2008 MINI Cooper Clubman S problems
The 2008 MINI Cooper Clubman S has 39 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (67%) concerns engine. Next are air bags (23%) and drivetrain & axles (3%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 39 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 67% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 1 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 1 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 62,000 miles 34 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 4 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 6 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 6 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 10 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 34 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 62,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 62,000 miles (24 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 1 complaint mentions a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 1 injury reported.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Airbags did not deploy in accident at 40MPH due to sensor failure. Deceleration was extreme enough to fracture my back and cause chest injuries from striking steering wheel. Mini cooper rearended a suburban truck that was stopped at intersection causing engine to break loose from mounts and hood to crumple. Sensors for airbags should have deployed at the speed and impact.
Car caught fire and burned up (totaled) in my driveway after it was shut off. Fire started in the engine compartment about 10 minutes after I shut it off and got out of the car. It nearly burned down my house too -- front steps and fence caught fire before the fire department got there and extinguished the fire. Have photos to document.
When the weather is warmer, say 80+, the passenger airbag disabled light illuminates with a full grown adult seated and belted. Dealer, of course, cannot recreate.
Mini cooper clubman s rough rattle in the engine compartment upon ignition of the vehicle. Sounds like a lifter. Continues until 1 minute of operation then subsides.
I have had major problems with my engine ever since I have had my mini cooper s clubman. The turbo is loose, there is oil burning off of my engine, and it makes terrible screeching sounds that come from the engine. I have just learned that it is common for a mini cooper to have problems with its timing chain; thus, causing this terrible sound and all those other problems. I did not know it was the timing chain, and now they are having a recall on most of there models that are from the same year as mine.