2008 MINI Cooper Owner Complaints

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 my codes are up and the wanring lights are there and i was wanting the information as to what the part number or serial number is for the recalled part, would that not be a way to confirm if it is part of a problem?

NHTSA ID

11601311

Incident

Jun 27, 2024

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 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 reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11582570

Incident

Jul 10, 2023

The contact owns a 2008 Mini Cooper. 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 contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11558355

Incident

Dec 4, 2023

The contact owns a 2008 Mini Cooper Hardtop. 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 not contacted and determined that the parts were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the parts were not available. The contact had not experienced a failure the contacts headlight went out. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11549195

Incident

Oct 10, 2023

The contact owns a 2008 Mini Cooper. 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 reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11548022

Incident

Oct 3, 2023

The contact owns a 2008 Mini Cooper. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the electrical system became inoperable. The contact stated that the windows, headlights, radio, and other safety features were inoperable. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had been diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the failure was caused by a rusted footwell control module. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.

NHTSA ID

11547134

Incident

May 28, 2023

Mileage

89,000 mi

Occupant side airbag sensor is defective my mechanic put a code reader to verify it’s a 2008 hatchback and I see they have recalled all the convertibles but not the sedans I would think the same airbag sensor is in my car are there any updates to my car because the replacement is very very expensive and the airbag failure light is a pain to have displaying That contact added that the vehicle only had about 36,000 miles on it.

NHTSA ID

11528729

Incident

Jun 1, 2023

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 stopped running. The car was towed to a service station, and they too could not get the car to start. The mechanic's troubleshooting ultimately found the engine's internal timing chain had broken, causing multiple of other internal engine components to become damaged. The engine required detailed repair to replace the damaged engine parts to get it to start operating again. The costs for the repairs were over $5000.00.

NHTSA ID

11527586

Incident

May 19, 2023

Timing Chain and tensioner rattle. Known recall issue but not showing recall

NHTSA ID

11520811

Incident

Dec 1, 2022

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Airbag Warning Light has come on indicating a malfunction with this safety system and consequently that the airbag safety system may not deploy in the event of an accident. This problem is not unique to my specific vehicle and appears to be a very common issue amongst BMW Mini vehicles as evidenced by much discussion on forums across the internet.

NHTSA ID

11496394

Incident

Nov 25, 2022

This vehicle just went over 66,000 miles and the airbag warning light started appearing. An independent mechanic and dealership both diagnosed and said it's a defective front passenger seat occupant detection mat and I'd need to replace the entire system/seat. Several other vehicles with the same part have recalls however my specific 2008 model is not included in this recall. I believe it should be included in the recall as this is clearly a known issue and an obvious safety system/design flaw. No sort of crash or collision occurred and now the vehicle will not pass safety inspection and is unusable because of this until I spent roughly $2000 on the repair.

NHTSA ID

11486102

Incident

Sep 23, 2022

Hello, An airbag sensor recall was issued in 2015 and Mini Cooper refuses to fix this safety issue. They are saying this recall is expired, but it has not been 10 years and the car only has 54,000 miles. This is a known defect. Car is currently broken. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a15355121/bmw-recalls-91800-mini-coopers-for-airbag-sensors/ https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/bmw-recalls-91-000-mini-coopers-over-air-bag-sensor-n344226 https://www.aboutlawsuits.com/minicooper-recall-81033/ https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/2005-08-mini-cooper-recalled-for-airbag-problem.html This should be covered by the manufacturer. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11471794

Incident

Jun 1, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Mini Cooper. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the headlights and taillights failed to illuminate as needed. The contact was able to drive safely to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with footwell (FRM) module failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 104,000.

NHTSA ID

11454068

Incident

Feb 18, 2022

Mileage

104,000 mi

MY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. THE MACHANIC SAID I NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE PASSENGER SEAT TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG SENSOR. A NEW SEAT WILL COST $1500 AND LABOR WILL COST $500. I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11404715

Incident

Feb 1, 2021

PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG OCCUPANT SENSOR/MAT FAILED CAUSING AIRBAG LIGHT TO BE ON AND FOR AIRBAGS NOT TO DEPLOY INCASE OF A ACCIDENT . MINI DID NOT RECALL THIS ISSUES BUT PUT A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR 10YEARS FOR THIS DEFECT THEY ARE AWARE ABOUT. THIS HAS EXPIRED FOR MANY VEHICLES INCLUDING MINE . THIS IS SAFETY ISSUE THAT'S A POTENTIAL RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH INCASE OF A ACCIDENT AND THE FACT THAT MINI COOPER DOES NOT RECALL THIS MATTER IS INHUMAN . PLEASE HELP WITH THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ID

11398828

Incident

Feb 26, 2021

WHEN PRESSING THE BREAK, THE ENGINE REVS. I TURNED ON THE CAR AND PRESSED THE BREAK. THE ENGINE REVVED. WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE AGAIN IT REVVED UP TO 7000 RPM. I TURNED OFF THE CAR. I DID THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND IT CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. I WAS AFRAID TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD A MONTH AGO THE MINI ENGINE RPM RAISED AND THE CAR WENT FASTER EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT PRESSING THE GAS. I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT.

