Total Complaints
4 filings
BMW MINI COOPER · model year
2004 BMW MINI COOPER
4 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2004BMWMINI COOPER carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 MINI COOPER is steering with 4 filings. Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2004 MINI COOPER. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
4
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING | 4 |
Recent Complaints
20100928STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN COLD WEATHER, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY TIGHT, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER AND MADE A REALLY LOUD WHINING NOISE WHEN THE WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE POWER STEERING FAN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000.
Mileage: 25,000
20100727STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW MINI COOPER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN WITH EXTREME DIFFICULTY WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENT AT ANY SPEED RATE BEING TRAVELED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A COMMON DEFECT AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Mileage: 60,000
20100413STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE SHE WAS TURNING A CORNER AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE POWER STEERING CONTINUED TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,600.
Mileage: 115,000
20100316STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW MINI COOPER S. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 12/03/10. *LJ
Mileage: 40,000
Compare 2004BMWMINI COOPER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2004 BMW MINI COOPER have?▼
The 2004 BMW MINI COOPER has 4 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 BMW MINI COOPER?▼
The most-complained component for the 2004 BMW MINI COOPER is STEERING with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 2004 BMW MINI COOPER safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.