FaultScore

FaultScore report

2008 Mini Cooper Clubman problems

Owners have filed 38 complaints about the 2008 Mini Cooper Clubman with NHTSA between 2010 and 2024. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 4 worst.

C

FaultScore 45/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Mini Cooper Clubman.

How this is worked out

The numbers

38

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

4

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

79,226 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

18%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 45 vs 50 Severity 54 vs 50 Early failure 30 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 45
Against the median year of the Mini Cooper Clubman. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 54
10.5% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 30
18% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2008 compares with every other Mini Cooper Clubman

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2008 Mini Cooper Clubman

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Engine & Cooling 11 28.9%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 80,000 mi

Airbags 10 26.3%

Median failure at 74,807 miles

Electrical System 6 15.8%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 88,000 mi

Seats 4 10.5%

Median failure at 69,903 miles

Steering 2 5.3%

Median failure at 55,500 miles

Other & Unspecified 1 2.6%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 75,000 mi

Seat Belts 1 2.6%

Median failure at 90,000 miles

Fuel & Propulsion 1 2.6%

Median failure at 151,000 miles

Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 2.6%

Median failure at 79,226 miles

Brakes 1 2.6%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 38,950 mi

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

Under 1,000 miles 1 2.9%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 5 14.7%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 3 8.8%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 6 17.6%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 13 38.2%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 4 11.8%
150,000+ miles 2 5.9%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Jan 2010 peak 4 Aug 2024

Recalls on the 2008 Mini Cooper Clubman

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

United States — NHTSA

23V337000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

Risk: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 75,000 miles Walla Walla, WA Fire

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA complaint #11133350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 38,950 miles Covina, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

PLAYING GOLF, CAR IS IN PARKING LOT. ENGINE CATCHES FIRE, DESTROYED FRONT HALF OF CAR, ENGINE FELL ON PAVEMENT .

NHTSA complaint #10534785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 38,950 miles Covina, CA Fire

ENGINE

PLAYING GOLF, CAR IS IN PARKING LOT. ENGINE CATCHES FIRE, DESTROYED FRONT HALF OF CAR, ENGINE FELL ON PAVEMENT .

NHTSA complaint #10534785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 38,950 miles Covina, CA Fire

SERVICE BRAKES

PLAYING GOLF, CAR IS IN PARKING LOT. ENGINE CATCHES FIRE, DESTROYED FRONT HALF OF CAR, ENGINE FELL ON PAVEMENT .

NHTSA complaint #10534785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Northborough, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2008 Mini Cooper Clubman. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA complaint #11609324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 108,000 miles Carthage, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2008 Mini Cooper Clubman. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with an electrical burning odor. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with footwell module failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA complaint #11588482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 151,000 miles Council Bluffs, IA

ENGINE

I PURCHASED A 2008 CLUBMAN AND IT'S THE NON-TURBO BUT THE ENGINE HAS AN ISSUE WITH MULTIPLE MISFIRE CODES BEING SENT OUT TO THE OBD2 READER AS WELL AS SOME ECU CODES THAT IMPLY WEAK FUEL PRESSURE AND WHEN LOOKING UP AND TRYING TO FIND HOW TO REPLACE THE FUEL PRESSURE PUMP THEN I REALIZED I WAS NOT ALONE IN THIS ISSUE AND WONDER IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THE THOUGHT TO ACTUALLY FILE A COMPLAINT SO THAT WAY SOMETHING CAN BE DONE SINCE IT'S A VERY FAULTY THING AND MOST OF THESE HAVE HAD ISSUES FROM 30000 MILES ABOUT BUT THEN FOR ALL THE OTHERS THAT ALSO HAVE IT AFTER THE WARRANTY DROPS TO INTENTIONALLY PUT IN A FAULTY PART I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S ILLEGAL OR NOT BUT IT SHOULD BE. I DO NO THAT IF THEY PUT IN ENOUGH FAULTY PARTS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL MADE IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT THEY ARE AT FAULT AND NOT THE PEOPLE BUYING THEM OR MISTREATING OR NOT MAINTAINING ETC ETC... I STRONGLY URGE ANYONE ELSE THAT'S HAD THIS ISSUE TO ALSO MAKE YOUR OWN COMPLAINT IF IT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAD TO BUY A NEW CAR BECAUSE OF IT.

