This warning light (on inside mirror housing) seems to come on occasionally, even when I have a passenger (admittedly not heavy person)...sometimes it stays off...sometimes it comes on...wonder if it;s just the sensor...Has anyone else experienced this as well?

Mei Mei

 

It sounds like it's the symbol that is telling you the airbag will not deploy in the event of an accident because it does not detect a person in the seat. Make sure you have the passenger sit with their bum to the BACK of the seat, not slouching forward. The sensor is near the back of the seat, near to the seatback. If your passenger is slouching forward, the sensor is not being sat on. It's not a warning light, just a light to tell you when it's deactivated.

 

It isn't the passenger's fault -- the sensor is failing. The same problem happened on my car. When I searched in the forums, I found that the sensor is prone to failure. It was an expensive repair, something like $600 just for parts, but luckily covered under warranty. If your car is under warranty, have the dealer look at it.

 

Hmm, that's unfortunate! Mine is an R53 with the sensor light next to the lights up top, not on the mirror. I assume you both have the Second Gen MINI? I know I have the issue with people slouching forward and the light comes on and off.

 

My car is an 06 cabrio R52. I didn't see the problem for the first two years. Then the "passenger airbag deactivated" light began to sometimes flash briefly when someone was in the seat, and sometimes when nothing was on the seat. It was very occasional, like once a week. I told the dealer about it at my next service. They said the fault was recorded by the computer and they replaced the sensor.

 

I seem to recall that any/all problems related to the air bag light would be covered under a free extended warranty - something like the first 100,000 miles. A number of owners received letters from MINIUSA to this effect...

 

Thanks for all these comments...couldn't get back to this query due to other worldly matters ie work! We experimented with my wife sitting a little more upright and towards back of the seat cushion...and so far that seem sto have solved the mystery of the "disabled
light coming on...I'll have dealer look into this at the next service interval...nice to know there are other owners willing to comment, share experiences, and suggest solutions...Thanks

Mei Mei

 

My small-ish wife has also failed to trigger the sensor enough. I had the dealership look into it but they said nothings wrong. I just wish they could leave it "on" all the time.

 

One of the reasons that the sensors were placed is because of smaller people and children in child seats the bags have been known to cause more damage than they prevent. Sometimes if I have something in the passenger seat it will be heavy enough to trip the light. At that point I will either take it off the seat or reposition it so that it no longer trips the sensor.

 

Thought that was the case with the passenger. As I explained, it happens to my passengers too. Good thing your sensor doesn't seem to be failing!