BMW recalls electric Mini Coopers for potential fire risks

A BMW recall of more than 140,000 Mini Cooper SE electric models worldwide could add to concerns about the potential fire risks associated with EVs.

The Issue: The recall affects Mini Cooper SE electric models manufactured between 2020 – 2024 and stems from faulty battery components, according to the NHTSA. The official recall notice indicates that the battery could potentially short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire when the vehicle is not in operation. 

• The recall includes 12,535 vehicles in North America, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

• BMW has indicated that there have been no known accidents or injuries stemming from the faulty battery system.  

Big picture: News of the Mini Cooper SE recall follows a recent virtual meeting held by the U.S. Department of Transportation aimed at addressing the fire risks associated with EVs, according to a Land Line report. 

• The meeting highlighted several issues, including the potential for EV batteries to reignite long after the fire and the average fire suppression time for an EV, which can be up to 90 minutes. 

• That’s up to triple the time it takes to put out a fire on an ICE vehicle.   

Zooming out: Despite some concerns with the fire risks associated with EVs, the car are far less likely to initially catch on fire than ICE vehicles.  

• A 2023 report by Sweden's Authority for Social Protection and Preparedness, also known as MSB, found that out of about 611,000 EVs, car fires have amounted to about 20 per year, on average, in the last three years

• In contrast, MSB found that cars equipped with ICE engines — which totaled about 4.4 million in Sweden — had roughly 3,400 fires during that same time frame. 

What’s next: Mini Cooper SE owners affected by the BMW recall should contact their local dealer to schedule a software update to address the faulty battery issue, free of charge. BMW is expected to begin notifying owners of the recall by letters, which are scheduled to be sent out by Oct 7.

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