Hyundai is recalling over 104,000 Kona Electric vehicles globally, including 13,523 in Germany, due to a potential fire risk. The recall, according to data from the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), centers on faulty battery monitoring software that may fail to detect thermal instability within the high-voltage battery.
The issue affects vehicles manufactured between January 24, 2018, and July 15, 2023. Hyundai will update the Battery Management System (BMS) software in affected vehicles with an improved monitoring function designed to identify thermal instability earlier. In some cases, the entire high-voltage battery may be replaced as a precautionary measure, though a software update is expected to resolve the issue for the majority of vehicles.
The recall applies specifically to the first generation of the Kona Electric, as Hyundai introduced a redesigned model in 2023. The newer version, launched in October 2023, features different batteries and is not impacted by this action. This latest recall follows a previous, voluntary recall in South Korea in 2020 involving over 25,000 Kona Electric vehicles, which was linked to potential defects in battery cells supplied by LG Chem (now LG Energy Solution).
The 2020 recall also involved software updates and battery replacements in certain instances. The Kona Electric has been a popular and relatively affordable electric vehicle option for Hyundai, particularly in Europe. It remains unconfirmed which specific versions of the Kona Electric are affected, as the model was offered with two different battery sizes – 39.2 kWh and 64 kWh.
According to reports from kfz-betrieb, some customers in online forums speculate that only vehicles manufactured in South Korea, identified by a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) starting with “KMHK,” are affected. While Hyundai previously imported Kona Electrics for the European market primarily from South Korea before 2020, most vehicles for the continent are now produced at the company’s plant in the Czech Republic. Hyundai has not yet responded to inquiries from kfz-betrieb regarding the scope of the recall, leaving the origin-based speculation unconfirmed.
kfz-betrieb.vogel.de, kba-online.de (Rückrufdatenbank des KBA, Referenznummer 16242R)
