2005 MINI Cooper Convertible Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper Convertible. The contact stated that she noticed a leak coming from the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a power of steering hose leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (Steering). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.

NHTSA ID

11510859

Incident

Mar 7, 2023

Mileage

94,000 mi

The transmission will cycle first through third and when it tries to go into 4th it slips and will not operate higher gears it caused me to lose my forward drive momentum as I was switching lanes and the car I was getting in front of almost ran into me.

NHTSA ID

11452775

Incident

Sep 5, 2021

My son drives this car and the power steering went out twice on him while driving. I need to get the pump replaced via the recall, but the nearest location is 200 miles from me. It is not safe to drive this car that far and I would have to drop it off and make another trip to pick it up. Towing that far would cost a small fortune. I called every number and was transferred to several people to help with this issue. They say they can not and won't help me till I get the car to a dealership to fix it. One person from Mini told me I might be able to go to a certified mechanic but when I asked the next person they said it had to be a dealership. I spent two days on the phone with several people from Mini and no one was willing to offer a solution. I drive this car to get the recall fixed and something happens and the car wrecks, or worse someone is killed, who would it be on then? No happy about this at all.

NHTSA ID

11444553

Incident

Nov 29, 2021

The contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper Convertible. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (Steering). The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering assist failed. The dealer was made aware of the recall but informed the contact that they do not service recall repairs. The nearest dealer that was able to service the recall repair was located 177 miles away. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

NHTSA ID

11444173

Incident

Dec 17, 2021

POWER STEERING PUMP STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING TURNING IN A CITY STREET

NHTSA ID

11414376

Incident

Apr 28, 2021

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH AFTER EXITING HIS DRIVEWAY, HE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE EXITED THE VEHICLE, WALKED BACK TO HIS HOME AND TOOK A NAP. AN HOUR LATER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS AWOKEN BY A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY WHO ASKED HIM QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INCIDENT WITH HIS VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT FILED AND THE CONTACT LATER WENT TO A DOCTOR WHERE HE WAS TREATED FOR INJURIES FOR HIS LOWER BACK WHICH INCLUDING A SLIPPED DISC AND A BRUISED VERTEBRAE. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 ( STEERING) WHICH HE LINKED TO HIS VEHICLE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT THE MANUFACTURER WHERE HE WAS ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS VEHICLE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT REFUSED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND DECIDED TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11404624

Incident

May 2, 2017

THE CAR STOPPED STEERING CORRECTLY. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEELS. THE POWER STEERING IS GONE. I STARTED NOTICING THE DIFFERENCE IN THE STEERING AND THEN THE STEERING PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE DEALERSHIP TO ASK IF THERE SHOULD BE A CONCERN BECAUSE THE STEERING STARTED AFTER I HAD THE RECALL SERVICE ON THE SEAT WARMMER.

NHTSA ID

11057515

Incident

Dec 8, 2017

Mileage

10,200 mi

POWER STEERING PUMP GOES OUT FROM TIME TO TIME, BROUGHT IT TO MINI DEALERSHIPS ONCE AND WAS WORKING FINE WHEN WE BROUGHT IT IN, AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG, AND WAS SENT ON OUR WAY. NOW HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY TO REPLACE A PART, AND WHEN RECONNECTING THE BATTERY, POWER STEERING PUMPS RUNS AND WONT SHUT OFF. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. PLEASE HEP, AND THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

10949672

Incident

Feb 3, 2015

Mileage

185,005 mi

POWER STEERING ISSUES: MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE 2005. THE FIRST EVIDENCE OF MY PROBLEM WAS WHEN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMED TO BE FAULTY. I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, AND THAT FIXED THE CAR FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. AT THAT POINT, I NOTICED A FAN RUNNING A LOT, AND THEN FOUND THE BATTERY DEAD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. FINALLY, I FIGURED OUT THAT A FAN WAS CONTINUING TO RUN--AND I TRACED THE NOISE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, AND THEN DROVE TO THE SHOP. THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING COOLING FAN. THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS. THIS WEEKEND, I PARALLEL PARKED IN A TIGHT SPACE WITH A SLIGHT DIP. I REALIZED WHILE PARKING THAT I SUDDENLY HAD NO POWER STEERING, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE WAY I PARKED. IT DID NOT GET BETTER AS I LEFT. I MUSCLED THE CAR OUT OF THE SPACE, AND DROVE IT TO MY LOCAL SHOP, WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FAN STILL WORKED, THAT THE FUSES STILL WORKED, BUT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD FAILED. HAD ALREADY READ EXTENSIVELY ABOUT POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE ISSUES WHEN I HEARD THE FAN RUNNING IN THE FIRST PLACE. BUT... I THOUGHT AFTER A FEW MONTHS THAT I WAS LUCKY TO AVOID THE PUMP FAILURE--IN CATCHING THE FAN FIRST-- BUT IT SEEMS THAT MANY HERE HAVE DESCRIBED. EXACTLY THE SAME TRAJECTORY. I CALLED MINIUSA AND A LOCAL DEALER, AND THEY REFUSE TO HELP, BECAUSE MY CAR'S MANUFACTURE DATE IS A LITTLE UNDER TWO MONTHS PAST THE DATE INCLUDED IN THE "EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTICE". THIS IS RIDICULOUS! IT IS EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL, IN EVERY DETAIL, AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY I WAS NOT HURT BY IT. I FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT DIRECTLY WITH MINI USA. IF I FELT IT WERE FOR LACK OF MAINTENANCE, OR NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, I COULD ACCEPT THAT, BUT THIS CAR HAS METICULOUS MAINTENANCE, AND RECORDS TO BACK IT UP.

NHTSA ID

10927322

Incident

Nov 19, 2016

Mileage

113,000 mi

MY VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED DIRECTLY AFTER DRIVING IT SIX MILES, SAVED BY FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND FIRE DEPARTMENT. CAUSE DETERMINED TO BE FAULTY POWER STEERING MODULE.

NHTSA ID

10918035

Incident

Oct 6, 2016

Mileage

101,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING UNIT FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAN AND STEERING PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000. ...UPDATED 01/05/17 *BF *TR

NHTSA ID

10909728

Incident

Sep 17, 2016

Mileage

145,000 mi

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 60K MILES BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT'S MADE IT HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FAULTY TRANSMISSION. BMW HAS TO PAY FOR IT.

NHTSA ID

10870242

Incident

Apr 9, 2016

Mileage

60 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V505000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN BACK FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10864802

Incident

Apr 5, 2016

MY SON WAS DRIVING THE MINI COOPER AND THE STEERING STOPPED WORKING, HE HAD CALLED MINI WHEN HE GOT IT IN NOV 2015 ABOUT RECALLS AND THEY SAID THAT THE MINI WAS RECALLED FOR THE STEERING AND THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG. WHEN WE CALLED THE LOCAL MINI DEALER THEY SAID ONLY THE AIR BAG. I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH A CASSANDRA FROM MINI AND SHE SAID THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE STEERING FOR MINIS MADE BETWEEN MARCH 2005 AND FEBRUARY 2005 AND HIS CAR WAS ON THE TAIL END OF IT AND THEY WOULD NOT WARRANTY IT TO BE FIXED. I BELIEVE THAT THESE CAR DEALERS KNOW ABOUT SAFETY PROBLEMS BUT DON'T WANT TO FIX THEM PROPERLY. MY SON COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF NOT FOR THE FACT THAT IT CAME BACK LONG ENOUGH FOR HIM TO GET THE CAR STOPPED. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN GET THIS RESOLVED SO THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE

NHTSA ID

10854463

Incident

Mar 30, 2016

Mileage

110,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL.I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I LOST MY POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER BUT THE SLOWER I GOT THE HARDER IT WAS TO STEER THE CAR. I HAD TO BUY A NEW STEERING PUMP AND HAVE IT INSTALLED. MY STEERING FAILED FOR THE EXACT REASON MINI ISSUED THE RECALL BUT THEY WON'T REIMBURSE ME BECAUSE MY CAR IS NOT WITHIN THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE. MINI INSTALLED THE DEFECTIVE STEERING PUMP BUT WON'T DO THE PROPER THING AND LET ME RECOVER MY COSTS OF $795.00. AGAIN MY STEERING PUMP FAILED FOR THE EXACT REASON MINI APPROVED THE RECALL. I HAD 103,383 MILES ON THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED AND ONLY RECENTLY DID MINI FINALLY APPROVE A RECALL ON THE PUMP.

NHTSA ID

10845963

Incident

Oct 18, 2010

Mileage

103,383 mi

BATTERY DIED AND REPLACED. DROVE 2 DAYS AND BATTERY DIED AND AGAIN REPLACED. DROVE AND STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF. CHECKED FLUIDS AND NO POWER STEERING FLUID. HAPPENED AGAIN WITH BOTH BATTERY AND P/S FLUID. BECAME AWARE OF RECALL IN 04 AND 05 MINI COOPER'S AND TOOK TO DEALER. BAD POWER STEERING PUMP AND FAN AS WELL AS 2 HOSES. WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL BECAUSE THE BUILD DATE IS MAY. WAS QUOTED $1300+ FOR REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID

10837247

Incident

Feb 18, 2016

Mileage

103,500 mi

POWER STEERING GOES OUT. VERY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. ITS LIKE HAVING NO STEERING AT ALL AT TIMES. I HAVE TWO MINI COOPERS. THIS ONE HAS NOT YET TO GET THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING PUMP. I HAVE A RECALL FOR THE OTHER MINI THAT I OWN BUT THAT ONE DOESNT HAVE A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10819295

