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2006 Mini Cooper

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Cooper years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Mini Cooper are substantially higher than the model-year median of 40.5.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Compare all Cooper years →

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

166 reports with mileage · 34 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 111 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports8 fire reports8 injury reports

What owners actually said

200 reports
48,500 miles · Nov 12, 2010
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALTHOUGH A PASSENGER (WHO WEIGHED OVER 200 LBS) WAS SEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSOR MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALTHOUGH A PASSENGER (WHO WEIGHED OVER 200 LBS) WAS SEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSOR MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 153,600.

NHTSA ODI #10365467

60,000 miles · Nov 4, 2010
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT OF THE PRICING AND IT WAS TOO COSTL…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT OF THE PRICING AND IT WAS TOO COSTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10364027

47,000 miles · Oct 5, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

2006 BMW MINI COOPER, 2 DOOR. CAR SUDDENLY LOSES POWER, SHUDDERS AND ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. OCCURS RANDOMLY. HAS OCCURRED 6 TIMES SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASED, MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE SEPTEMBER 2010. EACH TIME CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. EACH TIME DEALER SAID IT WAS FIXED. DEALER DOES NOT SHARE ENGINEERING INFORMATION; SO, I CANNOT DETERMINE…

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2006 BMW MINI COOPER, 2 DOOR. CAR SUDDENLY LOSES POWER, SHUDDERS AND ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. OCCURS RANDOMLY. HAS OCCURRED 6 TIMES SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASED, MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE SEPTEMBER 2010. EACH TIME CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. EACH TIME DEALER SAID IT WAS FIXED. DEALER DOES NOT SHARE ENGINEERING INFORMATION; SO, I CANNOT DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT WAS DONE. DEALER HAD TO GET MINI COOPER ENGINEERS FOR CONSULTATION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. REPAIR ORDERS MENTION A PART CALLED THE VANOS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. SUDDEN LOSE OF POWER APPEARS TO ME TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR. MINI COOPER OF NORTH AMERICA HAS SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM FOR THEM TO REMEDY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10359381

100,000 miles · Aug 19, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS REACHING OVER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN THE TRUNK WHEN HER LEG WAS BURNED BY THE MUFFLER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR ROUTINE INSPECTION. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE BRACKETS WHICH HELD THE MUFFLER IN PLACE HAD RUSTED, ALLOWING THE MUFFLER TO HANG.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS REACHING OVER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN THE TRUNK WHEN HER LEG WAS BURNED BY THE MUFFLER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR ROUTINE INSPECTION. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE BRACKETS WHICH HELD THE MUFFLER IN PLACE HAD RUSTED, ALLOWING THE MUFFLER TO HANG. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS EMISSIONS WITHOUT REPAIRING THE MUFFLER. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE MUFFLER BRACKETS REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10350635

62,000 miles · Mar 11, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED FROM 3,000 TO 5,000. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER PROCEEDING TO SLOW DOWN DURING TRAVEL BETWEEN 50-70 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED FROM 3,000 TO 5,000. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER PROCEEDING TO SLOW DOWN DURING TRAVEL BETWEEN 50-70 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ODI #10318960

54,000 miles · Mar 8, 2010
Seats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH WHEN HE LEANED FORWARD TO ADJUST HIMSELF ON THE SEAT, THE SEAT BROKE AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NO LONGER HAD ANY WARRANTY TO REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD THE SEAT WELDED SO THAT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH WHEN HE LEANED FORWARD TO ADJUST HIMSELF ON THE SEAT, THE SEAT BROKE AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NO LONGER HAD ANY WARRANTY TO REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD THE SEAT WELDED SO THAT HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61419. UPDATED 05/06/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING, WHEN SHE ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HAS NO LOCK FORWARD AND THE CONSUMER WAS ALMOST THROWN FORWARD INTO THE WINDSHIELD. UPDATED 07/14/10.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10317723

49,000 miles · Feb 12, 2010
Steering

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE @ 49,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308969

Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2010
Air BagsEngine And Engine Cooling

1/10/2010, I MY HEATER WAS BLOWING COLD AIR AND MY ENGINE TEMP INDICATOR WAS JUMPING AROUND. I CALLED MINI OF TOWSON AND TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE. I REMINDED THEM THAT BOTH AIR BAG AND FLAT TIRE INDICATORS HAD BEEN FLICKERING ON AND OFF SINCE THE LAST TIME I CAME IN ON JUNE OF 2009 AND THAT AS OF A FEW WEEKS AGO THEY HAD BOTH…

