RecallMyCar

2002 MINI Cooper Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 2002 MINI Cooper, and owners have filed 187 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
187
owner complaints to NHTSA
4 / 8
complaints citing a crash / fire
25
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 2002 MINI Cooper

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Electric power assist system (steering)

    NHTSA 15V660000 Reported 86,018 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    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,…

  2. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 05V470000 Reported 960 vehicles potentially affected BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC

    Certain passenger vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, 'tire selection and rims.' the standard requires that the relationship between the tire size and maximum tire pressure be indicated on the vehicle's tire information label. This relationship is not present.

    Remedy: Owners will be provided with new tire information placards and installation instructions. At the customer's option, a dealer can perform the installation for them. The recall began on november 30, 2005. Owners may…

  3. Floor shift assembly (power train)

    NHTSA 02V201000 Reported 3,531 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    On certain passenger vehicles equipped with manual transmissions, the transmission shift cable connects the gearshift lever in the vehicle interior to the shift linkage on the transmission. It is possible for the shift cable to detach from the transmission shift linkage while the driver is attempting to change gears. If the cable…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the shift cable and, if necessary, install a retaining clip over the end of the shift cable to prevent it from detaching from the transmission. Owner notification began august 6, 2002. Owners who…

187 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2002 MINI Cooper have filed 187 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash and 8 describe a fire. Reports cite 8 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 61,774 miles. Complaints peaked in 2003 with 38 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 26, 2025 · Electrical system

“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 headli”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 26, 2025 · Electrical system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2002 MINI Cooper. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined25 mpg
City / Highway22 / 29
FuelPremium
EPA classMinicompact Cars
Engine4 cyl, 1.6 L
TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Compare MINI Cooper model years

Recall and complaint counts for every MINI Cooper model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2001 MINI Cooper06
2002 MINI Cooper3187
2003 MINI Cooper2320
2004 MINI Cooper2282
2005 MINI Cooper2372
2006 MINI Cooper1200
2007 MINI Cooper1117
2008 MINI Cooper1115
2009 MINI Cooper1151
2010 MINI Cooper292
2011 MINI Cooper183
2012 MINI Cooper166
2013 MINI Cooper147
2014 MINI Cooper734
2015 MINI Cooper656
2016 MINI Cooper128
2017 MINI Cooper328
2018 MINI Cooper08
2019 MINI Cooper212
2020 MINI Cooper27
2021 MINI Cooper27
2022 MINI Cooper06
2023 MINI Cooper07
2024 MINI Cooper01
2025 MINI Cooper31
2026 MINI Cooper12

Checking a specific 2002 MINI Cooper

How do I know if my 2002 MINI Cooper 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. 3 campaigns currently list the 2002 MINI Cooper; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

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 02V201000).

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

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.