KnownCarProblems2005 Mini Cooper Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 372 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Mini Cooper, most often about the steering (74% of complaints, typically around 72,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Cooper model year since 2000 and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2005 Mini Cooper problems
Steering
276 complaints · 74%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles. Parts named most often: hydraulic power assist, electric power assist system, hydraulic power assist system.
Over the course of about a month and a half, the power steering began to "stick" in that I could not steer right or left without physically forcing the wheel to the right or left, using all my strength to do it. I thought I lost control of the car. The first time, it was a terrifying event. Then it would go back to…
The power steering in my 2005 Mini Cooper has gone out. It started failing intermittently for about 6 months then as of september 2010 has failed completely. It is extremely difficult to steer and turn the car. I took it in to my local mechanic when it was failing intermittently and they could not recreate it. Nothing…
Air bags
41 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 66,000 miles.
Occupant seat sensor failure in passenger seat, airbag light comes on and stops airbag operation. I believe Mini/bmw is liable for this safety issue and should fix it under recall. Several passengers have refused to ride in my car for fear of safety. Part is $1200 plus installation and reprogramming. This is a very…
The passenger air bag light, noting that the airbag is turned off, remains on even with a passenger present. With no passenger present in the seat, it still remains on, telling me the airbag is inactive. There is a weight sensor in the passenger seat, that triggers this light, and it appears this sensor is faulty. It…
Electrical
30 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles.
Son returned from town, a 10 minute drive, parked car in garage. Next morning there was a strong smell of an electrical fire coming from the car. Opened the hood and the smell of fire was overwhelming. Top of steering fluid pump appeared to be charred. Family afraid to drive car to dealer, some 35 miles away. After…
The contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper. While driving 60 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. When the vehicle was turned off, the contact noticed that the electric fan kept running. The following day, the vehicle failed to start. The battery was dead. When roadside assistance arrived, the battery was…
Transmission
25 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 59,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission, driveline, clutch assembly.
(2005 Mini Cooper transmission) vehicle does not move from standing position when accelerator depressed. Suddenly jumps into gear (in drive or reverse position). Needed to step on the brakes immediately to prevent accident. Also lacks acceleration while passing on the highway.. Updated 03/30/10 sporadic initially.…
Tl contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper. While driving 25 MPH, the vehicle jerked and made rattling and popping sounds. The vehicle shut off and the contact pushed it to the side of the road. The key could not be removed from the ignition and the vehicle had to be towed to the dealer. She was informed that the transmission…
Engine
14 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system.
In september 2012 I noticed a loud fan noise that wouldn't turn off. The car was also overheating. I noticed that it was very hard to steer the car, but I thought that was due to the overheating. Mechanic determined failed cylinder head gasket in 11/2012. The radiator was replaced and the thermostat was replaced. In…
At low miles the transmission has to be replaced. No fore warning just gone. I'm trying to drive and at 10 MPH I'm revving at up to 3000 RPM's. This should DEF not be happening! I'm fuming being that I have to now replace the transmission when I have not beaten on it or anything to make this happen. So far my…
Other or unspecified
11 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles.
The power steering has failed twice, once when I parked while running errands and once while driving at low speed. On-line, I read that this is a common complaint for minis produced between 2001 and 2007, but primarily those from 2004-05 and that it is related to the hydraulic power steering pump. My understanding is…
Problem with the transmission. Transmission does not shift properly downshifts at high speeds causing the engine to rev really high. Jolts a lot on the speed changes. Having signs indicative of transmission failure.
Seats
7 complaints · 2%Half of these problems showed up before 46,000 miles.
4/10/2008 airbag light on dash came on intermittently - Mini dealer could not duplicate problem 9/23/2008 airbag light on dash came on and stayed lit - Mini dealer found micro-cracks in oc3 seat mat fault code fc71 stored in mr55k checked faults replaced oc3 seat mat installed seat and enable seat mat with gt1 cleared…
The written "safety recall notice" that I received in the mail yesterday, october 14, 2015, of which bmw/Mini likely provided NHTSA a copy is both false and misleading. Four months after bmw/Mini notified me not to allow an adult-size person to ride in the front passenger seat of this four-seat, two-door automobile…
Speed control
5 complaints · 1%Half of these problems showed up before 2,500 miles.
Started vehicle in the evening when leaving work then drove out onto the street and the vehicle stopped. The throttle would not do anything and the car wouldn't move. The dealer said a temperature sensor told the computer it was out of range and sent the automatic transmission into a limp mode. After pulling over and…
While stopped the car would not accelerate for 5-7 seconds.. The engine RPM did not increase even with the foot pedal pushed to the floor. When the RPM did increase the car accelerated normally until the next episode. When the vehicle was taken to be serviced the problem could not be determined.
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 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.
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
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Mini Cooper?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (276 complaints, typically around 72,000 miles); air bags (41 complaints, typically around 66,000 miles); electrical (30 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Mini Cooper 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 2005 a bad year for the Mini Cooper?
- It is the most complained-about Cooper model year since 2000, with 372 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.