For several months now, owners of Hyundai and Kia electric models have reported significant malfunctions in some of the prominent models currently on the market, all based on the same platform called E-GMP: the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and 6, Genesis GV60, and Kia EV6.
According to reports from customers in the United States, there have been cases where the vehicle experienced a complete loss of power while driving, charging problems, and more. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has already opened an investigation.
In some cases, a software update was required to fix the system malfunction, but in many cases, a critical component in the electric system of the vehicle, the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU), needed to be replaced.
The ICCU is responsible for managing the energy of the electric vehicle, including managing and controlling the energy in the car's batteries. If a malfunction occurs in the unit, the vehicle may not move or may shut down while driving, the battery may deplete, or it may not be possible to charge the battery as usual. Various reports on social networks are emerging in various markets, including South Korea, the West, and elsewhere.
In Israel, the first cases have already been registered in which the replacement of the ICCU in a number of vehicles was required, however, at this time we do not have official data from the Hyundai and Kia importers on the extent of the incidents. There are already about 6,500 cars of the four models on the road in the country.
In the South Korean media, it is reported that Hyundai and Kia are set to issue a recall in the country for about 170,000 vehicles, and another approximately 500,000 vehicles from the relevant models that were marketed in Europe and North America. According to the reports, it will be announced in the coming week.
In order for the recall to also be implemented in Israel, both importers, Carasso Motors (Hyundai and Genesis) and Taclar (Kia), need to receive explicit guidance from the manufacturer, and an assurance of the availability of new replacement ICCU units for installation.
An Israeli Ionic 5 customer who encountered an issue told Walla Cars: "The car suddenly stopped charging at the home charging station, and also not at the public AC charging station. In contrast, at a fast DC public charging station, the car charged as usual, including appropriate indication on the dashboard, which did not happen when connected to slow charging stations. The car was taken to a Hyundai service center where the ICCU component was replaced under warranty."
The importers' response will be provided immediately upon its receipt in the Walla Cars system.