Mini COOPER S problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,780 owner complaints analyzed
23 distinct recall campaigns
61,296 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 to 2025 model years. Data snapshot: . 1,572 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 639 of 1,780 complaints (35.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 686 | 38.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 195 | 11.0% |
| Engine operation | 93 | 5.2% |
| Braking behavior | 61 | 3.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 58 | 3.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 40 | 2.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 639 |
| Engine | 339 |
| Air Bags | 243 |
| Electrical System | 164 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 134 |
| Power Train | 90 |
| Unknown Or Other | 52 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 49 |
Steering: 639; Engine: 339; Air Bags: 243; Electrical System: 164; Engine And Engine Cooling: 134; Power Train: 90; Unknown Or Other: 52; Visibility:Windshield: 49
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 188 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 341 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 500 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 298 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 210 |
| 150,000 and above | 35 |
Under 25,000: 188; 25,000 to 49,999: 341; 50,000 to 74,999: 500; 75,000 to 99,999: 298; 100,000 to 149,999: 210; 150,000 and above: 35
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (500). 208 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 31 |
| 2004 | 23 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 27 |
| 2007 | 36 |
| 2008 | 71 |
| 2009 | 49 |
| 2010 | 205 |
| 2011 | 285 |
| 2012 | 274 |
| 2013 | 175 |
| 2014 | 126 |
| 2015 | 115 |
| 2016 | 85 |
| 2017 | 56 |
| 2018 | 51 |
| 2019 | 45 |
| 2020 | 34 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 18 |
| 2024 | 22 |
| 2025 | 27 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2000: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 31; 2004: 23; 2005: 8; 2006: 27; 2007: 36; 2008: 71; 2009: 49; 2010: 205; 2011: 285; 2012: 274; 2013: 175; 2014: 126; 2015: 115; 2016: 85; 2017: 56; 2018: 51; 2019: 45; 2020: 34; 2021: 7; 2022: 3; 2023: 18; 2024: 22; 2025: 27; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 686 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 195 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 93 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10170940 · 2006-10-16 (October 16, 2006)
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. REPLACEMENT WAS REQUIRED AT 48,000 MILES. VIEWING THE MINI OWNERS WEBSITE REVEALED MANY SIMILAR SITUATIONS WHERE THE PUMP REQUIRED REPLACEMENT ON MANY 2002-2004 MODELS. THIS COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10170940 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10188190 · 2007-04-17 (April 17, 2007)
SEVERAL, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED MORE THEN TEN DIFFERENT TIMES, EACH TIME IT WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER (WESTCHESTER BMW/WESTCHESTER MINI) THE LAST FIX WAS AFTER THE NORMAL WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND REQUIRED MUCH FUSS TO GET IT REPAIRED FOR FREE. THE POWER STEERING PUMP SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE RADIATOR FAN WAS REPLACED TWO TIMES BY ME (CAR OUT OF WARRANTY) EVEN THOUGH I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER WHEN THE CAR WAS STILL QUITE NEW ABOUT THE FREQUENCY OF THE FAN MOTOR'S STARTING AND STOPPING…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10188190 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10204238 · 2007-09-27 (September 27, 2007)
TOOK MY CAR IN FOR WINDING SOUND COMING FROM MOTOR. DIAGNOSED AS THE ALTERNATOR...THEY REPLACED IT AND SOUND WAS STILL PRESENT ...MISDIAGNOSED AND WAS ACTUALLY THE SUPERCHARGER, BUT WHILE THEY WERE CHECKING IT OUT INITIALLY THE POWER STEERING PUMP STAYED ON...WHICH DIDN'T HAPPEN TO ME UNTIL THEY HAD IT. AFTER CHANGING THE ALTERNATOR POWER STEERING PUMP NO LONGER STAYED ON PER THE DEALER. HAD IT HOME 3 DAYS TO WAKE UP ONE MORNING HEARING THE PUMP ON AND I GO TO START MY CAR AND IN DRAINED MY BATTERY. HAD TO JUMP THE CAR AND THEN DISCONNECT T…
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204238 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10205083 · 2007-10-05 (October 5, 2007)
SIGNIFICANT AND REPEATED ELECTRICAL FAILURES CAUSED THE CAR TO RANDOMLY SWITCH INTO EML MODE, REDUCING ENGINE OUTPUT CRITICALLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH POWER TO REMOVE THE CAR FROM THE ROAD SAFELY. AFTER SEVERAL INEFFECTUAL REPAIRS, THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED. SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CAR WAS PARKED, EMERGENCY BRAKE SET, MANUAL TRANSMISSION SET IN FIRST GEAR. UNATTENDED, TURNED OFF WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE CAR MOVED ITSELF SEVERAL FEET, HITTING ANOTHER CAR, BURNING OUT THE STARTER AND DRAINING …
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10205083 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10358142 · 2010-09-28 (September 28, 2010)
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST. JUST HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN DURING NORMAL DRIVING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10358142 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10359938 · 2010-10-10 (October 10, 2010)
I READ LAST WEEK ABOUT POSSIBLE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSOCIATED WITH 04-05 MINI MODELS. I HAVE AN 02 MINI COOPER S AND HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM APPROX 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 4 YEARS. WITH NO WARNING, THE POWER STEERING WILL SUDDENLY DISAPPEAR. I CAN STEER THE CAR, BUT ONLY WITH SIGNIFICANT EFFORT. MY MECHANIC CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT OF THIS. I'M NOT CERTAIN, BUT IT APPEARS THIS MIGHT HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THE ROAD IS WET. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10359938 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184388 · 2007-03-06 (March 6, 2007)
OUR MINI BURNED TO THE GROUND. IT HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 20 MILES AND WAS PARKED WHEN IT HAPPENED. AFTER A FORENSIC SPECIALIST WAS HIRED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ABS UNIT WAS AT FAULT. IN LATER MODELS, THE FUSE WAS CHANGED FROM A 30 AMP TO A 20 AMP. NO RECALL WAS EVER ISSUED AND BMW/MINI NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. SINCE THIS HAPPENED, AT LEAST 10-15 OTHER MINIS HAVE BURNED. OUR MINI WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184388 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10153123 · 2006-03-19 (March 19, 2006)
ONE MORNING DRIVING ABOUT 100 MPH GOING UP TO CT I PAY A TOLL TAKE OFF THE CAR HESITATES IN FIRST GEAR THEN GOES OK ABOUT A 2 MILES FROM THE TOLL I AM DOING ABOUT 100 MPH AND SWITCH TO THE RIGHT LANE AND THE CAR JUST STOP GIVING ME POWER SO I GO TO CHANGE TO 5TH GEAR NO LUCK SO I LET THE CAR ROLL TO THE SHOULDER CALL MINI ROADSIDE AND THEY TOW TO NEAREST DEALER TO MY HOUSE. THE DEALER HAS MY CAR FOR A TOTAL OF 8 DAYS AND TELL ME THE L/FRONT AXLE WILL NOT STAY IN THE TRANSMISSION. THEN THE DEALER SAY THAT ITS NOT COVERED@ FIRST THEN TELLS ME T…
Owner-reported narrative. 41,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10153123 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174282 · 2006-11-26 (November 26, 2006)
THE PLASTIC GAS TANK OF THE 2006 MINI COOPER WAS PUNCTURED BY DEBRIS ON RT 3 NEAR CHELMSFORD, MASSACHUSETTS. SEVERAL GALLONS OF GASOLINE WERE LOST DUE TO THE PUNCTURE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 23,805 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174282 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10447690 · 2012-02-12 (February 12, 2012)
BRAND NEW VEHICLE WAS TOWED IN FOR REPAIR AT 7,308 MILES 1/27/10 VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE DUE TO MISFIRES 1/27/810. MINI SERVICE CLEANED FUEL SYSTEM AND PROVIDED "COURTESY" FIRST TIME INJECTOR SERVICE. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO ME AND BROUGHT BACK THE NEXT DAY FOR THE SAME MISFIRE FAULTS 2/2/10, HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED AND FUEL RAIL WAS REMOVED. 7,318 MILES, 10 MILES LATER... THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED IN AGAIN FOR COMBUSTION MISFIRES 24,491 MILES 8/12/11 BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR STRANGE NOISE, MINI SAID IT WAS NOTHING TO WOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,308 miles reported. Look up ODI 10447690 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 3 |
2009: 3; 2010: 4; 2011: 3; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 4; 2016: 3; 2017: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 2; 2022: 0; 2024: 0; 2025: 3
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 83 | 1 | Not available |
| 2003 | 217 | 2 | +1 |
| 2004 | 247 | 2 | 0 |
| 2005 | 314 | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 | 186 | 1 | -1 |
| 2007 | 249 | 4 | +3 |
| 2008 | 168 | 4 | 0 |
| 2009 | 119 | 3 | -1 |
| 2010 | 59 | 4 | +1 |
| 2011 | 31 | 3 | -1 |
| 2012 | 23 | 2 | -1 |
| 2013 | 24 | 1 | -1 |
| 2014 | 13 | 4 | +3 |
| 2015 | 18 | 4 | 0 |
| 2016 | 9 | 3 | -1 |
| 2017 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| 2019 | 5 | 1 | Not available |
| 2020 | 5 | 2 | +1 |
| 2021 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | -2 |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | Not available |
| 2025 | 3 | 3 | +3 |