2005 MINI Cooper S Convertible Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 37about this part
- Share
- 61%of 61 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 65,188miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 37 complaints about the steering of the 2005 MINI Cooper S Convertible, 61% of the 61 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 65,188 miles. 4 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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 had a temporary lost of power steering assist. I drove to a few blocks to stop. The problem disappeared after I restarted the car again. This happened twice before while my wife was driving a month earlier or so. This is very dangerous, I had a very hard time to steer the car and find a safe place to park.”
NHTSA complaint #10534891, filed 2013-08, 77,390 miles“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“2005 Mini Cooper S Convertible with 65k miles. Original owner. Yesterday my power steering went out as I drove home from work. No warning sign and it was hard to turn the steering wheel and maneuver the car. I was glad it was me driving and not my wife. Scary experience when driving at 65mph+ on the highway.”
NHTSA complaint #10421402, filed 2011-08, 64,500 miles“Power steering quit unexpectedly. I was in a parking lot, just started the car, and had no power steering. I drove it a few miles down the road to a gas station, turned it off, and when turned back on again it worked fine. Originally happened on 2/12/11 and has not recurred as of 2/22/11.”
NHTSA complaint #10383987, filed 2011-02, 105,600 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10151228Mar 1, 2016This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI 32 02 14 dated August 2014. SUBJECT Installation of Right-Hand Drive Steering Spindle in Left-Hand Drive Vehicle is No Longer…
- 10148439Nov 1, 2014Electro-Hydraulic Power-Assist Steering Pump (EHPS) and Cooling Fan: Limited Warranty Extension to 13 Years/150,000 Miles. On affected vehicles, the electro-hydraulic power…
- 10057710Nov 1, 2014Mini: models r50, r52, and r53 with the electro-hydraulic power-assist steering pump and cooling fans will have an limited warranty extension to 13 years/150,000 miles.
- 10148394Aug 1, 2014Installation of Right-Hand Drive Steering Spindle in Left-Hand Drive Vehicle. Supply shortage of left-hand drive steering spindles
- 10055137Apr 15, 2014Mini: warranty coverage extension/repair expense reimbursement for the electro hydraulic power (assist) steering (ehps) pump, which has its own cooling fan, on some vehicles and…
- 10052614Dec 1, 2013Mini: see document search button for owner letter. A warranty extension for certain vehicles with potential problem with cooling fan and the durability of electro hydraulic power…
- 10150044Jul 1, 2013Electro-Hydraulic Power-Assist Steering Pump (EHPS) and Cooling Fan: Warranty Extension to 13 years/150,000 miles. On affected vehicles, the electro-hydraulic power steering…
- 10150086Jun 1, 2013Electro-Hydraulic Power-Assist Steering Pump (EHPS) and Cooling Fan: Warranty Extension to 13 years/150,000 miles. On affected vehicles, the electro-hydraulic power steering…
Steering: other model years
Other parts of the 2005 MINI Cooper S Convertible
15 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
6 complaintsEngine cooling
3 complaintsBody and structure
2 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsElectrical system
1 complaintsEngine
1 complaintsEquipment
1 complaintsOther or unknown
1 complaintsSeat belts
1 complaintsSeats
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 MINI Cooper S Convertible
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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