16 of the
383 complaints about the 2005 Mini Cooper S are about the
engine — 4% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
70,500 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND SMOKE BEGAN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE POWER STEERING CEASED WITHOUT WARNING UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING) AS POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. MINI OF DES MOINES LOCATED AT (9900 HICKMAN RD, DES MOINES, IA 50325) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
NHTSA complaint #11317775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesWillow Creek, CACrash2 injured1 killed
ENGINE
2005 MINI COOPER S WAS TRAVELING 50MPH WHEN IT HIT ICY BRIDGE SPUN AROUND AND ROLLED 3 TIMES DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEATBELT AND PASSENGER WAS NOT AND GOT EJECTED AND DIED.NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HWY 299.*DT
NHTSA complaint #11155233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesMansfield, TX
ENGINE
TAKATA RECALL. DEALERSHIP WANTED TO CHARGE ME $1000 TO FIX THIS AIRBAG. STEERING ALSO STIFF AND AT TIME UNRESPONSIVE. NUMBER THREE MISFIRE IS A DESIGN FLAW. HORN DOES NOT WORK. LENS ON HEADLIGHTS MAKE LIGHT VERY DIM.
NHTSA complaint #11152518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 88,000 milesNorcross, GAFire
ENGINE
ABOUT TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FIRE, MY BACK BUMPER WAS HIT BY SOMEONE,NOTHING TOO SERIOUS JUST THE TAIL LIGHT BROKEN. THEIR INSURANCE HAD MY CAR FIXED AT WORLD TOYOTA COLLISION CENTER IN ATLANTA GEORGIA. ON SATURDAY MORNING, I PICKED UP MY CAR. I NOTICED CLICKING NOISE COMING OUT FROM INSIDE THE CAR AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMING RIGID AS SOON AS I STARTED DRIVING. I PULLED TO THE CLOSEST GAS STATION (WAS IN NEED OF GAS AS WELL). WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT FROM THE FRONT RIGHT AFTER I PARKED. MY HUSBAND LIFTED UP THE HOOD TRYING TO SEE WHERE THE SMOKE IS FROM. NOT EVEN TWO MINUTES LATER, THERE WAS FLAME, YES, ACTUAL FIRE UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE TWO OFFICERS NEXT TO US AT THAT TIME SO THEY USED FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO TAKE THE FIRE DOWN. I'M EXTREMELY FRIGHTENED AND DISAPPOINTED AT MINI COOPER. VERY DANGEROUS CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10667718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 66,000 milesFelton, PAFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
A "POP" WAS HEARD WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON I95. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE CONSIDERING WHEN THE "POP" OCCURRED, MY MINI LOST POWER. AS I WAS PULLED OVER, THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES.
NHTSA complaint #10650087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesSimpsonville, SC
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY PROBLEM IS WITH A 2005 MINI COOPER S. WHY IS THEIR NOT A RECALL ON THE WATER PUMP? IT HAS BEEN KNOW FOR GOING OUT PREMATURE AND BMW HAS REDESIGNED THE NEW PUMPS WITH A METAL IMPELLER INSTEAD OF PREVIOUS PLASTIC. TALKING TO THE DEALER, THEY MADE ME FEEL FORTUNATE THAT MY WATER PUMP MADE IT TO 50,000 MILES STATING THEY REPLACE MANY WATER PUMPS IN THE 1ST GENERATION SERIES AROUND 20,000 MILES. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS IS DANGEROUS, AS THE FAILURE CAN CAUSE OVERHEATING AND REQUIRES YOU TO SHUT OFF THE CAR, AND SIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CARS ARE NOT MADE TO OVER HEAT. THIS GREATLY INCREASES THE CHANCE OF A FIRE. BMW KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM BUT IS NOT RECALLING THE WATER PUMPS UNTIL 2006-2011. I THINK THE 1ST GENERATION MINIS SHOULD HAVE THE SAME RECALL AS MOST MINIS INCLUDING MINE HAS/HAD A WATER PUMP ISSUE AND WOULD LIKE OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HAVE IT REPLACED. I HAVE CAUGHT MINE EARLY BUT ONLY BECAUSE I JACK UP MY MINI TO CLEAN THE UNDERBODY ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. MINI COOPERS ARE WELL KNOWN FOR THEIR WATER PUMPS, THERMOSTATS, AND POWER STEERING, FAILING. I AM 18 YEARS OLD AND WOULD LIKE TO USE THIS CAR TO TRAVEL FROM SOUTH CAROLINA TO WISCONSIN IN THE FUTURE, YET IF MY COOLANT SYSTEM (WATER PUMP OR THERMOSTAT) COULD GO OUT AGAIN AT ANY TIME AND COST A FORTUNE TO REPLACE AND LEAVE ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF A HIGHWAY. I WILL BE TAKING A PLANE EVERY TIME I TRAVEL A FEW HUNDRED MILES AND RENT A CAR. THIS MUST BE ADDRESSED! I JUST PAID 1200 FOR MINI TO REPLACE A WATER PUMP THAT SHOULD HAVE HAD AT THE LEAST 30-50 THOUSAND MILES MORE.
