2006 Mini Cooper Convertible

Defect. 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.

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.

Remedy. 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.

Power steering pump grinding. This was a recall on the 2002-2005 model but not the 2006. The same issue is happening with this car that happened with the recall vehicles and I would expect bmw to fix this problem. Thanks

Power steering pump went out while driving the car. Car was extremely hard to steer. Almost hit a guard rail. Had the car towed home and then to a garage. This is a known problem with Mini Coopers from year 2002 to 2006. Websites and Mini Cooper Forums are loaded with Power Steering Pumps failing. No warning. Pump was confirmed to be the problem by an independent garage that only services high end german cars. Power Steering Pump was diagnosed to be bad on 8/04/2022. Car has a little over 60,000 miles on it.

The contact owns a 2006 Mini Cooper Convertible. The contact stated that the front passenger’s seat occupant detection mat was replaced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V205000 (Air Bags) three years ago; however, the front passenger's side air bag warning light had been illuminating intermittently. The contact stated that the front passenger's side air bag warning light would illuminate whenever a lightweight passenger or a heavier passenger would sit in the front passenger’s seat. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

Passenger air bag light went on and i took it to Mini dealer who diagnosed that ht passenger seat matt sensor failed and recommendedreplacement of seatmatt sensor I called Mini about safetyrecall NHTSA15V20500 of 4/6/2015, and they informed me my VIN/vehicle was not part of thatrecall

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.

POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WITHOUT ANY WARNING. VERY STIFF. HARD TO CONTROL. CAN'T TURN. SCARY!!!

POWER STEERING RANDOMLY WHEN OUT WHILE IN MOTION. THANKFULLY, I WAS ON A LOCAL ROAD GOING SLOWLY WHEN IT HAPPENED. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TURNED IT BACK ON. POWER STEERING CAME BACK.

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF. SEAT CANNOT DETECT PASSENGER AND DISABLE AIRBAG. THERE IS A RECALL GOING ON, BUT IT DID NOT INCLUDE MY VIN NUMBER. MINI USA REPRESENTATIVE GAVE NO ANSWER, NO TIMELINE, NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. JUST TOLD ME TO WAIT. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT'S BMW/MINI.

FEBRUARY OF 2014 DRIVING MY 2006 CONVERTIBLE ON CURVY HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH. LOUD SHRIEKING NOISE AND THEN STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. TOWED TO MECHANIC. HAD STEERING PUMP & FAN REPLACED. TOTAL COST $1,038.54. 2005 MINI'S HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT DEFAULT. CALLED MINI AND THEY WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME BECAUSE MINE IS A 2006. HOWEVER, MY MINI WAS MADE IN 2005. *TR

PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR SHOWS AIR BAG DISABLED INTERMITTENTLY, EVEN WHEN SEAT IS OCCUPIED BY FULL SIZED ADULT (OVER 140 POUNDS). THIS MEANS MY PASSENGER IS AT RISK OF SEVERE INJURY IN CASE OF CRASH, AS THE AIR BAG IS DISABLED. IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE, THE LIGHT IS OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY EVEN WHEN THE SEAT IS NOT OCCUPIED. DITTO IF A 5 POUND LUNCH BOX IS ON THE SEAT. BMW/MINI REFUSES TO CORRECT THIS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY DEFECT IN MINIS, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE MAKING FREE REPAIRS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IN MANY BMWS OF SIMILAR YEARS, AND HAVE EVEN MADE AN WARRANTY EXTENSION OF MANY YEARS AND UNLIMITED MILES FOR AFFECTED BMWS. *TR

PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT KEEPS FLICKERING ON AND OFF. THIS HAPPENS A LOT. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THE POWER STEERING RETURNED AFTER PARKING THE CAR AND STARTING ON THE NEXT TRIP. OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED SEVERAL MORE TIMES. IT COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF IT HAPPENS AT THE WRONG TIME. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BY REPLACING THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED LIGHT TURNS ON INTERMITTENTLY, EVEN WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED BY AN ADULT. THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT IN THE SEAT CUSHION. IT FAILED ONCE BEFORE AND WAS REPLACED BY THE CAR DEALER. NOW THE REPLACEMENT SENSOR MAT IS ALSO FAILING. *TR

PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR ILLUMINATES AT ALL TIMES INDICATING NO PASSENGER EVEN WHEN PASSENGER IS PRESENT, THEREBY PREVENTING THE AIRBAG FROM DEPLOYING IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS INCIDENT IS EXTREMELY WIDESPREAD AND FOUND ON COUNTLESS BLOGS ON THE INTERNET. AT THIS POINT, PEOPLE ARE COMPLETELY DISABLING THE SYSTEM THROUGH A DEVICE FOUND ONLINE JUST TO TURN THE LIGHT OFF - MEANWHILE PUTTING THEIR PASSENGERS AT RISK. BMW (MANUFACTURER OF MINI) HAS RECALLED THE SAME ITEM ON NUMEROUS BMW'S AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THOSE PARTS DUE TO THE INHERENT SAFETY CONCERNS. HOW THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED YET OR LOOKED PAST FOR THE MINI IS COMPLETELY BAFFLING. SOMEBODY APPEARS TO NOT BE DOING THEIR JOB! SO ALONG WITH THE OTHER MULTIPLE POSTS ON THIS PARTICULAR SITE, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MINE AND REQUEST PLEASE THAT SOMEBODY LOOK INTO THIS SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS REPEATEDLY COSTING MINI CUSTOMERS LARGE SUMS OF MONEY OR THEIR SAFETY. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. THANK YOU. *TR

AN ELECTRONIC BOARD IN THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT MALFUNCTIONS CAUSING THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG TO BECOME DISABLED. APPARENTLY, FROM ALL OF THE COMMENTS ON THE INTERNET AND YOUR SITE, THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN IN THAT THE ELECTRONIC BOARD HAS A FLAWED COMPONENTS. A REPLACEMENT BOARD FROM MINI WILL ALSO FAIL WITHIN TIME BECAUSE NO MODIFICATIONS OR IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THIS BOARD. I HAVE REVIEWED THE COMPLAINTS TO THE NHTSA AND YET YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS FAILED TO REQUIRE A RECALL. *TR

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON HWY 270 GOING SOUTH BETWEEN MANCHESTER RD AND DOUGHERTY FERRY RD IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC SOMETIME BETWEEN 4:30 AND 5:30 PM MY 06 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE WAS REVVING UP AS I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR BUT YET BARELY MOVING. RIGHT BEFORE THE DOUGHERTY FERRY EXIT IT "KICKED" INTO GEAR AND BEGAN DRIVING AT ABOUT 40-50MPH. I THOUGHT I MAY HAVE ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE GEAR SHIFTER AND PUT IT INTO SPORT DRIVE BUT WHEN I LOOKED THE GEAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE. SO AS I WAS TRAVELING TO WORK IN ARNOLD, MO THE TRANSMISSION WOULD REV UP AND THEN "KICK" INTO GEAR. WHEN I GOT TO WORK I EXPLAINED TO A CO-WORKER (INITIAL "J.R.") WHAT HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND WE WENT OUT ON OUR BREAK TO TAKE A LOOK AND SEE IF I NEEDED TRANSMISSION FLUID. WE WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK SO ON MY LAPTOP I TRIED LOOKING IT UP TO SEE WHERE IT WAS LOCATED. WE LEARNED THAT'S THERE'S A PLUG UNDERNEATH BUT THE TRANSMISSION IS "SEALED FOR LIFE" MEANING IT SHOULDN'T REALLY HAVE ANY LEAKS. SO I CALLED HOME TO LET MY WIFE TO LET HER KNOW THAT I WAS GOING TO TRY AND MAKE IT HOME IN THE MORNING WHEN I GOT OFF AT 6AM. AFTER DRIVING UP TO HWY 270 AND MANCHESTER GOING NORTH AT ABOUT 630AM TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40 MPH ON 4/4/13 THE CAR BEGIN REVVING UP AGAIN WHENEVER I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. SO RATHER THAN GO HOME I HEADED STRAIGHT FOR THE MINI OF ST. LOUIS DEALERSHIP. I GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE THEY OPENED AND DIDN'T HAVE AN APPOINTMENT SO THEY STATED THEY WOULD TRY AND SQUEEZE ME IN. SO I

WHEN YOU START THE CAR THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON, WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT OR NOT. THE LIGHT STAYS ON, I VISITED THE DEALERSHIP THE FIX COST $1241. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING. DEALER SHOULD FIX THIS ERROR. *TR

PER MY RESEARCH, THIS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 MINI COOPERS. NUMEROUS BULLETIN BOARDS HAVE THE SAME QUESTIONS FOR A SAFETY CONCERN IF THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT. TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND THEY GAVE US A REPAIR PRICE OF $1200.00 TO REPLACE THE LOWER SEAT FOR THE OCCUPANCY PAD IS DEFECTIVE WHICH CAUSES THE LIGHT TO COME ON FOR THE PASSENGER BAG AND ALSO THE MAIN LIGHT IN THE DASH. NOT SURE IF BMW CARES ABOUT SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PURCHASED THEIR VEHICLES BUT IT IS A BIT CALLOUS ON THEIR PART FOR NOT DOING A RECALL ON THE 2006 MINI COOPER SEAT SENSOR. I HAVE SEEN A REGULAR BMW VEHICLE THAT HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM HAVE A RECALL FOR A BAD SEAT SENSOR. I AM CONCERNED FOR ANY PERSON WHO RIDES IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IF AN ACCIDENT WERE TO HAPPEN THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY CAUSING GREAT BODILY HARM. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHTS STAY ON ALL THE TIME THAT IGNITION IS ON, EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS IN THE SEAT. YOU CAN SIT IN THE SEAT AND THE LIGHT STAYS ON. MY CONCERN IS WHETHER OR NOT THE AIR BAG WILL STILL FUNCTION. *TR

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE DEALER SAYS THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE COST IS ABOUT $1000. IN 2006 MINI ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 2002 AND 2003 MODELS WITH THE SAME DEFECT. BMW'S INVESTIGATION OF THE SAME SENSOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEATS OF BMW AUTOS RESULTED IN A RECALL OF THIS PART. NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08001. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. MESSAGE BOARDS HAVE INSTANCES OF PEOPLE PAYING FOR THIS EXPENSIVE SAFETY DEFECT AT THE DEALER, AND THE PROBLEMS RETURNING AFTER 1 TO 2 YEARS IN SOME CASES. *TR