2004 MINI Cooper S Steering Problems
Owners have filed 210 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the 2004 MINI Cooper S, 85% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 78,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “steering pump” (44% of reports).
- 210steering complaints
- 78,000median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,500typical repair cost reported by owners
- 31%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Steering pump: mentioned in 92 of 210 complaints (44%)
- Difficult steer: mentioned in 15 of 210 complaints (7%)
- Turn wheel: mentioned in 11 of 210 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the 2004 MINI Cooper S at $1,500, and half of them between $1,100 and $2,200.
Based on 15 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2008–2013), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 199 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 210 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 1 an injury.
MINI Cooper S steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Cooper S | 1 | 20% | 25,500 |
| 2019 Cooper S | 1 | 20% | — |
| 2016 Cooper S | 1 | 11% | 57,085 |
| 2010 Cooper S | 1 | 2% | 52,000 |
| 2009 Cooper S | 1 | 1% | 80,000 |
| 2008 Cooper S | 1 | 1% | 115,000 |
| 2007 Cooper S | 7 | 3% | 61,000 |
| 2006 Cooper S | 48 | 26% | 62,000 |
| 2005 Cooper S | 212 | 68% | 70,000 |
| 2004 Cooper S | 210 | 85% | 78,000 |
| 2003 Cooper S | 129 | 59% | 80,023 |
| 2002 Cooper S | 57 | 69% | 82,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are 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.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2004 MINI Cooper Ss have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 210 owner complaints about steering for the 2004 MINI Cooper S (85% of the 247 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2004 MINI Cooper S steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do steering problems start?
The median reported mileage is 78,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the 2004 MINI Cooper S?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,500 (half paid between $1,100 and $2,200), from 15 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the 2004 MINI Cooper S?
The most frequent phrase is “steering pump”, in 92 of 210 complaints, followed by “difficult steer” (15).
See all 2004 MINI Cooper S problems or steering problems across all Cooper S years.