Major Problems with MINI Cooper S Derived from Complaints & Recalls

Learn about the common problems with a used MINI Cooper S to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.

MINI Cooper S complaint overview

1627 recorded complaints across model years
Years covered 2002–2012
Most recorded categories STEERING (626), ENGINE (303), AIR BAGS (224)
Highest recorded count 310 in 2005

Complaint counts are reports, not confirmed defect rates. Older model years have had more time to accumulate reports, and sales volume and reporting coverage differ by year. A higher count does not by itself make a year the least reliable, and these figures are not a failure probability.

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Problem category

MINI Cooper S FlawScore

Best and Worst Years for MINI Cooper S

Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of MINI Cooper S.

Model Year	Complaints
2012 Cooper S	9
2011 Cooper S	18
2010 Cooper S	54
2009 Cooper S	108
2008 Cooper S	160
2007 Cooper S	245
2006 Cooper S	183
2005 Cooper S	310
2004 Cooper S	245
2003 Cooper S	213
2002 Cooper S	82

Worst 3 MINI Cooper S complaints

2005 MINI Cooper S AIR BAGS Victims: 3 Mileage: 150000 miles

2003 MINI Cooper S STEERING Victims: 3 Mileage: 213000 miles

2006 MINI Cooper S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Victims: 2 Mileage: 13000 miles

Browse MINI Cooper S complaints by category

Problems with STEERING, ENGINE and AIR BAGS are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from MINI Cooper S owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
STEERING vehicle jerks/hestiates at low speed around 10mph. jerks during stop and go in traffic. be to a handful of auto	626 ~ 75815 miles
ENGINE engine rattling noise (timing chain and tensioner) at all times vehicle has only 50 000 miles ...	303 ~ 65410 miles
AIR BAGS airbag seat sensors are faulty. they are turning off the airbags even thought the driver and passenger are seated. *tr...	224 ~ 59168 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING car driven two miles to market and returned home to high rise condo. parked in garage of high rise. no...	132 ~ 41070 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM vehicle had been driven 24 miles and parked for about 10 minutes when engine compartment caught fire. master mechanic diagnosed	110 ~ 61057 miles
POWER TRAIN thermostat housing began to leak the part is plastic and had become cracked under normal wear....	79 ~ 58442 miles
WINDSHIELD > VISIBILITY windshield crack appeared over night. *nm...	48 ~ 7430 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER after coming home from a routine drive. i parked my car in the drive way. about 30 minutes later i...	39 ~ 58213 miles
SEATS tl* the contact owns a 2012 mini cooper s. the contact stated that upon entering the vehicle there were strong...	36 ~ 57425 miles
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING cold start problem no power lots of noise. timing chain on r56 mini cooper. there is a service bulletin but	29 ~ 30497 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM while moving in traffic and accelerating the fuel pump cut out and the engine died forcing the driver to maneuver...	28 ~ 70522 miles
PUMP > HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST > STEERING tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper s. as he was making a left turn at 5 mph the...	21 ~ 58230 miles
SEAT BELTS airbag and seatbelt warning lights come on for passenger seat and will not turn off. it indicates that the passenger...	20 ~ 64573 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL as i was accelerating while merging onto a highway at approximately 55-60 mph it felt as if the car lost...	18 ~ 49100 miles
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS the passenger airbag off light comes on with a passenger in the car. the light comes on and remains on...	16 ~ 37588 miles
MANUAL TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN 2008 mini cooper s clutch failure #1 @ approximately 23k #2 clutch failure @ 36k in both cases it left	15 ~ 25730 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE as i was accelerating while merging onto a highway at approximately 55-60 mph it felt as if the car lost...	14 ~ 36071 miles
ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM > STEERING power steering pump failure on 2005 mini cooper leads to dangerous driving *kb...	11 ~ 70539 miles
EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING i borrowed my friend's mini cooper s for the week to test drive it. as i was unloading cargo from...	11 ~ 13995 miles
HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM > STEERING the steering failed on my 2004 mini cooper s with 84k mile. the power steering fan failed causing the power...	9 ~ 76093 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE after coming home from a routine drive. i parked my car in the drive way. about 30 minutes later i...	8 ~ 55378 miles
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 2008 mini cooper s. the vehicle had a complete electrical and engine failure with no notice. while driving on interstate...	8 ~ 44319 miles
VISIBILITY my complaint is not about an accident but rather an unsafe condition in my relatively new mini cooper. the size...	8 ~ 38452 miles
STRUCTURE tl* the contact owns a 2012 mini cooper s. the contact stated that the front and rear driver side carpet...	7 ~ 32163 miles
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL on july 3 2012 i was burned on my calf by the exhaust pipe located in the middle back of...	7 ~ 68259 miles
FRONT > SUSPENSION back in late september 2006 i purchased a 06 mini cooper s (dealers demo with 380 miles). the week after...	7 ~ 24837 miles
OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION > SENSOR > AIR BAGS the passenger airbag warning light indicating the passenger side airbag is disabled even if passenger is seated. our mechanic tells...	6 ~ 77333 miles
POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS > VISIBILITY power window failure to properly lift and seal when driver and passenger doors are closed. *tr...	6 ~ 34467 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 1) grinding noise was heard from right rear corner of the car while braking. 2) upon inspection it was found...	6 ~ 41014 miles
DOOR > BODY > STRUCTURE tl* the contact owns a 2012 mini cooper s. while attempting to exit the vehicle the front passenger and driver...	5 ~ 30199 miles
TREAD/BELT > TIRES i have a 2004 mini cooper that had nine month old pirelli eufori run flat tires on all four wheel...	5 ~ 12000 miles
EXTERIOR LIGHTING the plastic housing for both headlights are beginning to crack potentially exposing the xenon lightbulbs. failure of headlight(s) while driving	5 ~ 45363 miles
SIDE/WINDOW > AIR BAGS the passenger airbag off light comes on with a passenger in the car. the light comes on and remains on...	5 ~ 62870 miles
TIRES information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia) 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) kumho tire usa. incorporated and discount tire...	5 ~ 32763 miles
EQUIPMENT i burned my lower front leg on the chrome tipped dual exhaust pipes of out 2007 mini cooper s (turbo	5 ~ 14860 miles
ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC i have a 2006 mini cooper john cooper wroks gp. the dsc (directional stability control) low tire warning light and...	5 ~ 14100 miles
SERVICE BRAKES tl* the contact owns a 2008 mini cooper s. the contact stated while driving approximately 20 mph the brakes failed...	4 ~ 48375 miles
COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING i have a 2009 mini cooper s with 27 000 miles. twice the engine valves has been cleaned because of...	4 ~ 30103 miles
MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE > EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING burned my left leg just above the ankle on the exhaust pipe while retrieving parcel from the boot of the	4 ~ 11250 miles
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN i purchased a 2007 mini-cooper s and at 10k miles (1 year old) the clutch needed to be replaced. i...	4 ~ 25500 miles
SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE > FRONTAL > AIR BAGS passenger airbag sensor does not sense passenger. light illuminates stating passenger airbags off. dealer has replaced sensor seat mat twice...	4 ~ 19625 miles
SUSPENSION i have owned this vehicle for 1 year and three months. i did not have the choice of selecting any...	3 ~ 32167 miles
WHEELS i have owned this vehicle for 1 year and three months. i did not have the choice of selecting any...	3 ~ 36500 miles
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM i have a 2006 mini cooper john cooper wroks gp. the dsc (directional stability control) low tire warning light and...	3 ~ 23500 miles
REAR > SUSPENSION while pulling into the parking garage at work the rear of my mini cooper s made a noise. the control...	3 ~ 34094 miles
FRONT PASSENGER > OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION > SENSOR the passenger airbag warning light indicating the passenger side airbag is disabled even if passenger is seated. our mechanic tells...	2 ~ 66500 miles
FAN > COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING engine cooling fan low speed stage failure. there has been a recall of cooling fan for the same model up...	2 ~ 14667 miles
DRIVELINE > POWER TRAIN vin: [xxx] delivered sept. 2004. current mileage 49 940 this car was ordered via mini.com. the only drivers are a...	2 ~ 58250 miles
12V/24V/48V BATTERY > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2005 mini cooper s. the contact stated the vehicle would not start. she contacted roadside...	2 ~ 56663 miles
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN tl*the contact owns a 2008 mini cooper s. while driving approximately 35 mph on normal road conditions the clutch failed...	2 ~ 7000 miles
HOOD > BODY > STRUCTURE hood scoop on 2007 mini cooper "s" is melting due to excessive heat from turbo. *tr...	2 ~ 13950 miles
SIDEWALL > TIRES complaint for dunlop radial tubeless tires 205145 r17 (84v) sp sport 01 run flat tires. i was washing my 2007...	2 ~ 4350 miles
FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM i was parked one after noon looking under the hood and i heard a crackling sound coming form the abs...	2 ~ 30500 miles
MECHANICAL > EQUIPMENT 2007 mini cooper s - manual transmission would not allow gearshifts and could only be driven in first gear. dealership...	2 ~ 40100 miles
TURBO/SUPERCHARGER > GASOLINE > ENGINE the center pillar heat rises to an extremely high temperature in my car. this happened in the summer when temperatures...	2 ~ 1618 miles
ACCELERATOR PEDAL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL under normal driving conditions the car's center pillar area (directly adjacent to the gas pedal) reaches average temperatures of 115-120...	2 ~ 26685 miles
LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS > WHEELS dt*: the contact stated the lug bolts sheered while attempting to remove by hand on more than one wheel. the	2 ~ 39000 miles
AUTOMATIC (ASC) > ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL dynamic stabilty control flat tire and abs lights come on while driving. dealer has replaced dynamic stabilty control module part...	2
VISIBILITY/WIPER 2005 mini cooper s was traveling 50mph when it hit icy bridge spun around and rolled 3 times driver was	1 ~ 150000 miles
RIM > WHEELS tl* the contact owns a 2012 mini cooper s. the contact stated that while having maintenance performed the contact was...	1 ~ 44342 miles
GLASS, SIDE/REAR > VISIBILITY tl* the contact owns a 2004 mini cooper s. the contact noticed that the vehicle's air bag warning indicator was...	1 ~ 124500 miles