NHTSA complaint #11329486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 151,000 miles Council Bluffs, IA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I PURCHASED A 2008 CLUBMAN AND IT'S THE NON-TURBO BUT THE ENGINE HAS AN ISSUE WITH MULTIPLE MISFIRE CODES BEING SENT OUT TO THE OBD2 READER AS WELL AS SOME ECU CODES THAT IMPLY WEAK FUEL PRESSURE AND WHEN LOOKING UP AND TRYING TO FIND HOW TO REPLACE THE FUEL PRESSURE PUMP THEN I REALIZED I WAS NOT ALONE IN THIS ISSUE AND WONDER IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THE THOUGHT TO ACTUALLY FILE A COMPLAINT SO THAT WAY SOMETHING CAN BE DONE SINCE IT'S A VERY FAULTY THING AND MOST OF THESE HAVE HAD ISSUES FROM 30000 MILES ABOUT BUT THEN FOR ALL THE OTHERS THAT ALSO HAVE IT AFTER THE WARRANTY DROPS TO INTENTIONALLY PUT IN A FAULTY PART I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S ILLEGAL OR NOT BUT IT SHOULD BE. I DO NO THAT IF THEY PUT IN ENOUGH FAULTY PARTS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL MADE IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT THEY ARE AT FAULT AND NOT THE PEOPLE BUYING THEM OR MISTREATING OR NOT MAINTAINING ETC ETC... I STRONGLY URGE ANYONE ELSE THAT'S HAD THIS ISSUE TO ALSO MAKE YOUR OWN COMPLAINT IF IT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAD TO BUY A NEW CAR BECAUSE OF IT.

NHTSA complaint #11329486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 91,000 miles Marlborough, MA

AIR BAGS

PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR FAILURE. THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE CARS. OF COURSE, THERE IS A RECALL ON PREVIOUS YEARS

NHTSA complaint #11290028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 91,000 miles Marlborough, MA

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR FAILURE. THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE CARS. OF COURSE, THERE IS A RECALL ON PREVIOUS YEARS

NHTSA complaint #11290028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Walla Walla, WA Fire

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA complaint #11133350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15 miles Berkeley Springs, WV

ENGINE

CAR HAS JUST OVER 100000 MILES BUT HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY OVERHEATING (HAVE TO FILL TANK ALMOST EVERY DAY). CANNOT FIND OUT THE SOURCE, BUT I NOTICED A RECALL ON THE WATER PUMP ON OTHER SIMILAR MODELS, BUT VIN SEARCH SAID MINE WAS OKAY. I FEEL THIS IS AN ERROR. PLEASE INFORM ME OF MY NEXT STEP. GETTING VERY FRUSTRATED. I WOULDN'T CONSIDER THIS HIGH MILEAGE FOR THIS CAR, AND I TAKE CARE OF IT.

NHTSA complaint #11012947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Knoxville, TN

ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. I PULLED OFF IN FIRST GEAR AND THE CAR DIED. SEVERAL OTHER DRIVERS HELPED ME PUSH MY CAR TO A SAFE LOT.I THEN HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT TO FIND THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND RUINED THE ENGINE. I BOUGHT THE CAR THROUGH CAR MAX WITH THEIR PRE OWNED, PRE CERTIFIED PROGRAM. MY CAR NOW HAS 80,000 MILES AS IT HAS SINCE MARCH 10TH 2017. I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS AND FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE PAYMENTS ON A CAR I CAN'T DRIVE. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE? ARE AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS NOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE. UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES, I COULD HAVE DIED OR BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED THAT DAY. THIS IS WIDESPREAD. THERE ARE LITERALLY 100S OF THOUSANDS OF MINI OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THE TIMING TENSIONER BREAKS CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN TO GIVE WAY. GOD FORBID THIS HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ENGLAND HAS RECALLED ALL THEIR MINI COOPERS A REPAIRED THEM. WHAT ABOUT AMERICA! SINCERELY,[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10992812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 98,218 miles Lorton, VA

ENGINE

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING LIGHT. THE ENGINE WAS/IS BURNING OIL. THE MINI STAFF TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THIS ENGINE. I NEED TO CHECK MY OIL LEVEL EVERY WEEK OR WHENEVER I FILL UP. KEEP PUTTING IN MORE OIL WHEN THE LEVEL GETS LOW. I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY FOR THEIR DESIGN FLAW. NO OFFER FROM MINI ABOUT REPLACING THE ENGINE. MINI TOLD ME TO WRITE TO HQ, WHICH I HAVE BUT NOTHING HAS COME OF IT. I AM TIRED OF PAYING FOR THEIR DESIGN FLAW AND I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKE.

NHTSA complaint #10969354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 88,000 miles Redlands, CA

STEERING

MY POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT. I HAVE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN I TURN THE CAR BACK ON, THE POWER STEERING COMES BACK. WHEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT, IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST MONTH.

NHTSA complaint #10956358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 88,000 miles Redlands, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT. I HAVE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN I TURN THE CAR BACK ON, THE POWER STEERING COMES BACK. WHEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT, IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST MONTH.

NHTSA complaint #10956358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 79,226 miles Panama City Beach, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, AND THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION OF MY CAR, THE VALVES WERE CLATTERING AND HAD NO POWER.

NHTSA complaint #10946175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 79,226 miles Panama City Beach, FL

ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, AND THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION OF MY CAR, THE VALVES WERE CLATTERING AND HAD NO POWER.

