Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Mini Cooper S owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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 roughly 5 minutes. This is a significant safety concern as the seat heater switches are in a location where they are easily turned on by accident. Had I not been able to pull off the road immediately the damages could have been significantly worse and injury would have occurred.
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.
Upon starting my car, after being in a store, the passenger airbag light came on while a passenger was in the seat. The indicator stayed on after turning the car off and back on. I researched to see if there were any recalls for a faulty passenger airbag covering my year, make and model, and found NHTSA campaign number: 15V205000. I contacted my local Mini dealer and was told that there was no information pertaining to my car and that I needed to contact Mini USA directly. I did so and was told that they also could not find any information pertaining to my car and that they needed to open an investigation in order to determine the status of my vehicle. I was told that because my car was purchased through an overseas military program the systems were not the same and that a supervisor would have to try and find the information and manually add it to the Mini USA system. …
Airbag light is on full time, after a period of intermittent activity. There are hundreds of similar complaints on the web. The high cost of repairs seems to have resulted in a thriving business selling replacement "emulators" that imitate the sensor pad electrical characteristics. This is the same passenger seat occupancy sensor mat failure for which there have been extensive recalls for BMW vehicles made by the same manufacturer. Owner called Mini, was stonewalled and told there was no interest in hearing about the problem, just take it to a dealer. Asked dealer service rep if it was safe to drive in this condition, was told "I'm not allowed to answer that." this is a safety issue that rises to the level of requiring a recall, as was done for earlier Mini 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 2005 - 2008. Dealer ship and Mini USA both say the VIN number for my 2006 s convertible is not included with this recall. How can this be, the exact problem for the exact vehicles identified for this recall. Mini states that this vehicle is the correct type, model and year but not part of the recall because it probably didn't have the same part that has been identified as failing installed. I was told there is nothing they will do for me and what I've been told is that the cost for the fix will be at least $1,200 out of pocket. …
The passenger seat air bag light came on and will not go off. I was advised by an authorized Mini copper mechanic that the passenger seat air bag sensor is bad. It's my understanding that Mini Cooper USA is not owning up to their responsibility to recall and repair what could possibly be a life safety problem. The leather seat is practically new and there's no excuse for this faulty air bag sensor seat/equipment. There was a recall for BMW's with the same issue. It's very disappointing.
On my 2006 Mini Cooper s coupe, the passenger airbag off sensor light on the roof came on as well as the airbag sensor light in the center console indicating that the passenger seat could not detect the weight of a person in the passenger seat and therefore would not alert the airbag to turn on. My husband and I have both sat in the passenger seat and the light remained on. We then had a garage that specializes in imports look at the code, which is stating that there is an issue with the seat mat sensor and it is no longer recognizing the weight on the seat. This is a huge safety issue and a costly one at that. The seat cushion must be replaced and potentially the entire seat. I have noticed this same complaint on this site as well as other sites for models dating anywhere from 2002-2006. …
The passenger's seat mat airbag sensor has failed in my car and the airbag light remains lit at all times. This has happened twice now, the first time at 28801 miles and now again at 52300 miles. I paid $1200 for a full seat bottom replacement at the Mini dealership to correct the problem and now, 3 years later, the new seat has failed in the same manner. BMW has issued a recall for the exact same issue for their cars from the same year which use the same malfunctioning parts and Mini needs to do the same for their customers. This is an expensive and recurring known safety issue that consumers should not be held responsible for. I have had 2 different Mini dealerships acknowledge that they have had to fix this problem in countless 2005 and 2006 model year minis, yet there is no offer to rectify the issue despite the fact that I already had to pay out of pocket once.
In 2010 my car's passenger air bag system warning came on and I took to the dealer to have repaired under warranty. The dealer replaced the seat because the seat mat occupancy detector had failed. In 2013, the lights came on again. I took back to the dealer and asked them to fix at no charge, as to have the same system fail twice on a car with less than 50,000 miles on it signaled a defective design. Mini refused to repair at no cost and instead provided me with a $1,700 estimate to replace the seat and system. I have filed a formal complaint with Mini USA and am awaiting a response. This is a safety issue as the passenger airbag is effectively permanently off. I have read on this website and elsewhere that many owners are experiencing similar issues with this car.
The air bag system warning light in the gauge cluster is lit at all times. The repair shop tells me that this is because the sensor mat in the passenger seat has failed and must be replaced. My research indicates that this is a very common issue that is unjustifiable expensive to repair. The repair shop also tells me that all of the air bags in the car are disabled as long as the warning light is on, putting all passengers in the vehicle in danger of sustaining greater injuries in the event of a crash. These cars are made by BMW, which apparently acknowledged the same problem in other cars they produced and made repairs. I feel that they should be required to address this problem in Mini coopers, too, via a federally mandated recall campaign.
Seat complaints in other Cooper S years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat problems on the 2006 Mini Cooper S?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the seats of the 2006 Mini Cooper S, 9% of the model year's 222 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2006 Mini Cooper S seat problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seats recall for the 2006 Mini Cooper S, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Mini Cooper S seat problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 fires and 0 injuries to seats problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.