BUCKLE ASSEMBLY > FRONT > SEAT BELTS tl* the contact owns a 2004 mini cooper s. the contact noticed that the vehicle's air bag warning indicator was...	1 ~ 124500 miles
BEAD > TIRES the tire will not seal to the rim because of the small nipples in the rubber around the rim of...	1 ~ 33568 miles
HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS > HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST > STEERING 2007 mini cooper s. consumer writes in regards to defective power steering hoses and oil pan gaskets. *smd the consumer	1 ~ 23000 miles
SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY > VISIBILITY the dual power sunroof is stuck in the open position. after doing some research i have found that this happens...	1 ~ 39202 miles
IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2005 mini cooper s - engine fire a few days ago (7/27/2011) my 2005 mini cooper s caught fire in...	1 ~ 86000 miles
RADIATOR ASSEMBLY > COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING on 13 june 2011 a power steering fan shorted on my dauhters 2002 mini cooper s causing the radiator fan...	1 ~ 54327 miles
SEAT HEATER/COOLER > FRONT ASSEMBLY > SEATS tl* the contact owns a 2004 mini cooper s. the contact was traveling 35 mph when the steering became extremely...	1 ~ 4053 miles
PARKING BRAKE parking brake on 2010 mini cooper s did not hold on slight incline. car rolled into another vehicle and caused	1 ~ 17500 miles
FUEL PUMP > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE tl*the contact owns a 2004 mini cooper s. the contact stated that the power steering failed suddenly. the power steering...	1 ~ 108000 miles
PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS > TIRES the power steering on my 2005 mini cooper s began malfunctioning on 8-9-2010. while going left on a mixmaster the...	1 ~ 75000 miles
FRAME AND MEMBERS > STRUCTURE my mini cooper s has less than 27 000 miles on it. it has been carefully driven and has sustained...	1 ~ 26799 miles
COLUMN > STEERING tl*the contact owns a 2002 mini cooper s. the contact stated that while driving at 50 mph the vehicle suddenly...	1 ~ 42392 miles
ROOF AND PILLARS > BODY > STRUCTURE metal tabs connecting glass sunroof to sunroof guides broke. the metal split possibly due to metal fatigue induced by vibration.	1 ~ 119000 miles
RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT defect initially occurred at night time in rush hour traffic: dash-lights went out turn indicator not functional heater blower stopped...	1 ~ 40800 miles
INTERIOR LIGHTING defect initially occurred at night time in rush hour traffic: dash-lights went out turn indicator not functional heater blower stopped...	1 ~ 40800 miles
DIESEL > ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING cold start chatter. very nasty diesel engine sound upon startup when engine is cold. sound lasts for up to 1...	1 ~ 60 miles
SHOCK ABSORBER > REAR > SUSPENSION consumer wants to know if there are any recalls for 2003 mini cooper s. consumer states that her son was...	1
ABS WARNING LIGHT > ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC i was parked one after noon looking under the hood and i heard a crackling sound coming form the abs...	1
GASOLINE > ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING during cold start vehicle makes loud metal on metal sound persistent for several minutes. sound is similar to older diesel...	1
CRUISE CONTROL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL car has been outside in the cold weather and when started it sounds like not firing correctly-backfiring noises. engine lights...	1 ~ 21000 miles
ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM took my car in for winding sound coming from motor. diagnosed as the alternator...they replaced it and sound was still...	1 ~ 85000 miles
MACPHERSON STRUT > FRONT > SUSPENSION tl*the contact owns a 2006 mini cooper s. while driving 45 mph the vehicle squeaked when it drove over a...	1 ~ 11000 miles
MOTOR > WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY several the air bag warning light has illuminated more then ten different times each time it was repaired by the...	1
TANK ASSEMBLY > STORAGE > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE the plastic gas tank of the 2006 mini cooper was punctured by debris on rt 3 near chelmsford massachusetts. several	1 ~ 23805 miles
PADS > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS with only 24000 total miles on the 2002 mini cooper-s all 4 brakes and rotors were failing worn beyond limits	1 ~ 24000 miles
ROTOR > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS i was driving my brand new mini cooper s home from the dealership on the interstate i was cut off...	1 ~ 86 miles
AIR CONDITIONER > APPLIANCE > EQUIPMENT for the past 2 years the air conditioning has been intermittent. the lights for the fan and temperature remain on...	1 ~ 34000 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER while driving vehicle 20 minutes with no problems the vehicle stalled the check engine light came on and within seconds...	1
AXLE ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN while consumer stopped at a traffic light another driver pointed out that rear axle had snapped from vehicle. consumer had	1
INFLATOR MODULE > DRIVER SIDE > FRONTAL consumer called complaining abot the air bags in the vehicle. also stated that while driving the vehicle the side air...	1 ~ 3300 miles

FAQ

What year MINI Cooper S is the most reliable?

Speaking of the models produced in the last 11 years, MINI Cooper S models of 2012, 2011, 2010 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.

What year was a bad year for MINI Cooper S?

MINI Cooper S models of 2005 and 2004 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.

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