NHTSA complaint #10946175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 112,000 miles Sarasota, FL

SEATS

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON BECAUSE OF FAULTY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT MAT SENSOR. AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED WITHOUT REPAIR/REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10925055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 112,000 miles Sarasota, FL

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON BECAUSE OF FAULTY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT MAT SENSOR. AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED WITHOUT REPAIR/REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10925055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 74,807 miles Winter Springs, FL

SEATS

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR IS NOT WORKING. AIR BAG INDICATOR DISPLAYS AIR BAG IS OFF WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. MULTIPLE WARNINGS INDICATE A PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE. NO INCIDENT OCCURRED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

NHTSA complaint #10885308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 74,807 miles Winter Springs, FL

AIR BAGS

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR IS NOT WORKING. AIR BAG INDICATOR DISPLAYS AIR BAG IS OFF WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. MULTIPLE WARNINGS INDICATE A PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE. NO INCIDENT OCCURRED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

NHTSA complaint #10885308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,352 miles Midlothia, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TIMING CHAIN GUIDE IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC. IT BROKE APART AND FELL IN PIECES INTO THE OIL PAN. IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10859741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,000 miles West Reading PA, PA

ENGINE

LEAKING TURBO OIL FEED LINE. OIL FEED LINE LEAKS OIL CAUSING SMOKE AND STRONG SMELL.

NHTSA complaint #10839583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 111,200 miles Louisville, KY

ENGINE

THE TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY IS FAILING AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 5,000 MILES AFTER BUYING IT USED FROM A MINI DEALERSHIP WHO HAD PERFORMED THEIR USUAL INSPECTIONS AND RESALE MAINTENANCE. APPARENTLY THE TIMING CHAIN IS INSIDE THE ENGINE CASING AND THE METAL CHAIN RUNS ALONG A PLASTIC GUIDE. THE TOP PORTION OF THE PLASTIC GUIDE HAS, IT APPEARS, FAILED, CAUSING A VERY LOUD ENGINE NOISE AND RISKING COMPLETE TIMING FAILURE WHICH, OF COURSE, COULD POTENTIALLY PRESENT SERIOUS MECHANICAL AND SAFETY ISSUES IF IT HAPPENS AT HIGH SPEED. I HAVE FOUND WIDE REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING SIMILARLY IN OTHER CARS, HOWEVER AFTER A QUICK SEARCH, I DON'T SEE THIS ISSUE LISTED ON THIS NHTSA SITE, SO I THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE ADDED. SEE THESE LINKS FOR REFERENCE: HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/NEWS/CONSUMERS-COMPLAIN-OF-MINI-COOPER-TIMING-BELT-FAILURES-080113.HTML AND HTTP://BLOG.AUTOWORKSTX.COM/2014/10/MINI-COOPER-TIMING-CHAIN-ISSUES/

NHTSA complaint #10764078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles ST. Cloud, FL

SEAT BELTS

THE SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATOR IS LIT UP WHILE THERE IS NO ONE PRESENT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT.WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT, THE AIR BAG IS OFF INDICATOR LIGHT IS SOMETIMES ILLUMINATED. THE WARNING INDICATOR IS INTERMITTENT AND THE SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATOR IS INTERMITTENT. THERE ARE NO ERROR CODES THAT ARE PULLING FROM THE STANDARD OBD PORT. THERE IS A LONG HISTORY OF KNOWN ISSUES RELATED TO THE PASSENGER MAT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS AND THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AS A WHOLE.

NHTSA complaint #10722461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles ST. Cloud, FL

AIR BAGS

THE SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATOR IS LIT UP WHILE THERE IS NO ONE PRESENT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT.WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT, THE AIR BAG IS OFF INDICATOR LIGHT IS SOMETIMES ILLUMINATED. THE WARNING INDICATOR IS INTERMITTENT AND THE SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATOR IS INTERMITTENT. THERE ARE NO ERROR CODES THAT ARE PULLING FROM THE STANDARD OBD PORT. THERE IS A LONG HISTORY OF KNOWN ISSUES RELATED TO THE PASSENGER MAT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS AND THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AS A WHOLE.

NHTSA complaint #10722461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 19,563 miles Gilbert, AZ

AIR BAGS

I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL AUTHORIZED MINI COOPER DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS RUN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. MINI COOPER HAS BEEN FORCED TO RECALL 2008 CONVERTIBLES FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT REFUSES TO FIX THE SAME YEAR COUNTRYMAN MODELS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT REQUIRED ME TO PAY TO HAVE THE PASSENGER SEAT REPLACED. THIS REPAIR COST ME $ 1,800, AND MINI COOPER REFUSES TO COMPENSATE ME FOR THE REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10717720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX

AIR BAGS

DRIVING WITH AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE "PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS OFF" LIGHT TURNED ON. AFTER SHIFTING IN THE SEAT THE LIGHT TURNED OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAG MAT AND IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MINIS. HAVE ALSO REPORTED THIS PROBLEM WITH A 2005 MINI COOPER. READING ONLINE NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. KEEP WAITING FOR A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS AN EXPENSIVE PROBLEM TO FIX.

NHTSA complaint #10649123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.