← New search

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

Power Train complaints

22 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · May 28, 2013
Power Train

IN SEPTEMBER 2012 THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE AND THAT MINI SAYS IT NEVER NEEDS TO BE SERVICED OR HAVE THE FLUID CHANGED. OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS IT GOT WORSE AND I WAS FINALLY TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. FORTUNATELY I NEVER…

Read full complaint

IN SEPTEMBER 2012 THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE AND THAT MINI SAYS IT NEVER NEEDS TO BE SERVICED OR HAVE THE FLUID CHANGED. OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS IT GOT WORSE AND I WAS FINALLY TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. FORTUNATELY I NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT OR ANY OTHER SERIOUS CONSEQUENCE AS A RESULT OF THE FAILING TRANSMISSION. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TRADED IN BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD COST $10,000.00 TO REPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10513818

117,000 miles · Jan 21, 2013
Power TrainSteering

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AT ANY SPEED, THE AUTOMATIC POWER TRAIN DOES NOT SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY. IT WILL SHIFT UP, AND DOWN, AND NOT ENGAGE THE PROPER GEAR. THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WILL "WIND-UP", THEN JUMP INTO A GEAR. AT TIMES, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10493636

93,000 miles · Nov 15, 2012
EnginePower Train

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I FELT THE CAR JERK FORWARD AND THEN IT FELT AS IF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING IN AND OUT OF GEARS. MANAGED TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY AND DRIVE TO THE LOCAL MINI DEALERSHIP, WHICH WAS LUCKILY ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD. WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THE PROBLEM WAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND WAS QUOT…

Read full complaint

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I FELT THE CAR JERK FORWARD AND THEN IT FELT AS IF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING IN AND OUT OF GEARS. MANAGED TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY AND DRIVE TO THE LOCAL MINI DEALERSHIP, WHICH WAS LUCKILY ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD. WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THE PROBLEM WAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND WAS QUOTED $9,000 REPAIR COST. WHEN I ASKED THE MECHANIC WHY THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED THIS EARLY, TOLD ME THEY HAD NO IDEA. HOWEVER, WHEN I ASKED ANOTHER EMPLOYEE HOW MANY OTHER CARS HAD THEY SEEN WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, HE RELUCTANTLY ADMITTED "QUITE A FEW". *TR

NHTSA ODI #10484831

61,482 miles · Aug 25, 2012
Power Train

MY MINI COOPER S 2006 HAS BEEN RANDOMLY BANGING INTO GEAR AND WAS DIAGNOSED BY NORTHWEST MINI AS NEEDING A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT FOR $8361.00 (BEFORE TAX). PROBLEM CAUSES CAR TO LOOSE ACCELERATION AND POWER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10472457

54,000 miles · Jun 22, 2012
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 60 MPH WHEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS ALONG THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE TACHOMETER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHI…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 60 MPH WHEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS ALONG THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE TACHOMETER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000. ..UPDATED 07/11/12 *BF THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 60 MPH WHEN ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN CHANGED DOWN TO 2ND GEAR( THE VEHICLE HAS SIX FORWARD GEARS) CAUSING HUGE ACCELERATION AND THEN SLOWING OF THE VEHICLE OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSTIC WORK BY THE MECHANIC, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TACHOMETER HAD FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DOWNSHIFT TO 2ND GEAR. THE FAILURE ALSO NECESSITATED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #10462775

108,000 miles · Apr 27, 2012
Power TrainSteering

PURCHASED 2006 MINI COOPER S BRAND NEW AT A MINI DEALER IN BOSTON. THE VEHICLE HAS 108K HIGHWAY MILES. I HAD SERVICED THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER UNTIL WARRANTY RAN OUT AND TRANSITIONED TO A NATIONAL CAR CARE CHAIN. I BEGAN TO NOTICE THE VEHICLE SLIPPING BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR WHEN TRAVELING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I BROUG…

