NHTSA Complaint #10882960 — 2010 MINI COOPER S

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATED THE AIR BAG WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE PASSENGER SEAT STARTED GETTING VERY HOT (THIS MODEL DOES NOT HAVE HEATED SEATS). WE REMOVED THE SEAT FROM THE VEHICLE AND INNVESTIGATED. WE FOUND THAT THE AIR BAG SEAT MAT WAS OVERHEATING. THE CIRCUIT WAS MELTED FROM THE HEAT. IF WE HAD NOT REMOVED THE SEAT FROM THE CAR IT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AT THE TIME. HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS DRIVEN EARLIER IN THE DAY AND THE LIGHT WAS ON THEN TO INDICATE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS NOT ON. THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS 2010 MODEL FOR THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS ON THE WEB. THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. FIXING THE PROBLEM IS EXPENSIVE TOO.