YearToAvoid

2006 MINI Cooper S Convertible Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

86/100

#2 most-complained of 8 Cooper S Convertible years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2006 MINI Cooper S Convertible has 36 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 86 out of 100 — #2 highest of 8 Cooper S Convertible model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is airbags (18 complaints, 50% of the total). Complaints report 2 fires.

Complaints
36
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 2
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
24
21.5 city / 29 hwy

Top 2006 MINI Cooper S Convertible problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags18 (50%)
  2. Structure & Body7 (19%)
  3. Engine6 (17%)
  4. Steering5 (14%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain5 (14%)
  6. Seat Belts3 (8%)
  7. Brakes2 (6%)
  8. Electrical System2 (6%)
  9. Other2 (6%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (3%)
2006 MINI Cooper S Convertible complaints: complaints filed per month4Jan 2011Jan 2012Apr 2013Aug 2014May 2015Dec 2015Apr 2018
51 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2011 to Aug 2019; peak Apr 2013 (4).

2006 MINI Cooper S Convertible recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. 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 S Convertible fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21.5 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
24 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,300
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 S Convertible years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020052006200720082009201020112012
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Avoid10061124
2006Avoid8636124
2007Good298223.5
2008Caution577123.5

All MINI Cooper S Convertible years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 MINI Cooper S Convertible a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 MINI Cooper S Convertible ranks #2 of 8 among Cooper S Convertible model years (Complaint Index 86/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 36 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 MINI Cooper S Convertible?
The most reported problem areas are airbags (18 complaints), structure & body (7 complaints), and engine (6 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 63,500 miles.
Does the 2006 MINI Cooper S Convertible have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2006 MINI Cooper S Convertible, most recently reported 2015, covering airbags.
What is the fuel economy of the 2006 MINI Cooper S Convertible?
EPA rates the 2006 MINI Cooper S Convertible at 24 MPG combined (21.5 city / 29 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,300. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.