2006 Mini Cooper

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/29/2010· STEERING

  POWER STEERING FAN ABOUT TO FAIL, WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE TO PREVENT POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC MADE THE ASSESSMENT AND ADVISED THE REPAIR. THIS IS KNOWN ISSUE IN 2004-2006+ MINIS AND AM REPORTING TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE ENOUGH DATA POINTS AND CONSUMER REPORTS OF THE INCIDENCE. *TR

• 12/26/2012· STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WITHOUT ANY WARRANTING THE POWER STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN. THE CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE I JUST HAD DIAGNOSED TEST FOUR DAYS AGO ON THE CAR THE ONLY PROBLEM NOTED WAS THE THERMOSTAT. KNOW I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR. *TR

• 12/26/2012· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINEFire

  DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON PARKWAY. ENGINE MADE CLUNK AND LOST POWER. PULLED CAR ONTO SHOULDER AND STARTED WITH WHITE SMOKE UNDER HOOD, PROGRESSING TO BLACK SMOKE AND FLAME. EXITED CAR AT FIRST SIGN OF SMOKE. CAR BURNED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, MOVED INTO CABIN. FINAL DAMAGE WAS A TOTAL. FRONT END OF CAR IS COMPLETELY BURNED. FIRE IN CABIN MELTED DASHBOARD, MOVED ACROSS AND MELTED CEILING, AND MELTED FRONT WINDSHIELD. TOOK PICTURES OF FINAL DAMAGES AT GARAGE FOLLOWING INCIDENT. *TR

• 12/20/2008· AIR BAGS

  PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. HAS BEEN REPAIRED 4 TIMES. HAS NOT RECURRED THIS LAST REPAIR, HOWEVER ONLY REPAIRED 2 MONTHS AGO. HAPPENED FIRST 3/26/07, PARTS HAD TO BE SPECIAL ORDERED AND IT WAS REPAIRED ON 4/17/07; THEN 1/29/08, THEN 6/17/08, AND THEN 10/27/08. EACH TIME THEY MAKE THE SAME REPAIR: PART NUMBER 52 10 6 961 324, REPLACED SENSOR MAT, (OC3 MAT) PASSENGER SEAT, 65 77 604, REMOVED SEAT, REMOVED SEAT COVER, REPLACED SEAT COVER, MAT, AND UPHOLSTERY MATERIAL. THE LIGHT HAS NOT COME BACK ON SINCE LAST REPAIR, HOWEVER IT HAS ONLY BEEN 2 MONTHS. *TR

• 12/19/2012· POWER TRAIN

  2006 MINI-COOPER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *SMD THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, BUT THEY DID STATE THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN THE PROCESS OF FAILING. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO GET ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO PAY 1/2 OF THE COST ON THE BILL, WHICH TOTALED $8,000. *JB

• 12/17/2010· AIR BAGS

  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 IS DAMAGED. THE COST MAY CAUSE OWNERS NOT TO REPAIR IT. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED FROM THIS. *TR

• 12/16/2013· AIR BAGS

  THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. IT WON'T GO OUT. THE MINI DEALER IN BIRMINGHAM SAID IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. MINI USA SAID THE SAME THING. HOWEVER, BMW RECALLED THEIR 2006 MODELS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. SEVERAL OTHER MINI OWNERS ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE OWNERS' MANUAL STATES THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH IF THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND MINI USA NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT. *TR

• 12/15/2018· AIR BAGS

  THE AIR BAG DETECTION WARNING REMAINS ACTIVE AFTER DEALER REINSTALLATION OF THE SEAT DETECTOR PAD.

• 12/15/2011· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY

  PLETHORA OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. HEATED SEATS ARE A MAJOR CONCERN. THEY GO ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES, SEEM HAUNTED. SOMETIMES, THEY GET SO HOT THEY LEAVE BURN MARKS IN MY LEGS. I AM AFRAID OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE HEATED SEATS GET SO HOT, THEY LEFT BURN MARKS IN MY SEAT. AISIN 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPPED WITH "LIFETIME" FLUID, BEGINS SLIPPING GEARS AT 70K THE SUPERCHARGER HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE "DESIGN" OF THE SUPERCHARGER IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED, I WAS FORCED BY BMWUSA TO PURCHASE A REMANUFACTURED SUPERCHARGER. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A "COMMON PROBLEM" I HAVE ALSO FOUND OUT FROM FORUMS SUCH AS NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT BMW DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT ITS AT FAULT FOR HOWEVER THEY ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THE WIDESPREAD HAPPENINGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE AVAILABILITY OF NEW SUPERCHARGERS IS VERY LOW BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, HENCE ME PURCHASING A REMFGD ONE. REAR WIPER MOTOR FAILED AT 40K QUOTED HUNDREDS TO REPLACE, NOT WORTH IT!!!!! *TR

