The Lemon IndexAll cars · Mini Cooper · 2005
2005 Mini Cooper. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 4,000 and 28,000 miles. Median 14,600, from 25 complaints with a mileage.
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Transmission & drivetrain | 19% |
| Steering | 16% |
| Electrical | 13% |
| Engine | 13% |
| Airbags | 13% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 4
15V660000 Oct 2015 Steering / Electric Power Assist System
Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 MINI Cooper and Cooper S vehicles and 2005 Cooper and Cooper S Convertible vehicles. The affected vehicles may experience temporary or permanent loss of the electro-hydraulic steering assistance.
Risk. If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy. MINI will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the electro-hydraulic power steering system, replacing the components and wiring, as necessary, free of charge. Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 10, 2015. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
15V205000 Apr 2015 Air Bags / Frontal
Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2005-2006 MINI Cooper and Cooper S vehicles manufactured January 5, 2005, to November 28, 2006, and 2005-2008 MINI Cooper Convertible and Cooper S Convertible vehicles manufactured January 5, 2005, to July 31, 2008. Due to manufacturing, installation, and exposure issues, the front passenger seat occupant detection mat may not function properly and, as a result, the front passenger air bag may not deploy in a crash.
Risk. An improperly functioning mat may cause the passenger frontal air bag to be inactive when the seat is occupied, and in the event of a crash, the air bag will not deploy, increasing the passenger's risk of injury.
Remedy. MINI will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat occupant detection mat, free of charge. The recall began on October 12, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
09E025000 May 2009 Exterior Lighting / Headlights
Defect. DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy. DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
08E050000 Aug 2008 Exterior Lighting / Headlights
Defect. K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy. K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closed | Loss of power steering assist | 2011 | 2016 |
| Closed | Loss of power steering assist | 2010 | 2011 |
Manufacturer communications 60
Mini filed 60 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- Transmission noise diagnosis
- Rattling/grinding noise coming from the transmission area when in neutral during a cold start
- Mini- r5 & r56 (cooper; cooper s) with getrag 6 speed manual transmission: complaint of an…
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Optional | No | No |
Engines and drivetrains 4
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | FWD | 24 / 33 / 28 | Premium | $2,750 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | Auto (variable gear ratios) | FWD | 23 / 31 / 26 | Premium | $3,000 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl supercharged | Manual 6-spd | FWD | 22 / 29 / 24 | Premium | $3,200 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl supercharged | Auto (S6) | FWD | 21 / 29 / 24 | Premium | $3,200 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
YouTube repair topics
198 videos about the 2002–2006 Mini Cooper, 26.5M views.
| Topic | Videos | Views |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission & shifter | 6 | 1.2M |
| Oil changes & service | 3 | 746K |
| Windows, doors & mirrors | 5 | 641K |
| Infotainment, battery & electrical | 5 | 452K |
| Intake, EGR & engine sensors | 4 | 307K |
| Oil leaks & gaskets | 2 | 243K |
| Steering & suspension | 3 | 226K |
| Cooling system | 2 | 186K |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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