2002 MINI Cooper: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2002 MINI Cooper
On the 2002 MINI Cooper, the failure owners report most often is other steering problem, and the reports cluster around 85,000 miles. The earliest to appear is other visibility problem, reported by a median of 15,000 miles. Overall it scores 73 out of 100, high risk for a 2002.
High risk for a 2002 — 68th riskiest of the 328 2002 vehicles we can rate. 220 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What owners report breaking
Owners have reported 43 named failure modes on the 2002 MINI Cooper, and the three most-reported carry 28% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other steering problem leads with 26 reports, about 2.4 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 50k to 110,000 miles.
Other visibility problem follows with 20 reports, usually reported between 8k to 20,000 miles.
Loss of power steering follows with 15 reports, usually reported between 65k to 110,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into steering (55), transmission (35) and glass (25).
When these failures get reported
185 of the reports on the 2002 MINI Cooper came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 60,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 40% by 50,000 miles, 78% by 100,000 miles and 98% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 3 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 60,000 and 70,000 miles, which alone holds 14% of the dated reports.
29% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
In the order they tend to show up: other visibility problem around 15k, complete transmission failure around 59k, other powertrain problem around 60k and power steering pump or fluid leak around 70k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 43. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 3 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
How bad it is when it goes
Across the named modes, 5 mention a crash, 9 a fire and 6 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.65, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other steering problem at $350–$2,400, other visibility problem at $150–$1,400, loss of power steering at $600–$2,800 and other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
26% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other steering problem | steering | 26 | 23 | 50k | 84k | 108k | 2.4 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 20 | 16 | 8k | 15k | 18k | 1.9 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 15 | 15 | 65k | 86k | 112k | 1.4 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 14 | 13 | 35k | 60k | 68k | 1.3 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 13 | 11 | 50k | 59k | 68k | 1.2 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 12 | 10 | 58k | 99k | 134k | 1.1 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Power steering pump or fluid leak | steering | 12 | 12 | 47k | 70k | 114k | 1.1 | $350–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 9 | 6 | — | 127k | — | 0.8 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 8 | 7 | — | 50k | — | 0.7 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Other engine problem | engine | 6 | 6 | — | 9k | — | 0.6 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| CVT failure | transmission | 5 | 3 | — | 78k | — | 0.5 | $3,000–$8,500 | Critical |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 5 | 5 | — | 45k | — | 0.5 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Overheating | cooling | 4 | 4 | — | 65k | — | 0.4 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 4 | 1 | — | 56k | — | 0.4 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Windshield cracking | glass | 4 | 3 | — | 11k | — | 0.4 | $300–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 4 | 3 | — | 61k | — | 0.4 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| Oil leak | engine | 3 | 3 | — | 80k | — | 0.3 | $250–$2,200 | Moderate |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 3 | 3 | — | 118k | — | 0.3 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Cooling fan failure | cooling | 3 | 3 | — | 60k | — | 0.3 | $350–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure | transmission | 3 | 2 | — | 86k | — | 0.3 | $250–$1,400 | High |
| Brake line, hose or caliper failure | brakes | 3 | 3 | — | 56k | — | 0.3 | $250–$1,600 | Critical |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 3 | 2 | — | 7k | — | 0.3 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 2 | 2 | — | 20k | — | 0.2 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 2 | 2 | — | 46k | — | 0.2 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Door latch or handle failure | body | 2 | 2 | — | 35k | — | 0.2 | $250–$1,200 | High |
| Window regulator or power window failure | body | 2 | 2 | — | 73k | — | 0.2 | $250–$900 | Moderate |
| Air conditioning failure | hvac | 2 | 2 | — | 6k | — | 0.2 | $400–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 2 | 2 | — | 94k | — | 0.2 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Electrical fire or melted wiring | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 82k | — | 0.1 | $1,500–$9,000 | Critical |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 122k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 36k | — | 0.1 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 110k | — | 0.1 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 62k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 1 | 1 | — | 102k | — | 0.1 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Steering column or shaft failure | steering | 1 | 1 | — | 40k | — | 0.1 | $600–$2,500 | Critical |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 1 | 1 | — | 68k | — | 0.1 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| DPF, EGR or DEF system failure | emissions | 1 | 1 | — | 18k | — | 0.1 | $800–$5,000 | High |
| Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin | emissions | 1 | 1 | — | 15k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | High |
| Wiper or washer failure | glass | 1 | 1 | — | 57k | — | 0.1 | $120–$800 | Moderate |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 1 | 1 | — | 48k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Unclassified problem | other | 10 | 7 | — | 53k | — | 0.9 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2002 MINI Cooper draws about 20 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 93rd percentile of complaint rates among 2002 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 10,752 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2002 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other steering problem
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 86,000.
Back in feb 2008 the steering on my 2002 mini cooper just went out with no warning. I was left without power steering in the middle of the 101 freeway, which is very dangerous! I fixed the problem, which was very expensive as it was the entire steering system that failed and filed a complaint with mini, I never heard back but continued to drive the car. Recently, september 2008 the transmission in that same car needs to be replaced. I have had nothing but major problems with this car and feel it may be a lemon. Mini is unwilling to help me as my car is no longer under warranty. I feel as though these problems could result in serious injury as there is no prior warning and I am concerned for all present and future mini cooper drivers. *tr
Other visibility problem
The windshield of my 2002 mini cooper s cracked while sitting in a parking lot. It was fine in the morning but there was an 8" crack when I hopped in for the drive home. I'm guessing the heat (90 degrees f, windows up, sun reflector on dash) caused a contaminant within the window to cause stress, which in turn became a crack. Judging from the mini cooper message boards on the internet, there are hundreds of windshields cracking for no apparent reason, and mini usa has issued a bulletin to it's dealers to warn them of defective factory windshield installations. [tis message number: si m51 02 03 subject: windshield stress crack survey situation: the production process for installation of the windshield was improved in april 2002, and these improvements resulted in a significant reduction in the number of stress cracked windshields.] *jb
Windshield crack. There are numerous other owners reporting similar cracks in their windshields. Mini has stated they had a problem with the glass cracking due to improper installation in previous builds and currently have a survey for the dealers to perform an inspection on any windshield replacements conducted under warranty. This survey is explained in this bulletin si m 51 02 03. The problem is that they only inspect those windshields that do not have evidence of stone damage. On the attached web sites you will see an over abundance of cracked windshield posts that the dealers are calling stone damage related. Thereby insuring that these windshields are not included in their data and also that they are not replaced under warranty. I have no chips but a large number of marks from debris hitting the windshield. I call them strike marks. The easiest way to describe the damage is that it is similar to a glass etching procedure. The location where the debris has struck the windshield is slightly discolored, yet no glass is missing. In my opinion this is the result of two items: the windshield is very steep and the glass in the…
Loss of power steering
The power steering on my 2002 mini cooper s, 62,000 miles, fails intermittently and unexpectedly while driving, causing an instant and unexpected loss of power assisted steering. This is extremely dangerous and can cause injury or death should loss of power steering cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Further research of online forums (mini2.com, northamericanmotoring.com, roadfly.com) indicates that this is a known problem affecting many mini owners, and power steering pump failure has also been known to cause engine bay fires. *cn
I recently had a 60k service on my 2002 mini cooper. A couple days later I drove from monterey, ca to los angeles, ca and my car was running fine. All of a sudden out of the blue, my power steering went out. I was driving on the 101 freeway and could not turn my car. I was able to get it to a repair shop where they told me my power steering pump had broke. $1,000 later the part of replaced. Luckily I was safe, as was the passenger in my car. But what if I had been on a very cury, busy highway? I could have driven off a cliff! This is not a part that should simply wear out or break, we are talking people's lives! I love my mini and am a proud mini owner and driver but after this I don't think I will ever buy another mini or bmw. *tr
Recalls on the 2002 model year
NHTSA has issued 5 recall campaigns covering the 2002 MINI Cooper, affecting an estimated 15,375 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover steering:electric power assist system, exterior lighting:headlights and equipment:other:labels. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
86,018 vehicles 2015-10-15- Defect
- 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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
42,540 vehicles 2009-05-11- Defect
- Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
- Consequence
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on july 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
1,921 vehicles 2008-08-11- Defect
- K2 motor is recalling 1,921 aftermarket headlamps of various models sold for use on the above listed vehicles. These headlamps are missing the amber side reflex reflector which fails to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
- Consequence
- Without the amber side reflex reflectors, the lighting visibility may be affected, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- K2 motor will notify owners and offer a full refund. The recall began on decemeber 17, 2008. Owners may contact k2 motor at 1-909-839-2992.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
960 vehicles 2005-10-12- Defect
- 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.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
3,531 vehicles 2002-07-25- Defect
- 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).
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2002 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Where 2002 sits in the model line
High risk for a 2002 — 68th riskiest of the 328 2002 vehicles we can rate. Every score on this site is a rank inside its own model year, which is what makes a 2004 and a 2019 comparable at all.
Across the 17 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2006 comes out best at 68 and 2014 worst at 82, with 2002 itself at 73.
If the model year is negotiable, 2006, 2004, 2016 and 2005 score lower than 2002 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2001–2005 generation specifically, 2004 is the strongest year at 69 and 2002 the weakest at 73.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2001-2005 generation, 2004 MINI Cooper scores best at 69 and 2002 MINI Cooper worst at 73.
Where to spend the inspection money
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other visibility problem from about 8k, other powertrain problem from about 35k, power steering pump or fluid leak from about 47k and complete transmission failure from about 50k.
On a 2002 MINI Cooper with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other visibility problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.
Where these figures stop being useful
220 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 220 reports, 185 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 84% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2002 MINI Cooper?
The most-reported failures are other steering problem (26 reports, median 85,000 miles), other visibility problem (20 reports, median 15,000 miles) and loss of power steering (15 reports, median 85,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2002 MINI Cooper problems start?
Other visibility problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 15,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 10,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 60,000 miles.
Is the 2002 MINI Cooper reliable?
It scores 73 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 68th riskiest of the 328 2002 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2002 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the MINI Cooper is best?
Within the 2001–2005 generation, 2004 scores best at 69 out of 100 and 2002 worst at 73. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed