repaired · 2017 Q2
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk. If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, potentially increasing the risk of a…
2005 MINI Cooper SProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 314 owner complaints about the 2005 MINI Cooper S, most often about the steering. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-660 the manufacturer reports only 31% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 16, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2005 MINI Cooper S has problems
314 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
212Steering15 crash/fire/injury
71Air bags2 crash/fire/injury
23Electrical system9 crash/fire/injury
13Power train
8Seats
8Engine and engine cooling
8Engine
4Structure
3Suspension
1611 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 212 | 15 |
| Air bags | 71 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 23 | 9 |
| Power train | 13 | 0 |
| Seats | 8 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 8 | 3 |
| Engine | 8 | 3 |
| Structure | 4 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 |
| 11 other systems | 16 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2005 MINI Cooper S recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2017 Q1
Air bags: frontal
Risk. An improperly functioning mat may cause the passenger frontal air bag to be inactive when the seat is occupied, and in the event of a crash, the air bag will…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with MINI.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
70kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 205 steering complaints. 80% were reported before 100,000 miles.
6under 30k miles165under 100k miles40100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Steering
18 owners mentioned a cost$1,150median
Middle half: $1,000 – $1,299
Air bags
16 owners mentioned a cost$1,315median
Middle half: $1,175 – $1,525
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2005 vs. every other Cooper S year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Cooper S median. How we score
'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'19'20'21'22'24'25
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2005 MINI Cooper S, and the recalls they led to.
- Loss of power steering assistLed to recall 15V-660
- Loss of Power Steering AssistNo recall
In owners' words
What Cooper S owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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 vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that a software update was performed on…
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 stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The…
BATTERY LIGHT FLASHING, POWER STEERING CUTTING OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. ALTERNATOR AND SERPINTINE BELT REPLACED BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES. ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SEEMS TO BE DRAINING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Own a 2005 Cooper S?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.