2003 MINI Cooper S vs 2005 MINI Cooper S
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 MINI Cooper S | 2005 MINI Cooper S |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 217 | 314 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 43 | 43 |
| Investigations | 5 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 11 | 6 |
| Fire reports | 21 | 17 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25 | 24 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 70,056 mi | 66,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | MINI Cooper S | MINI Cooper S |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 129 | 212 |
| Air Bags | 7 | 71 |
| Electrical System | 14 | 23 |
| Visibility | 33 | 2 |
| Power Train | 8 | 13 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 10 | 8 |
| Engine | 5 | 8 |
| Suspension | 8 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Steering problems | 37 | 46 |
| Loss of power | 16 | 17 |
| Hesitation / surging | 12 | 0 |
| Stalling | 9 | 9 |
| Overheating | 7 | 11 |
| Electrical failures | 6 | 10 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 30 |
2003 MINI Cooper S
2005 MINI Cooper S
Compare all MINI Cooper S vs MINI Cooper S years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.