2006 Mini Cooper S complaints

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

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

AIRBAG PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR IS BAD $1500 TO REPAIR AND NO GUARANTEE IT WILL WORK CORRECTLY IN THE FUTURE. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED??? BMW WHO OWNS MINI COOPER RECALLED THIS SENSOR FOR THEIR CARS BUT WHY NOT THE COOPERS? I'M SO ANGRY THAT THEY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT MY FAMILIES SAFETY. AUTOMOBILES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE AIRBAG SYSTEMS BUT THEY AREN'T REQUIRED TO WORK PROPERLY?? *TR

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR WENT BAD. SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. $1,500 TO HAVE DEALER REPAIRED. CAR IS NOT REPAIRED YET. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

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THE PASSENGER'S SEAT MAT AIRBAG SENSOR HAS FAILED IN MY CAR AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS LIT AT ALL TIMES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW, THE FIRST TIME AT 28801 MILES AND NOW AGAIN AT 52300 MILES. I PAID $1200 FOR A FULL SEAT BOTTOM REPLACEMENT AT THE MINI DEALERSHIP TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND NOW, 3 YEARS LATER, THE NEW SEAT HAS FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER. BMW HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE FOR THEIR CARS FROM THE SAME YEAR WHICH USE THE SAME MALFUNCTIONING PARTS AND MINI NEEDS TO DO THE SAME FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE AND RECURRING KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE THAT CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR. I HAVE HAD 2 DIFFERENT MINI DEALERSHIPS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IN COUNTLESS 2005 AND 2006 MODEL YEAR MINIS, YET THERE IS NO OFFER TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE DESPITE THE FACT THAT I ALREADY HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET ONCE. *TR

I BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER A 2006 MINI COOPER S A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. TODAY I DECIDED TO DRIVE IT TO WORK HERE AT FORT HOOD, TEXAS. A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR AFTER I GOT TO WORK I DECIDED TO GO GET BREAKFAST SO WHEN I WALKED OUT OF MY OFFICE I HEARD A CAR ALARM GOING OFF AND WHEN I ROUNDED THE CORNER I SAW MY DAUGHTER'S CAR BILLOWING SMOKE! I RAN INSIDE TO GET HELP AND WAS ABLE TO FIND TOOLS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. I RAISED THE HOOD AND WAS MEET WITH A LOT OF HEAT, SMOKE AND A STRONG ODOR OF BURNT PLASTIC. THE CAR WASN'T RUNNING AND LIKE I STATED, HAD BEEN SITTING FOR OVER AN HOUR. AFTER CONDUCTING RESEARCH ONLINE I FOUND OUT MINI USA HAD RECALLED SEVERAL MINI COOPERS FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP THAT HAD THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS. AFTER CALLING THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP, AN HOUR AWAY, AND MINI USA I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL AND I AM LEFT TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR MYSELF. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME A COST OF $1000 TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. DURING MY ONLINE RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER MINI OWNERS WITH THE SAME YEAR MODEL THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT MINI USA ISN'T WANTING TO FULLY COVER THE REPAIRS. I AM GLAD I WASN'T DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED! *TR

LOUD NOISE/RATTLE AT IDLE. LOOSE CAMSHAFT TIMING CHAIN DUE TO TENSIONER FAILURE. IT WOULD APPEAR FROM SEVERAL FORUMS THAT THIS IS FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM THAT DEALERS ARE REFUSING TO FIX SINCE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. *TR

DRIVING HOME FROM DEALERSHIP AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. I THOUGHT I WAS JUST UNLUCKY AND A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD. NOW I THINK THERE WAS NOT A ROCK INVOLVED. DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD. *TR

38,000 MILES: AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FOR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT STAYS ILLUMINATED. AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON AFTER VEHICLE HAS STARTED AND DOES NOT TURN OFF. 54,900 MILES: AISIN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED THEREBY MAKING THE CAR INOPERABLE. THE CAR SHOWED SIGNS OF GEAR CHANGE SLIPPING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. TRANSMISSION DIAGNOSIS, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF MANUAL VALVE BODY AND INTERNAL GEARS. REQUIRED A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REBUILD. *JS

