Problems · NHTSA complaints

2004 MINI Cooper S problems

Owners filed 529 complaints about the 2004 MINI Cooper S with NHTSA between Mar 2004 and May 2025. The most-cited component is steering (448).

Complaints
529
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
12
Reported by owners
Fires
14
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering448
  2. Electrical system34
  3. Power train28
  4. Visibility19
  5. Engine and engine cooling9
  6. Air bags8
  7. Engine6
  8. Electronic stability control (esc)4
  9. Wheels4
  10. Tires4
  11. Suspension4
  12. Structure3
  13. Seat belts3
  14. Seats3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20044
20056
20066
20079
200825
200912
2010111
2011144
2012116
201345
201416
20157
201610
20173
20185
20195
20203
20210
20221
20230
20240
20251

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Steering

448 reports10 crashes8 fires1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2004 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000(STEERING); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had experienced the failure, causing the driver to lose control of the steering and drive off the road. The exact cause of the failure was not determined, and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160.000. Parts distribution disconnect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 14, 2025SteeringODI 11661001

Electrical system

34 reports8 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY WAS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE FIREWALL ABOVE THE GEAR BOX. THE BATTERY ACID LEAKED ONTO TWO SHIFTER CABLE LINKAGES, WHICH CAUSED THEM TO MELT UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED ONE OTHER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED SIX MONTHS AGO BECAUSE OF THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AGAIN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2016Electrical systemODI 10896248

Power train

28 reports1 fire
“2004 MINI COOPER PURCHASED NEW APROX 62 MILES ON IT AND THE CVT TRANSMISSION IS GONE & THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS, I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED AND WANT THIS FIXED AT NO COST TO ME. AT APROX. 50 TO 60 MPH THE CAR ENGINES GOES WAY BEYOND THE PROPER RPM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 24, 2018Power train, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11153472

Visibility

19 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED AND BOTH FRONT WINDOWS HESITATED TO ROLL UP AND DOWN. ALSO, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE BUCKLED OR UNBUCKLED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A POSITIVE CABLE IN THE FUSE BOX THAT MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD DESTROY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSE A FIRE, AND KEEP THE AIR BAG FROM DEPLOYING IN A CRASH. THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE CABLE WAS BEING STRETCHED AND THE CENTER SWITCH PACK CASE WAS SEPARATED, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE WINDOWS TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,500.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 23, 2014Electrical system, Visibility, Air bags, Seat beltsODI 10615824

Engine and engine cooling

9 reports1 fire
“2004 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER REQUESTS ASSISTANCE FOR HAZARDOUS VEHICLE TRANSMISSION AND STEERING WHEEL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2013Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10506102

Air bags

8 reports
“ALL MODELS FROM 2005 ONWARD HAVE BEEN RECALLED, YET EARLIER MODELS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH NON FUNCTIONING AIRBAGS. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON CONTINUALLY, AND THERE ARE KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH WIRING, PRESSURE MATS AND CONNECTORS IN THESE VEHICLES. BMW IS INTENTIONALLY IGNORING THESE ISSUE. MY OWN PERSONAL VEHICLE HAS THIS PROBLEM AND AS A GOVERNMENT MANDATED SAFETY DEVICE I BELIEVE THAT EARLIER MODELS OF MINI COOPERS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 30, 2019Air bagsODI 11228472
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.