2006 MINI Cooper
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 210 of 449 complaints (47%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 843 in 2005 to 449 in 2006.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | vs. 2006 Minicompact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,750–3,100 | 2,750–3,250 | 2,750–3,500 | 2,500–3,350 | 2,400–3,350 | |
| Combined MPG | 25–28 | 24–28 | 22–28 | 23–31 | 23–32 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 22–25 / 29–33 | 21–24 / 29–33 | 20–24 / 27–33 | 20–27 / 28–36 | 19–28 / 29–37 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 317–355 | 317–370 | 317–404 | 287–386 | 278–386 | |
| Complaints filed | 529 | 843 | 449 | 381 | 299 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 5 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 12 | 17 | 13 | 5 | 4 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 14 | 36 | 19 | 26 | 16 | |
| Injuries reported | 4 | 7 | 16 | 12 | 14 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2006 MINI Cooper have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2006 MINI Cooper?
Airbags & Restraints: 210 of 449 NHTSA complaints (47%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2006 MINI Cooper get?
EPA rates it 22–28 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2006 MINI Cooper?
EPA estimates $2,750–$3,500 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (9)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Minicompact Cars | 23 mpg | 31 mpg | 26 mpg | $3,000 | 342 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Minicompact Cars | 24 mpg (high) | 33 mpg (high) | 28 mpg (high) | $2,750 (low) | 317 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Minicompact Cars | 23 mpg | 30 mpg | 25 mpg | $3,100 | 355 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Minicompact Cars | 24 mpg (high) | 32 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,850 | 329 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Minicompact Cars | 22 mpg | 29 mpg | 24 mpg | $3,250 | 370 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Minicompact Cars | 21 mpg | 29 mpg | 24 mpg | $3,250 | 370 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Minicompact Cars | 22 mpg | 29 mpg | 24 mpg | $3,250 | 370 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Minicompact Cars | 21 mpg | 29 mpg | 24 mpg | $3,250 | 370 g/mi |
| Configuration 9 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters | 20 mpg (low) | 27 mpg (low) | 22 mpg (low) | $3,500 (high) | 404 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 48 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 50 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 40 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| Brakes | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 116 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 210 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 42 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 17 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · Campaign 15V205000 · Apr 6, 2015
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, 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.
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.