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U.S. public vehicle records

2006 Mini COOPER CONVERTIBLE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

27 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

71,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 27 complaints (44.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior1037.0%
Transmission and shifting414.8%
Electrical and battery issues13.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
12
Steering
10
Electrical System
5
Seats
5
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
2
Air Bags:Frontal
1
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger
1
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags12
Steering10
Electrical System5
Seats5
Power Train:Automatic Transmission2
Air Bags:Frontal1
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger1
Engine And Engine Cooling1

Air Bags: 12; Steering: 10; Electrical System: 5; Seats: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
7
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
5
100,000 to 149,999
4
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9997
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9995
100,000 to 149,9994
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2010
2
2011
4
2012
3
2013
3
2014
7
2015
1
2016
1
2017
1
2020
1
2021
1
2022
2
2024
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20102
20114
20123
20133
20147
20151
20161
20171
20201
20211
20222
20241

2010: 2; 2011: 4; 2012: 3; 2013: 3; 2014: 7; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2024: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10400826 · 2011-05-13 (May 13, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM OVER THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED HIM TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10400826 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10402488 · 2011-05-23 (May 23, 2011)

I HAD MY CAR FOR A WEEK AFTER GETTING IT BACK AFTER A VERY EXPENSIVE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT AND TRIED TO TURN ONTO THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE TURN AND I NARROWLY AVOIDED ENDING UP IN THE BAR DITCH. UPON, GETTING MY VEHICLE TO TOWN I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC. MY POWER STEERING HAS FAILED AND I WILL PROBABLY BE REPLACING THE WHOLE SYSTEM AT A THOUSAND DOLLARS OR MORE. AFTER PAYING 6500+ FOR A TRANSMISSION THAT WENT OUT THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN, YOU CAN IMAGINE MY DISAPPOINTMENT AND FRAN…

Owner-reported narrative. 81,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10402488 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10381646 · 2011-02-11 (February 11, 2011)

I BOUGHT MY MINI COOPER TWO MONTHS AGO. IT IS A 2006 MODEL. I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE NIGHT OF THURSDAY JANUARY 7TH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD CLUNK. I LIVE ON A CALICHE ROAD SO NATURALLY, I THOUGHT I HAD KICKED UP A ROCK OR CLUNK OF DIRT AND IT HIT THE BODY OF MY CAR. THE NEXT MORNING I HEADED OUT TO GO TO CLASS AND LESS THAN 5 MILES (I LIVE OUTSIDE OF TOWN 30 MILES, SO YES I DO A LOT OF DRIVING, BUT MY 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA HANDLED IT FOR OVER 2 YEARS AND WHEN I FIRST ACQUIRED IT HAD 145,000 MILES AND WHEN I FINISHED 198,000 AND WAS STILL RUNNING FIN…

Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10381646 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10371115 · 2010-12-17 (December 17, 2010)

2006 MINI COOPER, FAULTY WIRING ON PASSENGER SEAT MATE SENSOR, THE WIRING HARNESS THAT COMES OUT OF THE FLOOR AND CONNECTS TO THE SENSOR MATE IN THE SEAT IS TO SHORT AND BECOMES DAMAGED WHEN YOU SLIDE THE SEAT BACK. THIS CAUSES AN ERROR IN THE AIR BAG SYSTEM MAKING IT THINKS THERE IS A SMALL CHILD OR NO ONE IN THE SEAT AND TURN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF. THIS IS A PROBLEM WHEN THERE IS AN ADULT IN THE SEAT, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL NOT PROTECT THEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL, BEING THAT THE REPAIR CAN COST UP TO $1000.00 IF THE SEAT MAT SENSOR …

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10371115 at NHTSA ↗