Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2004 MINI Cooper S, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Steering210
- Electrical system19
- Visibility12
- Air bags8
- Seats3
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Seat belts3
- Electronic stability control (esc)2
- Tires2
- Latches/locks/linkages2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 163 of these cars first registered in 2004 took their annual MOT test. 56% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2004 the figure was 56%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2004 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 22.1% | 21.8% |
| Brakes | 16.0% | 13.8% |
| Suspension | 13.5% | 17.2% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 9.2% | 9.1% |
| Visibility | 9.2% | 7.7% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 8.0% | 7.5% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
51 of these cars first registered in 2004 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 197,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
7 2004 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 9.4 L/100 km (about 25 mpg US), CO₂ 216 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper S # · Minicompact · Premium gasoline | 10.9 | 7.5 | 9.4 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2004 MINI Cooper S.
| 2012029 30 Jan 2012 | Steering On certain vehicles, the electro-hydraulic power steering pump could fail temporarily or permanently due to problems with the electronics that control the funct… |
| 2004243 13 Jul 2004 | Other On certain vehicles, the flat tire monitoring system's programming could contain a defect. Specifically, an audible signal (single gong) that is used, in part,… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FLAT TIRE MONITORING SYSTEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTLY PROGRAMMED. IN THE EVENT OF A FLAT TIRE, AN AUDIBLE SIGNAL WILL NOT SOUND TO ALERT THE DRIVER TO A FLAT TIRE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What MINI told its dealers about the 2004 MINI Cooper S: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10244507 | MINI electrical systems have continued to develop over the past few years. As a result, the demand on the batteries has increased. Breakdowns due to an empty battery or problems in the vehicles electrical system can have various causes, most of which are not due to the battery itself. For this reason, a battery replacement will permanently eliminate the problem only in the rarest of cases. The energy diagnosis test module helps to localize these causes. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle discharged battery complaints. Without performing the energy |
| 10162443 | Programming a Replacement EGS Module with ISTA/P. Programming a replacement electronic transmission control module (EGS) with ISTA/P requires the manual entry of the correct target basic and programmed part numbers. Programming concept. |
| 10151228 | This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI 32 02 14 dated August 2014. SUBJECT Installation of Right-Hand Drive Steering Spindle in Left-Hand Drive Vehicle is No Longer Required. Left-hand drive steering spindles are currently available. |
| 10150304 | State Inspection and Emission (I/M) Test Fails to Read 17-Character VIN. An affected vehicle may fail to pass a state-mandated Inspection and/or Emission (I/M) test due to a noncompliant 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN) being read out and displayed on the state's required tester report printout. In accordance with the OBD regulation, all MY 2005 and newer vehicles are required to support the display of their compliant 17-character VINs. These vehicles were produced to be in compliance with this regulation. If the DME was reprogrammed using the previously available BMW service |
| 10150204 | State Inspection and Emission (I/M) Test Fails Due to an Invalid VIN Number. The affected vehicle may fail to pass a State Inspection and Emission (I/M) test due to a noncompliant 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) stored in the DME (Digital Motor Electronic). The VIN read-out displayed on the state test printout does not match the actual VIN of the vehicle. If the DME was reprogrammed using the previously available BMW service equipment (e.g., Progman, GT1), it was possible that only the last 7 of the VIN were entered into the DME, and positions 4 through 10 may only contain defaul |
