2005 MINI Cooper vs 2005 MINI Cooper S
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2005 MINI Cooper | 2005 MINI Cooper S |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 372 | 314 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 51 | 43 |
| Investigations | 2 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 8 | 6 |
| Fire reports | 10 | 17 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 24–28 | 24 |
| Median reported mileage | 70,250 mi | 66,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | MINI Cooper | MINI Cooper S |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 276 | 212 |
| Air Bags | 41 | 71 |
| Electrical System | 30 | 23 |
| Power Train | 25 | 13 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 8 | 8 |
| Seats | 7 | 8 |
| Engine | 6 | 8 |
| Structure | 5 | 4 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Steering problems | 86 | 46 |
| Loss of power | 34 | 17 |
| Airbag warning light | 19 | 30 |
| Stalling | 7 | 9 |
| Overheating | 7 | 11 |
| Battery drain | 6 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 6 | 10 |
2005 MINI Cooper
2005 MINI Cooper S
Compare all MINI Cooper vs MINI Cooper S years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.