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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.

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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

Visibility complaints

11 reports
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50 miles · Jun 27, 2014
Visibility

DRIVING HOME FROM DEALERSHIP AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. I THOUGHT I WAS JUST UNLUCKY AND A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD. NOW I THINK THERE WAS NOT A ROCK INVOLVED. DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606507

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…

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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

46,600 miles · Feb 9, 2009
Visibility

WHEN CLOSING THE DRIVER DOOR OF MY VEHICLE THE REAR HATCH WINDOW SHATTERED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258013

9,800 miles · Apr 27, 2007
Visibility

OVERNIGHT A STRESS FRACTURE APPEARED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE LOWER WINDSHIELD. TEMPERATURES WERE AROUND 60 F SO WOULD NOT HAVE CONTRIBUTED. THERE WAS A SMALL JUNK OF GLASS BLOWN OUT OF CRACK, BUT NO IMPACT MARKS ALONG CRACK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10189104

17,000 miles · Apr 18, 2007
Visibility

I HAVE HAD A SECOND STRESS FRACTURE IN MY FRONT WINDSHIELD IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS AND MINI USA DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH STRESS FRACTURES, BUT WILL NOT FESS UP TO IT. THEY ARE STATING THAT THERE IS A PINHEAD SIZED CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD, BUT SINCE WHEN WILL A PINHEAD SIZED CHIP C…

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I HAVE HAD A SECOND STRESS FRACTURE IN MY FRONT WINDSHIELD IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS AND MINI USA DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH STRESS FRACTURES, BUT WILL NOT FESS UP TO IT. THEY ARE STATING THAT THERE IS A PINHEAD SIZED CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD, BUT SINCE WHEN WILL A PINHEAD SIZED CHIP CREATE A FOOT LONG FRACTURE IN MY WINDSHIELD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10188290

6,000 miles · Dec 12, 2006
Visibility

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, THE WINDSHIELD SUSTAINED A SMALL, HAIRLINE FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED A POSSIBLE ROAD HAZARD WAS THE CAUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION WHO DETERMINED THE WINDSHIELD FRACTURED FROM THE …

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, THE WINDSHIELD SUSTAINED A SMALL, HAIRLINE FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED A POSSIBLE ROAD HAZARD WAS THE CAUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION WHO DETERMINED THE WINDSHIELD FRACTURED FROM THE INSIDE AND NEEDED REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 2/6/2007 - *NM

NHTSA ODI #10175934

Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 2006
Visibility

CRACKED WINDSHIELD WITH NO IDENTIFIABLE IMPACT MARKS. LOCATED JUST BEHIND AND TO THE LEFT (IF SITTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT) OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. IT WASN'T THERE WHEN I DROVE TO WORK IN THE MORNING BUT WAS THERE WHEN I WENT TO MY CAR AT 5PM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10172494

2,860 miles · Aug 28, 2006
Visibility

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE RECOMMENDED SPEED OF 65 MPH WITH MORE THAN SUFFICIENT SPACE BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND A SMALL PEBBLE SMALLER THAN THE ERASER ON A PENCIL HIT THE TOP OF MY WINDSHIELD AND MADE A SMALL STAR CRACK - THIS CRACK IS SMALLER THAN THE HEAD OF A NAIL. THE CRACK CONTINUED TO GROW…

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I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE RECOMMENDED SPEED OF 65 MPH WITH MORE THAN SUFFICIENT SPACE BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND A SMALL PEBBLE SMALLER THAN THE ERASER ON A PENCIL HIT THE TOP OF MY WINDSHIELD AND MADE A SMALL STAR CRACK - THIS CRACK IS SMALLER THAN THE HEAD OF A NAIL. THE CRACK CONTINUED TO GROW INTO AN L SHAPE, 5 INCHES LONG RIGHT BEHIND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MINI WINDSHIELD AND THE PROBLEM IS FIXED ONCE YOU REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WITH A THICKER GLASS. THIS COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURIES HAD A BIGGER ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10166739

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2006
Visibility

MINI COOPER, MINI COOPER S AND CONVERTIBLES, DATING 2002-2006. GLASS PITS AND CRACKS EASILY. EACH TIME THIS HAPPENS, MINI IS NOT CLAIMING THE GLASS HAS A PROBLEM AND YOU MUST REPLACE AT YOUR OWN COST OR THROUGH YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY. HAVE HAD 2 CARS, AND NUMEROUS FRIENDS WITH THESE CARS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10162102

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2006
Visibility

DEAR OFFICER, I WOULD LIKE TO COMPLIANT ABOUT A DEFECTIVE 2006 MINI COOPER WINDSHIELD PROBLEM. I HAVE A BRAND NEW 2006 MINI COOPER FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS, BUT THERE WAS A COUPLE OF LINE CRACKS ON THE WINDSHIELD ALREADY. THE PROBLEM IS NOT EVEN CAUSED BY A ROCK CHIP AND I THINK IT IS A "STRESS" CRACK THAT MANY MANY MINI COOPER BUY…

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DEAR OFFICER, I WOULD LIKE TO COMPLIANT ABOUT A DEFECTIVE 2006 MINI COOPER WINDSHIELD PROBLEM. I HAVE A BRAND NEW 2006 MINI COOPER FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS, BUT THERE WAS A COUPLE OF LINE CRACKS ON THE WINDSHIELD ALREADY. THE PROBLEM IS NOT EVEN CAUSED BY A ROCK CHIP AND I THINK IT IS A "STRESS" CRACK THAT MANY MANY MINI COOPER BUYERS HAS EXPERIENCED. I TOOK THAT TO THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM IF IT IS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY DENIED IT WAS CAUSED BY STRESS CRACKS AND REFUSED TO FIX IT. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE UNDER INVESTIGATION. PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THE PROBLEM AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL GET BMW/MINI COOPER ATTENTION TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR AT LEAST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10160436

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.