NHTSA Complaint #10545169 — 2006 MINI COOPER S

ON MY 2006 MINI COOPER S COUPE, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF SENSOR LIGHT ON THE ROOF CAME ON AS WELL AS THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT IN THE CENTER CONSOLE INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT COULD NOT DETECT THE WEIGHT OF A PERSON IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT ALERT THE AIRBAG TO TURN ON. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BOTH SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE LIGHT REMAINED ON. WE THEN HAD A GARAGE THAT SPECIALIZES IN IMPORTS LOOK AT THE CODE, WHICH IS STATING THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE SEAT MAT SENSOR AND IT IS NO LONGER RECOGNIZING THE WEIGHT ON THE SEAT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND A COSTLY ONE AT THAT. THE SEAT CUSHION MUST BE REPLACED AND POTENTIALLY THE ENTIRE SEAT. I HAVE NOTICED THIS SAME COMPLAINT ON THIS SITE AS WELL AS OTHER SITES FOR MODELS DATING ANYWHERE FROM 2002-2006. THERE IS ALSO A TREND WITH THIS ISSUE OCCURRING WHEN THE CAR IS 7 YEARS OLD (2013 FOR 2006 MODELS) REGARDLESS OF THE MILEAGE. I HAVE CALLED MINI AND WHILE THEY WERE VERY NICE AND HELPFUL, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP WITH THE COST OF REPAIRING THIS FACTORY ISSUE. WHEN I CALLED OUR LOCAL DEALER THEY HAD MENTIONED A TYPE OF ASSISTANCE OR WARRANTY EXTENDED ON THE 2003-2004 MODELS, BUT NOT 2005 OR LATER. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THIS IS JUST NOW BECOMING AN ISSUE AND SHOULD NOW BE ADDRESSED OR ADDED TO THE EXTENDED WARRANTY? IS THERE GROUNDS FOR A RECALL? THERE SEEMS TO BE A TREND OF HOW AND WHEN THIS MAT MALFUNCTIONS. PLEASE HELP THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND ARE BOUND TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM IN THE NEAR FUTURE GET THIS FIXED! THANK YOU! *JS