2005 Mini Cooper S Air Bags Problems

NHTSA component category: AIR BAGS · data through 07/12/2026

62Air Bags complaints

19.7%Of all 314 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How air bags ranks on this vehicle

STEERING205 · 65.3%

AIR BAGS62 · 19.7%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM22 · 7%

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL11 · 3.5%

POWER TRAIN10 · 3.2%

Share of the 314 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2005 Mini Cooper S overview page.

What owners report

“PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILURE--PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WON'T GO OUT. ACCORDING TO WEB-FORUMS, PART FAILED IS A SEAT SENSOR. DEALER WANTS CLOSE TO…”NHTSA complaint 10401036 — filed 05/16/2011

“THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT THAT PROMPTED THE LIGHT TO COME ON. APPARENTLY, MINIS…”NHTSA complaint 10396314 — filed 04/11/2011

“I HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER. THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT FAILED AROUND 50,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT HAD…”NHTSA complaint 10371078 — filed 12/17/2010

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Air Bags complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Mini Cooper S have air bags problems?

Air Bags is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2005 Mini Cooper S: 62 of 314 complaints on file (19.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2005 Mini Cooper S have in total?

314 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 6 involved a crash, 17 involved a fire, 3 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's air bags category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the AIR BAGS category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.