I AM CURRENT OWNER OF A 2006 MINI COOPER S. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AROUND APRIL 2006. OVER LAST 2 MONTHS, I HAVE STARTED TO SEE A PROBLEM WITH POWER TRAIN. THE CAR JERKS HORRIBLY WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE WHEN IT TRIES TO CHANGE TO HIGHER GEARS. THIS HAPPENS EITHER IN THE "DRIVE" MODE WHERE THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY CHANGES THE GEARS OR WHILE DRIVING IN "M/S" MODE WHERE THE DRIVER GETS THE OPTION TO CHANGE THE GEAR. OVER LAST 1-2 WEEKS, THE VEHICLE JERKS WHEN I SWITCH FROM PARK TO REVERSE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP AND THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $8500. MY CAR HAS AROUND 96,500 MILES AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED WELL. WHEN I TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN ABOUT 2 TO 3 CARS HAVING PROBLEM (JUST WITHIN THAT DEALERSHIP) IN RECENT TIMES (THE PERSON I TALKED TO WAS RELATIVELY NEW). IT IS UNREASONABLE FOR TRANSMISSION TO REQUIRE A REPLACEMENT AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. IN ADDITION, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS SEEMS LIKE A SYSTEMIC ISSUE GIVEN JUST ONE DEALER HAS SEEN A FEW OF THESE AND A QUICK SEARCH INDICATES A NUMBER OF OTHER OWNERS OF MINI COOPER S ENCOUNTERING THIS ISSUE OVER LAST 12 TO 18 MONTHS (TRANSLATES TO TRANSMISSION SYSTEMATICALLY BREAKING AFTER ABOUT 7 TO 8 YEARS OF OPERATION). THE PROBLEM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO RESULT IN COLLISIONS SINCE THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED. *TR

PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. DEALER AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP SAY THE SEAT SENSOR NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT IS LOCATED IN THE SEAT AND THE WHOLE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ESTIMATED COST $1200. TO 1500. US DOLLARS. THE PASSENGER SEAT IS RARELY USED. THE REPAIR IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I DON'T KNOW IF THE AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY. APPARENTLY ALL BMW'S WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT NOT THE MINI COOPERS WHICH ACCORDING TO POSTED THREADS ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

AIRBAG FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON... AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY. 700.00 TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX THE ISSUE (CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE) CALLED MINI USA, AND THEY WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL EVEN THOUGH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

MY POWER STEERING PUMP IS FAILING. VERY LOUD AND WHINY. READY TO FAIL AT ANY SECOND. *TR

THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT IN THE GAUGE CLUSTER IS LIT AT ALL TIMES AND MAKES THE CAR CHIME ALL THE TIME TOO. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THAT THIS IS BECAUSE THE SENSOR MAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS FAILED AND MUST BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP 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 HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE SAME PROBLEM IN THEIR OWN CARS, AND HAVE RECALLED OVER 200,000 BMW'S TO FIX IT . I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM IN MINI COOPERS, TOO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE REARVIEW MIRROR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT PAD SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILE WAS 67,000.

POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. PERSISTED UNTIL CAR WAS TURNED OFF FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. HAPPENED SPORADICALLY AFTERWARD, THEN DISAPPEARED FOR A COUPLE MONTHS. ISSUE RETURNED AND NOW AFFECTS THE CAR MOST OF THE TIME WHILE DRIVING. WILL HAPPEN UPON STARTING THE CAR, OR WHILE DRIVING. *TR

I HEARD A LOUD HUMMING/SQUEALING TYPE SOUND--UNABLE TO TURN THE CAR'S STEERING WITHOUT GREAT EFFORT WHILE DRIVING DOWN A SIDE STREET AND PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT. I HAD WONDERED WHERE THE SOUND WAS COMING FROM AND HAVING TO MAKE IT HOME I STRUGGLED TO KEEP THE CAR IN MY LANE AND MAKE LEFT TURNS AT INTERSECTIONS--MAKING IT HOME I NOTICED A DARK STAIN WHERE MY CAR WAS PARKED AND CHECKED THE STEERING FLUID WHICH WAS BONE-DRY. I HAVE CHILDREN--AFTER READING THESE POSTS I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THEM AND AM AFRAID TO BE ON THE ROAD EVEN AFTER PUTTING MORE FLUID IN THE RECEPTACLE AM FINDING IT ON MY DRIVEWAY. I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR IN NOVEMBER WITH 50,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

TRANSMISSION STARTING BUCKING AND CAUSING UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION THE ONLY "FIX" IS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A $9,000 COST. *TR

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

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

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.

