2021 Hyundai Kona may have same battery issues as 2019-2020 models
- Thread starter livingthecadream
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BernieNS
New Member
Hard to answer that, but my understanding is that it is the same general shape/size, with the benefit of all the experience of the earlier models. ie, fire risk is tiny, and much reduced from earlier models, and a lot less than any ICE car. Bricking risk is still there and time will tell. Just my opinion, I have no inside knowledge. I also had 3 excellent years with a 2014 Volt, which went to my daughter. It had no battery degradation, and I'm hoping/trusting for the same with the Kona. Mainstream BEVs are really still in their infancy, and there will be many challenges along the way, but "change gonna come".
My experience is as follows:
2021 Kona Electric Preferred. Bought new in April and now at 8000kms, running perfectly. Had first service recently and all they could do was shine the tires!
Battery is HMC P/N 37501-K4054, BMS ROM ID:6980, 2020/11/19 (May it live long and prosper). Normally kept at 80% max, but have had no trouble with many charges to 100%. Routinely home-charge at about 4kw, and have fast-charged at 48kw.
Glad to hear that NS KONA Elec is back on the road, and thanks for all your contributions here. (I'm near Lunenburg)
Kirk
New Member
We have over 11,800k on our 2021 Kona ultimate, mostly mall running.
We were able to dc fast charge for free while our public utility (BC HYDRO) tested its' charging network, so drove 11,000k for free.
Our 2013 Jeep GC is used for road trips. So I finally had to fill up the GC and $125 later it still wasn't completely full. OMG!
Did you look at reply 123? One would presume that moving forward from that point, the batteries have that remedy/change to make them safe/safer. Whether or not that's effective is the question...
I am in the same boat - car towed on Aug 15th. No action - just “you will hear in 10 days” then “you will hear in 48-72 hours”, “your case is in the process to be assigned”, “your case has been assigned to xxx” - 3 diff people. It’s horrendous.
Toolworker
Well-Known Member
You can open an arbitration by calling the Better Business Bureau Auto Line - (800) 955-5100. They are the state certified arbitrators for Hyundai and a number of other manufacturers.
The agent who took posession of my buyback 2020 Ultimate said that the manufacturer always settles in California because the rules are clear, and if they push you into hiring a lawyer they lose anyway plus pay the lawyer fees.
Maybe starting the process will get you a battery quicker. If not, a CA lemon law buyback on a purchased car is a good deal because they pay you back everything, including the sales tax, and don't figure the tax credit into it. So there's a built-in profit of $7500. I don't know how it is for a lease.
I've filed with the BBB Auto Line and with the Office of Consumer Affairs in MA. I've met the LL reqs in MA 3 weeks ago and Hyundai doesn't respond - they can't provide a timeline of when a Case Manager will even contact me - it's disgraceful. I think they are buried in cases and haven't established the right resources needed to respond to the situation they are in - very poor crisis management. They will suffer if they don't respond to the consumer - their reputation depends on it.
Toolworker
Well-Known Member
The reality of the lemon law process is that it will take some time. Once you've committed to it, do your best to chill out.
Let it grind, keep driving the rental car, post the Serenity Prayer somewhere you can see it, and take comfort from knowing that at the end of it all you'll get all your money back, keep the tax credit (if you purchased), and kiss Hyundai goodbye.
Hyundai will be out a big chunk of money and will be stuck with one more buyback Kona. You'll have gotten more even for the bad service than most people manage.
Lemon Laws can vary significantly by state. New Jersey, for example, prioritizes the consumer's need for quick relief and you will normally get a hearing with an administrative law judge within 20 days and they look very dimly on any attempts by the manufacturer to delay the process. And typically what happens is when it becomes obvious the manufacturer is going to lose at the hearing and that the consumer is actually attending the hearing, the manufacturer will settle "at the courtroom door" or the judge will tell the parties how he or she will likely rule and strongly suggest how the parties should settle in order to try to clear the judge's docket.
You can assume your adversaries are experts on the process in every state.
