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SteeringPart report

2005 MINI Cooper Convertible Steering Problems

Complaints
75about this part
Share
78%of 96 total for the year
Median mileage
74,500miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 75 complaints about the steering of the 2005 MINI Cooper Convertible, 78% of the 96 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 74,500 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 3 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Power steering pump goes out from time to time, brought it to Mini dealerships once and was working fine when we brought it in, and was told nothing was wrong, and was sent on our way. Now had to disconnect battery to replace a part, and when reconnecting the battery, power steering pumps runs and wont shut off. Vehicle was stationary. Please hep, and thank you.”

NHTSA complaint #10949672, filed 2017-02, 185,005 miles

“The car stopped steering correctly. It is very difficult to turn the wheels. The power steering is gone. I started noticing the difference in the steering and then the steering progressively got worse. I called the service department of the dealership to ask if there should be a concern because the steering started after I had the recall service on the seat warmmer.”

NHTSA complaint #11057515, filed 2017-12, 10,200 miles

“Power steering goes out. Very hard to turn the wheel. Its like having no steering at all at times. I have two Mini coopers. This one has not yet to get the recall for the steering pump. I have a recall for the other Mini that I own but that one doesnt have a problem.”

NHTSA complaint #10819295, filed 2016-01, 131,000 miles

“My power steering failed as I was making a turn in my neighborhood. The problem is intermittent and a little unnerving. I am strong enough to drive the car without the power assist, but this is not true of my wife. If the problem were to occur when she was driving she might lose control.”

NHTSA complaint #10399027, filed 2011-05, 65,000 miles

“2005 Mini cooper power steering abruptly failed while driving at 55 MPH on a winding 2 lane rural road. I was able to keep the car on the road and was able to drive the car home with great difficulty. Had this been a heavily traveled highway, the results could have been much different. When it happened, it took a little time to figure out what was going on and I found myself in the oncoming lane before I was able to recover.”

NHTSA complaint #10417740, filed 2011-08, 110,242 miles

Related service bulletins

Steering: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
200916%
2008222%
20061037%
20057578%

Other parts of the 2005 MINI Cooper Convertible

Air bags
7 complaintsElectrical system
7 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
6 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
3 complaintsEngine
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsSeats
2 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaintsFuel system
1 complaintsSeat belts
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2005 MINI Cooper Convertible

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology