2003 MINI COOPER S Air Bags Problems

AFTER BATTERY WENT DEAD, REPLACED WITH NEW BATTERY AND SHORTLY AFTER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HAD INDEPENDENT SHOP CLEAR CODE IN 2015 INSPECTED HARNESS FOUND NOTHING OUT OF ORDINARY. 3 DAYS LATER AIR BAG LIGHT RETURNED. NOW IN FEBRUARY 2018 HAD MINI OF TOWSON DIAGNOSE AIR BAG LIGHT THINKING THE DEALERSHIP CAN RESET AIR BAG LIGHT PROPERLY. DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED UPGRADING WIRING HARNESS UNDER SEAT FOR 525 DOLLARS. I HAVE BEEN ON MULTIPLE FORUMS AND THIS AIR BAG LIGHT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 02-03 MINIS, INCLUDING 05-06, AND 12-15 YEAR MINIS. MY CONCERN IS THAT MINI KNOWS THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART FROM THE MANUFACTURER BUT REFUSES TO STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT EVEN WHEN IT COULD AFFECT THE SAFETY OF THE PURCHASER OF ITS VEHICLES. IN THE EVENT NHTSA RECEIVES ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO FORCE MINI TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, I WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED AS ANOTHER...

NOTHING REALLY SPECIAL HAPPEND OTHER THAN THE AIRBAG LIGHT RANDOMLY CAME ON. I DIDNT HIT ANYTHING OR HIT A BIG BUMP. I ADJUSTED MY SEAT AND I HAVE READ THAT MINI COOPER MAY HAVE MADE THE WIRES UNDERNEATH THE SEAT TOO SHORT SO WHEN YOU RECLINE OR MOVE THE SEAT FORWARD FOR PASSENGERS IT COULD TRIGGER. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON WHICH INDICATES THE AIRBAG IS NOT FUNCTIONING. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES ALREADY TO HAVE THIS FIXED. WILL BE TAKING IT IN FOR THE FOURTH TIME TOMORROW. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN, THEY TOLD ME THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE THIRD TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS AGAIN TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I'M CURIOUS WHAT THEY WILL SAY THIS TIME. MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME AIRBAG LIGHT PROBLEM ON THE MINI CHAT ROOMS. THE SCARY THING IS THAT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON, EITHER ONE OR BOTH OF MY AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.*AK

AIR BAG LIGHTS COME ON WHILE DRIVING.*AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. THE VEHICLE THAT REAR ENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE PUSHED IT INTO THE VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED IN FRONT. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK THE REPAIR SHOP REPORTED THE SEAT BEING BROKEN. CONSUMER NOTED THE SEAT HIT THE BACK OF THE CALVES AND BRUISED THEM. HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, FRACTURED NOSE AND RECEIVED A CONCUSSION. VEHICLE TOTALED WITH FRONT END DAMAGE AND A CRACKED WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT AND WAS SITTING PRETTY FAR BACK. SHE MANAGED TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE SHE HIT IN THE REAR WAS ALSO TOWED. THAT VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE REAR. CONSUMER'S HOOD WAS PUSHED UP AND HEADLIGHT WAS DAMAGED. *PH