2008 Mini Cooper S problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (68) · Engine And Engine Cooling (33) · Air Bags (22)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mini Cooper S model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
153 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Electrical System 2023-05-11 · campaign 23V337000 · 97,933 vehicles
Defect: 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, Uta
Risk: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/Supercharger 2018-04-18 · campaign 18V248000 · 47,806 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012
Risk: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommen
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/Supercharger 2012-01-11 · campaign 12V008000 · 90,368 vehicles
Defect: BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2011 MINI COOPER S, 2008-2011 MINI COOPER S CLUBMAN, 2009-2011 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE, 2009-2011 MINI COOPER JCW, 2009-2011 MINI COOPER JCW CLUBMAN, 2009-2011 COOPER JCW CONVERTIBLE, AND 2011 COOPER S COUNTRYMAN PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 14, 2006, THROUGH JANUARY 18, 2011. THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP THAT COOLS THE TURBOCHARGER HAS AN ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT BOARD THAT CAN MALFUNCTION AND OVERHEAT.
Risk: THE CIRCUIT BOARD MAY SMOLDER WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Fix: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WATER PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGANDURING FEBRUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-866-275-6464.
Service bulletins (111)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System 2023-10-25 · M610607 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
mini electrical systems have continued to develop over the past few years. as a result, the demand on the batteries has increased. breakdowns due to an empty battery or problems in the vehicles electrical system can have various causes, most of which are not due to the battery itself. for this rea
Wheels 2021-12-01 · M360119 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
new rdc wheel electronics will be introduced with future generation mini models. the new wheel electronics are identified as huf generation 5. these new wheel electronics will need to be programmed using the new tool when replaced or when depressurized (0 psi) for more than 2 minutes.
Seats 2020-08-01 · M011116 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
oc3 seat occupancy mat - limited warranty extension to 10 years/120,000 miles: component-specific limited warranty extension for the above-referenced vehicles, mini usa, a division of bmw of north america, llc (mini usa) is extending the limited warranty for the front passenger's oc3 seat occupancy
Fuel System, Gasoline 2020-01-01 · M010419 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
class action settlement: n14 high-pressure fuel pump (hdp) service benefit class vehicles: the mini vehicle may experience a sudden engine operational failure reduced or loss of power while driving and the malfunction indicator lamp (mil) may be illuminated along with high-pressure fuel pumprelated
Equipment:electrical 2019-07-12 · M640108 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
air conditioning system leak testing. the customer complains of poor or no air conditioning cooling. after further diagnosis, the system is found to be low or empty of a refrigerant charge, but when using an electronic leak detector, no leak can be found. cause: in most cases, an electronic leak d
Structure:body:door 2019-07-12 · M510912 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service action: checking or replacing the door sill trim strips. the door sill trim strips are deformed and/or peeling up at the corners. cause: insufficient surface preparation of the door sill.
Showing the 6 most recent of 111 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-03-06 · Electrical System · 111,000 mi“the contact owns a 2008 mini cooper s. the contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. additionally, the windows would roll down independently and the sunroof would fail to close completely. the vehicle was taken to autozone, where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to the braking system; however, the contact stat…”
2023-11-17 · Electrical System“the contact owns a 2008 mini cooper s. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v337000 (electrical system) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reason…”
2020-10-28 · Air Bags · 81,253 mi“the front passenger seat occupant detection mat sensor has failed. the front passenger air bag is not activate in a crash when the seat is occupied. recalls active for this exact issue for the same make in other years and models are currently recalled however others are excluded.…”
2020-09-29 · Air Bags · 90,000 mi“to the best of my knowledge the airbag system is off line. the passenger airbags do not turn on when a passenger is seated. the passenger airbag indicator light shows that it is not turning on with or without a passenger. also the drivers side airbag indicator light comes on the dashboard and the tachometer when i start the vehicle. this problem be…”
2020-09-17 · Engine · 70,000 mi“timing chain jumped out of timing and caused bent valves.…”
2020-06-04 · Seats“warning message for seat belt tension/air bag malfunction and both lights are on. the vehicle has 40+ thousand miles on it, i am a second owner. this problem just started on may 29, 2020. no accidents for this vehicle. cost for repair is over $2000 and so far there's only recalls for 2008 convertible which i totally don't understand. this looks t…”
2020-01-12 · Structure:body · 144,000 mi · 🔥 fire“my car caught fire while driving. i had been driving for about an hour on the highway. there was no warning. no cel or errors on the dash display. car was running normally. i noticed some smoke. after pulling to the side of the road flames started coming from under the hood. the car was still running normally. i shut off the motor and got out. byst…”
2019-12-02 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification · 96,000 mi“passenger side airbag seat mat is defective. just stopped working. cost to replace is over $2000. so, the warning light for defective airbag sensor remains on.…”
2019-04-01 · Engine · 32,094 mi“at 32000 miles an oil leak was noted on the garage floor. the foreign car repair shop troubleshot the leak. final outcome: replace supercharger assembly, vacuum brake booster pump and intake manifold gasket. total cost $3,014.78 for a vehicle that has a trade-in value of less than $5,000. the foreign car expert was amazed that the turbo had to…”
2019-03-28 · Engine · 70,674 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2008 mini cooper s. while driving 60 mph, the timing chain fractured, causing a complete engine failure. all the valves and cylinder heads were bent. the contact was able to coast the vehicle over to the shoulder even after the vehicle lost all power. the vehicle was towed to the dealer (midwestern auto group, 6335 perimeter…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.