Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
90–25K
3225–50K
5350–75K
4475–100K
22100–150K
6150K+
166 reports with mileage · 34 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Air Bags. Review the 111 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports8 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
200 reports
45,676 miles · May 4, 2013
Air Bags
DRIVING ALONG AT 30 MPH WHEN AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND OVER HEAD PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF. HAD PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM REPLACED ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHT COME BACK ON 3 DAYS LATER. I HAVE HAD THE SYSTEM CHECKED 3 TIMES ( WITH LIGHT TURNED OFF WHEN RETURNED) ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHT COME BACK ON A FEW DAYS LATER. *…
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DRIVING ALONG AT 30 MPH WHEN AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND OVER HEAD PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF. HAD PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM REPLACED ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHT COME BACK ON 3 DAYS LATER. I HAVE HAD THE SYSTEM CHECKED 3 TIMES ( WITH LIGHT TURNED OFF WHEN RETURNED) ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHT COME BACK ON A FEW DAYS LATER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10510625
90,000 miles · Apr 29, 2013
Air Bags
PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WON'T GO OFF. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE AIRBAGS WILL WORK IN A ACCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10509829
74,000 miles · Apr 8, 2013
EnginePower TrainFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED AND STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHIFT INTO MANUAL MODE TO SHIFT THE GEARS UP AND DOWN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CONTAC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED AND STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHIFT INTO MANUAL MODE TO SHIFT THE GEARS UP AND DOWN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO THE COOLING SYSTEM EMITTING SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE AND CORROSION ON THE ENGINE ITSELF. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
NHTSA ODI #10507482
58,000 miles · Apr 5, 2013
Air Bags
PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR FAILED AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE AIRBAGS IN THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AND DRIVER MAY BE DEACTIVATED AND NOT WORK IN A CRASH. MINI IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM HAS CHOSE TO IGNORE IT. IT IS A GREAT SAFETY HAZARD. MY WIFE HAS REFUSED TO RIDE IN THE CAR OR LET ANYONE ELSE RIDE IN IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10507235
56,000 miles · Apr 2, 2013
Air BagsSeats
MY 2006 MINI COOPER HAD A AIR BAG LIGHT JUST TURN ON ABOUT A WEEK AGO FOR NO REASON FOR WHAT I CAN TELL. I CALLED MY MINI DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS PROBABLY A WORN OUT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $900-1000 TO REPLACE THE SEAT AND THE SENSOR. OUR MINI ONLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 50K MILES AND 50% OF THOSE…
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MY 2006 MINI COOPER HAD A AIR BAG LIGHT JUST TURN ON ABOUT A WEEK AGO FOR NO REASON FOR WHAT I CAN TELL. I CALLED MY MINI DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS PROBABLY A WORN OUT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $900-1000 TO REPLACE THE SEAT AND THE SENSOR. OUR MINI ONLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 50K MILES AND 50% OF THOSE MILES THERE WASN'T ANYONE EVER SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT TO WARE IT OUT. I HAVE SEEN ON SEVERAL OTHER FORUMS THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED BY BMW BUT NOT BY MINI. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL MINI'S AS I HAVE SEEN THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10505345
82,000 miles · Mar 29, 2013
Air Bags
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THEY HAD REPAIRED THIS PREVIOUSLY UNDER WARRANTY. WE THEN CONTACTED MINI USA AND THEY SAID OUR VIN# WAS NOT LISTED FOR A RECALL. I MENT…
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THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THEY HAD REPAIRED THIS PREVIOUSLY UNDER WARRANTY. WE THEN CONTACTED MINI USA AND THEY SAID OUR VIN# WAS NOT LISTED FOR A RECALL. I MENTIONED THERE ARE MINI COOPERS IN FORUMS ALL OVER THE INTERNET WITH AIRBAG LIGHT ISSUES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10504975
27,933 miles · Feb 26, 2013
Air Bags
WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE, 2006 MINI COOPER, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AT THE TIME. THERE WAS AN AUGUST, 2008 BMW RECALL ON 150,000 2002-2006 MINI COOPER'S FOR THIS SAME PASSENGER LIGHT AIRBAG ISSUE. BMW EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS ON ALL OF…
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WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE, 2006 MINI COOPER, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AT THE TIME. THERE WAS AN AUGUST, 2008 BMW RECALL ON 150,000 2002-2006 MINI COOPER'S FOR THIS SAME PASSENGER LIGHT AIRBAG ISSUE. BMW EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS ON ALL OF THESE RECAILED VEHICLES BY VIN#. I HAD THIS DIAGNOSED BY A BMW SERVICE CENTER & A FAULTY PASSENGER SENSOR PAD IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS CAUSING THE ISSUE. THE SENSOR PAD IS ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PASSENGER SEAT SO BOTH ITEMS HAVE TO BE REPLACED WHICH WILL COST APPROX.$1,200. I SPOKE TO MINI USA & MY VIN# WAS NOT ON THE 2008 RECALL. I THEN ASKED MINI USA HOW DO I GET MY VIN# ON THE RECALL LIST & WAS TO TOLD TO GO TO THIS WEBSITE & FILE A COMPLAINT. AFTER YOUR INVESTIGATION, MINI USA TOLD ME THAT YOU CAN HAVE MY VEHICLE VIN# ADDED TO THE AUGUST, 2008 RECALL. MINI USA WAS ALSO UNABLE TO TELL ME IF MY PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG WILL PROPERLY DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A ACCIDENT. I CONSIDER THIS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE (POSSIBLE DEATH) IF THE AIRBAG DOES NOT PROPERLY DEPLOY BECAUSE OF A FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR PAD! PLEASE HELP.....THANKS *TR
NHTSA ODI #10500546
54,000 miles · Jan 22, 2013
Air Bags
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON. AT FIRST THE LIGHTS WERE COMING ON AND OFF NOW THEY JUST STAY ON. NO INCIDENTS ON A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE. BOTH A MINI DEALERSHIP AND ANOTHER MECHANIC BOTH SAY IT IS THE AIR BAG WEIGHT SENSOR IN THE SEAT AND THAT THE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10494389
71,000 miles · Jan 21, 2013
Power Train
I HEARD A WHIRRING SOUND AND A LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. TOOK IT TO THE MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP BOB SMITH WHERE I HAD THE CAR SERVICED AND WHERE IT WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED. THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT PULL ANY CODES, JUST TOOK THE CAR FOR A RIDE. HE PRONOUNCED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AS IT IS A SEALED TRANSMISS…
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I HEARD A WHIRRING SOUND AND A LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. TOOK IT TO THE MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP BOB SMITH WHERE I HAD THE CAR SERVICED AND WHERE IT WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED. THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT PULL ANY CODES, JUST TOOK THE CAR FOR A RIDE. HE PRONOUNCED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AS IT IS A SEALED TRANSMISSION AS IT IS A "SEALED" TRANSMISSION AND THEREFORE IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AT A COST OF $9000! HE THEN TOOK OFF $1500 FOR A COST OF $7500! GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM TO FIND OUT THAT SO MANY MINI'S HAD THIS PROBLEM THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAD BEEN FILED. CONTACTED MINIUSA WHO SCOFFED AT THE PROBLEM AND OFFERED NO HELP OR RELIEF. HOPING THAT MINI WILL BE FORCED TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE AND THAT A RECALL WILL BE INITIATED BEFORE ANYONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10493625
70,000 miles · Jan 15, 2013
SteeringCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SLIGHT INJURIES IN T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SLIGHT INJURIES IN THE CRASH. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. .. UPDATED 02-07-13 *BF UPDATED 02/13/2013 *JS
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2005-2006 MINI Cooper and Cooper S vehicles manufactured January 5, 2005, to November 28, 2006, and 2005-2008 MINI Cooper Convertible and Cooper S Convertible vehicles manufactured January 5, 2005, to July 31, 2008. Due to manufacturing, installation, and exposure issues, the front passenger seat occupant detection mat may not function properly and, as a result, the front passenger air bag may not deploy in a crash.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An improperly functioning mat may cause the passenger frontal air bag to be inactive when the seat is occupied, and in the event of a crash, the air bag will not deploy, increasing the passenger's risk of injury.
Remedy: MINI will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat occupant detection mat, free of charge. The recall began on October 12, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2006 Mini Cooper Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year