2002 MINI Cooper Seats Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 2%of 187 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 135,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the seats of the 2002 MINI Cooper, 2% of the 187 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 135,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“When I left my home I turned on the heated seats. As I traveled approximately a half mile I felt like bottom seat was exceptionally hot and turned the bottom off . Shortly thereafter I smelled smoke and found that a hole had burned through the seat behind my back. There was smoke, a hole about the size of a silver dollar and my coat had been burned . My coat did not catch fire but has a permanent black burn mark.”
NHTSA complaint #10442168, filed 2012-01, 52,060 miles“I was exiting from 35th street in newport news, va onto the warwick blvd off ramp in traffic, coasting with the brakes at about 5 MPH, when I was rear ended by a navy operated flat nose school bus, which forced my vehicle into a late model chevy trailblazer. My air bags (front and side) did not deploy, and when I came to rest my seat back had reclined against my child's car seat (child was not in vehicle). The right rear unibody was creased due to the impact from the bus. I suffered neck, back, and spine trauma. The driver of the trailblazer complained of neck pain at the scene. …”
NHTSA complaint #10546470, filed 2013-10, 200,350 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11644968, filed 2025-02Seats: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 | 7% |
| 2016 | 1 | 4% |
| 2014 | 2 | 6% |
| 2013 | 2 | 4% |
| 2012 | 4 | 6% |
| 2011 | 4 | 5% |
| 2010 | 5 | 5% |
| 2009 | 4 | 3% |
| 2008 | 5 | 4% |
| 2007 | 8 | 7% |
| 2006 | 13 | 7% |
| 2005 | 7 | 2% |
| 2003 | 4 | 1% |
| 2002 | 4 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2002 MINI Cooper
61 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
43 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
29 complaintsAir bags
26 complaintsElectrical system
13 complaintsEngine cooling
11 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
6 complaintsBrakes
4 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaintsElectronic stability control
2 complaintsEquipment
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 MINI Cooper
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology