CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2008 Mini Cooper has problems with the oil feed lines to the turbo leaking which is not only dangerous & a fire hazard, but also costs $1,200 to fix at relatively low mileage.

Also the 2008 Mini Cooper has a defective timing belt tensioner pulley that can cause the timing chain to break, resulting in expensive engine damage.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
56,544 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Mini Cooper engine problems

engine problem

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2008 Mini Cooper Owner Comments (Page 1 of 7)

problem #121

May 192023

Cooper

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving the car at aproximately 25mph, the engine and the car stopped running. All dashboard warning lamps were off prior to the engine failure The car rolled to the side of the road to get out of the way of other traffic. The service engine warning lamp was on after the engine shut off and stopped running. The car was towed to a service station, and they too could not get the car to start. The mechanic's troubleshooting ultimately found the engine's internal timing chain had broken, causing multiple of other internal engine components to become damaged. The engine required detailed repair to replace the damaged engine parts to get it to start operating again. The costs for the repairs were over $5000.

- Doylestown, PA, USA

problem #120

Dec 012022

Cooper

  • miles
Timing Chain and tensioner rattle. Known recall issue but not showing recall

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #119

Sep 172020

Cooper

  • 70,000 miles
Timing chain jumped out of timing and caused bent valves.

- Spring, TX, USA

problem #118

Apr 062020

Cooper 4-cyl

  • 129,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Timing chain defective.

- Gastonia, NC, USA

problem #117

Dec 172019

Cooper

  • 144,000 miles
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.

- Santa Cruz, CA, USA

problem #116

Jul 312019

Cooper

  • 58,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 MINICooper. While driving 35 mph, the vehicle began to stall without warning. The contact pulled into a left turn lane as the vehicle completely failed. The vehicle was towed to MINIof the woodlands (16675 I-45, conroe, tx 77385, (936) 344-1258) where it was diagnosed that the dme (engine computer) failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 58,000.

- Tomball, TX, USA

problem #115

Jul 092019

Cooper

  • 129,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 MINICooper. The contact stated that the contact's daughter inadvertently bumped into the exhaust pipe located on the rear driver's side of the vehicle. As a result, she sustained a second degree burn to the right leg which required medical treatment. The manufacturer was notified regarding the incident and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA campaign number: 12V008000 (engine, engine cooling). The local dealer was not informed of the incident. The failure mileage was 129,000.

- Eureka, MO, USA

problem #114

May 062019

Cooper

  • 32,000 miles
Engine has developed the "death rattle" at low rev and low temperature, indicating a failing, defective timing chain and tensione

- Springfield, IL, USA

problem #113

Mar 182019

Cooper

  • 32,094 miles
At 32000 miles an oil leak was noted on the garage floor. The foreign car repair shop troubleshot the leak. Final outcome: Replace supercharger assembly, vacuum brake booster pump and intake manifold gasket. Total cost $3,014.78 for a vehicle that has a trade-in value of less than $5,000. The foreign car expert was amazed that the turbo had to be replaced with such low mileage.

- Homosassa, FL, USA

problem #112

Mar 012019

Cooper

  • 70,674 miles
While driving at highway speed on I-71 N & N. broadway exit in columbus, Ohio on March 1, 2019 the timing chain broke and caused complete engine failure and bent all valves and cylinder head and valves resulting in $8821.97 in damage to my engine. The cause of the timing chain failure is due to the prince/psa engine design and manufacturing defect admitted to in the class action lawsuit know as joshua skeen and laurie freeman V. BMW of North America, L.lc. United States district court district of New Jersey civ. No. 2:13-cv-1531-whw-clw. BMW declined to replace my engine under the extended warranty agreed to in the settlement agreement of the above cited action. All affected vehicles should have been recalled and my engine failure could have easily caused loss of life. My vehicle is one of the class vehicles, R56 N14 engine produced between 2006 thru 2010. This is a product liability safety claim that is not subject to any statutory/warranty time limitation. All class vehicles should be recalled due to the loss of life and safety risks. Do not wait for loss of life to enforce the liability of BMW for their failure to self report the design defect and failure to voluntarily recall all affected vehicles.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #111

Mar 012019

Cooper

  • 70,674 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 MINICooper S. while driving 60 mph, the timing chain fractured, causing a complete engine failure. All the valves and cylinder heads were bent. The contact was able to coast the vehicle over to the shoulder even after the vehicle lost all power. The vehicle was towed to the dealer (midwestern auto group, 6335 perimeter loop rd, dublin, oh 43017, (614) 889-2571 where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced at a cost of over $8,000. The contact notified the manufacturer and was provided a claim number. The manufacturer did not assist with the warranty or recall, S but offered to pay $2,000 towards the repair cost. The offer was good for six months. The failure mileage was 70,674.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #110

Sep 102018

Cooper

  • 65,000 miles
Purchased from carmax (11/18/17), never informed of class action lawsuit involving the timing chain with this vehicle. After only 4 months and only a few hundred miles, the problems began. First trip to mechanic, the engine valve cover was found to be cracked. Replaced for just over $700. Less than 10 months later and well under 2000 miles, I was in transit to work, on the highway off ramp and the MINIshut down completely, would not start back up. Had to be pushed off the road. Towed back to auto mechanic and another $200 to find the guide to timing chain broke off, causing engine failure. MINIwas towed back to carmax to find the engine needs replaced, but will have to be replaced with the same type of engine, which can cause the same problem to happen again and again. Senior team at carmax is currently evaluating my case. Possible buy back of vehicle, still awaiting a verdict.

- Lewistown, PA, USA

problem #109

Aug 242018

Cooper

  • 105,000 miles
My MINIcooper has a timing chain problem it rattles upon starting and I haven't driven it.....I just found out about this recall

- Lolo, MT, USA

problem #108

Jul 272018

Cooper

  • miles
Engine make a knocking sound when cold and gets laughter

- Homestead, FL, USA

problem #107

Mar 092018

Cooper

  • 136,000 miles
The vehicle lost power while driving on the highway and a MINIdealership has confirmed that the timing chain is the problem along with the valves (possibly caused by the timing being off). Multiple conversations with MINIcustomer relations have gotten no where and the manufacturer refuses to take responsibility for the known issues with the timing chain in this vehicle. Despite a class action lawsuit specifically about the timing chain, no recall has been issued and the manufacturer refuses to assist customers with necessary repairs to this defective part (and other damage caused by the defect). These timing chain issues are not only an undue burden on the consumer, they can be potentially fatal if a timing chain fails at an unfortunate moment. MINIneeds to issue a recall.

- Chapel Hill, NC, USA

problem #106

Apr 202018

Cooper

  • 70,000 miles
Timing chain failure (which led to class action lawsuit) caused engine failure while driving on highway. Car stopped accelerating. 18 year old daughter was driving. Owners that were not aware of this lawsuit or did not vehicle at the time still affected by this defective part putting drivers in danger yet company has never issued recall.

- Edmond, OK, USA

problem #105

Jan 292018

Cooper

  • 120,000 miles
While traveling on I-10 in tallahassee, fl at highway speed of 70 mph the car suddenly lost power. Being I the center lane of eight (four each direction) it was almost impossible to get out of traffic. Several vehicles made abrupt maneuvers to avoid a crash. Also as I got out of the vehicle was nearly struck by other cars. I later found out this was due to a failed timing chain with numerous complaints and no recall. There was also a class action settlement and still no recall. This could have well been a fatal incident.

- Bonifay, FL, USA

problem #104

Nov 102017

Cooper

  • 90,000 miles
Car takes a while to "warm up" however after a very short drive the hood is hot to the touch. It also smells hot. I looked on line and seen several complaints and there is actually an after market 'deflector' to channel heat from the hood. I have noticed the plastic hood scoop is deformed from heat. I feel it is a matter of time before a fire or other reaction, e.g., heat causes another part to fail and car wont stop, accelerate or other causing a crash. I also noticed the headlight wiring to be frayed as if it has been hot.

- Bonifay, FL, USA

problem #103

Oct 292017

Cooper

  • 81,000 miles
Timing chain tensioner failure. I had to replace chain, tensioners and crank gear on my 2008 MINIwith 81,000 miles.

- Henrico, VA, USA

problem #102

Jun 152017

Cooper

  • miles
Cvt transmission sticking in 2nd gear.

- Arverne, NY, USA

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