- Mini is recalling over 100 Cooper SE models (2021-2023) due to a potential water leak in the high-voltage battery housing.
- The water leak could cause an electrical short, stalling the car, and in extreme cases, lead to a thermal runaway event (battery fire).
- Owners will be notified by mail starting June 21st. Dealers will inspect the battery and replace it for free if a leak is found.
Mini is recalling more than 100 examples of the 2021-2023 Cooper SE because they have been manufactured with a high-voltage battery housing that may allow water to leak in.
The company says that during the assembly of the high-voltage battery housings, insufficient sealing compound between the two housing halves may have been used. This could allow water to enter into the high-voltage battery which is bad news. Mini notes that if water does enter the battery, an isolation fault will be triggered and a warning message will be displayed.
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As more water leaks into the battery, multiple isolation failures could occur and the vehicle may stall. It’s possible that after long periods of inactivity, the high-voltage battery could overheat, triggering a thermal runaway event even if the vehicle is not in operation.
BMW became aware of a potential issue in October 2020 when a Mini Cooper SE experienced a thermal event in the U.S. In January of this year, another Cooper SE suffered the same fate. An investigation concluded the thermal events were triggered by multiple isolation faults in the high-voltage battery system.
A total of 128 vehicles in the United States are caught up in this recall. All were manufactured between June 12, 2020, and November 30, 2022.
Mini notified dealerships of the recall on April 29 and will inform owners via first-class mail from June 21. Dealers have been instructed to inspect the high-voltage battery for isolation faults and if a water leak is found, the battery will be replaced free of charge. Mini believes approximately 10% of the vehicles recalled may have the issue.
