Thousands of electric vehicle owners are being urged to check their batteries as part of a global recall impacting over 100,000 cars. Hyundai has initiated a recall in Australia for nearly 5,000 vehicles due to a software fault in the battery management system that poses a fire risk during charging or while parked.

Hyundai Models Affected
The recall specifically targets two models: the Hyundai Kona EV, manufactured between 2018 and 2023, and the Ioniq EV, produced from 2018 to 2022. The Australian federal transport department confirmed that 3,478 Kona electric cars and 1,402 Ioniq EVs are involved in this recall. Vehicle owners will be contacted by the manufacturer to arrange for assessments.

Nature of the Risk
The recall announcement highlights that a software issue in the battery management system could lead to an electrical short circuit. This malfunction can occur while the vehicle is charging or parked, significantly increasing the risk of a fire. Such incidents could pose serious dangers to vehicle occupants, other road users, and bystanders.

Previous Recalls and Warnings
This recall follows a worldwide warning issued by Hyundai in March regarding 104,011 potentially affected vehicles. The current situation marks nearly five years since a previous recall of Hyundai Ioniq vehicles in Australia due to a different battery issue. In 2021, batteries in the Ioniq were also recalled and replaced due to a manufacturing defect.

Fire Incident Statistics
Despite ongoing concerns about battery-powered vehicles, data from EV Firesafe indicates that only 13 electric vehicles have been involved in fires in Australia from 2021 to March 2026. Among these incidents, two were attributed to arson, four resulted from high-speed collisions, and three were caused by external fires, with the remaining cases still under investigation.

Wrap-up
Hyundai's proactive measures in addressing the battery software issue reflect a growing commitment to safety in the electric vehicle sector. The company is working with its Australian dealers to diagnose affected vehicles and implement necessary software updates or hardware fixes to mitigate the fire risk.

Sources:
theguardian.com

@hoju-korean.com Editorial Team