2008 MINI Cooper S Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 2%of 168 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 44,740miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the body and structure of the 2008 MINI Cooper S, 2% of the 168 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 44,740 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My car caught fire while driving. I had been driving for about an hour on the highway. There was no warning. No cel or errors on the dash display. Car was running normally. I noticed some smoke. After pulling to the side of the road flames started coming from under the hood. The car was still running normally. I shut off the motor and got out. Bystanders emptied an extinguisher through the front grille but within minutes the entire vehicle was engulfed. Car was almost completely destroyed. Fire burned through the firewall and consumed the interior.”
NHTSA complaint #11298643, filed 2020-01, 144,000 miles“As I was driving my car started chugging. I pulled over and kept chugging. I stopped the car, looked under the hood and saw if something was wrong. Did not see anything. Started it up again and once I accelerated it stopped chugging. Drove it very scarcely and brought it into the dealership. Was told it was a timing chain. Very lucky that it has not snapped or skipped because you would have possibly lose control. The car only has 36000 miles on it and has had the oil level topped off every few fill ups. …”
NHTSA complaint #10486079, filed 2012-11, 35,900 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10162460Jul 12, 2019Service Action: Checking or Replacing the Door Sill Trim Strips. The door sill trim strips are deformed and/or peeling up at the corners. CAUSE: Insufficient surface preparation…
- 10026766Mar 1, 2009Mini: rear split door opening problems. One or both of the rear split doors intermittently have functional problems. The door(s) may not unlatch when the lever on the handle is…
Body and structure: other model years
Other parts of the 2008 MINI Cooper S
78 complaintsEngine cooling
43 complaintsAir bags
30 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
9 complaintsElectrical system
8 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsSeats
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaintsBrakes
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 MINI Cooper S
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology