2003 MINI Cooper S Equipment Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 1%of 217 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 19,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the equipment of the 2003 MINI Cooper S, 1% of the 217 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 19,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My 2003 Mini Cooper S stumbles and bogs down when starting in first gear. When starting from a dead start and letting clutch out, the cars power cuts off for a moment and then cuts back in. This was not a characteristic of the car prior to my dealer upgrading the software for the engine management system. I've contacted Mini USA (aka bmw) and they acknowledge the problem, but have no fix for it. I consider it a safety issue, especially when pulling into traffic and the car hesitates badly.”
NHTSA complaint #10033392, filed 2003-08, 4,000 miles“For the past 2 years the air conditioning has been intermittent. The lights for the fan and temperature remain on but no air blows cold or hot. Sometimes it goes back on by itself after a few minutes of driving. Sometimes slapping the passenger side of the middle column (where the controls and radio are) makes it come back on. And sometimes it stays off for a day or two before spontaneously coming back to life. Its gotten to the point where I have a hardcover book with me at all times to do the slapping. I live in austin and the closest dealer is in san antonio, nearly 90 miles away. …”
NHTSA complaint #10242152, filed 2008-09, 34,000 miles“I have a Mini copper s and the windshield cracks very easy. I have talked to Mini USA, and they said that it is not their problem. But this has happen to so many Mini owner, I think that it is a Mini USA problem. Cause why would so many Mini windshields crack all the time.”
NHTSA complaint #10033004, filed 2003-08Related service bulletins
- 10145311Jun 1, 2018NAVIGATION 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…
- 10143579May 1, 2018NAVIGATION 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…
- 10148439Nov 1, 2014Electro-Hydraulic Power-Assist Steering Pump (EHPS) and Cooling Fan: Limited Warranty Extension to 13 Years/150,000 Miles. On affected vehicles, the electro-hydraulic power…
- 10148394Aug 1, 2014Installation of Right-Hand Drive Steering Spindle in Left-Hand Drive Vehicle. Supply shortage of left-hand drive steering spindles
- 10053604Aug 1, 2013Mini: there is a procedural error in the removing and installing or replacing high pressure pump current version that has been replaced with the corrected repair instruction…
- 10150044Jul 1, 2013Electro-Hydraulic Power-Assist Steering Pump (EHPS) and Cooling Fan: Warranty Extension to 13 years/150,000 miles. On affected vehicles, the electro-hydraulic power steering…
- 10150086Jun 1, 2013Electro-Hydraulic Power-Assist Steering Pump (EHPS) and Cooling Fan: Warranty Extension to 13 years/150,000 miles. On affected vehicles, the electro-hydraulic power steering…
- 10026789Jun 1, 2008Mini: check svs function. On certain vehicles, the voice input system (svs sa 620) does not function. The svs was not installed in the vehicles.
- 10025844Jun 1, 2008Mini: driver footwell area becomes hot. The hearter core pipes are poorly insulated. Model r56.
Equipment: other model years
Other parts of the 2003 MINI Cooper S
129 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
33 complaintsElectrical system
14 complaintsEngine cooling
10 complaintsBrakes
8 complaintsSuspension
8 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsAir bags
7 complaintsBody and structure
6 complaintsTires
6 complaintsEngine
5 complaintsVehicle speed control
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 MINI Cooper S
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology