2003 Mini Cooper

320 complaints on file, page 1 of 16.

1. Filed May 14, 2025Failure Dec 14, 2024230,000 milesDorena, ORSteering

   The contact owns a 2003 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the steering wheel was difficult to turn in either direction. The contact stated that the steering wheel malfunctioned, making the steering wheel easy to turn, causing severe oversteer while making a turn in either direction. The contact stated that the failure was due to a faulty power steering pump, and installed as part of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (STEERING). The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that after turning off the vehicle, the power steering pump remained running, causing the battery to drain. The cause of the failure was not yet determined, and the vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 230,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11660994
2. Filed Aug 14, 2024Failure Aug 13, 2024Glendale, AZSteering

   68k miles on a 2003 mini cooper s and the power steering pump is whining. I feel as if this may be really early for it to be needing to be replaced.

   NHTSA complaint 11608390
3. Filed Jul 2, 2024Failure Oct 4, 2022Rogers, ARSteering

   The contact owns a 2003 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (Steering); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was firm, and the vehicle was difficult to maneuver. No warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure but failed to confirm if the parts were available for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to call the service center directly. The failure mileage was unavailable. Parts distribution disconnect.

   NHTSA complaint 11598379
4. Filed Dec 31, 2023Failure Dec 26, 2023Bellingham, WAElectrical system, Steering, Visibility/wiper

   No air or blower or heat to defog windshield. Water in driver-side foot well. Power steering intermittent fault. Engine continues running and panel gauge lights remain on with ignition off and key removed.

   NHTSA complaint 11562847
5. Filed Nov 17, 2022Failure Nov 1, 2022spring grove, PAElectrical system, Seats, Service brakes

   i Purchased the car in Dover Pa . INspection sticker had same milage as on car so i shoulda knew he slapped a sticker on . drove 150 miles dash lit ip like chrismas tree. 1st thing left window wont work , then left lock wont work had to lock from passenfger dide. then door wont open at all . have to get ou t passenger door . know that wont open have to put down passenger window pull handel to get out . car is possessed light work whren they want does all kinda crazt stuff . batter has problems . charge and still cant start it . and hatch locks so i cant get to battery. power steering leaking going bad . timing belt making noise . no power on hills .cracking noise in right front pulls to right had . hazard to me ive been locked inside three times could get out of car i coulda sat in heat and died or cold and froze . cant get out of car when it ts electric doors dont work . car sucks . this has been gradual thing these events from feb to may . now i just hate the car

   NHTSA complaint 11493892
6. Filed Nov 15, 2021Failure Nov 5, 202198,000 milesHawthorne, NJSteering

   My 2003 Mini Cooper was affected by the 2015 electrohydraulic steering assistance recall. Mini did the repair at 79, 322 miles in 2016. In November 2021, at 98, 000 miles, the car began having intermittent power steering loss. The power steering might disappear for under a minute, or it might return for mere seconds. There is no warning when the power steering goes out, so you have to assume that it is not going to respond with the electrohydraulic steering assistance feature operating. As of today, it has been completely offline for 3 days (although it did come back on for about 5 seconds yesterday). Without this feature operating properly, the car can be extremely difficult to steer.

   NHTSA complaint 11440510
7. Filed Jul 8, 2021Failure Jun 30, 2021Spring Grove, VATread/belt

   While driving on I-81 to NY state, I experienced serious tire vibration followed by tire loss of air. All tires were checked for proper tire inflation before trip. After pulling off to the side of the road, I witnessed a large hole with metal fiber sticking through the tire tread. I believe the tread separation was the cause.

   NHTSA complaint 11423873
8. Filed Jul 8, 2021Failure Jun 30, 2021Spring Grove, VATread/belt

   While driving on I-81 to NY state, I experienced serious tire vibration followed by tire loss of air. All tires were checked for proper tire inflation before trip. The service center in which I ended up in said that the tire belts had separated and caused the rapid tire deflation.

   NHTSA complaint 11423872
9. Filed Jun 10, 2021Failure May 10, 2021134,000 milesArlington, TXSteering

   The contact owns a 2003 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph and making a right turn, the power steering malfunctioned and the steering wheel suddenly became difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the power steering pump and fan needed to be replaced and the intake and return power steering lines also were faulty and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA campaign number: 15V660000 (Steering). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11420466
10. Filed Jan 15, 2020Failure Jan 15, 2020Greenville, TXSteering

    IN MOTION.. THE POWER STEERING WHEEL FEELS TO HARD TO TURN OPERATE;I CHECK THE VIN# NUMBER AND APPEAR (1) RECALL FOR POWER STEERING INCOMPLETE;WE CALL AT BMW OF DALLAS AND THEY SETUP AN APOINMENT ON JANUARY,15,2020...WHEN I SHOW UP...THEY SAY MY CAR DON'T HAVE ANY RECALL;AND I SHOW IM THE OFFICIAL RECALL WITH MY VIN#...BMW RECALL & NHTSA RECALL AND THEY SAY THE CAR WARRANTY IS EXPIRED,I SAID I JUST NEED FIX THE RECALL ON MY CAR AND THEY WANNA CHARGE ME $180 DLLS JUST TO GET THE VEHICLE INSPECTED,IF THE CAR GOT SOMETHING WRONG THEY CHARGE ME THE COST...I DONT ACCEPT...MY CAR GOT THE RECALL AND THEY MAKE ME DRIVE 120 MILES WHIT THE CAR FOR NOTHING

    NHTSA complaint 11299589
11. Filed Sep 25, 2019Failure Sep 10, 201983,000 milesHouston, TXSteering

