Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Mini Cooper owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Driving home from work as usual, I was exiting the highway when I felt a jolt from the engine compartment, the engine seemed to sputter and as soon as I slowed down to 30 MPH or so the car would not shift back up to the higher gears. Luckily I was only a quarter mile from home so I put the hazard lights on and drove very carefully into my driveway. I put the car in park and got out to look under the hood to see if anything was drastically wrong ( any leaks, smoke, etc.). Nothing appeared to be malfunctioning so I put the car back into drive and instantly stalled the engine . I then called a tow truck to have it towed to my local Mini Cooper dealership to diagnose the issue. I was told it would need an entirely new CVT transmission.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle downshifted and stalled. The contact had to pull to the side of the road and shift into manual mode to shift the gears up and down. The contact also stated that the battery light illuminated while the vehicle was parked. The contact also stated that the engine malfunctioned due to the cooling system emitting smoke from the engine and corrosion on the engine itself. The contact did not take the vehicle to a dealer for a diagnostic test. The failure mileage was 74,000.
To make you aware of a potential safety problem. The 2006 Mini Cooper CVT transmission has had numerous failures. A california judge recently ruled in favor of a class action suit against BMW(Mini Cooper). We just became aware of the transmission going out in our car. It still runs and shifts but our concern is that it could quit at an inopportune time and cause an accident. Mini has shown no moral or ethical interest in replacing the transmission at no cost or reduced cost to the consumer.
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.
Once the car warms up the automatic transmission lurches when the car shifts from 1st to 2nd and 3rd gear. The engine still accelerates, however, the transmission simply whines and no power is distributed to the wheels. Very unsafe when pulling out in traffic. Mini advertised these vehicles as never requiring transmission fluid changes. The vehicle has less than 100,000 miles. No recall exists, however, the issue is well documented on web forums.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Mini Cooper. While driving 40 MPH, the vehicle started losing power. The accelerator pedal was being depressed with no response. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and was able to be driven home at a low rate of speed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.
I bought my Mini Cooper two months ago. It is a 2006 model. I was driving home on the night of Thursday January 7th when I heard a loud clunk. I live on a caliche road so naturally, I thought I had kicked up a rock or clunk of dirt and it hit the body of my car. The next morning I headed out to go to class and less than 5 miles (I live outside of town 30 miles, so yes I do a lot of driving, but my 2004 Hyundai sonata handled it for over 2 years and when I first acquired it had 145,000 miles and when I finished 198,000 and was still running fine) down the road I braked to turn onto a different road and after completing the turn I pressed the gas pedal, the engine roared the tachometer sprung up, but the car didn't move. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that the transmission would slip in and out of gear. The contact tried to accelerate and the engine rpms increased excessively, but the vehicle would not respond. The contact's mechanic originally assumed the problem was the transmission control switch but after soon discovered that the transmission control switch was not the issue. The mechanic advised having the entire transmission replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 84,000. Updated 4/2/12 the consumer stated he lost control of paddle shifter and the transmission would not down shift. Once the vehicle was turned off and re-started, the transmission would shift up and down in all gears, until is slipped out of gear. Updated 04/13/12
I heard a whirring sound and a light came on the dashboard. Took it to the Mini Cooper dealership bob smith where I had the car serviced and where it was originally purchased. The technician did not pull any codes, just took the car for a ride. He pronounced that the transmission had to be replaced as it is a sealed transmission as it is a "sealed" transmission and therefore it could not be repaired at a cost of $9000! He then took off $1500 for a cost of $7500! Googled this problem to find out that so many Mini's had this problem that a class action lawsuit had been filed. Contacted miniusa who scoffed at the problem and offered no help or relief. Hoping that Mini will be forced to deal with this issue and that a recall will be initiated before anyone is seriously injured.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Mini Cooper convertible. While driving approximately 30 MPH or less, the contact experienced a slight loss in the power steering. There was no warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. The steering wheel maneuvered with difficulty, even though the power steering had not completely failed. The vehicle continued in operation. In addition, a ticking noise would emit from the transmission. The contact planned to take the vehicle to an authorized dealer for diagnosis. Also in May of 2009, the engine and clutch were replaced. Most recent the dealer was notified of the faulty power steering pump and transmission malfunction and they advised the manufacturer would be informed of the defects. The approximate failure mileage was 44,164 .
Transmission complaints in other Cooper years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2006 Mini Cooper?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2006 Mini Cooper, 10% of the model year's 227 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Mini Cooper transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2006 Mini Cooper, 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 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 78,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.