Mini recalls 150,000 electric cars globally due to fire risk

Automaker Mini, part of the BMW Group, is initiating a worldwide recall of 150,000 Mini Cooper SE electric vehicles, citing a potential fire risk. Approximately 39,000 vehicles in Germany are affected.

The recall is prompted by issues with the high-voltage battery. Quality checks have revealed a potential leak in the battery housing. This could allow moisture to enter the battery, possibly triggering an insulation fault. While drivers would be alerted via a cockpit message, the concern is that the battery could malfunction during operation or even cause a vehicle fire, even when parked.

Vehicle owners will be contacted by the manufacturer via mail or in-vehicle notification and advised to visit a Mini service partner promptly. In lieu of a physical repair, BMW will implement a software update. This update includes a diagnostic function to detect insulation faults in the high-voltage system and will discharge the battery to below 30 percent if a fault is found, thus mitigating the risk of fire.

Mini urges all owners to take this recall seriously. Two vehicles have reportedly caught fire due to these specific defects, one in the United States and one in Germany.