Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 MINI Cooper submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 60 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 60, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
WE PURCHASED A 2003 MINI COOPER JUST WEEKS AGO FROM A PRIVATE PARTY. ALMOST INSTANTLY THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING. LUCKILY SHE WASN'T IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE LA FREEWAY. WE WERE TOLD BY THE SERVICE CENTER THAT WE NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. WE PURCHASED THIS AND HAD IT INSTALLED FOR APPROX.$1200.00. HOWEVER THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP FAN STILL WOULD NOT SHUT OFF WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, SO THIS ISSUE WAS STILL NOT RESOLVED. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS REPAIR MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED AND SLOWED TO A STOP. LUCKILY MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE AND COULD PULL OVER ON TO THE SIDE OF THE BUSY FREEWAY.(STILL NO POWER STEERING WORKING)THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE MINI DEALER. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF $7150 APPROX. AND THIS IS BEFORE THEY CAN EVEN DIAGNOSE THE STEERING FAN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. FROM ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE ABOUT BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS, MINI NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY! WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, AS THE REPAIRS ARE MUCH MORE THAN THE CARS VALUE AND THE MINI SERVICE MANAGER STATES THAT THE NEW CVT TRANSMISSION ONLY HAS A 2 YEAR WARRANTY. IF THIS IS A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION, WHY SHOULD WE PAY FOR ANOTHER ONE. AS OF TODAY MY DAUGHTER HAS TO WALK/BUS TO SCHOOL AND THE MINI SITS.WE ARE INTERESTED IN THE CLASS ACTION SUIT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD AN INTERNAL DEFECT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,648.
2003 MINI COOPER. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE TRANSMISSION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE LOS ANGELES FREEWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY AND SUDDENLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED AND VARIOUS REPAIR SHOPS STATED IT WOULD COST $ 9,3000 TO REPAIR BECAUSE MINI DIDN'T SELL THE CVT TRANSMISSION ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY WERE DEFECTIVE AND PRONE TO FAILURE. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE DONATED THE VEHICLE. *JB
MY 2003 MINI COOPER HAS HAD TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE (CVT TRANSMISSION) AT ONLY 46,129 MILES. FAILURE WAS TOTAL AND SUDDEN AND VEHICLE IS UNDRIVEABLE WITHOUT NEW TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER QUOTED ME A COST OF $10,055.44 (PARTS $6,943.28, LABOR $2,700 + TAX). THIS COST IS MORE THAT THE VEHICLES' CURRENT VALUE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT ONLY A NEW CVT TRANSMISSION CAN REPLACE THE FAULTY ONE, AND EVEN THEN THAT TRANSMISSION MAY AGAIN FAIL AS THEY ARE SUCH TERRIBLE TRANSMISSIONS. THE CAR WILL NOT TAKE ANY OTHER TRANSMISSION OPTION. THE DEALER BASICALLY LAUGHED AND SAID, "I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU HAVE AN EXTRA $10,000 LAYING AROUND," WHEN HE TOLD ME THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THE DEALER HAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE IN LOWERING THE COST, BUT BASICALLY SAID "TOUGH LUCK" AND TAKEN NO RESPONSIBILITY. THE CAR IS USELESS AND UNFIXABLE AT THIS COST. A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE AS CONSUMERS HAVE BEEN SOLD A FAILED TRANSMISSION, AND THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR'S TRANSMISSION IS TOTALLY FAULTY. *TR
I OWN A 2003 MINI COOPER WITH A CVT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, TRANSMISSION AND FRONT DIFFERENTIAL FILED AT 58000 MILES LUCKY FOR ME I WAS NOT ON THE INTERSTATE OR BUSY TRAFFIC AS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. MINI USA ARE TOTALLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND STOPPED PUTTING THIS DEFECTIVE PART IN NEWER MODEL VEHICLES. THEY WILL ALSO NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND ARE UNWILLING TO RECTIFY IT. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE CONCERNING THIS TRANSMISSION BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON THERE IS STILL NO SAFETY RECALL. I HOPE IT IS NOT GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE TO BE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE. ALSO THE BUSHINGS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE A FRAME ARE BAD WCH IN MY OPINION IS A SERIOUS FAULT AND COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. COST OF REPLACEMENT IS 7,000+ THESE CARS ARE ROLLING DEATH TRAPS IN MY OPINION AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *LN
MY 2003 MINI COOPER HAS ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE SEVERAL TIMES, REPLACED TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL HARNESS, POWER STEERING PUMP, A/C HOSES AND A/C SERVICE, WHEEL BEARINGS, INJECTION PLUGS ETC....... I STILL CANNOT FIND THE REAL PROBLEM WHY IS CAUSING A SHORT, IT HAS ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE SEVERAL TIMES, THIS CAR HAS BEEN THE MOST DANGEROUS CAR I HAVE EVER OWN, I HAVE NEVER SPEND SO MUCH MONEY ON TRYING TO FIX ANY VEHICLE, RIGHT NOW I'M ABOUT $11,500 IN COSTS OF REPAIRS, THIS IS A CRIME TO THE CONSUMER, I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT IS IN PROGRESS, I HOPE AND PRAY THAT WE GET JUSTICE FROM THE MAKER OF MINI. *TR
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND POWER STEERING FAILURE ON 2003 MINI COOPER (AUTOMATIC) AT 43,000 MILES. ORIGINAL OWNER, NO PSP PROBLEMS UNTIL A MONTH AGO WHEN SUDDENLY LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. ONCE RESTARTED THE PROBLEM STOPPED. JUST TRIED TO SELL THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER WHO THEN OPTED OUT OF THE SALE AFTER INSPECTION AS THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION ($7,000+). BOTH OF THESE ISSUES SEEM COMMON WHEN I SEARCHED ON THE NET; BOTH SHOULD BE RECALL ISSUES. *TR
THE CVT TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 MINI COOPER HAS FAILED RENDERING THE CAR NOT DRIVABLE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN QUIRKY, BUT I WAS ASSURED BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS DRASTICALLY AND MAKES A VERY AUDIBLE WHIRRING SOUND. THE ONLY OPTION FOR REPAIR IS A COMPLETE NEW PART INSTALL AT THE DEALER COST OF $8,800. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF IDENTICAL STORIES ABOUT THE CVTS ON MINI COOPERS AS WELL AS THE POWER STEERING PUMP. IT SEEMS FROM RESEARCH THAT THIS PART COMMONLY FAILS AND REPLACING WITH A DEFECTIVE PART AT A COST NEAR NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS IS ABSURD AND DISGUSTING. IT IS COST PROHIBITIVE TO KEEP MY CAR OPERATING AND I FEEL AS THOUGH I HAVE, AS WELL AS THOUSANDS OF OTHER MINI OWNERS HAVE BEEN SOLD A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT WORTHY OF RECALL. *TR
MI MINI COOPER 2003 GOT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ,NEED A PART THAT THEY CALL ,ACTUATOR MOTOR,,IS NO WAY TO FIND THAT PIECE ,NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR 8000 $ DOLLARS. MANY MINI COOPERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM NOBODY CAN DO A RECALL TO BMW. *TR
2003 MINI COOPER WITH FAILING CVT TRANSMISSION. THIS TRANSMISSION WAS DISCONTINUED BY MINI AND SUBSEQUENTLY IS FAILING AT LESS THAN 100K MILES. THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS ABRUPT AND CAN POSSIBLY LEAVE THE PASSENGER/S STRANDED IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. CONSULTED WITH MINI OF GREENVILLE , SC THIS WEEK AND THEY STATED THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILING TRANSMISSIONS AND COST TO REPLACE IS APPROXIMATELY $8000. WHEN ASKED IF THEY WOULD ACCEPT THE VEHICLE FOR A TRADE THEY STATED THEY WOULD ONLY GIVE $1000 FOR THE VEHICLE ON A TRADE. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE POSTS FROM IRATE OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE PREMATURE FAILED TRANSMISSIONS. WITH THE INCREASED FOCUS ON VEHICLE SAFETY MINI SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE PREMATURE FAILURES. *TR
MY 2003 MINI COOPER'S CVT TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO. THE MINI HAS 75K MILES (ALL HIGHWAY MILES). TOWED THE CAR TO THE MINI DEALERSHIP. HAD THE MODULAR UNIT REPLACED; HOWEVER THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE COST TO REPLACE IT IS TOO MUCH. IT COST THE TRUE VALUE OF THE CAR...OVER $8,000 TO REPLACE IT. BMW/MINI COOPER WILL NOT TAKE ANY PART OF RESPONSIBILITY TO THEIR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS ON THESE TYPES OF CARS. DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF REPAIRS THE BROKEN DOWN MINI IS BEING STORED IN A GARAGE BASICALLY ROTTING AWAY. *TR
SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON 2003 MINI COOPER. *TR
2003 MINI COOPER. 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. CAR TRANSMISSION FLEW APART WHILE DRIVING. *TW
TRANSMISSION CVT FAILURE. *TR
2003 MINI COOPER TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. CAR JUST STOPPED WHILE GOING 60 MPH. MANUFACTURER/DEALER WOULD NOT COVER REPAIRS (85,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY). ESTIMATE TO REPLACE: $9,000. SOLD CAR AS IS AT AUCTION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE TRANSMISSION CAN ONLY BE REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THERE ARE NO AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIPS IN THE STATE. THE MECHANIC ESTIMATED THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THE TRANSMISSION BETWEEN $8,000-$9,000. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 76,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/12/10 *BF UDDATED 01/14/10.*JB
TRANSMISSION FAILED ON 2003 MINI COOPER WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT INTO THE DRIVE GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY, AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CVT TRANSMISSION, AT AN EXPENSE OF $ 8,300.00. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,000. UPDATED 10/21/09. *LJ THE REPAIR SHOP DISCOVERED THE CVT DRIVE BELT HAD SHREDDED WHICH SENT METAL THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION. THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE, THE ONLY OPTION WAS FULL TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. UPDATED 10/20/09
MY CAR WILL SUDDENLY ONLY GO ABOUT 5 MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE THINKS HE HAS IT FIXED AND THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. NOW THEY ARE SAYING IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $8,400. THEY CAN'T REBUILD ONE, THEY CAN'T BUY A REBUILT ONE. THE CAR HAS LOW MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION SHOULDN'T BE GOING OUT. I BELIEVE MINI COOPERS HAVE A FLAWED TRANSMISSION AND THE COMPANY CONTINUES TO PUT MORE FLAWED TRANSMISSIONS INTO CARS AND WE THE CUSTOMERS ARE GETTING '!@#$%. *TR
OUR MINI COOPER REPEATEDLY STALLED WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC RESULTING IN SEVERAL NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES. NO FAULT CODE OR CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT EVER APPEARED. UPON TAKING THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP, WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, THE PROBLEM AND OUR CONCERNS WERE DISMISSED WITHOUT REMEDY. FINALLY, AFTER BEING IN THE MOUNTAINS ON WINDY ROADS A CLICKING NOISE BEGAN. SINCE NO FAULT OR CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED, WE ASSUMED THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE TO BE FROM SOMETHING MINOR AND OPTED TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC, A FIVE MILE DRIVE. SHORTLY BEFORE ARRIVING TO THE MECHANIC, THE MINI UNEXPECTEDLY BECAME QUITE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY, UPON WHICH THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING ' REQUIRING THE CAR TO BE PUSHED TO THE MECHANIC. AGAIN, NO CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS A WARNING AND NO FAULT CODES WERE STORED. BMW'S MINI COOPER CVT TRANSMISSION POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD TO DRIVERS. RESEARCH INDICATES BMW IS AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION, WHICH EXPLAINS WHY BMW OPTED TO NO LONGER USE THE CVT TRANSMISSION IN LATER MODELS. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION TO KEEP MINI OWNERS & OTHER DRIVERS SAFE. OURS IS JUST ONE OF MANY SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WE'VE RECENTLY LEARNED OF WHILE RESEARCHING THE DISMAL TRACK RECORD OF BMW'S CVT TRANSMISSIONS IN EARLY MINI COOPERS. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 MINI COOPER WITH AUTOMATIC CVT TRANSMISSION AND HAVE HAD RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH THE CVT SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF SERVICE VISITS, REPLACEMENT OF THE CVT IN 2007, AND THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE CVT AS INOPERABLE. I HAVE ALL INVOICES DETAILING WORK DONE. 10/9/02 - I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 MINI COOPER WITH AUTOMATIC CVT TRANSMISSION FROM BARON BMW IN MERRIAM, KS. 12/02 - MINI USA SENT ME LETTER RE: CHASSIS #TE13495 THAT SOME AUTOMATIC CVT TRANSMISSIONS HAD BEEN FILLED WITH THE INCORRECT TRANSMISSION OIL AND TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT FLUSHED AND REPLACED ASAP. 12/27/02 - BARON FLUSHED AND REPLACED FLUID. I ALSO COMPLAINED THAT THE CAR HAD DIED TWO TIMES AND RAN ROUGH. MILEAGE 1,760. 7/2/03-I TOOK MINI IN COMPLAINING "WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE CAR HAS A HARD LURCH" AND BARON'S INVOICE STATES "TEST DROVE CAR AND FOUND IT WAS VERY HARSH GOING INTO GEAR AND LURCHED WHEN IT WAS COLD". 2ND AUTO TRANS CONCERN WAS "CAR HAS ALMOST DIED AT LOW IDLES A FEW TIMES". BARON REPROGRAMMED THE CAR UNDER WARRANTY. MILEAGE 6,465. 7/23/07-CUSTOMER GOODWILL PROVIDED BY BARON MINI AND REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT NO COST ALTHOUGH WARRANTY WAS UP. MILEAGE 49,512. 9/11/07-I TOOK MINI IN AGAIN COMPLAINING OF ROUGH IDLE AND CAR WANTS TO DIE AT STOPS. MILEAGE 51,167. 8/13/09- MINI WAS HAVING A HARD TIME SHIFTING OUT OF 1ST GEAR. IT WOULD ONLY DRIVE 15-20 MPH AT UP TO 3,000 RPMS. I CALLED BARON AND WAS TOLD THE CURRENT TRANSMISSION HAD A TWO YEAR WARRANTY (WHICH MADE THIS COMPLAINT 2 YEARS AND A FEW WEEKS PAST WARRANTY) BUT IT WAS POSSIBLE MINI WOULD COVER REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. THEY DID NOT. BARON FLUSHED AND FILLED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SAID IT RUNS BETTER BUT IT IS NOT FIXED. THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING THE CVT AGAIN. I HAVE NOT HAD THE CVT REPLACED (FOR THE 2ND TIME). MILEAGE 75,558. *TR
TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH NO WARNING OR SYMPTOMS. *TR
CVT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 MINI COOPER BLEW OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CAR HAD JUST ABOUT 37,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED AT THE DEALERS SHOP. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .