NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 MINI Cooper. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
FAILURE OF OC-3 WEIGHT MAT IN PASSENGER SEAT BASE, THUS DISABLING PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SYSTEM. COST TO REPLACE SEAT BOTTOM IS $1200. AS THIS PART IS COMMON BETWEEN MINIS AND BMWS, AND IS VERY PRONE TO FAILURE, BMW HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON BMWS IN THIS MODEL YEAR AREA, BUT HAS NOT YET DONE SO FOR MINIS. PERHAPS BMW NEEDS A WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT TO ISSUE A RECALL? THIS IS A TRAVESTY. *TR
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
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
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 2ND/3RD GEAR AFTER A TRAFFIC STOP. THE GEARS WOULD SHIFT ERRATICALLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER AND WE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND A MESSAGE SHOWS UP "EP" WHICH MEANS TRANSMISSION IS ON EMERGENCY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NO LONGER DETECTED THAT A PASSENGER WAS OCCUPYING THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT SPONTANEOUSLY LIGHTED WITHOUT INCIDENT AND CONTINUES TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITH OR WITHOUT PASSENGER IN SEAT. MINI OF USA ASSISTANCE DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR WARRANTY, BUT STATES THAT" AIR BAG MAY NOT FUNCTION IN CASE OF ACCIDENT". THIS VEHICLE HAS 53,00 MILES ON ODOMETER. HAVE OBSERVED MANY SUCH COMPLAINTS ON RELATED INTERNET SITES. *TR
Power Steering pump leaking failure
THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR WENT ON IN MY MINI COOPER. I NOTICED THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING COMPONENTS IN THE MINI COOPER, WHICH AGAIN SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE. I AM CONCERNED REGARDING ALL THE AIR BAG RECALLS, BUT AT 1,7K TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SEAT; THAT IS QUITE A BURDEN UPON A TIGHT BUDGET. I JUST WANTED TO USE THIS WEBSITE AS A PLACE WHERE I HAVE DOCUMENTED THESE ISSUES, SO THAT IF THERE IS A INSURANCE CLAIM DOWN THE ROAD, BECAUSE OF THESE FAULTY ISSUE, I HAVE A DOCUMENTED COMPLAINT. *TR
I NOTICED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE CAME ON, I KEPT AN EYE ON IT AND AT FIRST IT WOULD GO ON AND OFF. THEN IT GOT WORSE, IT WOULD GO ON AND OFF WHEN I WOULD HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. NOW ITS ALWAYS ON, I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND I FOUND THIS SITE W/OVER 130 COMPLAINTS ON IT. I SEE THAT BMW HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND DID A RECALL OF ALL AIRBAG ISSUES. MINI IS MADE BY BMW WHY WOULD THEY NOT COVER ANY YEAR THAT HAS THE SAME AIRBAG PROBLEM. I'M A TEENAGER AND CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THE ISSUE THAT'S APPROX $1,500-2,000. OR DO I WAIT TILL MY FRIEND OR SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT, OR EVEN WORSE DIES FROM THIS PROBLEM. FOR BMW AND THE COST OF THEIR CARS THIS IS SMALL POTATOES FOR THEM. FOR ME TO FIX IT MIND AS WELL BE A MILLION DOLLARS, OR THE COST OF A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER..GOD FORBID!!! IF THERE'S THIS MANY COMPLAINTS THEN SHOULDN'T THE MANUFACTURER BE HELD RESPONSIBLE? THEY HAD A RECALL UNTIL 05, OBVIOUSLY THE PROBLEM STILL CONT. INTO 06 AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED. THEY MADE THE CAR, SO I GUESS THEY ALSO MADE THE MISTAKE..CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND SEAT OCCUPANCY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE- TOLD SEAT OCCUPANT MAT (FRONT PASSENGER SEAT) HAS FAILED AND MUST BE REPLACED. REPLACEMENT IS COST PROHIBITIVE ($1700). SAFETY RISK PRESENT BECAUSE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IN EVENT OF CRASH. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL AND WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART UNDER ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR
THE POWER STEERING DRAINED THE BATTERY AND VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. PARTS NECESSARY TO REPLACE WERE: POWER STEERING PUMP POWER STEERING PUMP FAN POWER STEERING FLUID PEN I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE THE ABOVE PARTS HAVE BEEN RECALLED UP UNTIL 2005. MY VEHICLE IS 2006 BUT I SUSPECT THAT THE OLDER PUMP HAS BEEN USED ON MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THE FAN HAS BEEN WORKING IN AN ODD WAY EVER SINCE I GOT THE CAR. MINI REFUSED TO PAY FOR THIS PART AND I AM ASKING YOU TO EXTEND THE RECALL IF THERE ARE ENOUGH PEOPLE WITH ISSUES WITH THESE PARTS. *TR
STEERING BECAME CHOPPY , NOT SMOOTH,IT CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE TO A DANGEROUS STATE OF OPERATION. *TR
PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINS ON. INSPECTION IS DUE 5/31/2015 SO I HAD IT DIAGNOSED BY MINI DEALER. DIAGNOSIS WAS A FAULT IN THE SENSOR SYSTEM IN A MODULE LOCATED IN THE DASHBOARD, BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX - REPAIR COST, $2,000+. THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER BEFORE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE IN THIS PART. TO MY UNDERSTANDING, THIS IS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL IN PROCESS, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH THE SENSOR IN THE SEAT ITSELF (WHICH I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED, DECEMBER 2012.).
AIRBAG PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR IS BAD $1500 TO REPAIR AND NO GUARANTEE IT WILL WORK CORRECTLY IN THE FUTURE. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED??? BMW WHO OWNS MINI COOPER RECALLED THIS SENSOR FOR THEIR CARS BUT WHY NOT THE COOPERS? I'M SO ANGRY THAT THEY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT MY FAMILIES SAFETY. AUTOMOBILES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE AIRBAG SYSTEMS BUT THEY AREN'T REQUIRED TO WORK PROPERLY?? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT AND THE AIR BAG DISABLED LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN APRIL 2015, THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. MA 10/5 UPDATED 10/06/15*LJ *CN
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
I HAVE HEARD FROM MORE THEN 3 DOZEN OTHER INDIVIDUALS OWNING BOTH THE MINI COOPER AND MINI COOPER S RANGING FROM YEARS 2006 TO 2010 THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS REGARDING THE AIR CV JOINT AXEL AND/OR POWER ARM CONTROL A CONSTANT PROBLEM REGARDING THE GENERAL MODULE ELECTRONIC COMPONENT. THIS ISN'T JUST A COINCIDENCE AND MAY END UP BEING THE CAUSE OF SERIOUS ACCIDENTS IF ONE OR TWO OF THESE COMPONENTS ARE DEFECTIVE. FOR THIS MANY CONSUMERS TO BE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES, SAME SOUNDS AND REVISITED VISITS TO MINI DEALER SHOPS AROUND THE GLOBE SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. I KNOW FOR ONE THING THIS CONTROL ARM IS A HUGE PROBLEM IF IT FAILS CONSIDERING IT'S LOCATION COULD BE THE CAUSE OF MANY SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLE DEATHS DEPENDING ON THE SPEED AND SEVERITY OF THE ACCIDENT WHEN IT TAKES PLACE. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY NOT ON THE ROAD DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE NOISE AND REACTION TO THE VEHICLE WHEN BEING OPERATED AND IT IS A SCARY THING. THEY WANT TO CHARGE A ABSURD AMOUNT OF MONEY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT QUITE FRANKLY MAY HAVE BEEN SOMETHING RECALLED A LONG TIME AGO, AND WASN'T BECAUSE A LOT OF CONSUMERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS PROCESS SUCH AS MYSELF UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN AN ATTORNEY FRIEND OF MINE STARTED TO DIG AROUND A BIT AFTER HEARING MY STORY AND THE STORIES OF MANY OTHERS I HAVE SPOKEN TOO.
