I was told today because of recall 200, Hyundai wants buy back our cars

The SK battery solution as I heard it was a ban on all SK cells in the US for 10 years. This was for patent infringement. This would lend to the comment that battery replacement would not solve the problem of defective batteries. You couldn't replace LGChem with LGChem even if they didn't have the defect. The damage is done and the reputation would not recover. If they are not going to replace the batteries then a buy back seams like the only alternative. If people insist on keeping the Kona then replacement and charging limit would help. I don't think it would cure the issue. How are they going to identify the individual cells from the packs that are defective and lead to more failure?

 

I don't understand why you would want Hyundai to pay you back for your rebates. If you were to sell the car on the open market by yourself most buyers will know there was a rebate. You wouldn't sell it for $47k less depreciation.
By my calculations, the car should be worth about $30K to $35K at best. That is given a reasonable amount of miles, 30K give or take for a 2 year old car. Consider if you got $37K and you received $10K in rebates, this car has cost you nothing and you drive it 2 years.

 

OMG....one of my cruise control buttons just broke (the "RES +" button). I now realized how flimsy this car is. Now I have to take it to a dealer, and they will stealth install the battery updates.....

I think I might go for a buyback now. Changed my mind. Things are starting to break and I barely owned it for 2 years. I really hate for the car to fall apart after Hyundai's warranty expires.

Trouble is even Kelly Blue Book does not have a fair price for a used Kona EV. Even if they are for sale, the price is pressured lower, because owners wants to get rid of them. If Hyundai uses those prices as the buyback price, I think we are getting shafted. Hyundai created the problem, the media spread the bad press, people knows about the problems and are hesitant of the vehicle, prices comes down, Hyundai uses the lowered price for their buyback (self created prophecy).

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jillbaker/2021/04/15/sk-innovation-is-in-the-drivers-seat-after-ev-battery-settlement-with-lg-chem/

 

Yeah, she didn't directly say buy back wasn't an option, but she did seem to try and downplay it, preferring that in the short-term, I just wait it out to see what happens. I figure I'll give them until end of June to see if anything new develops, after which, I may start pushing for a buyback.

 

What about demanding a direct warranty replacement of the car? I read through my warranty booklet yesterday and it mentions the standard 5yr new car warranty as well as the dispute resolution process from the dealer management, to national (my case Hyundai Canada) company process, and ultimately to a "no cost" arbitration/mediation settlement.

 

Given the option, I think I might still prefer a buy-back vs. a replacement car, assuming they offered purchase price minus mileage depreciation. I love the look and feel of the car, and how it drives, but there's just been too many issues with this car (I've also had the motor replaced due to the clicking noise issue), not to mention all the recalls. Add to that the fact that the car is being discontinued, and the reputation of the car has taken quite a hit (most likely affecting future resale value), I just don't think it's worth keeping if I can reasonably avoid it without taking a bath.

 

I think it is worth considering that the model is only being discontinued in Korea. The US and presumably International variants are continuing. I've really got no issue with the car itself. Recalls happen with all cars. A warranty replacement with a 2020 or 2021 model would be acceptable to me.

 

The 2019 came with a lifetime battery warranty. I'd be curious if a warranty replacement with a 2021 model maintained that same battery warranty.

 

Good point. I don't *think* the Canada model had that same lifetime warranty? (8 years/100K is what sticks in my mind). I would imagine a new car would come with the current offerings. Though if you have to negotiate to get a full warranty replacement anyway, then you should be able to negotiate the warranty as well.

 

With all these issues, good thing I never purchased the Kona Electric, last few weeks so nothing but posts about battery issues, battery replacement, traction motor failure, unneeded automatic emergency braking, poor regen etc. Hopefully Hyundai will take care of their customers with buyback.

 

A philosophical statement, so feel free to skip
Before owning this Kona Electric, I was an exclusively Toyota guy and they just kept going and going and going with only minor maintenance. Truly the benefit of decades of high quality manufacturing of a well understood machine.

I see the battery recall frankly as only peripherally related to Hyundai because Chevy and other car manufacturers have had precisely the same issue with the same supplier. It's the same as when the Boeing 777 first came out and there were problems with battery fires. It stopped production and threatened the plane's viability for awhile... but then, it was resolved, the technology matured, and we've not heard of any lithium battery issues in planes since then. This is progress.

The Kona is still the best vehicle I have ever owned, and I continue to boost it to everyone who inevitably stops me, on a weekly basis!, and asks how I like it.
It's a joy to drive, it's useful and practical.

I'm still very grateful to be privileged enough to be in the position to be able to own one and I'm gonna fight like heck to make sure Hyundai keeps me as a customer, whether they like it or not. ;=)

 

Indeed. I was frankly very disappointed (and still am) in Toyota's reluctance to use their considerable knowledge of hybrids and world leading manufacturing to put out a full BEV vehicle. But... I committed that my next car would not have an ICE, and the Kona was, and still is, a highly rated vehicle. I am not naive enough to think this recall might not sink the whole project for Hyundai, but I do believe they are a serious company that still wants to be a major player in the market and that's going to drive them, pun intended, to treat their customers right.

 

With the announcement of the Ioniq 5 which is designed from the ground up as a EV, they are serious about EV's.

I not as forgiving as if I had more than 1 recall, I would sell or trade in vehicle regardless of the name brand.

At this time I am also disappointed with Toyota and their reluctance regarding EV's.

 

I have little hope that they will make me a decent offer on mine. As I already ordered my Y, I'm not interested in another Hyundai.. I personally really have no issue with the way Hyundai is handling the recall.. My main reason why I'm getting rid of the Kona is not really related to the car or the recall but because it's getting too small for my family for road trips.. Adding to that, is the lack of range with 80% charge limit makes it impossible for me to drive the car to our summer vacation destination.. The reason why I opened a buy back case is mostly due to the reduced value because of the open recall. Tesla wouldn't even consider it as trade.. Resale value is super low because of the open recall.. This is my main issue.