Hyundai recalls 14 IONIQ 5, Kia EVs over battery fire risk
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- Hyundai recalled 14 vehicles total — six 2023–2024 IONIQ 5, one 2024 Kia EV9, and seven 2022–2024 Kia EV6 — over misaligned battery cell electrodes that could trigger an internal short circuit and fire.
- SK On, the South Korean battery supplier, produced the defective modules during a specific production window that Hyundai identified through a June investigation.
- Hyundai is not aware of any US incidents, crashes, fires, or injuries linked to the defect, but recommended owners park outside and away from buildings and keep battery charge below 80% as precautions.
- Hyundai dealers will replace the battery system assembly (BSA) free of charge regardless of warranty status, with Hyundai owner notifications going out August 31, 2026 and Kia notifications on August 7, 2026.
- NHTSA received the recall filing on July 9, 2026; the action currently covers only US vehicles, with recall numbers Hyundai 305 and Kia SC375.
Why it matters: For the 14 affected owners, the practical impact is immediate: park outdoors, cap charging at 80%, and wait weeks to months for a free battery swap. The defect also points to a battery-cell quality issue at SK On that could surface in a wider production batch if the supplier's electrode-alignment problem extends beyond the small identified window.
