autoevolution
 

91,800 MINI Coopers Are Being Recalled for Airbag Sensor Malfunctions

After recalling in excess of a million BMW E46 models for a problem with their Takata-sourced passenger airbags, BMW is now facing a new problem related to the safety devices. Over 91,800 MINIs are being called back to their dealerships for potential airbag sensor failures.
2001 MINI Cooper 1 photo
Photo: MINI
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2005-2006 MINI Cooper and Cooper S cars in hardtop guise as well as the convertible models made between 2005 and 2008 and susceptible to this problem.

As it turns out, the weight sensor under the front passenger seat can crack over time. If that happens, the car can’t determine if an adult or child is sitting in the passenger seat and it can deactivate the airbag at all times.

This is not an isolated problem. BMW owners reported similar issues in the past, especially on 3 Series models. Over the years, the Germans recalled 276,000 cars for this issue between 2008 and 2013 and extended the warranty to 10 years on affected models. At the same time, they claimed that MINIs wouldn’t be affected as they had a different system in place.

However, last spring, the Germans started looking into what was happening on these cars as well, and it seems like the results prompted this recall, to avoid any further injuries.

As usual, the defective sensors will be replaced free of charge starting next month. However, unlike on BMWs, the warranty for MINIs won’t be extended.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories