2002 MINI COOPER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
220
Owner Complaints
5
Recalls
11
Service Bulletins
1
Investigation
Overview of the 2002 MINI COOPER
The 2002 MINI COOPER has received a total of 220 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS. 11 technical service bulletins have been issued by BMW of North America, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Steering (56 complaints), Visibilitywindshield (25 complaints), and Air Bags (22 complaints).
Recalls for the 2002 MINI COOPER
NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 2002 MINI COOPER, potentially affecting up to 134,970 vehicles.
Recall 15V660000 — STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
| 86,018 vehicles affected
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...
View full details →Recall 09E025000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
| 42,540 vehicles affected
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.
View full details →Recall 08E050000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
| 1,921 vehicles affected
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.
View full details →Recall 05V470000 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
| 960 vehicles affected
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.
View full details →Recall 02V201000 — POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
| 3,531 vehicles affected
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...
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...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2002 MINI COOPER
220 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 MINI COOPER. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
I purchased the vehicle used with airbag light showing on the speedometer gauge cluster. Searched with vin for recalls but showed 0 unrepaired recalls. Tried clearing the light with my Launch CREADER BMW V2 scan tool. Light flashes a few times and goes away but immediately appears on the speedometer gauge cluster. This would happen everytime. Wires are intact with no signs of damages to all 3 wire connectors under the seat.
I purchased the vehicle used with airbag light showing on the speedometer gauge cluster. Searched with vin for recalls but showed 0 unrepaired recalls. Tried clearing the light with my Launch CREADER BMW V2 scan tool. Light flashes a few times and goes away but immediately appears on the speedometer gauge cluster. This would happen everytime. Wires are intact with no signs of damages to all 3 wire connectors under the seat.
Driverside headlight assembly flickers everytime when you turn the key to position 1 with selector on off or auto. Flickers multiple times but doesn'tturn on unless I cycle the key on off until headlight does. This annoyance would reoccur the very next morning. Passenger headlight assembly doesn't have any issues.
Driverside headlight assembly flickers everytime when you turn the key to position 1 with selector on off or auto. Flickers multiple times but doesn'tturn on unless I cycle the key on off until headlight does. This annoyance would reoccur the very next morning. Passenger headlight assembly doesn't have any issues.
I purchased the vehicle used with airbag light showing on the speedometer gauge cluster. Searched with vin for recalls but showed 0 unrepaired recalls. Tried clearing the light with my Launch CREADER BMW V2 scan tool. Light flashes a few times and goes away but immediately appears on the speedometer gauge cluster. This would happen everytime. Wires are intact with no signs of damages to all 3 wire connectors under the seat.
Safety Rating for the 2002 MINI COOPER
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2002 MINI COOPER in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2002 MINI COOPER
BMW of North America, LLC has issued 11 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2002 MINI COOPER. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
M510124 — EQUIPMENT
The bar code on the vehicle identificatio nnumber (VIN) label (aka Manufacturer Compliance Label ) cannot be read.
MC-10113 — STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
MINI: WARRANTY COVERAGE EXTENSION/REPAIR EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE ELECTRO HYDRAULIC POWER (ASSIST) STEERING (EHPS) PUMP, WHICH HAS ITS OWN COOLING FAN, ON SOME VEHICLES AND NOT THE ELECTRIC POWER (ASSIST) STEERING (EPS) SYSTEM ON OTHER MINIS. MODELS 2002-2005 COOPER, COOPER S, CONVERTIBLE, CONVERTIBLE S. *PE
SIM-01-01-13 — STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
MINI: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES WITH POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH COOLING FAN AND THE DURABILITY OF ELECTRO HYDRAULIC POWER (ASSIST) STEERING (EHPS) PUMP. MODELS 2002-2005 R50, R52, R3. *PE UPDATED ON 11/1/2013. *KB UPDATED 3/4/2014 *JS
SIM-01-01-13 — STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
MINI: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES WITH POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH COOLING FAN AND THE DURABILITY OF ELECTRO HYDRAULIC POWER (ASSIST) STEERING (EHPS) PUMP. MODELS 2002-2005 R50, R52, R3. *PE UPDATED ON 11/1/2013. *KB UPDATED 3/4/2014 *JS
360106 — TIRES
NITROGEN INFLATED TIRES. *TT
110104 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS RECALL CAMPAIGN 04E-A03 - REPLACE CRANKCASE BREATHER LINE. THE CRANKCASE VENTILATION BREATHER HOSE MAY SOFTEN AND EVENTUALLY MAY COLLAPSE AFTER EXTENDED TIME IN SERVICE. A HISSING OR HUMMING NOISE MAY BE NOTICED DURING LIGHT ACCELERATION. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT MAY BE ILLUMINATED AND VARIOUS DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS (ROUGH...
120302 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE SPEED FLUCTUATION WHILE COASTING DOWN COOPER WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION PRODUCED UP TO 07/02. *TT
240102 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SERVICE ACTION TO FLUSH AND REPLACE INCORRECT CVT TRANSMISSION OIL. PRODUCED FROM 2002. *TT
110202 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
LUBRICANT FOR WATER PUMP O-RING. *TT
410102 — STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
RATTLES FROM REAR HATCH. *TT
Showing 10 of 11 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2002 MINI COOPER
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 2002 MINI COOPER.
Investigation PE07022 — STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM Closed
Opened:
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
Other Model Years of the MINI COOPER
- 2001 MINI COOPER — 7 complaints
- 2002 MINI COOPER (current)
- 2003 MINI COOPER — 388 complaints
- 2004 MINI COOPER — 330 complaints
- 2005 MINI COOPER — 440 complaints
- 2006 MINI COOPER — 247 complaints
- 2007 MINI COOPER — 155 complaints
Other MINI Models
- MINI COOPER S — 2,176 total complaints
- MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE — 212 total complaints
- MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE — 180 total complaints
- MINI COOPER CLUBMAN — 171 total complaints
- MINI COOPER COUNTRYMAN — 161 total complaints
- MINI COUNTRYMAN — 145 total complaints
- MINI COOPER S CLUBMAN — 119 total complaints
- MINI CLUBMAN — 92 total complaints