Mini has issued a recall for 12,535 Cooper SE EVs due to a fire risk associated with their high-voltage batteries. The Mini Cooper EV recall affects SE Hardtop models built between March 21, 2019, and January 25, 2024. It doesn’t affect the countryman sibling models, so no worries on that front. This EV recall was triggered by concerns that the high-voltage battery system could short circuit, potentially causing overheating or a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use. The EV recall was officially announced on August 8, 2024.
Here is everything we know about the Mini Cooper recall.
Incidents Of The Mini Cooper EV Recall: Catching Fire
BMW, Mini’s parent company, first became aware of the high-voltage battery issue in October 2023 after a Cooper SE caught fire in the U.S. Another incident followed in Germany in January. Before issuing the Mini Cooper EV recall, there was a thorough investigation.
Starting at about $30,900, the electric Mini Cooper SE hardtop model has 181 horsepower. It can accelerate from 0 – 60mph in about 6.9 seconds, with a top speed of 93 mph.
Faulty Battery System
This engineering analysis revealed isolation faults within the battery system, prompting further investigations into the compact electric SUV. So far, no injuries related to the Mini Cooper EV have been reported.
Affected Models
The Mini Cooper EV recall mainly affects SE 2 Door Hardtops from the 2020-2024 model years.
No Mechanical Work Required, Only A Software Update
The good news for Mini Cooper EV owners is that no mechanical work is required to fix the battery issue. Instead of a mechanical fix that requires you to visit a dealership, only a software update will be provided.
This anticipated software update includes a diagnostic feature that detects battery malfunctions and automatically reduces the charge to below 30%, mitigating the fire risk.
Owners will start receiving notifications about the recall in October 2024. Owners of the Mini Cooper SE should get the update as soon as it’s available. For now, I would recommend not driving your electric Cooper until the update arrives by the last quarter of the year.