BMW of North America recall 24V-612 covers certain 2020–2024 MINI Cooper SE Hardtop 2 Door vehicles. A fault in the high-voltage battery or related system can short-circuit, overheat and rarely cause a thermal event or fire—even while the car is parked. Check your vehicle identification number (VIN) and arrange the free dealer software update; if a warning appears before the repair, park outside and away from buildings.
Which MINI Cooper SEs are included?
The U.S. safety recall applies to certain model-year 2020–2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door Cooper SE vehicles built from March 21, 2019, through January 25, 2024. The production range and model year are screening criteria only: your VIN determines whether your individual car has an open recall.
| Recall detail | What BMW reports |
|---|---|
| NHTSA campaign | 24V-612 |
| Potentially involved vehicles | 12,535 |
| Estimated vehicles with the defect | 5% (BMW’s estimate in the Part 573 filing) |
| Vehicle | Certain 2020–2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door Cooper SE models |
| Reported production dates | March 21, 2019–January 25, 2024 |
What can go wrong?
A fault in the high-voltage battery or high-voltage system may create an electrical short circuit. The short can produce abnormal heat and, in rare cases, a thermal event or fire. MINI’s 2024 owner notice specifically warns that this can happen “even when the vehicle is not in operation,” so the risk is not limited to driving or charging.
How to check the recall by VIN
- Find the 17-character VIN. It is typically visible through the windshield on the driver’s side, on the driver’s-door-jamb label, and in the vehicle documents.
- Use the official NHTSA VIN recall lookup and the MINI/BMW recall lookup for your market. Enter the VIN exactly as printed, without substituting the model year for a VIN search.
- Read the result for campaign 24V-612 and confirm whether the remedy is open or already completed. A model-year match alone does not establish eligibility.
- If the result is unclear, contact an authorized MINI dealer and ask the service department to verify the VIN in BMW’s recall system.
Recall repairs are performed at no charge by an authorized MINI dealer. Keep the confirmation or repair order showing that campaign 24V-612 was completed.
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What is the remedy?
The remedy is a free software update performed by an authorized MINI dealer. The update monitors for the relevant fault and, if it occurs, automatically discharges the high-voltage battery/system to 30% state of charge. MINI describes this protective response as high-voltage-battery emergency mode. The dealer visit may take several hours, so arrange transportation if needed and follow the dealer’s charging instructions until the work is finished.
What should you do if a high-voltage battery warning appears?
Before the recall repair
- Stop treating the warning as a routine service reminder; call an authorized MINI dealer promptly and report the warning and recall 24V-612.
- Park the vehicle outdoors, away from homes, garages, other structures and combustible materials, as MINI advises.
- Do not attempt to open, diagnose or repair the high-voltage battery yourself. Do not install an OBD device, charging accessory or replacement battery as a substitute for the recall remedy.
- If you see smoke, flames, popping sounds or intense heat, move people away, call emergency services and do not approach the vehicle.
After the software update
Ask the dealer to confirm that the recall campaign is closed for your VIN. Follow any charging or operating instructions provided on the repair paperwork. The completed remedy is the basis for returning to normal use; an unverified warning still requires dealer guidance.
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Can a recalled MINI catch fire while parked?
Yes. The official defect description says a high-voltage short circuit can overheat the battery and cause a thermal event or fire even when the vehicle is not operating. That possibility is described as rare, but it is why MINI recommends outdoor parking after a warning and why owners should not delay the VIN check or dealer repair.
Quick Recap
What the recall does—and does not—mean
- It does mean: some vehicles in the specified population may contain the identified high-voltage fault, and an open recall requires the dealer software remedy.
- It does not mean: every 2020–2024 Cooper SE is affected, that 5% of all MINI Cooper SEs will fail, or that a vehicle with no open VIN-specific recall needs a replacement battery.
- Authority matters: rely on the NHTSA result, MINI/BMW recall communications and an authorized dealer rather than forum reports or aftermarket tools.
Quick owner checklist
- Locate the VIN.
- Check the VIN for open recalls with NHTSA and MINI/BMW.
- Book the free 24V-612 software update with an authorized MINI dealer.
- If a high-voltage warning appears before repair, park outdoors away from structures and contact the dealer.
- Obtain confirmation that the campaign is completed.
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