2006 MINI Cooper S Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 4%of 186 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 68,750miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the engine of the 2006 MINI Cooper S, 4% of the 186 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 68,750 miles. 3 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“As I turn on the engine, battery light came on, 5 seconds later, engine started to smoke. I turned off the engine. Engine won't turn back on and lost all power, steering wheel won't turn. Before this incident, gear would shift up and down on it's own while I'm driving. Very dangerous!”
NHTSA complaint #10507380, filed 2013-04, 7,300 miles“In april 2013 I was merging onto highway i20 with my children in the back of my Mini Cooper S 2006. As I was speeding up to merge onto the highway the car completely cut off. I veered over into a median in the middle of six lanes of high-speed traffic. The car had completely shut off, even the hazard lights. I was very lucky that the median was there and that I had not yet entered the main stream of traffic. The police came, then a friend. …”
NHTSA complaint #10550969, filed 2013-11, 70,000 miles“I was driving on the road my I turned the AC on and about 20min of me riding in the vehicle me and my infant son my my vehicle started smoking under the hood heavy white smoke under the hood of the 2006 Mini Cooper S. …”
NHTSA complaint #10716604, filed 2015-05, 71,056 miles“Driving on the freeway when I felt the car jerk forward and then it felt as if the automatic transmission was slipping in and out of gears. Managed to pull off the freeway and drive to the local Mini dealership, which was luckily about a mile down the road. Was told by dealership the problem was transmission failure and was quoted $9,000 repair cost. When I asked the mechanic why the transmission had failed this early, told me they had no idea. However, when I asked another employee how many other cars had they seen with transmission problems, he reluctantly admitted quite a few .”
NHTSA complaint #10484831, filed 2012-11, 93,000 miles“Was driving on highway at app. 60 MPH, downshifted to pass and eml light came on and power to car was greatly reduced. Found out it was a broken crankshaft vibration dampener. Notified dealer and was told that there was no warranty or recall on this issue. Quite expensive to repair also. Contacted Mini of USA and was told that it had to be diagnosed by a Mini dealer for any possible assistance, but was not guaranteed that assistance would be provided.”
NHTSA complaint #10482180, filed 2012-10, 67,500 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10162443Jul 12, 2019Programming a Replacement EGS Module with ISTA/P. Programming a replacement electronic transmission control module (EGS) with ISTA/P requires the manual entry of the correct…
- 10059112Jul 1, 2015Mini: because of the dme software, and a damaged clutch, the drivetrain malfunction check message appear.
- 10059098Jul 1, 2015Mini: different faults activates engine malfunction and oil warning.
- 10059113Jun 1, 2015Mini: faulty software causes the check control and engine power reduced light to appear.
- 10059111Jun 1, 2015Mini: due to faulty dme software, the service engine lights comes on, including the check control message for motor force decrease.
- 10059094Jun 1, 2015Mini: a mechanical failure and dme software error of the vanos actuators cause the engine to run rough which activates the malfunction warning light.
- 10044680Jan 1, 2014Mini: on certain model vehicles, an engine oil leak may occur, due to the compromised oil pump volume control solenoid valve, from the underside of engine. No model years listed…
- 10044719Jun 1, 2012Mini: there is a software error causing the service engine soon light to be illuminated that is related to valvetronic diagnostics. Models r55, r56, r58, r57, r60, r59. No model…
- 10044699Jun 1, 2012Mini: when resealing engine oil pan, engine oil pan gasket replacement should no longer be used due to causing sealing flange becoming deformed. Models r55, r56, r59, r60, r57…
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | 40% |
| 2019 | 1 | 20% |
| 2017 | 2 | 33% |
| 2016 | 4 | 40% |
| 2015 | 3 | 17% |
| 2014 | 3 | 23% |
| 2013 | 7 | 29% |
| 2012 | 4 | 17% |
| 2011 | 16 | 52% |
| 2010 | 37 | 63% |
| 2009 | 65 | 55% |
| 2008 | 78 | 46% |
| 2007 | 94 | 38% |
| 2006 | 7 | 4% |
| 2005 | 8 | 3% |
| 2004 | 2 | 1% |
| 2003 | 5 | 2% |
| 2002 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2006 MINI Cooper S
67 complaintsSteering
48 complaintsElectrical system
23 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
22 complaintsEngine cooling
15 complaintsSeats
15 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
11 complaintsOther or unknown
9 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsBrakes
3 complaintsSuspension
3 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2006 MINI Cooper S
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology