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2006 Mini Cooper S

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Cooper S years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Mini Cooper S are substantially higher than the model-year median of 23.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

161 reports with mileage · 25 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 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports9 fire reports6 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

67 reports
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120,000 miles · Jun 1, 2015
Air Bags

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON CONSTANTLY NOW REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE CAR OR NOT. BECAUSE IT IS THE AIR BAG LIGHT LOCATED ON THE CENTER PANEL WHERE ALL THE LIGHTS AND GAUGES ARE LOCATED RATHER THAN THE ONE UP BY THE REAR VIEW MIRROR THAT REFERS TO THE PASSENGER SEAT ONLY, I ASSUME THAT AT THIS T…

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THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON CONSTANTLY NOW REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE CAR OR NOT. BECAUSE IT IS THE AIR BAG LIGHT LOCATED ON THE CENTER PANEL WHERE ALL THE LIGHTS AND GAUGES ARE LOCATED RATHER THAN THE ONE UP BY THE REAR VIEW MIRROR THAT REFERS TO THE PASSENGER SEAT ONLY, I ASSUME THAT AT THIS TIME THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS NOT OPERATIONAL. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM ON THIS CAR? IF SO, I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ODI #10722698

44,421 miles · May 21, 2015
Air Bags

I AM ON MY 4TH PASSENGER SEAT MAT SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE NEW IN JANUARY 2007. IN APRIL I FOUND A MANUFACTURER RECALL PART 573 SAFETY RECALL REPORT 15V-205 THAT LISTED THE VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED ON NOV 18, 2006 WITHIN THE PRODUCTION DATE RANGE. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION R…

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I AM ON MY 4TH PASSENGER SEAT MAT SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE NEW IN JANUARY 2007. IN APRIL I FOUND A MANUFACTURER RECALL PART 573 SAFETY RECALL REPORT 15V-205 THAT LISTED THE VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED ON NOV 18, 2006 WITHIN THE PRODUCTION DATE RANGE. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RECALL AND CAN NO LONGER FIND THE RECALL ON THIS SITE. AS MENTIONED, THIS IS MY 4TH FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT SENSOR. I WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ON WHAT THE PROCEDURE IS TO RECOVER MY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LAST REPLACEMENT OF THE SENSOR.

NHTSA ODI #10717849

60,000 miles · May 13, 2015
Air Bags

THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON REGARDLESS OF THE SEAT OCCUPANCY. IT IS UNCLEAR IF THE AIR BAG IS OPERATIONAL OR NOT.

NHTSA ODI #10716305

44,377 miles · Apr 21, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. UPDATED 6/11/15*CN

NHTSA ODI #10712004

62,000 miles · Apr 20, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE V…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. UPDATED 7/8/15*CN

NHTSA ODI #10706672

103,000 miles · Apr 14, 2015
Air Bags

PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT CONSTANT ON AND DISABLED EVEN IF I HAVE PASSENGER. THERE ARE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO TALK TO THE SAN FRANCISCO DEALER TO HAVE TO DEFECT FIX THE PREVIOUS OWNER NOT ABLE TO AFFORD TO GET IT FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10705693

46,220 miles · Mar 5, 2015
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeats

THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. I WAS ADVISED BY AN AUTHORIZED MINI COPPER MECHANIC THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR IS BAD. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MINI COOPER USA IS NOT OWNING UP TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO RECALL AND REPAIR WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE A LIFE SAFETY PROBLEM. THE LEATHER SEAT I…

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THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. I WAS ADVISED BY AN AUTHORIZED MINI COPPER MECHANIC THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR IS BAD. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MINI COOPER USA IS NOT OWNING UP TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO RECALL AND REPAIR WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE A LIFE SAFETY PROBLEM. THE LEATHER SEAT IS PRACTICALLY NEW AND THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR THIS FAULTY AIR BAG SENSOR SEAT/EQUIPMENT. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR BMW'S WITH THE SAME ISSUE. IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692253

49,306 miles · Feb 16, 2015
Air Bags

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR STOPPED WORKING. NOW, EVEN WHEN THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED. THE AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE SEAT NEEDS TO WORK IN ORDER FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY-- AND ALL OF THESE SYSTEMS ARE DOWN DUE TO A FAULTY SENSOR! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683663

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2015
Air Bags

MY 2006 BMW MINI COOPER S PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT SPORADICALLY IS SHOWING THAT IT IS DEACTIVATED REGARDLESS IF THERE IS A FULL SIZED ADULT OR NO ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS HAS BEEN A ON GOING PROBLEM/CONCERN WILL MY PASSENGERS BE PROTECTED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH SINCE THE AIR BAGS ARE SHOWING THAT THEY ARE SHUT OFF WILL T…

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MY 2006 BMW MINI COOPER S PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT SPORADICALLY IS SHOWING THAT IT IS DEACTIVATED REGARDLESS IF THERE IS A FULL SIZED ADULT OR NO ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS HAS BEEN A ON GOING PROBLEM/CONCERN WILL MY PASSENGERS BE PROTECTED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH SINCE THE AIR BAGS ARE SHOWING THAT THEY ARE SHUT OFF WILL THEY STILL WORK? I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AT AUTHORIZED MINI DEALER AND THEY SAID THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE SEAT SENSOR WAS SENDING OFF FAULTY SIGNALS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS - $2000! I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS AND IT IS AN ONGING ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. BMW HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR MODELS AND IT HAD TO BE RECALLED. THE SAME SHOULD HAPPEN WITH THIS CAR. THEY ARE PUTTING PEOPLES LIVES AT RISK WITH THEY INSTALL FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT SENSORS AND ARE CHARGING AN ARM AND A LEG TO FIX THEIR FAULTY PART. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10682041

70,000 miles · Jan 22, 2015
Air Bags

PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. DEALER AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP SAY THE SEAT SENSOR NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT IS LOCATED IN THE SEAT AND THE WHOLE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ESTIMATED COST $1200. TO 1500. US DOLLARS. THE PASSENGER SEAT IS RARELY USED. THE REPAIR IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I DON'T KNOW IF…

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PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. DEALER AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP SAY THE SEAT SENSOR NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT IS LOCATED IN THE SEAT AND THE WHOLE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ESTIMATED COST $1200. TO 1500. US DOLLARS. THE PASSENGER SEAT IS RARELY USED. THE REPAIR IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I DON'T KNOW IF THE AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY. APPARENTLY ALL BMW'S WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT NOT THE MINI COOPERS WHICH ACCORDING TO POSTED THREADS ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10678271

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.