Hyundai Kona EV Recalled Over Possible Battery Issues

This follows the global chain of recalls for Hyundai’s electric SUV following a few cases of battery fires in Korea

• The Kona EV units made between April 1, 2019, and October 31, 2020, are being recalled.

• Hyundai will reach out to the owners of 456 Kona EVs to bring in their cars for inspection.

• Recall due to possible issues with the high voltage battery system.

• Likely a part of a global recall after reports of a few models in Korea catching fire.

• Kona EV offered in India with only the 39.2kWh battery pack which offers an ARAI-claimed range of 452km.

The Hyundai Kona Electric was the first long-range EV offering in India when it was launched here in 2019. The carmaker has now recalled its electric SUV to inspect the battery pack following potential concerns of electrical deficiency. All units manufactured between April 1, 2019, and October 31, 2020, are part of this recall. Hyundai will be calling Kona EV customers to bring in their cars for inspection.

While the carmaker has been selling this model globally for a couple of years, the EV tech is still new territory for carmakers and buyers alike. This recall is likely connected to reports from Korea, where faulty cells are said to have caused as many as 13 Kona EVs to catch fire. Since then, a global recall of the model has been issued in various markets and it now seems to have caught up with ours.

In India, 456 units of the Kona EV were manufactured during the concerned time frame. The owners will be contacted in a phased manner to bring their Kona EVs for a free inspection to Hyundai EV dealers. If there is a need for new parts due to manufacturing issues, we expect Hyundai to offer a replacement at no cost as part of the battery’s 8-year warranty but the carmaker has not commented on that possibility.

The Kona EV is globally offered with the choice of two battery packs: 39.2kWh and 64kWh. It is unclear which examples of the Kona EV had caught fire in Korea. Hyundai recently unveiled the facelifted Kona Electric which offers the same battery variants but they’re unlikely to have the same issues as the models being called in for the recall. 

India only gets the 39.2kWh battery pack variant which offers an ARAI-certified range of 452km on a full charge. This system is compatible with 50kW DC fast charging that can juice the battery from 0 to 80 percent in just under an hour. It is a premium CBU offering, hence, its prices start from Rs 23.76 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

The Kona Electric rivals the MG ZS EV which is slightly more affordable with a lower claimed range. Meanwhile, the Tata Nexon EV is the most affordable long-range EV in India, priced from Rs 13.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), and promises a range of 300km.  

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