NHTSA Complaint #10679242 — 2006 MINI COOPER

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT (PASSENGER SIDE) ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST AND NOW STAYS ON ALL OF THE TIME, REGARDLESS IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL MINI DEALER (INTERNATIONAL AUTOS, MILWAUKEE, WI) AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A "FAULTED AIR BAG OC3 MAT" THAT COULD BE REPAIRED/REPLACED FOR $1163.00. AS THIS WAS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE UNRELATED TO THE AGE OR ACCUMULATED MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE, I FELT THAT MINI USA SHOULD AUTHORIZE A NO-COST REPAIR OR, AT A MINIMUM, PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT PART(S) AT NO COST. THE COST TO REMEDY OTHER WEAR-RELATED ISSUES NOTED DURING THE INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE ARE CLEARLY MY RESPONSIBILITY. A SUBSEQUENT PHONE CONVERSATION WITH MINI USA ON 01/27/2015 DISCLOSED THAT, WHILE THIS WAS AN LEGITIMATE VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUE, THEY DID NOT FEEL THAT THIS WAS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND THAT I SHOULD PAY THE ENTIRE AMOUNT NECESSARY TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE DEFECT. *TR