2008 MINI Cooper Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 41about this part
- Share
- 35%of 116 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 60,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 41 complaints about the air bags of the 2008 MINI Cooper, 35% of the 116 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 60,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Srs computer and sensors are failing. No accident, no flooding just failing sensors and computer. Mini claims this is a maintenance item, yet there is no documented maintenance protocol for these items. Vehicle has less than 100k miles and air bag system components are failing. Hence we don't know if the system will work or not and the vehicle will not pass our state inspection.”
NHTSA complaint #10893298, filed 2016-08, 90,000 miles“We took our 2008 Mini Cooper to a Mini dealer because of a warning light and it was diagnosed with a short in the sensor that detects the need for passenger side airbag. This means that at times the passenger side airbag will not deploy, making possible a potentially deadly crash.”
NHTSA complaint #10863353, filed 2016-05, 98,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11389937, filed 2021-01, 72,000 miles“Air bag malfunction light went on and stayed on. It did go off when a passenger sat in the seat. Sensor switch had to be replaced, a costly job. Seat was replaced. The only way I recognized the error was when there was no passenger. I feel that if I always drove with a passenger I would not have known of the malfunction. This problem is not unknown to the manufacturer as it has been discussed on websites and when mentioned to non Mini repair shops, they were aware of it.”
NHTSA complaint #10638501, filed 2014-09, 57,750 miles“My 2008 Mini Cooper was in accident in jan 2016. The (passenger) light came on and it was immediately take to autobody shop. The passenger airbag warning light was evaluated and added to repairs. The seat map sensor is the chief problem. The car is undrivable. The dealership in sterling indicated that it would take 15-30 day to received the part. The part was delayed until march 24,2016. Three days prior to delivery it was updated to jul 13, 2016. At this point my rental car from the insurance company ran out. …”
NHTSA complaint #10861529, filed 2016-04, 88,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10043927Mar 1, 2012Bmw mini: airbag warning light is on: mrs fc 02, 03, 05, 06.
- 10039593May 1, 2011Bmw: the airbag warning light is on with a fault stored. The wiring under the seat may be pinched or damaged.
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 17% |
| 2021 | 1 | 14% |
| 2020 | 3 | 43% |
| 2018 | 2 | 25% |
| 2017 | 3 | 11% |
| 2016 | 2 | 7% |
| 2015 | 1 | 2% |
| 2014 | 3 | 9% |
| 2013 | 12 | 26% |
| 2012 | 12 | 18% |
| 2011 | 18 | 22% |
| 2010 | 21 | 23% |
| 2009 | 62 | 41% |
| 2008 | 41 | 35% |
| 2007 | 47 | 40% |
| 2006 | 111 | 56% |
| 2005 | 41 | 11% |
| 2003 | 10 | 3% |
| 2002 | 26 | 14% |
Other parts of the 2008 MINI Cooper
44 complaintsEngine cooling
13 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
12 complaintsElectrical system
11 complaintsSeats
5 complaintsSteering
4 complaintsBrakes
3 complaintsEquipment
3 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsSeat belts
3 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 MINI Cooper
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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