The footwell module that controls the lights, brake lights windows and dashboard is faulty on all mini cooper of this module. Every time I change my battery or disconnect it the module brakes and the dealership knows this problem and still want to charge 1300 dollars to fix it it is a safety and hazard issue.
2013 MINI Cooper Convertible electrical problems
moderate 19 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
When does it fail?
Of the 19 electrical complaints filed for the 2013 MINI Cooper Convertible, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Electrical accounts for 40% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 3 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Owners report chronic engine stalling due to fuel pump relay or high pressure fuel pump failure, plus repeated electrical gremlins involving the footwell control module affecting windows, turn signals, and lights. The 23V337000 electrical recall has been open since 2023 with no parts available, leaving affected owners without recourse.
The 2013 Mini Cooper Convertible has a nasty pattern of electrical failures that create serious safety issues. The most dangerous: fuel pump relay solder joints fail, causing the engine to stall without warning at any speed. Once stalled, the car won't restart for 5-15 minutes. One owner had the car die on a busy road with no warning and no diagnostic code to show what happened.
The footwell control module—which runs lights, brake lights, windows, and dash functions—fails regularly and can be triggered by battery disconnection. When it goes, you lose turn signals and power windows. That recall, NHTSA 23V337000, has been open since 2023, but replacement parts remain unavailable across multiple reports.
Power window failures are intermittent and frustrating; one window quit, got "fixed" at the dealer, then failed again within 10 days. The speedometer reads 8% fast from delivery and stays that way despite multiple service attempts. Owners also report the passenger occupancy sensor misfires constantly, and the passenger-side cup holder design allows spilled liquid to short out the gear shift electrical component. These aren't isolated complaints—owners cite internet searches revealing thousands of similar cases.
Same MINI Cooper Convertible electrical reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Fuel Pump Relay Failure
Faulty solder joint in the fuel pump relay circuit board causes intermittent stalling and loss of power while driving. Engine will not restart without a wait period of 5-15 minutes. No warning codes may be stored.
When: Intermittent; can occur at any speed or fuel level
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls unexpectedly while driving; Complete loss of power; Engine will not restart immediately; May require 5-15 minute wait before restart; No warning light or diagnostic code stored in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump relay circuit board replacement
High Pressure Fuel Pump Failure
Intermittent engine stalls and loss of power traced to high pressure fuel pump failure in some diagnostic instances. Stalls occur while driving and prevent restart without extended shutdown.
When: Intermittent starting February 2020; occurs at various speeds and fuel levels
Symptoms owners cite: Engine malfunction indicator lamp illuminates; Engine stalls during highway and street driving; Vehicle stops suddenly in traffic; No restart until 5-15 minute power-off period
Repairs/costs cited: High pressure fuel pump diagnosed and repaired on multiple occasions by dealer and independent shops
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated no recall or existing issue covers this problem; no manufacturer notifications received
Footwell Control Module Failure
Electrical failure in the footwell control module which manages lights, brake lights, windows, and dashboard functions. Failure can be triggered by battery disconnection or changes. Module needs replacement.
When: Reported at mileage 56,750-79,000; triggered by battery service in some cases
Symptoms owners cite: Warning lights illuminated (unknown or unspecified); Service warning light and check engine light on; Turn signals inoperable; Windows inoperative (fail to roll up or down); Dashboard function failure
Repairs/costs cited: Footwell control module replacement required. Owner reported $1,300 repair cost cited by dealership
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 23V337000 (Electrical System); however, replacement parts not available. Dealer confirmed part unavailability
Power Window Malfunction
Driver-side window automatic one-touch feature fails, followed by complete window inoperability. Faint clicking sound audible from door/footwell area during button press. Intermittent repair—window may work for a period then fail again.
When: Failure documented from initial delivery; recurring issue after temporary repair
Symptoms owners cite: Automatic one-touch feature stops working first; Complete window movement failure; Faint clicking sound from driver's door/footwell area; No response to window control button
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership repair completed but issue recurred within 1.5 weeks
Window and Turn Signal Electrical Failure
Windows and turn signals become inoperable concurrently with warning light illumination. Related to footwell control module failure.
When: At mileage 56,750
Symptoms owners cite: Turn signals inoperative; Windows fail to roll up or down; Red warning light illuminated; Message displayed: 'Take Vehicle to BMW Dealer Immediately'
Repairs/costs cited: Footwell control module replacement required
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle not covered under recall; manufacturer referred contact to NHTSA Hotline. Related to NHTSA Campaign Number 23V337000 (Electrical System)
Speedometer Accuracy Error
Speedometer consistently reads 8% higher than actual vehicle speed. Manufacturer has acknowledged the issue since 2010 model introduction but has not corrected it. Owner forced to use GPS app on phone to monitor actual speed, creating distraction hazard.
When: Present from initial delivery
Symptoms owners cite: Speedometer reads 8% faster than actual speed; Persistent issue across multiple service attempts
Repairs/costs cited: No successful correction completed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated problem has existed since 2010 model introduction and has been attempting correction without success
Passenger Occupancy Sensor Malfunction
Passenger occupancy sensor malfunctions frequently. Similar issue prompted recalls in older model years but has not been corrected in this generation despite hundreds of reported claims.
When: Intermittent
Symptoms owners cite: Occupancy sensor malfunction
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Issue not addressed despite recall history in older models
Cup Holder Fluid Intrusion Shorting Electrical Component
Cup holder design allows fluid to leak or spill into an electrical component that controls the gear shift knob. Even minimal liquid causes electrical short.
When: Upon fluid spill into cup holder
Symptoms owners cite: Electrical short to gear shift control component; Gear shift knob malfunction
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
Passenger occupancy sensor malfunctions all the time and there are hundreds of claims regarding this issue but was never addressed by the manufacturer The same issue prompted a recall in older models but has not been corrected in newer ones
From initial delivery the speedometer indicates a speed that is 8% over actual. I have filed several complaints with Mini to get this corrected. They tell me they have been trying to correct the problem since the introduction of the 2010 model. In order to accurately monitor my speed, I use an app on my iphone that uses GPS to display actual speed. When using the iphone for this purpose, I…
The contact owns a 2013 Mini Cooper Convertible. The contact stated that the turn signal became inoperable, and the windows failed to roll up or down. The contact stated there was an unknown red warning light illuminated. The message to "Take Vehicle to BMW Dealer Immediately" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who stated that the vehicle was not covered under a recall. The…
Blinkers stopped working and windows are no long rolling down
The contact owns a 2013 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…
The contact owns a 2013 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 not contacted. 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 had not…
The contact owns a 2013 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 made aware of the issue. The contact had not…
Had electrical trouble with your 2013 MINI Cooper Convertible?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2013 MINI Cooper Convertible?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 19 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 19 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 50,691 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/MINI/Cooper Convertible.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.