2019 Kona Electrical System Issues - Won't Drive!
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The dealers do not stock any spare Traction batteries, so 2 months lead time does not sound unrealistic to me. Hyundai cannot airlift these, because shipping costs would be prohibitive.
So I expect these will come on a boat.
I hope that they start prepositioning a large number of these batteries in warehouses here in the USA, instead of ordering and shipping one battery at a time.
I expect it will take months before they ramp up the process if they have any intent to do this efficiently.
If your car is functional with the 80% charge limiting workaround, it may be bearable, but I shudder to think what happens when a lot of these cars start locking up.
I see parking lots full of these cars at the dealer, and lots of very angry customers.
Hyundai announced that they intend to replace lots of batteries, possibly all, but did not say anything about how they are planning to accomplish this efficiently. First off, they need to order the new batteries, and ship them over to the target countries and warehouse them.
Do we think that the supplier have the manufacturing capacity (or inventory) to make 70K batteries available on a reasonable time schedule? It is not a given.
I think it will be a while before we see a dent in this problem.
So I expect these will come on a boat.
I hope that they start prepositioning a large number of these batteries in warehouses here in the USA, instead of ordering and shipping one battery at a time.
I expect it will take months before they ramp up the process if they have any intent to do this efficiently.
If your car is functional with the 80% charge limiting workaround, it may be bearable, but I shudder to think what happens when a lot of these cars start locking up.
I see parking lots full of these cars at the dealer, and lots of very angry customers.
Hyundai announced that they intend to replace lots of batteries, possibly all, but did not say anything about how they are planning to accomplish this efficiently. First off, they need to order the new batteries, and ship them over to the target countries and warehouse them.
Do we think that the supplier have the manufacturing capacity (or inventory) to make 70K batteries available on a reasonable time schedule? It is not a given.
I think it will be a while before we see a dent in this problem.
I'm expecting it to take up to a year. But after that I'll have a car with far better resale value than I would have if none of this had happened. Of course I'm stuck with it as well as we don't have CA-etc-style lemon laws forcing a buyback, just the normal "fit for purpose" consumer laws. Providing a rental for the interim is all they would be obligated to do.
The 196 update has been out for about 11 months with the bulk of the rollout happening the latter half of 2020. If there was a statistical bump in "196 errors" (for lack of a better term) I think we would have seen it by now. Certainly there have a been a few reported in our fleet of perhaps 1,000 examples, based on FB posts I'd guess that's under 10. S. Korea certainly had a lot of cases reported but they have 27,000 + units.
With advisories in some markets to limit SoC to 80 or 90% I'd suggest there will be far less.
The 196 update has been out for about 11 months with the bulk of the rollout happening the latter half of 2020. If there was a statistical bump in "196 errors" (for lack of a better term) I think we would have seen it by now. Certainly there have a been a few reported in our fleet of perhaps 1,000 examples, based on FB posts I'd guess that's under 10. S. Korea certainly had a lot of cases reported but they have 27,000 + units.
With advisories in some markets to limit SoC to 80 or 90% I'd suggest there will be far less.
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Update: I am awaiting word back from the dealership on the ETA of a traction battery. I was told that all paperwork had been formally submitted, and they are just waiting to hear from Hyundai. This will be the real interesting piece of information for me. I can deal with a POS Chevy Cruze for 2 months as a long term loaner, but if we get into 3-4 or 6+ months, that seems unreasonable. If the longer timeframe is the answer, then I will seek out something for my loss of enjoyment of the vehicle...and dig into the fine print to see what I am entitled to (or not).
No call back yet either from my Hyundai Customer Service representative, Jeff. Left the 2nd message yesterday, a week after leaving the first. I think it's time to call the main number and once again, tell someone my case number and that I'm feeling ignored. That got me results the last time, so we'll see. Seems like a good idea to do that this afternoon. One way or another, I'll get this taken care of...I am like a pit bull when it comes to warranties, and this kind of consumer stuff. If not taken care of, Hyundai will wish they never had to deal with me.
No call back yet either from my Hyundai Customer Service representative, Jeff. Left the 2nd message yesterday, a week after leaving the first. I think it's time to call the main number and once again, tell someone my case number and that I'm feeling ignored. That got me results the last time, so we'll see. Seems like a good idea to do that this afternoon. One way or another, I'll get this taken care of...I am like a pit bull when it comes to warranties, and this kind of consumer stuff. If not taken care of, Hyundai will wish they never had to deal with me.
Hi David,
Here is what have as an update. The dealership say they had to call Hyundai technical department to order a new Electric Battery and do not have an ETA which, they say, usually means that the part has not even been manufactured yet. They also said that they ordered a special tool to load the electric battery but that the tool is on national back order. For some reason they are unable to give me a name or telephone number for the technical department which they say ordered the part. I do, however, finally have a loaner car that I have to turn in after I have clocked 5,000 miles - if you, or anyone on this board, have any update on the part or can confirm that this is the same part that folks are waiting for can you let me know?
I have no idea how long the wait will be but I sure miss my car - and especially the monthly amount that I am paying on finance for a vehicle that I don't have and cannot drive.
Here is what have as an update. The dealership say they had to call Hyundai technical department to order a new Electric Battery and do not have an ETA which, they say, usually means that the part has not even been manufactured yet. They also said that they ordered a special tool to load the electric battery but that the tool is on national back order. For some reason they are unable to give me a name or telephone number for the technical department which they say ordered the part. I do, however, finally have a loaner car that I have to turn in after I have clocked 5,000 miles - if you, or anyone on this board, have any update on the part or can confirm that this is the same part that folks are waiting for can you let me know?
I have no idea how long the wait will be but I sure miss my car - and especially the monthly amount that I am paying on finance for a vehicle that I don't have and cannot drive.
I think it may make sense for Hyundai to drag this out as long as they can, given what this is going to cost them, I think they are better off spreading the expense out for as long period of time as they can get away with. They will have to balance that against the negative PR a whole bunch of angry customers are going to generate. I imagine the real angry customers will be those who end up with a non-useable vehicle. Given that my car is still working at 80% change, I am annoyed and mildly concerned. If my car shut down tomorrow, that would put me in a different frame of mind.
I don't think a $200 gift certificate would be enough to placate me.
I am not sure they are obligated providing a rental. From what we have seen, they provide a daily rental allowance, and from what we have heard, they may not even be obligated to provide that.
Kiwi, how do you figure "far better resale value"? I am afraid the damage to the Kona EV brand is permanent. Remember it is all in the mind of the customers. Do not assume the average car customer has much capability for critical thinking, or attention to detail and nuance. I expect, all average car buyer s going to remember " Ah, the kona EV. with the exploding battery problem. Do not buy." ( "but not all vintages have a problem. and the bad batteries have been all replaced with brand new ones". - I think this may end up as footnote to the "exploding battery" headlines. One variable is, how well the new Ionique SUV will sell? Will the sales be depressed by the Kona EV problems and the negative PR?
I don't think a $200 gift certificate would be enough to placate me.
I am not sure they are obligated providing a rental. From what we have seen, they provide a daily rental allowance, and from what we have heard, they may not even be obligated to provide that.
Kiwi, how do you figure "far better resale value"? I am afraid the damage to the Kona EV brand is permanent. Remember it is all in the mind of the customers. Do not assume the average car customer has much capability for critical thinking, or attention to detail and nuance. I expect, all average car buyer s going to remember " Ah, the kona EV. with the exploding battery problem. Do not buy." ( "but not all vintages have a problem. and the bad batteries have been all replaced with brand new ones". - I think this may end up as footnote to the "exploding battery" headlines. One variable is, how well the new Ionique SUV will sell? Will the sales be depressed by the Kona EV problems and the negative PR?
Suz, this sounds pretty bad for the rest of us...
What I was hoping to hear from Hyundai is that the have ordered or are in the process of ordering the necessary number of batteries, so they can schedule all the vehicles for a battery swap, regardless if they are dead cars or not.
What I am hearing instead: they are ordering and then shipping just individual batteries for specific cars that are currently inoperable. Sounds like those of us with operable cars will have to wait for who knows how long, at this rate perhaps years.
What I was hoping to hear from Hyundai is that the have ordered or are in the process of ordering the necessary number of batteries, so they can schedule all the vehicles for a battery swap, regardless if they are dead cars or not.
What I am hearing instead: they are ordering and then shipping just individual batteries for specific cars that are currently inoperable. Sounds like those of us with operable cars will have to wait for who knows how long, at this rate perhaps years.
Just got another letter notifying me that Hyundai will remotely lower my charging limit to 80% using BlueLink. For the moment, this is all they are talking about. For cars that are actually working, there is no mention of battery replacement now. I would not put it past them that they will only replace batteries if the car has actually shut down.
I have to wonder if some of the delay in USA is due to potential battery supply from SK Innovation, who are probably going to manufacture the replacement batteries. As I understand it their multi billion dollar US factories are subject to a four year import ban due to trade secret infringements. SKI are lobbying to get President Biden to overturn this, which must occur within 90 days of the original ruling. If Biden does this, battery replacement - at least in North America - is looking positive. But he only has until 11 April to do so. And LG is lobbying heavily with US administration against SKI.
[edit: added link]
Some good news. Looks like SKI will be able to operate in USA after all. LG Chem & SKI may have settled their dispute?
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