MINI Cooper S Steering Problems
Owners have filed 669 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the MINI Cooper S across 12 model years. The 2005 model year has the most (212). The words owners use most often: “steering pump” (41% of reports).
- 669steering complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 22mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,750typical repair cost reported by owners
- 32%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 276 of 669 complaints (41%)
- Became difficult: mentioned in 34 of 669 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 MINI Cooper S at $1,750, and half of them between $1,450 and $2,200.
Based on 54 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2008–2017), 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 633 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 669 complaints, 22 mention a crash, 36 a fire, 5 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
Model years: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
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.
Loss of power steering on startup or at stop light. A message pops up indicating that the Dynamic Stability Control is re-initializing and that steering may become difficult: Drive carefully. The warning message usually appears shortly after the failure. In fact, the steering gets so stiff, that my…
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 2020 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the power steering feature malfunctioned, causing the steering wheel to become difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the steering pump had failed…
The contact owns a 2002 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45-55 MPH, the steering wheel seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road. The contact restarted the vehicle and continued driving normally. The vehicle was…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all MINI Cooper Ss have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 669 owner complaints about steering for the MINI Cooper S. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 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.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the MINI Cooper S?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,750 (half paid between $1,450 and $2,200), from 54 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the MINI Cooper S?
The most frequent phrase is “steering pump”, in 276 of 669 complaints, followed by “became difficult” (34).
Other MINI Cooper S problems
- Engine problems (339)
- Air Bags problems (260)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (186)
- Electrical System problems (172)
- Power Train problems (114)
See all MINI Cooper S problems.