same story here...been going on about a year. I get the same response.
Funny how this is not an issue in any of my other vehicles EVER...both foreign and domestic.

 

Unbelievable. I mean, I believe you, but it's absolutely ridiculous. So far let's see I've had humans (though so far no one under 120lbs), a dog, a cat in a big old fashioned carrying case, various and sundry bags weight unknown...

Absolutely insane. If that's the way these cars are supposed to work, we'd all be trading in tomorrow.

 

ok back in this thread ... i see a lot of similar issues like mine have crept up.

ok, will throw out a new one that happens in my car.

take a ride with the wife in the passanger seat ... all is kosher ... I drop her off at the train station and as soon as she gets out, the airbag lights go ON as well as the overhead airbag light ... I drive for like 2 minutes ... everything eventually goes back to normal.

so mine now go ON AFTER a passanger leaves the seat.

BTW, not sure if I mentioned this before in this thread, but this gremlin is also quite common in BMW's ... if that's any consolation

glad yours worked out ok OTRA!

 

And it's not even Halloween anymore?! That does sound like a first, lurch... I guess your HC missed your wife so much it wanted her to sit right back down?

Honestly, I was thinking about this today after I purchased 3 normal sized bottles of wine, placed them in their bag on the front seat, took off and the overhead airbag not on lit up in white warning went on. I adjusted the wine to an upright position and it was fine for a while. Then at one point the seat belt started bonging, clearly concerned...

Just want to be clear that MY MINI's issue was the big, red pregnant airbag light icon that shows up right smack in the middle of the Onboard Computer...and yes, there was a separate issue with the front passenger seatbelt warning/airbag light too... Thankfully both fixed, though there seemed to be two different issues.

 

so I just got mine back from the dealer today, and they couldn't pull any codes, so they couldn't do anything. I guess I'lll wait til it comes back again and bring it back in.

 

A couple of summers ago my Cooper was rear-ended (hit-n-run). Since then, the airbag light has stayed on. Driver-seat has also been locked in place, although the seat belt still locks up when I brake hard like it's supposed to.

Yeah, I've procrastinated about getting it fixed but now I have to since I finally need to get it smogged (here in California) and that airbag light probably won't allow my MC to pass the visual inspection.

I was told to get a seat belt part but can't remember which. Force limiter? Tensioner?

Ackkk! Help!

 

Final Update.

Some of you may have followed my posts regarding my issue with the overhead airbag warning disable light on my new MCS. Well, after four attempts to repair and no fix, MINI is buying back my car. I submitted the required paperwork yesterday. It's unfortunate it had to come to this. I'm not an expert, but it would seem to me if they replaced the module which controls the airbag warning light, the problem could have been resolve. Closure to this issue is bittersweet. On one hand, I will be turning over this very cool car and may lose out on the cost of the tinting I put on it. On the bright side, I don't have to deal with this issue any longer and I'm happy with the terms of the buy back. Despite having to bring it in repeatedly and not getting it fixed, the staff at MINI have been very professional and supportive (except maybe the field rep). Based on this experience, MINI has really stepped up to ensure customer satisfaction.

Next up, I'm in negotiations with my MA to order a new MCS. I'll be changing a few things from the original configuration. The buy back should be completed in a few weeks. My new MCS will probably go into production when the Oxford plant come online again in January, so I will be borrowing cars from friends/family for a month. Anyone want to lend me their MINI?

Thanks for all your support!

 

Well, good for you kewlby. My "MINI staff", I'm guessing you mean your dealership? That's a great recommendation.

When you do get your new MCS, give us a heads up here and a link to your photos so we can appreciate your new one.

 

The key individual who was most helpful was the service manager at the dealership. He was the one who got the ball rolling for the replacement. He called me with updates and was the one who called be about the buy back. I did have to send a note to MINI USA to start the process. I spoke to a MINI USA customer service rep and exchanged a couple of emails. Ultimately, the regional manager for MINI USA made the final decision on the buy back. The whole process was easy, there was no bickering, the whole process was fairly painless.

I will certainly post pictures of my new MCS.

 

I'm very impressed. Good going on everyone's part!

 

Add me to the list of seatnelt tensioner/airbag light. The red guy with seatbelt on and the red egg on his lap as somebody wrote on this thread. Light went on around 2 days before Christmas, had a appointment with Moritz Mini on Jan. 2. They said it was the airbag modulator that needed to be replaced. Thankfully they let me drive my car until the part came in around 2 days later. They replaced part and the light is off for now. Hopefully it stays that way.

 

I have an 07 R52 MCc that was having the same issues, took it in for something else and told the MA about this. MA called me today and told me that the sensor pad in the passanger seat was bad. It didn't show up on the computer but some investigation on thier part turned up the problem. Have the dealer check the sensor pad in the passange seat.

 

The sensor for my seat belt light problem has come in and I have made an appointment to have it replaced next Monday. My light only comes on when I have a passenger in the car for at least 45 minutes. I figure there is a hairline crack in the sensor circuitry and when it gets too warm, it causes it to malfunction. I am on vacation next week and am heading to Texas so I am dropping the car off on Monday and will be picking it up on Friday.

