Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Mini Cooper
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Mini Cooper has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 186 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #15V660000 Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering Loss NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E050000 FMVSS 108/HEADLAMPS/MISSING AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #05V470000 TIRE INFORMATION LABEL/FMVSS 110 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V201000 BMW/TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Steering 61 complaints
- Power Train 43 complaints
- Visibility 29 complaints
- Air Bags 26 complaints
- Electrical System 13 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 11 complaints
Of the 186 complaints on file, 4 report a crash and 8 a fire; across all 186 complaints, owners report 8 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$6,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Mini Cooper suffers from frequent steering assist failures and gear shift issues. These mechanical problems lower its reliability, reflected in recalls and user complaints.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| steering assist | 50,000–75,000 miles | $700–$1,200 | very common |
| gear shift cable | 40,000–60,000 miles | $300–$600 | common |
| headlights | 30,000–50,000 miles | $100–$200 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Engine oil change every 7,500 miles
- Timing belt replacement at 60,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- Coolant replacement every 4 years
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Steering becomes heavy
- Gear shift difficulties
- Headlights not illuminating properly
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Mini Cooper at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.