Two problems related to engine stall have been reported for the 2003 Mini Cooper. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Mini Cooper based on all problems reported for the 2003 Cooper.
I have owned the vehicle since its purchase brand new in March, 2003. When the engine is warm and starting it up after having been shut down for up to two hours there has always been a minor, intermittent problem with a rough and surging idle that oscillates between 1050 rpm down to 400 rpm then back up then down which lasts for about 30 seconds before settling down. As the vehicle has aged the problem has intensified to the point that the engine sometimes stalls. The symptoms are similar to those as noted in NHTSA item #10009756, service bulletin #110104 (rough idle, stalling). Lately it has now even begun to occur when stopping quickly causing the engine to almost stall. If it were an emergency situation there would not be enough immediate power to accelerate. The dealer has been shown the problem but has failed to rectify. The only investigation they do is to make sure the software in the vehicle is the latest release.
The car has multiple daily engine stumbles and has stalled 3 times since owning the new car for the past 7 months. The stalls have been while driving at low speeds.