2005 MINI Cooper S Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2005 MINI Cooper S, and owners have filed 314 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2005 MINI Cooper S
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Electric power assist system (steering)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 MINI Cooper and Cooper S vehicles and 2005 Cooper and Cooper S Convertible vehicles. The affected vehicles may experience temporary or permanent loss of the electro-hydraulic steering assistance.
Remedy: MINI will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the electro-hydraulic power steering system, replacing the components and wiring, as necessary, free of charge. Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 10,…
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Air bags: frontal
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2005-2006 MINI Cooper and Cooper S vehicles manufactured January 5, 2005, to November 28, 2006, and 2005-2008 MINI Cooper Convertible and Cooper S Convertible vehicles manufactured January 5, 2005, to July 31, 2008. Due to manufacturing, installation, and exposure issues,…
Remedy: MINI will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat occupant detection mat, free of charge. The recall began on October 12, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
314 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2005 MINI Cooper S have filed 314 complaints with NHTSA; 6 describe a crash and 17 describe a fire. Reports cite 3 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 72,058 miles. Complaints peaked in 2011 with 72 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The contact stated that the vehicle had lost power steering assist. The”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 16, 2025 · Steering
“The contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (Steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact sta”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 24, 2022 · Steering
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2005 MINI Cooper (Cooper Convertible, Cooper S, Cooper S Convertible). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 24–28 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 21–24 / 29–33 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Minicompact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6); Automatic (variable gear ratios); Manual 5-spd; Manual 6-spd |
Compare MINI Cooper S model years
Recall and complaint counts for every MINI Cooper S model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 MINI Cooper S | 1 | 83 |
| 2003 MINI Cooper S | 2 | 217 |
| 2004 MINI Cooper S | 2 | 247 |
| 2005 MINI Cooper S | 2 | 314 |
| 2006 MINI Cooper S | 1 | 186 |
| 2007 MINI Cooper S | 4 | 249 |
| 2008 MINI Cooper S | 4 | 168 |
| 2009 MINI Cooper S | 3 | 119 |
| 2010 MINI Cooper S | 4 | 59 |
| 2011 MINI Cooper S | 3 | 31 |
| 2012 MINI Cooper S | 2 | 23 |
| 2013 MINI Cooper S | 1 | 24 |
| 2014 MINI Cooper S | 4 | 13 |
| 2015 MINI Cooper S | 4 | 18 |
| 2016 MINI Cooper S | 3 | 9 |
| 2017 MINI Cooper S | 3 | 6 |
| 2019 MINI Cooper S | 1 | 5 |
| 2020 MINI Cooper S | 2 | 5 |
| 2021 MINI Cooper S | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 MINI Cooper S | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 MINI Cooper S | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 MINI Cooper S | 3 | 4 |
Checking a specific 2005 MINI Cooper S
How do I know if my 2005 MINI Cooper S has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2005 MINI Cooper S; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised MINI dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 15V205000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other MINI models
- Cooper2,235 complaints
- Cooper Convertible173 complaints
- Cooper S Convertible138 complaints
- Cooper Clubman116 complaints
- Cooper Countryman107 complaints
- Countryman104 complaints
- Cooper S Clubman90 complaints
- Clubman80 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.