Four problems related to transmission gear slipping have been reported for the 2006 Mini Cooper S. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2006 Mini Cooper S based on all problems reported for the 2006 Cooper S.
Passenger seat occupancy sensor inop rendering airbag unsafe. Requires replacement of passenger seat cushion with new sensor mat. 6 speed automatic transmission slipping and shifting hard. Occasionally, renders car powerless as in neutral even if in travel lanes making unsafe to operate. Requires replacement of valve block. Servicing of automatic transmission fluid is not required by Mini/BMW but same transmission in other brands do. Vw recommends atf replacement at 40k miles and doesn't have problems with valve block failure.
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".
In September 2012 the automatic transmission began slipping. I had it checked out and was told that the transmission was fine and that Mini says it never needs to be serviced or have the fluid changed. Over the next several months it got worse and I was finally told that the transmission needs to be replaced. Fortunately I never had an accident or any other serious consequence as a result of the failing transmission. This car has been traded in because the transmission would cost $10,000. 00 to replace.
38,000 miles: air bag warning light for passenger side seat stays illuminated. Air bag warning light remains on after vehicle has started and does not turn off. 54,900 miles: aisin automatic transmission - automatic transmission failed thereby making the car inoperable. The car showed signs of gear change slipping between 2nd and 3rd gears. Transmission diagnosis, catastrophic failure of manual valve body and internal gears. Required a complete transmission rebuild.