NHTSA Complaint #10622655 — 2007 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DISABLED LIGHT CAME ON WHILE THERE WAS AN ADULT MALE (198 LBS) IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE LIGHT REMAINED LIT WHETHER SOMEONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT INDICATING THE SYSTEM WAS DISABLED AT ALL TIMES. THE PROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE SEATBELT TENSIONING SYSTEM IS CONTROLLED VIA THIS SAFETY SYSTEM WHICH MEANT THAT IT WAS DISABLED AS WELL. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED BY A MINI SERVICE PROVIDER (DEALER WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED AS NEW) AS A FAULTY PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR LOCATED IN THE SEAT BASE AND WAS REPAIRED AS VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. EXACTLY TWO YEARS AND 3 MONTHS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM HAS RECURRED BUT BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT SENSOR IS WARRANTIED FOR ONLY TWO YEARS FROM INSTALLATION I WAS INFORMED THE COST TO FIX THE SAME PROBLEM WOULD BE $1400.00. THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH THE BMW 3,4 & 5 SERIES AND WAS HANDLED BY A RECALL BUT BMW (MINI PARENT COMPANY) HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE SAME FAULT WITH THEIR MINI COOPER LINE. *TR