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR WENT BAD. SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. $1,500 TO HAVE DEALER REPAIRED. CAR IS NOT REPAIRED YET. *TR
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT (PASSENGER SIDE) ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST AND NOW STAYS ON ALL OF THE TIME, REGARDLESS IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL MINI DEALER (INTERNATIONAL AUTOS, MILWAUKEE, WI) AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A "FAULTED AIR BAG OC3 MAT" THAT COULD BE REPAIRED/REPLACED FOR $1163.00. AS THIS WAS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE UNRELATED TO THE AGE OR ACCUMULATED MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE, I FELT THAT MINI USA SHOULD AUTHORIZE A NO-COST REPAIR OR, AT A MINIMUM, PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT PART(S) AT NO COST. THE COST TO REMEDY OTHER WEAR-RELATED ISSUES NOTED DURING THE INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE ARE CLEARLY MY RESPONSIBILITY. A SUBSEQUENT PHONE CONVERSATION WITH MINI USA ON 01/27/2015 DISCLOSED THAT, WHILE THIS WAS AN LEGITIMATE VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUE, THEY DID NOT FEEL THAT THIS WAS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND THAT I SHOULD PAY THE ENTIRE AMOUNT NECESSARY TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE DEFECT. *TR
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
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.
I BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER A 2006 MINI COOPER S A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. TODAY I DECIDED TO DRIVE IT TO WORK HERE AT FORT HOOD, TEXAS. A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR AFTER I GOT TO WORK I DECIDED TO GO GET BREAKFAST SO WHEN I WALKED OUT OF MY OFFICE I HEARD A CAR ALARM GOING OFF AND WHEN I ROUNDED THE CORNER I SAW MY DAUGHTER'S CAR BILLOWING SMOKE! I RAN INSIDE TO GET HELP AND WAS ABLE TO FIND TOOLS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. I RAISED THE HOOD AND WAS MEET WITH A LOT OF HEAT, SMOKE AND A STRONG ODOR OF BURNT PLASTIC. THE CAR WASN'T RUNNING AND LIKE I STATED, HAD BEEN SITTING FOR OVER AN HOUR. AFTER CONDUCTING RESEARCH ONLINE I FOUND OUT MINI USA HAD RECALLED SEVERAL MINI COOPERS FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP THAT HAD THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS. AFTER CALLING THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP, AN HOUR AWAY, AND MINI USA I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL AND I AM LEFT TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR MYSELF. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME A COST OF $1000 TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. DURING MY ONLINE RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER MINI OWNERS WITH THE SAME YEAR MODEL THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT MINI USA ISN'T WANTING TO FULLY COVER THE REPAIRS. I AM GLAD I WASN'T DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED! *TR
RIGHT SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANCY PAD SENSOR CAUSES AIRBAG LIGHT TO STAY ON. THE SENSOR HAS BEEN TESTED AND IS INOPERATIVE. BMW HAS A RECALL FOR ALL THEIR VEHICLES WITH THE SAME SENSOR. MINI COOPER NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS FAULTY DESIGN AND HAVE TO REPLACE THE OCCUPANCY SEAT SENSOR AT NO COST TO THE OWNERS. THIS REPAIR COST AROUND $1300.00. IF THIS IS NOT REPAIRED IT COULD PREVENT THE AIR BAGS FROM DEPLOYING. *TR
AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE DETECTION MAT OF THE PASSENGER'S FRONT SEAT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE PASSENGER . THE AIR BAG LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PANEL IS INTERMITTENT, PUTTING AT RISK OF NOT DEPLOYING THE AIR BAG DURING AN ACCIDENT. THE LIGHT WILL COME UP EVEN WHEN I HAVE A PURSE ON THE SEAT OR WITH A FULL GROWN ADULT (OVER 150 POUNDS). I RECENTLY CALLED 2 LOCAL MINI DEALERS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (JULY 2015) REGARDING THIS AND BOTH STATED THE SAME: THAT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE SPARE PART REQUIRED FOR THIS RECALL AND CANNNOT PERFORM UNTIL MINI PROVIDES THEM WITH AN AUTHORIZATION LETTER. CALLED IMMEDIATELY THE MINI CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE FOR RECALLS (1-866-825-1525) TO FIND OUT WHEN THIS WILL BE SOLVED SINCE THIS HAS BEEN ON ONGOING ISSUE SINCE MID 2014. MINI'S CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT WE NEEDED TO WAIT UNTIL A NEW RE-DESIGN OF THIS SENSOR IN THE DETECTION MAT IS AVAILABLE FROM THEM IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THIS SPARE PART TO THE DEALERS. IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE PUTTING AT RISK ANY PASSENGER WHO WILL RIDE IN OUR CARS FOR AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN KNOWN BY MINI FOR OVER A YEAR!
MY OCCUPANCY SENSOR 2 MAT IS BAD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART, OTHERWISE IT WILL BE ABOUT $1400 TO REPLACE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE SENSOR IS UNABLE TO READ WHETHER OR NOT A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V20500 (AIR BAGS) BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
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
POWER STEERING COMPLETELY QUIT WORKING. CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. STOPPED AND TURNED OFF CAR FOR A WHILE. STARTED CAR AGAIN AND POWER STEERING WAS OK. NOW POWER STEERING IS VERY DIFFICULT UNTIL CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A FEW MINUTES. *JS
AIRBAG FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON... AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY. 700.00 TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX THE ISSUE (CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE) CALLED MINI USA, AND THEY WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL EVEN THOUGH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED LIGHT TURNS ON INTERMITTENTLY, EVEN WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED BY AN ADULT. THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT IN THE SEAT CUSHION. IT FAILED ONCE BEFORE AND WAS REPLACED BY THE CAR DEALER. NOW THE REPLACEMENT SENSOR MAT IS ALSO FAILING. *TR
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF. SEAT CANNOT DETECT PASSENGER AND DISABLE AIRBAG. THERE IS A RECALL GOING ON, BUT IT DID NOT INCLUDE MY VIN NUMBER. MINI USA REPRESENTATIVE GAVE NO ANSWER, NO TIMELINE, NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. JUST TOLD ME TO WAIT. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT'S BMW/MINI.
THE CAR BEGAN TO MAKE A HIGH PITCHED WHINE WHICH INCREASED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, IT CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AND I NOTICED WHEN I WOULD MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH THE NOISE BECAME MUCH MUCH WORSE, LEADING TO THE FAILURE OF MY POWER STEERING PUMP. MINI ISSUED A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING PUMPS FOR THEIR 2001-2005 MODELS (13 YEAR, 150,000 MILES.) MINE IS A 2006, I STILL DON'T THINK THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED FOR THIS YEAR OF MODEL AS I AM FINDING MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS ONLINE OF INDIVIDUALS WITH 2006 MINI POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. *TR
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE FOR 3 MONTHS. WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ON. IT HAS NOT TURNED OFF FOR 6 MONTHS AND WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION. THE BATTERY WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO START THE CAR WITH NO PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE HAS IN A GARAGE THE ENTIRE TIME. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ALL SYSTEMS WERE FUNCTIONING. *TR
POWER STEERING PUMP STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING A 35MPH. STOPPED AND RESTARTED VEHICLE NO CHANGE, AN HOUR LATER PUMP WORKED AGAIN. *TR
PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR STOP WORKING- CAUSING AIR BAG IN PASSENGER SEAT TO SHUT OFF. NO WAY TO OVERRIDE AND SEAT SENSOR COST OVER $1300 TO REPLACE. I UNDERSTAND THIS VERY COMMON WITH COOPERS IN THIS DATE RANGE. VERY SIMILAR SEAT SENSORS FOR THE BMW MODEL HAS BEEN RECALLED BUT NOT THE VERSION FOR THE MINI THAT IS FAILING. SEEMS LIKE DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON DASH IS ILLUMINATED AFTER MOVING PASSENGER SEAT BACK AND FORTH. UNABLE TO CLEAR THE LIGHT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
