2002 MINI Cooper S Problems
Typical for Model
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 MINI Cooper S.
Complaints
105
Crashes
4
Fires
10
Injuries
2
Fatalities
—
Recalls
1
Worst 2002 MINI Cooper S Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#151 complaints
Steering Defects
Avg mileage:81,179 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:2
#212 complaints
Airbags
Avg mileage:88,778 mi
Crash-related:1
#37 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:62,934 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:3
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 MINI Cooper S.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering Defects | 51 | 2 | 2 | 81,179 mi | |
| Airbags | 12 | 1 | — | 88,778 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 7 | 1 | 3 | 62,934 mi | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Latches / Locks | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wiring & Fuses | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Column | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 1 | — | — | — |
Steering Defects
51
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
81,179
Airbags
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
88,778
Electrical Faults
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Avg Miles
62,934
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Side/Window
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches / Locks
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wiring & Fuses
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Column
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 MINI Cooper S. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2002 MINI Cooper S
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~86,018 vehicles.
15V660000Steering:electric Power Assist System
~86,018 affectedBMW 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.
Other MINI Cooper S Years
2002 MINI Cooper S — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 MINI Cooper S reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2002 MINI Cooper S has 105 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Steering Defects with 51 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 MINI Cooper S?
Top reported problems: Steering Defects (51 complaints, avg 81,179 mi); Airbags (12 complaints, avg 88,778 mi); Electrical Faults (7 complaints, avg 62,934 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 MINI Cooper S?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 80,657 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2002 MINI Cooper S?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 MINI Cooper S include 4 crash-related reports, 10 fire reports, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2002 MINI Cooper S have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 86,018 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2002 MINI Cooper S?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full MINI Cooper S reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 MINI Cooper S
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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