Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Mini Cooper S
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Mini Cooper S has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 247 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #15V660000 Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering Loss NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V348000 BMW/FLAT TIRE MONITORING SYSTEM'S PROGRAMMING NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Steering 210 complaints
- Electrical System 19 complaints
- Visibility 12 complaints
- Air Bags 8 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 3 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).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $8,000–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Mini Cooper S exhibits a high number of steering-related complaints, indicating a prevalent issue. Limited recalls and fewer complaints in other areas suggest less concern, but the steering problems greatly impact reliability.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| steering system | 60,000–100,000 miles | $1,000–$2,000 | very common |
| electrical system | 90,000–130,000 miles | $300–$1,200 | common |
| visibility system | 80,000–120,000 miles | $200–$600 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Coolant flushes
- Spark plug replacement
- Transmission service
- Air filter replacement
- Inspect and adjust belts
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Stiff or noisy steering
- Warning lights on dashboard
- Electrical system failures
- Poor visibility from damaged components
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Mini Cooper S at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.