Complaints
330
Crashes
5
Fires
17
Injuries
1
Fatalities
1
Recalls
1
Worst 2004 MINI Cooper Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#1229 complaints
Steering Defects
Avg mileage:82,177 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:4
#215 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:75,819 mi
Fires:6
#312 complaints
Transmission / Drivetrain
Avg mileage:132,787 mi
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 MINI Cooper.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering Defects | 229 | 3 | 4 | 82,177 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 15 | — | 6 | 75,819 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 12 | — | 1 | 132,787 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 10 | — | — | 66,500 mi | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump | 6 | — | — | 56,292 mi | |
| Steering:Electric Power Assist System | 5 | — | — | 74,815 mi | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 5 | — | 1 | 67,998 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Structural Problems | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Power Steering Fluid | 1 | — | — | — |
Steering Defects
229
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
4
Avg Miles
82,177
Electrical Faults
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
6
Avg Miles
75,819
Transmission / Drivetrain
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
132,787
Automatic Transmission
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
66,500
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
56,292
Steering:Electric Power Assist System
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
74,815
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
67,998
Engine Problems
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electronic Stability Control
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Power Steering Fluid
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 MINI Cooper. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2004 MINI Cooper
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~86,018 vehicles.
15V660000Steering:electric Power Assist System
~86,018 affectedBMW 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.
Other MINI Cooper Years
2004 MINI Cooper — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2004 MINI Cooper reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2004 MINI Cooper has 330 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Steering Defects with 229 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2004 MINI Cooper?
Top reported problems: Steering Defects (229 complaints, avg 82,177 mi); Electrical Faults (15 complaints, avg 75,819 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (12 complaints, avg 132,787 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 MINI Cooper?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 82,504 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2004 MINI Cooper?
NHTSA complaints for the 2004 MINI Cooper include 5 crash-related reports, 17 fire reports, 1 injuries, and 1 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2004 MINI Cooper have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 86,018 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2004 MINI Cooper?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2004 MINI Cooper shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full MINI Cooper reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2004 MINI Cooper
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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