NHTSA Complaint #10544602 — 2006 MINI COOPER

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE SENSOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS BROKEN. THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MINI'S BEGINNING WITH THE 2002 MODEL, BUT ESPECIALLY WITH THE 2006. BMW WHICH OWNS MINI HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME YEAR CAR AND ISSUED A RECALL, BUT MINI NEVER DID. THE DEALER WANTS $1500 TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT OTHERS WITH THE SAME CAR HAVE HAD THE PART BREAK AS MANY AS THREE TIMES. THE SENSOR IS TO DETECT THAT THERE IS A PASSENGER AND THE WEIGHT OF THE PASSENGER SO THAT THE FORCE OF THE AIRBAG CAN BE REGULATED IF A CHILD OR CHILD CAR SEAT IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. IT IS UNSCIONABLE THAT MINI WOULD JEOPARDIZE SAFETY AFTER THEY HAVE KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS. CUSTOMER RELATIONS AT MINI USA WAS UNWILLING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *TR