repaired · 2026 Q1
Electrical system
Risk. An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
2008 MINI CooperProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 116 owner complaints about the 2008 MINI Cooper, most often about the engine. It is covered by 1 safety recall, and for recall 23V-337 the manufacturer reports only 19% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 12, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2008 MINI Cooper has problems
116 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
44Engine4 crash/fire/injury
41Air bags3 crash/fire/injury
13Engine and engine cooling7 crash/fire/injury
12Power train1 crash/fire/injury
11Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
5Seats
4Steering
3Vehicle speed control
3Seat belts
1410 other systems6 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 44 | 4 |
| Air bags | 41 | 3 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 13 | 7 |
| Power train | 12 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 11 | 1 |
| Seats | 5 | 1 |
| Steering | 4 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 3 | 0 |
| 10 other systems | 14 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1 recall
2008 MINI Cooper recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with MINI.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
64kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 36 engine complaints. 86% were reported before 100,000 miles.
2under 30k miles31under 100k miles5100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Air bags
10 owners mentioned a cost$1,497median
Middle half: $1,414 – $1,850
Engine
8 owners mentioned a cost$5,080median
Middle half: $1,875 – $6,025
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2008 vs. every other Cooper year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Cooper median. How we score
'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2008 MINI Cooper safety ratings
2008 MINI Cooper Convertible w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: Optional
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Cooper owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
About two weeks ago while driving on a major highway the mini cooper suddenly died without warning. The power steering quit making the vehicle extremely difficult to steer. The car would not start. The only thing I could do was push it off the road which I did with the help of a person behind me.i…
While driving the car at aproximately 25mph, the engine and the car stopped running. All dashboard warning lamps were off prior to the engine failure The car rolled to the side of the road to get out of the way of other traffic. The service engine warning lamp was on after the engine shut off and…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO A LEFT TURN LANE AS THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MINI OF THE WOODLANDS (16675 I-45, CONROE, TX 77385, [PHONE]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT…
Own a 2008 Cooper?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.