On Thursday, federal auto regulators said that Hyundai and Kia were recalling 147,100 electric vehicles in the US due to charging unit issue.
According to documents sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Hyundai and Kia's Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) stops charging the car's 12-volt backup battery and may even damage it.
Hyundai, Kia Recalled Evs Over ICCU Damage
The glitch could put Hyundai and Kia electric car owners at risk of accidents because the power could go out while they are traveling.
In the US, the two car names are run by different companies. Hyundai said that the better ICCU software cuts peak voltage and thermal loading during running to protect the ICCU from damage.
Hyundai Motor Group has a big stake in Kia. So, models from both companies often use the same tech and parts. This is why recalls can affect both companies.
The recall affected 98,878 Hyundai vehicles and 48, 232 Kia vehicles, according to NBC Los Angeles.
The vehicles that are being called back are the Hyundai IONIQ 5 from 2022 to 2024, the Hyundai IONIQ 6 from 2023 to 2024, and the Genesis GV60, GV70, and GV80 from 2023 to 2024. Meanwhile, Kia's 2022-2024 EV6 is being called back.
Hyundai, Kia Suffer Several Recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) started a probe in the US on June 8, 2023, after hearing that some 2022-2023 Hyundai IONIQ 5 cars lost power.
Dealers will check the ICCU and repair it if it needs to be. At the dealer, owners will also get an update for their ICCU program. Letters of notification should be sent out on May 14, 2024.
Kia called back more than 101,000 cars and SUVs in January because the roofs could be dangerous and kill the driver.
The NHTSA has heard of problems with the roof molding on these cars, which can come loose or break while the driver is driving.
The Kia Sportage 2023 and 2024 and the Kia Carnival 2022 to 2024 are the models that will be affected.
Hyundai also called back almost 200,000 Elantras earlier this month owing to a problem with the trunk latch that could lock someone inside.
A warning from the NHTSA said that dealers will now replace the trunks of cars that are affected for free. Over 186, 000 of the company's Elantra 2015-2016 cars are being recalled.
Hyundai owners can get more information by calling customer service at 1-855-371-9460. People who own Kias can call customer help at 1-800-333-4542.
You can also visit NHTSA.gov or call the NHTSA hotline at 1-888-327-4236 to find out more.
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