Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2008 Mini Cooper Convertible with NHTSA between 2009 and 2019.
The largest single group is the airbags.
Across this model's run it ranks 2 of 5 worst.
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.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 12
Against the median year of the Mini Cooper Convertible. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
20% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 19
11% 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 Convertible
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 Convertible
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Airbags
330.0%
Median failure at 53,000 miles
Seats
220.0%
Median failure at 50,500 miles
Steering
220.0%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 67,500 mi
Transmission & Drivetrain
220.0%
Median failure at 57,500 miles
Suspension
110.0%
Median failure at 2,500 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
1,000 – 9,999 miles
111.1%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
333.3%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
444.4%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
111.1%
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.
Jun 2009peak 2Sep 2019
Recalls on the 2008 Mini Cooper Convertible
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.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 20151477,865 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
On certain vehicles, the front passenger seat occupant detection mat can fatigue over time. As a result, the passenger airbag could deactivate, illuminating the airbag warning lamp and the passenger airbag ON/OFF lamp. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant. Correction: Dealers will replace the occupant detection mat. Note: This recall is an expansion of recalls 2008-307 and 2013-238.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 60,000 milesNewtown, CT1 injured
SEATS
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.
NHTSA complaint #11257322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesWilliamsburg, VAFire
STEERING
MOVING MY MINI INTO THE GARAGE A FIRE CAUGHT UNDER THE HOOD AND THE STEERING WENT OUT, AFTER INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND TO BE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER THE COST AS IT IS A MECHANICAL FAILURE. I HAVE READ ABOUT THE PREVIOUS MODELS BEING RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AS WELL AS CLASS ACTION LAW SUITS. I BELIEVE MY MINI MAY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT BMW SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THESE REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #10855576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 60,000 milesNewtown, CT1 injured
SEATS
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.
NHTSA complaint #11257322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesWilliamsburg, VAFire
STEERING
MOVING MY MINI INTO THE GARAGE A FIRE CAUGHT UNDER THE HOOD AND THE STEERING WENT OUT, AFTER INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND TO BE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER THE COST AS IT IS A MECHANICAL FAILURE. I HAVE READ ABOUT THE PREVIOUS MODELS BEING RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AS WELL AS CLASS ACTION LAW SUITS. I BELIEVE MY MINI MAY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT BMW SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THESE REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #10855576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesAustin, TX
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILED AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER CAR. POWER STEERING FLUID WAS FULL. INSPECTED AT GARAGE AND MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS NO CLEAR REASON AS TO WHY THE STEERING HAD FAILED. DID GET SOME STEERING ABILITY BACK BUT AM WORRIED IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. VEHICLE HAD BEEN STATIONARY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND STEERING WAS GONE WHEN TURNED CAR ON FOR FIRST TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10822745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hampton Bays, NY
AIR BAGS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10780102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 65,000 milesBaton Rouge, LA
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
NHTSA complaint #10712176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 41,000 milesVirginia Beach, VA
SEATS
IT APPEARS THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED SENSOR IS NOT WORKING.
NHTSA complaint #10605489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 41,000 milesVirginia Beach, VA
AIR BAGS
IT APPEARS THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED SENSOR IS NOT WORKING.
NHTSA complaint #10605489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 69,000 milesHighlands Ranch, CO
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILED (CVT). VEHICLE HAS LOW MILES AND COST TO REPAIR IS OVER $8,000.
NHTSA complaint #10547584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 46,000 milesWyomissing, PA
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION IS GOING ON A 2008 CAR WITH ONLY 47000 MILES ON IT. DOESN'T SHIFT WHEN NEEDED THEREFORE DOESN'T ACCELERATE SAFELY.
NHTSA complaint #10536304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,500 milesFrederick, MD
SUSPENSION
MY 2008 MINI CONVERTIBLE HAS A BAD VIBRATION THAT STARTS AT 70MPH. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SEVERAL SERVICE VISITS WHERE THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REBALANCED TWICE, TIRES REPLACED TWICE, FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT, AND INSPECTION OF THE SUSPENSION. NONE OF THESE ACTIONS HAS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. BMW / MINI ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND CLAIM THE CAR IS BEHAVING AS DESIGNED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAVE STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT FURTHER DAMAGE IS BEING DONE TO THE SUSPENSION AND DRIVE TRAIN AND COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10274856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.