NHTSA vehicle safety data

2004 Mini Cooper S Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2004 Mini Cooper S has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 247 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mini dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2004 Mini Cooper S, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2004 Mini Cooper S owner complaints

Owners have filed 247 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Mini Cooper S, describing incidents dated March 18, 2004 to July 18, 2020.

Most-cited components

Steering 210 complaints
Electrical System 19 complaints
Visibility/Wiper 12 complaints
Air Bags 8 complaints
Engine 5 complaints
Seat Belts 3 complaints

Of the 247 complaints on file, 7 report a crash and 5 a fire; across all 247 complaints, owners report 3 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11340300 · Filed July 20, 2020
WAS DRIVING CAR ON 18 JULY 2020 AND POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING AND MADE STEERING DIFFICULT, ALSO COOLANT FAN,LOW SPEED AND HIGH SPEED STOPPED WORKING SAME TIME AS POWER STEERING QUIT. THE ASC LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WILL NOT TURN OFF. NO BLOWN FUSES IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR BY DRIVERS KICK PANEL. I…
ODI #11319854 · Filed March 31, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK PRESENT. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE…
ODI #11302434 · Filed January 28, 2020
THE POWER STEERING IS VERY STIFF TO DRIVE AND CANNOT DRIVE MY COOPER BECAUSE I CAN NO LONGER STEER THE VEHICLE.

Read all 247 complaints

Owner-reported

2004 Mini Cooper S mileage at failure

231 of the 247 complaints on file for the 2004 Mini Cooper S give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Steering	Median 80,000 miles	Middle half 60,000–100,000 miles	Based on 199 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2004 Mini Cooper S in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA11-005: Loss of power steering assist
Closed January 5, 2016
- Recall 15V-660
Preliminary Evaluation PE10-038: Loss of Power Steering Assist
Closed May 10, 2011

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering Loss

NHTSA #15V660000 · Steering — Electric Power Assist System · NHTSA notice

Reported October 15, 2015 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 86,018 vehicles

Repair completion: 31.31% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified March 4, 2016 · Vehicles built July 18, 2001 – February 9, 2005 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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 vehicle crash.

Manufacturer 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, 2015. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

BMW/FLAT TIRE MONITORING SYSTEM'S PROGRAMMING

NHTSA #04V348000 · Tires — Pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems · NHTSA notice

Reported July 12, 2004 · BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

Potentially affected: 1,193 vehicles

Owners notified October 13, 2004 · Vehicles built March 23, 2004 – April 15, 2004 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FLAT TIRE MONITORING SYSTEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTLY PROGRAMMED. IN THE EVENT OF A FLAT TIRE, AN AUDIBLE SIGNAL WILL NOT SOUND TO ALERT THE DRIVER TO A FLAT TIRE.

Safety consequence

DUE TO THE LACK OF AN AUDIBLE SIGNAL, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE AWARE OF A FLAT TIRE, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE'S SOFTWARE IN ORDER TO ACTUATE THE FLAT TIRE MONITORING SYSTEM'S AUDIBLE SIGNAL. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 13, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MINI CUSTOMER RELATIONS AT 1-866-275-6464.

Notes

CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

2004 MINI Cooper S w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

2 investigations

247 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Mini Cooper S.

Steering; Electronic Stability Control (ESC); Engine

ODI #11340300

Incident: July 18, 2020 · Filed: July 20, 2020

WAS DRIVING CAR ON 18 JULY 2020 AND POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING AND MADE STEERING DIFFICULT, ALSO COOLANT FAN,LOW SPEED AND HIGH SPEED STOPPED WORKING SAME TIME AS POWER STEERING QUIT. THE ASC LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WILL NOT TURN OFF. NO BLOWN FUSES IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR BY DRIVERS KICK PANEL. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON A STATE ROAD WHEN THIS OCCURRED.

Steering

ODI #11319854

Incident: February 29, 2020 · Filed: March 31, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK PRESENT. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MINI OF STEVENS CREEK LOCATED AT (4201 STEVENS CREEK BLVD, SANTA CLARA, CA 95051), AND DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

Steering; Electrical System

ODI #11302434

Incident: December 13, 2019 · Filed: January 28, 2020

THE POWER STEERING IS VERY STIFF TO DRIVE AND CANNOT DRIVE MY COOPER BECAUSE I CAN NO LONGER STEER THE VEHICLE.

Steering

ODI #11282548

Incident: November 24, 2019 · Filed: November 26, 2019

WHEN YOU TURN WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT IT MAKES A NOISE AND IT'S VERY HARD TO TURN. SO I THINK IT'S THE STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM. RECALL ID # 240625.

Air Bags

ODI #11228472

Incident: June 30, 2019 · Filed: June 30, 2019

ALL MODELS FROM 2005 ONWARD HAVE BEEN RECALLED, YET EARLIER MODELS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH NON FUNCTIONING AIRBAGS. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON CONTINUALLY, AND THERE ARE KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH WIRING, PRESSURE MATS AND CONNECTORS IN THESE VEHICLES. BMW IS INTENTIONALLY IGNORING THESE ISSUE. MY OWN PERSONAL VEHICLE HAS THIS PROBLEM AND AS A GOVERNMENT MANDATED SAFETY DEVICE I BELIEVE THAT EARLIER MODELS OF MINI COOPERS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL!

Air Bags

ODI #11101430

Incident: June 11, 2018 · Filed: June 12, 2018

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ILLUMINATED. WE ARE UNSURE IF THE SYSTEM IS WORKING PROPERLY. WE HAVE NOT RUN DIAGNOSTIC CODES ON THE SYSTEM.

Steering; Electronic Stability Control (ESC); Engine

ODI #11015001

Fire

Incident: August 6, 2017 · Filed: August 14, 2017

THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. TOOK THE CAR HOME, DID NOT SEE FLAMES, PARKED CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY SWITCHED CARS AND LEFT. RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT MY MINI WAS ON FIRE AND I NEEDED TO RETURN TO MY HOUSE.

Steering

ODI #11012888

Incident: July 6, 2017 · Filed: August 4, 2017

THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2004 MINI COOPER S FAILED LAST MONTH, PROMPTING ME TO RESEARCH WAYS TO FIX THE VEHICLE ONLINE. I FOUND THAT MINI USA HAD ISSUED A RECALL ON MY CAR, BUT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THEN MINI THAT MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT FALL AMONG THOSE VEHICLES RECALLED. I'M WONDERING WHETHER MINI APPROPRIATELY LIMITED THEIR RECALL CONSIDERING MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT PROMPTED THE RECALL, AND FALLS WITHIN THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR RANGE. I THINK THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD INVESTIGATE WHETHER TO EXPANDING THE RECALL.

Air Bags

ODI #10925000

Incident: October 1, 2016 · Filed: November 8, 2016

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE PRESSURE MAT BUT THE DEALERSHIP INDICATES THERE IS NO OPEN RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR CAR EVEN THOUGH MANY CARS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM WERE RECALLED. SCAN TOOL INDICATES PASSENGER SIDE PRESSURE MAT. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS MODEL WAS OUTSIDE OF THE RECALLED VINS. WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE AIRBAG WOULD WORK OR NOT IF IT WERE NEEDED.

Steering

ODI #10811656

Incident: September 14, 2015 · Filed: December 22, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROGRESSING CONDITION IN WHICH THE STEERING WHEEL MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Other Mini Cooper S model years

Check your 2004 Mini Cooper S VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mini Cooper S at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Mini VIN