2008 Mini Cooper S Air Bags Problems

NHTSA component category: AIR BAGS · data through 07/14/2026

30Air Bags complaints

17.9%Of all 168 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How air bags ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE78 · 46.4%

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING36 · 21.4%

AIR BAGS30 · 17.9%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8 · 4.8%

POWER TRAIN6 · 3.6%

Share of the 168 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2008 Mini Cooper S overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN…”NHTSA complaint 10863933 — filed 05/09/2016

“TAKATA RECALL: MY 2008 MINI COOPER S HARDTOP BEGAN EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT STAYING LITE WHETHER OR NOT A PASSENGER…”NHTSA complaint 10862669 — filed 05/02/2016

“PASSENGERS AIR BAG APPEARS OFF WHEN SOMEONE ARE SEAT. THIS EVOLVE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IN CASE OF ACCIDENT.”NHTSA complaint 10850254 — filed 03/17/2016

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Air Bags complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Mini Cooper S have air bags problems?

Air Bags is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2008 Mini Cooper S: 30 of 168 complaints on file (17.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2008 Mini Cooper S have in total?

168 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 1 involved a crash, 10 involved a fire, 3 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's air bags category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the AIR BAGS category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.