New Canadian Battery recall Info Update

Talked with a different dealer about the battery swap thing, he said that HCM is dictating the swap schedule which is what I was originally told by the local dealer (different service person).
I guess we just wait for a phone call to bring the car in for the swap.

 

I'll believe it when I see it. Got my Kona checked over 3 months ago. Got the email that I should receive the 250$ within 60 days, that was 80 days ago... No one seems to have received their 250$ in Canada.

 

I called my dealer a week ago. They have heard nothing about any of this. No money forthcoming as well as when batteries will be replaced. Realize this, not all batteries will be replaced. If they find your battery is not compromised by the metal tab on the LG battery not being folded down potentially causing a short or fire, you will not receive a new battery, but you will be allowed to charge to 100% once again. I would bet that most vehicles WILL NOT get a new battery. My dealer has been excellent on recalls, but they have nothing on any of this.

 

My sentiments exactly as I can even get them to reply to my questions about this matter, have already sent 3 emails. They are just ridiculous.

 

Does anyone know if there are Kona EV's built in 2019 that do not require a battery replacement? I have a 2019, purchased in BC in the fall with a build date of July 2019. Whenever I asked the dealer about the battery replacement I was given a tentative date, which when the date came around was always moved forward. When I input my VIN into Hyundai's recall website page it comes back as up-to-date, with the last completed update being the battery management system. Yesterday I went to the dealer to ask about the the replacement status, they checked the list of incoming batteries and my car is not on the list. The told me it was up to Hyundai Canada to send them the list of affected vehicles and they then order the batteries and schedule the replacement.

This morning I called Hyundai Canada, and they told me it was up to the dealer to contact them, which is exactly the opposite of what the dealer told me yesterday. When I told about the contradiction and how frustrating this was, the service rep pulled up my file based on my VIN and looked at the information there. She said that the last battery software update done by the dealer (in Nov. 2020) showed that my battery pack is fine and that I would not be getting a replacement battery. So that comes as a total surprise to me! Six months ago the dealer told me to wait for a recall letter, and not to charge or park the car inside, and now Hyundai Canada tells me over the phone that my car is in fact fine, and there will be no battery replacement for my vehicle. It was my assumption based on media reports and these threads that Hyundai were placing all the batteries in 2019 Kona EVs. Now it seems that is no longer the case.

Does anyone know where the truth lies? It seems Hyundai's word and the dealer's word, and what the media reports are all inconsistent, with us consumers not having a clue as to who to believe. Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

What you're talking about isn't really new. There's always been some confusion or lack of clarity about various BMS "tests" that have been run. Somehow, somewhen Hyundai was "testing" to tell whether a battery required replacement or not. I've never heard any explanation of what they were looking for and finding or not finding. But I've heard these stories about all model years, including 2019s.

And my understanding is that dealers must perform the "test" and then inform Hyundai so that batteries can be ordered. Hyundai only supplied the blanket recall notice but that list was whittled down after the"tests" either included or excluded a particular vehicle. Did your VIN ever have the recall notice attached to it because a dealer can manually clear that from the record, rightly or wrongly.

 

No my VIN never brought forth a recall notice when I put it into the Hyundai website.

When I had the "test" done the service advisor at the dealer said to wait, and that it would appear as a recall eventually in the website. The annoying thing is that for the past year I have been charging and parking outside, and running at reduced charging capacity based on advice given to me by the dealership. Now, according to Hyundai Canada my battery is fine, and has been since the test was done in November of 2020! The woman at HC said I should have been given an "all clear" and an okay return to full and indoor charging when the test came back as " Battery OK". But I didn't get that message, just advice to "wait for a letter" as to when I will get a new battery and to keep checking the recall website. The whole experience does not inspire much confidence in Hyundai and their dealer network.

 

There is a real "pushme-pullyou" relationship between dealers and corporate, no doubt. And unfortunately it's often used as a shield against customers. I suggest you try the Transport Canada (I'm assuming you're Canadian here) to see if your VIN shows up there. Otherwise I guess you have no choice but to accept their word for it. Although I don't think asking for something in writing is completely unreasonable as their recall always mentions us getting "letters". By the way, if you were instructed by the dealer or Hyundai to reduce your battery capacity you should be eligible for the $250 compensation. I'd make a stink about it, paper trail or not.

 

Not all Kona 2019 EV's need to have their battery replaced. It has to do with bent tabs on the batteries causing possible short circuits. Apparently Hyundai has a way or either telling or knowing which battery has this issue. My was replaced last week and the vehicle is doing fine. I never had an issue charging as I usually do Level I overnite. Any time I go long distance I only charge to 80% because fast charging past that amount gets expensive. You can always ask you dealer to check your battery or ask them how they know that your battery is fine.

 

I'm going to resurrect this thread (however briefly it lasts) because the February 27th announcement of sufficient battery supply may lead to an upsurge in interest in this topic in Canada. This and the other Canadian battery thread contain some good history.

 

I never had a problem with the old battery. I charged between 60% to 80% most of the time. There were enough fast chargers to charge for long trips. When you D/C fast charge, you never want to charge to 100% because the cost becomes outrageous as charging slows to protect the battery. My battery was swapped out in January 2022. It only took a few hours. One thing people don't realize that there are significantly more ICE car fires every year than EV. I never worried about the old battery. With a new battery I can charge to 100% at home. I have mostly charged over the years with level 1 charging, plugging the car in after dinner and unplugging in the morning - this meets most of my needs. I have a 2019 Kona EV. The only problem I have had was that the cruise control button on the steering wheel failed and had to be replaced.