2006 MINI Cooper S recalls and problems

The 2006 MINI Cooper S has 1 recall and 186 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is air bags.

2005 Mini Cooper S
Pictured: a 2005 model; the 2006 may differ in details. Photo: 2005 Mini Cooper S by Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How the 2006 compares
Fewest complaintsMost complaints

High complaint count among 21 Cooper S model years — 5th most.

1recalls
186complaints
4crashes
9fires
7injuries
55,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
Check your VIN →

1 recall

Air Bags

Apr 6, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V205000 · 91,800 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Remedy & notes

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.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Air Bags67
Steering48
Electrical System23
Engine22
Power Train22
Seats15
Visibility11
Unknown or other9
Fuel System7
Service Brakes3

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2006: 14 complaints20062007: 12 complaints2008: 5 complaints20082009: 2 complaints2010: 11 complaints20102011: 20 complaints2012: 36 complaints2012362013: 16 complaints2014: 22 complaints20142015: 27 complaints2016: 2 complaints20162017: 5 complaints2018: 8 complaints20182019: 3 complaints2020: 2 complaints20202022: 1 complaints20221

2006 vs. other MINI Cooper S years

2002: 83 complaints20022003: 217 complaints2004: 247 complaints20042005: 314 complaints3142006: 186 complaints20062007: 249 complaints2008: 168 complaints20082009: 119 complaints2010: 59 complaints20102011: 31 complaints2012: 23 complaints20122013: 24 complaints2014: 13 complaints20142015: 18 complaints2016: 10 complaints20162017: 6 complaints2019: 5 complaints20192020: 5 complaints2022: 1 complaints20222024: 1 complaints2025: 4 complaints20254

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2006. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2006 MINI Cooper S have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign covering the 2006 MINI Cooper S, the latest from Apr 6, 2015 (air bags). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2006 MINI Cooper S?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention air bags (67), steering (48), electrical system (23). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.