• 12/14/2010· AIR BAGS

  THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG WEIGHT SENSOR HAS GONE BAD AND AS A RESULT, HAS RENDERED THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 4K MILES AND THE LOCAL DEALER AND MINI USA HAVE BECOME NON-RESPONSIVE ABOUT FIXING AN OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT. THE REPLACEMENT PART PLUS LABOR AND FACTORY RESETTING WERE QUOTED AT $1900. SEARCHING OTHER ONLINE POSTINGS REVEALS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM NOT ONLY FOR MINI COOPERS BUT FOR PARENT COMPANY BMWS AS WELL. *TR

• 12/12/2006· VISIBILITY

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, THE WINDSHIELD SUSTAINED A SMALL, HAIRLINE FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED A POSSIBLE ROAD HAZARD WAS THE CAUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION WHO DETERMINED THE WINDSHIELD FRACTURED FROM THE INSIDE AND NEEDED REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 2/6/2007 - *NM

• 12/10/2007· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. ON TWO OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER AND THEY ARE INVESTIGATING THE FAILURE. THEY DID NOT STATE IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,500.

• 12/09/2014· POWER TRAIN

  THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 2ND/3RD GEAR AFTER A TRAFFIC STOP. THE GEARS WOULD SHIFT ERRATICALLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER AND WE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND A MESSAGE SHOWS UP "EP" WHICH MEANS TRANSMISSION IS ON EMERGENCY. *TR

• 12/09/2010· STEERING

  POWER STEERING PUMP. COMPLETE FAILURE WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE. *TR

• 12/01/2010· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  I OWN A 2006 MINI COOPER AND RECENTLY, AT 62,000 MILES HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE CYLINDERS LOSING COMPRESSION. I WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO CARBON BUILD-UP WHICH "PITTED" THE VALVES AS A RESULT OF ETHANOL IN GASOLINE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS IS BECOMING A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH MINI COOPERS BECAUSE THE CAR CAN NOT HANDLE THE GASOLINE WITH ETHANOL, AS THEY ARE INTENDED TO BE RUN ON PURE GAS. SO DUE TO THE ETHANOL MIXTURE, THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE. SHOULDN'T THESE CARS SOLD HERE IN THE UNITED STATES BE ABLE TO RUN ON THE GASOLINE THAT IS AVAILABLE HERE? I HAVE USED HIGH-OCTANE PREMIUM GAS ONLY IN MY CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD DONE NOTHING WRONG, YET WAS STILL FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE REPAIR. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE PURCHASED THROUGH THE DEALER AND HAVE FOLLOWED THE MINI MANUAL IN TERMS OF FUEL TO USE. THEY TOLD ME THEY ARE SEEING THIS PROBLEM MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY IN THE MINI. IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THIS IS A VEHICLE PROBLEM AND PERHAPS DESERVES A RECALL. IS THIS SOMETHING YOU CAN HELP ME WITH? THEY CLEANED, MACHINED AND TESTED THE CYLINDERS AND REPLACED THE VALVES AT A COST TO ME OF $4800. THANK YOU. *TR

• 11/30/2015· AIR BAGS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NO LONGER DETECTED THAT A PASSENGER WAS OCCUPYING THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.

• 11/29/2016· STEERING

  I REPLACED MY POWER STEERING PUMP FAN 2-3 YEARS AGO THEN ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO I HAD IT REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW MY POWER STEERING IS COMPLETELY GONE WITH NO PRIOR INDICATION THAT IT WAS FAILING AND I HAVE TO PAY A $1,400 TO GET IT REPLACED BY A CERTIFIED SHOP.

• 11/26/2006· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  THE PLASTIC GAS TANK OF THE 2006 MINI COOPER WAS PUNCTURED BY DEBRIS ON RT 3 NEAR CHELMSFORD, MASSACHUSETTS. SEVERAL GALLONS OF GASOLINE WERE LOST DUE TO THE PUNCTURE. *JB

• 11/25/2018· POWER TRAIN

  2006 MINI COOPER S WITH 66000 MILES HAD A TRANSMISSION FAILURE THAT RESULTED IN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION DUE TO LOSS OF FORWARD PROPULSION WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.

• 11/24/2015· ENGINE

  OUR CAR HAS ONLY 53,000 MILES ON IT. WE ARE INFORMED BY 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS THAT IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION TOTALING $10,000. WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THE CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR THIS VERY ISSUE THAT SETTLED LATE LAST YEAR. BMW/MINI KNEW ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION AND SAID NOTHING. OUR CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE NOW AND IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE. IT IS WORTHLESS ESSENTIALLY AFTER BEING MAINTAINED PER THEIR GUIDELINES. WHEN DRIVING IT LOST CONTROL AND WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEARS. WAS STUCK IN 4TH GEAR ONE TIME AND WAS HARD TO STOP. COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BUT WE WERE ABLE TO GET CONTROL.

• 11/24/2014· AIR BAGS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

• 11/24/2012· AIR BAGS

  AIR BAG SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS RETURNED FAULT CODE 71. TECH CHECK ON SRS SYSTEM FOUND PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR FAULT. PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM IS DISABLED AS A RESULT. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST IS $1200. INTERNET SEARCHES FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MINI COOPER'S AND MINI REFUSES TO COVER WHEN OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

• 11/23/2020· STEERING

  I DROVE THE CAR EARLIER AND IT WAS FINE. I RETURNED HOME AND THEN HOURS LATER TRIED TO PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY TO FIND I COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THANK GOODNESS I WASN'T DRIVING WHEN IT WENT OR I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. APPARENTLY AFTER READING ONLINE QUITE A BIT THIS IS A PROBLEM AND THERE IS NO RECALL OR EVEN A CAMPAIGN OR BULLETIN. THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUE ALONE I'M FRANKLY SHOCKED. APPARENTLY BMW DEALERS ARE CLEANING UP DUE TO THE EXPENSE OF THE REPAIR. I'M LOOKING AT A MINIMUM OF $1500. APPORX 60% OF VEHICLES HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE.

• 11/23/2008· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS NOW I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY COOLING FAN COMES ON EACH TIME I TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND THEN IT SHUTS OFF AFTER A MINUTE OR SO. SO I THOUGHT THAT THE FAN WAS JUST ACTING UP OR SOMETHING. HOWEVER, YESTERDAY I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS AT THE MAXIMUM (250 DEGREE F) AND THE INDICATOR RED LIGHT HAD COME ON. I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AT ABOUT 50-60 MILES PER HOUR ON SIDE ROADS (SO I HAD BEEN STOPPING AT LIGHTS AT INTERVALS). THE WEATHER IS ACTUALLY UNSEASONABLY COOL (60-70 DEGREE F), AND I HAD BEEN CHANGING GEARS (I HAVE THE AUTOMATIC WITH SPORTS DRIVE). SO NATURALLY, WHEN I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE THE COOLING FAN CAME ON AGAIN AND DIDN'T TURN OFF FOR ANOTHER 3-5 MINUTES. SO ON THE WAY BACK, I DROVE AT ABOUT 30 MILES WITH MY HAZARD LIGHT ON AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREE-WAY AND PUT IT ON CRUISE CONTROL. BUT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STILL WENT UP TO ABOUT 3 QUARTERS OF THE WAY AND THE FAN KICKED ON AFTER I PARKED IT AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES. THE MANUAL SAYS TO IMMEDIATELY STOP THE CAR AND LET THE ENGINE COOL DOWN IF THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES PAST THE HALF-WAY POINT. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER IN 2 DAYS FOR WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A COOLING FAN PROBLEM. BUT THIS SEEMS LIKE AN ENGINE ISSUE. SO I AM PLANNING TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. *TR

