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MINI Electrical Recalls Address Hybrid and Cooper SE Battery Fires
Battery short circuits and fire risks recur across these MINI electrical notices, but the stated defects differ. The August 2020 notice includes the 2020 Countryman SE ALL4 and identifies loose welding beads that may create a conductive path between hybrid battery cells. The September 2020 notice includes certain 2020-2021 MINI Cooper Countryman All4 SE vehicles and identifies debris inside battery cells. Two 2024 notices cover certain 2020-2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door Cooper SE vehicles: one concerns an improperly sealed battery housing that may admit water, while the other concerns high voltage battery or system faults that may cause a short circuit.
Warning signs to watch for
- April 2024 Cooper SE battery-water-leak recall: a vehicle stall is a stated possible consequence.
- August 2024 Cooper SE high voltage battery recall: a displayed warning message triggers the notice's park-outside instruction.
Can you keep driving? What the notices say
One notice carries a conditional park-outside instruction: the August 2024 Cooper SE high voltage battery recall says to park outside and away from structures if a warning message appears, until repaired. The September 2020 hybrid-battery-debris notice instructs drivers not to charge, drive in manual or sport mode, or use shift paddles until the remedy is completed. These notices do not tell owners to stop driving. The August 2020 hybrid-battery and April 2024 water-leak notices likewise do not tell owners to stop driving.
What the free repair involves
The August and September 2020 hybrid-battery notices each specify inspection and battery-module replacement if necessary, free of charge. The April 2024 Cooper SE notice specifies battery inspection, leak testing, and repair as necessary, free of charge. The August 2024 Cooper SE notice specifies a free dealer software update.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| critical | 4 |
Models affected most
Where owners report electrical system problems most
NHTSA owner complaints filed under electrical system for the MINI models and years in this guide. Complaints are unverified reports and are not limited to the recalled defects.
| Vehicle | Electrical system complaints |
|---|---|
| 2023 MINI Cooper SE | 4 |
| 2020 MINI Countryman | 1 |
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2024 | MINI Cooper SE High Voltage Battery Fire Risk | critical |
| Apr 29, 2024 | MINI Cooper SE Battery Water Leak Fire Risk | critical |
| Sep 30, 2020 | BMW, MINI Hybrid Battery Debris Fire Risk | critical |
| Aug 18, 2020 | BMW and Mini Plug-In Hybrid Battery Fire Risk | critical |
Common questions
Which MINI battery recall tells owners to park outside?
The August 2024 Cooper SE high voltage battery notice advises parking outside and away from structures if a warning message is displayed in the vehicle. That instruction applies until the remedy is completed. Dealers provide a free software update.
What charging restrictions appear in the Countryman battery notices?
The September 2020 hybrid-battery-debris notice instructs drivers not to charge until the remedy is completed. It also instructs them not to drive in manual or sport mode or use shift paddles. The supplied August 2020 notice does not state those restrictions.
How do the two Cooper SE battery remedies differ?
For the April 2024 water-leak notice, dealers inspect and leak test the high voltage battery and repair it as necessary. For the August 2024 battery-or-system-fault notice, dealers provide a software update. Both notices state that their remedies are free.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.