2005 MINI Cooper Air Bags & Restraints Problems

2005 MINI COOPER S WAS TRAVELING 50MPH WHEN IT HIT ICY BRIDGE SPUN AROUND AND ROLLED 3 TIMES DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEATBELT AND PASSENGER WAS NOT AND GOT EJECTED AND DIED.NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HWY 299.*DT *JS

THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT WAS REPLACED BY RECALL ON 10/28/2016. ON 10/2018 I NOTICED THAT WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT WITH THEIR SEAT BELT ON THE AIR BAG WAS OFF, IN 1 WEEKS TIME THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME AND THE AIR BAG IS OFF ALL THE TIME WITH OR WITHOUT SOMEONE OCCUPING THE SEAT. REGUARDLESS IF THE CAR IS IDILING OR GOING DOWN THE RODE. AT LEAST BEFORE THE RECALLED MAT SENSOR WAS REPLACED THE SEAT MAT SENSOR WORKED MOST OF THE TIME. NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TESTED THE OC3 MAT (PASSENGER SIDE MAT SENSOR) AND SAID THERE ARE MULTIPLE CODES FOR THE OC3 MAT AND THEY FOUND INTERNAL FAULTS AND IT REQUIRES REPLACEMENT AGAIN. THEY SAID THIS RECALL IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRENTY AND I NEED TO PAY OVER 1500.00 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. IT IS UNSAFE FOR ME TO HAVE A PASSENGER IN MY CAR IF WE GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT THEIR AIRBAG WOULD NOT BE ON, THERE FOR THEY WOULD HAVE NO AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY TO TRY AND PROTECT THEM. HOW IS THIS MY FAULT? THEY REPLACED MY MAT SENSOR WITH ANOTHER FAULTY ONE THAT IS WORSE THEN THE FIRST ONE. HOW LONG ARE THE WARRENTIES FOR RECALLS AND THE PARTS REPLACED? I HAVE THE PAPERS FROM THE DEALERSHIP STATING WHAT I JUST REPORTED TO YOU.

AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES. DEALERSHIP REPORTS $1200 TO REPLACE SENSOR FOR PASSENGER SEAT AND MAY IMPACT ALL AIRBAGS IF NOT FIXED.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V505000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN BACK FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM MINI COOPER IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL NOTICE BY MAIL AND CALLED TO TRY AND SCHEDULE A REPLACEMENT OF THE SEAT SENSOR. I WAS TOLD THAT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST MIGHT BE CHARGED FOR THIS AND IT WOULD BE $150.00 FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THIS IS FREAKING RIDICULOUS, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THEY TRY TO CASH OUT AT MY EXPENSE... NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: OPENS NEW WINDOW TAKES AWAY FROM VIN LOOKUP SECTION> 15V205 RECALL DATE: APRIL 3, 2015 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: NA

THE WRITTEN "SAFETY RECALL NOTICE" THAT I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL YESTERDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015, OF WHICH BMW/MINI LIKELY PROVIDED NHTSA A COPY IS BOTH FALSE AND MISLEADING. FOUR MONTHS AFTER BMW/MINI NOTIFIED ME NOT TO ALLOW AN ADULT-SIZE PERSON TO RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OF THIS FOUR-SEAT, TWO-DOOR AUTOMOBILE, THE CURRENT WRITTEN NOTICE INDICATES THAT BMW'S MINI DEALERS "ARE NOW READY" AND I SHOULD "SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR RECALL REPAIR SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE." IN USING THE WEBSITE PROVIDED IN THE NOTICE TO LOCATE THE NEAREST DEALER, I WAS UNABLE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE DEALER HAD NO PARTS AND WOULD NOT EVEN SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO OCCUR IN THE FUTURE. A CALL TO THE BMW/MINI TOLL-FREE NUMBER INCLUDED IN THE NOTICE CAUSED THE BMW/MINI "CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES" REPRESENTATIVE TO ADMIT THAT THE NOTICE WAS FALSE AND THAT MANY DEALERS ARE NOT READY TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS FOR THIS SERVICE. THE NOTICE FOR RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 15V-205 INDICATES THAT IT WAS SENT TO ME "IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT." DOES NHTSA REALLY CONDONE FALSE AND MISLEADING WRITTEN NOTICES PURPORTED TO BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL SAFETY LAW?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION IN JUNE OF 2015. HOWEVER, THE DEALER ADVISED THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HE WILL RECEIVE A CALL BACK WHEN THE PART WAS AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/01/15*LJ UPDATED 4/9/18*JB (INVALID VIN) *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,629. UPDATED 09/10/15*LJ UPDATED 11/07/2017*CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LIGHT ILLUMINATED EVEN WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000. MA 10/14 *CN

