SEOUL — A Hyundai Motor Kona electric vehicle caught fire last week in a first known instance of a recalled Kona caught fire, prompting police to investigate the adequacy of the recall, ” a South Korean transport ministry stated.
A series of fires prompted mass recalls of Hyundai’s best-selling Kona EV.
The latest Kona fire on Saturday is one of 11 reported so far in Korea. However, this incident was distinct as it had been the first Kona EV to catch fire during its recall process.
Back in South Korea, Hyundai has recalled 25,564 Kona EVs constructed during September 2017 into March 2020 because of the risk of short circuit potentially brought on by faulty production of its high-voltage battery cells.
The Recalled Kona EVs in South Korea had only received software updates and a few battery replacements after inspection.
The recalled Kona that caught fire had only got a software update but no battery replacement, the officer said on condition of anonymity as he’s not permitted to talk to media.
Korea Automobile Testing & Research Institute has been investigating the fires and is currently looking into the adequacy of Hyundai’s voluntary recall process, the official and an institute official said.
Hyundai did not have an immediate comment.
Hyundai is expected to launch a new electric vehicle, the Ioniq 5 — its first model using a fresh EV-only platform — next month.
Hyundai has normally used batteries out of LG Chem, that have come under scrutiny due to the Kona fires, although its affiliate Kia has generally used batteries from SK Innovation.