NHTSA ID

11396075

Incident

Feb 13, 2021

Mileage

180,000 mi

AIRBAG SENSOR FAILS TO PASS THE VEHICLE'S INTERNAL SAFETY CHECK AND A WARNING LIGHT IS DISPLAYED. THIS LIGHT INDICATES THAT THERE IS A FAULT WITH THE AIRBAG, AND IT WILL NOT DEPLOY IF INVOLVED IN A WRECK WHILE THIS LIGHT IS ON. FOR THE PAST 9 MONTHS, THIS SENSOR HAS BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST, AND NOW IT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. A SAFETY RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR OTHER MODELS/YEARS OF THE MINI COOPER, BUT WHEN I LOOK UP MY VIN IT SHOWS NO RECALL. IN ONLINE SEARCHES, I SEE MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SAME MAKE/MODEL OF MINI COOPER WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, ONE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER, NOT AN EXPENSE I SHOULD HAVE TO INCUR.

NHTSA ID

11389937

Incident

May 1, 2020

Mileage

72,000 mi

RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2008 MINI COOPER. PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHT IS ON AND ALWAYS STAYS ON. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT MINI HAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY/RECALL. I TOOK VEHICLE TO BMW/MINI DEALER IN BIRMINGHAM, AL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS PARTICULAR RECALL EXPIRED IN 2018, OR WITH VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 120,000 MILES. MINE HAS 123,000 MI. ALSO CALLED MINI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RECEIVED THE SAME INFORMATION. MANY VIDEOS EXIST ON INTERNET/YOUTUBE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR DEFECT AND HOW TO BYPASS PROBLEM BY INSTALLING A PART THAT BYPASSES THE SENSOR OR BY USING A SCAN TOOL TO ERASE THE CODE TO REMOVE THE WARNING LIGHT. NEITHER OF THESE SOLUTIONS SEEM SAFE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CAR'S PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD FAIL TO DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. HERE IS A VIDEO THAT EXPLAINS THE PROBLEM AND A POSSIBLE UNSAFE FIX: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=GDLMTYGUIPM&T=615S

NHTSA ID

11341850

Incident

Mar 15, 2020

Mileage

120,000 mi

TIMING CHAIN DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

11320723

Incident

Apr 6, 2020

Mileage

129,000 mi

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, (936) 344-1258) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DME (ENGINE COMPUTER) FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ID

11241368

Incident

Jul 31, 2019

Mileage

58,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER INADVERTENTLY BUMPED INTO THE EXHAUST PIPE LOCATED ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, SHE SUSTAINED A SECOND DEGREE BURN TO THE RIGHT LEG WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED REGARDING THE INCIDENT AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V008000 (ENGINE, ENGINE COOLING). THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

NHTSA ID

11234368

Incident

Jul 9, 2019

Mileage

129,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MINI OF BEDFORD (LOCATED AT 209 S RIVER RD, BEDFORD, NH 03110, (833) 785-4497) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE CONTACT ALSO WAS INFORMED BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED IF THEY REMOVED IT TO REPROGRAM THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ID

11232449

Incident

May 31, 2019

Mileage

92,000 mi

ENGINE HAS DEVELOPED THE "DEATH RATTLE" AT LOW REV AND LOW TEMPERATURE , INDICATING A FAILING, DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONE

NHTSA ID

11205727

Incident

May 6, 2019

Mileage

32,000 mi

PURCHASED FROM CARMAX (11/18/17), NEVER INFORMED OF CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT INVOLVING THE TIMING CHAIN WITH THIS VEHICLE. AFTER ONLY 4 MONTHS AND ONLY A FEW HUNDRED MILES, THE PROBLEMS BEGAN. FIRST TRIP TO MECHANIC, THE ENGINE VALVE COVER WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED. REPLACED FOR JUST OVER $700. LESS THAN 10 MONTHS LATER AND WELL UNDER 2000 MILES, I WAS IN TRANSIT TO WORK, ON THE HIGHWAY OFF RAMP AND THE MINI SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY, WOULD NOT START BACK UP. HAD TO BE PUSHED OFF THE ROAD. TOWED BACK TO AUTO MECHANIC AND ANOTHER $200 TO FIND THE GUIDE TO TIMING CHAIN BROKE OFF, CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. MINI WAS TOWED BACK TO CARMAX TO FIND THE ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED, BUT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED WITH THE SAME TYPE OF ENGINE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE SAME PROBLEM TO HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN. SENIOR TEAM AT CARMAX IS CURRENTLY EVALUATING MY CASE. POSSIBLE BUY BACK OF VEHICLE, STILL AWAITING A VERDICT.

NHTSA ID

11132071

Incident

Sep 10, 2018

Mileage

65,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG, WHEN A PERSON IS SITTING IN THE SEAT, THE AIR BAG SENSOR INDICATES THE AIR BAG IS NOT ON.

NHTSA ID

11128523

Incident

Aug 24, 2018

Mileage

18,000 mi