2002 Mini COOPER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
187 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
58,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 157 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 56 of 187 complaints (29.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 59 | 31.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 44 | 23.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 18 | 9.6% |
| Engine operation | 16 | 8.6% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.5% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 56 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 25 |
| Air Bags | 22 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 16 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 11 |
| Power Train | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
Steering: 56; Visibility:Windshield: 25; Air Bags: 22; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 16; Electrical System: 11; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 11; Power Train: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 40 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 27 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 38 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 19 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 31 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 40; 25,000 to 49,999: 27; 50,000 to 74,999: 38; 75,000 to 99,999: 19; 100,000 to 149,999: 31; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (40). 30 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 38 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 16 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | 19 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2002: 2; 2003: 38; 2004: 11; 2005: 11; 2006: 6; 2007: 16; 2008: 18; 2009: 10; 2010: 9; 2011: 15; 2012: 19; 2013: 10; 2014: 6; 2015: 3; 2016: 6; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2021: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 59 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 44 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 18 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 10130869 · 2005-08-01 (August 1, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 BMW MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED STEERING FAILURE. THE STEERING WAS NOT OPERATING. . COULD DRIVE BUT COULD NOT STEER BECAUSE THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. THE STEERING SYSTEM WAS BROKE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO , AND THEY REPAIRED IT. CURRENTLY, THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPAIR CAR ANYMORE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE STEERING BECAME VERY HEAVY, HAD TO MUSCLE THE STEERING IN ORDER TO TURN THE CAR. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN COULD NOT STEER THE CAR, AND IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. D…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10130869 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143476 · 2005-11-22 (November 22, 2005)
(1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE - NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, CAR DRIVEN 40K+ MILES (2) FAILURE & CONSEQUENCE - BOTH BEARINGS IN THE STEERING COLUMN BEGAN TO FAIL. DETAILS NOT EXACTLY AVAILABLE SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INSPECT THEM, BUT BEARINGS WOULD GRIND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER TOLD ME THAT THESE WOULD NOT IMPACT DRIVING SAFETY, IF NOT, WHAT IS THEIR PURPOSE? (3) CORRECTIVE ACTION - DEALER REPLACED BOTH BEARINGS SINCE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY (50K MILES). I INQUIRED WITH DEALER IF MINI HAS EITHER IMPROVED THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10143476 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000426 · 2002-12-30 (December 30, 2002)
I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 MINI COOPER, IT IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN THREE SEPARATE OCCASION TOTALLYING 54 DAYS, THE LAST TIME THAT IT WAS IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IT WAS 40 DAYS. THEY FINALLY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED, BUT IT TOOK THEM THAT LONG TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM THAT I WANTED TO BE COMPENSATED ONLY FOR THE DAYS THE CAR WAS AT THEIR SHOP, ALSO I INFORMED THEM THAT IF THE MINI HAS TO BE TAKEN TO THE SHOP AGAIN, THA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000426 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016317 · 2003-04-22 (April 22, 2003)
2003 MINI COOPER CVT. VEHICLE STALLS IN TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. BOGGS DOWN, LUNGES UPON ACCELERATION. POWER FAILURE. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ON DASH WARN OF PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ON THREE OCCASIONS FOR SAME PROBLEMS. BOGGS DOWN AND LUNGES CORRECTED BY REPROGRAMMING ON FIRST SERVICE. AFTER FIRST SERVICE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN IN TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. RETURNED TO SERVICE DEPT. WHO WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE STALLING AFTER 400 MILES OF TEST DRIVING IT. CONTACTED MINI DIVISION OF BMW OF AMERICA. THEY SENT TECHNICAL SPECIALIST WHO CHECKED TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016317 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017183 · 2003-04-18 (April 18, 2003)
THE VEHICLES REAR HATCH IS ELECTRONIC AND IF THE VEHICLES BATTERY DIED THERE WOULD BE NOT WAY TO INTO THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017183 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007920 · 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)
CAR ALMOST STALLS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP. ACCELERATION RATES VARY AND SOMETIMES ARE DANGEROUSLY SLOW CAR LUNGES WHEN TRYING TO MOVE SMALL DISTANCES
Owner-reported narrative. 5,125 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007920 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10099501 · 2004-11-05 (November 5, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN 50-55 MPH, PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL GEAR TO COAST BEFORE SLOWING DOWN, WENT TO GEAR DOWN , AND VEHICLE WILL BRAKE BUT NOT CHANGE GEARS. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN RECALL 02V201000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE. BUT, THE CONSUMER WASN'T INFORMED NOR NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL UNTIL RECENTLY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10099501 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10199917 · 2007-08-17 (August 17, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, AS WELL AS PIECES OF BURNING PLASTIC FALLING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. HE THEN NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND TRIED TO CONTAIN THE FIRE HOWEVER, THE FIRE CONTINUED TO SPREAD INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,00…
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055996 · 2004-01-28 (January 28, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED FUEL TANK EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, ENGINE FAILED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055996 at NHTSA ↗