NHTSA Complaint #11184296 — 2012 MINI COOPER

PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING LEADING TO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG BEING DISABLED WHILE IN MOTION. A PERSON SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT TRIGGERS THE AIRBAG SENSOR WARNING AND DISABLING OF THE AIRBAG. WHILE THE PERSON IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE WARNING CAN COME ON AND OFF, AND THE ERROR DOES NOT OCCUR WHILE THE SEAT IS UNOCCUPIED. THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED YET IT IS NOT AVAILABLE TO BE SOLD SEPARATELY AND REQUIRES REPLACING OF THE ENTIRE SEAT CUSHION (COST PROHIBITIVE) AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE 2012 MINI COOPER MODEL IS NOT COVERED BY THE MINI RECALL FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUE WHICH HAS AFFECTED THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES.