NHTSA vehicle safety data
2008 Mini Cooper Recalls, Ratings & Complaints
The 2008 Mini Cooper has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 116 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mini dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2008 Mini Cooper, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2008 Mini Cooper owner complaints
Owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Mini Cooper, describing incidents dated May 10, 2008 to September 28, 2026.
Most-cited components
- Engine 57 complaints
- Air Bags 41 complaints
- Power Train 12 complaints
- Electrical System 11 complaints
- Seats 5 complaints
- Steering 4 complaints
Of the 116 complaints on file, 3 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 116 complaints, owners report 9 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #11770570 · Filed
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…
ODI #11601311 · Filed
NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V205000 , this recall was not for my vehicle. according to the numbers and years but, it was manufactured at the same time in 2007 . SAME AS CONVERTABLE BY THE SAME COMPANY... plus they have not fixed FRM.i boutght this car possibly 3rd hand but i regisdtered with Mini. so…
ODI #11582570 · Filed
The contact owns a 2008 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that the rear headlight remained illuminated after turning off the vehicle. The contact was forced to put the key in and out of the ignition or disconnect the battery to resolve the issue. The contact then received notification of NHTSA…
Owner-reported
2008 Mini Cooper mileage at failure
85 of the 116 complaints on file for the 2008 Mini Cooper give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.
| Component | Median | Middle half | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | Median 55,000 miles | Middle half 35,000–70,000 miles | Based on 46 complaints |
A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.
Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.
These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.
Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out
Control Module in Footwell May Short Circuit
NHTSA #23V337000 · Electrical System · NHTSA notice
Reported May 11, 2023 · BMW of North America, LLC
Potentially affected: 97,933 vehicles
Repair completion: 18.82% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Owners notified May 13, 2024
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
Other Mini Cooper model years
Check your 2008 Mini Cooper VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mini Cooper at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Check a Mini VIN