Electronic power steering pump issue/failure. The steering wheel was so stiff when I tried to go right that I physically could not turn the wheel. This is extremely dangerous & it happens without warning. No lights come on. You are left in a moving vehicle, without much of a way to control the direction you need it to travel in. From what I have learned, it seems an extended warranty was initially offered, & then a forced recall was issued on the, 1st Gen, 2002-2005 Mini Coopers. Only part of the vehicles with these issues were included in the recall. I have the same size 1.6 engine, & the exact same electronic power steering pump that comes with the issues & failures that I have in my 06. I have seen it on vehicles up to 08. This is absolutely unacceptable. This is a documented manufacturing defect & design flaw that has been continually allowed to endanger people’s lives. I am unsure how BMW managed to only recall part of the vehicles with these electronic power steering pump issues. I contacted BMW who told me there were no extended warranties or recalls on my vehicle.
The worst 2006 MINI Cooper problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags111
- Steering53
- Transmission20
- Engine19
- Seats13
- Electrical10
- Seat belts5
- Acceleration2
- Body1
- Brakes1
- Lights1
- Suspension1
- Visibility1
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2006 MINI Cooper
Airbag light 70Power steering loss 10Fire or smoke 6Loss of power 6Stalling 6CVT failure 5Jerking 5Transmission failure 5
Recalls 1
Air bags: frontal
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 15V205000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2006 MINI Cooper 42
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Cavity protection applied to underside of the hood is leaking out onto the wheel arch trim and grille.
- MINI electrical systems have continued to develop over the past few years
- Navigation system has missing or incorrect road map data
- Aisin automatic transmisison: right side output shaft seal replacement
- This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI 32 02 14 dated August 2014
- Mini: different faults activates engine malfunction and oil warning. ma
- Mini: because of the dme software, and a damaged clutch, the drivetrain malfunction check message appear. ma
- Mini: faulty software for the tank ventilation control displays engine throttle reaction when temperature...
- Mini: a mechanical failure and dme software error of the vanos actuators cause the engine to run rough...
- Mini: due to faulty dme software, the service engine lights comes on, including the check control message...
2006 MINI Cooper fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4‑cyl | FWD | 20-24 | 27-33 | 22-28 |
What 2006 MINI Cooper owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2006 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was significantly difficult to turn. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.
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.
Power Steering pump leaking failure
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.
It is very difficult to turn my steering wheel. It takes more energy than any other car I have ever driven
The electro-hydraulic power steering system stopped working on my 2005 Mini Cooper. The was a recall for 2002 to 2005 mini power steering pump failures but the problem continued thru 2011 because the fix that mini Cooper came up with was inadequate. The essentially put a band-aid on the problem and left car owners holding the bag. I, in fact, had the auxiliary pump that mini came up with replaced and the power steering problem continued because their fix was no good. I have an appointment with the Mini Cooper dealership to look at my car in about 2 weeks. They've told me that I'm not covered by the recall even though they ordered a recall of 86,000 cars for the problem in 2015. Not having power steering in any vehicle is very dangerous. The problem first occurred and remains after 2 years. The problem was reproduced by an independent repair service that I have used for years.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mini cooper. The contact stated that the while driving approximately 50 MPH, the power steering suddenly malfunctioned and the steering wheel became difficult to turn in either direction. After stopping the vehicle, the contact noticed smoke billowing from under the hood. After opening the hood, flames were present coming from the engine compartment. The neighbor assisted in extinguishing the flames. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 186,000.
The air conditioning had stopped blowing cool air. Then when I was parked, and idled, my power steering stopped working while trying to back out. After wrestling with the wheel for a minute to get out of a parking lot area, the power steering came back on. The mechanic said one of my coolant fans does not work. This may be part of a recall that affect 2005 minis with coolant fan/power steering, however my car was made just a few months past the recall.
Air bag service light on.
Compare the 2006 MINI Cooper
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Questions about the 2006 MINI Cooper
Is the 2006 MINI Cooper reliable?
Owners have filed 200 complaints about the 2006 MINI Cooper, 3.6 times a typical Cooper model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the 2006 MINI Cooper year score?
The 2006 MINI Cooper scores 28 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the MINI Cooper: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 MINI Cooper?
Airbags, with 111 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles. Next is steering (53).
How many recalls does the 2006 MINI Cooper have?
1 recall, covering air bags.
What gas mileage does the 2006 MINI Cooper get?
Official estimates for the 2006 MINI Cooper range from 22 to 28 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.6L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 20-24 city and 27-33 highway.
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