2002 MINI Cooper S Steering Problems
Owners have filed 57 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the 2002 MINI Cooper S, 69% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 82,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “steering pump” (35% of reports).
- 57steering complaints
- 82,000median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 39%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Steering pump: mentioned in 20 of 57 complaints (35%)
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 51 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 57 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 2 a fire.
MINI Cooper S steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Cooper S | 1 | 20% | 25,500 |
| 2019 Cooper S | 1 | 20% | — |
| 2016 Cooper S | 1 | 11% | 57,085 |
| 2010 Cooper S | 1 | 2% | 52,000 |
| 2009 Cooper S | 1 | 1% | 80,000 |
| 2008 Cooper S | 1 | 1% | 115,000 |
| 2007 Cooper S | 7 | 3% | 61,000 |
| 2006 Cooper S | 48 | 26% | 62,000 |
| 2005 Cooper S | 212 | 68% | 70,000 |
| 2004 Cooper S | 210 | 85% | 78,000 |
| 2003 Cooper S | 129 | 59% | 80,023 |
| 2002 Cooper S | 57 | 69% | 82,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Steering:electric power assist system
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
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. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2002 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45-55 MPH, the steering wheel seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road. The contact restarted the vehicle and continued driving normally. The vehicle was…
The vin # of my 2002 mini cooper s was not included in the recall for the electrohydraulic steering failure of 2002 - 2005 mini cooper s but i am experiencing the exact issue outlined in this recall. The steering is incredibly hard to turn when parked, as well as while driving. I noticed that the…
Purchased this car used with low miles. Shortly after purchase i noticed the steering on my vehicle got a little harder to steer, didn't think to much about it. Then the radiator fan would not turn off when the vehicle was off. Took the car in to two different mechanics to find the problem. Found…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2002 MINI Cooper Ss have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 57 owner complaints about steering for the 2002 MINI Cooper S (69% of the 83 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2002 MINI Cooper S steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do steering problems start?
The median reported mileage is 82,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about steering problems on the 2002 MINI Cooper S?
The most frequent phrase is “steering pump”, in 20 of 57 complaints.
See all 2002 MINI Cooper S problems or steering problems across all Cooper S years.