Fire concern triggers stop-sale, US recall for Hyundai Kona Electric 2019-2020

Hyundai has issued a recall affecting more than 11,000 people Kona Electric Vehicles in the US and Canada from the 2019 and 2020 model years, due to the problem of causing battery short-circuit and starting a fire.

Hyundai Motor America has confirmed the issuance of the recall notice submitted on October 13 and posted by the federal government on Saturday. Green Car Reports Kona has asked dealerships to halt sales of 2019 and 2020 Kona Electric in the US and Canada until the recall compensation is completed — 1,000 vehicles in the US and 10 vehicles in Canada.

It includes any Hyundai certified pre-owned Kona Electric, but does not include the new 2021 Kona Electric models, which will soon be available at dealerships and will be available for sale.

The recall will affect the total population of US Kona electric models -6,707 vehicles manufactured between August 28, 2018 and March 2, 2020, including vehicles already delivered. Separately, in Canada, 4,375 Kona Electrics are also subject to recall.

“Hyundai is actively examining this situation to determine the exact root cause,” the automaker said. It noted that the high-voltage system in the affected vehicles “may have some electrical faults”.

Hyundai explains that those errors can damage battery cells and / or defective battery management system (BMS) control software. Overall, the faults increase the risk of short circuit after the battery is fully charged, Hyundai said.

Under the recall, owners are required to bring their Kona Electric to the dealership for inspection of the lithium-ion battery pack – free BMS upgrade along with free replacement installation if required.

Although no fires have occurred in the US, several fires in other markets have prompted an investigation that began in 2019. Then, after being stopped after three different angle electric models — each at full charge — the fires erupted. An incident in Europe, Hyundai is making Kona Electric more widely available, And two in Canada received similar specification in 2019, with the automaker citing seven more reports worldwide by October 2020.

A report from Korea Times Earlier this month, a South Korean investigation revealed that it had made contradictory statements about the location of the alleged defect — both referring to it as a manufacturing defect in the cells, but “electrical problems in the battery pack assembly”.

There are 77,000 Kona electric vehicles worldwide, the report said.

The battery pack in Kona Electric is assembled by HL Green Power, a LG Chem joint venture that supplies cells and Hyundai Mobis. Hyundai and Kia have the same parent company, though Kia Niro Ave. The board has completely different batteries — sourced by SK Innovation, a different supplier from South Korea.

2019 Hyundai Kona Electric

Kona Electric is a low-volume model, but it will be even stronger towards electric vehicles starting next year, with the arrival Dedicated EV models under the new Ionic sub-brand.

Owners of Kona Electric in the US will be officially notified of the recall in December. At this point, Kona electric drivers can input their vehicle identification number (VIN) Hyundai US.com / Recalls Or Recalls.Hyundai Canada.com To see if it is affected.

They are advised to “keep their vehicles outdoors and / or away from structures until their vehicle is fixed”. Hyundai said it would provide rental vehicles if needed.