NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 MINI Cooper. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
DRIVING VEHICLE NORMALLY, POWER ASSIST FOR THE STEERING FAILS CAUSING GREATLY INCREASED EFFORT TO STEER. THIS IS ADDRESSED IN PE10038 BUT THE MODEL YEARS AFFECTED SHOULD INCLUDE 2002 AND 2003 AS THE ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEMS WERE THE SAME. I HAVE NOT YET ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE ANY PARTS, ONLY HAVE CONFIRMED FLUID IS FULL AND BOTH COOLING FANS OPERATE. CYCLING THE IGNITION KEY BRIEFLY TO THE OFF POSITION WILL CAUSE POWER ASSIST TO RESUME. *TR
COMPLETE FAILURE OF POWER STEERING PUMP WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN ALMOST COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING. POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED ONLY TO HAVE THE REMANUFACTURED UNIT FAIL 12 MONTHS LATER. UPON INVESTIGATION IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR 2002-2006 MINI COOPERS. HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS PUMP DESIGN IS POOR AND PRONE TO FAILURE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND TURNED OFF. UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINED VERY STIFF. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CONTROL MODULE ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
THE XENON IGNITER COMPONENT IN THE LEFT HEADLAMP HAS INTERMITTENT FUNCTION, FREQUENTLY CAUSING THE BULB NOT TO LIGHT. THE QUOTED REPAIR COST BY THE DEALER IS IN EXCESS OF $800 BECAUSE THE IGNITER PART IS NOT A REPLACEABLE COMPONENT (THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSY IS REPLACED). THE ORIGINAL OEM BULB IN THE AFFECTED LEFT HEADLAMP WAS REPLACED BY MINI DURING ITS WARRANTY PERIOD AND THIS WAS NOT REPORTED TO ME (THE LEFT AND RIGHT BULBS DID NOT MATCH UPON MY EXAMINATION OF THEM WHEN FIRST OBSERVING THIS PROBLEM). $800 TO FIX A LIGHT BULB IS RIDICULOUS, AND I'VE BEEN LIVING WITH THIS SAFETY HAZARD SINCE I OBSERVED IT IN SEPTEMBER 2010. BMW USA SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE COMPONENT. *TR
ON SEP 5, 2010 AROUND 2:40PM, I PARKED MY 2003 MINI COOPER IN FRONT OF THE LOWE'S STORE IN SAN BRUNO, CA AND WENT INSIDE FOR SHOPPING WITH MY WIFE. AFTER 20 MINUTES LATER WE HEARD A STORE EMPLOYEE CALLED 911 FOR THE SMOKE/FIRE CAME OUT FROM MY CAR. I WENT OUT THE STORE IMMEDIATELY AND SAW THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE ABOUT TO PUT OUT THE SMOKE. THE FIREFIGHTERS OPENED THE HOOD AND HEARD THE NOISE UNDER THE CAR. NEXT, THEY DISCONNECTED THE CAR BATTERY AND THE NOISE WAS GONE. THE MINI COOPER WAS TOWED TO THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS. HERE IS THE DIAGNOSTICS RESULT: "INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND THE POWER STEERING INOPERATIVE. INSPECTED POWER STEERING PUMP AND WIRING. FOUND WIRING MELTED AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. FOUND OVER CURRENT DAMAGE DUE TO POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE CAUSING BATTERY LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, WIRING HARNESS, POWER STEERING PUMP FAN, AND ALTERNATOR." I BELIEVE THIS IS A MINI COOPER DESIGN FAILURE ACCORDING TO BBC SPECIAL REPORTS IN 2009. LINK 1: MINI POWER STEERING FAILURES HTTP://WWW.BBC.CO.UK/BLOGS/WATCHDOG/2009/02/MINI_STEERING_SYSTEM_FAILURES.HTML LINK 2: MINIS THAT COULD CATCH FIRE HTTP://WWW.BBC.CO.UK/BLOGS/WATCHDOG/2009/04/MINI_UPDATE.HTML. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY FOR TWO MILES, AND THEN THE FAILURE REOCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. HE WAITED 20 MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE WHICH PERFORMED NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE LOCA LMECHANIC. ONE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ANOTHER MECHANIC VERIFIED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 114,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 114,300.
2003 MINI COOPER S - POWER STEERING HAS REPEATEDLY FAILED AT HIGH AND LOW SPEED DRIVING. WIFE RAN ONTO SIDEWALK ONCE WHEN CONTROL WAS LOST. SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING WHEN DRIVING. STEERING FAILS. WHEN CAR COOLS CONTROL COMES BACK, BUT FAILS AGAIN AFTER LESS THAN A MILE. CALLED 3 DEALERSHIPS WHO ALL KNEW & HAD REPAIRED CARS WITH THE SAME ISSUES. ESTIMATED $1500-2000 OUT OF MY POCKET TO FIX WITH NO HELP FROM MANUFACTURER. I COMPLAINED THAT THE CAR HAD BARELY 40,000 MILES ON IT AND FAILURE SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING ON GERMAN ENGINEERED CAR. ONE SERVICE TECH SAID "THE PROBLEMS ARE IN THE PUMPS AND THOSE AREN'T DESIGNED OR MANUFACTURED BY BMW, SO IT IS NOT BMWS' FAULT." BUT THEY ARE THE ONES WHO SOLD THESE CARS WITH THESES ISSUES FOR 4 YEARS. FLUSHED POWER STEERING FLUID MYSELF WHICH WAS BURNT AND BLACK. REPLACED WITH NEW RECOMMENDED FLUID. LASTED ABOUT 30 MILES BEFORE BURNING SMELL RETURNED AND STEERING PROBLEMS CONTINUED AS BEFORE. SAW ONLINE ARTICLE WHERE BMW CAUTIONED THAT 2002-2005 MINIS MAY HAVE STEERING ISSUES BUT NO RECALL WOULD BE ISSUED. THE ARTICLE ESTIMATED 225,000 CARS AT RISK AND A RECALL MIGHT DESTROY THE MINI LINE. SO BE IT. 2002 AND 2003 MODELS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN INVESTIGATION OF 2004 AND 2005 MODEL YEARS. CONSIDERING SELLING THE CAR TO RECOUP INVESTMENT, BUT AFTER HEARING OF NUMEROUS STEERING FAILURES AND EVEN FIRES THAT TOTAL THE CARS AND EVEN BURN DOWN HOMES AND GARAGES WHERE THEY ARE PARKED MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I WOULD BE PUTTING SOMEONE ELSE UNWITTINGLY IN DANGER. THE CAR HAS CURRENTLY SAT IN STORAGE WITH THE BATTERY REMOVED FROM THE CAR WHILE I DEBATE WHETHER OR NOT TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP IN HOPES OF FIXING THE PROBLEM OR GET RID OF THE CAR. I WOULD HAVE TO TELL THEY BUYER THE ISSUES, WHICH MEANS LESS MONEY, AND I STILL OWE $6500. I WOULD LOSE ALL EQUITY I HAVE IN A CAR I PAID $20,000 FOR JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. BMW SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM OR I AND OTHERS HAVE UNSAFE CARS WORTH A FRACTION OF COST. *TR
THE UPPER RIGHT HINGE ON THE REAR HATCHDOOR OF MY 2003 MINI SHEARED IN HALF CAUSING THE DOOR TO SPRING OFF AND ALMOST HIT ME ON THE HEAD. IT ALSO POSES THE RISK OF THE REAR HATCH DOOR FLYING OFF WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION POSING A HAZARD TO OTHER DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS. BMW CHARGED ME $700 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE HINGE AND REFUSED TO ADMIT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECTIVE DESIGN. WHEN I CHECKED ON THE INTERNET IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A KNOW HAZARDOUS DEFECT. THE FOLLOWING ARE EMAILS EXCHANGED BY ME WITH BMW WHICH QUOTE SOME OF THE INTERNET THREADS ON THIS ISSUE. SEE E.G. HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/STOCK-PROBLEMS-ISSUES/86679-PLEASE-LUBE-REAR-HATCH-HINGES-2.HTML AND HTTP://WWW.MINICOOPERFORUMS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=2245. MOREOVER, THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR MINI AT THE DEALERSHIP ADMITTED TO ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. EMAIL: THE ISSUE IS NOT THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE PART BUT OF A DESIGN DEFECT AND SAFETY FLAW. HINGES ON THE HATCH LID SHOULD NOT BREAK OFF ENDANGERING OWNERS UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. THE LID ALMOST FELL ON MY HEAD. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND MY DEALER CONFIRMED IT. ARE YOU GOING TO WAIT FOR A LAWSUIT. MOREOVER, A $700 PRICE TAG TO REPLACE A $30 DOLLAR HINGE IS OUTRAGEOUS. THESE HINGES SHOULD NOT FAIL WITH NORMAL USE AND THAT IS ALL IT HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TOO. IF YOU LOOK ON THE INTERNET YOU WILL SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND MY GUESS IS THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED THEM AS WELL. THIS HAS COMPLETELY RUINED THE MINI EXPERIENCE FOR ME AND I WILL NOT BE A REPEAT OWNER WITH THAT ATTITUDE. PLEASE READ THEM. AS YOU CAN SEE YOU HAVE A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW THAT YOU ARE IGNORING AND PASSING ON TO THE CUSTOMERS. IF I DO NOT RECEIVE SOME SATISFACTION WITH THIS I WILL FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. ON AUGUST 28, 2010. THE REAR HATCH DOOR OF MY MINI FELL OFF WHEN BEING OPENED BECAUSE THE HINGE BROKE IN HALF. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS BUT FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT. *TR
LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 MINI COPPER. I AM EXPERIENCING THE POWER STEERING SHUTTING OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES USUALLY WHEN STARTING OR STOPPING THE CAR. AND DURING HOT WEATHER IN THE SUMMER. I ALSO HAD THE POWER STEERING FAN REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS BAD. *TR
2003 MINI COOPER HAD POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE BEING DRIVEN. *TR
INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING (PS) FAILURE. APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES INTO A DRIVE, POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL (AT ANY SPEED), MAKING CAR EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL; A FRAIL PERSON COULD KILL SOMEONE. TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND ON AGAIN WOULD RESET POWER STEERING ASSIST. HAD TO REPLACE PS PUMP FAN AND PS PUMP (DAMAGED BY OVERHEATING), AT GREAT EXPENSE (>$1100), TO DRIVE SAFELY AGAIN. *TR
I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE ITS PURCHASE BRAND NEW IN MARCH, 2003. WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM AND STARTING IT UP AFTER HAVING BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR UP TO TWO HOURS THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MINOR, INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH A ROUGH AND SURGING IDLE THAT OSCILLATES BETWEEN 1050 RPM DOWN TO 400 RPM THEN BACK UP THEN DOWN WHICH LASTS FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS BEFORE SETTLING DOWN. AS THE VEHICLE HAS AGED THE PROBLEM HAS INTENSIFIED TO THE POINT THAT THE ENGINE SOMETIMES STALLS. THE SYMPTOMS ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE AS NOTED IN NHTSA ITEM #10009756, SERVICE BULLETIN #110104 (ROUGH IDLE, STALLING). LATELY IT HAS NOW EVEN BEGUN TO OCCUR WHEN STOPPING QUICKLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO ALMOST STALL. IF IT WERE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION THERE WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH IMMEDIATE POWER TO ACCELERATE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN SHOWN THE PROBLEM BUT HAS FAILED TO RECTIFY. THE ONLY INVESTIGATION THEY DO IS TO MAKE SURE THE SOFTWARE IN THE VEHICLE IS THE LATEST RELEASE. *TR
MY MINI COOPER S HAS LESS THAN 27,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS BEEN CAREFULLY DRIVEN AND HAS SUSTAINED NO CRASH DAMAGE. HAD SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON THE CAR AND HAD FAILURES WITH THE ABS, STEERING ANGLE SENSOR, AND FRONT WHEEL SENSOR. IN ADDITION AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD "MUSHROOMING" AND CRACKED FRONT SHOCK TOWER MOUNTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR, AND THAT ALONE WOULD COST OVER $1,400 TO REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THAT HITTING POTHOLES OR OTHER ROAD HAZARDS CAUSED THIS. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER, ROADSHOW MINI IN MEMPHIS, TN, STATED THAT THE SHOCK TOWERS AND FRONT BUSHINGS WERE CONSIDERED WEAR ITEMS, AND THAT THEY COULD BE REDAMAGED IMMEDIATELY IF THE CAR CAME IN CONTACT WITH ANOTHER POTHOLE. ADDITIONALLY, I WAS TOLD BY MINI USA THAT NO ENGINEERS OR NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES COULD BE CONTACTED, AND THAT THE DEALER WOULD HANDLE ALL QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. I ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY UPGRADES AND FIXES OFFERED BY MINI AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NONE. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE FAIRLY COMMON, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL AFTERMARKET COMPANIES THAT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE,. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT HE SEES THIS PROBLEM ON 3-4 CARS IN THE SHOP EVERY MONTH. IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW, THAT THERE CAN BE STRUT COLLAPSE OR SUSPENSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING, AND THAT MINI SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. FOR NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS TO HAVE RESULTED IN DEFORMED AND CRACKED STRUT TOWERS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND REPRESENTS A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. I HAVE NEVER OWNED AN AUTOMOBILE THAT HAD STRUT TOWER FAILURE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE MOVED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000. UPDATED 02/08/11*LJ UPDATED 04/21/11
POWER STEERING LOCK ON IT. *TR
COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN WARM CAR IS STARTED. NOT A PROBLEM WHEN CAR IS COLD. REQUIRES APPROXIMATELY 1.5 HOURS FOR CAR TO COOL BEFORE CAR CAN BE STARTED AND SAFELY DRIVEN WITH POWER STEERING RESTORED. WILL BE REPLACING WITH OEM POWER STEERING PUMP. NEW PUMP IS APPROX $600 AND LABOR IS APPROX $150 AT INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. DEALER ESTIMATE IS APPROX $1300. OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WILL NOT DRIVE CAR DUE TO FEAR THAT POWER STEERING WILL BE LOST WHILE DRIVING THOUGH THIS HAS NOT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. *TR
WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED I WAS APPROACHING A CORNER FOR A TURN AND WITHOUT WARNING THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. ANOTHER CAR WAS AT THE CORNER AND I ALMOST HIT IT BECAUSE I WASN'T EXPECTING TO HAVE TO MANUALLY FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN THE CAR. THERE IS NO SET TIME OR LENGTH OF DRIVE FOR THE POWER STEERING TO JUST QUIT. NOW EVEN GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD I CAN SOMETIMES FEEL THE STEERING STIFFEN UP SO I WILL MAKE A TURN TO CHECK AND SURE ENOUGH NO POWER STEERING. SOMETIMES WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN THE CAR WILL FEEL LIKE IT JUMPS A LITTLE SIDEWAYS AND I'M NOT SURE IF ITS THE POWER STEERING TRYING TO ENGAGE OR WHAT. I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO REPLACE THE PUMP YET BUT I TRY NOT TO DRIVE IT AS OFTEN TO DECREASE THE CHANCES OF HITTING SOMETHING OR THE POWER STEERING PUMP GOING OUT ALL OF THE WAY. *TR
POWER STEERING FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING THE MINI FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES WE MADE A TURN ON OUR ROAD HOME AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER! IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL! WE FEEL VERY FORTUNATE BECAUSE WE LIVE ON A WINDY ROAD THAT HAS MANY LARGE REDWOOD TREES ON THE SIDES OF THE ROAD WITH A CREEK DOWN A RAVINE. WE COULD HAVE EASILY HIT ONE OF THOSE TREES HEAD ON. OR IF WE WEREN'T ABLE TO TURN THE WHEELS WE COULD HAVE ENDED UP AT THE BOTTOM OF A RAVINE IN THE CREEK! EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! *TR
