2002 MINI Cooper S Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2002 MINI Cooper S, and owners have filed 83 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2002 MINI Cooper S
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Electric power assist system (steering)
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. Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 10,…
83 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2002 MINI Cooper S have filed 83 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a crash and 5 describe a fire. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 76,443 miles. Complaints peaked in 2011 with 22 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2002 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45-55 MPH, the steering wheel seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was coasted to the”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 21, 2025 · Steering
“The VIN # of my 2002 MINI cooper s was not included in the recall for the electrohydraulic steering failure of 2002 - 2005 MINI cooper s but i am experiencing the exact issue outlined in this recall.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 22, 2018 · Steering
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2002 MINI Cooper. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 25 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 22 / 29 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Minicompact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (variable gear ratios) |
Compare MINI Cooper S model years
Recall and complaint counts for every MINI Cooper S model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 MINI Cooper S | 1 | 83 |
| 2003 MINI Cooper S | 2 | 217 |
| 2004 MINI Cooper S | 2 | 247 |
| 2005 MINI Cooper S | 2 | 314 |
| 2006 MINI Cooper S | 1 | 186 |
| 2007 MINI Cooper S | 4 | 249 |
| 2008 MINI Cooper S | 4 | 168 |
| 2009 MINI Cooper S | 3 | 119 |
| 2010 MINI Cooper S | 4 | 59 |
| 2011 MINI Cooper S | 3 | 31 |
| 2012 MINI Cooper S | 2 | 23 |
| 2013 MINI Cooper S | 1 | 24 |
| 2014 MINI Cooper S | 4 | 13 |
| 2015 MINI Cooper S | 4 | 18 |
| 2016 MINI Cooper S | 3 | 9 |
| 2017 MINI Cooper S | 3 | 6 |
| 2019 MINI Cooper S | 1 | 5 |
| 2020 MINI Cooper S | 2 | 5 |
| 2021 MINI Cooper S | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 MINI Cooper S | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 MINI Cooper S | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 MINI Cooper S | 3 | 4 |
Checking a specific 2002 MINI Cooper S
How do I know if my 2002 MINI Cooper S has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2002 MINI Cooper S; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised MINI dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 15V660000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other MINI models
- Cooper2,235 complaints
- Cooper Convertible173 complaints
- Cooper S Convertible138 complaints
- Cooper Clubman116 complaints
- Cooper Countryman107 complaints
- Countryman104 complaints
- Cooper S Clubman90 complaints
- Clubman80 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.