Mini Cooper brake light failure

I had a similar issue with my Mini Cooper. The error message and tail light failure sounds familiar. Have you checked the brake pedal itself? There might be some obstruction or something interfering with the brake switch.

Interesting. When you say obstruction, what exactly should I be looking for? Is there something specific about the brake pedal assembly that's prone to causing this?

Yes, examine the area around the brake pedal. In my case, it was simply that the pedal wasn't fully returning to its resting position, not fully releasing the brake switch. If you can't identify the root cause, a workshop visit might be needed to check the entire brake system and brake switch.

Turns out, I had inadvertently been resting my foot on the brake pedal slightly. Cleared the code, adjusted my driving position, and the problem is gone. Thanks for the suggestion to check the brake pedal!