What breaks most · 2005 to 2011 model years
MINI Cooper S Convertible problems by year
Owners have filed 130 safety complaints with NHTSA about the MINI Cooper S Convertible across model years 2005 to 2011. Three years stand out: 2005 for steering complaints, 2006 for air bags complaints and 2009 for engine complaints. The quietest years are 2008 and 2007.
- Years to check closely: 2005, 2006, 2009
- Fewest complaints: 2008, 2007
- Complaints on file
- 1302005 to 2011, all trims
- Worst year
- 200560 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 010 fires · 1 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 55kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 9Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 0 | 1 | Steering (36) | |
| 35 | 0 | 1 | Air bags (18) | |
| 8 | 0 | 2 | Air bags (5) | |
| 7 | 0 | 1 | Air bags (3) | |
| 9 | 0 | 1 | Engine (7) | |
| 8 | 0 | 1 | Engine (3) | |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | Electrical system (2) |
What fails on the 2005 MINI Cooper S Convertible
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 60% |
36 | 0 | Shop all steering parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Air bags | 25% |
15 | 0 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 10% |
6 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Engine and coolingRadiators, thermostats and cooling | 5% |
3 | 0 | Shop all engine and cooling parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Body and structureDoors, latches and body hardware | 3% |
2 | 0 | Shop all body and structure parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Unknown or other | 2% |
1 | 0 | — |
| Brakes (hydraulic)Brake pads, rotors and calipers | 2% |
1 | 0 | Shop all brakes (hydraulic) parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Seats | 2% |
1 | 0 | — |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
Electric power steering pump has loud whine or moaning sound with only 42,000 miles on it. Fluid level is good and so far the power steering is still working. It does get louder while turning but also annoying when just idling.
-
6 speed automatic transmission failed catastrophically after 82,000 miles. This in spite of proper dealer recommended mainainance. Cost to repair was the same as the value of the vehicle.
-
We heard a rattling noise and the engine light appeared. Mini of palm beach states timing chain needs to be replaced @ about 4,000$ for needed repairs.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 30, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which MINI Cooper S Convertible years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2005, 2006, 2009 carry the most filings on the MINI Cooper S Convertible. The 2005 alone has 60 complaints, led by steering.
What is the most common MINI Cooper S Convertible problem?
On the 2005 model year, the most-reported component is steering with 36 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do MINI Cooper S Convertible problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all MINI Cooper S Convertible complaints that include mileage is about 55,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.