FaultScore

2006 Mini Cooper airbag problems

114 of the 247 complaints about the 2006 Mini Cooper are about the airbag system — 46% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 64,650 miles.

F

114

Complaints

5

Crashes

1

Fires

4

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 109 95.6%
Frontal 2 1.8%
Sensor/Control Module 1 0.9%
Occupant Classification 1 0.9%
Front Passenger 1 0.9%

Airbags across every Mini Cooper year

2002 26 6.1%
2003 11 2.6%
2005 41 9.6%
2006 114 26.6%
2007 49 11.4%
2008 44 10.3%
2009 69 16.1%
2010 23 5.4%
2011 19 4.4%
2012 16 3.7%
2013 16 3.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Pearland, TX

AIR BAGS

BMW issued a Recall 15V-205 Safety Recall, to cover the Airbag sensor in the passenger seat of my vehicle, a 2006 Mini Cooper S. The failure error was in the airbag sensor in the passenger seat, and the system warned of potential hazard with the passenger airbag. My car had a recall fix in 2018 for this fault. Now some 4 years later the same fault has arisen in the same sensor and system. I returned to BMW Mini who carried out the previous recall to have this fixed again. They said that while their repairs and parts generally carry an 8-year warranty, they do not warrant Recall repairs. They wanted over $2,000 to fix this issue. As this is a repeat of the original fault, and the car has under 100,000 miles I believe it should be covered, as their repair and or part has again failed. The date below is when I took it for the recall and was refused the warrenty repair.

NHTSA complaint #11514006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Denver, CO Crash Fire 1 injured

AIR BAGS

Blindsided Drive side impact car ignited I was cut from my car suffering emence Injuries due to the malfunction of the airbags . No air bags deployed.

NHTSA complaint #11453963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 187,900 miles Orlando, FL

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT ON.

NHTSA complaint #11330686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 141,342 miles LOS Angeles, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

CAR ACCIDENT CAUSE PROBLEMS , HAVING PROBLEMS WITH CLUTCH / FLYWHEEL WAS REPAIRED ONE TIME DRIVE SLOW WON'T MOVE FAST. NOT STEERING , HAS LEAKAGE , DAMAGE DENTS ON RIGHT SIDE FRONT END PAINT DAMAGES, NOT RIGHT COLOR. BACK BUMPER DAMAGE SCRATCHES , HATCHBACK LOCK NEEDS BE REPLACED. WHEELS DAMAGE LT RT . ABS SYMPTOM LIGHT ON, AIRBAG LIGHT ON, FRONT REAR HOOD LIGHT ON PROBLEMS NOT CLOSING. IN MOTION STREET .

NHTSA complaint #11269812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 170,000 miles Carlsbad, CA

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

THE SEAT SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS REPLACED ONCE UNDER A RECALL. AFTER 2 YEARS, IT HAS FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE IS ONLY A TWO YEAR WARRANTY ON TEH PART. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT MAKES THE CARE UNSAFE AND UNUSABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11218906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 170,000 miles Carlsbad, CA

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

THE SEAT SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS REPLACED ONCE UNDER A RECALL. AFTER 2 YEARS, IT HAS FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE IS ONLY A TWO YEAR WARRANTY ON TEH PART. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT MAKES THE CARE UNSAFE AND UNUSABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11218906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 170,000 miles Carlsbad, CA

AIR BAGS

THE SEAT SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS REPLACED ONCE UNDER A RECALL. AFTER 2 YEARS, IT HAS FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE IS ONLY A TWO YEAR WARRANTY ON TEH PART. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT MAKES THE CARE UNSAFE AND UNUSABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11218906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Harvest, AL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

2006 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT SENSOR FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A DETECTION MAT FAILURE. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, BUT WAS IN ACCIDENT BEFORE IT COULD BE COMPLETED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE,THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A SKULL FRACTURE AND OTHER UPPER BODY DAMAGES. UPDATED 08/31/2017

NHTSA complaint #11019708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 92,455 miles Orocovis, PR

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,455.

