New information on Kona EV rear brake clunking and creaking

  • Thread starter Thread starter CJC
  • Start date Start date
  • Replies Replies 39
  • Views Views 15K
CJC

CJC

Well-Known Member
I have had my Kona in twice since purchasing in February for a clunking sound and an accompanying creaking sound when the brakes are applied. More prominent clunking when the car first starts out. First visit to the dealership yielded no action as the car didn't clunk while there. Second visit took place after a few old timer Kona EV owners from Nanaimo had a similar noise and had brake pads replaced. At second visit I told them that information and wanted to show them the forum thread notes, but they weren't interested. They said no one else was having the problem at my dealership and then in the next breath said they had glued on some rubber to the brake pads to fix one other Kona. I refused the glued on rubber and insisted that they phone Nanaimo service dept and find out what was going on. With reluctance they did so and called me saying they were ordering new brake pads from the factory in Korea for my car.
I called yesterday as I hadn't heard anything and lo and behold the pads were there. I asked to have them put on today and they agreed to do so. When I just picked up my car, the service rep who was very polite and nice, said that they had put on the new larger pads but it didn't fix the clunking. They hadn't replaced the clips that came with the pads, and instead left on the old clips. The clips with the pads are larger than the clips on the current Kona's. So they left the larger pads on my car, and put the larger clips on too. This resolved the problem. He said there will be a recall of the Kona's to put on new clips, but not pads. He said I will have to bring mine in for that recall and they will have to replace the clips again to comply with the recall. We both shook our heads at the nonsense of this. However, my car is now quiet for the first time in weeks. What a pleasure to no longer clunk and creak at each stop. It was beginning to irritate me like fingernails on a blackboard. So it seems like everyone will be heading in for new clips on that connect to your brake pads.
 
KonaTom said:
Glad you finally found the problem . Does that mean you will keep your kona?
Click to expand...
Nope. lol We really want the head room and dog crate room for our bigger dog. But it sure is nice to drive the Kona as it should sound--so quiet! I forgot what that was like.
 
CJC said:
I have had my Kona in twice since purchasing in February for a clunking sound and an accompanying creaking sound when the brakes are applied. More prominent clunking when the car first starts out. First visit to the dealership yielded no action as the car didn't clunk while there. Second visit took place after a few old timer Kona EV owners from Nanaimo had a similar noise and had brake pads replaced. At second visit I told them that information and wanted to show them the forum thread notes, but they weren't interested. They said no one else was having the problem at my dealership and then in the next breath said they had glued on some rubber to the brake pads to fix one other Kona. I refused the glued on rubber and insisted that they phone Nanaimo service dept and find out what was going on. With reluctance they did so and called me saying they were ordering new brake pads from the factory in Korea for my car.
I called yesterday as I hadn't heard anything and lo and behold the pads were there. I asked to have them put on today and they agreed to do so. When I just picked up my car, the service rep who was very polite and nice, said that they had put on the new larger pads but it didn't fix the clunking. They hadn't replaced the clips that came with the pads, and instead left on the old clips. The clips with the pads are larger than the clips on the current Kona's. So they left the larger pads on my car, and put the larger clips on too. This resolved the problem. He said there will be a recall of the Kona's to put on new clips, but not pads. He said I will have to bring mine in for that recall and they will have to replace the clips again to comply with the recall. We both shook our heads at the nonsense of this. However, my car is now quiet for the first time in weeks. What a pleasure to no longer clunk and creak at each stop. It was beginning to irritate me like fingernails on a blackboard. So it seems like everyone will be heading in for new clips on that connect to your brake pads.
Click to expand...
Mine have been silent since the pad replacement so I can only assume that the clips were changed as well.
But then again I'm just another old timer so what do I know
 
CJC said:
I have had my Kona in twice since purchasing in February for a clunking sound and an accompanying creaking sound when the brakes are applied. More prominent clunking when the car first starts out. First visit to the dealership yielded no action as the car didn't clunk while there. Second visit took place after a few old timer Kona EV owners from Nanaimo had a similar noise and had brake pads replaced. At second visit I told them that information and wanted to show them the forum thread notes, but they weren't interested. They said no one else was having the problem at my dealership and then in the next breath said they had glued on some rubber to the brake pads to fix one other Kona. I refused the glued on rubber and insisted that they phone Nanaimo service dept and find out what was going on. With reluctance they did so and called me saying they were ordering new brake pads from the factory in Korea for my car.
I called yesterday as I hadn't heard anything and lo and behold the pads were there. I asked to have them put on today and they agreed to do so. When I just picked up my car, the service rep who was very polite and nice, said that they had put on the new larger pads but it didn't fix the clunking. They hadn't replaced the clips that came with the pads, and instead left on the old clips. The clips with the pads are larger than the clips on the current Kona's. So they left the larger pads on my car, and put the larger clips on too. This resolved the problem. He said there will be a recall of the Kona's to put on new clips, but not pads. He said I will have to bring mine in for that recall and they will have to replace the clips again to comply with the recall. We both shook our heads at the nonsense of this. However, my car is now quiet for the first time in weeks. What a pleasure to no longer clunk and creak at each stop. It was beginning to irritate me like fingernails on a blackboard. So it seems like everyone will be heading in for new clips on that connect to your brake pads.
Click to expand...

CJC, Thank you for your findings. I also can hear the clicking noise and will wait for the recall/update from Hyundai as it doesn't irritate me as much.
 
Sandwedge said:
CJC, Thank you for your findings. I also can hear the clicking noise and will wait for the recall/update from Hyundai as it doesn't irritate me as much.
Click to expand...
My husband wasn't as annoyed with it as me. (But he wears hearing aids lol). Glad it isn't tipping you over the edge. We had some major clunks where I thought the bottom was falling out of the rear end of the car. That was a one day only of shocking sounds and then consistent clunks since then and it was like owning an old beater. Now it is a lovely quiet electric car. What a difference. I found when I had passengers, I kept doing the Canadian thing of apologizing to my passengers each time it clunked. They got tired of me apologizing. lol
 
CJC said:
My husband wasn't as annoyed with it as me. (But he wears hearing aids lol). Glad it isn't tipping your over the edge. lol We had some major clunks where I thought the bottom was falling out of the rear end of the car. That was a one day only of shocking sounds and then consistent clunks since like owning an old beater.
Click to expand...

Seems like yours was a severe clunk
 
XtsKonaTrooper said:
How tall you guys?
Click to expand...
6'2" and 5'10", but we are 70 and 71 with lesser flexibility. We got used to wide entry in our Plug In Hybrid and we found something that will make us happier. With aging, comfort seems much more important than when young. We used to love our P1800 Volvo and MGB GT--oh for those days. lol Now we want a quality EV with good range, but good entry and exit for us and room for the dog crates. I think we will be fine with 2020 EV Soul. It's a long story why we are moving on. The Kona is perfect in many way.
 
K cool
I get the less flexibility part, as we age.
I recently bought a riding lawn mower, cuz im tired of pushing one. Grant it, if funds existed i would get the electric Ryobi riding mower, hehehe

I commend you guys fir embracing the EV route.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CJC
I wonder if the new pads/clips would solve the squeaking problem some of us are having.

My dealer did mention something about clips when they told me “that’s how they engineered it. There’s nothing we can do about it”. I hope this recall comes soon because I guarantee my dealer wouldn’t call Nanaimo from Burlington Ontario to see what they’ve done lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
CJC said:
I have had my Kona in twice since purchasing in February for a clunking sound and an accompanying creaking sound when the brakes are applied. More prominent clunking when the car first starts out. First visit to the dealership yielded no action as the car didn't clunk while there. Second visit took place after a few old timer Kona EV owners from Nanaimo had a similar noise and had brake pads replaced. At second visit I told them that information and wanted to show them the forum thread notes, but they weren't interested. They said no one else was having the problem at my dealership and then in the next breath said they had glued on some rubber to the brake pads to fix one other Kona. I refused the glued on rubber and insisted that they phone Nanaimo service dept and find out what was going on. With reluctance they did so and called me saying they were ordering new brake pads from the factory in Korea for my car.
I called yesterday as I hadn't heard anything and lo and behold the pads were there. I asked to have them put on today and they agreed to do so. When I just picked up my car, the service rep who was very polite and nice, said that they had put on the new larger pads but it didn't fix the clunking. They hadn't replaced the clips that came with the pads, and instead left on the old clips. The clips with the pads are larger than the clips on the current Kona's. So they left the larger pads on my car, and put the larger clips on too. This resolved the problem. He said there will be a recall of the Kona's to put on new clips, but not pads. He said I will have to bring mine in for that recall and they will have to replace the clips again to comply with the recall. We both shook our heads at the nonsense of this. However, my car is now quiet for the first time in weeks. What a pleasure to no longer clunk and creak at each stop. It was beginning to irritate me like fingernails on a blackboard. So it seems like everyone will be heading in for new clips on that connect to your brake pads.
Click to expand...
I am glad that after all that you finally got it fixed up. So did they wash it and vacuum it out for you?
 
