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Engine & cooling

2004 Mini Cooper S Engine problems

Owners have filed 15 complaints about the 2004 Mini Cooper S's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 3% of all its complaints, most recently on July 20, 2020. They describe 0 crashes, 2 fires and 1 injury. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
1
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

SteeringDriver assistanceEngine & cooling

Was driving car on 18 july 2020 and power steering quit working and made steering difficult, also coolant fan,low speed and high speed stopped working same time as power steering quit. The asc light came on and it will not turn off. No blown fuses in engine compartment or by drivers kick panel. I was driving the car on a state road when this occurred.

Filed Incident Steering · Electronic stability control (ESC) · EngineNHTSA 11340300
SteeringDriver assistanceEngine & coolingFire

The vehicle was hard to steer and smoke was coming from the engine. Took the car home, did not see flames, parked car in the driveway switched cars and left. Received a call from the fire department that my mini was on fire and I needed to return to my house.

Filed Incident Steering · Electronic stability control (ESC) · EngineNHTSA 11015001
Engine & cooling

The engine starting cutting out and rabbiting and finally died and coasted into parking lot and could not get it started. Took to baron bmw and they said the engine was toasted because of low oil pressure from a habitual problem with their oil filter housing that they never recalled because they didn't think it was a safety issue when the car cuts out and rabbits on acceleration onto the highway and everytime you take off from a start. *Tr

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10693857
SteeringTransmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

1) Automatic transmission busted. Car stalled dangerously on the highway. 2) Power steering pump busted. Steering locked dangerously on the road and could not be moved. *Tr

Filed Incident Steering · Power train · EngineNHTSA 10567652
Transmission & drivetrainAcceleration & cruise controlEngine & cooling

I have a 2004 mini cooper it has recently reached 87000 miles and the cvt transmission is failing. Normally you change your transmission fuel every 25,000 to 50,000 miles. My model mini cooper hatchback does not come with a reservoir to change such a fuel it was a guarantee by the manufacturer that these models would not need such a service and that the transmission would be fine throughout the lifetime of the car. What worries me is that I have not been able to drive my mini over 50mph due to the increase of...

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rpm's. Without the speed increase it is not safe for me to drive on the highways as I normally would. A cvt transmission replacement could cost thousands. But more importantly I'm worried about my safety its possible that my transmission could fail while mobile. Thats my main concern. I recently read that there has been a lawsuit addressing these issues. It is bmw's due diligence to address this matter seeing how thousands of citizens are operating this machinery on a daily basis. *Tr

Filed Incident Power train · Vehicle speed control · EngineNHTSA 10551846
Transmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

I was driving down i80 and my car started to kick and sputter then the engine light went on and I dropped speeds and almost got rear ended by the car behind me he swerved honked his horn and gave me the finger. I took it to a shop and they told me the transmission needs to be replaced and the number three cylinder blew out and I would need to replace the headgasket and refurbish the engine. When I first bought the car it would periodically kick and stall out on me I took it back to the dealer ship they told me it...

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was just the engine breaking in. A couple weeks later I saw the oil was a little low and again it kicked and stalled. I took it back in they said they had to reprogram the tranny. *Tr

Filed Incident Power train · EngineNHTSA 10505770
SteeringEngine & coolingTransmission & drivetrain

2004 Mini cooper. Consumer requests assistance for hazardous vehicle transmission and steering wheel. *Smd the consumer stated the vehicle stalled while driving on a busy highway.

Filed Incident Steering · Engine and engine cooling · Power trainNHTSA 10506102
Engine & coolingElectrical system

Cooling fan stopped working already installed 3 fans from time of purchase of vehicle this will be my fourth one its has issue with low speed. It burns only low speed on it tried to install aftermarket fan did not last more than a month had to purchase from a dealer now another one this can has nothing but a problem with this issue. *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical systemNHTSA 10478230
SteeringEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mini cooper. The contact stated that while traveling 35 mph, the power steering completely failed and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle had to be towed to the dealer for assistance. The dealer replaced the entire power steering system because the electronic power assist pump could not be replaced by itself. The failure mileage was 46,995 and the current mileage was 48,000. Updated 03/14/12*lj also, the auxiliary cooling fan was replaced. Updated 04/18/12

Filed Incident Steering · Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10448056
SteeringEngine & cooling

Failed component 1: lower control arm bushings diagnosed at dealership as bad and oil leak is due to faulty o ring. Failed component 2: power steering total failure. Dealer stated this was due to poor design of steering pump fan (poor placement of the fan). Dealer stated there was a possible recall regarding power steering failure due to this poor design possibly pending. Work to repair these failed components has not been completed pending a dealer recall. The car is not drivable.

Filed Incident Steering · Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10383877
Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemWheels & tires

2004 Mini cooper with motor mount, electrical, flat tire sensors issues. Cvt transmission replacement recommended. *Tgw one day while driving on the highway, the vehicle just stopped; dead no power. The consumer stated the vehicle is sitting in the garage un-drivable because she doesn't have the $8,000 to replace the cvt transmission. *Jb

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Power train · Electrical system · TiresNHTSA 10315445
Engine & cooling1 injury

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 mini cooper. While the driver was placing items in the rear of the vehicle, his calf was burned by the extended tail pipe. The driver has incurred multiple burns to his calf due to the extended tail pipe. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that they could not assist because there were no recalls for this failure. The manufacturer would not provide compensation because the vehicle was not included in a recall. The vin was unavailable. The failure mileage was 6,000 and current mileage was 9,000.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10272774
Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrain

Supercharger failed at 60,950 miles, resulting in complete rebuild of unit. Faulty gear and lubrication design. *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Power trainNHTSA 10251418
Engine & coolingFire

Vent fan in motor compartment spontaneously caught fire causing damage to various electrical components and smoke damage. *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10222033
Engine & cooling

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 mini cooper. The vehicle would not accelerate over 25 mph and would not shift into first gear. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home and the warning light illuminated after it was parked. The contact discovered that all of the transmission fluid leaked over the engine. The vehicle will be towed to the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 78,402.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10210217

Mini Cooper S engine complaints by year

Cooper S engine problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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