Model year record

2005 MINI Cooper S Convertible recalls & problems

The 2005 MINI Cooper S Convertible has 1 safety recall and 61 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is steering (39 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints61filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 4reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Air bagsApr 6, 2015

Frontal

Recall 15V20500091,800 vehicles

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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

Cooper S Convertible

24mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,400/year to fuel

Cooper S Convertible

24mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,400/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Fires	Typical mileage*
SteeringElectric power assist system	39	4	65,187 mi
Air bags	15	0	55,805 mi
Power trainManual transmission	6	0	76,750 mi
Engine and engine coolingCooling system	3	0	48,022 mi
StructureBody	2	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulic	1	0	—
Seats	1	0	—
Electrical system	1	0	—
Seat belts	1	0	—
Engine	1	0	—
Equipment adaptive/mobility	1	0	—
Unknown or other	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Steering
The contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated while driving 10-15 MPH, the steering wheel was significantly loose and turned excessively. Additionally, the contact stated that the steering wheel felt like it would detach from the column. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.
Apr 1, 2026
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WAS FAULTY. MINI OF LOVELAND (4055 BYRD DR, LOVELAND, CO 80538, (970) 292-5020) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WAS NOT SCHEDULED. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM: SI M32 02 15 (STEERING AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT). AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
Feb 18, 2019 · 133,000 miles
Steering
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP HAS LOUD WHINE OR MOANING SOUND WITH ONLY 42,000 MILES ON IT. FLUID LEVEL IS GOOD AND SO FAR THE POWER STEERING IS STILL WORKING. IT DOES GET LOUDER WHILE TURNING BUT ALSO ANNOYING WHEN JUST IDLING.
Jun 16, 2017 · 42,000 miles
Air bags
PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE 2013. MECHANICS TELL ME THAT IT IS A WEIGHT-SENSING MAT ON THE SEAT. MINI RECALLED 2005 MINI'S BUT THIS ONE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR FOR THIS CAR.
May 1, 2013
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FUNCTION FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRO HYDRO POWER STEERING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
Apr 25, 2016 · 22,000 miles
Power train
TRANSMISSION UPSHIFTS AND DOWNSHIFTS ERRATICALLY AND/OR SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT WHILE IN MOTION.
Jan 9, 2017 · 77,000 miles
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED PREVIOUSLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Dec 14, 2016 · 70,000 miles
Steering
MY MINI COOPER S CONV, 2005, HAS BEEN HAVING STEEERING ISSUES FOR SOME TIME NOW. IT WILL RANDOMLY LOSE WHAT SEEMS LIKE THE POWER STEERING WHILE I AM DRIVING! I HAVE FOUND THAT BY TURNING THE CAR OFF (IF I AM STOPPED AND IN AREA WITH TIME TO TURN OFF MY CAR) THAT IT WORKS AGAIN FOR 10 MINUTES TO 30 MINUTES. OTHER TIMES I CAN DRIVE FOR 45 MINUTES NO PROBLEMS AT ALL. HOWEVER, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THE STEERING GOES OUT IS NOT WORKING AS SOON AS I TURN THE CAR ON. I K NOW THAT I HAVE TO SELECT A DATE OF WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND I AM PUTTING TODAY'S DATE SINCE IT HAPPENS DAILY. HOWEVER, I WANT IT NOTED IT IS NOT ONLY TODAY.
Jan 8, 2016 · 60,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

Loss of power steering assistClosedLed to recall 15V660000
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) originally opened the investigation of loss of power steering assist in model year (MY) 2004 and 2005 Mini Cooper as Preliminary Evaluation PE10-038.The investigation was upgraded to Engineering Analysis EA11-005 in May, 2011.During EA11-005 the scope was expanded to include MY 2002 and 2003 vehicles that use the same steering system.The subject vehicles now include MY 2002, the first year BMW sold MINI in the U.S., through mid-MY 2005 covering approximately 109,000 vehicles.The subject vehicles use an electrically driven pump to provide hydraulic pressure to a conventional rack-and-pinion steering gear.A pump, the electric motor, and an electronic control unit (ECU) are housed in a single component BMW calls a Power Pack.The investigation focused on contaminant-induced failure of the ECU resulting in a loss of assist without warning.When assist…
EA11005 · opened May 4, 2011 · closed Jan 5, 2016