I HEARD A LOUD HUMMING/SQUEALING TYPE SOUND--UNABLE TO TURN THE CAR'S STEERING WITHOUT GREAT EFFORT WHILE DRIVING DOWN A SIDE STREET AND PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT. I HAD WONDERED WHERE THE SOUND WAS COMING FROM AND HAVING TO MAKE IT HOME I STRUGGLED TO KEEP THE CAR IN MY LANE AND MAKE LEFT TURNS AT INTERSECTIONS--MAKING IT HOME I NOTICED A DARK STAIN WHERE MY CAR WAS PARKED AND CHECKED THE STEERING FLUID WHICH WAS BONE-DRY. I HAVE CHILDREN--AFTER READING THESE POSTS I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THEM AND AM AFRAID TO BE ON THE ROAD EVEN AFTER PUTTING MORE FLUID IN THE RECEPTACLE AM FINDING IT ON MY DRIVEWAY. I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR IN NOVEMBER WITH 50,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
EXITING THE HIGHWAY, THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2006 MINI COOPER STOPPED WORKING. I WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE PAVEMENT. THE CAR LEFT THE ROADWAY, NARROWLY MISSING A HIGHWAY SIGN (WOODEN POST), AND STOPPED IN A GRASSY AREA OFF THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. MY WIFE AND I WERE SHAKEN BUT UNHURT. THE VEHICLE BODY DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE DAMAGED. HOWEVER, THERE IS NOW A LOUD RATTLE COMING FROM THE REAR OR UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING IS ALSO COMPLETELY GONE. THE CAR CAN BE DRIVEN BUT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO SO. *TR
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
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SEEMS VERY JERKY AND HESITANT. IT HAS DIED ON ME ONCE WHILE DRIVING AS IT STALLED OUT. I AM AFRAID THE TRANSMISSION IS CLOSE TO FAILURE. *TR
THE DRIVER SIDE HEADED SEAT ONLY HEATS UP IN ONE SPOT AND BURNED MY LEG. I HAVE HAD TO DISCONTINUE USE OF THE HEATED SEAT AS I AM AFRAID OF IT CATCHING ON FIRE OR BURNING THROUGH THE SEAT INTO MY LEG. *TR
FEBRUARY OF 2014 DRIVING MY 2006 CONVERTIBLE ON CURVY HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH. LOUD SHRIEKING NOISE AND THEN STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. TOWED TO MECHANIC. HAD STEERING PUMP & FAN REPLACED. TOTAL COST $1,038.54. 2005 MINI'S HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT DEFAULT. CALLED MINI AND THEY WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME BECAUSE MINE IS A 2006. HOWEVER, MY MINI WAS MADE IN 2005. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP CONTINUED TO FLICKER OFF AND ON EVEN THOUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. UPDATED 5/26/15*CN UPDATED 05/29/15*JB
I AM CURRENT OWNER OF A 2006 MINI COOPER S. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AROUND APRIL 2006. OVER LAST 2 MONTHS, I HAVE STARTED TO SEE A PROBLEM WITH POWER TRAIN. THE CAR JERKS HORRIBLY WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE WHEN IT TRIES TO CHANGE TO HIGHER GEARS. THIS HAPPENS EITHER IN THE "DRIVE" MODE WHERE THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY CHANGES THE GEARS OR WHILE DRIVING IN "M/S" MODE WHERE THE DRIVER GETS THE OPTION TO CHANGE THE GEAR. OVER LAST 1-2 WEEKS, THE VEHICLE JERKS WHEN I SWITCH FROM PARK TO