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U.S. public vehicle records

2006 Mini COOPER S CONVERTIBLE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

36 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

63,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 34 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 36 complaints (47.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior513.9%
Transmission and shifting411.1%
Braking behavior38.3%
Engine operation25.6%
Electrical and battery issues12.8%

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
17
Seats
6
Power Train
5
Steering
5
Engine
3
Engine And Engine Cooling
3
Seat Belts
3
Electrical System
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags17
Seats6
Power Train5
Steering5
Engine3
Engine And Engine Cooling3
Seat Belts3
Electrical System2

Air Bags: 17; Seats: 6; Power Train: 5; Steering: 5; Engine: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Seat Belts: 3; Electrical System: 2

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
12
75,000 to 99,999
10
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9997
50,000 to 74,99912
75,000 to 99,99910
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 2 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.

2011
4
2012
5
2013
4
2014
5
2015
12
2016
2
2017
2
2018
1
2019
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20114
20125
20134
20145
201512
20162
20172
20181
20191

2011: 4; 2012: 5; 2013: 4; 2014: 5; 2015: 12; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 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 10380360 · 2011-01-28 (January 28, 2011)

THE POWER STEERING WOULD STOP AND IT BECAME HARD TO TURN AND STEER. IT CAME BACK ON AND HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS. IT EFFECTS STEERING WHEN GOING SLOW MORE THAN FAST. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO FAIL UNDER ANY SPECIFIC CONDITION, IT WILL JUST STOP AND AFTER AWHILE IT WILL COME BACK ON.

Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10380360 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10446011 · 2012-01-31 (January 31, 2012)

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. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 53,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446011 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10620740 · 2014-08-07 (August 7, 2014)

ON 2/16/2013 MY HARMONIC BALANCER WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THEIR ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS . WHAT HAPPENS IS A LOUD POP THEN A BUNCH OF CRUNCHING NOISES FROM THAT SHOCK YOUR CAR WILL GO FROM 55 MPH TO 20 MPH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS ...EXTREMELY SCARY WHEN YOU SEE A SEMI BEHIND YOU . MINI PAID FOR THIS MALFUNCTION BECAUSE THEY KNOW THIS ISSUE IS A MAJOR FLAW AND WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR POSSIBLY SOMEONE'S DEATH . ON 8/29/2013 MY TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 55,123 ...NO WARNINGS JUST SLOW LUNCHING AND GRINDING ALSO DURING THIS EVENT I FOU…

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10620740 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10712486 · 2015-04-23 (April 23, 2015)

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…

Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10712486 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10396311 · 2011-04-12 (April 12, 2011)

2006 MINI COOPER S. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE SOMETIMES STALLS AND STOPS WHILE DRIVING *TGW THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT MISTAKES WERE MADE IN REPROGRAMMING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THE ENGINE WOULD MISFIRE, BUT THEY ASSURED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WOULD BE CORRECTED BY CHANGING THE SPARK PLUGS. ALSO, THE ELECTRONICS SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE, WHICH CAUSED THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM TO GIVE FALSE DIRECTIONS. THE ABS, ENGINE AND STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 34,156 miles reported. Look up ODI 10396311 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10726722 · 2015-06-23 (June 23, 2015)

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 NO…

Owner-reported narrative. 77,102 miles reported. Look up ODI 10726722 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10423907 · 2011-09-06 (September 6, 2011)

TL* 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 REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10423907 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10810077 · 2015-12-14 (December 14, 2015)

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 DROV…

Owner-reported narrative. 82,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10810077 at NHTSA ↗