RoadVitals

2008 MINI Cooper Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Apr 12, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
10%
of 115 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 MINI Cooper submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Apr 12, 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
Electrical
Filed Dec 4, 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
Electrical
Filed Oct 10, 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
Electrical
Filed Oct 3, 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
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 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
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 25, 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
AirbagsDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jul 1, 2016

MY CAR ONLY HAS 47,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS THE SAME PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ISSUE. IT STARTED OFF AT TIMES HAVING THE PROBLEM, NOW IS ON ALL THE TIME. MINI WANTS $125 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, WHICH SEEMS EVIDENT. ALSO PAID $425 TO FIX ELECTRICAL WIRING THAT CORRODED AND $1,700 2 MONTHS EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN WHEEL SENSOR WENT BAD AND 3 LIGHTS WENT OFF IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ID
10882134
Incident
Apr 7, 2016
Mileage
46,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jun 22, 2016

AIRBAG SENSOR MAT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE WHETHER A PERSON IS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THEREBY NOT ACTIVATING THE AIRBAG; THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON & OFF FOR MONTHS; PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON IMMEDIATELY DESPITE OCCUPANCY WHILE PARKED AND DURING DRIVING (ALL CONDITIONS-HIGHWAY, CITY STREET, TURNING; ETC. STARTED APPROXIMATELY FROM 75K MILES; NOW CONSTANT FROM 85K ON

NHTSA ID
10876033
Incident
Jun 9, 2016
Mileage
88,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 12, 2013

THE SENSORS ON THIS CAR WERE NO GOOD. IT DID NOT INFORM ME THAT THERE WASN'T ANY OIL OR COOLANT I'M THE CAR. I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS AFTER WE DISCOVERED THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT INSPECT OR SERVICE THE CAR LIKE THEY PROMISED. ON 9/10, THE CAR TURNED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND WOULDN'T TURN BACK ON. TWO MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THE CAR IS NO GOOD AND I AM NOT AT FAULT FOR THE DEFECTS. THE ENTIRE TIME THE CAR WAS IN MY POSSESSION, THE SENSORS DID NOT WARN ME ABOUT ANY SERVICES THE CAR NEEDED. I HAVE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORWARD WITH THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE DEFECTS. I RETURNED THE CAR, ASKED FOR A FULL REFUND, AND THEY HAVE YET TO DO ANYTHING TO HONOR MY WISHES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10543329
Incident
Sep 10, 2013
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Oct 6, 2011
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING AROUND AND I BEGAN LOOSING POWER TO MY CAR, SO I STOPPED AND THEN I COULDN'T GET IT STARTED AGAIN. I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF CALLING A TOW COMPANY WHEN I POPPED THE HOOD AND WHEN I LIFTED IT UP I COULD SMELL GASOLINE AND NOTICED A CLOUD OF FUMES SO I BACKED UP AND IT CAUGHT FIRE SO I CALLED 911 AND NOW MY CARS VIRTUALLY GONE. I COME ACROSS SOME MINI COOPER OWNERS CLUB FORUM AND ITS APPARENTLY HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE AND ALSO ON YOUTUBE. OR IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS THE SAME THING SINCE THEY CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE FIRST TOO. I CALLED MINI AND THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE ME TOW IT THERE SO THEY CAN DIAGNOSE IT TO DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10429003
Incident
Oct 6, 2011
Mileage
10,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 16, 2009

MY 2008 MINI COOPER SPEEDOMETER IS OFF BY APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES AN HOUR. SO THAT IF I AM ACTUALLY DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE SPEEDOMETER WILL SHOW 56 MPH. ADDITIONALLY, IF I DRIVE 100 MILES, THE ODOMETER WILL ACTUALLY SHOW AS IF I DROVE 106 MILES. THIS IS BOTH A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE INSTRUMENTATION IS WRONG, AS WELL AS A FRAUD ISSUE AS THE CAR LOSES VALUE BECAUSE OF THE PERCEIVED ADDITIONAL MILES DRIVEN AND WOULD BE OUT OF WARRANTY SOONER BECAUSE OF THE PERCEIVED MILEAGE AMOUNT. ALSO, IF THIS WERE A LEASE AND I WENT OVER THE AMOUNT ALLOTTED BY SAID LEASE, MINI WOULD PENALIZE THE DRIVE PER THE MILEAGE. BMW/MINI HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND SAY ITS NOT A PROBLEM AS THEY GIVE ALOT OF LEEWAY FOR THE ACCURACY OF THE SPEEDOMETER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10296080
Incident
Mar 1, 2009
Mileage
10,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .