NHTSA Bares Power Problems In 2022 Hyundai Ioniq SUVs

American owners of Hyundai’s popular Ioniq 5 electric SUV have complained of completely or partially losing propulsive power, many after hearing a loud popping noise, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Photo Insert: Technical problems accompanying automakers’ growing global rollout of electric vehicles to fight climate change have included battery recalls because of the potential for fires.

Hyundai said it would offer a software update beginning next month and replace affected components if necessary. The NHTSA stressed in a notice posted online that it received 30 complaints about the problem in 2022 models, of which it estimated 39,500 were on US highways.

The Office of Defects Investigation at the NHTSA has opened a preliminary investigation and says Hyundai indicated in an initial review that a power surge was damaging transistors, preventing vehicles’ 12-volt batteries from recharging.

Hyundai spokesperson Ira Gabriel said the company was fully cooperating with the investigation and was launching a service campaign in July to update affected vehicles’ software and, if necessary, replace the component involved.

It’s called an Integrated Control Charging Unit.

Technical problems accompanying automakers’ growing global rollout of electric vehicles to fight climate change have included battery recalls because of the potential for fires.

Last month, Jaguar recalled more than 6,000 I-Pace electric SUVs in the US due to the risk of the high-voltage battery catching fire.

WEEKLY FEATURE : MVP Group Keeps Lights On During Pandemic