u/Videobollocks

https://old.reddit.com/r/nzev/comments/1uyqn14/2019_hyundai_kona_ev_known_issue_hyundai_nz_not/

From the NZEV subreddit, posting here as a curiosity mainly.

Short version is the car developed the WoF noise outside of the official warranty. Hyundai NZ are telling me to get stuffed, refuse to stand behind their product despite it being a known issue. I probably have recourse through the dealer anyway due to NZ consumer protection laws.

This is a cross between a PSA and a scream into the void. I'm sure there'll be a mix of sympathies and indifference in reply.

TL;DR: Do not buy 2019-2022 Kona EV, if you have one then rid yourself of it asap.

I bought a 2019 Hyundai Kona EV about three months ago from a 2nd hand dealer. 120,000 kms, full service history and I am only the 2nd non-dealer owner. Vehicle is out of Hyundai's 3 year/100,000km mechanical warranty. I felt that a known brand and modern car would be a safe bet. I have purchased plenty of Toyota's over 100,000km and never had an issue. In this instance I was wrong.

About two weeks ago (and after I had put 5000kms on) I noticed a grinding/rattling, which after some googling I suspected was the dreaded wheel of fortune noise. I contacted Hyundai who recommended I have the car inspected by a service agent. I did and they found the fault was with the traction motor or the gear reduction unit. Difficult to ascertain which specifically without further (expensive) labour and effort and both are costly repairs. I was quoted $12,500 plus labour for a new traction motor. It's also unclear if this is a design issue or a bad batch of components - if it's the former what is to stop it happening again?

If this was a one off issue I'd understand. It would be my bad luck and I'd have to wear it. I am fully aware of the risks of buying 2nd hand. I get that, and this is key to my argument - it is not a one off, this is a known issue.

I contacted Hyundai again pointing out this is a known issue, Hyundai USA have issued a tech bulletin about it and it's documented as such in numerous online posts and sites. Hyundai global must surely be aware of this. I stated this is clearly a manufacturing defect and Hyundai are playing the odds rather than issuing a recall.

Once again I was denied by Hyundai NZ. I think Hyundai NZ are hiding behind the law (vehicle is out of warranty) and refusing to stand behind their product. I do not think 120,000km on a modern vehicle is high and certainly not for core components such as the main motor and gearbox. Certainly under the CGA a car should last a lot longer than that.

I might try a dealer CGA claim, I might fix the car and swallow the cost, I might scrap it altogether. I don't know yet. What I do know is that I will never trust or buy Hyundai again and I will tell this story to anyone who wants to hear it.

I am sure many reading this will think "yeah that is the risk of buying 2nd hand" and yeah, it is to a degree. I know many vehicles have issues, though I am not aware of anything so critical as this. I have been told that ultimately the part making the noise will fail catastrophically leading to no control of the traction motor. If this is correct I can only hope it doesn't happen when on the open road where results could potentially be quite serious. I'd like to see Hyundai's reaction if that was proven to be the cause of an accident.

I guess what I want to stress here is that in this case Hyundai NZ are not standing behind their product, therefore how can any of us be sure they'll stand behind anything else they produce. Who knows what issues will appear in due course across any of their products, and what will be their response then?

Hi all. 2019 Kona EV, 125,000km. I bought it at 121,000km about 3 months ago and it was fine.

Just last week I heard (on one day only) the Wheel of Fortune noise. I have been listening carefully for it since I bought the car, and the sound matched everything I have read and every audio clip I have heard.

I immediately booked with the local dealer to have them look at it however as luck would have it since that day it's been silent. I have done several hundred km since incl a couple of long drives and it's just flawless. My thinking is if there was a noise and now silence, then something must have broken. But it sure doesn't seem like it. No impact to acceleration or drive control in any way, regen braking works as normal.

The local dealer didn't really know what I was on about when I spoke to them, I was planning on taking in the Hyundai USA TSB for reference. If the car isn't making the noise it'll be even harder to convince them.

Is it necessary/worth it now? Should I just cancel the booking and rebook when there is audible noise?

Thanks for any advice.

In the two AB games so far WS hasn't performed at the usual level. The head knock a few weeks back was serious, no doubt about it. It was chilling to see him convulsing like that.

I recall Kieran Read having a major head clash and he was never the same after. It may be too soon to draw the same conclusion for WS, he could well just be a bit flat.

But there's a part of me that is concerned. I'd hate to think he's risking some future problems just to play rugby.

What do we think?

Hi. Today came news that TSB will be sold (subject to approval) to Heartland. They're billing it as a merger but the reality is TSB is being 100% sold and TSB's parent company will only have a 17.5% stake in Heartland. Heartland will have all the cards and pulling of the strings.

As a long time TSB customer I'm not sure what to think. TSB have been great to deal with over the years, consumer rates and services have been stellar compared to the Aus banks though I'll admit TSB leadership and business services have been a little stale. TSB have been great for community support and sponsorship, far more so than some anonymous bunch of suits located out of province.

I know little about Heartland and it's been a long time in my eyes since the other local banks were hoovered up in the 90's. Perhaps I am concerned needlessly or perhaps it's the end of the world. Dunno?

Any opinions or ideas here?