I HAVE AN 03 MINI COOPER BASE MODEL THAT HAD THE IMPENDING POWER STEERING FAILURE. IT HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. LAST JUNE I RECEIVED THE REIMBURSEMENT LETTER, SO I SENT IN MY INFORMATION AND RECEIPT FOR THE REPLACEMENT. AS TIME PASSED AND NO RESPONSE FROM MINI I DECIDED TO CONTACT COSTUMER RELATIONS, NEEDLESS TO SAY THEY HAD NOTHING ON FILE AND SAID IT SHOULD TAKE ANOTHER MONTH TO RECEIVE MY INFO. ANOTHER MONTH PASSED, KEEP IN MIND WE ARE IN AUGUST NOW, NO RESPONSE. CALLED THEM UP AND WAS TOLD MY INFORMATION IS STILL NOT THERE. SO I SENT TWO EMAILS WITH MY RECEIPT IN HOPES THAT IT MIGHT SPEED UP THE PROCESS. ABOUT THREE MONTHS LATER I CALLED AND THEY HAD SAID THEY RECEIVED MY INFORMATION AND THAT THEY HAD SENT IT TO THEIR REIMBURSING DIVISION. TWO DAYS AGO I CALLED AND THEY GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND AGAIN. THIS IS JUST OUTRAGEOUS, IF YOUR GOING TO SEND A LETTER SAY YOU'LL REIMBURSE EVERYONE DO IT IN A TIMELY PROFESSIONAL MANNER. JUST BEFORE ALL THIS HAPPENED I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH MINI. I WAS ACTUALLY THINKING ABOUT BUYING A 4DOOR VERSION OF THE MINI. AFTER THIS INCIDENT I WILL NOT BE PURCHASING A MINI OR BMW FOR THAT MATTER. IN ADDITION I WILL INFLUENCE PEOPLE INTO NOT PURCHASING ANY OF THEIR PRODUCTS. I UNDERSTAND THEY HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE SEND IN LETTERS FOR REIMBURSEMENTS BUT IT IS NOT OK TO LIE TO PEOPLE. I ALSO KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD THIS ISSUE. I AM TRYING TO CONTACT AS MUCH PEOPLE AS I CAN ABOUT THIS MATTER IN HOPES THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS. *TR
MY 20 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER HAS A 2003 MINI COOPER WITH APPROXIMATELY 47,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED VERY WELL, INCLUDING OIL CHANGES, A 100 POINT INSPECTION AT 25,000 MILES, COOLANT FLUSH, BRAKE SYSTEM FLUSH, ETC. SHE WAS DRIVING IT HOME FROM WORK ON A COUNTY ROAD. AS SHE ROUNDED A CURVE THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THE FAILURE HAD NEVER OCCURRED BEFORE THIS TIME. SHE COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL, ACCORDING TO HER DESCRIPTION AND NARROWLY MISSED HITTING AN ONCOMING CAR. SHE DROVE IT TO THE NEAREST PARKING LOT AND CALLED ME AT WORK. I LEFT WORK AND EXCHANGED CARS WITH HER. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND THEN THE POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT. I CALLED THE MINI DEALER, WHICH IS ABOUT 50 MILES AWAY AND THEY CLAIMED THE PROBLEM WAS NOT VERY COMMON BUT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THEY SUGGESTED THIS BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO BE ABLE TO TRACK ACTIVE FAULT CODES. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE BUT IT WAS A CLOSE CALL. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT BMW WAS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE. I ALSO FOUND EXTENSIVE DOCUMENTATION FROM OTHER MINI OWNERS WHO SHARED SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. SOMEONE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE INJURED OF KILLED BEFORE BMW IS FORCED TO STEP UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING BY ADDRESSING THIS SIGNIFICANT, KNOWN, SAFETY ISSUE. OH AND BY THE WAY, I JUST PICKED MY DAUGHTER'S MINI UP FROM DREYER AND REINBOLD BMW IN INDIANAPOLIS. THE BILL WAS $1200. IRONIC THAT BMW CAN AFFORD TO INVEST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN INDY CAR SPONSORSHIP BUT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
2003 MINI COOPERS- POWER STEERING FAILED DURING EXIT FROM NYS THRUWAY-RAN OFF THE RAMP DUE TO UNEXPECTED LOSS OF STEERING POWER. NO DAMAGE OR INJURY- TURNED ENGINE OFF- RESTARTED- POWER STEERING BACK ON. CONDITION HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE. *TR
