2006 MINI Cooper Convertible Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2006 MINI Cooper Convertible has a complaint index of 57 and ranks 4th worst out of 8 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Airbags account for 52% of complaints, followed by steering issues at 37%.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 57/100
- #4 of 8 Cooper Convertible years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 27
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 26
- 23.5 city / 31 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2006 MINI Cooper Convertible problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags14 (52%)
- Steering10 (37%)
- Electrical System5 (19%)
- Structure & Body5 (19%)
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (11%)
- Engine1 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Passenger seat occupant sensor wiring is too short and gets damaged when the seat slides back, causing the airbag system to falsely detect an empty seat and disable the passenger airbag.
- Power steering fails intermittently while driving, sometimes with a loud noise and a leak from the power steering pump, at a median mileage of 81,800 miles for steering complaints.
- Passenger airbag warning light stays on continuously even when the seat is occupied, raising owner concern about whether the airbag will deploy in a crash.
- A loud clunk from the drivetrain preceded reported transmission trouble at 81,000 miles.
- The motor mount was reported to leak hydraulic fluid at low mileage, with one owner noting failure at 18,350 miles.
2006 MINI Cooper Convertible recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 15V205000Apr 6, 2015Airbags91,800 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
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.
2006 MINI Cooper Convertible fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 23.5 MPG
- Highway
- 31 MPG
- Combined
- 26 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,075
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2006 compared with other Cooper Convertible years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2006 MINI Cooper Convertible reliable?
- NHTSA data shows a Caution verdict for this year, with a complaint index of 57, ranking 4th worst among 8 model years of the Cooper Convertible. Airbags and steering are the top reported problem areas.
- What is the main problem with the 2006 MINI Cooper Convertible?
- Airbags are the top problem area, making up 52% of complaints, largely tied to a passenger seat occupant sensor that falsely detects an empty seat. Steering problems, including power steering pump failure, follow at 37% of complaints.
- Does the 2006 MINI Cooper Convertible have a recall?
- Yes, NHTSA lists one recall for this year, campaign 15V205000, covering the front passenger seat occupant detection mat that affects the airbag system.
- How does the 2006 model compare to other MINI Cooper Convertible years?
- The 2006 model's complaint index of 57 is better than 2005 (100, Avoid) and 2009 (86, Avoid), but worse than 2007 (29, Good) and 2008 (43, Good).
- At what mileage do 2006 MINI Cooper Convertible problems usually appear?
- The median mileage at failure across all complaints is 71,500 miles, though airbag-related complaints show a lower median of 42,500 miles.