| 10150086 | Electro-Hydraulic Power-Assist Steering Pump (EHPS) and Cooling Fan: Warranty Extension to 13 years/150,000 miles. On affected vehicles, the electro-hydraulic power steering (EHPS) pump can fail. |
| 10150044 | Electro-Hydraulic Power-Assist Steering Pump (EHPS) and Cooling Fan: Warranty Extension to 13 years/150,000 miles. On affected vehicles, the electro-hydraulic power steering (EHPS) pump can fail. |
| 10148439 | Electro-Hydraulic Power-Assist Steering Pump (EHPS) and Cooling Fan: Limited Warranty Extension to 13 Years/150,000 Miles. On affected vehicles, the electro-hydraulic power steering (EHPS) pump can fail. |
| 10148394 | Installation of Right-Hand Drive Steering Spindle in Left-Hand Drive Vehicle. Supply shortage of left-hand drive steering spindles |
| 10145311 | NAVIGATION SYSTEM HAS MISSING OR INCORRECT ROAD MAP DATA: The route guidance is inaccurate and therefore irritating to the customer; or it is not possible to locate certain addresses, for instance: |
| 10143579 | NAVIGATION SYSTEM HAS MISSING OR INCORRECT ROAD MAP DATA: The route guidance is inaccurate and therefore irritating to the customer; or it is not possible to locate certain addresses, for instance: |
| 10059113 | MINI: FAULTY SOFTWARE CAUSES THE CHECK CONTROL AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHT TO APPEAR. *MA |
| 10059112 | MINI: BECAUSE OF THE DME SOFTWARE, AND A DAMAGED CLUTCH, THE DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION CHECK MESSAGE APPEAR. *MA |
| 10059111 | MINI: DUE TO FAULTY DME SOFTWARE, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS COMES ON, INCLUDING THE CHECK CONTROL MESSAGE FOR MOTOR FORCE DECREASE. *MA |
| 10059098 | MINI: DIFFERENT FAULTS ACTIVATES ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND OIL WARNING. *MA |
| 10059094 | MINI: A MECHANICAL FAILURE AND DME SOFTWARE ERROR OF THE VANOS ACTUATORS CAUSE THE ENGINE TO RUN ROUGH WHICH ACTIVATES THE MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT. *MA |
| 10057710 | MINI: MODELS R50, R52, AND R53 WITH THE ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC POWER-ASSIST STEERING PUMP AND COOLING FANS WILL HAVE AN LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 13 YEARS/150,000 MILES. *TA |
| 10057570 | MINI: SOME VEHICLES HAVE TURBOCHARGER NOISE AND A LACK OR LOSS OF PERFORMANCE, DUE TO RESTRICTION OF TURBOCHARGER OIL SUPPLY, RESULTING IN OIL STARVATION AND SEIZING OF TURBOCHARGER ASSEMBLY. MODEL ALL. *PE |
| 10056114 | MINI: THERE IS A DISCONNECTION OR KINK, IN WNIDSHIELD WASHER HOSE, WHICH IS TOO SHORT, CAUSING WINDSHIELD FRONT WASHER JET TO FAIL. MODEL F56 (COOPER, COOPER S). *PE |
| 10055137 | MINI: WARRANTY COVERAGE EXTENSION/REPAIR EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE ELECTRO HYDRAULIC POWER (ASSIST) STEERING (EHPS) PUMP, WHICH HAS ITS OWN COOLING FAN, ON SOME VEHICLES AND NOT THE ELECTRIC POWER (ASSIST) STEERING (EPS) SYSTEM ON OTHER MINIS. MODELS 2002-2005 COOPER, COOPER S, CONVERTIBLE, CONVERTIBLE S. *PE |
| 10053604 | MINI: THERE IS A PROCEDURAL ERROR IN THE REMOVING AND INSTALLING OR REPLACING HIGH PRESSURE PUMP CURRENT VERSION THAT HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH THE CORRECTED REPAIR INSTRUCTION PORTION FOR THE N14 AND N18 ENGINE. MODELS R55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10052614 | MINI: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES WITH POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH COOLING FAN AND THE DURABILITY OF ELECTRO HYDRAULIC POWER (ASSIST) STEERING (EHPS) PUMP. MODELS 2002-2005 R50, R52, R3. *PE UPDATED ON 11/1/2013. *KB UPDATED 3/4/2014 *JS |
| 10043927 | BMW MINI: AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON: MRS FC 02, 03, 05, 06. *KB |
| 10043725 | MINI: AFTER DRIVE-AWAY LOCKING ACTIVATES, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO UNLOCK THE BOOT. *KB |
| 10041389 | BMW: SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT MAY BE ON WITH STORED TROUBLE CODES AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER. THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONS. *RM |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Loss of power steering assist
Loss of Power Steering Assist
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation