2004 MINI Cooper S Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Cooper S years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 22 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 247 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 MINI Cooper S. That ranks 3rd out of 22 Cooper S model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is steering (210 complaints, 85%), typically at around 78,000 miles. Complaints mention 7 crashes, 5 fires, 3 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 247owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 7complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2004 MINI Cooper S problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering problems | 210 | 85% | 78,000 | “steering pump” (44%) | $1,500 |
| Electrical System | 19 | 8% | 79,330 | — | — |
| Visibility | 12 | 5% | 23,053 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 8 | 3% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 1% | 60,950 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 1% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 1% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 1% | 140,772 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 1% | 140,772 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 1% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 1% | 54,475 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 1% | 46,784 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 1% | 39,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 0% | 145,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 0% | 108,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 0% | 67,700 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2004 MINI Cooper S recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Steering:electric power assist system
Problem: 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.
Tires:pressure monitoring and regulating systems
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the flat tire monitoring system has not been correctly programmed. In the event of a flat tire, an audible signal will not sound to alert the driver to a flat tire.
Risk: Due to the lack of an audible signal, the driver may not be aware of a flat tire, which could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the vehicle's software in order to actuate the flat tire monitoring system's audible signal. The recall began october 13, 2004. Owners should contact mini customer relations at 1-866-275-6464.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Loss of power steering assist (EA11005) — opened May 4, 2011, closed Jan 5, 2016, led to recall 15V660000.
- Loss of Power Steering Assist (PE10038) — opened Sep 24, 2010, closed May 10, 2011.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
The power steering is very stiff to drive and cannot drive my cooper because i can no longer steer the vehicle.
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.
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…
Other MINI Cooper S years
← 2003 Cooper S · 2005 Cooper S →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Cooper S | 4 | 3 |
| 2024 Cooper S | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 Cooper S | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 Cooper S | 0 | 2 |
| 2020 Cooper S | 5 | 2 |
| 2019 Cooper S | 5 | 1 |
| 2017 Cooper S | 6 | 3 |
| 2016 Cooper S | 9 | 3 |
| 2015 Cooper S | 18 | 4 |
| 2014 Cooper S | 13 | 4 |
| 2013 Cooper S | 24 | 1 |
| 2012 Cooper S | 23 | 2 |
| 2011 Cooper S | 31 | 3 |
| 2010 Cooper S | 59 | 4 |
| 2009 Cooper S | 119 | 3 |
| 2008 Cooper S | 168 | 4 |
| 2007 Cooper S | 249 | 4 |
| 2006 Cooper S | 186 | 1 |
| 2005 Cooper S | 314 | 2 |
| 2004 | 247 | 2 |
| 2003 Cooper S | 217 | 2 |
| 2002 Cooper S | 83 | 1 |
See all MINI Cooper S problems by year, every MINI model, or the MINI VIN decoder.
Similar MINI models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2004 MINI Cooper S?
Owners most often report steering, electrical system, visibility problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 210 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2004 MINI Cooper S?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2004 MINI Cooper S a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Cooper S model years, the 2004 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.