Problems · NHTSA complaints
2002 MINI Cooper problems
Owners filed 269 complaints about the 2002 MINI Cooper with NHTSA between Aug 2002 and Feb 2025. The most-cited component is steering (118).
Complaints
269
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
13
Reported by owners
Injuries
10
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Steering118
- Power train44
- Air bags39
- Visibility31
- Electrical system22
- Engine and engine cooling16
- Latches/locks/linkages8
- Seats7
- Structure4
- Vehicle speed control4
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Engine2
- Electronic stability control (esc)2
- Equipment2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
37
11
11
8
21
24
12
26
37
26
18
7
6
11
3
3
1
0
1
0
0
1
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 37 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 21 |
| 2008 | 24 |
| 2009 | 12 |
| 2010 | 26 |
| 2011 | 37 |
| 2012 | 26 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Steering
118 reports2 crashes6 fires1 related recall
“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 side of the road. The contact restarted the vehicle and continued driving normally. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V660000 (STEERING). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 43,000.”
Power train
44 reports1 crash1 related recall
“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 CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V201000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Air bags
39 reports4 crashes
“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 are intact with no signs of damages to all 3 wire connectors under the seat.”
Visibility
31 reports
“BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MOTOR FAILURE (WITH WINDOW IN UP POSITION). PROBLEM WAS INTERMEDIATE OVER THE PAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS WITH FAILURE TWO OR THREE TIMES A YEAR. CURRENTLY DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW HAS NOT WORKED FOR WEEKS. *TR”
Electrical system
22 reports1 crash7 fires
“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.”
Engine and engine cooling
16 reports1 crash1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED IN A JERKING MOTION AND BEGAN TO DOWN-SHIFT INTO ANOTHER GEAR CONTINUOUSLY. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR AND EP CODE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO INTERNAL DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,416.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.