• 11/22/2013· AIR BAGS,SEATS

  THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT IN THE GAUGE CLUSTER IS LIT AT ALL TIMES. THE REPAIR SHOP TELLS ME THAT THIS IS BECAUSE THE SENSOR MAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS FAILED AND MUST BE REPLACED. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE THAT IS UNJUSTIFIABLE EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. THE REPAIR SHOP ALSO TELLS ME THAT ALL OF THE AIR BAGS IN THE CAR ARE DISABLED AS LONG AS THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON, PUTTING ALL PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE IN DANGER OF SUSTAINING GREATER INJURIES IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THESE CARS ARE MADE BY BMW, WHICH APPARENTLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE SAME PROBLEM IN OTHER CARS THEY PRODUCED AND MADE REPAIRS. I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM IN MINI COOPERS, TOO, VIA A FEDERALLY MANDATED RECALL CAMPAIGN. *TR

• 11/22/2012· AIR BAGS

  THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR HAS GONE BAD ACCORDING TO THE DIAGNOSE FROM THE DEALER. I'M TOLD THAT THIS WILL EITHER MAKE THE AIR BAG DEPLOY AT FULL FORCE OR POSSIBLY NOT AT ALL. THERE SEEMS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE ON BOTH BMW AND MINI'S. BMW HAS ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM, MINI HAS NOT. I HAVE A CAR WITH AN UNPREDICTABLE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT IT IS A 1000 TO MAKE THE CAR SAFE TO PUT MY FAMILY IN. THIS SEEMS LIKE DENIAL OF A PROBLEM. *TR

• 11/21/2013· STEERING

  I HAD ISSUE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL PUMP A YEAR AGO, AND I REPLACED IT. BUT LAST NIGHT WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN AND I ALMOST GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT. LUCKILY TRAFFIC WAS SLOW AND I WAS CLOSE TO MY HOUSE. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD FOR ME TO MAKE ANY TURN. I HAD TO CALL A TOWING COMPANY AND MY CAR IS NOW AT THE MINI DEALER IN CHICAGO. I ALREADY SPENT OVER 2 THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR AGO AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR IS HAVING THESE ISSUES AGAIN. *TR

• 11/21/2012· ENGINE

  CAR LOST POWER AND STARTED RUNNING AND IDLING VERY ROUGH. SERVICE SHOP DISCOVERED THAT THE NYLON CAPS FOR THE HYDRAULIC LASH VALVES HAD DETERIORATED AND CRACKED AND IN SOME CASES HAD FALLEN COMPLETELY OFF HAVING A NEGATIVE AFFECT ON THE ENGINE COMPRESSION. THE ORIGINAL CAPS ARE BRIGHT YELLOW AND AFTER USE AND HEAT THEY TURN ORANGE/BROWN. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS SOME MINI'S HAVE STEEL LASH CAPS. SEEMS THAT A ENGINE COMPONENT SUSCEPTIBLE TO HEAT DAMAGE SHOULD NOT BE MADE OF NYLON/PLASTIC. THE CAR HAS A TOTAL OF 18 OF THESE LASH CAPS AND AT LEAST 12 ARE CLEARLY CRACKED. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE FROM MINI OR IN THE AFTERMARKET. MINI'S ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ROCKER ARMS WHICH IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR WHEN THE ONLY FAILURE IS SMALL NYLON CAPS. *TR

• 11/20/2015· STEERING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,700. UPDATE 01/15/16 MA;UPDATE 04/25/18*JB THE CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON NOV. 26, 2015 BY THE OWNER. *TR

• 11/20/2012· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE RPM READINGS INCREASED AS THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

• 11/20/2011· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  ON 29SEP2007, MY 2006 MINI COOPER S WAS SERVICED TO PERFORM THE LOW MILEAGE SERVICE AT 3,354 MILES. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVEN ON 30SEP2007. ON 01OCT2007, THE CAR WAS DRIVEN A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE EACH WAY TO A BUS STOP. THE CAR WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT IN THE GARAGE BENEATH MY TOWNHOUSE. AT 6:00 AM ON 02OCT2007, WHEN I WANT TO THE LOWER LEVEL OF MY TOWNHOUSE AND OPENED THE DOOR TO THE GARAGE, I SAW THAT THE GARAGE WAS FILLED A "FOGGY SMOKE" AND THERE WAS A "BURNING ODOR". THE POLICE WERE CALLED TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE SMOKE. AS THE SMOKE BEGAN TO SPREAD INTO THE UPPER LEVEL OF MY HOME, THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED AS BACK-UP. THE FIREMEN LOCATED THE SOURCE UNDER THE HOOD OF MY CAR AND DETERMINED THE SMOKE TO BE FROM A "BURNED POWER STEERING BELTON THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE". THE FIREMEN MOVED THE CAR TO THE PARKING LOT AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DIVING THE CAR. THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE CAR WITH A NEW 2007 MINI COOPER S ([XXX]). I WAS LED TO BELIEVE THAT MINE WAS AN "ISOLATED INCIDENT" BUT HAVE NOW BECOME AWARE THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH MINI COOPER S FROM 2007-2009. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER, I WAS ADVISED TO NOT PARK MY CAR IN THE GARAGE UNTIL THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DETERMINED OR IF THERE IS A RECALL. I NOW AM NOT PARKING IN THE GARAGE. I AM SUBMITTING THIS REPORT ON THE 2007 INCIDENT SINCE IT WAS NEVER REPORTED AND I AM AFRAID THAT THE RATE OF OCCURRENCE MAY BE UNDER-REPORTED. THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

• 11/18/2014· STEERING,AIR BAGS

  THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR WENT ON IN MY MINI COOPER. I NOTICED THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING COMPONENTS IN THE MINI COOPER, WHICH AGAIN SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE. I AM CONCERNED REGARDING ALL THE AIR BAG RECALLS, BUT AT 1,7K TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SEAT; THAT IS QUITE A BURDEN UPON A TIGHT BUDGET. I JUST WANTED TO USE THIS WEBSITE AS A PLACE WHERE I HAVE DOCUMENTED THESE ISSUES, SO THAT IF THERE IS A INSURANCE CLAIM DOWN THE ROAD, BECAUSE OF THESE FAULTY ISSUE, I HAVE A DOCUMENTED COMPLAINT. *TR

• 11/18/2014· AIR BAGS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

• 11/18/2014· AIR BAGS

  VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE FOR 3 MONTHS. WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ON. IT HAS NOT TURNED OFF FOR 6 MONTHS AND WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION. THE BATTERY WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO START THE CAR WITH NO PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE HAS IN A GARAGE THE ENTIRE TIME. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ALL SYSTEMS WERE FUNCTIONING. *TR

• 11/18/2013· AIR BAGS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SEAT MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

• 11/17/2014· AIR BAGS

  PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT SPONTANEOUSLY LIGHTED WITHOUT INCIDENT AND CONTINUES TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITH OR WITHOUT PASSENGER IN SEAT. MINI OF USA ASSISTANCE DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR WARRANTY, BUT STATES THAT" AIR BAG MAY NOT FUNCTION IN CASE OF ACCIDENT". THIS VEHICLE HAS 53,00 MILES ON ODOMETER. HAVE OBSERVED MANY SUCH COMPLAINTS ON RELATED INTERNET SITES. *TR

• 11/17/2010· AIR BAGS

  AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT DEFECTIVE.THIS SENSOR TURNS OFF PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING BEFORE DRIVING.MINI WILL NOT CORRECT THE SAFETY ISSUE ON VEHICLES OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

• 11/17/2010· AIR BAGS

  MY 2006 MINI COOPER S HAS A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR, THAT I WAS QUOTED 16,000$TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS THE EXACT SAME PART THAT BMW RECALLED IN 2008. BMW RECALLED AROUND 150,000 VEHICLES IN NORTH AMERICA TO FIX A POSSIBLE DEFECT THAT MAY KEEP THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG FROM OPENING IN A CRASH, THE RECALLED CARS INCLUDE 2006 3-SERIES, 2004-06 5-SERIES AND 2004-06 X3 VEHICLES. MINI USES THIS SAME RECALLED PART(MINI BEING MADE BY BMW), YET HAS NOT RECALLED THE PART. I KNOW MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS PART REPLACED AT THERE OWN EXPENSE SEVERAL TIMES. IT IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

• 11/15/2012· STEERING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND CAUSED AND INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE THAT EXISTED WITH THE STEERING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

• 11/15/2012· POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

  DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I FELT THE CAR JERK FORWARD AND THEN IT FELT AS IF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING IN AND OUT OF GEARS. MANAGED TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY AND DRIVE TO THE LOCAL MINI DEALERSHIP, WHICH WAS LUCKILY ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD. WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THE PROBLEM WAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND WAS QUOTED $9,000 REPAIR COST. WHEN I ASKED THE MECHANIC WHY THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED THIS EARLY, TOLD ME THEY HAD NO IDEA. HOWEVER, WHEN I ASKED ANOTHER EMPLOYEE HOW MANY OTHER CARS HAD THEY SEEN WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, HE RELUCTANTLY ADMITTED "QUITE A FEW". *TR