Read full complaint

PURCHASED 2006 MINI COOPER S BRAND NEW AT A MINI DEALER IN BOSTON. THE VEHICLE HAS 108K HIGHWAY MILES. I HAD SERVICED THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER UNTIL WARRANTY RAN OUT AND TRANSITIONED TO A NATIONAL CAR CARE CHAIN. I BEGAN TO NOTICE THE VEHICLE SLIPPING BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR WHEN TRAVELING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC AND THEY INDICATED THAT I SHOULD BRING IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. DELIVERED THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT MY CVT TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE RE-MANUFACTURED. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP IS LEAKING AND FAILING. THE POWER STEERING FAN HAD SEIZED AND WAS LIKELY THE CAUSE OF THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE MINI DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME OVER 10K FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT ONLY DID NOT INQUIRE ABOUT POWER STEERING AND THERE WERE NO PROGRAMS FOR CUSTOMERS IN THIS SITUATION. THIS COST IS MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP WILL DO THE REPAIRS FOR 6K. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10456697

60,000 miles · Dec 15, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower TrainInjury

PLETHORA OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. HEATED SEATS ARE A MAJOR CONCERN. THEY GO ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES, SEEM HAUNTED. SOMETIMES, THEY GET SO HOT THEY LEAVE BURN MARKS IN MY LEGS. I AM AFRAID OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE HEATED SEATS GET SO HOT, THEY LEFT BURN MARKS IN MY SEAT. AISIN 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPPED WITH "L…

Read full complaint

PLETHORA OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. HEATED SEATS ARE A MAJOR CONCERN. THEY GO ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES, SEEM HAUNTED. SOMETIMES, THEY GET SO HOT THEY LEAVE BURN MARKS IN MY LEGS. I AM AFRAID OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE HEATED SEATS GET SO HOT, THEY LEFT BURN MARKS IN MY SEAT. AISIN 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPPED WITH "LIFETIME" FLUID, BEGINS SLIPPING GEARS AT 70K THE SUPERCHARGER HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE "DESIGN" OF THE SUPERCHARGER IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED, I WAS FORCED BY BMWUSA TO PURCHASE A REMANUFACTURED SUPERCHARGER. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A "COMMON PROBLEM" I HAVE ALSO FOUND OUT FROM FORUMS SUCH AS NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT BMW DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT ITS AT FAULT FOR HOWEVER THEY ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THE WIDESPREAD HAPPENINGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE AVAILABILITY OF NEW SUPERCHARGERS IS VERY LOW BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, HENCE ME PURCHASING A REMFGD ONE. REAR WIPER MOTOR FAILED AT 40K QUOTED HUNDREDS TO REPLACE, NOT WORTH IT!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10440113

53,000 miles · Feb 28, 2011
Power TrainInjury

I PURCHASED AT 2006 MINI COOPER AUTOMATIC IN JULY 2010. OCTOBER 2010 I HAD THE KIDS IN MY CAR, KEY IN MY HAND, CAR TURNED OFF AND IN PARK. THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS, DRAGGING ME AND I HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO GET THE CAR TO STOP ROLLING AND NOT ROLL INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC. I WAS WORRIED MY KIDS WOULD BE HIT.…

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED AT 2006 MINI COOPER AUTOMATIC IN JULY 2010. OCTOBER 2010 I HAD THE KIDS IN MY CAR, KEY IN MY HAND, CAR TURNED OFF AND IN PARK. THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS, DRAGGING ME AND I HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO GET THE CAR TO STOP ROLLING AND NOT ROLL INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC. I WAS WORRIED MY KIDS WOULD BE HIT. MINI USA CLAIMED NOTHING WAS WRONG. NOW I AM TOLD MY BACK BRAKES ARE WORN, I AM SCARED THEY DID NOT LOOK AT MY VEHICLE PROPERLY, DID NOT TAKE ME SERIOUSLY AND AM SCARED MY CAR WILL ROLL AGAIN. I ALWAYS PARK MY CAR AND PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE I NEVER LEAVE IT JUST IN PARK. I NEED SOMEONE TO MAKE SURE THESE CARS AND MY CAR IS TRULY SAFE. MINI USA AND THE DEALER THAT CERTIFIED MY CAR HAVE BOTH FAILED TO TAKE THIS DANGEROUS MANNER SERIOUSLY. I COULD OF BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT AND MY CHILDREN KILLED BY ON COMING TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10384783

