Total Complaints
53 filings
MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE · model year
53 NHTSA complaints, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2006MINICOOPER S CONVERTIBLE carries 53 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2006 COOPER S CONVERTIBLE is air bags with 17 filings, followed by seats (6) and steering (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 9 investigation files overlapping the 2006 COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
53 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 17 |
| SEATS | 6 |
| STEERING | 5 |
| POWER TRAIN | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS | 3 |
| ENGINE | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM) | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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 manufacturin
TL* 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, (314) 644-6464) STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.
Mileage: 52,000
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 SHIP AND MINI USA BOTH SAY THE VIN NUMBER FOR MY 2006 S CONVERTIBLE IS NOT INCLUDED WITH THIS RECALL. HOW CAN THIS BE, THE EXACT PROBLEM FOR THE EXACT VEHICLES IDENTIFIED FOR THIS RECALL. MINI STATES THAT THIS VEHICLE IS THE CORRECT TYPE, MODEL AND YEAR BUT NOT PART OF THE RECALL BECAUSE IT PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME PART THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS FAILING INSTALLED. I WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO FOR ME AND WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD IS THAT THE COST FOR THE FIX WILL BE AT LEAST $1,200 OUT OF POCKET. THIS COST IS RIDICULOUS AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED UNDER THE STANDING RECALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FACT THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS OBVIOUS AND IS A SERIOUS
Mileage: 80,000
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 SHIP AND MINI USA BOTH SAY THE VIN NUMBER FOR MY 2006 S CONVERTIBLE IS NOT INCLUDED WITH THIS RECALL. HOW CAN THIS BE, THE EXACT PROBLEM FOR THE EXACT VEHICLES IDENTIFIED FOR THIS RECALL. MINI STATES THAT THIS VEHICLE IS THE CORRECT TYPE, MODEL AND YEAR BUT NOT PART OF THE RECALL BECAUSE IT PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME PART THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS FAILING INSTALLED. I WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO FOR ME AND WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD IS THAT THE COST FOR THE FIX WILL BE AT LEAST $1,200 OUT OF POCKET. THIS COST IS RIDICULOUS AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED UNDER THE STANDING RECALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FACT THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS OBVIOUS AND IS A SERIOUS
Mileage: 80,000
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 SHIP AND MINI USA BOTH SAY THE VIN NUMBER FOR MY 2006 S CONVERTIBLE IS NOT INCLUDED WITH THIS RECALL. HOW CAN THIS BE, THE EXACT PROBLEM FOR THE EXACT VEHICLES IDENTIFIED FOR THIS RECALL. MINI STATES THAT THIS VEHICLE IS THE CORRECT TYPE, MODEL AND YEAR BUT NOT PART OF THE RECALL BECAUSE IT PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME PART THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS FAILING INSTALLED. I WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO FOR ME AND WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD IS THAT THE COST FOR THE FIX WILL BE AT LEAST $1,200 OUT OF POCKET. THIS COST IS RIDICULOUS AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED UNDER THE STANDING RECALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FACT THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS OBVIOUS AND IS A SERIOUS
Mileage: 80,000
I BOUGHT MY 2006 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE FOR $9,393 IN NOVEMBER 2016 . WHEN DRIVING IT HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP I HEARD SOME NOISE, SO I STOPPED AT A FOREIGN AUTO SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION WAS GOING OUT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY REFUSED TO HELP, SO I HAD THEM REPLACED AT A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP FOR $2,500 . THEN HAD A BRAKE JOB FOR $394 AND SPENT OVER $1,000 AT A MINI DEALERSHIP . AND THEN PUT THE CAR IN STORAGE FOR 5 MONTHS. I DROVE IT FOR TWO DAYS ( ABOUT AN HOUR EACH DAY ) WHEN I HEARD A NEW NOISE AND IT WOULD HARDLY RUN , SO I PULLED IT OFF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY JUST NOTIFIED ME THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED , COSTING ME BETWEEN $5,000 AND $8,000 !!! NOT SURE WHAT TO DO.....HELP !!!!
Mileage: 68,000
6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY AFTER 82,000 MILES. THIS IN SPITE OF PROPER DEALER RECOMMENDED MAINAINANCE. COST TO REPAIR WAS THE SAME AS THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE.
Mileage: 82,000
I PUT THE HEATED SEAT ON WHILE DRIVING, AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAUGHT FIRE. THIS WITH LESS THEN 50,000 MILES AND A COST OF ALMOST $1000. I HAD TO PULL INTO A GAS STATION AND PUT OUT THE SMOKING SEAT WITH WATER. I'VE COMPLAINED TO MINI COOPER USA, WITH NO RESULTS.
Mileage: 49,000
WHILE DRIVING WITH THE DRIVER SEAT HEATER ON A BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE CAR. ADDITIONALLY, BEGAN FEELING EXTREME HEAT ON MY BACK. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND FOUND A SMALL FIRE ON THE SEAT BACK WHICH I HAD TO PAT OUT. NO INJURY WAS SUSTAINED. THE SEAT HEATER HAD BEEN IN OPERATION ROUGHLY 5 MINUTES. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN AS THE SEAT HEATER SWITCHES ARE IN A LOCATION WHERE THEY ARE EASILY TURNED ON BY ACCIDENT. HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY THE DAMAGES COULD HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE AND INJURY WOULD HAVE OCCURRED.
