2002 MINI COOPER Air Bags Problems

I purchased the vehicle used with airbag light showing on the speedometer gauge cluster. Searched with vin for recalls but showed 0 unrepaired recalls. Tried clearing the light with my Launch CREADER BMW V2 scan tool. Light flashes a few times and goes away but immediately appears on the speedometer gauge cluster. This would happen everytime. Wires are intact with no signs of damages to all 3 wire connectors under the seat.

Unoccupied passenger side airbags; all front & backseat bags deployed after passenger side tires hit pothole on road. Pieces of interior, including decorative plastic, interior light covers were projected across cabin & hit me. I had no idea what had happened. Car shut off shortly after incident. It was night, I was sitting in middle of my lane, unable to start Mini. Good samaritans helped push it into parking lot while waiting for assistance. After 15 minutes, car started and was driven home. I had slight injuries from being hit by hard material projectiled across cabin. Very thankful I was the only occupant because if a passenger had been in the seat, they would have most definitely sustained injuries. I had to cut the airbags out in order to have clear lines of sight before driving the following day. I’m fearful that the drivers side air bags may do this as well. I have owned this vehicle since 2004. Not aware of history prior to 2004;(accidents, original airbags?). only know it came from a Dealer in CA. (Possibly “Friendship” may be name of town or dealership). I have not had repairs made yet. I don’t drive this vehicle daily. There are no police reports since there was no need. No insurance claims since 2002 model. There were no malfunctions with the warning light prior to incident. However, the following day when I drove, the airbag indicator light came on for passenger side. I did not find a recall but not sure if I would for a 22 year old vehicle.

AT 140,000 MILE: + AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER SAID THAT THE AIRBAG COMPUTER MODULE WILL COST $1,000 TO REPLACE. I SEE ON-LINE BLOGS AND NHTSA HAVE HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE AIR BAG DASH LIGHT COMING ON AND NHTSA IS STILL INVESTIGATING.

Mileage: 140,000

THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2011, SOON THERE AFTER THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, IT WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS RESET, I WAS ADVISED BY THE SHOP OWNER THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE OLDER MINI. HE ALSO ADVISED THAT IT IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, AS MINI USA BASICALLY THROWS ALL NEW PARTS AT IT AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE WITHOUT REALLY GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PROBLEM. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN IN JULY OF 2015, RIGHT AFTER I HAD RETURNED FROM VACATION, APPARENTLY THE PARKING VALET HAD SLID THE SEAT BACK AND MOST LIKELY STRETCHED THE AIR BAG SEAT HARNESS. THIS IS A PROVEN DEFECT WHICH MINI USA HAS FINALLY ADDRESSED WITH A RECALL OF 2005 TO 2008 MODELS ONLY. IT IS RELATED TO A FAULTY SEAT HARNESS THAT CANNOT DETECT WHETHER A PASSENGER IS IN THE RIGHT SEAT. IT IS ALSO BEEN SHOWN THAT IN MOST CASES THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 98,000

EVER SINCE BUYING THIS CAR USED IN JANUARY OF 2012, THE SRS WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN ON. THE CAR STORE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM DID CANCEL THE CODE WHEN WE DISCOVERED IT WAS ON AFTER PURCHASE. HOWEVER, THE CODE CAME BACK. WE BROUGHT IT TO BE FIXED, AND I BELIEVE SOMEONE ELIMINATED THE COUPLER UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT, WIRING THE SEAT TO THE ECU DIRECTLY, BY CRIMPING WIRES TOGETHER. STILL, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. IT HAS BEEN ON CONSTANTLY FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. I HAVE SOLDERED THE WIRES UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT TOGETHER, AS ONE CONNECTION SEEMED BROKEN, HOPING THIS WOULD ELIMINATE THE LIGHT. I BOUGHT A CODE READER TO RESET THE LIGHT, BUT THE CODES ONLY TEMPORARILY DISAPPEAR AND AFTER BLINKING A FEW TIMES THE LIGHT IS BACK ON. I DO NOT KNOW, NOR DO I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN KNOWING, WHETHER OR NOT THE AIR BAG WOULD DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. I HOPE NEVER TO FIND OUT, OF COURSE. BUT I DO KNOW THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEING ON IS A CONSISTENT AND PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH MINI COOPERS BUILT FROM 2002 - 2006. AND I KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL, NOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WOULD COVER WORK THAT APPARENTLY WILL COST AROUND $2,000 AT A DEALER REPAIR SHOP. WITH THE RECENT RECALL OF AIR BAGS MADE BY JAPANESE AIR BAG MAKER TAKATA, INCLUDING THOUSANDS OF BMWS MADE IN A SIMILAR TIME FRAME AS THE AIR BAGS IN MY MINI COOPER, I AM ALSO WONDERING IF THE MINI AIR BAGS ARE MADE BY TAKATA, AND SENSIBLY WORRY ABOUT THEIR SAFETY SHOULD THE IN FACT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED. BMW HAS RECALLED SOME OF THEIR OWN CARS FOR AIR BAG LIGHT ISSUES, INVOLVING SEAT SENSORS, BUT NOT ON THE MINI, EVEN THOUGH BOTH CARS USE IDENTICAL COMPONENTS. IT IS TIME FOR BMW TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF A SERIOUS PROBLEM THE AIR BAG SYSTEMS IN THEIR EARLY MINI COOPERS. I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU CAN FORCE THE ISSUE, AS THIS CERTAINLY IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH EXISTS/PERSISTS ON THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES SOLD IN THE US. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

I WAS EXITING FROM 35TH STREET IN NEWPORT NEWS, VA ONTO THE WARWICK BLVD OFF RAMP IN TRAFFIC, COASTING WITH THE BRAKES AT ABOUT 5 MPH, WHEN I WAS REAR ENDED BY A NAVY OPERATED FLAT NOSE SCHOOL BUS, WHICH FORCED MY VEHICLE INTO A LATE MODEL CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. MY AIR BAGS (FRONT AND SIDE) DID NOT DEPLOY, AND WHEN I CAME TO REST MY SEAT BACK HAD RECLINED AGAINST MY CHILD'S CAR SEAT (CHILD WAS NOT IN VEHICLE). THE RIGHT REAR UNIBODY WAS CREASED DUE TO THE IMPACT FROM THE BUS. I SUFFERED NECK, BACK, AND SPINE TRAUMA. THE DRIVER OF THE TRAILBLAZER COMPLAINED OF NECK PAIN AT THE SCENE. LOCAL NEWPORT NEWS FIRE AND RESCUE UNITS ARRIVED ON SCENE, AS WELL AS A VIRGINIA STATE TROOPER. THE TROOPER HANDLED THE ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 200,350

THE CAR HAS GONE BACK TO A MINI DEALER 4 TIMES SINCE WE'VE OWNED THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON. LITTLE DID WE REALIZE WHEN WE TOOK IT ON A TRIP TO FLORIDA, THE WHOLE SYSTEM WAS SHUT DOWN. TOOK IT TO A MINI DEALER IN FLA. ON FEB. 15, 2012.....$2126.04 LATER. DROVE IT HOME TO HAVE THE LIGHT GO ON AGAIN , TOOK IT TO MINI OF BEDFORD, NH ON 5/28/13, PICKED IT UP ON 6/4/2013.....$1527.09 LATER. DROVE IT HOME ON 6/4/2013, ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHT GO BACK ON APPROX 6/10/2013. AAA HAD TO USE A RAMP TRUCK TO BRING IT BACK TO BEDFORD, NH.....BECAUSE THE DRIVERS SEAT TIPPED OVER BACKWARDS WHILE DRIVING & ALMOST CAUSED A SERIOUS COLLISION. ALSO THERE IS A NEW PROBLEM WITH STEERING WHEEL. BOTH LATER ISSUES OCCURRED AFTER THEY HAD TORN IT APART IN DEALERSHIP & KEPT IT FOR A WEEK "FIXING THE PROBLEM". NOW IT SITS AT MINI OF BEDFORD..& THEY ARE TELLING US ANOTHER AIRBAG SENSOR HAS TO BE REPLACED...IT NEED A NEW SEAT....AND THEY'RE NOT SURE ABOUT THE STEERING WHEEL, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T TEST UNTIL THEY PUT IN A NEW SEAT. EVERYTHING IS ON HOLD AT THE MOMENT...#1 WE CAN'T KEEP PAYING FOR SHODDY WORKMANSHIP...#2 WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR. HAVE BEEN READING SOME WEBSITES & SEE STORIES SIMILAR TO THIS AIR BAG PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 73,420

THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON IN MY MINI. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CABLE TENSIONER, BUT ON MODELS OF 2003 AND ABOVE. I AM WANTING YOU TO RECONSIDER THE YEAR OF THIS RECALL TO INCLUDE 2002. I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE REP CABE F SEAT SIDE AIRBAG, REP CABLE BEL TENSIONER, CABLE STRAP, CABLE CONNECTOR, SHRINKING HOSE AND CABLE STRAP WITH BRACKET FOR A COST OF 800. THE AFFECT OF THIS DEFECT IN THE CAR IS FOR THE CAR TO BE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE WEIGHT OF THE PASSENGER IN THE CAR IN ORDER TO DEPLOY THE AIRBAG PROPERLY. *TR

Mileage: 121,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS RESET. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN 28 MILES OF DRIVING. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT FUNCTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,000.

