The passenger seat airbag weight sensor has gone bad and as a result, has rendered the entire airbag system inoperable. The vehicle is out of warranty by 4K miles and the local dealer and MINIusa have become non-responsive about fixing an obvious design defect. The replacement part plus labor and factory resetting were quoted at $1900. Searching other online postings reveals that this is a known problem not only for MINIcoopers but for parent company bmws as well.

- San Diego, CA, USA

My 2006 MINICooper S has a defective passenger seat air bag sensor, that I was quoted 16,000$to replace it. This is the exact same part that BMW recalled in 2008. BMW recalled around 150,000 vehicles in North America to fix a possible defect that may keep the front passenger airbag from opening in a crash, the recalled cars include 2006 3-series, 2004-06 5-series and 2004-06 X3 vehicles. MINIuses this same recalled part(MINIbeing made by BMW), yet has not recalled the part. I know many people that have had this part replaced at there own expense several times. It is a huge safety hazard.

- Shoreacres, TX, USA

Airbag deployment passenger seat sensor mat defective.this sensor turns off passenger side airbag intermittently and without warning before driving.MINIwill not correct the safety issue on vehicles out of warranty.

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

Passenger airbag lights remain on.

- Goleta, CA, USA

Passenger air bag light keeps coming on. Has been repaired 4 times. Has not recurred this last repair, however only repaired 2 months ago. Happened first 3/26/07, parts had to be special ordered and it was repaired on 4/17/07; then 1/29/08, then 6/17/08, and then 10/27/08. Each time they make the same repair: Part number 52 10 6 961 324, replaced sensor mat, (OC3 mat) passenger seat, 65 77 604, removed seat, removed seat cover, replaced seat cover, mat, and upholstery material. The light has not come back on since last repair, however it has only been 2 months.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

My 2006 BMW MINIcoopers passenger air bag light is showing that it is deactivated regardless if there is a full sized adult or no one in the passenger seat this has been a problem for about 4 months. It appears to be a problem in the seat sensor or wiring because it will go out at times when I hit a bump or move the seat then it will come back on. This has been a on going problem/concern will my passengers be protected in the event of a crash since the air bags are showing that they are shut off will they still work?

- Harrison, TN, USA