2003 MINI Cooper steering problems
159 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the steering on the 2003 MINI Cooper — 50% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“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…”
filed May 14, 2025
“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.”
filed Aug 14, 2024
“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…”
filed Jul 2, 2024
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- Affected vehicles may experience temporary or permanent loss of the electro-hydraulic…Campaign 15V660000 · Oct 15, 2015
Related service bulletins
This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI 32 02 14 dated August 2014. SUBJECT Installation of Right-Hand Drive Steering Spindle in Left-Hand Drive Vehicle is No Longer Required. Left-hand drive steering spindles…
M320214 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 1, 2016
Steering problems in other Cooper years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Cooper | 1 | 4% |
| 2016 Cooper | 1 | 4% |
| 2015 Cooper | 2 | 4% |
| 2014 Cooper | 2 | 6% |
| 2013 Cooper | 1 | 2% |
| 2012 Cooper | 1 | 2% |
| 2011 Cooper | 3 | 4% |
| 2010 Cooper | 1 | 1% |
| 2009 Cooper | 4 | 3% |
| 2008 Cooper | 4 | 3% |
| 2007 Cooper | 4 | 3% |
| 2006 Cooper | 53 | 27% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2003 MINI Cooper
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.