Mileage: 50,000

I HAVE A 2002 MINI COOPER, I PURCHASED NEW. I HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. MY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 20+ TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY STILL CAN NOT SEEM TO GET A PERMANENT FIX FOR THIS(NEXT APPOINTMENT JULY 9, 2009). *TR

Mileage: 85,000

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IN THE VEHICLE GOES ON, AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG, NOW THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON. *TR

Mileage: 53,000

I JUST FOUND THIS WEB SITE AND AFTER READING THROUGH THE VARIOUS ISSUES OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THEIR MINI, I DECIDED I SHOULD ALSO GO AHEAD AND SHARE MY ISSUES AS WELL. BACK IN APRIL OF 2004, I WAS HIT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BY A HONDA ACCORD TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MILES AN HOUR AND MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I NEVER HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR AN AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THAT MATTER BUT IT'S A SCARY THOUGHT NOT HAVING YOUR AIRBAGS DEPLOY, ESPECIALLY AT SUCH A HIGH SPEED OF IMPACT. I USED TO BE IN LOVE WITH MINI'S BUT I HAVE BEEN SO "SOURED" BY THEM AS OF LATE WITH ALL OF THE ISSUES I HAVE BEEN HAVING. MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I CAN'T EVEN START MY CAR. *TR

Mileage: 46,000

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, HE COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. NOW I READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MINI. *TR

Mileage: 137,955

THIS IS A FOLLOW-ON TO INVESTIGATION PE05053 ORIGINALLY OPENED ON 09/27/2005. I TOO HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ON MY MY 2002 MINI COOPER. THE INCIDENTS OF INTERMITTENT AIRBAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATION STARTED ON 12 FEB 06 AND HAVE CONTINUED SINCE THAT TIME. THE LAMP ILLUMINATION IS INTERMITTENT AND NOT STEADY. SINCE I LIVE 220+ MILES FROM THE NEAREST BMW/MINI DEALER I HAVE NOT BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE OR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. NO CONSEQUENCES OTHER THAN THE MINOR ANNOYANCE OF THE ILLUMINATED LIGHT ON HAVE OCCURRED, ALTHOUGH I AM CONCERNED THAT ONE OR MORE AIRBAGS MAY NOT INFLATE IN CASE OF IMPACT OR CRASH. *JB

Mileage: 53,289

TWO-CAR CRASH AT AN INTERSECTION - AIRBAGS IN 2002 MINI COOPER S FAILED TO DEPLOY. CAR 1 (2002 MINI COOPER S) WAS DRIVING WEST ON TOTTEN POND RD. IN WALTHAM, MA AT APPROX. 30 MPH, APPROACHING GREEN LIGHT AT INTERSECTION OF TOTTEN POND RD/WINTER ST AND WYMAN ST. CAR 2 (2001 CHEVY VAN) WAS TRAVELING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION ON SAME ROAD (MPH UNKNOWN - APPROXIMATED AT 25 MPH) AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN ONTO WYMAN ST. IN FRONT OF CAR 1, STRIKING CAR 1 IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE QUARTER PANEL AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENTIRE DRIVER'S SIDE OF CAR1 (FRONT AND REAR QUARTER PANELS, DRIVER'S DOOR AND TIRES). I WAS THE OCCUPANT OF CAR 1 AND BECAUSE I WAS NOT WEARING A SET BELT, I WAS THROWN INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND WINDOW, SHATTERING THE WINDOW COMPLETELY WITH MY HEAD AND WAS THEN THROWN INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT AFTER IMPACT. NONE OF THE SIX AIRBAGS IN THE 2002 MINI COOPER S DEPLOYED. AT A MINIMUM, FROM THE ANGLE OF THE ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT AIRBAG AND DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED FROM THE IMPACT. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE AND SUSTAINED MINOR HEAD INJURIES (MINOR CONCUSSION), MINOR CUTS TO MY HANDS AND BRUISING TO MY LEFT LEG. THE 2002 MINI COOPER S WAS UNDRIVEABLE AND WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE OF THE CRASH. INSURANCE COMPANY CLAIM HAS BEEN FILED WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY (LIBERTY MUTUAL) AND THE DRIVER OF CAR 2'S INSURANCE COMPANY (AMICA MUTUAL) WILL BE NOTIFIED. A POLICE REPORT IS ON FILE WITH THE WALTHAM POLICE DEPT. IN WALTHAM, MA. IT IS UNKNOWN WHAT WILL BE DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, UNTIL THE INSURANCE CLAIM IS PROCESSED. *JB

Mileage: 65,000

AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS LIT. WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, I HAD THE DEALER (FLOW MINI, WINSTON-SALEM, NC) "RESET" IT ON AT LEAST TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. SERVICE EMPLOYEE TOLD ME THE LIT LIGHT WOULD NOT AFFECT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT/SAFETY. WITHIN DAYS (MILES) OF "RESETTING" IT, THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF WITHOUT TAKING IT TO THE DEALER. *JB

2002 MINI COOPER S HAS HAD A SECOND AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILURE. WHEN ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM DETECT A FAILURE, THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DISABLED UNTIL TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE FIXED. LOOKING UNDER THE SEATS TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE COULD BE, DISCOVERED THE "FIX" PERFORMED BY THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE INTIAL FIX WAS TO COMPRESS THE PLUG TOGETHER WITH "WIRETIES" - NOT TO REPLACE THE PLUGS WITH A BETTER DESIGN. BOTH THE WORKMANSHIP OF THE REPAIR OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND THE SYSTEM ITSELF ARE FAULTY.

Mileage: 51,000

THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN ON 8 TIMES IN 3 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. (THE INCIDENT DATE I REPORT BELOW IS SIMPLY THE MOST RECENT OCCURENCE) EACH TIME REQUIRES A TRIP TO THE DEALER TO RESET THE SYSTEM. WHEN THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON THE VEHICLE'S AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DE-CTIVATED, AND THEREFORE THE SYSTEM RESET IS AN URGENT SAFETY ISSUE. OVER THE COURSE OF 3 YEARS, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED NUMEROUS SENSORS, WIRING HARNESS PIECES, AND SEVERAL OF THE AIRBAG UNITS (ESP. THE SEAT AIRBAGS). THIS IS REPORTED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST COMMON MINI COOPER FAILURES AND HAS PLAGUED THESE CARS FOR ALL MODEL YEARS IN PRODUCTION. THIS IS AN URGENT SAFETY DEFECT AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE NHSTA TAKE ACTION! (SORRY I DON'T KNOW MY VIN BY MEMORY AND CAN'T ACCESS MY REGISTRATION AT THE MOMENT...IF YOU REALLY NEED THIS, SIMPLY EMAIL ME AND I'LL GLADLY PROVIDE). *AK

2002 MINI COOPER [XXX]. CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST FOUR TIMES TO ADDRESS THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEING LIT, IN 44,000 MILES. VARIOUS HARNESSES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AND THE AIR BAG SENSOR ONCE. NOW, AT 44,500 MILES, THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN FOR A FIFTH TIME. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT FUNCTION WITH THE LIGHT LIT. I SUGGEST THAT MINIUSA BE FORCED TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL AS IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WHICH THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE FULLY ISOLATED.*AK *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Mileage: 44,500

AIR BAG FAILURE LIGHT. 2ND TIME IN 2 YEARS. WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR SEPARATED WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT MOVES ALL THE WAY BACKWARD. DEALER INSTALLED LONGER HARNESS.

Mileage: 20,132

AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON BECAUSE OFEXCESS WEAR ON THE WIRING UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. REPAIR HAS BEEN MADE THREE TIMES. A SIMPLE SOLUTION NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED. AUTO IS 2002 MINI COOPER MFD IN JUNE OF 2002. *AK

Mileage: 12,000

THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON I TOOK CAR IN AND TOOK THE CAR TO MINI DEALER. THE SIDE AIRBAG HARNESS IS BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACE.*AK

Mileage: 8,000

MY 2002 MINI COPPER HAS HAD THE AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NOW. REPAIRED WITH NEW WIRING HARNESS IN 11/03; NOW IN 1/04 BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AGAIN. DEALER VIA PHONE CANNOT TELL ME IF THE BAGS WORK PROPERLY UNTIL DIAGNOSED. I HAVE CHECKED WEB FORUMS FOR THIS VEHICLE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. I WOULD THINK NHTSA OR SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS TO DETERMINE IF THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *AK

Mileage: 7,000

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON, WHICH INDICATED THAT AIR BAGS WERE INOPERATIVE. DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED WITHIN 2000 MILES.*AK

Mileage: 18,000

WHILE DRIVING THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA REPURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *AK *CB *NLM

Mileage: 8,700

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *JB