— BMW is recalling nearly 17,000 MINI Cooper vehicles with brake lights that go out when they should go on.
BMW says the 2016-2017 MINI Cooper Clubman, Cooper S Clubman and JCW Clubman have bumper-mounted brake lights that stop working when the brakes are applied at the same time the turn signals are activated.
The vehicles are equipped with brake lights embedded within the rear bumpers on the left- and right-end of the vehicles. Each brake light consists of outboard and inboard compartments which are simultaneously illuminated when the brakes are applied.
MINI programmed the lights in a way that if the brakes are applied during the time when a turn signal is activated (and vice-versa), the brake light within the inboard compartment is deactivated. This is against federal regulations that require the brake lights to be “steady-burning.”
The MINI recall will begin May 22, 2017, when dealers reprogram the software that controls the brake lights.
Affected owners of the 2016-2017 MINI Cooper Clubman, Cooper S Clubman and JCW Clubman may call the automaker at 866-825-1525.
