Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80.
Hyundai is recalling certain electric vehicles because the “Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) may become damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery, which can result in a loss of drive power,” according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The agency estimated that 145,235 vehicles were affected.
Dealers will inspect and replace the ICCU and its fuse, as necessary, free of charge, NHTSA said.
This recall expands on a previous one. Even if those vehicles were previously repaired, they “will need to have the new remedy completed,” the agency said.
Hyundai vehicles were not the only cars affected. Kia, which is partly owned by Hyundai, is also issuing recalls.
This recall includes nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. Around 1 percent of cars are estimated to have the defect, according to the NHTSA recall report.
The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery.
“If the driver ignores the warnings associated with the discharging battery condition and continues to operate the vehicle in a reduced power mode, the vehicle may eventually experience a complete loss of motive power,” the agency added.
Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Owners whose vehicles were recalled earlier this year to fix the same problem will have to visit their dealer again, according to the agency.
Owners will be notified by letter in December and January.
