2006 Mini Cooper S Convertible

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →

36Owner complaints

Model-year median: 8.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2006 Mini Cooper S Convertible

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 36 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

Air Bags: 18 reports
Seats: 6 reports
Power Train: 5 reports
Steering: 5 reports
Engine: 3 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

15V205000 — Air Bags:frontal

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year

Compare all Cooper S Convertible years →

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Engine And Engine Cooling

1 Service Brakes, Hydraulic

1 Structure

1 Unknown Or Other

1 Wheels

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

0–25K

25–50K

50–75K

75–100K

100–150K

150K+

34 reports with mileage · 2 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 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seats. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

3 reports

Clear category filter

79,586 miles · Sep 12, 2013

Air BagsSeat Belts

Read full complaint

THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR AND AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHTS HAVE BEEN INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT. NOW THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS ALWAYS LIT AND THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR IS STILL INTERMITTENT. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER WE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND THEY WILL NOT TEST THE CONDITION UNDER THE WARRANTY. WE PURCHASED THE CAR ON 12/22/2012. IT WILL COST OVER $100 JUST FOR THEM TO TELL US IF THERE IS A MALFUNCTION. SOUNDS AS THOUGH THE REPAIR WILL COST WELL OVER $1,000. FROM RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND BMW RECALLED THE BMW MODELS FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE, BUT MINI WILL NOT FIX THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WE DO NOT KNOW IF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS WORKING PROPERLY OR NOT. THANK YOU FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10543256

46,230 miles · Apr 13, 2013

Air BagsSeat Belts

PASSENGER SEAT BELT LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10508106

62,000 miles · Mar 8, 2012

Air BagsSeat Belts

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT CAME ON WITH NO ONE IN THE SEAT, WHEN ADULT SAT DOWN THE LIGHT DID NOT GO OFF. ALSO THE AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT CAME ON. THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN PASSENGER DOES NOT BUCKLE SEAT BELT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10450809

Recall campaigns

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 ↗

Defect investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.