2005 Mini Cooper Convertible: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 115 complaints
115
Total Complaints
68,274mi
Median Mileage
STEERING
Top Issue
3
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

50,000 25th Percentile
68,274 Median Mileage
94,250 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

STEERING
75
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
7
POWER TRAIN
5
AIR BAGS
5
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
4
SEATS
2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
2
ENGINE
2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2

Severity Assessment

3
Crashes
7
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND MY STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY HARD AND ALMOST REFUSED TO COMPLETELY WORK AS I WAS ROUNDING A BEND! I HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND SLOWLY INCH TO A SAFE PARKING SPOT. AFTER BEING SCARED OUT OF MY WITS, I CALMED DOWN AND PARKED MY C..."
"REGULAR DRIVING AT AROUND 6PM AT ABOUT 40MPH AROUND A BEND, COMPLETE POWER STEERING FAILURE, THE CAR BECAME VERY HEAVY TO STEER, WITH NO PRIOR WARNING, AND NO WARNING LIGHTS. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS THE CAR FAILED TO STEER. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, THE WARRANTY HAS BEEN OVER FOR 3 MONTHS AND M..."
"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. WHENEVER SHE PRESSED THE BUTTON TO OPEN THE SUNROOF OR CONVERTIBLE, THE DRIVERS SIDE OPENED BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS A LAPSE IN THE CABLE AND SHE'D THE ENTIRE UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. TH..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28