Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2002 Mini Cooper. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering Loss
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- 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, 2015. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
TIRE INFORMATION LABEL/FMVSS 110
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- TOO LOW OR TOO HIGH TIRE PRESSURE CAN CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR AND/OR TIRE DAMAGE, AND COULD LEAD TO UNFAVORABLE DRIVING CONDITIONS.
- 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 CONTACT MINI AT 1-866-275-6464.
BMW/TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE
- Summary
- 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 DETACHES FROM THE SHIFT LINKAGE, GEAR CHANGES WILL NO LONGER BE POSSIBLE AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL REMAIN IN THE LAST GEAR SELECTED.
- Consequence
- IF SHIFT CABLE DETACHMENT OCCURS AND THE TRANSMISSION REMAINS IN ANY FORWARD GEAR, THE VEHICLE CAN STILL BE DRIVEN IN THAT GEAR ONLY. HOWEVER, IF THE TRANSMISSION MOVES INTO NEUTRAL AND REMAINS THERE, THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE OR MAINTAIN SPEED WILL BE LOST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- 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 TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-866-ASK-MINI (1-866-275-6464).
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (187)
187 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The steering is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 187 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 61 | 32.6% |
| Power train | 43 | 23% |
| Visibility | 29 | 15.5% |
| Air bags | 26 | 13.9% |
| Electrical system | 13 | 7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 11 | 5.9% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 6 | 3.2% |
| Seats | 4 | 2.1% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 1.6% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 1.6% |
How 2002 compares with other Cooper years
Best and worst Cooper years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 6 | 0 |
| 2002 | 187 | 3 |
| 2003 | 320 | 2 |
| 2004 | 282 | 2 |
| 2005 | 468 | 2 |
| 2006 | 227 | 1 |
| 2007 | 124 | 3 |
| 2008 | 124 | 2 |
| 2009 | 169 | 2 |
| 2010 | 92 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 2002 Cooper for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2002 Mini Cooper FAQ
How many recalls does the 2002 Mini Cooper have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 15V660000 (steering), 05V470000 (equipment), 02V201000 (power train). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2002 Mini Cooper problems?
Owners filed 187 complaints with NHTSA. Steering (61), Power train (43), Visibility (29) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 2002 Cooper compare with other years?
Among the 2001–2010 Mini Cooper model years at least five years old, the 2001 drew the fewest complaints (6) and the 2005 the most (468). The 2002 drew 187. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.