2003 MINI Cooper S Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2003 MINI Cooper S, and owners have filed 217 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2003 MINI Cooper S
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Electric power assist system (steering)
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.
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,…
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Shock absorber (suspension)
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.
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…
217 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 MINI Cooper S have filed 217 complaints with NHTSA; 11 describe a crash and 21 describe a fire. Reports cite 11 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 68,376 miles. Complaints peaked in 2011 with 33 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 notice”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 28, 2023 · Tires
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 1, 2020 · Steering
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 MINI Cooper (Cooper S). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 25–28 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 22–25 / 29–33 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Minicompact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (variable gear ratios); Manual 5-spd; Manual 6-spd |
Compare MINI Cooper S model years
Recall and complaint counts for every MINI Cooper S model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 MINI Cooper S | 1 | 83 |
| 2003 MINI Cooper S | 2 | 217 |
| 2004 MINI Cooper S | 2 | 247 |
| 2005 MINI Cooper S | 2 | 314 |
| 2006 MINI Cooper S | 1 | 186 |
| 2007 MINI Cooper S | 4 | 249 |
| 2008 MINI Cooper S | 4 | 168 |
| 2009 MINI Cooper S | 3 | 119 |
| 2010 MINI Cooper S | 4 | 59 |
| 2011 MINI Cooper S | 3 | 31 |
| 2012 MINI Cooper S | 2 | 23 |
| 2013 MINI Cooper S | 1 | 24 |
| 2014 MINI Cooper S | 4 | 13 |
| 2015 MINI Cooper S | 4 | 18 |
| 2016 MINI Cooper S | 3 | 9 |
| 2017 MINI Cooper S | 3 | 6 |
| 2019 MINI Cooper S | 1 | 5 |
| 2020 MINI Cooper S | 2 | 5 |
| 2021 MINI Cooper S | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 MINI Cooper S | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 MINI Cooper S | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 MINI Cooper S | 3 | 4 |
Checking a specific 2003 MINI Cooper S
How do I know if my 2003 MINI Cooper S has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2003 MINI Cooper S; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised MINI dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 03V086000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other MINI models
- Cooper2,235 complaints
- Cooper Convertible173 complaints
- Cooper S Convertible138 complaints
- Cooper Clubman116 complaints
- Cooper Countryman107 complaints
- Countryman104 complaints
- Cooper S Clubman90 complaints
- Clubman80 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.