2002 Mini Cooper problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (53) · Visibility:windshield (25) · Air Bags (18)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mini Cooper model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
157 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Steering:electric Power Assist System 2015-10-15 · campaign 15V660000 · 86,018 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: MINI will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the electro-hydraulic power steering system, replacing the components and wiring, as necessary, free of charge. Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 10, 2015. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
Service bulletins (45)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Equipment 2024-02-02 · M510124 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the bar code on the vehicle identificatio nnumber (vin) label (aka manufacturer compliance label ) cannot be read.
Structure 2023-11-02 · M511616 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
cavity protection applied to underside of the hood is leaking out onto the wheel arch trim and grille.
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control 2018-05-01 · M120817 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
w10 engine: ems2k - comprehensive component obd readiness monitor not completed: an affected vehicle fails to pass a state inspection and emission (i/m) test due to the òcomprehensive componentó obd readiness monitor status is ònot complete,ó or it fails complete after performing an applicable repai
Steering 2016-03-01 · M320214 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 are currently available.
Engine 2015-07-01 · 12 09 15 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
mini: faulty software for the tank ventilation control displays engine throttle reaction when temperature is high outside, and more obvious if the tank is only partly filled. *ma
Engine 2015-07-01 · 12 06 15 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
mini: because of the dme software, and a damaged clutch, the drivetrain malfunction check message appear. *ma
Showing the 6 most recent of 45 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-02-26 · Seats“i purchased the vehicle used with airbag light showing on the speedometer gauge cluster. searched with vin for recalls but showed 0 unrepaired recalls. tried clearing the light with my launch creader bmw v2 scan tool. light flashes a few times and goes away but immediately appears on the speedometer gauge cluster. this would happen everytime. wires…”
2025-02-26 · Exterior Lighting“driverside headlight assembly flickers everytime when you turn the key to position 1 with selector on off or auto. flickers multiple times but doesn'tturn on unless i cycle the key on off until headlight does. this annoyance would reoccur the very next morning. passenger headlight assembly doesn't have any issues. …”
2024-11-16 · Air Bags“unoccupied passenger side airbags; all front & backseat bags deployed after passenger side tires hit pothole on road. pieces of interior, including decorative plastic, interior light covers were projected across cabin & hit me. i had no idea what had happened. car shut off shortly after incident. it was night, i was sitting in middle of my lane, u…”
2021-03-11 · Unknown Or Other“my mini cooper needs recall work done. i am in billings, mt and 392 miles from the closest certified place to get it repaired. i can't travel that far in a 2002 vehicle with high miles during a pandemic. i am a senior citizen and have issues that do not allow me to travel that far. i am stuck with a vehicle that may have a potential steering issue …”
2019-06-26 · Steering · 75,000 mi“so i bought a 2002 mini cooper less than a year ago and it currently has 74k miles and attempting to pull into a parking spot at the grocery my steering goes completely out while i was trying to turn into my spot and ripped off a black molding that goes over the front passenger wheel and a significant ding and scratch. …”
2018-03-09 · Steering · 120,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2002 mini cooper. while driving approximately 50 mph, the steering wheel seized and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. the vehicle was able to coast to the side of the road. the contact powered off and restarted the vehicle, and was able to drive normally. the contact, a certified mechanic, diagnosed that the s…”
2017-02-24 · Structure:body · 118,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2002 mini cooper. the contact stated that water was entering the vehicle from the sun roof, which caused the computer in the vehicle to get moist and not operate. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the sun roof rubber connector needed to be repaired. the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure re…”
2016-08-16 · Power Train“tl* the contact owns a 2002 mini cooper. while driving 15 mph out of a parking lot, the vehicle made a left turn and the gear shifter failed. in addition, the gear shifter cable detached. the vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. the failure recurred twice. the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. the vin was not included in nhtsa campai…”
2016-06-29 · Air Bags · 140,000 mi“at 140,000 mile: + air bag light came on. dealer said that the airbag computer module will cost $1,000 to replace. i see on-line blogs and nhtsa have had numerous complaints on the air bag dash light coming on and nhtsa is still investigating.…”
2016-06-29 · Service Brakes · 140,000 mi“abs dash light and break light suddenly came on. in addition to the air bag light that suddenly came on, the dealer said the computer module for the abs will cost $1,000 (in addition to the airbag module of $1.000). i see on internet blogs and nhtsa that this is a common incident total air bag and abs cost will be $2,000…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.