RoadVitals

2004 BMW Mini Cooper

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
4
Latest Sep 28, 2010
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 BMW Mini Cooper, most frequently naming the steering category. 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Steering4100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE10038ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

Loss of Power Steering Assist

Opened Sep 24, 2010
Closed May 10, 2011

ODI has received 339 complaints alleging an unexpected loss of power steering assist while driving the vehicle.When the power steering assist stops working, drivers experienced difficulty in steering and/or controlling the vehicle.According to BMW drivers may experience either a temporary or permanent loss of power steering assist.BMW further advised that a temporary loss of power steering assist may be due to a malfunctioning cooling fan or an under-voltage condition in the power steering system.A permanent loss of power steering assist may be due to an error in the internal electronics, and may also result in the continuous running of the power steering pump.The VOQ complaints allege 5 minor crashes and 3 fires.The crashes are described as hit the curb.The fires are described as melted wires. There were no property damage claims.ODI has received similar complaints for other model year Mini.Additional information is required to evaluate the frequency, consequence, and scope of this issue.Accordingly the investigation has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (see EA11-005).

STEERING

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Steering
Filed Sep 28, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN COLD WEATHER, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY TIGHT, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER AND MADE A REALLY LOUD WHINING NOISE WHEN THE WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE POWER STEERING FAN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000.

NHTSA ID
10358053
Incident
Sep 23, 2006
Mileage
25,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 27, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW MINI COOPER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN WITH EXTREME DIFFICULTY WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENT AT ANY SPEED RATE BEING TRAVELED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A COMMON DEFECT AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID
10345617
Incident
Nov 19, 2008
Mileage
60,000 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 13, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE SHE WAS TURNING A CORNER AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE POWER STEERING CONTINUED TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,600.

NHTSA ID
10325429
Incident
Apr 5, 2010
Mileage
115,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 16, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW MINI COOPER S. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 12/03/10. *LJ

NHTSA ID
10320158
Incident
Mar 1, 2010
Mileage
40,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SIB-16-02-09

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

BMW VEHICLES: FUEL LEVEL SENSOR REPAIRS. WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT SIDE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR DUE TO A FAILURE, THE ENTIRE PUMP AND HOUSING OR DELIVERY UNIT (SUCTION JET ASSEMBLY) DO NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. IN SOME CASES, EPC DOES NOT SHOW THAT THE REPAIR KIT IS AVAILABLE SEPARATELY IN THE ILLUSTRATION, BUT IT IS AVAILABLE IN THE PARTS DESCRIPTION. ALL MODELS. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.