Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Mini Cooper owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The transmission will cycle first through third and when it tries to go into 4th it slips and will not operate higher gears it caused me to lose my forward drive momentum as I was switching lanes and the car I was getting in front of almost ran into me.
The power steering assist has all but stopped working, with steering now difficult at lower speed--especially when I first start the engine in the morning. The clutch doesn't respond well and the vehicle no longer goes into second gear. The rear left brake caliper seized in place, not allowing the brake pad to retract completely and therefore the brake pad continuously rubbed against the disc, but without noise. Not until the left rear brake made noise because of the metal on metal braking was the seized OEM caliper identified, when I put on a set of new brake pads. None of the other three brakes had the seized OEM caliper.
My 2005 Mini Cooper convertible needs the transmission replaced. My car has only 92,000 miles and it is unfair that already it has to be replace at a ridiculous cost. There was a class action law suit with BMW/Mini for the transmission that went wrong. There are many people besides myself who where not notified of this and were left out. Mini Cooper should recall the transmissions .there are many forums of Mini Cooper owners who are outraged and have similar situations. Please consider and make this company recall the transmissions. Thank you
When driving vehicle transmission slips causing a jerk reaction in the vehicle and then it will renegade causing another jerk reaction in the vehicle and makes going and or stopping unpredictable. Turning left is dangerous as the car May not move forward at a speed that it should or May jerk in the middle causing the vehicle to stop in front of oncoming traffic. I have had a machanic change the transmission and it still does the same thing. I have contacted the manufacturers who informed me that there were no recalls and nothing they would do.
Before I bought the car it was rear-ended from losing speed because the transmission was slipping. This is in the design of this year of Mini Cooper as I am finding that it is on the internet as just a bad design. I can't get anyone to work on it for a reasonable price. I'm hoping there's some help out there for unsuspecting innocent people like me who thought they were getting a good car and now it is just unsafe as I have had to tow it 3 times now and I've only had it since May of this year 2018.
Front driver seat occupant detection mat doesn't seem to be working correctly as it doesn't detect sometimes when there is an occupant. Second issue is the CVT transmission of this vehicle. I get a jerking motion every now and then and found a class action lawsuit linked with these transmissions. I purchased this car after this lawsuit but apparently this particular vehicle was not taken care of. My vehicle only has 70,000 miles on it and find this unacceptable.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that the power steering failed and the transmission was leaking fluid. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering pump, fan, and the transmission needed to be replaced. The power steering was repaired at a cost of $1900. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,200. Updated 7/1/15 updated 07/09/15
I complained to Mini Cooper dealership about noise coming from underside of the on multiple occasions. They were never able to find the problem and the last time I complained they blamed it on "worn tires". At 52,000 miles I noticed a high pitch squealing from under the car when I had the clutch pressed in. When I brought it to Mini service, they said that "clutch material probably got caught in the fingers of the clutch". They said that since my warranty was up (over at 50,000 miles) and that this was a "friction material" issue, the cost of the repair ($2,200 - $2,800) would be my responsibility. Since this cost was so high and the early failure so far outside of normal expected duty time, I refused the service. Since there are many reported cases of early clutch failure and flywheel field upgrades, I contacted Mini USA and asked for my issue to be reviewed as a warranty issue. …
Hi, I'm writing to report that my 2005 Mini Cooper, with less than 43K miles is in need of a third transmission. I nearly did not make it home one evening because the jerking motion the car was making and because the engine just felt like it was going to shut off. I nearly stalled on the highway, while in traffic. The first transmission, while under warranty was replaced in November 2007 at 28K miles. On 12/16/08, I had an accident where the transmission pan among other things had to be replaced. It was the only known damage caused to the transmission. The auto body and paint shop that I contracted with did not know how to fill the transmission fluid and therefore the car had to be towed the local Mini Cooper dealership. They performed that piece of it. Now, the dealer is telling me I need a new transmission and the car is out of warranty. …
The car suddenly would not accelerate after stopping at a stop sign, a very serious situation. The motor was running, however, the car would not move. I had the car towed to the dealer who informed us today that the CVT (transmission) had to be replaced at a cost of $7000. We are aware that there are numerous complaints on line regarding Mini Cooper CVT power trains in 2002 - 2006 Mini's and that there are apparently class action law suits in california and new jersey as Mini Cooper apparently is refusing to issue a recall. It does not seem within reason that a car with less than 50,000 miles should have the transmission go out. Also, in that there are substantial similar complaints from others and class action law suits pending, this does not seem to be an isolated incident. …
Transmission complaints in other Cooper years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2005 Mini Cooper?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2005 Mini Cooper, 7% of the model year's 468 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Mini Cooper transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2005 Mini Cooper, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Mini Cooper transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 62,000 miles, and 21% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.