RecallRepo

2002 MINI Cooper S Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2002 MINI Cooper S has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 86,018 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 105 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the steering. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

STEERING 15V660000 2015-10-15 86,018 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 remedy parts become available. Owners may contact…

Complaints by component

STEERING
51
2crashes2fires
AIR BAGS
12
1crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
7
1crashes3fires
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
4
SEATS
3
1fires
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
2
1injuries
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
1
Total complaints105

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“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…”

STEERING · reported 2025-01-17

“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…”

STEERING · reported 2018-10-13

“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…”

ENGINE · reported 2018-07-30

“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…”

STEERING · reported 2018-07-30

“Power steering suddenly stopped working. Making a whining noise when turning the wheel and the steering wheel itself is hard to turn. Not leaking any fluids and the power steering fluid in the reservoir is full.”

STEERING · reported 2017-11-05

“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mini cooper s. After placing the vehicle in reverse, the contact switched gears into drive. When attempting to accelerate forward, the power steering failed. The contact added power steering fluid and made another attempt to steer the vehicle; however, the failure…”

STEERING · reported 2016-07-25

“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mini cooper s. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v660000 (steering) and the dealer scheduled a repair appointment. The dealer later canceled the appointment, stating that the part was not available. The contact had not been able to receive…”

STEERING · reported 2015-12-18

“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mini cooper s. While driving at 60 mph and attempting to avoid hitting an animal, the steering wheel seized without warning and the vehicle struck the animal. The air bags did not deploy; however, the air bag warning light illuminated. A police report was not filed and…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2015-11-20

Defect investigations

Investigation EA07011 Opened 2007-08-14 · closed 2008-08-13

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) ANALYZED CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC (BMW)AND TO ODI THAT ALLEGED FAILURES OF THE ELECTROHYDRAULIC POWER STEERING (EHPS) USED IN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2003 MINI COOPER VEHICLES.THE ANALYSIS DETERMINED THAT 43 OF THE 52 (83%) REPORTS WERE RELATED TO…

Investigation EA07011 Opened 2007-08-14 · closed 2008-08-13

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) ANALYZED CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC (BMW)AND TO ODI THAT ALLEGED FAILURES OF THE ELECTROHYDRAULIC POWER STEERING (EHPS) USED IN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2003 MINI COOPER VEHICLES.THE ANALYSIS DETERMINED THAT 43 OF THE 52 (83%) REPORTS WERE RELATED TO…

Investigation EA07011 Opened 2007-08-14 · closed 2008-08-13

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) ANALYZED CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC (BMW)AND TO ODI THAT ALLEGED FAILURES OF THE ELECTROHYDRAULIC POWER STEERING (EHPS) USED IN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2003 MINI COOPER VEHICLES.THE ANALYSIS DETERMINED THAT 43 OF THE 52 (83%) REPORTS WERE RELATED TO…

Investigation EA07011 Opened 2007-08-14 · closed 2008-08-13

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) ANALYZED CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC (BMW)AND TO ODI THAT ALLEGED FAILURES OF THE ELECTROHYDRAULIC POWER STEERING (EHPS) USED IN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2003 MINI COOPER VEHICLES.THE ANALYSIS DETERMINED THAT 43 OF THE 52 (83%) REPORTS WERE RELATED TO…

Investigation EA11005 Opened 2011-05-04 · closed 2016-01-05

Loss of power steering assist

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) originally opened the investigation of loss of power steering assist in model year (MY) 2004 and 2005 Mini Cooper as Preliminary Evaluation PE10-038.The investigation was upgraded to Engineering Analysis EA11-005 in May, 2011.During EA11-005 the scope was expanded to include…

Investigation EA11005 Opened 2011-05-04 · closed 2016-01-05

Loss of power steering assist

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) originally opened the investigation of loss of power steering assist in model year (MY) 2004 and 2005 Mini Cooper as Preliminary Evaluation PE10-038.The investigation was upgraded to Engineering Analysis EA11-005 in May, 2011.During EA11-005 the scope was expanded to include…

Investigation EA11005 Opened 2011-05-04 · closed 2016-01-05

Loss of power steering assist

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) originally opened the investigation of loss of power steering assist in model year (MY) 2004 and 2005 Mini Cooper as Preliminary Evaluation PE10-038.The investigation was upgraded to Engineering Analysis EA11-005 in May, 2011.During EA11-005 the scope was expanded to include…

Investigation EA11005 Opened 2011-05-04 · closed 2016-01-05

Loss of power steering assist

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) originally opened the investigation of loss of power steering assist in model year (MY) 2004 and 2005 Mini Cooper as Preliminary Evaluation PE10-038.The investigation was upgraded to Engineering Analysis EA11-005 in May, 2011.During EA11-005 the scope was expanded to include…

Investigation PE07022 Opened 2007-04-19 · closed 2007-08-15

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) LETTER SENT BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI), BMW STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS AN INSUFFICIENT SEAL OF THE GROUND CABLE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP AT ITS ATTACHMENT TO THE CHASSIS.WATER INGRESS CAN OCCUR AND THE WATER CAN TRAVEL ALONG THE POWER…

Investigation PE07022 Opened 2007-04-19 · closed 2007-08-15

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) LETTER SENT BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI), BMW STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS AN INSUFFICIENT SEAL OF THE GROUND CABLE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP AT ITS ATTACHMENT TO THE CHASSIS.WATER INGRESS CAN OCCUR AND THE WATER CAN TRAVEL ALONG THE POWER…

Investigation PE07022 Opened 2007-04-19 · closed 2007-08-15

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) LETTER SENT BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI), BMW STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS AN INSUFFICIENT SEAL OF THE GROUND CABLE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP AT ITS ATTACHMENT TO THE CHASSIS.WATER INGRESS CAN OCCUR AND THE WATER CAN TRAVEL ALONG THE POWER…

Investigation PE07022 Opened 2007-04-19 · closed 2007-08-15

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) LETTER SENT BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI), BMW STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS AN INSUFFICIENT SEAL OF THE GROUND CABLE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP AT ITS ATTACHMENT TO THE CHASSIS.WATER INGRESS CAN OCCUR AND THE WATER CAN TRAVEL ALONG THE POWER…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2002 MINI Cooper S as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.