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Research · Minicompact Cars

2008 MINI Cooper SRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 16 owner complaints for the 2008 MINI Cooper S. Most complaints involve air bags (6) and seats (5). The EPA rates it 23–29 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
23–29mpg
EPA · 4 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
4campaigns
Latest May 2023
Owner complaints
16
Top: air bags
Fuel cost / yr
$2,600est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

4 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Electrical system

Free remedy

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.

Electrical systemReported May 11, 2023NHTSA 23V337000

Engine and engine cooling: turbo

Free remedy

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.

Engine and engine coolingReported Apr 18, 2018NHTSA 18V248000

Engine and engine cooling: turbo

Free remedy

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.

Engine and engine coolingReported Jan 11, 2012NHTSA 12V008000
See all 4 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 12, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

16 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jun 2009 – Sep 2019
  1. Air bags6
  2. Seats5
  3. Suspension2
  4. Steering2
  5. Power train2
  6. Service brakes, hydraulic1
  7. Electrical system1
  8. Structure1
  9. Engine and engine cooling1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Cooper S model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2004529
200636
200816
200936
201059
201140
201226
201369
201446
201571
20169
20174
20194
20205
20221
20241
20254
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
2
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 12, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Air bags

6 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT FOR MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 6, 2015Air bagsODI 10780102

Seats

5 reports
“PASSENGER UPPER SEAT HEATER BURNED HOLE THROUGH SEAT AND CHILDS JACKET WHILE DRIVING. THE HEATING ELEMENT IS NOW VISIBLE AND DAUGHTER RECEIVED A MINOR BURN TO FINGER, DO TO MELTED HOLE IN JACKET FROM SEAT HEATER.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 23, 2019SeatsODI 11257322

Suspension

2 reports
“WHILE TRAVELING AT OR ABOVE 65 MILES PER. HOUR, VIBRATION IN FRONT END. HAVE HAD TIRES ROTATED, BALANCES AND FRONT END CHECKED OUT. UNKNOWN AT THIS POINT AND NOW MUST KEEP UNDER 65 MPH. UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT OR ABOVE 65.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 24, 2017Suspension, SeatsODI 11019469
All 2008 Cooper S problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

4 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Minicompact Cars
Engines
1.6L 4-cyl turbo · 1.6L 4-cyl supercharged
Transmissions
Manual 6-spd · Automatic (S6)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 12, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Cooper S
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
263429$2,600306
Cooper S
Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
233227$2,800329
Cooper S Convertible
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Sup Charg · Front-Wheel Drive
212924$3,150370
Cooper S Convertible
Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Sup Charg · Front-Wheel Drive
192923$3,250386
  • Cooper S
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo
    26 city · 34 hwy · $2,600/yr
    29
    mpg comb.
  • Cooper S
    Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo
    23 city · 32 hwy · $2,800/yr
    27
    mpg comb.
  • Cooper S Convertible
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Sup Charg
    21 city · 29 hwy · $3,150/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Cooper S Convertible
    Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Sup Charg
    19 city · 29 hwy · $3,250/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 12, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2008 MINI Cooper S as of Nov 12, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 12, 2026Vehicle 2664Vehicle 2661
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2008 Cooper S questions

How many recalls does the 2008 MINI Cooper S have?

4 safety recalls as of Nov 12, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2008 MINI Cooper S problems?

Owners filed 16 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (6), seats (5), suspension (2). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2008 MINI Cooper S get?

The EPA rates the 2008 MINI Cooper S at 23–29 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 12, 2026