2004 Mini Cooper S reliability record
NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2004 Mini Cooper S from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.
- NHTSA complaints
- 279
- Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
- Top problem area
- STEERING
- 202 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 1
- see below
- Reported harm
- 7 reported crashes · 4 injuries · 8 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesCounts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.
Complaint rank
#1,921
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Mini median
+59
median 220 across 19 Mini records
Vs 2002-2006
+10
median 269 complaints in 819 records
Top component share
75%
Steering: 208 complaints
What owners report fails — 2004 Mini Cooper S
- STEERING 202
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 18
- VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD 8
- AIR BAGS 8
- STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP 6
1 recall on record for the 2004 Mini Cooper S
- NHTSA 15V660000 · 2016 · STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, pote
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2004 Mini Cooper S
Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2004 Mini Cooper S units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Mini Cooper S reliable?
NHTSA has 279 consumer complaints on record for the 2004 Mini Cooper S and 1 recall. The most-reported problem area is steering (202 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2004 Mini Cooper S units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Mini Cooper S?
Owners most often report problems with: steering (202), electrical system (18), visibility:windshield (8), air bags (8). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2004 Mini Cooper S?
This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2004 Mini Cooper S. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.