2005 MINI Cooper S Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Cooper S years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 22 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 314 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 MINI Cooper S. That is the most of any Cooper S model year in the database (22 years). The most reported problem area is steering (212 complaints, 68%), typically at around 70,000 miles. Complaints mention 6 crashes, 17 fires, 3 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 314owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 6complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2005 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 | 212 | 68% | 70,000 | “steering pump” (39%) | $1,800 |
| Air Bags problems | 71 | 23% | 58,638 | “passenger seat” (46%) | $1,900 |
| Electrical System | 23 | 7% | 64,150 | — | — |
| Power Train | 13 | 4% | 76,525 | — | — |
| Engine | 8 | 3% | 75,763 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 8 | 3% | 62,965 | — | — |
| Seats | 8 | 3% | 50,146 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 6 | 2% | 90,629 | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 1% | 30,998 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 1% | 17,400 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 1% | 67,500 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 1% | 45,998 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 1% | 79,400 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 1% | 55,410 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 1% | 22,653 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 0% | 40,800 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 0% | 140,000 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | 40,800 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 0% | 62,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 0% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 0% | 150,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2005 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.
Air bags:frontal
Problem: 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.
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.
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 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…
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.
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…
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, [redacted])…
Other MINI Cooper S years
← 2004 Cooper S · 2006 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 | 314 | 2 |
| 2004 Cooper S | 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 2005 MINI Cooper S?
Owners most often report steering, air bags, electrical system problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 212 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2005 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 2005 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 2005 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.