2004 MINI Cooper S problems
The 2004 MINI Cooper S has 279 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (77%) concerns steering. Next are electrical system (7%) and wipers, windshield & visibility (4%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 279 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Steering 77% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 7 and 8
- Injuries and deaths
- 4 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 74,000 miles 259 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 11 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 21 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 43 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 67 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 47 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 37 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 15 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 7 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 11 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 259 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 74,000 miles. For steering specifically, the median reported mileage is about 78,000 miles (203 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 7 complaints mention a crash; 8 complaints mention a fire; 4 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2004 ranks 7th most-complained-about out of 12 model years of the MINI Cooper S with enough data (49 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
On my way up driveway I noticed a sharp stinging sensation in the lumbar of my back. Felt sort of like an "continuous electric shock". I immediately arched my back as a reaction to the sting and had to straighten my back in order to control the vehicle. When straightening my back I felt something hot, very hot this time like something that was on fire. I could not longer control the vehicle grabbed for the handle opened the door and rolled out onto the driveway while the vehicle was moving.
First incident: vehicle mileage 37004 (12/31/2009): 2004 mini cooper s was being driven on surface streets and power steering was lost without warning making the vehicle exquisitely difficult to turn. Upon arrival at a mechanic, the power steering pump was determined to be faulty and both the pump and fan were replaced. There were no accidents or injuries associated with this injury.
While driving my 2004 mini cooper s, the power steering failed while making a turn at low speed. Without the power steering, it is hard to steer during low speed. After turning off engine and restarting, the power steering came back. But the power steering pump seems to be on all the time with a humming noise even after the engine is turned off. Which leading to the draining of the battery. The battery gave out after a couple jump starts.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mini cooper s. While driving approximately 30 MPH and making a turn, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing where the technician advised that the power steering pump failed and would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000.