When I have a passenger in the passenger seat, the indicator light blinks every so often telling me it is off. It does not do this with a passenger NOT in my car, however.

Don't I want that on, and not off, when he/she is sitting in that seat? LOL

Is this abnormal?

 

if the passenger isn't heavy enough to survive the airbag, it will shut off. are your passengers little people?

 

A bag of groceries can set mine off. How much do your passengers weigh?

 

about 200 lbs was the passenger. it shouldn't go off, right?

 

I don't know about the mini but in my wifes honda (also air bag in the seat) it will turn off the airbag if it senses that the person is leaning primarily on that side of the seat (like if they have fallen asleep) In that car it is a safety thing. If you are in the air bag when it goes off I imagine things will go poorly for you. Maybe Mini is the same?