2005 MINI Cooper S Convertible Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe intermittent loss of power steering assist, frequently preceded by pump noise and sometimes accompanied by a cooling fan that keeps running after shutdown. A second recurring theme is the passenger seat occupancy sensor turning the passenger airbag off. Most reports come in between roughly 30,000 and 80,000 miles, and several owners describe the steering assist returning after the car is restarted.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering assist cuts out intermittently

   • 28 complaints (46%)
   • median 65,187 mi at 7.4 yrs old (26 state mileage)
   • filed 2011–2026

   Owners describe the steering suddenly becoming heavy and hard to turn, often at low speed, while turning, or just after start-up, with no warning light. Many report that switching the ignition off and restarting restores assist for a while before it drops out again. Complaints mention pump whine beforehand, and dealers typically quoted replacement of the electro-hydraulic power steering pump; some owners say they were told a diagnostic fee was required first. Reported across a wide mileage range, with many complaints between about 40,000 and 80,000 miles and a few at start-up or at low speed.

   7 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the power steering pump or its cooling fan has been replaced, and whether any extended-coverage program for the pump applied to this VIN. On a test drive, listen for pump whine and check that assist is present right after a cold start.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Bought the vehicle in feb. 2012 a few months later on several occasions 15-20 times, to date. I have lost full control of the vehicle, no steering capability. Several time has been while turning or exiting the freeway, vehicle becomes difficult to control. I have been close to causing several accidents due to the same problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10503015, filed 2013-03, 70,000 miles

   “I was leaving work late at night when I tried to drive the car out of the parking lot the steering disappeared. It was difficult to maneuver the car. I had the car at the Mini dearlship earlier in the week to replace light bulbs so I called the dealership to find out where what this could be, where I could check the power steering fluid levels. They were not that helpful. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10794973, filed 2015-11, 100,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Passenger airbag off / occupancy sensor fault

   • 13 complaints (21%)
   • median 42,611 mi at 7.6 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2011–2017

   Owners report the airbag warning light staying on and the passenger airbag off indicator showing even when someone is seated in the passenger seat. Complaints describe dealers diagnosing a cracked or failed seat occupancy mat or the airbag control module, with repair quotes often in the four figures. Several owners note the car was not included in a related recall campaign and that they were not offered coverage. Mostly reported between about 20,000 and 80,000 miles, with several owners noting the fault appeared at low mileage.

   Recall 15V2050001 related service bulletin

   What to check: With the key on, watch the passenger airbag status indicator while someone sits in the passenger seat. Ask the seller whether the seat mat or control module has been replaced and whether recall 15V205000 was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When someone is sitting in the seat. Also, the light which indicates the passenger side airbag is off comes on when someone is sitting in the passenger seat. I used the same write-up on a previous complaint as the symptoms are accurate for my 2005 Mini Cooper S Convertible, with approximately 72,000 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10412183, filed 2011-07, 72,000 miles

   “Airbag sensor light is on, indicating a problem with the passenger airbag. This is a common problem with minis and certain bmws. Mini has voluntarily repaired the defect in some vehicles but is refusing to repair others. Mini told me to take it to a dealer, pay for a diagnostic and they'd think about a repair. I have no faith in their willingness to provide a repair since ether have refused the repair repeatedly to other consumers. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10537800, filed 2013-08, 69,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Steering pump overheating, draining battery or burning

   • 10 complaints (16%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 8.5 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2017

   Some owners describe the power steering pump or its cooling fan continuing to run after the car is shut off, draining the battery overnight, and in some cases smelling of burning wiring or producing smoke from the pump area. Complaints mention a faulty relay in the pump and fluid leaking from the pump or its hoses. Owners who raised the extended-coverage program report mixed results on whether it was honored. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 90,000 miles, with some cases after the car had been parked overnight.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: After a short drive, shut the car off and listen for a fan or pump still running under the hood. Check for low or leaking power steering fluid and ask whether the pump assembly and cooling fan have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The car ( 2005 Mini cooper) was completely dead overnight. We charged the battery and a fan wouldn't turn off which must have caused the drain. We had it fixed. It was a faulty relay in the power steering pump, which had also been leaking onto the engine. Read on the internet that thousands of people are having this very issue. We spent $1,000 to fix this on a car with 40,000 miles!”

   NHTSA complaint #10397518, filed 2011-04, 40,000 miles

   “Power steering pump on my daughter's car caught on fire about three (3) weeks ago while she was stopped at a red light, luckily she thought enough and turned the car off so the damage was only to the power steering pump and wiring harness . Once we discovered what had caught fire we did research on how to make the repair(s) and came across the recall for 2005 Mini cooper s convertibles power steering pumps, they are recalling them because they fail and sometimes catch fire. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10555751, filed 2013-12, 112,500 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission hesitation, stalling between gears

   • 6 complaints (10%)
   • median 76,750 mi at 8.1 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2011–2017

   Owners describe sluggish or inconsistent acceleration at steady speed, difficulty shifting between gears, and in one case the car stalling while driving. Complaints mention the engine light coming on sporadically and that a dealer found no fault at first. Another owner reported abnormal rattling from the clutch area, with the dealer recommending clutch and flywheel replacement. Mostly reported between about 48,000 and 85,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive at steady speed and through all gears, watching for hesitation, slipping or a flare between shifts. Ask whether the transmission or clutch has been repaired and whether any related warranty extension applies.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When my Mini Cooper S Convertible only had around 85,000 mile on speedometer my transmission would suddenly have difficulty going from 3rd to 4th gear and stall while going down the road and I have almost been rear ended by cars behind me not expecting me to stall. Upon researching web there are many same complaints about this model vehicle. It is a safety issue. Mini USA did not agree to fix the vehicle. I think this should be addressed as a recall before some one is killed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10549548, filed 2013-10, 85,000 miles

   “Around june 2008 my Mini cooper s 2005 began exhibiting what appeared to be a failure to maintain consistent speed while driving at a constant RPM. I experienced slow, or sluggish acceleration while driving and the engine light would come on sporadically. I took my Mini, which was still under warranty in for service to bmw/Mini of san antonio and was reassured that I was experiencing normal shifting mechanics. They were also unable to detect why the engine light was coming on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10563887, filed 2014-02, 48,022 miles

Buying note. Because steering assist complaints dominate this model year, a pre-purchase inspection should focus on the power steering pump, its cooling fan and any prior replacements, along with the passenger airbag status light. Asking for service records on both items gives a clearer picture than mileage alone.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 55 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.