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2006 Mini Cooper

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Cooper years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Mini Cooper are substantially higher than the model-year median of 40.5.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Compare all Cooper years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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
59,000 miles · Jan 11, 2013
Air Bags

PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHT IS LIGHTING UP. THIS HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT THAT CAUSED THIS. IT JUST WENT BAD. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE FOR MIN AND BMW BUT THEY ARE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE THE SENSOR WHICH RUNS ANYWHERE …

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PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHT IS LIGHTING UP. THIS HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT THAT CAUSED THIS. IT JUST WENT BAD. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE FOR MIN AND BMW BUT THEY ARE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE THE SENSOR WHICH RUNS ANYWHERE FROM $900 TO $1600 TO BE REPAIRED. THIS AUTOMOBILE HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED HAS LESS THAN 60K MILES AND IS A ONE OWNER. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAVE GONE BAD OTHER THAN THE PART MUST BE OF POOR QUALITY OR DESIGN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MINI USA SHOULD STEP UP AND RESOLVE THIS FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10492309

65,000 miles · Jan 5, 2013
Air Bags

THE AIRBAGS LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON AT ALL. DOING RESEARCH I FOUND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM! AND APPARENTLY MINI USA IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY OF IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10491497

96,488 miles · Dec 26, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

WITHOUT ANY WARRANTING THE POWER STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN. THE CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE I JUST HAD DIAGNOSED TEST FOUR DAYS AGO ON THE CAR THE ONLY PROBLEM NOTED WAS THE THERMOSTAT. KNOW I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10490062

48,000 miles · Dec 19, 2012
Power Train

2006 MINI-COOPER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *SMD THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, BUT THEY DID STATE THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN THE PROCESS OF FAILING. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO GET ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO PAY 1…

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2006 MINI-COOPER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *SMD THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, BUT THEY DID STATE THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN THE PROCESS OF FAILING. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO GET ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO PAY 1/2 OF THE COST ON THE BILL, WHICH TOTALED $8,000. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10489722

91,139 miles · Nov 24, 2012
Air Bags

AIR BAG SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS RETURNED FAULT CODE 71. TECH CHECK ON SRS SYSTEM FOUND PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR FAULT. PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM IS DISABLED AS A RESULT. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST IS $1200. INTERNET SEARCHES FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MINI COOPER'S AND MINI REFUSES TO COVER WHEN OUT OF WARRANTY. *T…

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AIR BAG SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS RETURNED FAULT CODE 71. TECH CHECK ON SRS SYSTEM FOUND PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR FAULT. PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM IS DISABLED AS A RESULT. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST IS $1200. INTERNET SEARCHES FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MINI COOPER'S AND MINI REFUSES TO COVER WHEN OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10485900

92,000 miles · Nov 21, 2012
Engine

CAR LOST POWER AND STARTED RUNNING AND IDLING VERY ROUGH. SERVICE SHOP DISCOVERED THAT THE NYLON CAPS FOR THE HYDRAULIC LASH VALVES HAD DETERIORATED AND CRACKED AND IN SOME CASES HAD FALLEN COMPLETELY OFF HAVING A NEGATIVE AFFECT ON THE ENGINE COMPRESSION. THE ORIGINAL CAPS ARE BRIGHT YELLOW AND AFTER USE AND HEAT THEY TURN ORAN…

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CAR LOST POWER AND STARTED RUNNING AND IDLING VERY ROUGH. SERVICE SHOP DISCOVERED THAT THE NYLON CAPS FOR THE HYDRAULIC LASH VALVES HAD DETERIORATED AND CRACKED AND IN SOME CASES HAD FALLEN COMPLETELY OFF HAVING A NEGATIVE AFFECT ON THE ENGINE COMPRESSION. THE ORIGINAL CAPS ARE BRIGHT YELLOW AND AFTER USE AND HEAT THEY TURN ORANGE/BROWN. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS SOME MINI'S HAVE STEEL LASH CAPS. SEEMS THAT A ENGINE COMPONENT SUSCEPTIBLE TO HEAT DAMAGE SHOULD NOT BE MADE OF NYLON/PLASTIC. THE CAR HAS A TOTAL OF 18 OF THESE LASH CAPS AND AT LEAST 12 ARE CLEARLY CRACKED. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE FROM MINI OR IN THE AFTERMARKET. MINI'S ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ROCKER ARMS WHICH IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR WHEN THE ONLY FAILURE IS SMALL NYLON CAPS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10485395

70,000 miles · Nov 20, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE RPM READINGS INCREASED AS THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE AP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE RPM READINGS INCREASED AS THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10485325

100,000 miles · Nov 15, 2012
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND CAUSED AND INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND CAUSED AND INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE THAT EXISTED WITH THE STEERING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10484820

69,000 miles · Nov 1, 2012
Power Train

2006 MINI CVT TRANSMISSION MADE A WEIRD NOISES AND STOPPED MOVING, JUST PRIOR TO THIS THERE WAS HESITATION IN ACCELERATION AND VERY LOUD NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10482892

81,662 miles · Oct 9, 2012
Air Bags

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATES CONTINUOUSLY WHETHER A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT OR NOT INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF FOR THE PASSENGER. MINI COOPER DENIES ANY PROBLEM WITH THEIR SAFETY AIRBAG SYSTEM, YET THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE COM…

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THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATES CONTINUOUSLY WHETHER A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT OR NOT INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF FOR THE PASSENGER. MINI COOPER DENIES ANY PROBLEM WITH THEIR SAFETY AIRBAG SYSTEM, YET THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10479411

Official recalls

1

15V205000 · Air Bags:frontal

Apr 6, 2015

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.