Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Mini Cooper S owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Mini Cooper s. While driving 40 MPH and attempting to make a turn, the power steering failed. As a result, the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. A police report was filed. The contact sustained contusions to the face and lost a tooth. The occupants of the other vehicle sustained unknown injuries. Medical attention was not required. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 213,000.
Power steering went out without warning, causing loss of control while vehicle was in motion; Mini USA advised it was still driveable, but to be cautious due to lack of control/power steering; when parked, smoke began to plume from under hood where a fire was noticed in back of engine. Called Mini USA back and they advised us to not drive vehicle, as it was a safety hazard. Contacted Mini to set up recalled part (hydraulic power steering), but they were not willing to have car towed to dealer (120 miles from my residence).
Parked vehicle outside grocery store. Returned after <5 minutes to find smoke pouring from the hood. Opened hood to determine cause and smelt electrical smoke, and saw flames coming from under the engine. Doused flames using a fire extinguisher from store, and disconnected battery. Initial dealer investigation indicates that the damage was to the power steering pump and wiring harness. Had I not stopped for groceries, I would have been unlikely to notice the smoke/fire early enough to prevent the loss of the vehicle. Insurance and dealer root cause investigation is still pending, but after some research on the internet (mostly http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73527) I found at least 10 other instances of a fault in the power steering pump causing fires. …
8/13/2014- I was stopped at a stop sign in a mall parking lot and smoke started billowing out from under the right front side of the car and at the same time started coming through the vents into the cabin of the car. I tried to shut off the car, but it would not turn off. A bystander came running and opened the hood, smoke poured out, told me to call roadside assistance as he was opening hood and then told me to hang up and call 911 that my car was on fire. Flames were coming out of the engine area but there was too much smoke. The engine fan was still running. Another passerby had an commercial extinguisher and emptied it on my vehicle. The fire dept. Was pulling up as they were trying to push it aside, the car re-ignited and it took the fire department approx. 15 to make douse the fire without it re-igniting. …
Steering fluid continuously leaks - replace hydraulic hose twice - known defect - Mini refused to fix for free engine cooling - fan runs after shutoff continuously - known defect - Mini refused to fix for free electrical - doors, windows, sunroof fire off on their own while car is moving and when is parked. Will do this at highway speed or when sitting outside (rain or shine) - car unlocks itself and windows all open up -known defect - kind of distracting at highway speed -Mini refused to fix for free. Dealers will not fix these issues unless you make them recall vehicles with multiple small problems ( not just one big problem) - this model has 73 tsbs that dealers charge you to fix even though the problems are known and dangerous issues. In my mind, many small problems can be more dangerous than a few big ones - steering, door locks, cooling - not good. …
We have a 2003 Mini Cooper s that spontaneously caught on fire today. I was driving about 40 MPH when I smelled something and the power steering just quit working. I came to a stop, then smoke came out from the side of the car. I pulled into a parking lot and opened the hood - there was a fire under the exhaust by the power steering pump. I was able to get a bucket of water and put the fire out. I got on the internet and there are at least two sites (see: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/Mini.html http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?s=015b1e186260b0639d13cf8a7d6522dd&t=73527&page=8 where many people have had similar issues. What does it take for a recall? I have not seen any deaths, but several reports of fires. If I had been driving 70 on the interstate when the power steering quit and the car caught on fire, it could have been a disaster. …
I've been following blogs about Mini coopers going on fire since I owned one, and I never thought it would happen to me. Well, I had just gotten back home from school when I smell something like wiring burning in my car, so I killed the engine and opened the hood. Power steering still running and smoking, so I called my dad to help me. He disconnected the battery and stopped the EPS pump from being consumed on fire. This should not be happening, the BMW-Mini firm should take responsibility and not let their clients suffer the aftermath. This is surely a recall, no one has died yet, thanks god, but let's be serious folks. Since new pump at dealer is $650.00 called junk yards and part is not readily available and if available junk yards charge very close to a new one for a used one. …
I was starting my vehicle and it made a bad knocking noise then it was like crunching noise so I stopped turn it off and waited for a while went back to the car still making a strange noise but once I put it in the drive it stopped making noise drove down the road a bit and talking about apparently slips off of the car so it just pulls over inside all the all the wearing lights came on so pulled over apparently this happens quite often but the harmonic balancer separated and with spinning against itself and knocked the pieces off of it and through the serpentine belt so that needs to replace now that should not happen it's one piece is this one piece this needs to be recalled for these whatever cars had these harmonic balancers is dangerous and it could blow your car up thank you
Tl contact owns a 2003 Mini Cooper s purchased new. He stated while traveling at speeds of less than 65 MPH, the vehicle began pulling to the right. Shortly after that the battery charging warning light illuminated and the contact immediatley smelled a burning odor. He pulled over and found there was a fire coming from under the hood. The fire department arrived shortly after however he had already extinguished the fire. The insurance company and mechanic determined the fire was a result of a faulty power steering pump cooling fan. The vehicle was repaired under his insurance company. The failure and current mileages were under 88,000.the VIN was not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Mini Cooper s. The vehicle was parked and shut off for approximately 30 minutes when the contact was advised that the vehicle was on fire. The contact stated that fire was coming from under the hood. The fire extinguished independently and the vehicle was towed to an independent repair facility. The contact was informed that the power steering remained on while the vehicle was shut off and caused the fire. The power steering pump, wiring harness and battery were all replaced. The failure did not recur. The failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 92,000.
Related recalls
Steering › Electric power assist system
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 MINI Cooper and Cooper S vehicles and 2005 Cooper and Cooper S Convertible vehicles. The affected vehicles may experience temporary or permanent loss of the electro-hydraulic steering assistance.
Remedy: MINI will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the electro-hydraulic power steering system, replacing the components and wiring, as necessary, free of charge.
NHTSA investigations
Engine compartment fire
In response to an information request (ir) letter sent by the office of defects investigation (odi), BMW stated that the cause of the alleged defect is an insufficient seal of the ground cable of the power steering pump at its attachment to the chassis.water ingress can occur and the water can travel along the power steering pump power cable and come in contact with the power steering pump power cable connector.the…
Loss of power steering assist
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) originally opened the investigation of loss of power steering assist in model year (MY) 2004 and 2005 Mini Cooper as Preliminary Evaluation PE10-038.The investigation was upgraded to Engineering Analysis EA11-005 in May, 2011.During EA11-005 the scope was expanded to include MY 2002 and 2003 vehicles that use the same steering system.The subject vehicles now include MY 2002,…
Engine compartment fire
The office of defects investigation (odi) analyzed consumer complaints to BMW of north America, llc (BMW)and to odi that alleged failures of the electrohydraulic power steering (ehps) used in model year 2002 through 2003 Mini cooper vehicles.the analysis determined that 43 of the 52 (83%) reports were related to allegations of power steering loss and 9 (17%) were related to allegations of engine compartment fires.
Steering complaints in other Cooper S years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2003 Mini Cooper S?
NHTSA has 129 complaints about the steering of the 2003 Mini Cooper S, 59% of the model year's 217 complaints. The component named most often is hydraulic power assist › pump (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Mini Cooper S steering problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-660 (electric power assist system, Oct 15, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2003 Mini Cooper S steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 14 fires and 7 injuries to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.