Model year

2005 MINI Cooper

NHTSA lists 2 recalls and 372 complaints for the 2005 MINI Cooper (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 4 recalls and 471 complaints under COOPER CONVERTIBLE, COOPER S, and COOPER S CONVERTIBLE. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are STEERING (268), AIR BAGS (41), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (30). NHTSA lists 2 investigations. NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here. EPA rates it 24–28 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $2,950–$3,400, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.

ABOUT THIS DATA

Recalls

15V660000 · Oct 15, 2015

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

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.

15V205000 · Apr 6, 2015

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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,…

Complaints

372 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 8, fire flag on 10, injury field 1, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.

  1. STEERING268
  2. AIR BAGS41
  3. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM30
  4. POWER TRAIN12
  5. UNKNOWN OR OTHER11
  6. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION9
  7. SEATS7
  8. ENGINE6
  9. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING6
  10. STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP6

Other NHTSA names

These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.

Other matched NHTSA names
Name Recalls Complaints
COOPER CONVERTIBLE 1 96
COOPER S 2 314
COOPER S CONVERTIBLE 1 61

Investigations

Investigations in the NHTSA file (2). "No close date" means the file has no close date. It is not a statement that the investigation is still active.
ActionSubjectOpenedClosed
PE10038Loss of Power Steering Assist · STEERING; STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM; STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP; STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST…Sep 24, 2010May 10, 2011
EA11005Loss of power steering assist · STEERING; STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM; STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP; STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST…May 4, 2011Jan 5, 2016

Safety ratings

NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here.

Fuel economy

EPA configurations. Electric rows show MPGe in the combined column and kWh/100 mi separately. Annual fuel cost is EPA's published fuelCost08 figure.
ConfigurationFuelCityHwyCombkWh/100 miRangeAnnual fuel cost
Cooper · 1.6L · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Front-Wheel DrivePremium Gasoline233126——$3,150
Cooper · 1.6L · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel DrivePremium Gasoline243328——$2,950
Cooper Convertible · 1.6L · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Front-Wheel DrivePremium Gasoline233025——$3,300
Cooper Convertible · 1.6L · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel DrivePremium Gasoline243227——$3,050
Cooper S · 1.6L · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel DrivePremium Gasoline222924——$3,400
Cooper S Convertible · 1.6L · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel DrivePremium Gasoline222924——$3,400
Cooper S · 1.6L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel DrivePremium Gasoline212924——$3,400
Cooper S Convertible · 1.6L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel DrivePremium Gasoline212924——$3,400

Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.

Check a vehicle

This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2005 MINI Cooper at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.

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