YearToAvoid

2005 MINI Cooper S Engine Problems

NHTSA has 17 owner complaints about engine problems in the 2005 MINI Cooper S, 5% of all 314 complaints for this model year. That is #7 highest engine complaint count among 19 Cooper S model years. These complaints report 1 crash, 5 fires, and 2 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 66,000 miles.

Engine complaints
17
5% of 314
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
5
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
66,000 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2005 MINI Cooper S engine complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 19, 2009, latest Mar 12, 2020.

2005 MINI Cooper S engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Aug 2009Sep 2010Apr 2012Jul 2012Dec 2012Oct 2014Nov 2018
17 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2009 to Mar 2020; peak May 2012 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2005 MINI Cooper S

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Cooper S model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200517 (5%)
  2. 200624 (13%)
  3. 2007176 (71%)
  4. 2008121 (72%)
  5. 200981 (68%)
  6. 201043 (73%)
  7. 201118 (58%)
  8. 20125 (22%)
  9. 20137 (29%)
  10. 20143 (23%)
  11. 20153 (17%)
  12. 20164 (44%)
  13. 20172 (33%)
  14. 20191 (20%)
  15. 20202 (40%)
  16. 20210 (0%)
  17. 20220 (0%)
  18. 20241 (100%)
  19. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 MINI Cooper S have engine problems?
NHTSA has 17 owner complaints about the engine in the 2005 MINI Cooper S, 5% of all complaints for this model year, including 1 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 66,000 miles.
Which MINI Cooper S year has the most engine complaints?
The 2007 MINI Cooper S has the most engine complaints (176), compared with 17 for the 2005.
Is there a engine recall for the 2005 MINI Cooper S?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2005 MINI Cooper S is classified under engine. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

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.