2006 Mini Cooper S Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/14/2026

48Steering complaints

25.8%Of all 186 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS65 · 34.9%

STEERING48 · 25.8%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM21 · 11.3%

POWER TRAIN18 · 9.7%

SEATS15 · 8.1%

Share of the 186 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2006 Mini Cooper S overview page.

What owners report

“MY POWER STEERING PUMP IS FAILING. VERY LOUD AND WHINY. READY TO FAIL AT ANY SECOND.”NHTSA complaint 10585995 — filed 05/01/2014

“I HEARD A LOUD HUMMING/SQUEALING TYPE SOUND--UNABLE TO TURN THE CAR'S STEERING WITHOUT GREAT EFFORT WHILE DRIVING DOWN A SIDE STREET AND PULLING INTO A…”NHTSA complaint 10573023 — filed 03/18/2014

“I HAD ISSUE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL PUMP A YEAR AGO, AND I REPLACED IT. BUT LAST NIGHT WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME, THE STEERING…”NHTSA complaint 10553201 — filed 11/21/2013

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2006 Mini Cooper S have steering problems?

Steering is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2006 Mini Cooper S: 48 of 186 complaints on file (25.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2006 Mini Cooper S have in total?

186 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 4 involved a crash, 9 involved a fire, 7 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.