2003 MINI Cooper vs 2003 MINI Cooper S
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 MINI Cooper | 2003 MINI Cooper S |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 320 | 217 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 46 | 43 |
| Investigations | 5 | 5 |
| Crash reports | 3 | 11 |
| Fire reports | 27 | 21 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25–28 | 25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 74,826 mi | 70,056 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | MINI Cooper | MINI Cooper S |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 159 | 129 |
| Power Train | 89 | 8 |
| Visibility | 23 | 33 |
| Electrical System | 26 | 14 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 22 | 10 |
| Air Bags | 10 | 7 |
| Suspension | 6 | 8 |
| Engine | 7 | 5 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Steering problems | 47 | 37 |
| Stalling | 23 | 9 |
| Loss of power | 18 | 16 |
| Electrical failures | 13 | 6 |
| Overheating | 5 | 7 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 12 |
2003 MINI Cooper
2003 MINI Cooper S
Compare all MINI Cooper 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.