2005 Mini Cooper S problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (197) · Air Bags (45) · Power Train (9)
🧭 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
300 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
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.
Air Bags:frontal 2015-04-06 · campaign 15V205000 · 91,800 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2005-2006 MINI Cooper and Cooper S vehicles manufactured January 5, 2005, to November 28, 2006, and 2005-2008 MINI Cooper Convertible and Cooper S Convertible vehicles manufactured January 5, 2005, to July 31, 2008. Due to manufacturing, installation, and exposure issues, the front passenger seat occupant detection mat may not function properly and, as a result, the front passenger air bag may not deploy in a crash.
Risk: An improperly functioning mat may cause the passenger frontal air bag to be inactive when the seat is occupied, and in the event of a crash, the air bag will not deploy, increasing the passenger's risk of injury.
Fix: MINI will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat occupant detection mat, free of charge. The recall began on October 12, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
Service bulletins (43)
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:
Power Train 2018-02-01 · M240118 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
aisin automatic transmisison: right side output shaft seal replacement
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.
Showing the 6 most recent of 43 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-04-16 · Steering · 175,830 mi“the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper s. the contact stated while driving 25 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. the contact stated that the vehicle had lost power steering assist. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the contact stated that a software update was performed on the back over prevention camera. the manufacturer w…”
2022-03-24 · Steering“the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper s. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v660000 (steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the contact also stated that he was advised by the dealer t…”
2020-09-30 · Steering · 172,450 mi“battery light flashing, power steering cutting out intermittently while driving. alternator and serpintine belt replaced but problem continues. electric power steering seems to be draining electrical system.…”
2020-03-12 · Steering · 75,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper s. the contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, the vehicle overheated and smoke began coming from under the hood of the vehicle. the contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where the water pump was replaced. after the repair, the power steering ceased without warning upon starting the vehicle…”
2019-08-13 · Steering“tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper s. while driving various speeds, the contact experienced intermittent power steering failure. the contact associated the failure with nhtsa campaign number: 15v660000 (steering); however, mini of marin (5880 paradise dr, corte madera, ca 94925, (415) 887-2194) and the manufacturer were contacted and stated th…”
2019-08-09 · Steering · 150,000 mi“power steering no longer works.…”
2019-07-08 · Steering · 69,751 mi“the car was in motion when suddenly the steering wheel became very hard and the driver lost control, almost causing an accident. there has been a recall for mini cooper s vehicles (15v-xxx safety recall) involving the electric-hydraulic power steering system. the recall includes 2002-2005 models, and extends the warranty up to 13 years or up to 150…”
2019-03-12 · Electrical System · 62,527 mi“when adjusting the driver and passenger seats, the airbag light illuminated. after researching online, i conducted troubleshooting. i verified that the wiring harnesses and connectors for the airbag sensors under both seats had come loose, and certain wires de-pinned. the car was running, and parked when this occurred.…”
2019-01-24 · Steering · 63,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper s. when the vehicle was started, the steering wheel became very difficult to turn and the service engine soon warning indicator illuminated. the contact stated that the steering failure worsened since december of 2017. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, but the cause of the fail…”
2018-12-28 · Unknown Or Other · 140,000 mi · 🔥 fire“driving on interstate and lost power. i pulled to shoulder and black smoke came thru air vents. i opened the hood and there was fire. my car completely burned up. i never had any mechanical problems. the tow truck driver said he believed the fire started under my car.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.