2006 Mini Cooper S problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (46) · Air Bags (45) · Seats (14)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mini Cooper S model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
161 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Air Bags:frontal 2015-04-06 · campaign 15V205000 · 91,800 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (49)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System 2023-10-25 · M610607 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
mini electrical systems have continued to develop over the past few years. as a result, the demand on the batteries has increased. breakdowns due to an empty battery or problems in the vehicles electrical system can have various causes, most of which are not due to the battery itself. for this rea
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) 2019-07-12 · M240112 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
programming a replacement egs module with ista/p. programming a replacement electronic transmission control module (egs) with ista/p requires the manual entry of the correct target basic and programmed part numbers. programming concept.
Equipment 2018-06-01 · M650610 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
navigation system has missing or incorrect road map data: the route guidance is inaccurate and therefore irritating to the customer; or it is not possible to locate certain addresses, for instance:
Equipment:electrical:navigational System(Global Positioning System) 2018-05-01 · M650610 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
navigation system has missing or incorrect road map data: the route guidance is inaccurate and therefore irritating to the customer; or it is not possible to locate certain addresses, for instance:
Power Train 2018-02-01 · M240118 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
aisin automatic transmisison: right side output shaft seal replacement
Steering 2016-03-01 · M320214 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service information bulletin supersedes si 32 02 14 dated august 2014. subject installation of right-hand drive steering spindle in left-hand drive vehicle is no longer required. left-hand drive steering spindles are currently available.
Showing the 6 most recent of 49 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2022-04-12 · Air Bags · 90,350 mi“the contact owns a 2006 mini coop s. the contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the passenger’s side seat occupancy mat had failed. the vehicle was not repaired. the dealer was not notified of the failure. the manufacturer was notified of the failur…”
2020-03-23 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification · 79,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2006 mini cooper s. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag sensor light illuminated and remained illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the front passenger side air bag system was defective and needed to be replaced. south bay mini located at (18800…”
2020-01-14 · Steering · 160,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2006 mini cooper s. the contact stated that while attempting to make a right turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. the seat belt and check-engine warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the brown motor works (803-551-0991, located at 4041 broad river rd, columbia, sc 29210) and it was diagnosed tha…”
2019-10-17 · Steering · 1 mi“power steering is malfunctioning. it come and goes for a couple of days while in a winding road. took it to the dealer and they replace some lines. a few moths later it started having issues with at the beginning of the driving after the car has been idle for more than 2 hours. now the power steering is totally not working at all.…”
2019-09-16 · Fuel/Propulsion System“there is a constant fuel / gasoline smell in my car and outside the vehicle. no visible leaks. the smell is constant.…”
2019-03-20 · Unknown Or Other · 140,000 mi“steering pump transmission weening not wanting to change gears right…”
2018-12-15 · Air Bags“the air bag detection warning remains active after dealer reinstallation of the seat detector pad.…”
2018-11-25 · Power Train · 66,000 mi“2006 mini cooper s with 66000 miles had a transmission failure that resulted in unsafe driving condition due to loss of forward propulsion while driving on highway.…”
2018-09-08 · Steering · 103,500 mi“power steering pump failing, creating a loud whine when running (moving, and stationary).…”
2018-09-04 · Unknown Or Other · 53,000 mi“upon starting my car, after being in a store, the passenger airbag light came on while a passenger was in the seat. the indicator stayed on after turning the car off and back on. i researched to see if there were any recalls for a faulty passenger airbag covering my year, make and model, and found nhtsa campaign number: 15v205000. i contacted my…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.