2003 Mini Cooper S problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (114) · Visibility:windshield (29) · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:pump (6)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mini Cooper S model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
174 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Steering:electric Power Assist System 2015-10-15 · campaign 15V660000 · 86,018 vehicles
Defect: BMW 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.
Risk: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: MINI will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the electro-hydraulic power steering system, replacing the components and wiring, as necessary, free of charge. Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 10, 2015. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
Service bulletins (43)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) 2019-07-12 · M240112 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
programming a replacement egs module with ista/p. programming a replacement electronic transmission control module (egs) with ista/p requires the manual entry of the correct target basic and programmed part numbers. programming concept.
Equipment 2018-06-01 · M650610 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
navigation system has missing or incorrect road map data: the route guidance is inaccurate and therefore irritating to the customer; or it is not possible to locate certain addresses, for instance:
Equipment:electrical:navigational System(Global Positioning System) 2018-05-01 · M650610 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
navigation system has missing or incorrect road map data: the route guidance is inaccurate and therefore irritating to the customer; or it is not possible to locate certain addresses, for instance:
Steering 2016-03-01 · M320214 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service information bulletin supersedes si 32 02 14 dated august 2014. subject installation of right-hand drive steering spindle in left-hand drive vehicle is no longer required. left-hand drive steering spindles are currently available.
Engine 2015-07-01 · 12 06 15 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
mini: because of the dme software, and a damaged clutch, the drivetrain malfunction check message appear. *ma
Engine 2015-07-01 · 11 06 15 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
mini: different faults activates engine malfunction and oil warning. *ma
Showing the 6 most recent of 43 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-08-28 · Tires · 101,000 mi“the contact owns a 2003 mini cooper s equipped with falken tires, tire line: sincera sn250 a/s, tire size: 235/45r17, dot number: fmhr3120. the contact stated that while washing the vehicle, he noticed that a bubble had developed on the front driver’s side tire. the contact was concerned for his safety while driving the vehicle. the contact stated …”
2020-10-01 · Suspension · 140,000 mi“i was starting my vehicle and it made a bad knocking noise then it was like crunching noise so i stopped turn it off and waited for a while went back to the car still making a strange noise but once i put it in the drive it stopped making noise drove down the road a bit and talking about apparently slips off of the car so it just pulls over inside …”
2020-03-31 · Seats · 79,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2003 mini cooper s. the contact stated that on three occasions, the mat occupancy sensor on the front passenger's seat was replaced due to the warning light being illuminated. the vehicle was taken to mini of birmingham located at 2001 tom williams way, birmingham, al 35210, 205-267-4505. the contact was informed that the mat…”
2019-12-21 · Steering · 150,000 mi“we know of twice that our car's power steering pump failed while in motion. after bmw was finally forced into a recall for the power steering pump failure and we received a notification, we took our car to century bmw in greenville, sc. the service department checked our work regarding replacement pump, fan, etc. and deemed it 100% satisfactory. w…”
2019-07-28 · Steering · 115,000 mi · 💥 crash“power steering pump failed while driving…”
2019-03-19 · Steering · 82,790 mi“occasionally the steering over my mini cooper s is becoming very hard. it seems like the power steering is failing. the car then can only be steered with a lot of difficulty. i can no longer risk to have my daughter or wife drive this car. i checked the steering fluid and it is at optimal levels. it usually happens at lower speed, but i have not dr…”
2018-05-18 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 130,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2003 mini cooper s. the contact noticed fuel leaking underneath the vehicle. the contact checked under the hood and discovered that the fuel filter had a leak. the vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the vin was not provided. the failure …”
2018-02-05 · Seat Belts · 48,000 mi“after battery went dead, replaced with new battery and shortly after air bag light illuminated. had independent shop clear code in 2015 inspected harness found nothing out of ordinary. 3 days later air bag light returned. now in february 2018 had mini of towson diagnose air bag light thinking the dealership can reset air bag light properly. dea…”
2017-11-15 · Steering · 150,000 mi · 💥 crash“i was approaching a corner on a back road and half way through the power steering failed which caused the car to go off the road rolling two and a half times landing on the roof.…”
2017-07-26 · Unknown Or Other · 90,000 mi“the manual tailgate release cable was not fitted in this and other early production mini cooper s cars, though the owner's manual indicates that this safety feature is part of the design. the manual tailgate release cable allows access to the battery compartment, which is in the trunk of the vehicle, when there is an electrical malfunction such …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.