Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling almost 4,700 2019-2020 Kona Electric and 2020 Ioniq Electric vehicles because the lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery may short-circuit.
Hyundai will, as an interim measure, invite owners to follow provided instructions to perform a battery update through the vehicle's infotainment system or request a dealer to provide the update.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Once parts are available, dealers will replace the Battery System Assembly (BSA). Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owners have been advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the interim repair is complete. The recall is expected to begin on 30 April, 2021.
The US recall is part of a global action. As just-auto reported, Hyundai Motor has agreed to share the cost of replacing the batteries on its recently recalled electric vehicles (EVs) with LG Energy Solutions, according to local reports citing a source close to the matter.
The agreement relates to a recall of over 82,000 electric vehicles worldwide, mostly Kona EVs but also including the Ioniq range and Elec City battery powered buses, due to the risk of fire.
A number of fires have been reported in these vehicles both in South Korea and in export markets, with many occurring during recharging. A preliminary report by the South Korean Ministry of Transport's Korea Automobile Testing & Research Institute (KATRI) blamed defects in the batteries' high voltage cells. Last year Hyundai recalled these vehicles for a software upgrade but the ministry ruled this to be inadequate to protect consumers.