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

ON MY 2006 MINI COOPER S COUPE, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF SENSOR LIGHT ON THE ROOF CAME ON AS WELL AS THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT IN THE CENTER CONSOLE INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT COULD NOT DETECT THE WEIGHT OF A PERSON IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT ALERT THE AIRBAG TO TURN ON. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BOTH SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE LIGHT REMAINED ON. WE THEN HAD A GARAGE THAT SPECIALIZES IN IMPORTS LOOK AT THE CODE, WHICH IS STATING THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE SEAT MAT SENSOR AND IT IS NO LONGER RECOGNIZING THE WEIGHT ON THE SEAT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND A COSTLY ONE AT THAT. THE SEAT CUSHION MUST BE REPLACED AND POTENTIALLY THE ENTIRE SEAT. I HAVE NOTICED THIS SAME COMPLAINT ON THIS SITE AS WELL AS OTHER SITES FOR MODELS DATING ANYWHERE FROM 2002-2006. THERE IS ALSO A TREND WITH THIS ISSUE OCCURRING WHEN THE CAR IS 7 YEARS OLD (2013 FOR 2006 MODELS) REGARDLESS OF THE MILEAGE. I HAVE CALLED MINI AND WHILE THEY WERE VERY NICE AND HELPFUL, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP WITH THE COST OF REPAIRING THIS FACTORY ISSUE. WHEN I CALLED OUR LOCAL DEALER THEY HAD MENTIONED A TYPE OF ASSISTANCE OR WARRANTY EXTENDED ON THE 2003-2004 MODELS, BUT NOT 2005 OR LATER. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THIS IS JUST NOW BECOMING AN ISSUE AND SHOULD NOW BE ADDRESSED OR ADDED TO THE EXTENDED WARRANTY? IS THERE GROUNDS FOR A RECALL? THERE SEEMS TO BE A TREND OF HOW AND WHEN THIS MAT MALFUNCTIONS. PLEASE HELP THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND ARE BOUND TO HAVE TH

PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR INOP RENDERING AIRBAG UNSAFE. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION WITH NEW SENSOR MAT. 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND SHIFTING HARD. OCCASIONALLY, RENDERS CAR POWERLESS AS IN NEUTRAL EVEN IF IN TRAVEL LANES MAKING UNSAFE TO OPERATE. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF VALVE BLOCK. SERVICING OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID IS NOT REQUIRED BY MINI/BMW BUT SAME TRANSMISSION IN OTHER BRANDS DO. VW RECOMMENDS ATF REPLACEMENT AT 40K MILES AND DOESN'T HAVE PROBLEMS WITH VALVE BLOCK FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD SPORADICALLY FAIL AS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

THIS IS MY 3RD MINI COOPER S. ON MY PREVIOUS 2 CARS, A 2004 AND A 2005, I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK BRAKES. BOTH CARS HAD ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON THEM. THE LINES ARE HELD IN PLACE BY "CLIPS" WHICH TRAP MOISTURE AND SALT. THIS CAUSES THE LINES TO RUST OUT AND FAIL, LOSING BRAKING ABILITY. SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN WITH A 50K MILE CAR AND CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. LOOKING AT MY 2006 YESTERDAY. CAR WITH ABOUT 50K MILES, BRAKE LINES LOOK TO ME LIKE THEY ARE READY TO FAIL FROM RUST. IF THIS HAS HAPPENED ON ALL OF MY CARS, THIS MUST BE A COMMON SAFETY DEFECT CAUSED BY A BAD DESIGN. MINI DOES NOT OFFER ANY HELP WITH THIS MATTER. I HAVE CONTACTED THEM BUT THEY HAVE OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. ALL I ASKED THEM TO DO WAS TO REPLACE THE LINES AT THEIR EXPENSE. THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN DOING SO. *TR

2006 MINI COOPER S PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT (ABOVE REARVIEW MIRROR) IS ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY (SEAT OCCUPIED OR NOT). LOCAL MINI COOPER DEALERSHIP SAYS THE PROBLEM IS THE SENSOR PAD, WHICH IS WOVEN INTO THE SEAT BOTTOM, AND THE WHOLE SEAT BOTTOM MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1650. DEALER SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THAT MINI USA WILL NOT HELP WITH THIS, AS THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAS 100K MILES. I USED AN SRS SCAN TOOL TO CONFIRM THAT CODE 71 (SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR II) IS SET AND COMES RIGHT BACK AFTER CLEARING IT. QUICK SEARCH THROUGH NHTSA COMPLAINTS AND ONLINE MINI ENTHUSIAST FORUMS SHOWS THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY IN THE 2005-06 MODEL YEARS. CLEARLY A SEVERE SAFETY DEFECT WHICH MINI USA (BMW) SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED. NO ONE CAN TELL ME IF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY IN A CRASH OR NOT. I ALSO FIND IT INTERESTING THE WIDE RANGE OF REPAIR COSTS THAT OTHERS WHO HAVE POSTED HERE WERE QUOTED BY THEIR LOCAL MINI DEALERS (SEEMS LIKE ANYWHERE FROM $1000 - $2000). SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH THAT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THE STEERING WHEEL THEN BECAME TIGHT AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER BUT DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING PUMP AND PUMP COOLING FAN WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH THE STEERING PUMP AND PUMP COOLING FAN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

IN SEPTEMBER 2012 THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE AND THAT MINI SAYS IT NEVER NEEDS TO BE SERVICED OR HAVE THE FLUID CHANGED. OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS IT GOT WORSE AND I WAS FINALLY TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. FORTUNATELY I NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT OR ANY OTHER SERIOUS CONSEQUENCE AS A RESULT OF THE FAILING TRANSMISSION. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TRADED IN BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD COST $10,000.00 TO REPLACE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING WHEN OUT ON THE CAR. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. ALSO, BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE, THE STEERING/CAR WILL NOT STRAIGHTEN ITSELF OUT AFTER MAKING A TURN. ONE HAS TO MAKE AN EXTRA EFFORT TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL OUT. I ALMOST HIT A PARKED CAR BECAUSE OF THAT PROBLEM. I SEE CANADA MADE MINI DO A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. IS IT GOING TO TAKE AN INJURY OR WORSE BEFORE THE USA MAKES MINI RECALL THE CARS ? *TR

AS I TURN ON THE ENGINE, BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, 5 SECONDS LATER, ENGINE STARTED TO SMOKE. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. ENGINE WON'T TURN BACK ON AND LOST ALL POWER, STEERING WHEEL WON'T TURN. BEFORE THIS INCIDENT, GEAR WOULD SHIFT UP AND DOWN ON IT'S OWN WHILE I'M DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS! *TR

THE O2 SENSOR FAILED ON MY CAR. MINI ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON 2006 MODELS BUT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT I HAVE THE EXACT SAME ISSUE BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. *TR

POWER STEERING WENT OUT MAKING VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. WAS TOLD BY MINI DEALER $1500 TO REPLACE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AT ANY SPEED, THE AUTOMATIC POWER TRAIN DOES NOT SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY. IT WILL SHIFT UP, AND DOWN, AND NOT ENGAGE THE PROPER GEAR. THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WILL "WIND-UP", THEN JUMP INTO A GEAR. AT TIMES, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. *TR

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

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

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

WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APP. 60 MPH, DOWNSHIFTED TO PASS AND EML LIGHT CAME ON AND POWER TO CAR WAS GREATLY REDUCED. FOUND OUT IT WAS A BROKEN CRANKSHAFT VIBRATION DAMPENER. NOTIFIED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY OR RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. QUITE EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR ALSO. CONTACTED MINI OF USA AND WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD TO BE DIAGNOSED BY A MINI DEALER FOR ANY POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE, BUT WAS NOT GUARANTEED THAT ASSISTANCE WOULD BE PROVIDED. *TR

THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR IS WEAK AND PRONE TO FAILURE. MINI DOES NOT COVER REPLACEMENT AND CHARGES $1200-$2000 TO REPLACE THE PART LEADING MANY OWNERS, INCLUDING MYSELF TO DRIVE THE CAR IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION (LOW SPEED OR NON DEPLOYING AIRBAGS). *TR

I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON IT. BEING A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CAR MADE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. HAD SOMEONE WITH LESS ARM STRENGTH BEEN IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT THEY COULD HAVE HIT ONCOMING TRAFFIC HEAD ON AND KILLED SOMEONE. *TR

MY MINI COOPER S 2006 HAS BEEN RANDOMLY BANGING INTO GEAR AND WAS DIAGNOSED BY NORTHWEST MINI AS NEEDING A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT FOR $8361.00 (BEFORE TAX). PROBLEM CAUSES CAR TO LOOSE ACCELERATION AND POWER. *TR

