Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
20–25K
725–50K
1250–75K
1075–100K
3100–150K
0150K+
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
What owners actually said
36 reports
50,000 miles · Aug 7, 2014
EnginePower Train
ON 2/16/2013 MY HARMONIC BALANCER WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THEIR ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS . WHAT HAPPENS IS A LOUD POP THEN A BUNCH OF CRUNCHING NOISES FROM THAT SHOCK YOUR CAR WILL GO FROM 55 MPH TO 20 MPH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS ...EXTREMELY SCARY WHEN YOU SEE A SEMI BEHIND YOU . MINI PAID FOR THIS MALFUNCTION BECA…
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ON 2/16/2013 MY HARMONIC BALANCER WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THEIR ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS . WHAT HAPPENS IS A LOUD POP THEN A BUNCH OF CRUNCHING NOISES FROM THAT SHOCK YOUR CAR WILL GO FROM 55 MPH TO 20 MPH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS ...EXTREMELY SCARY WHEN YOU SEE A SEMI BEHIND YOU . MINI PAID FOR THIS MALFUNCTION BECAUSE THEY KNOW THIS ISSUE IS A MAJOR FLAW AND WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR POSSIBLY SOMEONE'S DEATH . ON 8/29/2013 MY TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 55,123 ...NO WARNINGS JUST SLOW LUNCHING AND GRINDING ALSO DURING THIS EVENT I FOUND OUT MY ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS WERE CRACKED. SEAT BELTS ARE CONSTANTLY CURLING BACKWARDS AND DON'T LAY FLAT . CONVERTIBLE ROOF DRIP SEAL RUBBER HAS BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN TWICE MAKING ME BELIEVE THAT MINI HAS USED A SUB STANDARD RUBBER THEREFORE USING IT IN THEIR ENGINE PARTS ...PLEASE NOTE THAT I'VE HAD NUMEROUS HOSES REPLACED DUE TO BEING BRITTLE AND SUB STANDARD ... POWER STEERING ,RADIATOR,AND OTHER HOSES . MINI COPPER IS CURRENTLY BATTLING A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT WHY DO I KNOW ABOUT EVERY OTHER CAR COMPANY BENIGN SUED ? DOES IT REALLY TAKE A DEATH,ACCIDENT ,OR OTHER ISSUE TO MAKE CAR COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE ? PLEASE NOTE CURRENT MILEAGE IS AT 68,000 MEANING I DON'T TRUST THIS CAR NOR DO I FEEL SAFE IN SELLING IT TO SOME HIGH SCHOOLER OR OTHER PERSON BECAUSE THIS MANUFACTURE ISN'T HONEST AND RUSHED OUT A PRODUCT ALL IN THE NAME OF PROFIT . *TR
NHTSA ODI #10620740
48,000 miles · Jul 28, 2014
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
NHTSA ODI #10616912
107,500 miles · Mar 10, 2014
Air BagsSeats
THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE, DOES NOT REGISTER THAT ANYBODY IS SITTING IN THE SEAT AND AIRBAG SYSTEM DOES NOT "ARM". AIRBAG DISABLED LIGHTS STAY ILLUMINATED. I'M CONCERNED THAT AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10568190
79,586 miles · Sep 12, 2013
Air BagsSeat Belts
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 P…
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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
46,500 miles · Apr 13, 2013
Air BagsSeats
IN 2010 MY CAR'S PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM WARNING CAME ON AND I TOOK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT BECAUSE THE SEAT MAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR HAD FAILED. IN 2013, THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. I TOOK BACK TO THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM TO FIX AT NO CHARGE, AS TO HAVE THE SAME SYSTEM FAIL TWIC…
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IN 2010 MY CAR'S PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM WARNING CAME ON AND I TOOK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT BECAUSE THE SEAT MAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR HAD FAILED. IN 2013, THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. I TOOK BACK TO THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM TO FIX AT NO CHARGE, AS TO HAVE THE SAME SYSTEM FAIL TWICE ON A CAR WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT SIGNALED A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. MINI REFUSED TO REPAIR AT NO COST AND INSTEAD PROVIDED ME WITH A $1,700 ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE SEAT AND SYSTEM. I HAVE FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH MINI USA AND AM AWAITING A RESPONSE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS EFFECTIVELY PERMANENTLY OFF. I HAVE READ ON THIS WEBSITE AND ELSEWHERE THAT MANY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10508113
46,230 miles · Apr 13, 2013
Air BagsSeat Belts
PASSENGER SEAT BELT LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10508106
107,000 miles · Mar 18, 2013
Air Bags
PASS AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10503510
72,000 miles · May 8, 2012
Power Train
WHILE PULLING UP TO A SIGNAL WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL DOWN, WE HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE CENTER OF THE CAR. THE REST OF THE DRIVE, THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT (6 SPEED MANUAL) INTO ANY GEAR. TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE LINKAGE WAS FINE. THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. TOOK THE CAR T…
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WHILE PULLING UP TO A SIGNAL WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL DOWN, WE HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE CENTER OF THE CAR. THE REST OF THE DRIVE, THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT (6 SPEED MANUAL) INTO ANY GEAR. TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE LINKAGE WAS FINE. THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE THROW OUT BEARING HAD FAILED, REQUIRING A $2300 CLUTCH REPAIR. THAT SEEMS LIKE A VERY EXPENSIVE AND PREMATURE FAILURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10457802
85,000 miles · Mar 29, 2012
Air Bags
MY 2006 MINI COOPER S HAS A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR, I WAS QUOTED $1200 TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS THE EXACT SAME PART THAT BMW RECALLED IN 2008. BMW RECALLED AROUND 150,000 VEHICLES IN NORTH AMERICA TO FIX A POSSIBLE DEFECT THAT MAY KEEP THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG FROM OPENING IN A CRASH, THE RECALLED CARS INCLUDE 2…
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MY 2006 MINI COOPER S HAS A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR, I WAS QUOTED $1200 TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS THE EXACT SAME PART THAT BMW RECALLED IN 2008. BMW RECALLED AROUND 150,000 VEHICLES IN NORTH AMERICA TO FIX A POSSIBLE DEFECT THAT MAY KEEP THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG FROM OPENING IN A CRASH, THE RECALLED CARS INCLUDE 2006 3-SERIES, 2004-06 5-SERIES AND 2004-06 X3 VEHICLES. MINI USES THIS SAME RECALLED PART BEING MADE BY BMW, YET HAS NOT RECALLED THE PART. I KNOW MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS PART REPLACED AT THERE OWN EXPENSE SEVERAL TIMES. IT IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD. *JS BMW RECALL INFORMATION... MANUFACTURER: BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC, MODEL YEAR: 2004, 2005,2006, MODELS AFFECTED:3 SERIES, 5 SERIES, X3, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000, POTENTIAL UNITS AFFECTED: 200000,
NHTSA ODI #10453479
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
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 S Convertible Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year