2008 MINI Cooper Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 13about this part
- Share
- 11%of 116 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 29,335miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2008 MINI Cooper, 11% of the 116 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 29,335 miles. 2 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.
“In early december 2008 my wife was putting items in the back of the Mini Cooper and her leg touched the exhaust, pipe burning her leg. We took it to the service center and the service advisor informed us that there was nothing that they could do. On a recent visit to the service center the new service advisor informed us that there was a recall but not for this model. We are concerned from a safety stand point.”
NHTSA complaint #10286108, filed 2009-10, 15,000 miles“2008 Mini Cooper - my temp light came on/yellow and thinking just low and added more coolant. But it keep giving me the light signal. I didn't see any hole or is not dripping any coolant. On 01/06/12 I called Mini Cooper of loveland colorado to take my car in for service because my temperature light came on to yellow and then red. I was told by the Mini Cooper dealership, I have a hole in my coolant pipe and no one knows why. So, on the way home, my car starting to smoke bad and my car stopped running. It over heated. …”
NHTSA complaint #10444348, filed 2012-01, 20 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10429003, filed 2011-10, 10,000 miles“Shortly after the temperature light came on, smoke started coming out of the exhaust. I pulled over almost immediately on the side of the busy highway I was on. However, in just that short time, smoke was already coming out of the front of the car and out of the car vents. At least one bystander said he saw a fire before I shut off the engine. He called the fire department and paramedics for fear that I might be injured. Please note that this was not a Mini Cooper s. I am requesting that you expand your current investigation of Mini engine fires to include the standard model (Mini Cooper).”
NHTSA complaint #10432589, filed 2011-10, 41,000 miles“The critical timing chain failure can lead to premature engine failure. This is a safety issue because the failing timing chain can also cause the motor to fail. This in turn leads to a lack of power/acceleration/movement endangering the driver and other drivers. Currently bmw/Mini has acknowledged this issue however has failed to repair or replace the defected item outside of the warranty period. This issue also does not appear to be an issue from certain date or assembly line. …”
NHTSA complaint #10454185, filed 2012-04, 55,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10146799Dec 1, 2016"ENGINE MECHANICAL WATER (COOLANT) PUMP: LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 7 YEARS/84,000 MILES. INFORMATION As part of a Class Action Suit Settlement for the vehicles listed above…
- 10146796Dec 1, 2016"Update MINI Water Pump Class Action Settlement: Herremans v. BMW of North America, LLC. MINI USA, a division of BMW of North America, LLC (""MINI USA"") has entered into a…
- 10216756Mar 1, 2016N12 Tank leak diagnostic module (DMTL) pump:limited warranty extension to 10 years/120,000 miles
- 10147800Oct 1, 2015The Blower Motor is Faulty. The blower motor does not operate at any fan speed. The blower motor may work intermittently with the blower fan speed operating only on FULL speed…
- 10148206Dec 1, 2014Dual Mass Flywheel: Diagnosis and Inspection. INFORMATION The following three criteria must to be checked, evaluated and the resulting findings documented on the repair order…
- 10057570Dec 1, 2014Mini: some vehicles have turbocharger noise and a lack or loss of performance, due to restriction of turbocharger oil supply, resulting in oil starvation and seizing of…
- 10148346May 1, 2014N16: Fault 274D Mixture Adaptation Is Stored in the DME. Certain low speed, light-load driving conditions at lower outside temperatures could cause the Service Engine Soon lamp…
- 10150203Nov 1, 2013N16 Engine: FC 2D9B Knock Sensor, Signal Is Stored in the DME. Certain areas of the US experience extremely cold climate conditions during the winter months, which can cause the…
- 10149464Feb 1, 2013"N16 Engine: FC 2D9B Knock Sensor, Signal Is Stored in the DME. Certain areas of the US experience extremely cold climate conditions during the winter months, which can cause the…
- 10150347Oct 1, 2012During Engine Oil Service a Small O-Ring Is Found in the Oil Filter Housing. No customer complaint has been received. During the scheduled engine oil service, the technician…
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 | 2% |
| 2014 | 2 | 6% |
| 2012 | 1 | 2% |
| 2011 | 5 | 6% |
| 2010 | 8 | 9% |
| 2009 | 4 | 3% |
| 2008 | 13 | 11% |
| 2007 | 11 | 9% |
| 2006 | 9 | 5% |
| 2005 | 8 | 2% |
| 2004 | 6 | 2% |
| 2003 | 22 | 7% |
| 2002 | 11 | 6% |
| 2001 | 1 | 17% |
Other parts of the 2008 MINI Cooper
44 complaintsAir bags
41 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 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