The high-voltage battery system in the subject vehicles may have been produced with internal damage to certain cells of the lithium-ion battery that could increase the risk of an electrical short circuit. Hyundai is continuing to actively investigate this condition for identification of a specific root cause.

The subject vehicles include model year 2019-2020 Hyundai Kona electric vehicles (“EV”) built between August 28, 2018 and March 2, 2020 by Hyundai Motor Company (“HMC”) for sale in the U.S. market. The affected population was determined based on suspect production lot information provided by the supplier and vehicle assembly records.

An electrical short in Li-ion battery could increase the risk of a fire.

To date, Hyundai is not aware of any crashes or fires in the U.S. attributable to this condition. Hyundai is aware of at least nine fires in South Korea, two in Canada, and two in the European market.

Customers are advised to park their vehicles outdoors and/or away from structures until their vehicle is remedied. Hyundai is notifying owners to bring their vehicles to the nearest Hyundai dealership for inspection and replacement of the Li-ion battery, if necessary. As an added level of protection, Hyundai is also planning on updating the BMS software to allow for detection of abnormalities in the high-voltage battery system while parked. The remedy procedure will be performed at no charge

Owners will be mailed notification letters beginning in mid-December 2020.