A concern with the charging control unit in various Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis electric vehicles can halt the charging of the 12-volt battery, leading to the incapacity to operate the vehicles, as reported by the NHTSA on Monday.
Both Hyundai and Genesis have initiated a recall, whereas Kia has issued a separate recall for the identical issue. Although these car manufacturers are subsidiaries of Hyundai Motor Group in South Korea, they function independently in North America.
In all instances, the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) can bear an excessive electrical load that may harm its components. Most notably, it can cause the ICCU fuse to blow, consequently preventing the charging of the 12-volt battery. Upon this occurrence, the driver might observe a series of audible and visual alerts on the instrument cluster. Subsequently, the vehicle will switch to a “fail-safe” mode, gradually lowering the power output from the motors, anticipated to persist for approximately 45 minutes. The braking and power steering systems will remain operational during this period.
If the car is kept running in “fail-safe” mode and the warnings on the cluster are disregarded by the driver, all driving power can be interrupted. The cause of overloading the ICCU can result from excess current or voltage at the conclusion of a DC fast-charging session, or from an excessive thermal load while driving.
Recall of Hyundai and Genesis EVs
While Hyundai reported no instances of injuries or accidents linked to the problem, it acknowledged 618 occurrences in the U.S. attributed to it. The Hyundai and Genesis part of this recall affects 98,878 electric vehicles. These models are:
2022-2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5
2023-2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6
2023-2024 Genesis GV60
2023-2024 Genesis GV70 Electrified
2023-2024 Genesis G80 Electrified
Owners can anticipate receiving notification by post as early as May 14, 2024, and they will be instructed to take their EV to a Hyundai or Genesis dealership for the ICCU software update. The service center will also inspect and replace the ICCU fuse, if deemed necessary.
The expenses will be covered by the warranty, and the brands will offer reimbursement for any expenses incurred to rectify the recall issue. This may include costs for renting a car.
A software update was implemented on March 5, aimed at preventing overcurrent by reducing the voltage at the termination of fast-charging. The update also diminishes the thermal load factor during charging and driving by adjusting the operational threshold of the electric water pump.
For further details, kindly reach out to Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460 or visit Hyundai’s recall page.
Kia EV6 recall
Kia has also reported no injuries or accidents attributable to the issue and has acknowledged 34 cases in the field concerning the loss of driving power. The Kia recall concerns 48,232 units:
2022-2023 Kia EV6
2024 Kia EV6 (manufactured through Feb. 7, 2024)
Owners of Kia EV6 vehicles can expect to receive notification by mail as early as April 29, 2024, advising them to bring their EV to a Kia dealership for the ICCU software update. The service center will additionally review and replace the ICCU fuse, if necessary. To learn more about the Kia recall, you can contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542 or visit Kia’s recall website.
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