YearToAvoid

2008 MINI Cooper Engine Problems

NHTSA has 58 owner complaints about engine problems in the 2008 MINI Cooper, 50% of all 115 complaints for this model year. That is the highest engine complaint count among 21 Cooper model years. These complaints report 1 crash, 4 fires, and 6 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 55,000 miles.

Engine complaints
58
50% of 115
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
4
Injuries reported
6
Median mileage
55,000 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2008 MINI Cooper engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 27, 2008, latest Jun 18, 2023.

2008 MINI Cooper engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Jun 2008Sep 2011Jul 2012Dec 2013Jan 2015Jun 2016Jul 2017Jul 2019
58 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2008 to Jun 2023; peak Dec 2015 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2008 MINI Cooper

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Cooper model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200517 (5%)
  2. 200620 (10%)
  3. 200741 (35%)
  4. 200858 (50%)
  5. 200951 (34%)
  6. 201040 (43%)
  7. 201119 (23%)
  8. 201218 (27%)
  9. 20136 (13%)
  10. 201410 (29%)
  11. 201515 (27%)
  12. 201610 (36%)
  13. 20176 (21%)
  14. 20181 (13%)
  15. 20191 (8%)
  16. 20200 (0%)
  17. 20210 (0%)
  18. 20220 (0%)
  19. 20231 (14%)
  20. 20240 (0%)
  21. 20251 (100%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 MINI Cooper have engine problems?
NHTSA has 58 owner complaints about the engine in the 2008 MINI Cooper, 50% of all complaints for this model year, including 1 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 55,000 miles.
Which MINI Cooper year has the most engine complaints?
The 2008 MINI Cooper has the most engine complaints (58), compared with 58 for the 2008.
Is there a engine recall for the 2008 MINI Cooper?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2008 MINI Cooper is classified under engine. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.