2012 MINI Cooper Electrical System Problems

My 2012 mini cooper has a Footwell Module recall and I took it to the dealer and they refused to replace it but they said i could pay to have it replaced even though it was a recall

On Sunday, [XXX] I drove my car 34 miles to [XXX] . I parked right around 9:30am. Around 3:30pm we were getting ready to leave the track and we noticed smoke coming from my car. A friend told me to pop the hood but when I reached down to pull the release the area was in flames. Safety teams and the fire department were able to get the fire out before it got completely out of control. The car was towed to the Mini dealer in Madison, WI and the insurance adjuster said it was an electrical defect not covered by insurance. As I did more checking on things, I found that my make and model car had a recall for the same issue, only in Canada. I really don't understand how it could be recalled there, but not here (especially in WI where the road/weather conditions are basically the same as in Canada). I now have a dead car with an estimate for $30K worth of work that the insurance company, nor Mini will do anything about. I have owned the car since it was brand new and have kept it in great condition, making sure to follow the service and maintenance schedules. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I went to have my 2012 mini coopers footwell control module replaced because it was recalled. They did not replace it because they said they found no corrosion and then marked my vehicle as the recall being fixed. When I left the dealership my blinkers or highbeans would not turn on as well as my four way flashers either. And that is dangerous. When I got home I took the cover off the footwell control module and found corrosion on the plug for it. There was also 9 codes for that when I scanned the vehicle and now is trying to charge me for a recalled part that they did not replace!

The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that whenever it rained, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the power windows failed to function as needed. The contact stated that after turning off the vehicle and attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact stated that occasionally the battery would become drained and required the vehicle to be jumpstarted. The contact had spoken to a service manager at the local dealer; however, the contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

We purchased this vehicle used. It is a 2012 Mini Cooper hardtop and was owned by several owners in the Canada, NY and NJ area before being brought to FL and ultimately sold to us. This defect has been known since May, 2023, yet BMW/Mini has done nothing to rectify the problem. The FRM module failed immediately after we got the car which rendered it undriveable because the power windows, power door locks, turn signals and key fob were inoperable. We called BMW/Mini about the vehicle being inoperable and unsafe to drive and were told to take it to a repair facility to get the module replaced, which we did. We had to tow it there because it was not safe to drive. We were told we would be reimbursed for the repairs, since this was in fact a documented safety recall #23V-337 Footwell Control Module-FRM. After paying $759.18 for the repairs, I submitted the invoice and the requested information to BMW/Mini just to have them deny my request for reimbursement because they say after an entire year since the notice that there is no remedy available. This is unacceptable!! I could not drive this car without having this module replaced and I am sure I'm not alone in this situation. BMW/Mini should reimburse me for the repairs they instructed me to get done. They point blank LIED to me by stating the repairs would be reimbursed due to this being a safety recall. This is going to turn into a class action lawsuit because BMW/Mini refuses to accept responsibility for their faulty vehicles! This will be just another lawsuit to add to their collection.

started with lights not going off once i cut car off, then windshield wipers would come on it's on, then check engine warning lights, check fuel pump and check rear bulbs lights and several other warning lights would stay on, finally it got to it wouldn't crack until after three or four tries, then it started cutting off while driving, then I would have to wait for 30 min. or more, then it would crank back up. now it won't crack at all. I've been waiting on this recall since 5/12/23 recall #23V337. Please advise and Help!!

The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. Additionally, the display screen was black. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while attempting to drive the vehicle, the electrical system warning light illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.

My car is affected by this recall and I have no turn signals, dash lights, high beams, working windows, security system, or backup sensors. There are also codes thrown which prevents me from renewing my registration due to DEQ test failure. The dealership can’t do anything and BMW North America has done nothing to remedy things.

The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was 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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was 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 and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The car just randomly caught on fire while off in my driveway. Noticed a weird sound outside looked out and noticed the windshield wipers were going even though the car was off and I hadn't driven it. Opened the door to bellows of smoke coming out. fire department was called and had to rip it apart to get to the fire which was under the steering wheel in the left side

The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2012 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start up after several attempts. There was no warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed. The contact was informed that water had entered the vehicle from the front passenger’s side footwell, causing damages to the junction box electronics and the footwell module. The contact was also informed that the VIN was not covered under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 72,308.

The electronic control module in the driver’s side footwell short-circuit, battery and electrical in the car are being drained and car does not work properly and completely drains battery.

Footwell module is not working due to rear left blinker is not signaling only the front light does work when turning left.

The failed component is the "Footwell Relay Module" (FRM) which enables communication between the instrument panel in the passenger compartment and the engine control components in the engine compartment. When this component fails the following essential controls become inoperable: emergency flashers, turn signals, door locks, and windows. Most other "convenience features controlled by the car instrument panel become inoperable as well. This problem was confirmed by an independent technician, a technician at Mini of Stevens Creek in San Jose, CA, and the owner. No inspections of the part were ever done and the FRM failed without warning. This is a common failure in Minis due to a faulty design. The part is insufficiently protected from inrush current surge when a fully-charged battery is reconnected following service. It is also not sufficiently protected from induced voltage surges from EMI such as C, K or Ka band radar or electrical storms. One or more integrated circuits in the part are destroyed when exposed to current or voltage spikes rendering the part inoperable. The cost to replace the FRM (parts & labor) exceeds $1000.

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY AND, AFTER GOING OVER SEVERAL POT HOLES, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED, AND THE ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT ALSO APPEARED. THIS IS WHEN I PULLED OVER INTO THE OFF RAMP, AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SPUTTERING STOP. I PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHED IT TO THE DIRT SIDE LANE OF THE OFF RAMP. I OPENED THE HOOD, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I COULD SEE BURNT CIRCUITS, BURNT PLASTIC, AND COOLANT LEAKING ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND EXPOSED WIRING. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR IMMEDIATELY EXITING ONTO THE OFF RAMP, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING. I COULD HAVE ALMOST DIED BECAUSE OF THE FIRE; THIS FAULTY ENGINEERING BY BMW/MINI HAS ALREADY TAKEN THE LIFE OF A DRIVER IN SOUTH KOREA. BMW ISSUED A RECALL OF THE 2012 MINI COOPER S ROADSTER IN SOUTH KOREA, BUT WHEN I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO ONE OF THEIR SERVICE CENTERS, THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNAWARE OF THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND STATED THAT THE REPAIR PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE. I SEE THAT MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED, BUT WHEN I TYPE IN MY VIN, NO RECALL IS ATTACHED TO MY VEHICLE. BMW/MINI IS TAKING NO ACTION; THEY ARE HARMING AND KILLING DRIVERS OF ITS VEHICLES.

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY AND, AFTER GOING OVER SEVERAL POT HOLES, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED, AND THE ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT ALSO APPEARED. THIS IS WHEN I PULLED OVER INTO THE OFF RAMP, AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SPUTTERING STOP. I PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHED IT TO THE DIRT SIDE LANE OF THE OFF RAMP. I OPENED THE HOOD, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I COULD SEE BURNT CIRCUITS, BURNT PLASTIC, AND COOLANT LEAKING ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND EXPOSED WIRING. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR IMMEDIATELY EXITING ONTO THE OFF RAMP, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING. I COULD HAVE ALMOST DIED BECAUSE OF THE FIRE; THIS FAULTY ENGINEERING BY BMW/MINI HAS ALREADY TAKEN THE LIFE OF A DRIVER IN SOUTH KOREA. BMW ISSUED A RECALL OF THE 2012 MINI COOPER S ROADSTER, BUT WHEN I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO ONE OF THEIR SERVICE CENTERS, THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNAWARE OF THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND STATED THAT THE REPAIR PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE. I SEE THAT MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED, BUT WHEN I TYPE IN MY VIN, NO RECALL IS ATTACHED TO MY VEHICLE. BMW/MINI IS TAKING NO ACTION; THEY ARE HARMING AND KILLING DRIVERS OF ITS VEHICLES.