repaired · 2017 Q2
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk. 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…
2003 MINI CooperProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 320 owner complaints about the 2003 MINI Cooper, most often about the steering. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-660 the manufacturer reports only 31% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 14, 2025. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2003 MINI Cooper has problems
320 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
159Steering22 crash/fire/injury
89Power train
26Electrical system7 crash/fire/injury
23Visibility
22Engine and engine cooling
10Air bags
7Equipment
7Engine
6Suspension
2910 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 159 | 22 |
| Power train | 89 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 26 | 7 |
| Visibility | 23 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 22 | 1 |
| Air bags | 10 | 1 |
| Equipment | 7 | 1 |
| Engine | 7 | 2 |
| Suspension | 6 | 0 |
| 10 other systems | 29 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2003 MINI Cooper recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Rear: shock absorber
Risk. IF LEFT UNATTENDED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, AND DEPENDING ON DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE SCREW MAY BREAK.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with MINI.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
80kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 149 steering complaints. 67% were reported before 100,000 miles.
3under 30k miles100under 100k miles49100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
33 owners mentioned a cost$7,700median
Middle half: $7,000 – $8,400
Steering
19 owners mentioned a cost$1,180median
Middle half: $1,000 – $1,600
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2003 vs. every other Cooper year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Cooper median. How we score
'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2003 MINI Cooper safety ratings
2003 MINI Cooper w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: Optional
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
5 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2003 MINI Cooper, and the recalls they led to.
- AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATIONNo recall
- ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRENo recall
- Loss of power steering assistLed to recall 15V-660
- AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATIONNo recall
- ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRENo recall
In owners' words
What Cooper owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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…
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.
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…
Own a 2003 Cooper?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.