2003 Mini COOPER S: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
217 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 174 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 121 of 217 complaints (55.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 133 | 61.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 27 | 12.4% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 6.5% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 4.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 121 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 29 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump | 6 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 |
Steering: 121; Visibility:Windshield: 29; Electrical System: 13; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump: 6; Air Bags: 5; Engine: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 34 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 21 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 42 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 35 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 37 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 34; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 42; 75,000 to 99,999: 35; 100,000 to 149,999: 37; 150,000 and above: 5
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (42). 43 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 31 |
| 2004 | 20 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 27 |
| 2011 | 33 |
| 2012 | 24 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 31; 2004: 20; 2005: 5; 2006: 5; 2007: 12; 2008: 9; 2009: 10; 2010: 27; 2011: 33; 2012: 24; 2013: 10; 2014: 8; 2015: 4; 2016: 5; 2017: 3; 2018: 2; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 133 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 27 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 14 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10017590 · 2003-04-25 (April 25, 2003)
THERE WERE TWO CHIPS AND A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017590 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019750 · 2003-06-26 (June 26, 2003)
THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS BALD. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS NOT FROM ROUGH DRIVING. *NLM PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 5,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019750 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020945 · 2003-06-03 (June 3, 2003)
CRACKED WINDHSIELD ON MINI COOPER S. ONE OF PROBABLY THOUSANDS SUFFERED BY MIN OWNERS OWING TO THE GLASS BEING TOO THIN AND THE WINDSHIELD TOO UPRIGHT. THIS IA A DESIGN AND SAFETY ISSUE. MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED MONDAY APRIL 14. A SMALL STONE MAY HAVE HIT IT, BUT THE CRACK DID NO BEGIN UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING. RANDOM CRACKS DUE TO STONES AND ROCKS ARE TO BE EXPECTED FROM TIME TO TIME. BUT THE OCCURRENCE OF CRACKS ON THE MIJI COOPER S IS EPIDEMIC AND WIDELY KNOWN. THE COMPANY DENIES THIS IS A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING ISSUE, BUT THE FREQUENCY…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020945 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021814 · 2003-05-29 (May 29, 2003)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOT THE AIR BAGS IN THE VEHICLE. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE SIDE AIR BAG IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DEPLOY WITH NO REASON. DEALER AND MANUFACTURE WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR ACTIVATED.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021814 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025388 · 2003-07-03 (July 3, 2003)
WINDSHIELD CRACKED
Owner-reported narrative. 8,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025388 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026389 · 2003-07-01 (July 1, 2003)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE WINDSHIELD. ALSO, STATED THAT THIS WILL BE THE THIRD WINDSHIELD. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT ROCKS WERE HITTING THE VEHICLE AND THAT WAS THE REASON WHY THERE WERE CRACKS ON THE WINDSHIELD.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026389 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028980 · 2003-07-23 (July 23, 2003)
WINDSHIELD CRACKED AT 3 MONTHS USAGE AND 4,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I KNOW THIS TO BE AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THE COOPER AND COOPER S AS I HAVE MONITORED THE MINI COOPER MESSAGE BOARD FOR WELL OVER A YEAR NOW AND HAVE SEEN MANY FAILURES POSTED(MANY OF THEM MULTIPLE FAILURES). DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THE COMPANY TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AS IT MONITORS THE MESSAGE BOARD CONTINUOUSLY BUT HAS YET TO OFFER OWNERS ANY OPTIONS FOR THE POOR QUALITY OF THE VEHICLE GLASS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 4,267 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028980 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030780 · 2003-08-04 (August 4, 2003)
THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 2003 MINI COPPER S CRACKED RIGHT DOWN THE CENTER WHEN I SPRAYED IT WITH A HOSE WHILE WASHING IT. THIS WAS NOT A HIGH PRESSURE HOSE, JUST A REGULAR GARDEN HOSE. I BELIEVE IT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO A TEMPERATURE CHANGE. HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT A PARTICULARLY HOT DAY, BEING BARELY ABOVE 70 DEGREES. I HAVE WASHED THIS CAR AND ALL OF MY PREVIOUS CARS IN WEATHER HOTTER THAN THAT! ADDITIONALLY, A SEARCH OF THE WEB SHOWS THAT OTHERS HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH "STRESS" CRACKS WITH MINI WINDSHIELDS. ANYWAY, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS REPRE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030780 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
03V086000 · Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber
Reported: 2003-03-10 (March 10, 2003)
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE LOWER SCREW CONNECTION OF THE REAR STRUTS TO THE CHASSIS MAY FAIL. THE HEAD (TOP) OF THE SCREW SECURING THIS CONNECTION MAY BREAK. THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE SCREW WILL STILL HOLD THE STRUT IN PLACE.
Consequence: IF LEFT UNATTENDED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, AND DEPENDING ON DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE SCREW MAY BREAK. IF IT BROKE, THE CHASSIS WOULD LEAN DIRECTLY ON THE TIRE DIMINISHING THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER SCREW CONNECTION OF THE REAR STRUTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
NHTSA campaign record ↗15V660000 · Steering:Electric Power Assist System
Reported: 2015-10-15 (October 15, 2015)
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