KnownCarProblems2004 Mini Cooper S Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 247 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Mini Cooper S, most often about the steering (85% of complaints, typically around 78,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Cooper S model year since 2000 and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2004 Mini Cooper S problems
Steering
210 complaints · 85%Half of these problems showed up before 78,000 miles. Parts named most often: hydraulic power assist, electric power assist system, hydraulic power assist system.
Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). I have a 2004 Mini Cooper S (bmw) that I have owned for about a year and a half but recently, past 3 months., I have had the power steering quit suddenly on 3 separate occasions. Thankfully I was not on a high speed road at any…
I own a 2004 Mini cooper hard top and I was on my way home from state college when the power steering went out. This made the car extremely difficult to drive. Since this happened, I am all but terrified to drive the vehicle. I have done some investigation into this, and I see I am not the only Mini owner with this…
Electrical
19 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 79,500 miles. Parts named most often: wiring.
While exiting the freeway the steering suddenly and without warning became extremely heavy taking significantly more effort then normal to just move the wheel slightly. The next day the power steering worked normally but the fan on the power steering pump continued to run after the engine was turned off. After 5…
While driving around town the power steering quit working making the car very hard to turn. It was not noticeable driving straight, but when taking a left or right turn you almost cannot make the turn unless you really crank on the steering wheel. This problem has been happening intermittently without no warning. In…
Visibility and wipers
12 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 23,000 miles. Parts named most often: windshield, power window devices and controls, glass, side/rear.
My 2004 Mini Cooper S, delivered in june of '04, having @ 20,000 miles on the odometer, is now on its third windshield all due to stress cracks. The cracks seem to be related to thermal instability. I.e. Cold outside/hot inside etc. I personally know of one 2003 Mini owner in ma who has now had 6 windshields replaced…
: the contact stated the windshield has been replaced three times within 1 year of purchase . On may 24, 2006, while driving a small object struck the windshield causing a crack which caused the fourth windshield replacement. The contact expressed that something must be wrong with the vehicle to make the windshield…
Air bags
8 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles.
My 2004 Mini Cooper S has a passenger seat belt/air bag light that is illuminated at all times. Originally, it was sporadic, and connecting the seat belt would cause the light to go off. Now it is lit all the time, whether there is a passenger in the seat or not. I was told today that the sensor is bad and will cost…
Air bag light came on. Shutting off and restarting car, the light will go out but comes back on within seconds. This occurred after adjusting passenger seat.
Engine
5 complaints · 2%Half of these problems showed up before 113,500 miles.
Cooling fan stopped working already installed 3 fans from time of purchase of vehicle this will be my fourth one its has issue with low speed. It burns only low speed on it tried to install aftermarket fan did not last more than a month had to purchase from a dealer now another one this can has nothing but a problem…
Was driving car on 18 july 2020 and power steering quit working and made steering difficult, also coolant fan,low speed and high speed stopped working same time as power steering quit. The asc light came on and it will not turn off. No blown fuses in engine compartment or by drivers kick panel. I was driving the car…
Wheels and tires
4 complaints · 2%Parts named most often: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs.
Wheel bolts broke. Previously, I had three wheel bolts break during removal. Dealer and manufacturer denied warranty claim as result of pot hole. Recently, I had a wheel bolt break during installation. While using a torque wrench, the bolt broke before reaching the specified torque. The wheel bolts are fragile and…
I have a 2004 Mini cooper that had nine month old pirelli eufori run flat tires on all four wheel that is exclusively driven by my wife. I used the car for the first time in several months and noticed abnormal handling on the vehiicle. I took the vehicle to a local tire store to have it checked out and discovered that…
Seat belts
3 complaints · 1%Parts named most often: front.
The driver side seatbelt buckle does not release when the button is pressed. This started when I first bought the vehicle in february 2009. This happens everytime I try to remove the seatbelt. I have to jiggle the buckle to get it to release. Nothing has been done to fix this problem yet; the dealer will not warranty…
My 2004 Mini Cooper S has a passenger seat belt/air bag light that is illuminated at all times. Originally, it was sporadic, and connecting the seat belt would cause the light to go off. Now it is lit all the time, whether there is a passenger in the seat or not. I was told today that the sensor is bad and will cost…
Seats
3 complaints · 1%Parts named most often: front assembly.
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…
The contact owns a 2004 Mini Cooper S. The contact was traveling 35 MPH when the steering became extremely tight. There was no warning prior to the failure. The contact stated that the failure had occurred before but not as extreme as the most current failure. The contact could barely maneuver the steering wheel. The…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 Mini Cooper S recalls
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Mini will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the electro-hydraulic power steering system, replacing the components and wiring, as necessary, free of charge. Interim notices were mailed to owners on december 10, 2015. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. 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 2002-2005 mini cooper and cooper s vehicles and 2005 cooper and cooper s convertible vehicles. The affected vehicles may experience temporary or permanent loss of the electro-hydraulic steering assistance.
Wheels and tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems
Risk: Due to the lack of an audible signal, the driver may not be aware of a flat tire, which could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the vehicle's software in order to actuate the flat tire monitoring system's audible signal. The recall began october 13, 2004. Owners should contact mini customer relations at 1-866-275-6464.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, the flat tire monitoring system has not been correctly programmed. In the event of a flat tire, an audible signal will not sound to alert the driver to a flat tire.
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 2004 Mini Cooper S
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Mini Cooper S?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (210 complaints, typically around 78,000 miles); electrical (19 complaints, typically around 79,500 miles); visibility and wipers (12 complaints, typically around 23,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 Mini Cooper S have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 15, 2015 (steering). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the Mini Cooper S?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Cooper S model year since 2000, with 247 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.