- Drivers have reported strange sounds and a loss of motive power.
- These issues could be caused by the 12-volt battery and its charging system.
- Up to 39,559 vehicles in the United States might be affected.
The NHTSA has opened a probe into the 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5 in the United States due to complaints from owners.
According to the agency, 30 IONIQ 5 drivers have experienced strange popping sounds followed by a warning message in the instrument cluster.
In addition, some of these drivers have also been faced with a shorter range or a sudden loss of motive power.
In one case, the owner received a message saying the 12-volt battery had failed but was able to continue to the dealership once roadside assistance had installed a new one.
Apparently, the dealer’s service department still had no estimate on how long the repair would take even four weeks after having received the vehicle.
Hyundai, who is also conducting its own investigation, now believes these issues are caused by the Integrated Control Charging Unit, a device that powers both the high-voltage traction battery and the 12-volt battery.
According to the automaker, an over-current can damage this component, which can then lead to an inability to charge the 12-volt battery.
Electric vehicles need a 12-volt battery like the one used in gasoline-powered vehicles in order to power everything except the motors, but its charging system is quite different since EVs aren’t equipped with an alternator.
The NHTSA has yet to determine the full scope of the problem, but preliminary results suggest up to 39,559 units of the IONIQ 5 could be affected in the United States.
Hyundai will begin corrective measures in July by updating relevant software and replacing components that are found to be damaged.
Source: Carscoops