Brennan Raposo said:
I wonder if the new pads/clips would solve the squeaking problem some of us are having.

My dealer did mention something about clips when they told me “that’s how they engineered it. There’s nothing we can do about it”. I hope this recall comes soon because I guarantee my dealer wouldn’t call Nanaimo from Burlington Ontario to see what they’ve done lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
My larger pads came with larger clips from the factory, but service rep said now they know it is a clip issue, they will just order larger clips from the factory for other cars and not the pads. Service rep. said the clips that came with Kona were small looking like they came "from an Elantra". So the factory has larger clips according to my dealership. Be persistent Brennan. You shouldn't have to wait for a recall. We paid a hefty price for this car and it should run perfectly and not sound like the bottom is going to fall out. I think I am viewed as "a complainer" at the dealership but I would still be clunking and creaking if I didn't get vocal. Thanks to our Nanaimo members who had cooperation from their dealership from the get go. They didn't have to stamp their feet to get action.
 
Wayne Warde said:
I am glad that after all that you finally got it fixed up. So did they wash it and vacuum it out for you?
Click to expand...
Wayne yes they did, but it didn't happen like magic like it does in Nanaimo. I got "do you want your car washed when we are finished?" It looked lovely after. And sounded like a new car!
 
CJC said:
Wayne yes they did, but it didn't happen like magic like it does in Nanaimo. I got "do you want your car washed when we are finished?" It looked lovely after. And sounded like a new car!
Click to expand...
Happy to hear of the resolution of your clunking-sound problem, CJC. BTW, could you describe your dear doggies, the breed & size? Bernese Mountain Dog? Two of them would fill a Kona!!
 
20190322_165534.webp
Kitsilano said:
Happy to hear of the resolution of your clunking-sound problem, CJC. BTW, could you describe your dear doggies, the breed & size? Bernese Mountain Dog? Two of them would fill a Kona!!
Click to expand...
Kitsilano said:
Happy to hear of the resolution of your clunking-sound problem, CJC. BTW, could you describe your dear doggies, the breed & size? Bernese Mountain Dog? Two of them would fill a Kona!!
Click to expand...
A and BB. My pups. The female is part Bernese and is 55 lbs. and BB is Maltipoo and 18 lbs. They would fit okay in the Kona without crates if I used harnesses, but I prefer the crates for safety and comfort for them, and to take into hotels etc.
 
Last edited:
CJC said:
View attachment 4995

A and BB. My pups. The female is part Bernese and is 55 lbs. and BB is Maltipoo and 18 lbs. They would fit okay in the Kona without crates if I used harnesses, but I prefer the crates for safety and comfort for them, and to take into hotels etc.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the fine photo of your two intelligent-looking, Kona-riding dogs. Well-trimmed! So clean! They can ride in my Kona anytime.
 
CJC said:
Wayne yes they did, but it didn't happen like magic like it does in Nanaimo. I got "do you want your car washed when we are finished?" It looked lovely after. And sounded like a new car!
Click to expand...
Ha ha ha good going. I can't remember how many times they have washed my car. Now I am just looking for a reason to take it in especially when it's dirty.
 
Wayne Warde said:
If you trade your car in I hope you won't be leaving the group. We all have been through too much together.
Click to expand...
I'll stay and report in on another of the South Korean triplets as Bjorn Nyland calls the Kona, Niro, and E-Soul. lol I will be whingeing about how the ESoul just isn't as good as my "old" Kona. You are such a sweetie Wayne.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top