NHTSA complaint #10614709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 76,525 milesWellesley, MA
ENGINE
STARTED VEHICLE IN THE MORNING OF 11/14/2012. THE SHIFT INDICATOR ON THE DASH SHOWS EP MODE INSTEAD OF D,R,N,ETC. THE CAR SEEMED TO DRIVE FINE BUT THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SHIFTER ELECTRONICS. THE CAR DOES NOT SEEM TO KNOW WHAT DRIVE MODE IS IN. PUTTING THE AUTO MANUAL TRANSMISSION INTO SPORTS MODE DOES NOT CHANGE THE SHIFT INDICATOR ON THE DASH. IN SPORTS MODES IT STILL SHOWED EP. IN EP MODE THE CAR DOES NOT REV BEYOND 3000RPM AND DRIVES ROUGH AT CERTAIN SPEEDS. THIS MAY BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WITH A TRANSMISSION SENSOR, OR THE SHIFTER ELECTRONICS.
NHTSA complaint #10488703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 65,315 milesJackson Heights, NY
ENGINE
THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING: HESITATION, WHEELS SKIDDING, ROUGH ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES AFTER 2 TRIPS TO MINI COOPER IN WHICH THE CAR'S COMPUTER WAS "RESET" BECAUSE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION WERE FOUND. THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED ABOVE PERSISTS, BUT THERE WAS ALSO ONE EPISODE WHERE THE CAR DID NOT START AND LATER TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING ON A CONGESTED NYC ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #10476918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesVerdi, NVFire
ENGINE
EARLIER IN THE DAY I TOOK THE CAR ON A DAY TRIP TO LAKE TAHOE DRIVING A COMBINATION OF INTERSTATE AND MOUNTAIN PASS ROAD. 3 HOURS LATER, MY WIFE HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO RUN AN ERRAND AND CAME HOME AND PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE COMPLETELY OFF AND LOCKED. 10-15 MINUTES LATER WE HEAR THE CAR ALARM GOING OFF. WE OPENED THE DOOR TO THE GARAGE AND SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WAS HIGH PITCHED WINING ALSO. WHEN I OPENED UP THE DOOR THE PUT IN NEUTRAL, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANELS WERE ALL ON WITH NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION. OPENED THE GARAGE AND MOVED THE CAR TO THE DRIVEWAY AND AWAY FROM THE HOUSE. CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND I USED AN EXTINGUISHER UNDERNEATH WHERE ORANGE GLOW WAS VISIBLE. THE GLOW OF THE FLAMES WERE TOWARD THE BACK PART OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND LOW. SAW NO VISIBLE FLAMES IN THE MAIN COMPARTMENT WHEN THE HOOD WAS POPPED OPEN WHEN FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP THEY USED A GARDEN HOSE TO COOL ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SUGGESTED TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY WHICH I DID. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MINI DEALER IN RENO, NV. *TR UPDATED 8/8/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE PARTS THAT SEEMED TO HAVE CAUSED AND WERE DAMAGED IN THE INCIDENT WERE THE POWER STEERING PUMP, POWER STEERING COOLING FAN, AND ELECTRICAL HARNESS ALL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF A 2005 MINI COOPER S. UPDATED 08/14/2012
NHTSA complaint #10466979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 89,600 milesHalf Moon BAY, CA
ENGINE
DEFECTIVE CVT TRANSMISSION! THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WAS NO FAULT OF OURS THAT WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, BUT DUE TO THE WAY THIS TRANSMISSION WAS DESIGNED!!!!!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10466675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesClermont, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2005 MINI COOPER S OUT OF NO WHERE BURIED THE NEEDLE ON THE THERMOSTAT AND WAS COMPLETELY OVERHEATED. UNABLE TO DRIVE ANY FURTHER AS I SMELT SMOKE AND POSSIBLY A SWEET SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND HAVE NOW SEEN THAT THIS IS AN ITEM THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED ON ALL MINI COOPERS S FROM 2006 TO 2011, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE 2005 DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME PUMP ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BOARD ETC. AS THOSE AND I FEEL THAT MY CAR SHOULD BE ALSO RECALLED FOR THIS ITEM. OBVIOUSLY, I CAN NOT DRIVE IT AND THE PRICE IS OUTRAGEOUS TO FIX IT.
NHTSA complaint #10457886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 59,930 milesMercer Island, WAFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE FIRE 5/2/2012. CAR PARKED FOR 4 HRS. RETURNED TO CAR & DROVE IT <50 YARDS FOR ~2 MINUTES (MOVED IT FROM STREET TO PARKING LOT). TURNED IT OFF AND WENT IN STORE. RETURNED ~4 MINUTES LATER, NOTICED SMOKE/EXHAUST SMELL; PRESUMED IT WAS ADJACENT CAR. UNLOCKED CAR. CAR WOULD'T START (NO LIGHTS/ELECTRICAL AT ALL). I THEN NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD. OPENED HOOD THEN NOTICED FLAME/FIRE INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WENT IN STORE, GOT FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND PUT FIRE OUT. INVOICE WAS >$3500 FROM MINI DEALER. THE DEALER'S ASSESSMENT: "VERIFIED POWER STEERING PUMP HAS OVERHEATED TO THE POINT WHERE IT HAS BURNED UP INTERNALLY AS WELL AS EXTERNALLY (MELTING ALL THREE CONNECTORS AND THE WIRING LEADING TO THEM). INSPECTED POWER STEERING COOLING FAN AND VERIFIED COOLING FAN IS SEIZING UP WHICH VERY LIKELY LED TO THE OVERHEATING AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP. REMOVED ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUSE BOX TO EXAMINE MEGAFUSE POWERING THE POWER STEERING PUMP, FUSE IS INTACT AND DID NOT BURN UP. INSPECTED POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE AND IT APPEARS THE RUBBER SECTION OF THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE LINE WAS SUBJECTED TO THE HEAT/MELTING OF THE MAIN POWER CONNECTOR (IT'S IN VERY CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE CONNECTOR) AND IT APPEARS THE HOSE HAS TAKEN A LEVEL OF DAMAGE FROM THE HEAT. RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT OF POWER STEERING PUMP, THE WIRING SECTION/CONNECTOR PIGTAIL FROM THE FUSE BOX (THIS IS THE MAIN POWER CONNECTOR), THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS (CONTAINS TWO OTHER ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS TO THE PUMP WHICH RECEIVED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE), THE POWER STEERING FAN (LIKELY CAUSE OF FAILURE), POWER STEERING PRESSURE LINE (HIGH PRESSURE HYDRAULIC LINE WHICH HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO THE MAIN CONNECTOR MELTING AND SUBSEQUENT HEAT), AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE COMPONENTS (O-RINGS, CRUSH RINGS, HOSE CLAMPS ECT...)"
NHTSA complaint #10457532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 29,334 milesColumbia, MD
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
ENGINE COOLING FAN LOW SPEED STAGE FAILURE. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL OF COOLING FAN FOR THE SAME MODEL UP TO MODEL YEAR 2004. BUT MY 2005 MINI COOPER S HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THUS, IT IS APPROPRIATE TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE MODEL YEAR 2005.
NHTSA complaint #10456883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 93,000 milesVero Beach, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OVER HEATING CONSTANTLY NO TECHNICAL PERSON KNOWS OF A REMEDY. OVERFLOW TANK BLOWS OUT WHEN CAR OVERHEATS CONSTANTLY .THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM SINCE THE BEGINNING NO MATTER WHAT YEAR THE CAR WAS BUILT AND NEVER REMEDIED. WHY NOT A RECALL? NOT KNOWING WHAT OTHER DAMAGE THIS CAUSES TO THE ENGINE. THIS HAS TO BE A RECALL FOR THE COMPANY TO FIX IT IS A HIT AND MISS FIX??? THIS IS A COSTLY PROCESS AND EVEN IN THE FORUMS ON MINI IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE. FRONT END FAILS ALL AT THE SAME TIME. (CONTROL ARMS, CV JOINTS) STEERING BECOMES HARD TO CONTROL. MINI HELP
NHTSA complaint #10450424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10,000 milesLima, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER S. WHILE PARKED, A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10296903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 77,280 milesAptos, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE MINI COOPER ENGINE HAS AN INTERNAL THERMOSTAT THAT IS PLASTIC, WHEN MINE CRACKED AND LEAKED I HAD NO SIGNS SHOWING THAT. THE ENGINE ONE DAY GOT HOT, I DROVE ABOUT 5 MILES AND STOPPED. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND I NEED A NEW ENGINE. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THIS HAPPENS ALOT.
NHTSA complaint #10281111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.