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATES SYSTEM IS EITHER OFF OR INOPERATIVE - IT DOES NOT MATTER IF SOMEONE IS SITTING ON THE SEAT OR NOT. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. AFTER REVIEWING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON MINI FORUMS, IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM IS COMMON AND DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SENSOR UNDER THE SEAT COVER. SINCE I RARELY CARRY PASSENGERS, THIS CONDITION IS DEFINITELY NOT DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR. AS IT STANDS, I HAVE NO WAY TO ASCERTAIN IF THE AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT SITUATION. THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO ANYONE RIDING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR EVEN THE DRIVER. A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE OR EVEN AN OLDER VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS TYPE OF SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH WHEN THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 42,000. UPDATED 08/29/12*LJ UPDATED 08/29/12

TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 70MPH AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS UP, SPEEDS DROPS TO MAXIMUM 30MPH CREATING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. FIRST OCCURRENCE MARCH 2012 WAS DIAGNOSED AS FAILED "THROTTLE BODY", SECOND OCCURRENCE IN JULY 2012 WAS DIAGNOSED AS FAILED "WIRING HARNESS". *TR

THE SRS DETECTOR MAT FOR TURNING OFF THE AIRBAGS IN THE EVENT OF AN UNDERWEIGHT OCCUPANT IS EASILY BROKEN. WHEN BROKEN, SENSORS DISABLE THE AIRBAGS. THIS PART IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE AND I CAN NOT AFFORD IT ON A FIXED INCOME ($1600). THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE MAT HAS ISSUES: 1) VERY PRONE TO FAILURE AND 2) INTEGRATED INTO THE SEAT CUSHION SO IT CAN NOT BE REPLACED ITSELF, IT MUST HAVE THE SEAT CUSHION REPLACED ALSO. MY MODEL IS A SPECIAL EDITION AND THERE ARE NO PARTS IN THE USA. 11 IN GERMANY AT A VERY HIGH PRICE. *TR

PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES AFTER ENGINE START ALONG WITH THE RED AIR BAG FAILURE WARNING LIGHT. DOESN'T MATTER IF SEAT OCCUPIED OR NOT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO DISABLING AIR BAG. MINI DEALERS DENY THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR DESIGN PROBLEM YET THERE ARE OVER 40 COMPLAINTS ON THIS FORUM. REPAIR COSTS ARE SUBSTANTIAL TO REPLACE BOTTOM SEAT CUSHION. A MODIFICATION KIT OR RETROFIT TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE SEAT MAT IS NEEDED. *TR

ISSUES WITH AIRBAG LIGHT IN 2006 MINI COOPER S, WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT IF THEY ARE NOT SITTING JUST THE RIGHT WAY THE LIGHT WILL GO ON, WARNING US THE AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED, SOMETIMES THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL GO ON FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT WITH NOBODY IN THE SEAT. SOMETIMES THE SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON WITH NO ONE IN THE SEAT AS WELL. MOVING THE SEAT WILL SOMETIMES CORRECT THE ISSUE. COMPLAINTS TO MINI AND DEALER WERE ON DEAF EARS. [XXX] I COPIED AND PASTED THE COMPLAINT, BUT MY PROBLEM IS EXACTLY THE SAME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST SIX MONTHS THE SRS LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON. IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS IT FINALLY CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I TOOK TO THE LOCAL BMW/MINI DEALER AND THEY ASSESSED IT FOR $167.00. THEN I WAS TOLD IT WAS A PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR ISSUE AND THE COST OF THE PART AND LABOR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $1100. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE MATTER AND REALIZED THAT DOZENS IF NOT HUNDREDS OF MINI-OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SENSORS, SEATS AND LIGHTS DATING BACK TO 2003+. SEEMS TO ME THAT IF IT'S BEEN AN ISSUE THAT THEIR SO CALLED ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT MIGHT RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS WITHOUT COSTING OWNERS THIS KIND OF MONEY. I THINK ITS A RIP JOB BY THE DEALERS AND A FAILURE OF THE ENGINEERS AT MINI TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. COST FOR SUCH A REPAIR SHOULD BE ON THEM. I WILL MAKE SURE TO REPORT TO ANYONE THAT WILL LISTEN TO STAY AWAY FROM THE PURCHASE OF THESE CARS DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE PROBLEMS. *TR