THE CVT TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 MINI COOPER HAS FAILED RENDERING THE CAR NOT DRIVABLE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN QUIRKY, BUT I WAS ASSURED BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS DRASTICALLY AND MAKES A VERY AUDIBLE WHIRRING SOUND. THE ONLY OPTION FOR REPAIR IS A COMPLETE NEW PART INSTALL AT THE DEALER COST OF $8,800. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF IDENTICAL STORIES ABOUT THE CVTS ON MINI COOPERS AS WELL AS THE POWER STEERING PUMP. IT SEEMS FROM RESEARCH THAT THIS PART COMMONLY FAILS AND REPLACING WITH A DEFECTIVE PART AT A COST NEAR NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS IS ABSURD AND DISGUSTING. IT IS COST PROHIBITIVE TO KEEP MY CAR OPERATING AND I FEEL AS THOUGH I HAVE, AS WELL AS THOUSANDS OF OTHER MINI OWNERS HAVE BEEN SOLD A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT WORTHY OF RECALL. *TR
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND POWER STEERING FAILURE ON 2003 MINI COOPER (AUTOMATIC) AT 43,000 MILES. ORIGINAL OWNER, NO PSP PROBLEMS UNTIL A MONTH AGO WHEN SUDDENLY LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. ONCE RESTARTED THE PROBLEM STOPPED. JUST TRIED TO SELL THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER WHO THEN OPTED OUT OF THE SALE AFTER INSPECTION AS THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION ($7,000+). BOTH OF THESE ISSUES SEEM COMMON WHEN I SEARCHED ON THE NET; BOTH SHOULD BE RECALL ISSUES. *TR
POWER STEERING FAILED, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN WHEEL WHILE STOPPED. MY WIFE CAN BARELY DRIVE THE CAR. FROM RESEARCHING THIS SITE AND OTHER SITES, MY SITUATION SEEMS TO BE THE SAME AS THOUSANDS OF OTHERS, AND I WOULD LIKE MY NAME TO BE ADDED TO THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION. *TT
ON 5/26/10 LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING ON THE LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY. 141,000 MILES ON CAR. POWER STEERING ELECTRONIC PUMP REPLACEMENT COST $ 1005.00. *TR
MI MINI COOPER 2003 GOT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ,NEED A PART THAT THEY CALL ,ACTUATOR MOTOR,,IS NO WAY TO FIND THAT PIECE ,NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR 8000 $ DOLLARS. MANY MINI COOPERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM NOBODY CAN DO A RECALL TO BMW. *TR
2003 MINI COOPER WITH FAILING CVT TRANSMISSION. THIS TRANSMISSION WAS DISCONTINUED BY MINI AND SUBSEQUENTLY IS FAILING AT LESS THAN 100K MILES. THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS ABRUPT AND CAN POSSIBLY LEAVE THE PASSENGER/S STRANDED IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. CONSULTED WITH MINI OF GREENVILLE , SC THIS WEEK AND THEY STATED THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILING TRANSMISSIONS AND COST TO REPLACE IS APPROXIMATELY $8000. WHEN ASKED IF THEY WOULD ACCEPT THE VEHICLE FOR A TRADE THEY STATED THEY WOULD ONLY GIVE $1000 FOR THE VEHICLE ON A TRADE. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE POSTS FROM IRATE OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE PREMATURE FAILED TRANSMISSIONS. WITH THE INCREASED FOCUS ON VEHICLE SAFETY MINI SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE PREMATURE FAILURES. *TR
MY FRIEND AND I GOT INTO MY 03 MINI COOPER S THIS PAST WEEKEND. WE WERE DRIVING ALONG IL RTE 1 UNTIL I GOT UP TO A 2 WAY STOP. I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN BUT I REALIZED I LOST ALL POWER TO MY POWER STEERING UNIT. I BARELY WAS ABLE TO MAKE THE TURN IN ORDER TO AVOID GETTING BROADSIDED BY A DODGE RAM BARRELING AT ME AT 60 MPHS. *TR
I PARKED MY 2003 MINI COOPER S AT WORK, AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, I NOTICED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS STILL RUNNING. I WAS GOING INTO THE OFFICE GET A WRENCH TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY, AND WITHIN 5 MIN, AN EMAIL WAS SENT OUT "2003 MINI COOPER HEAVILY SMOKING IN PARKING LOT." AS SOON AS I GOT OUT THERE, THE FIRE/SMOKE HAS BEEN PUT OUT BY A COOLANT LINE THAT SPLIT OPEN BY THE FIRE AND PUT THE FLAMES OUT. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR, I COULD SEE THE POWER STEERING PUMP COMPLETELY BURNT. I FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AND SO FAR THIS IS OVER $4,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT AS I HAVE DONE MUCH RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THIS IS NOT A RARE INCIDENCE. IN FACT, IT IS VERY COMMON, AND BMW REFUSES TO RECALL THIS FAULTY DESIGNED PART. I AM JUST SO FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN IN MY GARAGE. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND INVESTIGATE BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN BMW, AS THEY HAVE STATED PUBLICLY THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I WILL PROVIDE ANY EVIDENCE NEEDED TO HELP THIS INVESTIGATION. THERE IS A MINI COOPER COMMUNITY THAT SHARES THEIR PROBLEMS AND FRUSTRATIONS HERE: HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/STOCK-PROBLEMS-ISSUES/73527-SPONTANEOUS-ENGINE-BAY-FIRES.HTML THE LIST IS ONLY GROWING, AS THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE. I HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE A DEATH FOR BMW TO RECOGNIZE THERE IS AN ISSUE. *TR
POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY 2003 MINI COOPER S FAILED, VERY HARD TO STEER ONCE FAILED, NOW I'M HAVING THE SAME FAILURE AGAIN AFTER REPLACING IT LAST YEAR. READ ON THREADS AND OWNERS EVERYWHERE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. HE CONFIRMED THAT WHEN SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE FOR A FEW MOMENTS THE POWER STEERING WOULD RESET ITSELF ONCE IT RESTARTED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ
VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. I HAD THE POWER STEERING ASSIST COOLING FAN REPLACED TWICE AND THE RELAY SWITCH FOR THE COOLING FAN. IT WORKED FINE FOR A TIME. NOW (10,000 MILES LATER) IS INTERMITTENT. *TR
THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND PROCEEDED TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WITH NO WARNING, SOMETIMES AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED AND IN TURNS. THE POWER STEERING PUMP QUIT FOR GOOD APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER. I COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED - OR WORSE, HURT SOMEONE ELSE. THE MINI COOPER IS VERY HARD TO STEER WITHOUT POWER STEERING. I'M A STRONG WOMAN BUT IT TAKES SOME SERIOUS UPPER ARM STRENGTH AND CORE STRENGTH TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE MANUALLY. THE MOST DISTURBING PART IS THE LACK OF WARNING. THERE IS NO CLUE THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO LOSE POWER. THESE PARTS ARE PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE AND THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF MECHANICS WILLING TO WORK ON THESE CARS IN OUR AREA. I DON'T KNOW IF THE POWER STEERING FAN WAS AFFECTED, AS WELL, BUT I SUSPECT IT BROKE SOMEWHERE IN THAT TIME, TOO. I KNOW THERE ARE INCIDENTS OF THESE CARS CATCHING FIRE, AND THANKFULLY, WE HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THAT. PLEASE HELP. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS. *TR
MINI COOPER POWER STEERING FAILURE. NEED TO MANEUVER VEHICLE TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER AND ON COMING VEHICLE. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED-UP AND DRIVER WAS DISTRACTED. THIS POWER STEERING FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF FAILED POWER STEERING PUMP. THIS FAILURE WAS CORRECTED BY A REPAIR. COSTING 850.00 US DOLLARS. OLD PART IS AVAILABLE
SUDDEN FAILURE OF POWER STEERING ASSIST IN TRAFFIC I WAS BARELY ABLE TO CONTROL CAR.
WATER PUMP/SUPER CHARGER FAIL CAUSE ENGINE OVERHEAT. HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP/SUPER CHARGE ASSEMBLY. *TR
SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON 2003 MINI COOPER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FIRE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING REMAINED ON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND CAUSED THE FIRE. THE POWER STEERING PUMP, WIRING HARNESS AND BATTERY WERE ALL REPLACED. THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2003 MINI COOPER STOPS WORKING WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. IT HAPPENS WHEN GOING STRAIGHT ,AS WELL AS MID-TURN. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. I WAS TOLD I MUST REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR
2003 MINI COOPER S, 90000 MILES. POWER STEERING WHEEL FAILURE DURING NORMAL DRIVING. THE STEERING WHEEL IS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN MANUALLY, THUS CAUSING PANIC AND REAL DANGER, BECAUSE THE CAR SWERVED OUT OF A TURN. DEALER SAYS IT IS A COMMON ISSUE, AND NEED TO REPLACE THE FAN OR PUMP, REPAIR PRICE $1300. MINI NEEDS TO RECALL THE CAR. *TR
2003 MINI COOPER. POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY THEN COMPLETELY. STEERING FAILED BUT WOULD RESTART AFTER CAR WAS RESTARTED. STEERING SHUT OFF AND CAME BACK ON SUDDENLY DURING A LONG SWEEPING CURVE CAUSING A NEAR LOSS OF CONTROL. I THINK THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT. REPLACE THE PUMP WITH A REBUILT AT MY OWN EXPENSE SINCE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT USED. SECOND PUMP HAS ALSO FAILED AFTER ABOUT A YEAR. *TR
MY 2003 MINI COOPER S SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARALLEL PARKING IN LOS ANGELES, CA. THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED, A FIRE SHORTLY FOLLOWED. THE LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPT. WAS PHONED. CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED. *TR
TRANSMISSION CVT FAILURE. *TR
THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND RELATED PARTS IN MY 2003 MINI COOPER HAD TO BE REPLACED IN 2006 AND AGAIN IN 2009. THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC INCIDENT THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM: THE POWER STEERING JUST STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. 4/26/2006 38,492 MILES POWER STEERING FAN SEIZED - REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY 5/03/2006 38, 709 MILES POWER STEERING PUMP FAULTY -REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY 11/19/2009 89,305 MILES POWER STEERING PUMP, POWER STEERING RACK AND STEERING SHAFT DEFECTIVE - REPAIR PAID FOR BY CAR OWNER. MECHANIC RETURNED DEFECTIVE PARTS TO MINI COOPER. *TR
2003 MINI COOPER S. MY WIPER MOTOR DIED IN A HEAVY RAINSTORM, OR SO I THOUGHT. DRIVING WITHOUT THE WIPERS IN HILO, HI WHERE I LIVE WITH 140" A YEAR OF RAIN CAN BE DEADLY WHEN WIPERS DON'T WORK. IT IS A WELL DOCUMENTED DEFECT AFFECTING ALL ORIGINAL 02-06 MINIS. SEE HERE FOR DETAILS. I REPAIRED MINE SIMPLY BY GROUNDING THE WIPER MOTOR TO ANYWHERE ELSE ON THE CAR. I HAD TO DRIVE 3 WEEKS WITHOUT WIPERS BEFORE I COULD FIX THIS. DEALERS CHARGE $600 TO FIX IT AND IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND THE MOTOR IS NOT ACTUALLY DEAD. IT IS A POOR, AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY DESIGN. I GUESS I COULD HAVE SPENT A COUPLE THOUSAND RENTING A CAR FOR THAT TIME, OR JUST SPENT $600 RIGHT AWAY AND ANOTHER $500 ON THE CAR TO GET IT FIXED. I TOOK MY CHANCES, SO WILL MANY OTHERS. THERE WERE PLENTY OF TIMES I COULDN'T SEE WELL AND HOPED FOR THE BEST. HERE IS THE SITE WITH LOTS OF INFO ABOUT IT. HTTP://WWW.MINI2.COM/FORUM/FIRST-GENERATION-FAULTS-FIXES/141234-WIPER-MOTOR-FAILURE-2.HTML HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/1ST-GEAR/83170-MY-WINDSHIELD-WIPER-MOTOR-DIED-IN-A-STORM-AT-NIGHT.HTML. *TR
DRIVING HOME AS USUAL, WHEN I TURNED TO BACK-IN TO THE DRIVEWAY AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER CAR INTO THE DRIVEWAY. LEFT CAR OVERNIGHT AND TRIED AGAIN NEXT DAY. FINE THE NEXT DAY, BUT HAPPENED AGAIN THE FOLLOWING DAY. 2003 MCS 31,700 MILES. LOOKING INTO CAUSE OF FAILURE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE TRANSMISSION CAN ONLY BE REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THERE ARE NO AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIPS IN THE STATE. THE MECHANIC ESTIMATED THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THE TRANSMISSION BETWEEN $8,000-$9,000. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 76,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/12/10 *BF UDDATED 01/14/10.*JB
POWER STEERING GOES OUT WITHOUT WARNING LEAVING CAR DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. *TR