Lars
Well-Known Member
I agree. In my experience electronic components that will fail will fail early in their life. I assume that even 'consumables' like batteries will behave this way. I think it is quite likely that most batteries surviving the warranty period, while degrade, they will still be usable for a long time. Possibly outlast the car.
XtsKonaTrooper
Well-Known Member
Hehe we think alike. You must remember the "burn-in" Daze with pcs.I agree. In my experience electronic components that will fail will fail early in their life. I assume that even 'consumables' like batteries will behave this way. I think it is quite likely that most batteries surviving the warranty period, while degrade, they will still be usable for a long time. Possibly outlast the car.
Now bearing that in mind, I get spooked when something is a Lemon out of the gates and generally won't buy that item again.
I remember reading years ago with the bmw i3, bmw stating that a person should get upwards to 15yrs off of their battery.
It's like most products these days, they know the product will at least make it to the warranty period. It will be interesting to see the longevity of the batteries. Our best model to look at for battery life would be Tesla (although different batteries) as they d have som high milers on the roads.
My thinking has shifted now , and I'll be also getting the upcoming BMW i4, so I can max out the battery warranties on both cars, cuz im feeling anything that is gonna fail prematurely it will most likely be the battery.
Lars
Well-Known Member
Yes, one can be unlucky and get a lemon. But few manufactures can afford to make lemons only. 
My 2021 Kona - picked up on Aug 31/2020 - already has a new charge controller and a battery since January. After that the general recall was announced, but by the end of last year Hyundai already knew they have a serious battery problem. After almost four months of waiting for it I hope they sent me a 'new version'. All I know that I am not on the recall list. I think I will be OK. Luckily my wife is taking it in stride. The truth is we love our Kona.
Seriously, LG is one of the world's largest car battery manufacturer. They supply batteries to a whole list of OAMs. There may be lot's of posturing between Hyundai, LG and GM but at the end it is critical for all to get this issue resolved - and the BOLT.
https://www.autonews.com/regulation...dai-ev-battery-fires-linked-several-lg-plants
My 2021 Kona - picked up on Aug 31/2020 - already has a new charge controller and a battery since January. After that the general recall was announced, but by the end of last year Hyundai already knew they have a serious battery problem. After almost four months of waiting for it I hope they sent me a 'new version'. All I know that I am not on the recall list. I think I will be OK. Luckily my wife is taking it in stride. The truth is we love our Kona.
Seriously, LG is one of the world's largest car battery manufacturer. They supply batteries to a whole list of OAMs. There may be lot's of posturing between Hyundai, LG and GM but at the end it is critical for all to get this issue resolved - and the BOLT.
https://www.autonews.com/regulation...dai-ev-battery-fires-linked-several-lg-plants
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Toolworker
Well-Known Member
I suspect that's because Hyundai has gone through the following progression:
- Your car is recalled. Park it outside, charge to 80% and await a remedy.
- Your car is recalled. Bring the car to the dealer who will test for out-of-spec cells, and if they find any, will keep it and eventually replace the battery.
- Your car is not recalled. Its new software knows how to test for out-of-spec cells, and if it finds one, will brick the car.
Lars
Well-Known Member
I like your your optimism.
As for myself I think I will be OK - till the end of warranty ....
hobbit
Well-Known Member
4. Your car has uncertain status, but you can fire up your OBD2 app and determine your own high/low
max cell deviation at various SOC and get a reasonable guess as to how likely your pack is to brick
itself. A healthy pack shouldn't be out any more than 0.02 or maybe 0.04 volts, period.
_H*
max cell deviation at various SOC and get a reasonable guess as to how likely your pack is to brick
itself. A healthy pack shouldn't be out any more than 0.02 or maybe 0.04 volts, period.
_H*
A third party app (and the smart phone to detect it) should not be a requirement to record cell deviation (and temperature management for that matter).
All manufactures should be mandated to supply this information in a simple gauge format. (Nissan had this 1/2 right with the temperature indication in bars).
The data is there, why don't the manufactures come clean and supply this vital information (somewhat like oil pressure gauges) and in doing so prevent property damage or worse is beyond me.
