- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- A short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
- The fix
- 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).
Vehicle safety record
2023 Mini Cooper SE Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 5 complaints about the 2023 Mini Cooper SE with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system (4) and the fuel system (1). Those complaints describe 1 crash. It is covered by 2 recalls, the latest in August 2024 for the software. For comparison, the 2022 has 1 and the 2024 has 0.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Cooper SE year, for its age
#227 most complained-about 2023 vehicle
- Complaints
- 5
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2023 Mini Cooper SE problems
Share of all 5 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2023 Mini Cooper SE recalls 2
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2024 MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper SE) vehicles. The high voltage battery housing may not have been sealed properly, allowing water to enter the battery.
- The risk
- A high voltage battery with water damage can cause a fire or a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect and leak test the high voltage battery, and repair the battery as necessary, free of charge. Letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed June 28, 2024. Owner notification letters were mailed October 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
What owners say
Be the first Cooper SE owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
5 complaints about the 2023 Mini Cooper SE
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
The vehicle's suspension system was improperly configured for its electric powertrain at the time of manufacture, resulting in an incorrect ride height that is incompatible with the vehicle's EV platform. This is not an isolated component failure but a fundamental design defect - the vehicle was delivered in a condition that was never properly suited to its own drivetrain. This defect has caused ongoing damage to the vehicle's undercarriage, compromised handling and dynamic stability, and produced accelerated and...
Read the full complaint
premature tire wear. BMW/MINI, as the manufacturer, knew or reasonably should have known at the time of sale that the suspension specification was incompatible with this vehicle's electric drivetrain configuration. The failure to disclose or remedy this condition prior to sale, and the failure to adequately repair it despite repeated attempts, reflects a willful disregard of its warranty obligations.
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. They kept the car for 3 months and I was told the case went all the way to the manufacturer in Germany. When they were finished, they told us their tests could not "confirm" our report that the car came to a stop by itself, but their tests did show the brakes were...
Read the full complaint
applied and the car was hit from behind. They basically told us they did not believe my wife's account of the incident. I recently saw that this make and model of car was recalled about a year ago because the car could stall in the rain due to unsealed battery compartments, which is exactly what my wife experienced. I do not believe anyone looked inside the car at all, but merely relied on their computer analyses without interviewing my wife or any witnesses to confirm what happened.
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. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure; however, the vehicle was taken to be repaired for an initial unknown recall for...
Read the full complaint
reprogramming of the battery in September of 2024. The contact then received a second notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V302000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) the vehicle was taken to the dealer and had been there for six weeks and had not been repaired yet. The VIN was not available.
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. This is not a "solution" and I can't believe you would accept it as such.
I started the car in the morning and the screen message came up "high voltage system fault, contact your dealer to get service, you can continue to drive". My distance available to drive on a 100% Barrett charge dropped from 100 to 20. I had the car towed to the dealer. They have not been able to determine the cause for over a month
Mini Cooper SE: every year compared
All Cooper SE years2023 Mini Cooper SE vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Mini Cooper SE | 5 | 2 | F | |
| 2023 Mini Hardtop 2DR | 7 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 2023 Mini Hardtop 4DR | 7 | 0 | D | Compare |
| 2023 Mini Countryman | 2 | 0 | A | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2023 Mini Cooper SE
Does the 2023 Mini Cooper SE have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2023 Mini Cooper SE: software (August 2024); traction battery (April 2024). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Mini Cooper SE?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the electrical system (4), fuel system (1), brakes (1).
How many complaints has the 2023 Mini Cooper SE had?
5 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on July 31, 2024 and the latest on June 19, 2026. Of these, 1 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2023 Mini Cooper SE a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 24 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Mini Cooper SE year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Mini Cooper SE years have the most complaints?
2023 (5), 2022 (1). See every Mini Cooper SE year compared.
What should I do if my 2023 Mini Cooper SE has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data