Model year guide

2002 Mini Cooper

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2002 Mini Cooper is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 24 on record.

2002 Mini Cooper — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2002 Mini Cooper at a glance

Safety recalls5
Owner complaints269
Combined25 mpg
Typical price$3,272

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2002 Mini Cooper recalls 5

Steering:electric Power Assist System NHTSA Campaign #15V660000 · 15/10/2015

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.

Fix: 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. Ow…

Exterior Lighting:headlights NHTSA Campaign #08E050000 · 11/08/2008

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."

Fix: 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.

Exterior Lighting:headlights NHTSA Campaign #09E025000 · 11/05/2009

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.

Fix: 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.

Power Train:manual Transmission:floor Shift Assembly NHTSA Campaign #02V201000 · 25/07/2002

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 TR…

Fix: 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 …

Equipment:other:labels NHTSA Campaign #05V470000 · 12/10/2005

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.

Fix: 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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2002 Mini Cooper common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 269 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Seats
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.

2002 Mini Cooper MPG & running costs

Combined25 mpg
City22 mpg
Highway29 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,050

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2002 Mini Cooper worth?

Low
$1,700
Typical price
$3,272
High
$4,200

From 24 comparable 2002 Mini Cooper listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2002 Mini Cooper costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$15,250
Fuel only$15,250
Per mile$0.20

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2002 Mini Cooper trims & engines on record

Trims
Base · S
Engines
1.6L 4-cyl 114 hp · 1.6L 4-cyl 161 hp

2002 Mini Cooper vehicles on record

2002 Mini Cooper 2002 Mini Cooper BaseWMWRC33412TC33546 2002 Mini Cooper 2002 Mini Cooper BaseWMWRC334X2TC36042 2002 Mini Cooper SWMWRE33412TD57486 2002 Mini Cooper 2002 Mini Cooper BaseWMWRC33402TC38348 2002 Mini Cooper 2002 Mini Cooper BaseWMWRC33442TE12373 2002 Mini Cooper 2002 Mini Cooper BaseWMWRC33422TE10900 2002 Mini Cooper 2002 Mini Cooper BaseWMWRC33462TC31050 2002 Mini Cooper 2002 Mini Cooper BaseWMWRC33432TC35833 2002 Mini Cooper 2002 Mini Cooper BaseWMWRC33412TE10824 2002 Mini Cooper 2002 Mini Cooper SWMWRE33492TD50964 2002 Mini Cooper 2002 Mini Cooper BaseWMWRC33402TC30668 2002 Mini Cooper SWMWRE33432TD57750 2002 Mini Cooper 2002 Mini Cooper BaseWMWRC33462TE12794 2002 Mini Cooper 2002 Mini Cooper SWMWRE33402TD57690 2002 Mini Cooper 2002 Mini Cooper SWMWRE33482TD51474 2002 Mini Cooper 2002 Mini Cooper SWMWRE33452TD56650 2002 Mini Cooper 2002 Mini Cooper BaseWMWRC33452TC37437 2002 Mini Cooper BaseWMWRC33462TE11337 2002 Mini Cooper 2002 Mini Cooper SWMWRE33422TD57240 2002 Mini Cooper 2002 Mini Cooper SWMWRE33462TD55734 2002 Mini Cooper 2002 Mini Cooper SWMWRE33402TD52344 2002 Mini Cooper 2002 Mini Cooper SWMWRE33402TD51341 2002 Mini Cooper 2002 Mini Cooper BaseWMWRC33482TC35598 2002 Mini CooperWMWRC33432TE10467

Other Mini Cooper model years

2020 2019 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 1993

2002 Mini Cooper — frequently asked questions

Does the 2002 Mini Cooper have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2002 Mini Cooper. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Mini Cooper?

Based on 269 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are steering, air bags, electrical system.

What gas mileage does the 2002 Mini Cooper get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2002 Mini Cooper at about 25 mpg combined (22 city / 29 highway).

How much is a 2002 Mini Cooper worth?

Comparable 2002 Mini Cooper listings run roughly $1,700–$4,200, typically around $3,272 (from 24 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.