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2005 Mini Cooper Convertible Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 96 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Mini Cooper Convertible, most often about the steering (78% of complaints, typically around 74,500 miles). It is the most complained-about Cooper Convertible model year since 2000 and has 1 recall.
Most common 2005 Mini Cooper Convertible problems
Steering
75 complaints · 78%Half of these problems showed up before 74,500 miles. Parts named most often: hydraulic power assist.
2005 Mini Cooper Convertible at first intermittent power steering failure and now complete power steering failure. The first time it happened very suddenly while making a left turn, I almost ran into another car. Now I am not driving the car until I can afford to have it repaired.
The contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper Convertible. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the power steering system malfunctioned and the steering wheel became very stiff. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic where the mechanic stated to the contact that the entire power steering system needed…
Air bags
7 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 44,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
The airbag warning light stays on even when there isn't a passenger in the passenger seat. The light indicates the airbag is off. The light also stays on if there is a passenger in the seat. I am not sure if the airbag would work in the event of an accident. The dealer indicated I needed a new seat at my cost. To me…
The front passenger seat weight sensor for airbag activation failed. Due to this, the front passenger airbag will not deploy in an accident. The only fix is a $2000 replacement of the entire front passenger seat.
Electrical
7 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles.
My 2005 Mini Cooper Convertible was parked in a parking lot after a short trip, not running. I came out of a store and saw smoke pouring out from all around the hood area. I raised the hood and the smoke began to subside. Smelled like an electrical fire. There was no previous warning of any kind. The repairs include…
After I turned my car off, a noise like a fan kept running. It drained the battery causing me to get my car jumped. Then power steering went out, and when I arrived home after struggling to turn vehicle and operate safely, the fan did it again, after 5 minutes battery was dead. This is a major issue with this year of…
Transmission
6 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 70,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
Daughter/co-owner was driving car. Shifting from 1st in to 2nd gear. Loud clunk or rattle/clicking from unside. Car lost power steering, battery light came on. Could not control vehicle. Had to call tow truck.
Automatic CVT transmission failed at 77,000 miles. Car stopped when going down interstate, pressing gas, nothing. Check engine light came on. I was able to stop the car safely, turned it off, restarted it, check engine light and ep (transmission) warning light came on.Mini cooper dealership says min is very aware of…
Engine
3 complaints · 3%The contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper Convertible. The contact stated that the instrument panel gauges all began to point to zero. The vehicle then lost power steering and the engine rpms began to fluctuate erratically, as well as the warning lights. The air conditioner also shut off independently. The contact continued…
Parked at shopping mall and not running for at least 30 minutes, come out to Mini cooper on fire. Smoke coming out of engine area, high pitch fan whirling, electrical smell. Power steering failed, shorted out, and caught on fire. Vehicle was not even on and parked when this happened. Appears to be a major failure many…
Doors and locks
3 complaints · 3%Parts named most often: trunk lid, doors.
Driver's side door would not open. Door would only open manually with a key from the outside of vehicle. I had to enter and exit the vehicle from the passenger side door.
Trunk door opened while driving around 50mph. Items in trunk flew out. Another driver pulled up alongside me to notify me of the situation.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 Mini Cooper Convertible recalls
Air bags: frontal
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Loss of power steering assist
Summary
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 c
Loss of power steering assist
Summary
Odi has received 339 complaints alleging an unexpected loss of power steering assist while driving the vehicle.when the power steering assist stops working, drivers experienced difficulty in steering and/or controlling the vehicle.according to bmw drivers may experience either a temporary or permanent loss of power steering assist.bmw further advised that a temporary loss of power steering assist may be due to a malfunctioning cooling fan or an under-voltage condition in the power steering system.a permanent loss of power steering assist may be due to an error in the internal electronics, and may also result in the continuous running of the power steering pump.the voq complaints allege 5 min
Questions about the 2005 Mini Cooper Convertible
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Mini Cooper Convertible?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (75 complaints, typically around 74,500 miles); air bags (7 complaints, typically around 44,500 miles); electrical (7 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Mini Cooper Convertible have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 6, 2015 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the Mini Cooper Convertible?
- It is the most complained-about Cooper Convertible model year since 2000, with 96 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.
Other Mini Cooper Convertible years
- 2005
- 2006