REVERSE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP AND THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $8500. MY CAR HAS AROUND 96,500 MILES AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED WELL. WHEN I TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN ABOUT 2 TO 3 CARS HAVING PROBLEM (JUST WITHIN THAT DEALERSHIP) IN RECENT TIMES (THE PERSON I TALKED TO WAS RELATIVELY NEW). IT IS UNREASONABLE FOR TRANSMISSION TO REQUIRE A REPLACEMENT AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. IN ADDITION, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS SEEMS LIKE A SYSTEMIC ISSUE GIVEN JUST ONE DEALER HAS SEEN A FEW OF THESE AND A QUICK SEARCH INDICATES A NUMBER OF OTHER OWNERS OF MINI COOPER S ENCOUNTERING THIS ISSUE OVER LAST 12 TO 18 MONTHS (TRANSLATES TO TRANSMISSION SYSTEMATICALLY BREAKING AFTER ABOUT 7 TO 8 YEARS OF OPERATION). THE PROBLEM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO RESULT IN COLLISIONS SINCE THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) IN JUNE OF 2015. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL AUGUST OF 2015. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
MY 2006 MINI COOPER AIR BAG LIGHTS (PASSENGER SEAT LIGHT AS WELL AS DASH BOARD AIR BAG SYSTEM LIGHTS) ARE INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON AND STAYING ON WHEN I START MY MINI. THE DASHBOARD LIGHT APPARENTLY COMES ON WHEN A FAULT IS DETECTED IN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM, AND AS A RESULT THE SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS SINCE I'M NOW DRIVING IN A MINI COOPER WITH NO AIRBAG PROTECTION. THE SEAT LIGHT INDICATES THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS TURNED OFF DUE TO SOMEONE OF LIGHT WEIGHT SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS LIGHT IS NOW COMING ON WITH ANY AVERAGE ADULT OR NO ONE AT ALL SITTING IN THAT SEAT. I DECIDED TO CHECK THE INTERNET FOR THIS ISSUE AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. EVEN MORE SHOCKING WAS REPAIR COST FOR THIS ISSUE. DEALERS ARE CHARGING CUSTOMERS $1000 TO $2000 TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR WHICH APPEARS TO BE THE MOST COMMON CULPRIT. INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE SENSOR ITSELF, THE ENTIRE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. EVEN SAW SOME CUSTOMERS HAD THE SAME ISSUE REOCCUR 1 TO 2 YEARS AFTER THIS FIX. SPOKE TO MY LOCAL BMW/MINI DEALERSHIP WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT BMW HAD THE SAME ISSUE WHICH IS NOW UNDER RECALL, BUT MINI DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED ... SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED BECAUSE OF IT! I LOVE MINI BUT AM HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED WITH HOW THIS ISSUE IS BEING HANDLED. MY DAUGHTER WANTS TO BUY A MINI ... I WILL STRONGLY RECOMMEND SHE DOES NOT. *TR
LA TRANSMISION ESTA FALLANDO,CUANDO LLEGA A LAS 2100 RPM EL SIGUIENTE CAMBIO O SEA LA 4TA CAMBIO NO ENTRA O TARDA EN ENTRAR LO Q PASA ES ENTONCES SUBEN LAS RPM Y SE ACELERA EST ES CONSTANTE ,EN LAS PRIMEROS MINUTOS TRABAJA BIEN LUEGO DE UNOS CUANTOS MINUTOS DE RODAR ESQUE COMIENZA A MOLESTAR NECESITA ARREGLO INMEDIATO. *TR
LOUD NOISE/RATTLE AT IDLE. LOOSE CAMSHAFT TIMING CHAIN DUE TO TENSIONER FAILURE. IT WOULD APPEAR FROM SEVERAL FORUMS THAT THIS IS FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM THAT DEALERS ARE REFUSING TO FIX SINCE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. *TR