MINI Cooper S Convertible Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 131 consumer complaints across the 6 model years of the MINI Cooper S Convertible (2005–2010) that have at least 5 complaints. 2005 has the most, with 61. Across all years, the part named most often is steering (44 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All Cooper S Convertible model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 10 | 27,000 | 1 | 124 | — | Not enough data |
| 2009 | 9 | 47,000 | 1 | 91 | — | Not enough data |
| 2008 | 7 | 28,665 | 1 | 22 | — | Not enough data |
| 2007 | 8 | 26,000 | 2 | 24 | — | Not enough data |
| 2006 | 36 | 63,500 | 1 | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2005 | 61 | 69,000 | 1 | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Steering44 30%
- Air bags44 30%
- Engine16 11%
- Transmission and drivetrain13 8.8%
- Seats12 8.2%
- Engine cooling7 4.8%
- Other or unknown6 4.1%
- Electrical system5 3.4%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2006: “I purchased a used 2006 Mini Cooper S Convertible from a dealer and after signing the papers and getting the keys I turned the car on and all the warning lights came on. The dealer took it back to the shop and did a diagnostic test revealing nothing was wrong, reset the vehicle and handed me the keys. The problem continues intermittently still.”
NHTSA complaint #10726719, filed 2015-06, 76,995 miles2007: “The seats' heating elements had been replaced due to a recall approximately 2 years ago. This month I brought the car to nd from tx and we used the heated seats here. The seats' were very hot. Today I noticed three burn holes in the back of the driver's seat where it contacts the driver's back.”
NHTSA complaint #11089231, filed 2018-04, 45,808 miles2010: “I was driving on I 280 east and newar exit 8b the engine suddenly stopped. There was loss of power steering and steering wheel became very tight. I almost got hit by a tractor. I got out of the exit (exit 7) and got myself towed. The mechanic thinks it is the timing belt that is broken.”
NHTSA complaint #10823201, filed 2016-01, 52,000 milesOther MINI models
2,232 complaintsMINI Cooper S
1,777 complaintsMINI Cooper Convertible
170 complaintsMINI Cooper Clubman
112 complaintsMINI Cooper Countryman
107 complaintsMINI Countryman
97 complaintsMINI Cooper S Clubman
88 complaintsMINI Clubman
75 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology