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2006 Mini Cooper S Convertible Problems and Recalls

Owners filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Mini Cooper S Convertible, most often about the air bags (50% of complaints, typically around 59,500 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Cooper S Convertible model year since 2000 and has 1 recall.

Complaints36
Recalls1
Crashes reported0
Fires reported2
Injuries reported0

Most common 2006 Mini Cooper S Convertible problems

  1. Air bags

    18 complaints · 50%

    Half of these problems showed up before 59,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, sensor.

    The passenger seat air bag warning light is on all the time, indicating less than 25 lbs is on the seat, even though there is nothing on the seat.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2011, at 60,000 miles
    My 2006 Mini cooper convertible has intermittent experienced with passenger air bag warning light staying on even when passenger is in seat and properly buckled in. This should be a recall by bmw. Also, harmonic balancer broke at just under 60,000...and have heard this is a major problem on many Mini coopers. Bmw…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2014, at 59,000 miles

  2. Engine

    6 complaints · 17%

    Half of these problems showed up before 55,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.

    The contact owns a 2006 Mini copper s convertible. While driving approximately 45 MPH the vehicle decelerated and the instrument panel lights illuminated. The vehicle overheated and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the contacts home. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2011, at 51,000 miles
    My 2006 Mini cooper convertible has intermittent experienced with passenger air bag warning light staying on even when passenger is in seat and properly buckled in. This should be a recall by bmw. Also, harmonic balancer broke at just under 60,000...and have heard this is a major problem on many Mini coopers. Bmw…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2014, at 59,000 miles

  3. Seats

    6 complaints · 17%

    Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles.

    Passenger side airbag sensor is faulty, causing the airbag to not deploy in the event of a crash, even though there is a passenger in the car. This is a huge safety concern, and Mini needs to do a recall. There are thousands out there with the same problem.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2014, at 50,020 miles
    Passenger side seat airbag sensor (recall 15v-205, oc3 seat occupancy mat) in my 2006 Mini Cooper S Convertible has failed. The passenger side airbag light on dash and overhead stay lit at all times. Recall issued by Mini in 2015 covering exact problem described for same make and model for years 2005 - 2008. Dealer…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2018, at 80,000 miles

  4. Steering

    5 complaints · 14%

    Half of these problems showed up before 53,500 miles.

    While driving my 2006 Mini cooper convertible the power steering failed while making a turn on the off ramp of the highway. The passenger airbag warning light stays on indication that the airbag is not turned on.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2012, at 53,650 miles
    The contact owns a 2006 Mini Cooper S Convertible. While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle became extremely difficult to steer without warning. The contact managed to drive home. Mini of st. Louis (40 sunnen dr, maplewood, mo 63143, ([phone]) stated that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed and referenced NHTSA campaign…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2019, at 52,000 miles

  5. Transmission

    5 complaints · 14%

    Half of these problems showed up before 77,000 miles.

    2 days after purchasing a used Mini Cooper S Convertible 2006, the car began to self shift at improper times, causing the engine to rev at high RPM's. I contacted the dealer immediately and he test drove the car trying to get the vehicle to respond the same way. After 15 minutes of driving it the problem did not occur…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2015, at 76,952 miles
    While pulling up to a signal with the clutch pedal down, we heard a clunking sound in the center of the car. The rest of the drive, the car was difficult to shift (6 speed manual) into any gear. Took the car to an independent mechanic and the linkage was fine. They could not determine the cause of the problem. Took…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2012, at 72,000 miles

  6. Seat belts

    3 complaints · 8%

    The passenger airbag off light came on with no one in the seat, when adult sat down the light did not go off. Also the airbag fault light came on. The seat belt warning light does not come on when passenger does not buckle seat belt.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2012, at 62,000 miles
    The seat belt indicator and air bag indicator lights have been intermittently coming on whether or not someone is in the seat. Now the air bag indicator light is always lit and the seat belt indicator is still intermittent. I spoke to the dealer we bought the car from and they will not test the condition under the…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 79,586 miles

Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

2006 Mini Cooper S Convertible recalls

  1. Air bags: frontal

    NHTSA 15V205000 · April 6, 2015 · 91,800 vehicles

    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.

    Full defect summary

    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.

Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.

Questions about the 2006 Mini Cooper S Convertible

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Mini Cooper S Convertible?
By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (18 complaints, typically around 59,500 miles); engine (6 complaints, typically around 55,000 miles); seats (6 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles).
How many recalls does the 2006 Mini Cooper S Convertible have?
1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 6, 2015 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
Is the 2006 a bad year for the Mini Cooper S Convertible?
It is the 2nd most complained-about Cooper S Convertible model year since 2000, with 36 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.

Other Mini Cooper S Convertible years

Mini Cooper S Convertible problems by year