2005 MINI Cooper S problems
The 2005 MINI Cooper S has 383 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (56%) concerns steering. Next are air bags (20%) and electrical system (6%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 383 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Steering 56% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 8 and 31
- Injuries and deaths
- 7 and 3
- Typical mileage
- 66,000 miles 367 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 | 14 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 27 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 91 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 105 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 70 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 30 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 12 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 11 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 6 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 367 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 66,000 miles. For steering specifically, the median reported mileage is about 70,000 miles (208 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 8 complaints mention a crash; 31 complaints mention a fire; 7 injuries reported; 3 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2005 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 12 model years of the MINI Cooper S with enough data (138 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.
2005 mini cooper s was traveling 50MPH when it hit icy bridge spun around and rolled 3 times driver was wearing a seatbelt and passenger was not and got ejected and died.no airbags deployed. Hwy 299.
I have a 2005 mini cooper s with less than 85k miles it. The power steering has completely gone out. Before it went out completely, it would stop occasionally with out warning while driving the vehicle. The primary impact is as low speeds, parking or turning for example. This vehicle has run flat tires making steering an even bigger challenge. It is a safety hazard and due to the high cost to replace this function and safety hazard it imposes,, the car has been sitting for over a year.
Takata recall. Dealership wanted to charge me $1000 to fix this airbag. Steering also stiff and at time unresponsive. Number three misfire is a design flaw. Horn does not work. Lens on headlights make light very dim.