Hyundai NZ recalls Kona electric car after reports of lithium batteries catching fire

Saturday, 24 October 2020

Hyundai New Zealand is recalling its Kona electric car after multiple reports of its lithium batteries catching fire overseas.

On its website the South Korean car manufacturer said the global safety recall affected all its Kona electric vehicles made between September 29, 2017 and March 20, 2020.

A Hyundai NZ spokeswoman said the recall affected about 700 vehicles in New Zealand, who would be contacted to visit their nearest dealership for a software update of the battery management system.

She said the battery system in the affected EVs could be defective, containing faulty software that could increase the risk of an electrical short-circuit.

The global safety recall affected all its Kona electric vehicles made between September 29, 2017 and March 20, 2020.

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There have been at least 13 incidents globally of the EVs bursting into flames, including in the United States, Canada, China and South Korea.

None had been reported in New Zealand, the spokeswoman said.

In Canada, one Kona car that caught fire and exploded in a garage in July last year, blew off the garage door and roof, Inside EVs reported.

While Hyundai Australia did not comment on the matter publicly, the company messaged a concerned customer asking them to park the vehicle from flammable structures and not park it in a garage, The Driven reported.

In 2018 Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) announced two recalls relating to the Hyundai Kona 2018 models one about airbag issues and another about concerns with brakes and air-conditioning.

The Hyundai NZ spokeswoman said those previous concerns had been resolved.