2006 MINI Cooper Seats Problems
- Complaints
- 13about this part
- Share
- 7%of 200 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 64,300miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the seats of the 2006 MINI Cooper, 7% of the 200 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 64,300 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, 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.
“The driver side headed seat only heats up in one spot and burned my leg. I have had to discontinue use of the heated seat as I am afraid of it catching on fire or burning through the seat into my leg.”
NHTSA complaint #10573349, filed 2014-03, 79,000 miles“My 2006 Mini Cooper had a air bag light just turn on about a week ago for no reason for what I can tell. I called my Mini dealer and they told me it was probably a worn out passenger seat sensor. They said it would cost about $900-1000 to replace the seat and the sensor. Our Mini only has a little over 50k miles and 50% of those miles there wasn't anyone ever sitting in the passenger seat to ware it out. I have seen on several other forums that this problem has been corrected by bmw but not by Mini. …”
NHTSA complaint #10505345, filed 2013-04, 56,000 miles“My 2006 Mini Cooper air bag lights (passenger seat light as well as dash board air bag system lights) are intermittently coming on and staying on when I start my Mini. The dashboard light apparently comes on when a fault is detected in the airbag system, and as a result the system is deactivated. This is very serious since I'm now driving in a Mini Cooper with no airbag protection. The seat light indicates the passenger air bag is turned off due to someone of light weight sitting in the passenger seat. This light is now coming on with any average adult or no one at all sitting in that seat. …”
NHTSA complaint #10573796, filed 2014-03, 75,000 miles“The seat sensor is faulty. It reads that someone under 30lbs is in it (disabling the airbag) the dash light verifies it is off. This problem is intermittent to this day. So if a crash occurs the sensor won't read correctly if anyone is in the seat or not, the airbag may not deploy and if it does will do so possibly with too much force.”
NHTSA complaint #10562140, filed 2014-01, 36,363 miles“Purchased car used. When passenger sits in front seat, airbag light intermittently goes on and off and then stays on. Have searched online and the passenger seat sensor is likely broken and is a $1500 fix at the dealer. This is a safety issue and should be covered by manufacturer.”
NHTSA complaint #10513633, filed 2013-05, 107,850 milesSeats: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 | 7% |
| 2016 | 1 | 4% |
| 2014 | 2 | 6% |
| 2013 | 2 | 4% |
| 2012 | 4 | 6% |
| 2011 | 4 | 5% |
| 2010 | 5 | 5% |
| 2009 | 4 | 3% |
| 2008 | 5 | 4% |
| 2007 | 8 | 7% |
| 2006 | 13 | 7% |
| 2005 | 7 | 2% |
| 2003 | 4 | 1% |
| 2002 | 4 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2006 MINI Cooper
111 complaintsSteering
53 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
20 complaintsElectrical system
10 complaintsEngine
10 complaintsEngine cooling
9 complaintsSeat belts
5 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsEquipment
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsExterior lighting
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2006 MINI Cooper
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