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2010
Power Train

I PURCHASE MY 2006 MINI COOPER S NEW ALMOST 4 YEARS AGO. I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SINCE I PURCHASED IT. IF YOU ARE GOING DOWN A HILL IT DOWNSHIFTS EXTREMELY HARD CAUSING A WHIPLASH EFFECT. CARS HAVE ALMOST HIT ME FROM BEHIND MANY TIMES. ADDITIONALLY WHEN GOING UP A HILL SUCH AS A FREEWAY ON-RA…

Read full complaint

I PURCHASE MY 2006 MINI COOPER S NEW ALMOST 4 YEARS AGO. I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SINCE I PURCHASED IT. IF YOU ARE GOING DOWN A HILL IT DOWNSHIFTS EXTREMELY HARD CAUSING A WHIPLASH EFFECT. CARS HAVE ALMOST HIT ME FROM BEHIND MANY TIMES. ADDITIONALLY WHEN GOING UP A HILL SUCH AS A FREEWAY ON-RAMP, THE CAR WILL JUST REFUSE TO ACCELERATE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY. I HAVE SPOKEN MANY TIMES TO MINI HEADQUARTERS AND THE CONSENSUS IS THAT IS HOW THE VEHICLE IS SUPPOSED TO OPERATE. THEY TOLD ME TO BUY A NEW ONE NOW BECAUSE THEY DON'T USE THAT TRANSMISSION ANY MORE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME TO MANUALLY SHIFT THE CAR IN THOSE SITUATIONS. I SAID IF I HAD WANTED TO SHIFT MANUALLY I WOULDN'T HAVE PAID FOR AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THEIR RESPONSE. I AM DISABLED AND ON A LIMITED INCOME. I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY A NEW CAR AND MORE IMPORTANTLY I COULDN'T MORALLY SELL THIS ONE WITH THESE KIND OF PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10326155

20,000 miles · Mar 20, 2010
Power Train

TRANNY WENT ON MY 2006 S MANUAL AT 20K, 3 WEEKS OUT OF WARRANTY. I BROUGHT IT IN 5 WEEKS EARLIER WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. THEY SAID ?THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM?. I REALIZE NOW THAT THEY CHOSE THESE WORDS CAREFULLY. 5 WEEKS AND 1000 MILES LATER, JUST OUR OR WARRANTY IT B…

Read full complaint

TRANNY WENT ON MY 2006 S MANUAL AT 20K, 3 WEEKS OUT OF WARRANTY. I BROUGHT IT IN 5 WEEKS EARLIER WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. THEY SAID ?THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM?. I REALIZE NOW THAT THEY CHOSE THESE WORDS CAREFULLY. 5 WEEKS AND 1000 MILES LATER, JUST OUR OR WARRANTY IT BLEW. SAID THE TRANNY FLUID WAS DARK AND FULL OF SHARDS. DID THEY NOT CHECK THIS LAST MONTH????? THEY TOLD ME 6K TO FIX IT. I BLEW A GASKET. HE CALLED ME BACK A FEW HOURS LATER AND SAID MINI WOULD PROVIDE THE PARTS FOR FREE IF I PAID $1300 LABOR. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE ON THEIR MINI'S, MANY MORE THEN I HAVE SEEN WHEN I HAVE DONE SEARCHES ON OTHER ISSUES. I THINK THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10321153

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.