0.8% of complaints about the 2005 Mini Cooper S came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2005 vehicle — around the middle of the 245 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is steering (215 complaints), typically at 6.8 yr or about 70,000 miles.
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.
If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
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.
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.
I HAVE A 2005 MINI COOPER S AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND AFTER SOME RESEARCH ON FORUMS SEE THAT THERE IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS. TURNS OUT THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT DEALERSHIPS EVEN CARRY EXTRA PARTS BECAUSE OF THIS. I SEE THAT SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR JUST HAPPENED WITH OTHER BMW'S. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST. IT APPEARS THAT IN AN ACCIDENT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A BMW MINI COOPER S. THE AIR BAG COVER EMBLEM HAS A DEFECTED EDGE. IF THE AIR BAG WERE TO DEPLOY, IT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COVER THREE TIMES, BUT THE DEFECT IS STILL UNCORRECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 20,000.
PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY AS INOPERATIVE WITH OR WITHOUT A PASSENGER. THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF AIRBAG PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A QUALIFYING CRASH FOR THE PASSENGER. *TR
AUTO WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AFTER A 30 MILE DRIVE, TURNED OFF AND KEYS REMOVED. AFTER SOME TIME BEING PARKED, CAR STARTED BILLOWING SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DASH LIGHTS CAME ON, PARKING LIGHTS CAME ON SPONTANEOUSLY. NO KEYS PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE. BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY THE APPARENT SHORT CIRCUIT HAD DRAINED THE BATTERY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MINI OF PEABODY MA WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING PUMP HAD SHORTED OUT CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS TO BE DESTROYED AND ALSO DESTROYING THE BATTERY. *TR