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2005 Mini Cooper S Convertible Problems and Recalls

Owners filed 61 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Mini Cooper S Convertible, most often about the steering (61% of complaints, typically around 65,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Cooper S Convertible model year since 2000 and has 1 recall.

Complaints61
Recalls1
Crashes reported0
Fires reported4
Injuries reported0

Most common 2005 Mini Cooper S Convertible problems

  1. Steering

    37 complaints · 61%

    Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: electric power assist system.

    2005 Mini Cooper S Convertible with 65k miles. Original owner. Yesterday my power steering went out as I drove home from work. No warning sign and it was hard to turn the steering wheel and maneuver the car. I was glad it was me driving and not my wife. Scary experience when driving at 65mph+ on the highway.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2011, at 64,500 miles
    While driving down straight road steering began to intermittently "tighten up" and become difficult to manage. Road and weather conditions were clear and dry. Next morning power steering assist failed completely while backing out of driveway, causing vehicle to almost hit a fence. Vehicle had been garaged all night at…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2012, at 65,875 miles

  2. Air bags

    15 complaints · 25%

    Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles.

    Airbag warning lamp illuminates intermittently in dash and passenger airbag "off" illuminates above rear view mirror in my 2005 Mini Cooper S Convertible. When some sits in the seat it comes on intermittently. When you check the connectors under the seat it goes off with wiggling. Diagnosed by Mini cooper dealership…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 42,611 miles
    Airbag sensor light is on, indicating a problem with the passenger airbag. This is a common problem with minis and certain bmws. Mini has voluntarily repaired the defect in some vehicles but is refusing to repair others. Mini told me to take it to a dealer, pay for a diagnostic and they'd think about a repair. I have…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 69,000 miles

  3. Transmission

    6 complaints · 10%

    Half of these problems showed up before 77,000 miles. Parts named most often: manual transmission.

    Traveling at approximately 40mph. Finger was cut 2mm deep by defective peeling/flaking chrome accent on manual transmission shift knob. As a result, finger was bleeding and experienced a shock from the affected nerve throughout the body while vehicle was in motion. Attention to the road was lost for a moment causing…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2012, at 76,500 miles
    The transmission in this vehicle is known to be defective by Mini USA. The car is undrivable and unsafe as the transmission could fail at any time, stranding the driver or causing a fire.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2014, at 77,000 miles

  4. Engine

    4 complaints · 7%

    Parts named most often: cooling system.

    2005 Mini Cooper S Convertible - pending a second replacement of the power steering pump/cooling fan assembly due to failure - the whole assembly was replaced 18 months ago and the replacement fan has already stopped running, causing a severe leak of ps fluid (twice found completely empty) and resultant power steering…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2011, at 98,000 miles
    The contact owns a 2005 Mini cooper convertible s. The contact stated that coolant began to leak from the vehicle abnormally and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer replaced the thermostat which he found to be fractured. Later, the contact began to experience failures with the rear brakes. The dealer…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2011, at 28,800 miles

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 S Convertible recalls

  1. Air bags: frontal

    NHTSA 15V205000 · April 6, 2015 · 91,800 vehicles

    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

Questions about the 2005 Mini Cooper S Convertible

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Mini Cooper S Convertible?
By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (37 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles); air bags (15 complaints, typically around 56,000 miles); transmission (6 complaints, typically around 77,000 miles).
How many recalls does the 2005 Mini Cooper S 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 S Convertible?
It is the most complained-about Cooper S Convertible model year since 2000, with 61 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 S Convertible years

Mini Cooper S Convertible problems by year