Ferenc Jakab
Well-Known Member
Interesting they designate it as HYBRID ELECTRIC.
2021 - 2022 KONA Electric - Check Electric Vehicle System Error
- Thread starter NS KONA Elec
- Start date
- Replies 126
- Views 53K
Interesting about the Kia Niro recall. Ours is a 2021, but possibly the same EPCU, so I take some comfort in having had it replaced with a (presumably better?) new one.
As for the dealer killing the 12 volt twice, I'll cut them some slack at least for this event. This time, it probably was already dead or near dead by the time they got it, based on warnings the car was giving me as I tried to get it going before it got towed there. I'm more suspicious about the previous time, but the battery was 3 years old at the time and I hear that's around the life expectancy of the original ones.
Unrelated, we just picked up a 2019 Honda Clarity plug-in as a second vehicle and I'm on a big learning curve regarding it (yes, I'm reading the posts in the Clarity forum on this site). Going on a 400 km trip tomorrow just to test it out. Main reason for getting it was to eliminate range anxiety and detailed charger planning on long road trips.
As for the dealer killing the 12 volt twice, I'll cut them some slack at least for this event. This time, it probably was already dead or near dead by the time they got it, based on warnings the car was giving me as I tried to get it going before it got towed there. I'm more suspicious about the previous time, but the battery was 3 years old at the time and I hear that's around the life expectancy of the original ones.
Unrelated, we just picked up a 2019 Honda Clarity plug-in as a second vehicle and I'm on a big learning curve regarding it (yes, I'm reading the posts in the Clarity forum on this site). Going on a 400 km trip tomorrow just to test it out. Main reason for getting it was to eliminate range anxiety and detailed charger planning on long road trips.
Don't forget to press the HV (Hybrid Vehicle) button in your Clarity after you stop for gas, food, or.... Othewise, you'll be driving in the default EV mode and use up all your traction battery power without realizing it. On trips, I tape a paper HV label over the D[rive] button to remind me to press HV after stopping.
Wildeyed
Well-Known Member
I had my EPCU replaced in my first 6 months of ownership in my '18 after my car died. There's a lengthy thread about it buried somewhere.
Since early 2024, I had a "Refill Coolant" warning whenever I would start the vehicle (Kona 2021). In the beginning the warning sign would go away but after sometime it would never go away. Despite my proactive attempts to resolve this in the very beginning, I was advised by your service center to "be patient" and wait for a cooling system debris discharge service, which required a machine which they would soon be getting at their Centre and that this would not in any way harm the vehicle.
This service was eventually performed twice (most recently two months ago) alongside an AC compressor replacement and AC evaporator replacement 18 months ago. The "Refill Coolant" went away and I was happy.
Now (a week ago) I got a "Check Electric Vehicle System" warning, which would not go away after several restarts. Took it to the Service Centre the next day and they confirmed a "short circuit" of the main board (EPCU - Electric Power Control Unit), which seemed to me as a direct consequence of the delay in correctly diagnosing the internal coolant leak I first reported almost 2 years ago.
Researching the issue I found that this was a Documented Manufacturing Defect (Global Recall 239) and also found out that my vehicle’s VIN falls within the range for Safety Recall 239 (NHTSA 22V-941). This global recall identifies that the EPCU in 2021 Kona EVs was improperly sealed during manufacturing, leading to internal coolant contamination and short-circuiting of the main controller. The failure in my car was identical to this factory defect.
My point to Hyundai was:
The EPCU/Inverter is a core component of the high-voltage drivetrain. As per Hyundai’s global and local policy, these components are covered for 8 years or 160,000 km. My 2021 model was well within this protection period. Because the coolant loss was documented while the vehicle was under its primary warranty, the resulting "short circuit" should be considered consequential damage from a failure to address a reported manufacturing flaw in a timely manner.
I demanded a full replacement of the affected high-voltage components at no cost, given my long-standing history with this specific issue and the clear alignment with known global manufacturing defects.
They have now responded with a positive reply (today) and that they will be replacing the EPCU. I am relieved but, the fact that they had me replace the AC Evaporator and Compressor, bogs me, because I feel that they could be a direct result of the same issue. Should I be asking for reimbursement of those components too?
This service was eventually performed twice (most recently two months ago) alongside an AC compressor replacement and AC evaporator replacement 18 months ago. The "Refill Coolant" went away and I was happy.
Now (a week ago) I got a "Check Electric Vehicle System" warning, which would not go away after several restarts. Took it to the Service Centre the next day and they confirmed a "short circuit" of the main board (EPCU - Electric Power Control Unit), which seemed to me as a direct consequence of the delay in correctly diagnosing the internal coolant leak I first reported almost 2 years ago.
Researching the issue I found that this was a Documented Manufacturing Defect (Global Recall 239) and also found out that my vehicle’s VIN falls within the range for Safety Recall 239 (NHTSA 22V-941). This global recall identifies that the EPCU in 2021 Kona EVs was improperly sealed during manufacturing, leading to internal coolant contamination and short-circuiting of the main controller. The failure in my car was identical to this factory defect.
My point to Hyundai was:
The EPCU/Inverter is a core component of the high-voltage drivetrain. As per Hyundai’s global and local policy, these components are covered for 8 years or 160,000 km. My 2021 model was well within this protection period. Because the coolant loss was documented while the vehicle was under its primary warranty, the resulting "short circuit" should be considered consequential damage from a failure to address a reported manufacturing flaw in a timely manner.
I demanded a full replacement of the affected high-voltage components at no cost, given my long-standing history with this specific issue and the clear alignment with known global manufacturing defects.
They have now responded with a positive reply (today) and that they will be replacing the EPCU. I am relieved but, the fact that they had me replace the AC Evaporator and Compressor, bogs me, because I feel that they could be a direct result of the same issue. Should I be asking for reimbursement of those components too?
KiwiME
Well-Known Member
Good research on the EPCU. That recall was quite limited in production numbers.
Ask yourself which of those HVAC parts also has coolant running through it?
I believe the condenser (at the front) does but is not known to plug up. The evaporator unit inside the cabin does not use coolant.
The only other part of the system that is known to fail due to BSC1 coolant is the "battery chiller" unit.
HVAC failures have been fairly common unfortunately.