Mileage: 122,000
THE POWER STEERING IN THE CAR HAS STOPPED WORKING, VERY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. I JUST REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY DUE TO THE BATTERY NOT CHARGING CORRECTLY, NOW THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FAILED AND THE BATTERY LIGHT ON THE CONSOLE HAS TURNED ON. I NOTICED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR 2002 - 2005 CARS OF THE SAME TYPE FOR THIS REASON. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM TO BE THE SAME AND WOULD LIKE THE RECALL EXTENDED TO AT LEAST THE 2006 YEAR MODEL. WE WENT INTO AN OFFICE AND WHEN WE CAME OUT THE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING. WE DROVE IT HOME AND ARE NOW WAITING ON THE PARTS TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP.
Mileage: 82,500
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
THIS HISTORICAL ISSUE HAS PLAGUED MANY DRIVERS OF MINI USA AND MANY HAVE REPORTED ACCIDENTS. IS IT GOING TO TAKE THE LOSS OF INNOCENT LIVES TO HAVE YOU FORCE MINI USA DO THE RIGHT THING AND INCLUDE ALL OF THESE KNOWN DEFECTS FIXED?
Mileage: 32,000
THIS HISTORICAL ISSUE HAS PLAGUED MANY DRIVERS OF MINI USA AND MANY HAVE REPORTED ACCIDENTS. IS IT GOING TO TAKE THE LOSS OF INNOCENT LIVES TO HAVE YOU FORCE MINI USA DO THE RIGHT THING AND INCLUDE ALL OF THESE KNOWN DEFECTS FIXED?
Mileage: 32,000
I PURCHASED A USED 2006 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE FROM A DEALER AND AFTER SIGNING THE PAPERS AND GETTING THE KEYS I TURNED THE CAR ON AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE DEALER TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP AND DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST REVEALING NOTHING WAS WRONG, RESET THE VEHICLE AND HANDED ME THE KEYS. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES INTERMITTENTLY STILL.
Mileage: 76,995
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 AND I WAS SENT ON MY WAY. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO PERSIST WHEN I WAS AT LOW SPEEDS. *TR
Mileage: 76,952
I HAVE HAD MY CAR ABOUT FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND WHEN I START MY CAR THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. IT HAS ALSO COME ON WHILE DRIVING, AND THE BRAKES WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR, THEN CATCH AFTER SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE BEEN IN A FEW CLOSE ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT OF THIS. I AGAIN WENT BACK TO THE SHOP AND HAD DIAGNOSTIC TESTS PERFORMED. NOTHING CAME BACK FROM THE TEST. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I FIND MYSELF TURNING OF THE CAR AND WAITING A MINUTE, UPON RESTART THE ABS WARNING LIGHT IS NOT BEING SHOWN. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY RISK AS ONE CAN NOT SAY WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN BUT THAT IT DOES HAPPEN RANDOMLY.
Mileage: 77,102
BACK AGAIN! I JUST CAN'T CATCH A BREAK WITH THIS CAR! I WAS TAKING A ROAD TRIP AND HAD ALL MY FLUIDS CHECKED AND FILLED PRIOR TO LEAVING.WHILE DRIVING HWY99 MY THERMOSTAT GAUGE WENT FINE TO DANGER ZONE! I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD TO PULL INTO A GAS STATION AND CHECK THE WATER AND COOLANT. HE STAYED ON THE PHONE WITH ME WHILE I REPORTED WHAT THE TEMP GAUGUE WAS DOING. EVERY TIME I TURNED THE THE GUAGE WOULD DROP TO FINE UNTIL THE NEXT TURN WHICH IT WENT TO DANGER. WHEN I PULLED INTO THE GAS STATION I HEARD A LOUD CLUNK.I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND CHECK THE FLUIDS AND FOUND THAT EVERYTHING WAS FULL BUT THE WATER PUMP WAS LOW. I CHECKED UNDER THE CAR AND FOUND A LEAK. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE SHOP WHICH THE FOLLOWING WAS FOUND.1. MALFUNCTION OF THE WATER PUMP 2. WARP HEADGASKET 3. WARP CYLINDERS THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY AGREED TO THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT THEN LATER STATED THEY WOULD ONLY PAY 1500 TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP, AND HAVE THE HEAD AND CYLINDERS REFURBISHED
Mileage: 79,610
OUR 2006 MINI COOPER AIR BAG SENSOR GOES ON AND OFF. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE ENTIRE SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AS IS AN EMBEDDED SENSOR. THIS DOES APPEAR TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE BUT THE VEHICLE IS NOT ONE OF THE RECALLED MINI COOPERS.
Mileage: 65,000
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ELECTRONICALLY DISENGAGES (RANDOM OCCURRENCES) WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR, ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO REV UNCONTROLLABLY. SINCE THIS HAPPENS WHILE ACCELERATING, IT CREATES AN UNSAFE CONDITION IN TRAFFIC AS THERE IS NO POWER TO THE WHEELS. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION RE-ENGAGES, IT CAN HAPPEN AT A VERY HIGH REV (3000-5000, OR MORE RPM) WHICH CAUSES AN UNSAFE CONDITION BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN ENGAGEMENT. IF ROADS ARE WET, THE RE-ENGAGEMENT CAN EASILY PRODUCE WHEEL SPIN AND SKIDDING WHEN IT HAPPENS DURING A TURNING MANEUVER. THE SUDDEN RE-ENGAGEMENT AT HIGH REVS CAN ALSO BREAK A CV JOINT OR OTHER DRIVE COMPONENT, WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE UNCONTROLLABLE WHILE IN TRAFFIC. *TR
Mileage: 89,000
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON. BUBBLES ON RUN FLAT TIRES (ONE REPLACED). RUBBER SEALS DETERIORATING ON OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. WATER PUMP LEAKING (REPLACED). UPHOLSTERY IS COMING APART ON DRIVERS SEAT. *TR
Mileage: 8,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.