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U.S. public vehicle records

2002 Mini COOPER S problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

83 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

75,415 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 73 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 51 of 83 complaints (61.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior5566.3%
Electrical and battery issues1416.9%
Engine operation78.4%
Braking behavior44.8%
Transmission and shifting11.2%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Steering
51
Air Bags
12
Electrical System
7
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump
4
Seats
3
Air Bags:Side/Window
2
Latches/Locks/Linkages
2
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Steering51
Air Bags12
Electrical System7
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump4
Seats3
Air Bags:Side/Window2
Latches/Locks/Linkages2
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System2

Steering: 51; Air Bags: 12; Electrical System: 7; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump: 4; Seats: 3; Air Bags:Side/Window: 2; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 2; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
3
25,000 to 49,999
12
50,000 to 74,999
21
75,000 to 99,999
20
100,000 to 149,999
16
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0003
25,000 to 49,99912
50,000 to 74,99921
75,000 to 99,99920
100,000 to 149,99916
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 20; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 1

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 10 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2006
2
2007
5
2008
6
2009
2
2010
17
2011
22
2012
7
2013
8
2014
1
2015
3
2016
5
2017
2
2018
2
2025
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20062
20075
20086
20092
201017
201122
20127
20138
20141
20153
20165
20172
20182
20251

2006: 2; 2007: 5; 2008: 6; 2009: 2; 2010: 17; 2011: 22; 2012: 7; 2013: 8; 2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 5; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 55 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10170940 · 2006-10-16 (October 16, 2006)

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. REPLACEMENT WAS REQUIRED AT 48,000 MILES. VIEWING THE MINI OWNERS WEBSITE REVEALED MANY SIMILAR SITUATIONS WHERE THE PUMP REQUIRED REPLACEMENT ON MANY 2002-2004 MODELS. THIS COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10170940 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10188190 · 2007-04-17 (April 17, 2007)

SEVERAL, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED MORE THEN TEN DIFFERENT TIMES, EACH TIME IT WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER (WESTCHESTER BMW/WESTCHESTER MINI) THE LAST FIX WAS AFTER THE NORMAL WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND REQUIRED MUCH FUSS TO GET IT REPAIRED FOR FREE. THE POWER STEERING PUMP SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE RADIATOR FAN WAS REPLACED TWO TIMES BY ME (CAR OUT OF WARRANTY) EVEN THOUGH I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER WHEN THE CAR WAS STILL QUITE NEW ABOUT THE FREQUENCY OF THE FAN MOTOR'S STARTING AND STOPPING…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10188190 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10204238 · 2007-09-27 (September 27, 2007)

TOOK MY CAR IN FOR WINDING SOUND COMING FROM MOTOR. DIAGNOSED AS THE ALTERNATOR...THEY REPLACED IT AND SOUND WAS STILL PRESENT ...MISDIAGNOSED AND WAS ACTUALLY THE SUPERCHARGER, BUT WHILE THEY WERE CHECKING IT OUT INITIALLY THE POWER STEERING PUMP STAYED ON...WHICH DIDN'T HAPPEN TO ME UNTIL THEY HAD IT. AFTER CHANGING THE ALTERNATOR POWER STEERING PUMP NO LONGER STAYED ON PER THE DEALER. HAD IT HOME 3 DAYS TO WAKE UP ONE MORNING HEARING THE PUMP ON AND I GO TO START MY CAR AND IN DRAINED MY BATTERY. HAD TO JUMP THE CAR AND THEN DISCONNECT T…

Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204238 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10205083 · 2007-10-05 (October 5, 2007)

SIGNIFICANT AND REPEATED ELECTRICAL FAILURES CAUSED THE CAR TO RANDOMLY SWITCH INTO EML MODE, REDUCING ENGINE OUTPUT CRITICALLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH POWER TO REMOVE THE CAR FROM THE ROAD SAFELY. AFTER SEVERAL INEFFECTUAL REPAIRS, THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED. SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CAR WAS PARKED, EMERGENCY BRAKE SET, MANUAL TRANSMISSION SET IN FIRST GEAR. UNATTENDED, TURNED OFF WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE CAR MOVED ITSELF SEVERAL FEET, HITTING ANOTHER CAR, BURNING OUT THE STARTER AND DRAINING …

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10205083 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10358142 · 2010-09-28 (September 28, 2010)

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST. JUST HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN DURING NORMAL DRIVING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10358142 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10359938 · 2010-10-10 (October 10, 2010)

I READ LAST WEEK ABOUT POSSIBLE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSOCIATED WITH 04-05 MINI MODELS. I HAVE AN 02 MINI COOPER S AND HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM APPROX 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 4 YEARS. WITH NO WARNING, THE POWER STEERING WILL SUDDENLY DISAPPEAR. I CAN STEER THE CAR, BUT ONLY WITH SIGNIFICANT EFFORT. MY MECHANIC CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT OF THIS. I'M NOT CERTAIN, BUT IT APPEARS THIS MIGHT HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THE ROAD IS WET. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10359938 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10184388 · 2007-03-06 (March 6, 2007)

OUR MINI BURNED TO THE GROUND. IT HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 20 MILES AND WAS PARKED WHEN IT HAPPENED. AFTER A FORENSIC SPECIALIST WAS HIRED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ABS UNIT WAS AT FAULT. IN LATER MODELS, THE FUSE WAS CHANGED FROM A 30 AMP TO A 20 AMP. NO RECALL WAS EVER ISSUED AND BMW/MINI NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. SINCE THIS HAPPENED, AT LEAST 10-15 OTHER MINIS HAVE BURNED. OUR MINI WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184388 at NHTSA ↗