YearToAvoid

2005 MINI Cooper S Convertible Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2005 MINI Cooper S Convertible ranks worst of the 8 model years covered, with a complaint index of 100 and 61 complaints, 37 of them steering-related including 4 fires. It carries an Avoid verdict.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
100/100
#1 of 8 Cooper S Convertible years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
61
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
0
reported in complaints
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Top issue
Steering
Best nearby year
2007
rated Good
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
24
21.5 city / 29 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2005 MINI Cooper S Convertible problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Steering37 (61%)
  2. Airbags15 (25%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain6 (10%)
  4. Engine4 (7%)
  5. Structure & Body3 (5%)
  6. Other2 (3%)
  7. Brakes1 (2%)
  8. Electrical System1 (2%)
  9. Seat Belts1 (2%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Power steering pump fails and catches fire, sometimes triggered after the driver notices smoke or a burning-wire smell under the hood.
  • Loss of power steering assist happens suddenly while driving, making the car hard to control, with warning lights flashing at the same time.
  • Fires linked to the steering pump have occurred both while parked in a driveway and while stopped at a red light.
  • Passenger-side airbag occupancy sensor malfunctions, illuminating the airbag warning light and disabling the passenger airbag.
  • A coolant leak from a fractured thermostat led to a cascading repair, including later rear brake pad and rotor replacement.
  • A chrome accent on the manual transmission shift knob peeled and cut a driver's finger while underway, causing a momentary loss of attention to the road.
2005 MINI Cooper S Convertible complaints: complaints filed per quarter52011 Q12011 Q42012 Q32013 Q22014 Q12015 Q12015 Q42017 Q2
61 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q1 to 2026 Q2; peak 2011 Q1 (5).

2005 MINI Cooper S Convertible recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 15V205000Apr 6, 2015Airbags91,800 vehicles

    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, 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.

2005 MINI Cooper S Convertible fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21.5 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
24 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,300
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2005 compared with other Cooper S Convertible years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020052006200720082009201020112012
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Avoid10061124
2006Avoid8636124
2007Good298223.5

All MINI Cooper S Convertible years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 MINI Cooper S Convertible reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, it ranks 1st worst out of 8 model years, with a complaint index of 100, the highest in the lineup, and an Avoid verdict.
What is the biggest problem with the 2005 MINI Cooper S Convertible?
Steering complaints dominate, making up 61% of all complaints (37 of 61), with a median failure mileage of 65,187.5 miles and 4 reported fires.
Does the 2005 MINI Cooper S Convertible have a recall?
NHTSA lists one recall, campaign 15V205000, covering a front passenger occupant detection mat in the airbag system; dealers replace the mat free of charge.
How does the 2005 model compare to other MINI Cooper S Convertible years?
It has the highest complaint index (100) and most complaints (61) of any year in the dataset; by contrast 2007 and 2009 both earned Good verdicts with indexes of 29 and 43.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.