RoadVitals

2004 MINI Cooper Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
10
Latest Mar 12, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 282 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 MINI Cooper submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Mar 12, 2015

THE ENGINE STARTING CUTTING OUT AND RABBITING AND FINALLY DIED AND COASTED INTO PARKING LOT AND COULD NOT GET IT STARTED. TOOK TO BARON BMW AND THEY SAID THE ENGINE WAS TOASTED BECAUSE OF LOW OIL PRESSURE FROM A HABITUAL PROBLEM WITH THEIR OIL FILTER HOUSING THAT THEY NEVER RECALLED BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE CAR CUTS OUT AND RABBITS ON ACCELERATION ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND EVERYTIME YOU TAKE OFF FROM A START. *TR

NHTSA ID
10693857
Incident
Mar 10, 2015
Mileage
82,999 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Mar 6, 2014

1) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BUSTED. CAR STALLED DANGEROUSLY ON THE HIGHWAY. 2) POWER STEERING PUMP BUSTED. STEERING LOCKED DANGEROUSLY ON THE ROAD AND COULD NOT BE MOVED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10567652
Incident
Nov 5, 2012
Mileage
59,000 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 12, 2013

I HAVE A 2004 MINI COOPER IT HAS RECENTLY REACHED 87000 MILES AND THE CVT TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. NORMALLY YOU CHANGE YOUR TRANSMISSION FUEL EVERY 25,000 TO 50,000 MILES. MY MODEL MINI COOPER HATCHBACK DOES NOT COME WITH A RESERVOIR TO CHANGE SUCH A FUEL IT WAS A GUARANTEE BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THESE MODELS WOULD NOT NEED SUCH A SERVICE AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE FINE THROUGHOUT THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR. WHAT WORRIES ME IS THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY MINI OVER 50MPH DUE TO THE INCREASE OF RPM'S. WITHOUT THE SPEED INCREASE IT IS NOT SAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAYS AS I NORMALLY WOULD. A CVT TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT COULD COST THOUSANDS. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY SAFETY ITS POSSIBLE THAT MY TRANSMISSION COULD FAIL WHILE MOBILE. THATS MY MAIN CONCERN. I RECENTLY READ THAT THERE HAS BEEN A LAWSUIT ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES. IT IS BMW'S DUE DILIGENCE TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER SEEING HOW THOUSANDS OF CITIZENS ARE OPERATING THIS MACHINERY ON A DAILY BASIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10551846
Incident
Oct 28, 2013
Mileage
87,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 10, 2013

I WAS DRIVING DOWN I80 AND MY CAR STARTED TO KICK AND SPUTTER THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND I DROPPED SPEEDS AND ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY THE CAR BEHIND ME HE SWERVED HONKED HIS HORN AND GAVE ME THE FINGER. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER BLEW OUT AND I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE HEADGASKET AND REFURBISH THE ENGINE. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR IT WOULD PERIODICALLY KICK AND STALL OUT ON ME I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER SHIP THEY TOLD ME IT WAS JUST THE ENGINE BREAKING IN. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER I SAW THE OIL WAS A LITTLE LOW AND AGAIN IT KICKED AND STALLED. I TOOK IT BACK IN THEY SAID THEY HAD TO REPROGRAM THE TRANNY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10505770
Incident
Apr 6, 2013
Mileage
34,700 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Apr 3, 2013

2004 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER REQUESTS ASSISTANCE FOR HAZARDOUS VEHICLE TRANSMISSION AND STEERING WHEEL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID
10506102
Incident
Apr 1, 2013
EngineSteering
Filed Feb 15, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING SYSTEM BECAUSE THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST PUMP COULD NOT BE REPLACED BY ITSELF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,995 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 03/14/12*LJ ALSO, THE AUXILIARY COOLING FAN WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 04/18/12

NHTSA ID
10448056
Incident
Nov 4, 2011
Mileage
46,995 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed Mar 30, 2010

2004 MINI COOPER WITH MOTOR MOUNT, ELECTRICAL, FLAT TIRE SENSORS ISSUES. CVT TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT RECOMMENDED. *TGW ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED; DEAD NO POWER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IS SITTING IN THE GARAGE UN-DRIVABLE BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE $8,000 TO REPLACE THE CVT TRANSMISSION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10315445
Incident
Nov 1, 2008
Engine
Filed Jun 3, 2009
1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS PLACING ITEMS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, HIS CALF WAS BURNED BY THE EXTENDED TAIL PIPE. THE DRIVER HAS INCURRED MULTIPLE BURNS TO HIS CALF DUE TO THE EXTENDED TAIL PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE COMPENSATION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

NHTSA ID
10272774
Incident
Nov 12, 2008
Mileage
6,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 22, 2008
Fire reported

VENT FAN IN MOTOR COMPARTMENT SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE CAUSING DAMAGE TO VARIOUS ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND SMOKE DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10222033
Incident
Feb 28, 2008
Mileage
64,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 28, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 25 MPH AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER IT WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT ALL OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OVER THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 78,402.

NHTSA ID
10210217
Incident
Nov 16, 2007
Mileage
78,402 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .