NHTSA Complaint #10520365 — 2002 MINI COOPER

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. *TR