Incident

Dec 12, 2015

Mileage

131,000 mi

PARKED AT SHOPPING MALL AND NOT RUNNING FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES, COME OUT TO MINI COOPER ON FIRE. SMOKE COMING OUT OF ENGINE AREA, HIGH PITCH FAN WHIRLING, ELECTRICAL SMELL. POWER STEERING FAILED, SHORTED OUT, AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS NOT EVEN ON AND PARKED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. APPEARS TO BE A MAJOR FAILURE MANY OTHERS OWNING A MINI COOPER HAVE EXPERIENCED. BMW/MINI COOPER OF USA DID NOTHING FOR US AND PUT IT ALL ON OUR AND MY INSURANCES SHOULDERS. AMAZED SO MANY CASES OF THIS SAME ISSUE HAVE HAPPENED YET THEY DO NOTHING AND SEEM TO EXPECT EVERYONE ELSE TO FOOT THE BILL. GOT THE RUN AROUND BY BMW AND UNLESS IT WAS FOR MY INSURANCE COMPANY, THE MINI WOULD HAVE BEEN SCRAPPED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10715412

Incident

Apr 4, 2015

Mileage

60,000 mi

DRIVING UP A RESIDENTIAL STREET ON MY RETURN FROM WORK, STEERING VERY ABRUPTLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. APPARENT POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10712619

Incident

Apr 23, 2015

Mileage

101,000 mi

MY 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE NEEDS THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. MY CAR HAS ONLY 92,000 MILES AND IT IS UNFAIR THAT ALREADY IT HAS TO BE REPLACE AT A RIDICULOUS COST. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT WITH BMW/MINI FOR THE TRANSMISSION THAT WENT WRONG. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE BESIDES MYSELF WHO WHERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS AND WERE LEFT OUT. MINI COOPER SHOULD RECALL THE TRANSMISSIONS .THERE ARE MANY FORUMS OF MINI COOPER OWNERS WHO ARE OUTRAGED AND HAVE SIMILAR SITUATIONS. PLEASE CONSIDER AND MAKE THIS COMPANY RECALL THE TRANSMISSIONS. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10670215

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Mileage

92,000 mi

WAS DRIVING AT 45MPH AND ALL OF SUDDEN COULD TELL SOMETHING WAS DIFFERENT WITH THE STEERING. SLOWED DOWN AND TURNED AT THE NEXT INTERSECTION AND IT WAS LIKE DRIVING A TANK. COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY BAD IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING FASTER. *JS

NHTSA ID

10617435

Incident

Jul 29, 2014

Mileage

42,637 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL CURVY HIGHWAY AT APPROX 35MPH WHEN MY POWER STEERING GAVE OUT GOING AROUND A CURVE. I ALMOST DROVE INTO THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10587816

Incident

May 12, 2014

Mileage

104,500 mi

POWER STEERING, PERIODICALLY STOPS WORKING. IT USUALLY DOES NOT WORK WHEN THE CAR STARTS UP AND WILL THEN START WORKING. IT HAS NOW STOPS WORKING AT UNEXPECTED TIMES AND SEEMS TO COME BACK ON AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10566410

Incident

Feb 27, 2014

Mileage

168,850 mi

AFTER I TURNED MY CAR OFF, A NOISE LIKE A FAN KEPT RUNNING. IT DRAINED THE BATTERY CAUSING ME TO GET MY CAR JUMPED. THEN POWER STEERING WENT OUT, AND WHEN I ARRIVED HOME AFTER STRUGGLING TO TURN VEHICLE AND OPERATE SAFELY, THE FAN DID IT AGAIN, AFTER 5 MINUTES BATTERY WAS DEAD. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR OF MINI I HAVE FOUND AFTER RESEARCHING TONIGHT, AND I AM VERY DISPLEASED TO SEE THAT CANADA HAS RECALLED THIS ISSUE AND THE USA HAS NOT! PEOPLE COULD GET SERIOUSLY INJURED. THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON AS TO WHY, OR WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS BMW IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY IN US AS THEY HAVE BEEN FORCED TO IN CANADA!!! I AM A YOUNG, FEMALE COLLEGE STUDENT AND IT WAS VERY SCARY BEING STUCK AND THEN NOT TO HAVE STEERING EITHER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10564157

Incident

Feb 13, 2014

Mileage

60,900 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SHE NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A STRONG BURNING ODOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITH A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAULTY COOLING FAN, WHICH CAUSED THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM TO OVERHEAT AND EXPOSE MELTED WIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,057.

NHTSA ID

10547381

Incident

Dec 11, 2012

Mileage

70,057 mi