2008 MINI Cooper Clubman S Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 MINI Cooper Clubman S, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY 2008 MINI COOPER S CLUBMAN APPEARS TO BE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE TIM ING CHAIN TENSIONER AND TIMING CHAIN. THE NOISE IS STEADILY GETTING WORSE. AFTER READING ABOUT THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS AROUND THE UNITED STATES I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. IF THE TIMING CHAIN DESIRES TO COME APART ON THE FREEWAY THE SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT BY ENGINE SEIZING UP IF THE TIMING CHAIN LET'S GO. ALSO THE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE WOULD COST SO MUCH IT WOULD NOT BE WORTH FIXING.LEAVING US WITH A $7500 OWED ON A VEHICLE WE CANNOT USE.
I HAVE HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY ENGINE EVER SINCE I HAVE HAD MY MINI COOPER S CLUBMAN. THE TURBO IS LOOSE, THERE IS OIL BURNING OFF OF MY ENGINE, AND IT MAKES TERRIBLE SCREECHING SOUNDS THAT COME FROM THE ENGINE. I HAVE JUST LEARNED THAT IT IS COMMON FOR A MINI COOPER TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ITS TIMING CHAIN; THUS, CAUSING THIS TERRIBLE SOUND AND ALL THOSE OTHER PROBLEMS. I DID NOT KNOW IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN, AND NOW THEY ARE HAVING A RECALL ON MOST OF THERE MODELS THAT ARE FROM THE SAME YEAR AS MINE. MY CAR WHENEVER I BRAKE MAKES SCREECHING NOISES THAT COME FROM MY ENGINE, AND I'M WORRIED THAT THIS POOR ENGINE DESIGN WILL CAUSE ME TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT. NOW I HAVE TO POUR MONEY INTO GETTING A NEW TIMING CHAIN, EVEN THOUGH MINI COOPER IS NOW KNOW FOR HAVING TERRIBLE TIMING CHAINS.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2008 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The contact used an OBD scanner and retrieved a DTC regarding the passenger seat occupant detection sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V205000 (Air Bags) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,000.
AIR BAG LIGHT ON.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE STARTED HAVING TROUBLE TURNING ON AND WHEN IT DID COME ON A LOUD CLANKING NOISE BEGAN. THE CAR COULD BARELY GO OVER 30MPH. 3 HR. DRIVE TOOK US ALMOST 6 HOURS TO GET TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP STATES IT IS THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE OIL PAN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.WE FOUND EXCESSIVE WATER IN THE SPARE WHEEL HUB. THE BRAKE LIGHT SENSOR WOULD NOT GO OFF, AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARED, A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE GAS TANK CONSISTED. ETC.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING UP AN INCLINE ON A SEMI-RURAL ROAD IN ORANGE COUNTY, CA, MY CAR APPEARED TO BE UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS (IT IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). MY HEAD LURCHED FORWARD AND BACK AGAIN FORCEFULLY, AND I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MORE THAN 20 MPH ON A 60 MPH SPEED LIMIT ROAD FOR THE NEXT MILE, UNTIL I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS CLOSE BEHIND ME, OR I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED, AND LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE TO MY FINAL DESTINATION. I DRIVE A 2008 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN S, AUTOMATIC WITH PADDLE SHIFTERS. IT IS ABOUT $8,300 TO $9,700 TO REPAIR IT (2 DIFFERENT REPAIR QUOTES OBTAINED). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
EVERY TIME I COLD START MY 2008 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN S THERE IS A VERY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL BUT I WORRY ABOUT THE STABILITY OF THE ENGINE TIMING. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
SUNROOF SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. NOTHING HITTING THE SUNROOF, JUST SHATTERED WITH GLASS FALLING INTO THE BACK SEAT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .