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2008 Mini Cooper

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Cooper years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Mini Cooper are substantially higher than the model-year median of 40.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

86 reports with mileage · 29 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports4 fire reports8 injury reports

What owners actually said

115 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingInjury

ON 9/3/08 I LEANED INTO THE REAR OF MY 2008 MINI COOPER TO RETRIEVE GROCERY BAGS AND MY BARE LEG (RIGHT LEG) CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE TAIL PIPE OF THE VEHICLE. THE TAIL PIPE WAS HOT AS IN "LIKE A RED-HOT POKER" AND I RECEIVED AN EXTREMELY PAINFUL CRESCENT SHAPED BURN ON MY LOWER LEG FROM THE TAIL PIPE. THE TAIL PIPE PROTRUDES…

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ON 9/3/08 I LEANED INTO THE REAR OF MY 2008 MINI COOPER TO RETRIEVE GROCERY BAGS AND MY BARE LEG (RIGHT LEG) CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE TAIL PIPE OF THE VEHICLE. THE TAIL PIPE WAS HOT AS IN "LIKE A RED-HOT POKER" AND I RECEIVED AN EXTREMELY PAINFUL CRESCENT SHAPED BURN ON MY LOWER LEG FROM THE TAIL PIPE. THE TAIL PIPE PROTRUDES BEYOND THE BUMPER BY AT LEAST AN INCH. I MEASURED IT AND ON THE RIGHT SIDE IT MEASURES 2 AND ONE-HALF INCHES BEYOND THE BUMPER AND ON THE LEFT SIDE IT STICKS OUT ONE AND ONE-HALF INCHES BEYOND THE BUMPER. ON MY MINI COOPER, I HAVE ONE TAIL PIPE WHICH IS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I REQUIRED TREATMENT AT AN EMERGENCY ROOM LESS THAN 36 HOURS LATER WHEN I BECAME CONCERNED THAT THE WOUND MAY BECOME INFECTED. THE ATTENDING DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT WOUND WAS HEALING WELL AND THAT IT WAS NOT INFECTED. I WAS PRESCRIBED 1% SILVER SULFADIAZINE CREAM (TOPICAL) TO TEND THE WOUND. *TR UPDATED 09/26/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10241307

1,300 miles · Aug 20, 2008
Unknown Or Other

SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. NO IMPACT OR OTHER INCIDENT. SIMPLY DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 85 IN SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA. LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND, COVERED IN GLASS WITH HANGING SUNROOF. REPORTED INCIDENT TO 911 THEN TO CHP. NO ASSIGNABLE CAUSE.

NHTSA ODI #10239093

1,800 miles · Jul 27, 2008
Air Bags

FULL-GROWN ADULT PASSENGERS (WEIGHING IN EXCESS OF 120 POUNDS) SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CAUSES THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, WHICH STATES, "PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG DISABLED". *TR

NHTSA ODI #10235909

1,400 miles · Jun 27, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER SPORT. WHILE REMOVING GROCERIES FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT BURNED HER LEG ON THE EXHAUST PIPE, WHICH WAS LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER GAVE HER THE NUMBER TO THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK WITH HER. SINCE THAT TIME, THE D…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER SPORT. WHILE REMOVING GROCERIES FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT BURNED HER LEG ON THE EXHAUST PIPE, WHICH WAS LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER GAVE HER THE NUMBER TO THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK WITH HER. SINCE THAT TIME, THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING ELSE COULD BE DONE DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. SHE WAS ADVISED TO NOT GET TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,400. UPDATED 08/04/08.*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DESIGN ITSELF WAS FLAWED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ISSUE COULD EASILY BE RECTIFIED BY MAKING THE EXHAUST PIPE SHORTER. UPDATED 08/06/08

NHTSA ODI #10232521

539 miles · May 30, 2008
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION MONITOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE MONITOR. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION MONITOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE MONITOR. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED THE SAME REPAIR. THREE DAYS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER A THIRD TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS BECAUSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE CANNOT BE DETERMINED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND IS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 539.

NHTSA ODI #10229299

Official recalls

1

23V337000 · Electrical System

May 11, 2023

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2014 MINI Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Clubman John Cooper Works, and 2007-2013 MINI Hardtop 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, and John Cooper Works vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. The electronic control module in the driver's side footwell area may short-circuit, due to corrosion from water and road salt.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the sunroof drains, interior footwell area, and FRM and, depending upon the results of the inspection, certain components will be replaced. Owner notification letters were mailed May 13, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-866-825-1525.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.