• 11/12/2015· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V20500 (AIR BAGS) BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

• 11/12/2014· STEERING

  THE POWER STEERING DRAINED THE BATTERY AND VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. PARTS NECESSARY TO REPLACE WERE: POWER STEERING PUMP POWER STEERING PUMP FAN POWER STEERING FLUID PEN I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE THE ABOVE PARTS HAVE BEEN RECALLED UP UNTIL 2005. MY VEHICLE IS 2006 BUT I SUSPECT THAT THE OLDER PUMP HAS BEEN USED ON MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THE FAN HAS BEEN WORKING IN AN ODD WAY EVER SINCE I GOT THE CAR. MINI REFUSED TO PAY FOR THIS PART AND I AM ASKING YOU TO EXTEND THE RECALL IF THERE ARE ENOUGH PEOPLE WITH ISSUES WITH THESE PARTS. *TR

• 11/12/2010· AIR BAGS

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALTHOUGH A PASSENGER (WHO WEIGHED OVER 200 LBS) WAS SEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSOR MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 153,600.

• 11/11/2014· AIR BAGS,SEATS

  AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND SEAT OCCUPANCY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE- TOLD SEAT OCCUPANT MAT (FRONT PASSENGER SEAT) HAS FAILED AND MUST BE REPLACED. REPLACEMENT IS COST PROHIBITIVE ($1700). SAFETY RISK PRESENT BECAUSE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IN EVENT OF CRASH. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL AND WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART UNDER ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

• 11/10/2022· STEERING

  Power Steering pump leaking failure

• 11/07/2014· AIR BAGS

  THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. THE BMW DEALER SAID THAT THE SEAT SENSOR WAS FAULTY. *TR

• 11/07/2007· SUSPENSION

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SQUEAKED WHEN IT DROVE OVER A BUMP. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STRUT MOUNTS WERE CRACKED AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

• 11/05/2013· STEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE

  IN APRIL 2013 I WAS MERGING ONTO HIGHWAY I20 WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE BACK OF MY MINI COOPER S 2006. AS I WAS SPEEDING UP TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY THE CAR COMPLETELY CUT OFF. I VEERED OVER INTO A MEDIAN IN THE MIDDLE OF SIX LANES OF HIGH-SPEED TRAFFIC. THE CAR HAD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, EVEN THE HAZARD LIGHTS. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT THE MEDIAN WAS THERE AND THAT I HAD NOT YET ENTERED THE MAIN STREAM OF TRAFFIC. THE POLICE CAME, THEN A FRIEND. AFTER ABOUT A HALF HOUR IT RESTARTED WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND HE WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE IT, AND HE FIXED A BELT THAT HE SAID HAD LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BLOWN OUT. ABOUT FOUR TIMES IN THE YEAR PRIOR TO THIS THE CAR HAD CUT OFF, BUT NOT WHILE I WAS DRIVING; IT SHUT DOWN AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT BUT THEN IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED. NO ONE COULD EXPLAIN IT. AFTER THE APRIL INCIDENT I WENT TO THE MINI COOPER DEALER AND SPENT CLOSE TO $3000 TO ENSURE THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE FOR MY CHILDREN. HOWEVER, YESTERDAY, 11/5/13, I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FOR ASSISTANCE AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS KIND OF PROBLEM AND COULDN'T HELP; FORTUNATELY THE CAR RESTARTED ABOUT TEN MINUTES LATER. HOWEVER, I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND I HAVE HEARD FROM AN ACQUAINTANCE WHO ALSO HAS A MINI COOPER S 2006 WHO SAID THIS HAS HAPPENED TO HER, THAT SOMETHING RANDOM HAPPENED WITH HER CAR AND IT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. SHE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT I CALLED MINI CORPORATE TODAY, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL AND REFERRED ME TO NHTSA. *TR

• 11/05/2007· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2006 MINI COOPER S AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND ANY FAULT CODES IN THE COMPUTER AND WAS UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS AN AUTOMATIC 6 SPEED. *TR

• 11/04/2010· STEERING

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT OF THE PRICING AND IT WAS TOO COSTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.