2004 Mini Cooper S problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (196) · Visibility:windshield (8) · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:pump (6)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mini Cooper S model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
231 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Steering:electric Power Assist System 2015-10-15 · campaign 15V660000 · 86,018 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 MINI Cooper and Cooper S vehicles and 2005 Cooper and Cooper S Convertible vehicles. The affected vehicles may experience temporary or permanent loss of the electro-hydraulic steering assistance.
Risk: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: MINI will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the electro-hydraulic power steering system, replacing the components and wiring, as necessary, free of charge. Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 10, 2015. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
Service bulletins (41)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System 2023-10-25 · M610607 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
mini electrical systems have continued to develop over the past few years. as a result, the demand on the batteries has increased. breakdowns due to an empty battery or problems in the vehicles electrical system can have various causes, most of which are not due to the battery itself. for this rea
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) 2019-07-12 · M240112 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
programming a replacement egs module with ista/p. programming a replacement electronic transmission control module (egs) with ista/p requires the manual entry of the correct target basic and programmed part numbers. programming concept.
Equipment 2018-06-01 · M650610 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
navigation system has missing or incorrect road map data: the route guidance is inaccurate and therefore irritating to the customer; or it is not possible to locate certain addresses, for instance:
Equipment:electrical:navigational System(Global Positioning System) 2018-05-01 · M650610 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
navigation system has missing or incorrect road map data: the route guidance is inaccurate and therefore irritating to the customer; or it is not possible to locate certain addresses, for instance:
Steering 2016-03-01 · M320214 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service information bulletin supersedes si 32 02 14 dated august 2014. subject installation of right-hand drive steering spindle in left-hand drive vehicle is no longer required. left-hand drive steering spindles are currently available.
Engine 2015-07-01 · 12 06 15 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
mini: because of the dme software, and a damaged clutch, the drivetrain malfunction check message appear. *ma
Showing the 6 most recent of 41 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2020-07-20 · Steering · 116,543 mi“was driving car on 18 july 2020 and power steering quit working and made steering difficult, also coolant fan,low speed and high speed stopped working same time as power steering quit. the asc light came on and it will not turn off. no blown fuses in engine compartment or by drivers kick panel. i was driving the car on a state road when this occurr…”
2020-03-31 · Steering · 156,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2004 mini cooper s. the contact stated that while driving at attempting to make a turn, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the steering column. the contact also stated that there was a power steering fluid leak present. the failure was intermittent. the vehicle was taken to mini of stevens creek located at (4201…”
2020-01-28 · Steering“the power steering is very stiff to drive and cannot drive my cooper because i can no longer steer the vehicle.…”
2019-11-26 · Steering“when you turn wheel left or right it makes a noise and it's very hard to turn. so i think it's the steering: electric power assist system. recall id # 240625.…”
2019-06-30 · Air Bags“all models from 2005 onward have been recalled, yet earlier models have the same problems with non functioning airbags. the airbag warning light is on continually, and there are known problems with wiring, pressure mats and connectors in these vehicles. bmw is intentionally ignoring these issue. my own personal vehicle has this problem and as a gov…”
2018-06-12 · Air Bags · 121,348 mi“airbag light comes on and stays illuminated. we are unsure if the system is working properly. we have not run diagnostic codes on the system.…”
2017-08-14 · Steering · 165,000 mi · 🔥 fire“the vehicle was hard to steer and smoke was coming from the engine. took the car home, did not see flames, parked car in the driveway switched cars and left. received a call from the fire department that my mini was on fire and i needed to return to my house.…”
2017-08-04 · Steering · 84,000 mi“the power steering in my 2004 mini cooper s failed last month, prompting me to research ways to fix the vehicle online. i found that mini usa had issued a recall on my car, but was informed by the dealership and then mini that my vin number did not fall among those vehicles recalled. i'm wondering whether mini appropriately limited their recall…”
2016-11-08 · Air Bags · 134,000 mi“the airbag light is on for the passenger side pressure mat but the dealership indicates there is no open recall on this particular car even though many cars with similar problem were recalled. scan tool indicates passenger side pressure mat. the dealership indicated this model was outside of the recalled vins. we don't know whether the airbag would…”
2015-12-22 · Steering · 130,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2004 mini cooper s. the contact stated that there was a progressing condition in which the steering wheel made an abnormal noise and was difficult to turn left or right. the vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign number: 15v660000 (steering). the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 130,0…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.