10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
13,156 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Mini Cooper accessories - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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2003 Mini Cooper Owner Comments

problem #8

Nov 162010

Cooper

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The sparkplug has blown completely out the head of my 2003 MINICooper, I went on line and found out that this is becoming a common problem.

- Dixon, CA, USA

problem #7

Aug 102007

Cooper

  • miles
My transmission failed on my MINICooper once when it was in warranty and I had to pay to have it fixed, once again, and it was just out of warranty and I paid 3000$ to have it fixed and once again when the 2nd transmission was in warranty and minicooper fixed it. This car was a lemon and MINInever accepted responsibility for the defective transmission problems.

- Altadena, , CA, USA

problem #6

Jan 052007

Cooper

  • miles
Sudden unexpected failure. Cvt transmission (automatic) in 2003 MINICooper. First one was under warranty. The second time they told me they would sell me another car. The car sold for $22K new, transmission costs $8500 to replace. So that's $17000 worth of transmissions 4 years (its been sitting for the last year while I still have to make payments). I don't think their idea of buying another car to replace my transmission was a good idea.

- Dublin, CA, USA

problem #5

Jun 272007

Cooper 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 65,525 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car was brought into the dealership for an oil change and rear brake repair on Tuesday (June 26, 2007). Wednesday evening (June 27, 2007) the car was driven 15 minutes, parked for almost an hour, then driven a mere 30 seconds to change to a different parking spot. Walked away for a minute and noticed smoke coming from the front of the car. Upon opening the bonnet, there was flames coming from the underside of the engine. The first attempt at using a fire extinguisher temporarily put out the fire, then it re-ignited which the fire department was then called to put it out safely. The car was brought the next morning (June 28, 2007) to the dealership and was not looked at until the next day (June 29, 2009). The diagnosis was the steering pump failed, upon which it overheats causing the fire. The fire then damaged the loom (harness, or main wiring for the vehicle), which also ruined the battery. Prior to the fire, there were no signs that the steering was failing, nor any indication that there was any other possible electrical problems. Car mileage was at 65,500 at the time it was brought to the dealer, and about 65,525 miles at the time of the incident. Nothing will be done until the insurance agents from both the consumer and dealership assess the damages.

- Rosemead, CA, USA

problem #4

Jun 252006

Cooper 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 35,720 miles
2003 MINICooper windshield failure. Spontaneous crack although dealer insists it was a pin hole sized hole that caused it. Refused to cover under warranty. 2nd time it's happened and was covered first time under warranty. Apparently happens very regularly to MINIand at $1078. Complete...this just isn't right.

- Kenwood, CA, USA

problem #3

May 152003

Cooper 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 4,000 miles
My 2003 MINICooper 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 MINIusa (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.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #2

Dec 042002

Cooper

  • miles
I have a MINIcopper S and the windshield cracks very easy. I have talked to MINIusa, and they said that it is not their problem. But this has happen to so many MINIowner, I think that it is a MINIusa problem. Cause why would so many MINIwindshields crack all the time.

- Clifton, VA, USA

problem #1

Aug 142003

Cooper 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Windshields on MINICoopers cracking, chipping easy and frequently. I have had four windshields replaces in the last 8 months. 2 covered under warrantee for stress related cracks and two due to small rock strikes. I have neve been thru windshields like this before and feel that the construction and design of the MINIwindshield makes it substandard in protection.

- Corona, CA, USA

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