NOTIFIED THAT MINI WOULD RECALL DUE TO FAULTY SENSOR FOR AIRBAG ON MAY 1. NOW 4 MONTHS LATER, AND STILL NO RECALL. MINI SAYS THEY ARE GATHERING DATA ON THE AFFECTED CARS, NO INFO ON WHEN RECALL AND REPAIR WILL ACTUALLY HAPPEN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COPPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

ON APRIL 20, 2015, I TOOK MY 2005 MINI S CONVERTIBLE TO MINI OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY IN DARIEN, CT BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. I RECEIVED A VERBAL QUOTE OF APPROXIMATELY $1200 TO REPAIR. LATER THAT DAY I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM THE SHOP FOREMAN STATING THAT MINI WAS AWARE OF AN ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR AND THAT MINI WAS LOOKING INTO A COURSE OF ACTION. A FEW DAYS LATER THE PRESS REPORTED THAT A RECALL WAS BEING DONE FOR THIS ISSUE AND I CALLED AGAIN, WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT A LETTER WOULD COME FROM MINI WITH DETAILS. SOMETIME BETWEEN THEN AND JUNE 15, I RECEIVED A LETTER (DATED "JUNE 2015") STATING THAT A RECALL WAS GOING TO BE ISSUED, AND I SHOULD NOT CARRY PASSENGERS IF THE LIGHT WAS ON (IT HAD BEEN ON SINCE APRIL), AND AGAIN CALLED MINI OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, WHERE THEY REITERATED THE INFO IN THE LETTER THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR YET ANOTHER LETTER. I CALLED MINI CUSTOMER CARE BOTH ON JUNE 15 AND AUGUST 25 TO REQUEST INFORMATION ON THE TIMING, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION BEYOND WHAT THE DEALER TOLD ME. IT IS NOW AUGUST 25, AND OVER FOUR MONTHS THAT I'VE BEEN UNABLE TO SAFELY CARRY A PASSENGER IN THIS VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT THIS MEETS THE STANDARD NOTED IN THE RECALL LETTER "IF YOUR MINI DEALER IS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE DEFECT WITHOUT CHARGE OR WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME", ESPECIALLY WHEN I WAS GIVEN A VERBAL QUOTE IN APRIL TO FIX THE ISSUE. MINI HAS ALSO DECLINED TO PROVIDE A LOANER VEHICLE WHILE MINE IS DISABLED. I REQUEST THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE WHETHER MINI INTENDS TO PROPERLY CARRY OUT THIS RECALL (15V-205).

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER :15V205000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 11/18/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE PAID FOR AN AIR BAG SENSOR TWO YEARS. UPDATED 12/15/15. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,000.

THE PASSENGER DETECTOR ON MY PASSENGER SEAT HAS FAILED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE IN MINI COOPERS AND BMWS OF THIS AGE. THE FIX IS COMPLETE $1500 SEAT REPLACEMENT AT THE DEALER. BMW HAS ALREADY RECALLED THE PARTS FOR ALL THE BMWS WHERE THIS OCCURS, BUT NOT THE MINIS. *TR

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARD TO THE CURRENT RECALL CAMPAIGN 15V-205; FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER IS DELINQUENT IN MAKING THIS CRITICAL SAFETY UPDATE. THE PART 573 REPORT INDICATED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION DATE OF MAY 01 -- JUNE 01; THE NOTIFICATION CAME IN LATE JUNE. THE LETTER FROM THE USDOT OF APRIL 17, 2015 INDICATED THAT THE RECALL WAS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON MAY 1. AS IT IS NOW AUGUST, I WOULD ASK THE AGENCY CONTINUE PUTTING APPROPRIATE PRESSURE ON THE MANUFACTURER. WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST SURFACED YEARS AGO, THE DEALER DID NOT SEEM TO INDICATE THERE WOULD BE ANY TROUBLE GETTING THOSE PARTS---BUT THEY WANTED ALMOST $1500 TO REPAIR. I APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED EFFORTS IN GETTING MY CAR REPAIRED.