Following on from a recall in Europe that began in mid-March this year, Hyundai Australia has just issued an ‘Urgent Safety Recall’ notice for OS model Kona electrics built between 15 May 2018 and 15 Jul 2023.
This includes those that had their battery replaced under the 2020 recall. Given the European recall began in mid-March, it has taken a while to filter through to Australia.
The Australian notice describes the defect as “A software issue in the Battery Management System (BMS) may cause an electrical short circuit while the vehicle is parked or charging which may lead to a vehicle fire”.
Hyundai recommend that until the issue is rectified, “…the vehicle is parked away from flammable structures to prevent risk of property damage, injury or death”.
Speculation on the web suggests that the battery management software is in some cases not picking up unstable voltages in individual cells, allowing them to overheat and potentially catch fire.
The fix apparently is a check of the battery followed by an update to the software in the BMS (battery management system) to detect issues earlier for flagging as a ‘return to dealer’ fault well before the cell becomes unstable.
According to the recall notice, most vehicles are likely to only need the software update, although in some cases, the vehicle may need a ‘battery cell rectification’. (Presumably meaning a cell or battery pack replacement).
For further information about the recall – see https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/rec-006586
To check if your Kona electric is affected, Hyundai offer a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) lookup at https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/rec-006586
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Bryce Gaton is an expert on electric vehicles and contributor for The Driven and Renew Economy. He has been working in the EV sector since 2008 and is currently working as EV electrical safety trainer/supervisor for the University of Melbourne. He also provides support for the EV Transition to business, government and the public through his EV Transition consultancy EVchoice.