2006 MINI Cooper S Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 67 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the 2006 MINI Cooper S, 36% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 56,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “passenger seat” (60% of reports).
- 67air bags complaints
- 56,000median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $2,100typical repair cost reported by owners
- 27%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Passenger seat: mentioned in 40 of 67 complaints (60%)
- Air bag: mentioned in 38 of 67 complaints (57%)
- Sensor mat: mentioned in 6 of 67 complaints (9%)
- Event crash: mentioned in 5 of 67 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical air bags repair on the 2006 MINI Cooper S at $2,100, and half of them between $1,700 and $2,450.
Based on 12 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2010–2015), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 60 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
None of the 67 complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
MINI Cooper S air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Cooper S | 1 | 17% | 17,200 |
| 2015 Cooper S | 2 | 11% | 80,000 |
| 2014 Cooper S | 2 | 15% | 36,500 |
| 2013 Cooper S | 4 | 17% | 42,630 |
| 2012 Cooper S | 1 | 4% | — |
| 2011 Cooper S | 3 | 10% | 54,949 |
| 2010 Cooper S | 6 | 10% | 75,000 |
| 2009 Cooper S | 17 | 14% | 48,500 |
| 2008 Cooper S | 30 | 18% | 64,000 |
| 2007 Cooper S | 28 | 11% | 66,861 |
| 2006 Cooper S | 67 | 36% | 56,000 |
| 2005 Cooper S | 71 | 23% | 58,638 |
| 2004 Cooper S | 8 | 3% | 80,000 |
| 2003 Cooper S | 7 | 3% | 48,000 |
| 2002 Cooper S | 13 | 16% | 91,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Air bags:frontal
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2006 Mini Coop S. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the passengerâs side seat occupancy mat had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mini cooper s. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag sensor light illuminated and remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the front passenger side air bag system was defective and…
The air bag detection warning remains active after dealer reinstallation of the seat detector pad.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2006 MINI Cooper Ss have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 67 owner complaints about air bags for the 2006 MINI Cooper S (36% of the 186 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2006 MINI Cooper S air bags?
Yes: 1 safety recall list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do air bags problems start?
The median reported mileage is 56,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix air bags problems on the 2006 MINI Cooper S?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,100 (half paid between $1,700 and $2,450), from 12 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the 2006 MINI Cooper S?
The most frequent phrase is “passenger seat”, in 40 of 67 complaints, followed by “air bag” (38).
See all 2006 MINI Cooper S problems or air bags problems across all Cooper S years.