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1/10/2010, I MY HEATER WAS BLOWING COLD AIR AND MY ENGINE TEMP INDICATOR WAS JUMPING AROUND. I CALLED MINI OF TOWSON AND TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE. I REMINDED THEM THAT BOTH AIR BAG AND FLAT TIRE INDICATORS HAD BEEN FLICKERING ON AND OFF SINCE THE LAST TIME I CAME IN ON JUNE OF 2009 AND THAT AS OF A FEW WEEKS AGO THEY HAD BOTH REMAINED ON. AT THAT TIME, NO ONE TOOK MY INQUIRY SERIOUSLY AND I WAS TOLD THE LIGHTS WERE COMING ON AS A RESULT OF THE PAST REQUIRED ENGINE WORK FOR THE COOLING SYSTEM AND ENGINE, AND A SLOW LEAK IN ONE OF MY TIRES, WHICH I WAS INSTRUCTED TOO MONITOR BY FILLING-UP WHEN LOW AND TO IGNORE. I WAS INFORMED RECENTLY THAT I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR ($1000). I HAVE READ MANY OF POSTS ON THE MINIUSA WEBSITE THAT SAY THIS AS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MINI'S BEING WIRED INCORRECTLY FORM THE MANUFACTURER; SOMETHING THAT COULD BE AVOIDED WITH EARLY DETECTION BY THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF THE INITIAL FAULTY INDICATOR LIGHTING. I WAS ALSO TOLD MY WATER PUMP IS NOW LEAKING COOLANT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ($900); SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN TOLD MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE EARLIER MANUFACTURING DEFECTS I HAD. ALSO, I AM ENROLLED IN THEIR TIRE AND RIM PROTECTION WARRANTY THAT STATES ANY TIRES OR RIMS THAT ARE DAMAGED BY NAILS, POT HOLES, ETC ARE REPLACED FOR FREE. THEY HAVE PATCHED 4 OF MY TIRES FOR NAIL DAMAGE; 3 OUT OF THE 4 TIRES CONTINUE TO LEAK AND I FEEL SHOULD BE REPLACED. LASTLY, MY MINI APPRAISED $6,500 BY THIS DEALER. I ASKED HOW MUCH THE VALUE INCREASES IF I COMPLETELY SERVICE THE CAR AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD INCREASE THE VALUE OF SERVICES RENDERED ($3,100) A TOTAL EST.VALUE OF $9,600. WHEN ASKED WHY MY MINI HAD DEPRECIATED SO MUCH I WAS TOLD BECAUSE OF THE CARS EXTENSIVE SERVICE RECORD. SHE SAID BECAUSE OF THE DEPLORABLE SERVICE RECORD, MY CAR COULD NOT BE KEPT BY THE MINI DEALER AND THAT IT HAD TO BE SOLD AT WHOLESALE BECAUSE THE CAR IS CONSIDERED FAULTY. SHE SAID MY MINI WAS NOT SAFE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER RESELL STANDARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10299564

130,000 miles · May 4, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO LOSE POWER; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT MANAGED TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND DROVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WILL…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO LOSE POWER; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT MANAGED TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND DROVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #10267660

21,754 miles · Dec 20, 2008
Air Bags

PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. HAS BEEN REPAIRED 4 TIMES. HAS NOT RECURRED THIS LAST REPAIR, HOWEVER ONLY REPAIRED 2 MONTHS AGO. HAPPENED FIRST 3/26/07, PARTS HAD TO BE SPECIAL ORDERED AND IT WAS REPAIRED ON 4/17/07; THEN 1/29/08, THEN 6/17/08, AND THEN 10/27/08. EACH TIME THEY MAKE THE SAME REPAIR: PART NUMBER 52 …

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PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. HAS BEEN REPAIRED 4 TIMES. HAS NOT RECURRED THIS LAST REPAIR, HOWEVER ONLY REPAIRED 2 MONTHS AGO. HAPPENED FIRST 3/26/07, PARTS HAD TO BE SPECIAL ORDERED AND IT WAS REPAIRED ON 4/17/07; THEN 1/29/08, THEN 6/17/08, AND THEN 10/27/08. EACH TIME THEY MAKE THE SAME REPAIR: PART NUMBER 52 10 6 961 324, REPLACED SENSOR MAT, (OC3 MAT) PASSENGER SEAT, 65 77 604, REMOVED SEAT, REMOVED SEAT COVER, REPLACED SEAT COVER, MAT, AND UPHOLSTERY MATERIAL. THE LIGHT HAS NOT COME BACK ON SINCE LAST REPAIR, HOWEVER IT HAS ONLY BEEN 2 MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10252338

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.