The 2006 MINI Cooper S Convertible has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 91,800 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS15V2050002015-04-0691,800 affected
Defect
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,…
Consequence
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.
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS
17
SEATS
6
2fires
POWER TRAIN
5
STEERING
5
ENGINE
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
3
SEAT BELTS
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
1
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
1
Total complaints53
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mini cooper s convertible. While driving 30 mph, the vehicle became extremely difficult to steer without warning. The contact managed to drive home. Mini of st. Louis (40 sunnen dr, maplewood, mo 63143, [REDACTED]) stated that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed and…”
“Passenger side seat airbag sensor (recall 15v-205, oc3 seat occupancy mat) in my 2006 mini cooper s convertible has failed. The passenger side airbag light on dash and overhead stay lit at all times. Recall issued by mini in 2015 covering exact problem described for same make and model for years…”
“Passenger side seat airbag sensor (recall 15v-205, oc3 seat occupancy mat) in my 2006 mini cooper s convertible has failed. The passenger side airbag light on dash and overhead stay lit at all times. Recall issued by mini in 2015 covering exact problem described for same make and model for years…”
“Passenger side seat airbag sensor (recall 15v-205, oc3 seat occupancy mat) in my 2006 mini cooper s convertible has failed. The passenger side airbag light on dash and overhead stay lit at all times. Recall issued by mini in 2015 covering exact problem described for same make and model for years…”
“I bought my 2006 mini cooper s convertible for $9,393 in november 2016 . When driving it home from the dealership I heard some noise, so I stopped at a foreign auto service and was told the clutch and transmission was going out. I called the dealership, but they refused to help, so I had them…”
“6 speed automatic transmission failed catastrophically after 82,000 miles. This in spite of proper dealer recommended mainainance. Cost to repair was the same as the value of the vehicle.”
“I put the heated seat on while driving, and the driver's seat caught fire. This with less then 50,000 miles and a cost of almost $1000. I had to pull into a gas station and put out the smoking seat with water. I've complained to mini cooper usa, with no results.”
“While driving with the driver seat heater on a burning smell and smoke began to fill the car. Additionally, began feeling extreme heat on my back. Immediately pulled over and found a small fire on the seat back which I had to pat out. No injury was sustained. The seat heater had been in operation…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2006 MINI Cooper S Convertible as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.