2021-2024 MINI Cooper SE Electrical Management Software Recall (24V612)
BMW of North America, LLC · 12,535 vehicles · Reported August 15, 2024
BMW of North America, LLC is recalling 12,535 2021-2024 MINI Cooper SE vehicles. Faults may occur in the high voltage battery or high voltage system, resulting in a short circuit. A short circuit increases the risk of a fire. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 24V612 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 24V612000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | Not listed |
| Date reported to NHTSA | August 15, 2024 |
| Manufacturer | BMW of North America, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2021-2024 MINI Cooper SE |
| Units affected | 12,535 |
| Component | Electrical System > Propulsion System > Traction Battery Thermal > Management > Software |
| Safety risk | A short circuit increases the risk of a fire. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2024 MINI Cooper SE in recall 24V612?
Faults may occur in the high voltage battery or high voltage system, resulting in a short circuit.
BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper SE) vehicles. Faults may occur in the high voltage battery or high voltage system, resulting in a short circuit.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2024 Cooper SE with recall 24V612?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the software.
Which vehicles are included in recall 24V612?
Recall 24V612 covers 12,535 vehicles: 2021-2024 MINI Cooper SE.
NHTSA lists 12,535 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2024 | MINI | Cooper SE |
What is the fix for the Cooper SE electrical management software recall?
Yes. Owners are advised that if a warning message is displayed in the vehicle, to park the vehicle outside and away from structures until the remedy has been completed.
Owners are advised that if a warning message is displayed in the vehicle, to park the vehicle outside and away from structures until the remedy has been completed. Dealers will provide a software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 14, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-866-ASK-MINI (1-866-275-6464).
When was recall 24V612 announced?
BMW of North America, LLC reported recall 24V612 to NHTSA on August 15, 2024. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as October 14, 2024.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| August 15, 2024 | BMW of North America, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 24V612000. |
| October 14, 2024 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 25 months ago. If your Cooper SE was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Cooper SE is part of recall 24V612?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 24V612 is open on your Cooper SE, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 24V612000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Cooper SE owners do about recall 24V612?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 24V612000 applies to your Cooper SE.
- Call a MINI dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the software happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Cooper SE owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 4 of them about the ev and hybrid battery.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the ev and hybrid battery have been filed since recall 24V612 was reported (4) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 6 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 4 of them involve the ev and hybrid battery. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2023 MINI Cooper SE: 5 complaints in total, 4 about the ev and hybrid battery
- 2022 MINI Cooper SE: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the ev and hybrid battery
- 2024 MINI Cooper SE: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the ev and hybrid battery
- 2021 MINI Cooper SE: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the ev and hybrid battery
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The contact owns a 2023 Mini Cooper SE. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V302000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
2023 MINI Cooper SE owner, NV, NHTSA complaint 11654776, filed April 15, 2025
While driving in the rain, the car suddenly applied its brakes, all lights inside the car shut off, and the car came to a stop. The car behind hit it. The car was immediately taken to the service department at Dreyer & Reinbold MINI in Carmel, Indiana.
2023 MINI Cooper SE owner, IN, NHTSA complaint 11682949, filed August 25, 2025
The safety recall campaign 24V-612 is a complete farce. It states that there is a safety defect with the high-voltage battery which could cause a fire, but the "solution" proposed by the manufacturer is a software change which discharges the battery, making the car essentially useless.
2023 MINI Cooper SE owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11622238, filed October 28, 2024
Can recall 24V612 make my Cooper SE a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
High-voltage battery and drive system defects in EVs and hybrids can mean reduced range, charging faults, loss of drive power or a fire risk. These repairs often need parts on backorder, so days out of service add up quickly.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021-2024 MINI Cooper SE has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A software update can count as a repair attempt, especially if you complained about the problem or the update keeps being repeated. I've seen dealers do the same software update five or six times with no fix.
Recall repairs depend on parts. Owners can wait days, weeks or months, usually about one to three months in our cases, and those days count toward California's 30-day out-of-service rule.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Cooper SE been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other MINI Cooper SE recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 24V612
Is the 24V612000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed October 14, 2024.
How do I know if my Cooper SE is part of recall 24V612000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Can a battery recall reduce my EV's range?
Some battery recalls limit the state of charge or range until a module or pack is replaced. Check your owner letter for any interim limits, and keep notes if range or charging changes after the repair.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 24V612000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or MINI. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.