It is also leaking brake fluid from the master cylinder, so they are going to check that out again as well.

I'll let you all know how it went.

 

Update from December post about pass airbag light. My SA wanted the car in while the field service rep was in. Took the car in and we were unable to get the car to do it with anyone that needed to see it. I explained to the mechanic that it was a concern and this was the 3rd time on this issue and that I didn't want to pursue a buy back, and that after 3 times in the shop it was time to start throwing parts at the car. He understood and said he would lobby the FSR for a new weight sensing mat in the passenger seat. They installed the mat and it came in late so I didn't have my car over a weekend but thats ok if the problem is solved.
So here we are a month later and a number of trips with my wife in the car and no issues. The mat appears to have fixed it.

I am very happy with the way Rasmussen Mini has treated me over the course of this little bit of frustration. I understand there are a number of hoops that a dealership has to jump through before they can start putting parts on a car to fix a problem that is difficult to isolate. They did a nice job and everyone in the service department has been top notch.

Good luck to the rest of you that are having this problem.

 

I never did take mine in for servicing even though I was one of the angriest crybabies to post about the problem. It's simply too far to go to the dealer for me and the problem is quite intermittent. The dealership wanted me to make an appointment for the problem so that they'd have a loaner for me, but I want to be able to take it to them when the light's on so they know I'm not wacko. After that first incident back in October the light never came on again until the day in December that I foolishly had my backpack resting on the passenger's seat. The light didn't go out even after I put the backpack on the floor. But once I turned-off the car and restarted it a few hours later the light stayed out.

Now with all this amazingly cold weather the stupid light comes on occassionally - usually when my wife is in the pax seat and using the buns heater (seat warmer). It goes out in a few minutes. What's becoming more annoying for me is the damned rear hatch light that seems to come on everytime I go shopping. After I unload the bags at home I slam the hatch and no lights are on, yet the next morning when I start her up the hatch light comes on on the dash and then the rear cargo light comes on too. I slam it again and it stays good until the next time I go shopping. All minor quirks in the grander scheme but annoying when they happen.

 

I think I may be the newest member of this club..
Passenger side Airbag light deactivated light in the roof comes on even if someone is in the passenger seat. I checked the wires under the seat to see if they are all tight and plugged in, and they are. What else can I check before I take the car in to be checked? Car only has about 2600 miles on it.

 

Bummer. This is not a club you want to be into.

The only thing you can do is wiggle the wires near the seat rail to check if something is loose.

My suggestion is to document each time this occurs. Note the date, mileage, and most importantly, take a picture (even a cell phone picture works) to document it.

This phantom problem may or may not show up with an error code when you take it in. If there is an error code, you may get lucky and they'll replace the sensor mat or module or both. If no code is detected, then they can't do anything and the cycle repeats itself (you take it in, they find nothing, the problem happens again, you take it in....)

Take pictures/video or drive it in while it's happening to prove to them there is a problem.

Good luck!

 

I may have luck with my bad luck, it does it every time there is someone in the passenger seat.

 

Well, they replaced my drivers side seat position sensor and it appears to be fixed. I drove it the four hours home and no little red man with an air bag in his face.

As far as my brake fluid leak, they looked at it and found no leak. I then opened the hood and ran my finger across the master cylinder and showed my wet (with brake fluid) finger to the tech. He said that it is not a leak but that the reservior is overfilled. I guess I either have to pull some fluid out of it myself or live with the 'non-leak' dripping on my garage floor.

 

We had the airbag light on (the red pregnant person one) and took it to the dealership, they found nothing and reset the warning. It was fine for months, then went off again. Again, took to dealer, they reset the warning, and on the way home, on it went again. Took it back, they ended up having to replace the whole driver airbag assembly (which had to come via ground from East Coast) plus harness (which had to come from Germany). Took nearly 2 weeks, but we have the car back and it all seems fine now.

 

Glad to hear that your dealership did right by you! I like to think that the APB on this - my terms - would have allowed them to fix it properly the first time, but at least you're all set now. Thanks for posting about it.

 

How much do you supposed that cost the Dealer, when the other's have said that all that was replced to fix this problem was the Seat Mat?? I'm not a member of this club, just curious.

I will reiterate what another poster had said "Rasmussen MINI is Top Notch" from every aspect of the Dealership!!

 

Well, sorry to say, here's another new member to this club.

I've only got approx. 1,500 miles on my new Zuggy and the Airbag OFF light has been "sticking" on, even with my wife's lovely bottom in the seat. It appears to eventually go out on its own.

I guess I'll just be patient and make sure her life insurance is paid up.

 

takin' it in next week to see if they can determine problem AGAIN.

Will post here with outcome.

 

My 2008 Clubman is now having this problem as well. When no one is in the front seat the Airbag indicator shows that it is is activated. When someone is sitting in the front passenger seat the airbag is deactivated. Happens every time - not random.