NHTSA complaint #10984242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 57,988 miles Richmond, CA Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

I WAS A PASSENGER IN A MINI COOPER 2006, MY FRIEND WAS HIT HEAD ON BY A DRUNK DRIVER ON A CITY STREET. MY FRIEND'S MINI COOPER 2006 WAS TOTALED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS A RESULT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER MAT SENSOR DEFECT. I SUFFERED MULTIPLE INJURIES TO MY CHEST, HANDS, ARMS, AND NECK THAT ARE VERY SERIOUS.

NHTSA complaint #10970364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 118,000 miles North Miami Beach, FL

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED THE NEXT DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND WAS NOT REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE COOLING FAN ALSO FAILED TO FUNCTION, WHICH CAUSED THE RADIATOR TO BE REPLACED TWICE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT A DIFFERENT TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA complaint #10871032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 61,160 miles Hull, MA

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT EITHER THE MAT SENSOR OR CONTROL MODULES WERE DEFECTIVE. UPDATED 03/23/16.*JB UPDATED 04/14/16*LJ *JS *LN

NHTSA complaint #10824805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,000 miles Fawn Grove, PA

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.

NHTSA complaint #10807575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wilton, CT

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.

NHTSA complaint #10790046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10782416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST. Louis, MO

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 11/09/15

NHTSA complaint #10775395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Omaha, NE

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10766379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jefferson City, MO

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10762987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Antonio, TX

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO PROVIDE THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10762988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Albuquerque, NM

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10762067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Jose, CA

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE REMEDY AND RECALL PART WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10762352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Climente, CA

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10759961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Moore, SC

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT AND THE AIR BAG DISABLED LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN APRIL 2015, THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. MA 10/5 UPDATED 10/06/15*LJ

NHTSA complaint #10758766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sapphire, NC

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.UPDATED 10/19/15 *BF

NHTSA complaint #10749731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Brookfield, IL

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN JUNE OF 2015, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED. AFTER CONTACTING BOTH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA complaint #10746656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Phenix City, AL

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED ON, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #10746390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Glendale, CA

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE DETECTION MAT OF THE PASSENGER'S FRONT SEAT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE PASSENGER . THE AIR BAG LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PANEL IS INTERMITTENT, PUTTING AT RISK OF NOT DEPLOYING THE AIR BAG DURING AN ACCIDENT. THE LIGHT WILL COME UP EVEN WHEN I HAVE A PURSE ON THE SEAT OR WITH A FULL GROWN ADULT (OVER 150 POUNDS). I RECENTLY CALLED 2 LOCAL MINI DEALERS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (JULY 2015) REGARDING THIS AND BOTH STATED THE SAME: THAT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE SPARE PART REQUIRED FOR THIS RECALL AND CANNNOT PERFORM UNTIL MINI PROVIDES THEM WITH AN AUTHORIZATION LETTER. CALLED IMMEDIATELY THE MINI CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE FOR RECALLS (1-866-825-1525) TO FIND OUT WHEN THIS WILL BE SOLVED SINCE THIS HAS BEEN ON ONGOING ISSUE SINCE MID 2014. MINI'S CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT WE NEEDED TO WAIT UNTIL A NEW RE-DESIGN OF THIS SENSOR IN THE DETECTION MAT IS AVAILABLE FROM THEM IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THIS SPARE PART TO THE DEALERS. IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE PUTTING AT RISK ANY PASSENGER WHO WILL RIDE IN OUR CARS FOR AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN KNOWN BY MINI FOR OVER A YEAR!

NHTSA complaint #10733916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,500 miles Courtland, OH

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTAC STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500. UPDATED 10/27/15.

NHTSA complaint #10732729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bryan, TX

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10730231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Vienna, VA

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) IN JUNE OF 2015. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL AUGUST OF 2015. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA complaint #10724900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2006 Mini Cooper problems

← Full 2006 Mini Cooper report