Representative model. Photo: Calreyn88, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2008 MINI Cooper recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2008 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 5
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 300
Latest campaign: May 11, 2023

Recall summary by component5

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Engine and engine cooling	3	Apr 18, 2018	18V248000 12V008000 08V657000
Electrical system	1	May 11, 2023	23V337000
Air bags	1	Apr 6, 2015	15V205000

Safety recalls5

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

May 11, 2023Latest campaign


May 11, 202323V337000	Electrical system An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire. DetailsHide details for campaign 23V337000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Filed under Cooper, Cooper S, Jcw Campaign NHTSA 23V337000 · May 11, 2023
Apr 18, 201818V248000	Engine and engine cooling: engine gasoline If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire. DetailsHide details for campaign 18V248000 What's wrong 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 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat. Risk If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire. Remedy 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 recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed. Filed under Cooper S, Jcw Campaign NHTSA 18V248000 · Apr 18, 2018
Apr 6, 201515V205000	Air bags: frontal An improperly functioning mat may cause the passenger frontal air bag to be inactive when the seat is occupied, and in the event of a crash, the air bag will not deploy,… DetailsHide details for campaign 15V205000 What's wrong BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2005-2006 MINI Cooper and Cooper S vehicles manufactured January 5, 2005, to November 28, 2006, and 2005-2008 MINI Cooper Convertible and Cooper S Convertible vehicles manufactured January 5, 2005, to July 31, 2008. Due to manufacturing, installation, and exposure issues, the front passenger seat occupant detection mat may not function properly and, as a result, the front passenger air bag may not deploy in a crash. Risk An improperly functioning mat may cause the passenger frontal air bag to be inactive when the seat is occupied, and in the event of a crash, the air bag will not deploy, increasing the passenger's risk of injury. Remedy MINI will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat occupant detection mat, free of charge. The recall began on October 12, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525. Filed under Cooper Convertible, Cooper S Convertible Campaign NHTSA 15V205000 · Apr 6, 2015
Jan 11, 201212V008000	Engine and engine cooling: engine gasoline THE CIRCUIT BOARD MAY SMOLDER WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE. DetailsHide details for campaign 12V008000 What's wrong 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. Remedy 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. Filed under Cooper S Campaign NHTSA 12V008000 · Jan 11, 2012
Dec 12, 200808V657000	Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe IF THE TAILPIPE EXTENSION IS HOT DURING INADVERTENT CONTACT, A BURN COULD OCCUR. DetailsHide details for campaign 08V657000 What's wrong BMW IS RECALLING 28,450 MY 2007-2008 MINI COOPER S VEHICLES. THE CENTRALLY LOCATED TAILPIPE EXTENSION PROTRUDES SLIGHTLY BEYOND THE REAR BUMPER. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR INADVERTENT CONTACT TO OCCUR WITH A PERSON'S LEG. Risk IF THE TAILPIPE EXTENSION IS HOT DURING INADVERTENT CONTACT, A BURN COULD OCCUR. Remedy DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TAILPIPE WITH A NEW SHORTER TAILPIPE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-866-275-6464. Filed under Cooper S Campaign NHTSA 08V657000 · Dec 12, 2008

Merged from NHTSA model names: Cooper, Cooper S, Jcw, Cooper Convertible, Cooper S Convertible. Not every vehicle of a model year is affected by every campaign.

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Owner complaints by component300

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

300Complaints filed

4Involving a crash

16Involving a fire

14Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Engine	122	41	1	6	1
Air bags	77	26	4	0	3
Engine and engine cooling	57	19	0	8	7
Power train	23	8	1	0	0
Electrical system	20	7	0	3	0
Seats	12	4	1	0	2
Unknown or other	7	2	0	0	0
Seat belts	7	2	0	0	0
Steering	7	2	1	1	2
Fuel/propulsion system	6	2	0	0	0
Structure	6	2	1	2	2
Vehicle speed control	5	2	0	0	0
Service brakes	5	2	0	0	1
Exterior lighting	2	1	0	0	0
Electronic stability control (ESC)	2	1	0	0	1

9 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number, merged from NHTSA model names Cooper, Cooper S.

Latest reports

Engine
“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.”
Filed 10/12/2026 · ODI 11770570
Air bags
“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...”
Filed 07/11/2024 · ODI 11601311
Electrical system
“The contact owns a 2008 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that the rear headlight remained illuminated after turning off the vehicle.”
Filed 04/12/2024 · ODI 11582570

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2008 MINI Cooper recall questions

How many recalls does the 2008 MINI Cooper have?

NHTSA lists 5 safety recall campaigns for the 2008 MINI Cooper. The most recent, 23V337000 (reported May 11, 2023), concerns electrical system. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2008 MINI Cooper recalls for?

The largest group is engine and engine cooling, with 3 campaigns. Others: electrical system (1), air bags (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2008 MINI Cooper?

Engine is the most-reported component, named in 122 complaints out of 300 filed with NHTSA (41%). Across all complaints, owners reported 4 crashs and 16 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2008 MINI Cooper?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer.

Check a specific MINI by VIN

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