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE STEERING WAS ROUGH AND STIFF. THE CONTACT PERFORMED HIS OWN INSPECTION ON THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS LEAKING. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY BE INCLUDED IN AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MINI OF THE WOODLANDS (16675 I-45, CONROE, TX 77385, 936-344-1258) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE STEERING PUMP WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL MINI COOPER STEERING PUMP. THE DEALER OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE PUMP HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11258025
12. Filed Jul 12, 2019Failure Jul 10, 201975,000 milesDallas, TXSteering

    BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR 16 YR OLD DAUGHTER. STEERING WAS CUTTING OUT WHILE DRIVING TOOK CAR TO MINI OF DALLAS RECALL WAS DONE ON HARNESS, PUMP, COOLING FAN. NEXT WEEK NO STEERING AGAIN WHILE DRIVING TOOK CAR BACK. MINI STATED DRIVE BELT BROKE AND WAS REPAIRED FOR 260.00. 3 DAYS LATER WAS CALLED AT A 11:30 AT NIGHT MY DAUGHTER STATING THE STEERING HAD CUT OUT AGAIN. I DON'T WANT MY DAUGHTER IN THIS CAR OR ANYONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THIS CAR.

    NHTSA complaint 11231207
13. Filed May 12, 2019Failure Aug 8, 201889,000 milesMenlo Park, CAAir bags

    THE WARNING FOR TH EPASSENGER AIRBAG COMES ON, THOUGH APPARENTLY NOTHING IS WROMG WITH IT. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMMON PROBLEM THAT MINI IS AWARE OFF, PUTS PEOPLE IN DANGER, BUT DOESNT DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE HARNESS UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SEAT, WHICH THEY QUOTE AT 1200 TO 1400 TO REPAIR THEIR ILL DESIGN AND FINAL PRODUCT

    NHTSA complaint 11207054
14. Filed Mar 13, 2019Failure Mar 13, 201993,000 milesSunnyvale, CASteering

    POWER STEERING FAILURE - INTERMITTENT AND DURING MOTION, MINI DEALERSHIP PROVIDED RECORDS THAT THE CLAIM WAS CLEARED WITH # AND MILEAGE, BUT THIS IS FALSE INFORMATION IF STILL COVERED BY NHTSA # 15V660000. ORIGINAL RECALL # THAT WAS ENTERED IN THE "REPAIR HISTORY" FROM MINI THAT NEVER OCCURRED IS M320215. THANK YOU

    NHTSA complaint 11186689
15. Filed Dec 28, 2018Failure Dec 25, 201879,300 milesOcala, FLSteering

    DRIVING NORMALLY ON CITY PAVED ROAD STARTED TO MAKE TURN ON SIDE STREET AND LOST TOTAL STEERING CONTROL AND WENT UP ON CURB JUST MISSING A PEDESTRIAN ON SIDEWALK.THIS VEHICLE HAS 79300 MILES.THE ELECTRIC HYDRAULIC PUMP COMPLETELY FAILED.MINI USA SAID THIS VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL YET JUST ABOUT EVERY MINI INPORTED TO USA HAS COMPLETE STEERING LOSE 2002-2003-2004-2005 AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE HIDING THIS FROM YOU AND THE PUBLIC WHO ARE STILL BUYING THESE USED CARS AND NOT KNOWING THE DANGEROUS PROBLEM THE MINI HAS AND FLAWED POWER STEERING PUMP DESIGN.THANK YOU.

    NHTSA complaint 11163849
16. Filed Jun 21, 2018Failure Jun 20, 2018164,000 milesImperial Beach, CASteering

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MINI OF SAN DIEGO (5202 KEARNY MESA RD, SAN DIEGO, CA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS INTENDED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURED PART, WHICH MEANT THAT NO PARTS WERE REPLACED AS THE DEALER ORIGINALLY STATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY HAD NO RECORDS OF THE VEHICLE BEING SERVICED PER THE RECALL. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AGAIN AND STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS SERVICED IN MARCH OF 2017. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 164,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11103048
17. Filed Nov 5, 2017Failure Nov 4, 201756,000 milesSeattle, WAPower train

    WHILE IN MOTION, CAR BEGAN TO BECOME JERKY WHILE EXCELERATING, THAN THE TRANSMISSION DISINGAGED. NO GEAR WOULD WORK THEREAFTER.

    NHTSA complaint 11043401
18. Filed Apr 10, 2017Failure Mar 28, 2017120,000 milesInglewood, CAEngineFire

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT, THE NEIGHBORS NOTICED THAT IT CAUGHT FIRE AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND FILED A REPORT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE POLICE INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

    NHTSA complaint 10971639
19. Filed Aug 31, 2016Failure Aug 31, 201675,000 milesCarteret, NJSteering

    THE ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM EXPERIENCES TEMPORARY LOSS OF ASSISTANCE WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTING UP AND IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO PULL OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. HOWEVER, THE POWER STEERING RETURNS TO NORMAL AS SOON AS YOU BEGIN STREET OR HIGHWAY DRIVING. I TOOK MY CAR TO A MINI DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT MY PARTICULAR STEERING PUMP ISN'T COVERED IN THE WARRANTY ALTHOUGH I DID RECEIVE A LETTER INDICATING THAT IT SHOULD BE. I HAVE THE EXACT SAME ISSUES HAPPENING WITH MY VEHICLE THAT THE RECALL IS TALKING ABOUT.

    NHTSA complaint 10899756
20. Filed Jul 4, 2016Failure Jul 1, 2008SAN Jose, CAElectrical system, Engine, Power train

    WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM WHERE IT MEETS THE HOOD OF THE CAR. DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT GO DOWN. I ONLY HEAR A CLICKING SOUND. WATER PUMP, OIL PAN AND VALVE COVER GASKETS FAILED PREMATURELY. I CAN'T SHIFT THE CAR INTO FIRST GEAR WITHOUT MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS.

    NHTSA complaint 10882431