airbags · FL

the federal safety agency 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 the federal safety agency also recalling the other model years impacted by this safety issue? As the federal safety agency 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 the federal safety agency since at least 2019 [XXX] and [XXX] ). Consider this communication as a formal report to the federal safety agency of this instance of a safety issue and of the federal safety agency 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)

Filed Mar 24, 2022 · Airbags, Seats · NJ

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.

Filed Dec 2, 2020 · Airbags, Seat belts · 90,000 miles · AL

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.

Filed Sep 23, 2020 · Airbags · CA

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.

Filed Mar 5, 2019 · Airbags · 41,000 miles · PR

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.

Filed Feb 27, 2018 · Airbags · 42,000 miles · OR

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.

Filed Jan 17, 2018 · Airbags, Seats · IL

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.

Filed Nov 8, 2016 · Airbags, Seats · 83,000 miles · FL

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.

Filed Sep 14, 2016 · Airbags · 53,000 miles · CT

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